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
their appearance before the Consuls tribunall and they giue audience like Lords of the Senate and he himselfe would looke to the armie committed to his charge Neither did he faile in his promise For many things were ordained by the arbitrement of the Senate As that no man should be bought for reward or gift to pleade a cause That the Questor elected should not be constrained to set forth the shew of Fencers which was a matter the Senators obtained contrary to Agrippinaes will vnder colour that Claudius acts were thereby infringed And thereupon she caused the Senate to be called to the Pallace to the end that she might stand in a secret place separated from the Lords by some vaile which might not hinder the hearing of them and yet not be seene Yea when the Embassadors of Armenia came to pleade the cause of their nation before Nero she was readie to pearch vp to the chaire of audience and by his side to giue answere with him if the rest surprised with a great feare Seneca had not aduised him to meete his mother as she came and so vnder colour of doing his dutie preuented the discredit II. Neroes preparatiues to defend Armenia IN the end of the yeere it was a common rumor that the Parthians had burst out againe and wasted Armenia driuen out Rhadamistus who hauing beene first King and after a fugitiue had then giuen vp this warre Whereupon in the citie greedie of talke they began to enquire how the Prince which was yet scarse past seuenteene yeeres of age could either vndertake or acquit himselfe of so great a burden what helpe could be expected at his hands who was led by a woman whether battels and warres also and besieging of townes and other duties of seruice could be accomplished by his maisters Contrarywise others said it had fallen out better then if Claudius a weake and cowardly old man should haue beene called to the labors of warre readie to obey the commandements of his slaues Yet Burrhus and Seneca had beene proued by experience of many matters and what wanted to the Emperors full strength seeing that Cn. Pompeius at eighteene yeeres of age and Caesar Octauianus at nineteene sustained ciuil warres Most things in high fortune are atchieued rather by good luck conduct and counsell then weapons and hands That he should giue an euident proofe whether he vsed honest friends or not if he would rather make choise of a notable and valiant captaine enuie layd aside then a rich graced and fauored by ambitious sute Whilest the people thus discoursed Nero commaunded a muster to be made of the youth in the prouinces bordering vpon the Parthians to supplie the legions of the East and the legions themselues to be planted neere vnto Armenia and withall wrote to the two old Kings Agrippa and Iocchus to prepare their forces and enter the bounds of Parthia and make bridges ouer the riuer Euphrates and gaue charge of lesser Armenia to Aristobulus and the Sophenian nation to Sohemus honoring them both with royall marks and ornaments And in very good time it fell out that Vardanes sonne began to rebell and beard Vologeses which caused the Parthians to depart Armenia as though they woulde deferre the warre But all things were made more then they were to the Senate amplified by those who gaue aduise that Processions should be made in honor of the Prince and that that day he should weare a triumphall garment and enter into the citie ouant and that his image of the same greatnes that Mars the reuengers was should be placed in the same temple being besides their ordinarie flatterie ioyfull and glad that he had made Domitius Corbulo gouernor of Armenia perswading themselues that the way was now made open to vertue The forces of the East were so deuided that part of the aid-souldiers with two legions should remaine in the prouince of Syria with the Lieutenant Quadratus Vinidius and that the like number of citizens and allies should be vnder Corbuloes charge with other cohorts and cornets of horsemen which wintered in Cappadocia The Kings which were confederate with the Romans were warned to be in a readines as occasion of warre should require But their affections were bent more vpon Corbulo who to purchase fame which in new enterprises is of great importāce making a way with all speede at Agas a citie of Cilicia met Quadratus who was come so farre least if Corbulo should haue entered into Syria to receiue the forces all mens eyes would haue been cast vpon him being of a comely and tall stature magnificall in words and besides his experience and wisedome in shew of vaine hope and promises woon the people to what he lusted In fine both of them by messengers admonished King Vologeses to desire rather peace then warre and giuing hostages continue the like reuerence to the people of Rome as his predecessors had done And Vologeses to make preparations of warre with more aduantage and such as might match the Romans or to remoue those he suspected as concurrents vnder the name of hostages deliuereth the noblest of the Arsacides familie whom Hostorius the Centurion sent before by Vinidius for other occasions receiued Corbulo vnderstanding this commaundeth Arrius Varus captaine of a companie of footemen to goe and receiue them from whence grew a quarrell betweene the Captaine and Centurion which because they would no longer be a iesting stock to the strangers they referred to the arbitrement of the pledges themselues and Lieutenants which conducted them who preferred Corbulo before the other partlie through the fresh renowne which was yet in euery mans mouth and partly through a certaine inclination which the enemies themselues bare him Hereupon grew a iarre betweene the captaines Vinidius complaining that that was taken from him which was compassed by his aduise Corbulo protesting on the contrarie part that the king was neuer drawen to offer pledges vntill that he being chosen captain of the warre had turned his hopes into feare Nero to set them at one caused it to be published that Quadratus Corbulo for their prosperous successes shoulde haue baies added to the bundle of rods which was carried before great captaines of warre I haue ioined these things togither although they were done vnder other Consuls The same yeere Caesar demaunded of the Senate that there might be an image dedicated to his father and the Consularie ornaments giuen Asconius Labeo who had beene his tutor and forbad that any image of massiue gold or siluer should be offered in honor of himselfe And although the LL. of the Senate had decreed that the yeer should begin on that day of December that Nero was borne yet he retained the olde ceremonie of beginning the yeere the Kalends of Ianuarie Neither were Carinas Celer a Senator accused by a slaue or Iultus Densus gentlemen called into question although it was laide to their charge that they fauoured Britannicus III. Nero beginneth to hate his mother and falleth in loue
looseth anker and moderated his course to returne the sooner if Germanicus death should open him a way to Syria Germanicus being a little amended and in some hope then growing feeble againe when his end was at hand he spake to his friends about him in this manner If I should die a naturall death yet should I haue iust cause of griefe against the gods that by an vntimely death they shuold take me in my youth from my kinsfolks children and countrey But now being brought to this passe by the lewde practise of Piso and Plancina I leaue in your breasts for my last prayers that you signifie vnto my father and my brother with what crueltie torne with what fraude circumuented I haue ended my miserable life with a most naughtie death If the hopes conceiued of me haue moued any if neerenes in bloud any yea if enuie towards me when I liued they will weepe that he who hath sometimes flourished and escaped so many battels should now end his life by the guile and treachery of a woman you shall haue occasion to complaine to the Senate and demaund the execution of lawes This is not the chiefest dutie of friends to shew their affection towards the dead by a slow and dull complaint but remember and execute that which they commanded Yea such as knew not Germanicus wil weepe for him If you did rather loue me then my fortune you will reuenge my death Shew the people of Rome Augustus neece and the same my wife and my children which are sixe in number the accusers themselues will haue compassion and those which pretend wicked commaundements shall either not bee beleeued or not pardoned His friends taking him by the right hand swore they would rather lose their life then omit reuenge Then turning to his wife intreated hir by the memorie of him and by the children common betweene them that she would lay aside all haughtines and submit her courage to raging fortune lest returning to the citie she stirred not with emulation of greatnes more powerable then her selfe against her Thus much he vttered openly and other things in secret whereby it was coniectured he stoode in feare of Tiberius Not long after he yeelded vp the ghost with great lamentation of the Prouince and countries about forren nations and Kings lamented also so great was his courtesie to his allies and mildnes to his enimies He was no lesse venerable to those which sawe him than to those which heard of him and did so well temper the greatnes of high estate grauitie that he auoided both enuie arrogancie His funerals although he had neither images nor pompe yet by the commendation and memorie of his vertues were honoured of all men Some there were which compared his fauour his age and manner of death by reason of the vicinitie of the places wherein they died vnto Alexander the great For being both of a comely stature noble parentage not much aboue thirtie yeeres of age they died in strange countries by the trecherie of their owne people But this man was courteous towards his friends moderate in pleasures his children certaine begotten in marriage by one woman Neither was he to be counted a lesse warrior then the other although he were not rash hindered to reduce vnder the yoke of seruitude the Germans daunted with so many victories And if he alone had had the supreme managing of affaires and power a name of a King so much the sooner he would haue carried away the prise renowne of warfare by how much he did excel him in clemencie temperancie other good vertues His bodie before it should be burned was laid naked in the market place of Antioche which was the place appointed for his buriall Whether he shewed any tokens of being poisoned or not it is vnknowen for diuers did diuersly interpretit either as they were inclined to pitie Germanicus or suspected to fauour Piso This being done the Lieutenants the Senators which were present cōsulted amōg themselues whom they should make gouernor of Syria the rest not greatly contending it was long debated betwixt Marsus Gn. Sentius in the end Marsus yeelded to Sentius being his elder prosecuting the suite more eagerlie He sent to Rome one Martina a woman infamous in that Prouince for empoisoning but deerly beloued to Plancina at the suite of Vitellius Veranius others which framed their acusations as against one already guilty of the fact But Agrippina wasted with sorrow feeble of body yet impatient of delaying reuenge took shipping with Germanicus ashes with her and her children all men taking compassion that a woman so nobly descended and who not long since in regarde of her stately marriage was honored and reuerenced by all men should now carrie in her lap those lamentable relickes of her husband incertaine of reuenge doubtfull of herperson so oft exposed to fortunes mercy by her vnluckie fruitfulnes XVIII Piso is doubtfull vvhether he should returne to Syria or not And prepareth an armie against Sentius IN the meane season a messenger ouertaketh and aduertiseth Piso at the Iland Cous that Germanicus was departed Which tidings he receiued intemperately offered sacrifices visited the temples nothing moderating his ioy and Plancina growing more insolent then first changed the mourning weede she ware for the death of hir sister into a ioifull attire The Centurions flocking about him told him that he had the good will of the legions at his deuotion that it was his best to returne to the prouince wrongfully taken from him and now voide of a gouernour Whereupon taking aduise what was best to be done his sonne M. Piso was of opinion that he shoulde make all haste to the citie that there was nothing yet done which might not be answered and that weakesuspicions and vaine reports were not to be feared The variance betweene him and Germanicus was woorthie perhaps of some rebuke but not punishment and by taking the prouince from him his enimies were satisfied But if he should returne Sentius being against him a newe ciuill warre would begin Neither would the Centurions and souldiers continue on his side with whom the fresh memory of their captaine and the loue deepely printed in their harts towards the Caesars woulde preuaile Domitius Celer one of his inwardest friends perswaded the contrarie That he ought to take the time when it was offered that Piso and not Sentius was made gouernour of Syria vnto him were the fasces and dignitie of Pretor giuen to him the legions committed If any violence should be offered by the enimie who should more iustly oppose his armes against them then he who hath receiued the authoritie of a Lieutenant and speciall commission Rumors grow stale and vanish away with time and often the innocent are borne downe with fresh enuie but if he had a power at hand and his forces increased many things which could not be foreseene by meere chaunce might turne to the better Do
in the sight of so many standers by and in Germanicus owne presence And thereupon he offered his familie and was verie earnest that his seruitors might be examined vpon the racke But the Iudges were implacable for diuers respects Caesar bicause he had made warre against the prouince the Senators bicause they could neuer beleeue but that Germanicus died by trechery and that they had expostulated the matter by letters the one to the other Which Tiberius did no lesse denie then Piso Withall the outcrie of the people was heard before the Senate house that they woulde not temper their hands if he escaped by sentence of the Senate And they had drawen Pisoes images to the Gemonies and broken them in peeces if they had not beene saued and put in their places againe by the princes commaundement Piso was caried backe in a chariot by a Tribune of the Pretorian band diuersly rumored whether he followed him as a garde for his safetie or executioner of his death The like hatred was toward Plancina but greater fauour and therefore it was doubted how farre Caesars authoritie woulde reach in hir behalfe As long as there was any hope left for Piso she promised to take part of whatsoeuer fortune with him and if it so fell out to be his companion in death But she was no sooner pardoned through Augustaes secret intreatie but she began by little and little to separate hir-selfe from hir husbande and bring hir defences apart The which when Piso perceiued to aboade his vtter destruction doubting whether he should make any further triall in iudgement his sons perswading him he hardneth himselfe and goeth once againe to the Senate Where his accusation being renewed and the Senators voices against him and hauing endured all things aduers and cruell he was amazed at nothing more then that he saw Tiberius without pitie without anger resolute and not swaied with any affection Being brought home from thence as though he had premeditated some iustification for the next day he writeth sealeth and deliuereth some fewe lines vnto a freed man This done he gaue himselfe to the accustomed care of his bodie Then the night being farre spent his wife going out of the chamber he commaundeth the doores to be shut and the next morning earely he was found with his throte cut the sword lying on the ground I remember I haue heard of auncient men that Piso was often seene to haue a little booke in his hands which he published not but as his friends said it contained Tiberius letters Commission against Germanicus and that he had purposed to disclose it to the Lords of the Senat and accuse the Prince had he not beene deluded by Seianus vaine promises and that he killed not himselfe but that some one was sent to murder him But I will not assure either of those things although I ought not to conceale it to haue been vttered by those which liued vntil I came to mans estate III. Pisoes letters to Tiberius Plancina is quit CAEsar hauing changed his countenance into sadnes perswading himselfe that that death of Pisoes would breede him enuie questioned oft in Senat how Piso had behaued himselfe the day before he died how he had passed the last night And he answering most things wisely and some inconsiderately reciteth the cōtents of the writing made by Piso almost as followeth Being oppressed by the conspiracies of my enimies enuie of a false crime so far that there is no place left to my innocencie and truth I call the immortall gods to witnes O Caesar that I haue liued with all loyaltie towards thee and no lesse dutie towards thy mother And I beseech you that you would be an aide and staie vnto my children Among which Cn. Piso is guiltles of my fortune whatsoeuer it be seeing he hath liued all this while in the citie M. Piso did alwaies disswade me from returning to Syria And I would to God I had rather yeelded to the counsell of my yoong sonne then hee to his olde father And therefore I beseech you most earnestlie that being innocent hee suffer not the punishment of my demerit By the seruice of fiue fortie yeares by the fellowship of the Consulship which we bore together once liked of Augustus the father and a friend to thee I recommend vnto thee as my last request my vnfortunate sonnes life Of Plancina he added no word After this Tiberius excused the yong man of the ciuill warres because the sonne could not disobey the fathers commaundement withall he had compassion on the noblenes of his house and his owne heauie fortune howsoeuer he had deserued Of Plancina he spake with shame and discredit pretending his mothers intreatie against whome euery good man was incensed and secretly complained saying Is it lawfull then for the grandmother to looke vpon the murderesse of her nephew talke with her and take her out of the hands of the Senat that iustice might not be executed Shall not that haue place in Germanicus which the law doth permit all other citizens Caesar was bewailed by Vitellius and Veranius Plancina defended by the Emperour and Augusta that now she might conuert her skill and poisons which she had so happely experimented against Agrippina and her children and satiat the good grandmother and vncle with the bloud of a most miserable house Two dayes were spent vnder colour of examining the cause Tiberius vrging Pisoes children to defend their mother and when the accusers and witnesses had spoken a vie against her and no man answered for her pitie increased more then enuie against her Aurelius Cotta being first demaunded his opinion for Caesar propounding the case the magistrates spake first gaue his censure that the memory of Piso should be blotted out of the Chronicles that part of his goods should be confiscated and part bestowed vpon Gn. Piso his sonne with condition that he should change his name that M. Piso being deposed from his dignitie and receiuing fiftie hundred thousand sesterces should be exiled for ten yeares and Plancinaes life pardoned at the suite of Augusta Diuers points of that sentence were mitigated by the Prince as that Pisoes name should not be wiped out of the Fasti seeing that M. Antonius who had made warre against his countrey and Iulius Antonius name who had violated Augustus house remained and M. Piso he deliuered from infamie and graunted him his fathers goodes neuer as I haue often sayd greedie of money and at that time more easilier pleased for shame that Plancina was quit And when Valerius Messallinus propounded that there should an image of gold be set vp in Mars their reuengers temple and Cecina Seuerus an altar erected to reuenge He hindered both alleaging that those things were to be dedicated and offered for forren victories and that domesticall aduersities ought to be buried in sorrow Messallinus added that thanks should be giuen to Tiberius and Augusta to Antonie and Agrippina and to Drusus for Germanicus reuenge
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
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
of these yong and tender children were cast into the Gemonies a place where condemned persons were throwne downe headlong About the same time Asia and Achaia were put into a very great fright though it continued not long with a rumor that Drusus Germanicus sonne had beene seene first in the Ilands Cyclades and afterward in the continent But it was a yong man of like age whome some of Caesars freed men by a subtile practise followed bearing men in hand they knew it to be him Such as knew him not were drawne by the fame of his name and the Greekes especially prone to all new and strange wonders It was reported he had escaped out of prison and fled to his fathers armie some both faining and beleeuing withall that he would inuade Aegypt or Syria Youth flocked alreadie to him very cheerefully many signes of loue publickly shewen him feeding themselues with the present vaine hope of what might happen When as Poppaeus Sabinus had tidings thereof who was then occupied in the affaires of Macedonia had charge also ouer Achaia he therefore were the report true or false to preuent all things hastning ouer the Toronaean and Thermaean cut and passing by Euboea an Iland of the Aegean sea and Piraeum a coast of Attique the Corinthian shore and the streights of Isthmum by another sea came to Nicopolis a colonie of the Romaines and there after a carefull examination vnderstandeth who he should be He said he was M. Silanus sonne and that many of his followers hauing forsaken him he embarked himselfe as though he meant to trauell into Italie These things he signified to Tiberius by writing neither haue we found any thing more of the beginning or end of this matter Towards the end of the yeere a quarrell of certaine Consuls burst forth which had beene a long time a breeding For Trio little regarding what enemies he procured and well practised at the barre vnderhand carped Regulus as being careles in oppressing Seianus ministers Regulus vnlesse greatly prouoked of a temperate and cold humor did not only answere and quaile his fellow Consull but brought him within the compasse of conspiracie and to be examined for it And although many of the Lords of the Senate intreated them that they woulde surcease their quarrell which would grow to their owne ouerthrow yet they continued their grudge and menaces one against the other vntill they went both out of office The end of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Tiberius lasciuious life Pursuing of Liuia and Seianus Cotta accused CN Domitius and Camillus Scribonianus entered the Consulship when Caesar hauing passed the streight betwixt Capreas and Surrentum coasted Campania doubtfull whether he should enter into the citie or not perhaps because he had otherwise resolued in his minde though making shew he would come oftentimes approching neere the citie and to the gardens along Tiber and returning back againe to the rocks and deserts of the sea to couer the shame of his lasciuious life which so vnstayedly he wallowed in that as the manner of the kings was he defiled and abused noble mens sonnes vnder age and not only the welfauored and comelyest but the modest and well nurtured and whose modest behauiour shewed the stock from whence they grew serued him for prouocation of filth Then first of all were those vnknowen words of Sellaries and Spintries found out of the filthines of the place and sundrie sorts of sufferance of abuse Some of his slaues had charge to seeke them out and bring them to him alluring such by gifts as shewed themselues willing and readie and threatning such as refused and if either their neere friends or parents went about to detaine them they vsed violence and caried them away perforce and exercised their willes on them as if they had been captiues But at Rome in the beginning of the yeare seuere iudgements were giuen against Liuia and against her images and other memories consecrated in her honor as if her lewdnes had then first come to light and had not been alreadie punished The Scipioes gaue their opinion that Seianus goods should be taken from the publick treasury and put in the Princes priuat cofers The Silanians and Cassians were of the same opinion and vrged it with the same tearmes or not greatly changed when on the sudden and vnlooked for Togonius Gallus among those noble men thrusting himselfe forward being but of base and low calling had the hearing giuen him as a matter to laugh at for he desired the Prince to choose twentie by lot out of a certaine number of Senators to gard and defend his person with weapon as oft as he went to the Senate He beleeued peraduenture that Tiberius had meant good earnest when he required that one of the Consuls might conduct and aide him from Caprea to the citie Tiberius neuerthelesse accustomed sometimes to interlace serious matters with skoffes thanked the Lords for their good will yet demaunded whom he might omit or whom he might choose whether alwaies the same or sometimes others in their steede such as had borne office or yong men priuate persons or magistrates what a goodly sight it would be to see them take a sword in hand at the entrie of the councell house neither would he make such accompt of his life if he were to maintaine it by armes This he answered to Togonius tempering his words and perswaded no farther the disallowing of that opinion But he rebuked Iunius Gallio very bitterly who propounded that the souldiers of the gard after their seruice was ended might haue a roome in the fortieth ranke of seates and asked him as it had been in their presence what he had to do with souldiers for whom it was not lawfull either to receiue commaundement or gift but of the Emperour or whether he had found out that which Augustus of famous memory could not prouide for It was rather a matter of discord and sedition sought for by one of Seianus followers to stirre vp rude mindes vnder title of honor to corrupt the custome of seruice This was the reward which Gallio receiued for his artificiall flatterie and anon after was driuen out of the councell house and then out of Italy And because it was obiected that he could easily indure exile hauing made choise of the famous and noble Ile of Lesbos he was recalled to the citie and kept in the magistrates houses In the same letters to the great contentment of the Lords of the Senate Caesar touched Sestius Pagonianus who had been sometimes Pretor to the quick audacious malignant and prying into all mens secrets beloued of Seianus and by him employed to lay snares to intrap C. Caesar which being once layd open all the hatred a long time hatched against him burst foorth and sentence of death decreed against him if he had not promised to bewray the complices But when Acreus had accused Latinius Latiaris hated both alike it was a most
gratefull spectacle vnto all Latiaris as I haue rehearsed before was the principall agent of circumuenting Titius Sabinus and then the first that receiued punishment for it Among these accusations Haterius Agrippa setteth vpon the Consuls of the last yeere asking them why they are now so still and cease from the accusations begun the one against the other it was feare and guilt of conscience which made them friends but the Lords of the Senate would not so put vp that which they had heard Regulus said he would stay for a time of reuenge and that he would prosecute the matter before the Prince Trio answered that emulation and enuie betwixt collegues were better forgotten and iniurious words if any had passed Agrippa vrging on still Sanquinius Maximus one of the Consuls desired the Senators that they would not increase the Emperours cares by hunting after matter of dislike and that he himselfe was able to redresse these things and so Regulus life was saued and Trioes ruine deferred Haterius was so much the more odious because that withered and vnlustie with sleepe or lasciuious watchings and through his dull drousie disposition nothing fearing the Prince though cruell euen in his brothell houses and loosest lasciuiousnes dreamt of nothing but how to subuert the nobilitie After that Cotta Messalinus the author of euery cruell sentence and hated of old as soone as occasion was offered was accused to haue vttered certaine things against Caesar and among others that he was in his secret parts both man and woman and after a banket on the birth day of Augusta among the Priests he tearmed that a Nouendinale supper or belonging to a mortuary that repining at M. Lepidus and L. Arruntius power and authoritie hauing a sute depending against them for a money matter he should say that them the Senate would defend but me my little Tiberius will support The chiefe of the citie conuicted him without any delay and pursuing him eagerly he appealed to the Emperour And not long after letters were brought from Tiberius in which in manner of a defence calling to minde the beginning of friendship betweene him and Cotta and his many good turnes and seruices requested that words might not be hardly wrested and that the simplicitie of table talk might not be imputed to him as a crime The beginning of these letters of Caesars was worth the noting which was this What I shall write vnto you Lords of the Senate or how I shall write and what I shall not write at all at this time the gods and the goddesses confound me worse then I feele and know my selfe daily to perish if I know So far his villanous demeanor turned to his own scourge punishment And therefore that most deepe wise man did not say without cause that if tyrants minds were laid open a man should see them torne rent in sunder for as the bodie is rent with stripes so the mind is tormēted with crueltie wanton affectiōs euil counsels For neither his great fortune nor solitarie places could defēd Tiberius but that himself confessed the torments punishmēt which lay hidden in his breast Then the Senators hauing receiued authoritie to determin of Caecilianus according to their wils who had vttered manie things against Cotta their iudgmēt was that he should receiue the same punishmēt that Aruseius Sanquinius had who were L. Arruntius accusers Then the which nothing euer hapned more honorable to Cotta who being indeed of noble birth but through riot needie and infamous for his vices in honorable punishmēt is made equall to Arruntius a man of sincere and honest life II. Terentius defences why he should not be punished like vnto other of Seianus friends QVintus Seruaeus after this and Minutius Thermus were brought in Seruaeus had beene Pretor and Gerusanicus companion Minutius a gentleman and who in Seianus friendship had carried himselfe modestly and therefore both the more pitied But Tiberius contrariwise blaming them as principall agents commaunded C. Caestius an old Senator to report vnto the Senators what he had written vnto him whereupon Caestius vndertooke the accusation a miserable calamitie of those times that the chiefest of the Senators some openly some secretly played the part of base promooters and further no man able to know the stranger from the kinsman nor friends from such as he neuer sawe before nor things lately committed from such as through continuance of time were almost forgotten They were accused of all they had spoken wheresoeuer either in the place of assemblies or at their table euerie man making haste to preuent and be before another in carriyng of tales some of them to saue themselues other some infected as it were with a disease gotten by conuersing with others But Minutius and Seruaeus were condemned and their goods giuen the accusers Iulius Africanus borne at Santon a towne in Gallia and Seius Quadratus were drawen into the like mishap but the occasion why I haue not found I am not ignorant that the dangers and punishment of many haue beene omitted by writers being ouer-wearied with multitude or fearing least those things should be tedious to the readers which seemed superfluous and lamentable to themselues in rehearsing There haue come many things to our eares woorthie the knowledge although other haue not once touched them For at the selfe same time that the rest colourablie seemed to shake off the amitie they had with Seianus M. Terentius a gentleman of Rome although arraigned for his labour durst auouch it beginning his speech for his defence before the Lords of the Senate in this maner It would be peraduenture lesse behoouefull for my estate to acknowledge then denie the crime I am charged with but hap what hap may I will confesse that I haue beene Seianus friend and that I desired so to be and that after I had obtained his friendship I was glad of it I had seene him ioynt officer with my father in the gouernment of the Pretorian cohort and not long after in managing of citie affaires and matters of warre His kinsmen and allies were aduaunced to honor as euerie man was inward with Seianus so was he grace by Caesar And contrariwise such as were not in his fauour liued in feare and distressed with pouertie Neither do I alleage any man for an example of this all of vs who were not priuie to his last attempts with the danger of my onely estate I will defend Not Seianus the Vulsiniensis but a part of the Claudian and Iulian familie which by alliance he had entered into thy sonne in law Caesar thy companion in the Consulship and him who tooke vpon him thy charge of administring the common-wealth we did reuerēce and honour It is not our parts to iudge of him whom thou dost exalt aboue the rest nor for what considerations To thee the highest iudgement of things the gods haue giuen and vnto vs the glorie of obedience is left We looke vnto those things which wee see before our
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
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
they had promised the Tribes came to meete him the Lords of the Senate in their holy-daie robes wiues and children placed according to their age and sexe and all the way he should goe builded with staires as in publicke shewes or triumphes Thereupon puffed vp with pride as a conquerour of publicke seruitude he went to the Capitoll and gaue thanks to the gods letting loose the raines to all lusts and licenciousnes of life which before badly restrained yet the reuerence towards his mother such as it was did in some sort bridle IIII. Neroes exercises IT was an old practise of his neuer to be absent from the race of chariots and no lesse vnseemely was that other delight of his at supper to sing to the harp as minstrels did which he said to haue beene a custome of auncient Kings and Captaines and a thing highly commended by Poets and attributed to the honor of the gods For melodie is sure dedicated to Apollo in that attire he doth stand not only in the cities of Greece but also in the temples at Rome a principall deitie and knowing things to come Neither could he now be remoued seeming good also to Seneca and Burrhus to yeeld him the one least he should persist in both And thereupon a space was inclosed in the valley of the Vatican to mannage his horses and not to be seene indifferently of euery man and not long after of his owne accord he called the people to see it who highly extolled him as the manner of the people is to be desirous of pastimes and very glad if the Prince draw them to it And his shame published abroad brought him not as it was thought it would any loathing therin but a farther prouocation thinking that the discredit would be shaken off if he could dishonor many with the like He brought to the skaffold many descended of noble houses bought for pouertie which because they be dead I will not name as hauing regard vnto their auncestors being rather his fault to giue money for ill doing then least they should commit that which is naught He constrained also the chiefe gentlemen of Rome with mightie gifts to promise their labour in the Theater vnlesse you say that a reward giuen by him who may commaund bringeth a necessitie in obeying Yet least he should be discredited by the publick Theater he instituted Playes called Iuuenalia as it were for the health of youth to which euery man willingly gaue his name not any ones nobilitie not his age or office borne being any hinderance vnto them but that Greekes and Latins exercised the arte of a stage player euen vnto gestures and measures vnseemely for men Yea noble women practised many gestures and vnseemely to their calling And in the wood which Augustus planted about the lake where he represented a sea fight Tauernes and meeting places were built where all prouocations of wanton lusts were sold where money was giuen to the good to spend of necessitie and to the intemperate to glory and brag of From thence sprang all lewdenes and infamie neuer at any time not when there was great corruption in manners in times past more dissolute lasciuiousnes vsed then at those impure assemblies Shame is scarse retained among men of honest example much lesse among such which striued who should haue most vices can chastitie and modestie or any good behauior be maintained Last of all Nero himselfe entereth on the stage tuning and playing on his instrument with great care and premeditating what to say his familiars assisting him and besides them a cohort of souldiers Centurions and Tribunes and Burrhus both grieuing and praising him Then also were first inrowled the gentlemen of Rome called Augustani men for their age and strength of body highly esteemed part of them shamelesse and saucy in behauior and part hoping thereby to rise to greater authoritie day and night with clapping of hands made all to ring of them commending the feature and voice of the Prince with termes attributed to the gods and were respected by him as honorable personages for their vertue And yet least the Emperours skill on stage only and musick should be published he desired to be well accompted of for versifying hauing gathered about him such as had any cunning therein much more such as were excellent They sate together * and made those verses hang together which he made there or elsewhere and supplied his words howsoeuer they were vttered which the fashion it selfe of his verses doth declare not running with one and the same vehemencie and vaine of writing He bestowed also some time after meate with Philosophers taking pleasure to heare how euery man defended his owne opinion and ouerthrew the contrarie Neither wanted there some which with their voice and graue countenance desired to be thought pleasant with the Emperour V. A strife betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and the Pompeians ABout the same time of a light quarrell rose a great murder betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and Pompeians at a shew of fencers which Liuineius Regulus put from the Senate as before I haue rehearsed represented to the people For first prouoking one another with bitter termes as it is often seene in malapert and saucie townesmen they came to stones and last of all to weapons the Pompeians being the stronger with whom the shew was set forth Many of the Nucerians were brought lame and wounded to the towne and many wept for the death of their children and parents the determining of which the Prince referred to the Senate the Senate to the Consuls And the cause being againe brought to the Senators the Pompeians were forbidden to assemble any such companies for tenne yeeres and their corporations erected against the lawes dissolued Liuineius and such others as raysed the sturre were banished Pedius Blaesus also was put from his Senators roome at the information of the Cyrenensians who layd to his charge that he had robbed the treasure of the god Aesculapius and mustered souldiers for money and suite The same Cyrenensians accused Acilius Strabo sometime Pretor and sent by Claudius as arbitrator of certaine lands which once belonging to King Apio and left to the people of Rome with the kingdome their neighbours possessed and occupied and by long licence and iniurie defended them to be theirs by right and equitie The lands therefore being giuen from them by sentence they enuied the iudge and the Senate answered they were ignorant of Claudius pleasure and that they should aske the Princes aduise The Prince approuing Straboes sentence wrote neuertheles that he would ayde the allies and giue them that which they had vsurped There died not long after Domitius Afer and M. Seruilius two notable personages which flourished with great honors and eloquence he in pleading of causes Seruilius famous for long frequenting the Forum and then for writing the Romane histories carriage of himselfe and neatnes of life which made him more renowned as equall to the other in wit yet
a credit and reputation in peace and in warre a defence And it is not onely an honour and glorie in ones owne nation to haue a gallant number and a valiant in his traine but is also a matter of reputation with cities adioyning as men sought vnto by Ambassadors and presented with gifts and do oftentimes by their onely fame end warres When they come to ioyne battell it is a dishonor to the Prince to be ouercome in valour and to his followers not to go as far in prowesse as their Prince Now to returne aliue from that battell in which his Prince is slaine is a perpetuall infamie and reproch being the principallest part of their oath to defend and maintaine him and ascribe their owne exploits to his glorie and honour Princes fight for victorie the followers for the Prince If the citie wherein they are borne grow lazie with a long peace and idlenes most of the yoong noblemen goe of their owne will to those nations wherein there is warres bicause that nation disliketh rest and quietnes as winning greater renowne in doubtfull and hazardeous attempts and not able to entertaine so great number of followers but by violence and warre sometimes by the liberalitie of their Prince getting that horse of seruice and bloodie and conquering sword Their bankets and large but rude diet is insteede of pay but matter to minister liberalitie commeth by warre and rapine To manure the ground or expect the season thou canst not so easilie perswade them as to prouoke the enimie and deserue wounds to get that with the sweate of thy browes which thou maist winne by the losse of thy blood they hold as an idle slothfull part When they are not busied in wars they giue not themselues much to hunting but spend more of their time in idlenes as a people much giuen to sleep and feed When the valiantest and warlikest are idle they commit the care of houshold affaires tillage to women old men to the weakest of their family and do themselues grow heauie and lazie a strange diuersitie of disposition that the same men should so much loue slouth and hate quietnes The custome is in cities to bestow by pole vpon the Princes either of their cattell or graine which is receiued as an honor yet supplieth their wants But aboue all they are exceeding glad if any thing be presented them by neighbour-nations which do send sometimes in particular sometimes in common as choise horses great weapons furniture for horse and chaines and now we haue taught them also to receiue money It is well knowen that the Germans dwell in no cities nor will not suffer their houses to ioyne together but asunder the one from the other as they liked best of their fountaines fields or wood They build not their villages as we do one house close to another but euery man leaueth a space about his house either as a remedie against misfortunes of fire or by vnskilfulnes in building Parget and mortar they vse not nor tiles and vse to all buildings vnsquared and vnwrought timber without any beautie or delight but do daube some places very diligently with such a cleare and shining earth that it resembleth a picture or draught of colours It is a fashion amongst them to dig deepe caues vnder ground and couer them ouer with dung as a succour in the winter and garner for their graine tempering the rigour of the cold by such places and if at any time the enemie come vpon them he forrageth all open places but hidden vnder ground are either not found or else are saued because they are driuen to seeke them They all weare a kinde of cassock called sagum clapsed or for want of one fastned with a thorne and hauing no other garment but naked lye all day in the harth or by the fire The richer sort are distinguished from the others by their garments which are not large and wide as the Sarmates and Parthians vse to weare them but straite and shewing the proportion of euery part of the bodie Besides they weare certaine pelts made of beasts skins those neere the Rhene-banke carelesly but those which are farther off more curiously as neuer trimming themselues with far-fet merchandise They make choise of certaine beasts and heere and there specke their skins with spots and the like with the skins of beasts taken in the farthest Ocean or vnknowen sea The man and womans attire differeth in nothing sauing that the women often vse linnen garments trimmed and interlaced with purple and the vpper parts of their bodies without sleeues their armes bare and their bosome naked and vncouered Yet matrimonie is seuerely kept among them the thing most commendable of all their manner of life for of all barbarous people they alone content themselues euery man with one wife except some very few which not for vnruly lust but for their nobilitie are sued vnto for sundrie marriages The wife giues not a dowry to her husband but the husband to the wife Their parents and neere kinsmen are present when they giue any gifts the one to the other which are not exquisite as to daintie dames or for to beautifie and trim the new married wife but oxen and a horse with furniture and a shield with a sword and lance With these gifts the wife is taken and she also doth bring her husband some armes this is the greatest bond these are the secret ceremonies these they thinke to be the gods of marriage And least the woman should thinke herselfe exempt and free from bonds of vertue or hazards of warre in the very beginnings and first speech of marriage she is put in minde that she commeth as a companion of his labours and dangers and that she shall suffer and venture the fame in peace and warre that he doth that is the signification and construction of the oxen yoked of the horse with bridle and furniture this the meaning of the weapons and armes giuen on one side and the other thus she must liue thus she must die she receiueth that which she must deliuer vnuiolated and pure to her children which their daughters in lawe do receiue as worthie things and yeeld againe to their nephues They liue therefore in most straite chastitie vncorrupted with the allurements of shewes and spectacles or prouocations in banketting As well men as women are ignorant of the secrets of learning Adulterie is seldome committed in so populous a nation and the punishment for it incontinently inflicted as best liketh the husband who hauing cut her haire turneth her naked out of his house in the presence of her kinsfolks and driueth and beateth her throughout all the towne no pardon giuen to her that hath violated her chastitie neither for her beautie nor age nor wealth can she euer after finde another husband No man laugheth at vices neither when any is corrupted or doth corrupt do they say it is the time Yet there is one thing more commendable in those