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
men sometimes vsing curtesie and moderation misliked of none and oftentimes quaffing and drunkennes with other wanton behauiour which well pleased these barbarous people Now he had gotten reputation with his neighbours and began to be famous among strangers when as such as bare greatest swaie in time of factions suspecting his power and greatnes goe from him to the borderers of the kingdome openly declaring that the auncient libertie of Germanie was taken from them and that the Roman strength mastered al. Was their countrey so barren that they could finde none borne among them to fill the place of the Prince but that Flauius the spies broode must be lifted vp aboue them all It was in vaine to make Arminius the pretence whose sonne being brought vp in the enimies land might well be feared if he came to be King as depraued and infected with education seruilitie attire and all other strange vsages And if Italus bare the minde his father had done no man euer hath borne armes more ragingly against his countrey and houshold gods than his parents By such and the like speeches they gathered great forces togither and there did no fewer follow Italus All of them affirming that he had not thrust himselfe among them against their wils but that he was sent for by them and seeing he was more noble than the rest they should make a triall of his vertue and whether he would shewe himselfe woorthie of Arminius his vncle and Catumerus his grandfather Neither could his father be a shame and reproche vnto him because he would neuer violate his faith which by consent of the Germans he had promised the Romans That the name of libertie was falsly pretended by them who being base and degenerate of themselues and dangerous to the whole state haue no hope but in time of trouble and garboile The common sort came cheerefully about him and the King became victorious in a great battell against the Barbarians then through this prosperous fortune falling into pride he was chased out of his countrey and againe reenforcing his armie with the aide of the Lombards now with luckie now with vnluckie successe molested and annoyed the Cherusci VI. The Chauceans are ariuen backe out of Germanie by Corbulo a Roman Captaine his seuere discipline ABout the same time the Chauci liuing in peace at home and incouraged by the death of Sanquinius whilest Corbuloes cōming was expected made some incursions vpon lower Germanie vnder Gannascus who being a Caninefian by birth an aide-souldier and long receiuing pay vnder the Romans and afterward become a fugitiue with light vessels robbing and piracing especially wasteth the coast of Gallia because he knew them wealthie and cowards But Corbulo entering into the Prouince first with great care then credit especially gotten by that seruice thrust into the riuer of Rhene certain Galleies and other shipping as they were fit into other armes and ditches of the sea And hauing with them suncke the small vessels of the enimie and driuen out Gannascus after he had setled the present estate of things he reduced the legions which knew not what worke and labour meant but desirous to hunt after pillage and forreies to the auncient discipline of seruice commaunding that none should depart from the campe nor enter battell without commaundement that the watch and warde all charges both by day and night should be executed in armes And it is reported that one souldier was put to death bicause he digged at a trench without his sword by his side and another bicause he had nothing else but his dagger which beeing ouer-hard and rigorous and vncertaine whether falsly spread abroad yet had their beginning of the Captaines seueritie Whereby thou maist know that he was inexorable in great faults seeing it was thought he vsed such rigour in small But that terrour wrought different effects in the souldiers and enimies we thereby increased our valour the Barbarians abated their courage The Frisian nation which rebelled after the ouerthrow of L. Apronius and euer after shewed themselues enimies vnto vs or nothing faithfull hauing giuen hostages inhabited the countrey alotted and appointed them by Corbulo He gaue them also a Senate magistrates and lawes And bicause they should not fall from their obedience left them a strong garrison and sent some to draw the chiefest of the Chauci to yeeld and withall by a wile to surprise Gannascus Neither were those wiles imployed in vaine or thought cowardly and il-beseeming vs against a fugitiue and faith-breaker But the Chauci were much troubled with his death and Corbulo sowed some seedes of rebellion among them which as some construed to the best so others reported badly of it for why should he prouoke an enimie If the successe were bad the hurt would redownd to the common-wealth if fortune went on his side he was a man to be feared in time of peace and being valiant and couragious and vnder a cowardly Prince not to be suffered Whereupon Claudius was so farre from forcing Germanie anew that he commanded the garisons to be brought backe on the hither side the Rhene And whilest Corbulo went about to encampe in the enimie land these letters were deliuered him He vnderstanding of so sudden a countermaunde although many things at once troubled his braines feare of the Emperour the contempt the Barbarians would haue him in the iest his confederats would make at it yet making no more wordes but saying only O how happie some Roman Captaines were sownded a retraite Neuerthelesse least the souldiers should grow lazie he cast a ditch betweene Mosa and Rhene three twentie miles long to beare off the vncertain inundations of the Ocean Yet Caesar graunted him the honour of triumph although he denied him licence to make war VII How souldiers were employed out of warre NOt long after Curtius Rufus had the same honor giuen him who in the countrey of Mattiacum had found a siluer mine of small profit and short continuance but to the legions besides the losse it was great labour to dig the riuers and mine vnder the earth and draine waters which in plaine grounds was laborious The souldiers wearied with these toyles and because they had indured the like in many prouinces sent letters secretly to the Emperour in the name of the whole armie and besought him that from thence forward he would bestow the marks of triumph before hand on such as he purposed to make commaunders of the armie As for Curtius Rufus birth whom some haue reported to be a fencers sonne I will neyther vtter any thing falsely and am ashamed to tell the truth After he was come to mans estate he was a follower of the Quaestor of Affrica and in a towne called Adrumetum as he walked secretly about midday in a gallery where were no people there appeared vnto him the likenes of a woman greater then the stature of any other and a voice was heard saying Thou art he Rufus which shalt come Proconsul into this prouince Puffed vp
legion and all the ayd he could leuie in the prouince on the banke of Danubium as an ayd to the conquered and a terror to the conquerer least puffed vp with prosperous fortune they would so disturb our peace For an infinite power of the Ligians and other nations were comming drawen with the fame of the wealth of Vannius kingdome which for thirtie yeeres space he had enriched with pillages and tributes Vannius owne forces consisted in footemen his horsemen were of Sarmates called Iazygiens vnable to encounter the multitude of the enemies power and therefore defended himselfe in fortresses and purposed to protract the warre But the Iazygiens not able to indure to be besieged but wandering and wasting the champion adioyning droue Vannius to a necessitie of fighting because Ligius and Hermundurus were pressing in on the backs of them Vannius therfore issuing out of his fort lost the battell but not without honor euen in his distresse because in person he shunned not the battell and face to face receiued wounds in his bodie and at last fled to his shipping which waited for him in Danubium by and by his vassals following him hauing receiued land to dwell in planted themselues in a part of Hungaria The kingdome Vangio and Sido parted betweene them shewing great loyaltie towards vs. Their subiects either for their desert or such being the disposition of those which are kept vnder whilest they were yet a getting the kingdome shewed them all tokens of loue and affection but after they had gotten it as the greater their loue before so the greater their hatred after VIII Ostorius gouernor of great Britannia gaineth a battell against the Iceni and tooke Caractacus King of the same countrey and sent him to Rome The warres of the Romaines against the Siluri POstorius Propretor of Britannia at his landing found all in an vprore the enemie ranging the allies countrey and vsing so much the greater violence bicause he thought the new captaine as vnacquainted with his armie and the winter also begun would not come foorth to encounter him But he knowing well that the first successe breedeth either feare or confidence gathered with speede his readiest cohorts made toward the enemie slaying those which made head against him pursued the residue stragled abroad for feare least they should ioyne againe and least a faithles and cloaked peace should neither giue the captaine nor the souldier any rest he disarmed those he suspected and hemmed them in with garrisons betweene Antona and Sabrina Which the Iceni first of all refused a strong people and vnshaken with warres because that of their owne motion they had sought our alliance and amitie and at their instigation the people adioyning chose a place to fight compassed in with a rude and common trench and narrow entrance to hinder the comming in of horsemen That fence the Roman Captaine although he wanted the strength of the legions went about to force with the aide of the allies alone and hauing placed his cohorts in rankes setteth the troupes of horsemen in alike readines to their busines then giuing the signe of battell brake the rampire and disordered the enimies in their owne fortresses Who stroken in conscience with a remorse for their rebellion and seeing all passages of escaping stopped vp shewed great courage and valoure in defending themselues In which fight M. Ostorius the Lieutenants sonne deserued the honour of sauing a citizen But by the slaughter of the Iceni those which wauered betweene warre and peace were quieted and the armie lead against the Cangi Whose countrey they wasted and spoiled the enimie not daring to shew himselfe in fielde or if priuily and by stealth they attempted to cut off any which dragged behind they payed for their comming Now the Roman armie was come neere vnto the sea coast which lookes towards Ireland when as certaine tumults sproong vp among the Brigantes brought backe the Captaine certainly resolued not to attempt any new matter vntill he had setled the old But as for the Brigantes some fewe put to death which first began to take armes the residue being pardoned all were quieted The Siluri could neither by crueltie nor faire meanes be hindered from making warre and therefore no remedie left to keepe them vnder but with a garrison of legionarie soldiers The which to performe more easily a colonie called Camalodunum of a strong companie of old souldiers was brought into the subdued countrey as an aide and safegard against the rebels and inducement to the confederates to the obseruation of lawes From thence they marched against the Siluri besides their owne courage trusting to Caractacus strength who hauing waded thorow manie dangers and in manie aduentures prosperous and luckie had gotten such reputation that he was preferred before all the British Captaines But in craft and skilfulnes of the countrey hauing the aduantage on vs but weaker in strength remoueth the war to the Ordouices and there all those ioyning to him which feared our peace resolued to hazard the last chaunce chusing a place for the battell where the comming in and going out was verie incommodious to vs and to his great aduantage Then they got to the top of a hill and if there were any easie passage vnto them they stopped it vp with heapes of stones as it were in maner of a rampire Not farre off ranne a riuer with an vncertaine foord where a great troupe of his best soldiers were readie in order before the rampire Besides this the leaders went about exhorted and incouraged the souldiers taking all occasion of feare from them and putting them in hope with all other inducements of warre And Caractacus coursing hither thither protested That that day and that battell should be either the beginning of the recouering of their libertie or perpetuall seruitude He called vpon the names of his auncestors which chased Caesar the Dictator out of the Ile by whose valour they were deliuered from hatchets and tributes and inioyed freely their wiues and childrens bodies vndefiled Whilest he vttered these or the like speeches the people made a noise about him and euerie man swore according to the religion of his countrey that he would yeeld neither for wounds nor armes That courage and cheerefulnes greatly astonied the Roman Captaine and considering the riuer before his face the forte they had cast vp the high hils which hanged ouer them all things deadly to thē and commodious for the enimie droue him into a doubt of the successe Neuerthelesse the souldier demaunded battell crying that there was nothing which valour could not ouercome The Prefects and Tribunes vsing the like speeches greatly incensed the ardour and courage of the rest The Ostorius hauing viewed what places were of hard passage and which of easie leadeth his armie boiling with choler with small difficultie ouer the riuer But when we were come to the rampire as long as we fought with throwing of dartes we receiued most
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
cities that only virgins do marrie and that only once and the man the like contracting with the hope and desire of one wife As they haue but one bodie one life so they take but one husband that they might haue no other thoughts no farther desires nor loue him as so deseruing it but because of matrimonie To prescribe a certaine number of children or kill any of their neere kindred they compt it a heinous crime Good manners are of greater authoritie and force among them then elsewhere good lawes They grow to haue these great lims and bodies which we maruell at naked and slouenly in euery house Euery mother nurseth her owne children with her owne breasts and send them not to nurses or other women Thou shalt not know the Lord from the slaue by any note of deintie and nice education for they liue amongst the same cattell and on the same ground vntill age doth distinguish the 〈…〉 his valour make him knowne Yong men giue not themselues too 〈…〉 e with women and therefore decay not so soone neither are 〈…〉 ed to marrie they are of the same yeeres of like growth they are 〈…〉 with such as are of like strength and the children expresse and shew the strength of their parents Sisters children are as much set by in their vnckles house as in their fathers Some are of opinion that this bond of bloud is the straitest and holiest and most of all required in taking of hostages as those which are of a more constant minde and in the familie the greatest part yet euery mans children succeede as heires and testament they make none at all If there be no children to succeede the next in degree are brothers vnckles by the fathers side and by the mothers The more kindred the greater affinitie the more an old man is honored and to be without children is of no reputation They must as well become enemie to their fathers enemies or kinsmens as friend to their friends Their hatred is not implacable for mans slaughter it selfe is satisfied and redeemed with a certaine number of beasts which contenteth the whole familie and is profitable for the common good for where libertie is there priuate enmities are dangerous III. Their domesticall life and behauiour GReater hospitality and entertainment is no where more bountiful than there being a cursed deed to barre any man his house and not giue him meate and drinke according to his abilitie When all is spent the last hoste will be a guide and companion vnto him to the next house vninuited for that skilleth not but are receiued with like curtesie in respect of hospitalitie making no difference whether he be of acquaintance or not If any thing be demaunded of him which is going away the manner is to graunt it and he may with like facilitie aske againe Gifts are things which please them well but those which giue them do not thinke they do you a benefit therein and those which receiue them not bound or beholden for them They entertaine their guests courteously immediatly after they rise which for the most part is verie late and the day well spent they wash and most commonly in warme water as hauing long winters and when they haue washed they fall to eate eurie man his stoole and his messe to himselfe then they fall to their busines and as oft to banket and make good cheere all armed To sit a tipling a day and a night is no disgrace to any There arise many quarrels as commonly it happeneth where drunkards meete which seldome end with brawling and iniurious termes but oftner with murder and hurt In their bankets they consult of peace and warre make attonements betwixt such as are at debate make marriages and choose their Princes as a time when the mind is neuer more open to plaine dealing or more sturred vp to great attempts The people being neither craftie nor subtle through the libertie of the place doth thē most discouer the secrets of his breast Euerie mans minde then being open and discouered the next day they waigh and examine it with a regard had to both the times They deliberate when they cannot dissemble and resolue when they cannot erre Their drinke is a liquor made of barley and corne corrupted into the likenes of wine But those which dwell neere the banke of Rhene buie wine their meats are simple wilde Apples fresh venison or curds or creame they driue away hunger without any solemne seruice ordainties but against thirst they vse not the like temperance If thou wilt please their humour in drunkennes in giuing them what they aske they will be as easilie ouercome with vices as armes They haue but one and the same kinde of pastime in euerie assemblie Yoong men which know the sport cast themselues naked and leape betweene swords and launces Practise bred the arte of doing it and arte the grace yet neither for gaine nor recompence albeit the reward of bolde and rash toies is the delight of the beholder And which thou wouldest maruell at fresh and fasting they play at dice as a matter of serious and earnest busines with such a rash desire of winning and losing that whē all else is lost they lay their libertie and bodie vpon the last throw and he who is ouercome entereth a voluntarie seruitude and although he be yoonger and stronger yet suffereth himselfe to be bound and sold Such is their obstinacie in a bad matter which they call faith but slaues of this condition they make away by marchandise to rid themselues of the shame of such a victorie Their other slaues they employ not in certaine affaires of house as we do ours but euerie one gouerneth his own house and houshold The Lord inioyneth him to pay a certaine of corne or cattell or apparell as he doth his tenant which the bondslaue performeth no more other duties of house belōg to the wife children It is a rare matter to beat their slaues or ouer-labour or emprison them yet they are woont to kill them not by discipline and seueritie but carried away with sudden anger as against an enimie sauing that it is vnpunished The freed men are not much aboue the slaue they seldome beare any sway in the house or city sauing in those countries which haue a King For there they are in greater authoritie then ether free borne or noblemen in other countries freed men being of vnequall condition make libertie better knowen To practise vsurie and in rich themselues with it they know not what it meaneth which is better kept then if it were forbidden All the ground the inhabitants about do possesse according to their number which they diuide among themselues according to their calling which is easily done by reason the fields are so spatious Their earable land they change by yeeres and let onelie not labouring to ouercome the fertilnes and largenes of it by industrie by planting of orchardes inclosing their medowes and watering their gardens onely
howsoeuer it was all sauing Lepidus through Tiberius practise for sundrie pretended crimes were made awaie L. Haterius likewise and Mamercus Scaurus troubled his iealous head the one by saieng How long Caesar wilt thou suffer the common-wealth to want a head The other bicause he hoped that the petitions of the Senators should take effect seeing he did not as he might withstande the relation of the Consuls by being Tribune He inuaied sharply and that incontinently against Haterius but let go Scaurus without any word although he were more implacably offended with him then the other And being wearied with the clamors of all ingenerall and importunitie of some in particular by little and little yeelded vnto their requests not so much bicause he would confesse he tooke the charge of the Empire on him as to make an end of refusing or being any more entreated Certaine it is that as Haterius went to the pallace to craue pardon of Tiberius he narrowly escaped from being slaine of the soldiers bicause that casting himselfe at his knees as he was walking either by chance or happily hindered by Haterius the Emperor fell yet that danger did nothing mitigate his wrath vntill Haterius making entreaty to Augusta by hir earnest sute was protected Exceeding great flatterie was vsed towards hir by the Senators some being of opinion that she shoulde be called the foundres of the common-wealth some the mother and many that besides the name of Caesar the sonne of Iulia should be added But Tiberius answered that titles of honor ought to be moderately giuen vnto women and that he would vse the same moderation in such as should be bestowed on himselfe This he did vpon enuie and iealousie and therefore thinking hir greatnes to be his owne abasement would not suffer hir to haue a sergeant before hir or an altar to be dedicated in memorie of hir adoption nor any such like honor He entreated neuerthelesse that proconsularie authoritie might be giuen Germanicus Caesar which was sent him by ambassadors with commandement to comfort him for the death of Augustus The reason why the like was not demanded in fauour of Drusus was bicause he was there present and Consul elect And as Augustus had ordained before he did nominate twelue competitors for the Pretorship and bound it with an oath he woulde not passe that number although the Senators exhorted that they might be increased That was the first time that the election of Magistrates was taken from the people and transferred to the Lords of the Senate For although vntill that daie all matters were swaied as best liked the Prince yet some things were left to the fauour and voices of the Tribes Neither did the people but with a vaine rumour complaine that their right was taken from them and the Senators seeing themselues deliuered of manie bribes and vnseemely sutes were well contented to accept the authoritie Tiberius so moderating the matter that he commended onely fower competitors which should be elected without sute or feare of repulse The Tribunes of the people made request that it might be lawfull for them to set foorth plaies at their owne costs and recorde them in the Calendar of the Citie and call them Augustales by the name of Augustus The Playes were graunted but the costs and expenses were to rise out of the publicke Treasury and that it should be lawfull for them to vse the triumphall robe in the race but not be carried in a Chariot Not long after the annuall celebration of these Playes was cast vpon the Pretor which was iudge betweene the citizen and the forrener V. A rebellion in Pannony stirred vp by Percennius THis was the estate of the citie affaires when the legions of Pannony mutined for no new occasions but only because the change of the Prince gaue licence of hurlyburly and hope of gaine by ciuill warres These were three legions of the sommer camps committed to Iunius Blaesus charge who aduertised of the death of Augustus and Tiberius entering to the gouernment in regard of the vacation which then hapned or ioy conceiued neglected the accustomed care of his dutie Herevpon the souldyers began to grow licentious and quarelsome and gaue eare to the most dissolute and disordered and in fine hunted after riot and ease set nought by all military discipline and refused trauell and labour There was one Percennius in the garrisons who had bene sometimes a ringleader of factious companions on Stages and Theaters afterward a common souldier an impudent and saucy prater well practised in disturbing assemblies to shewe fauour vnto such actors as he fauored This Percennius after the better sort were gone to their lodgings by little and little in secret conuenticles in the night or in the shutting of the euening gathered together and stirred vp the vnexpertest of the souldyers and such as were most doubtfull what entertainement they should expect after the death of Augustus And when he had gathered about him of the most licentious a sufficient rabble and readiest instruments of sedition in manner of an Oration he began to question with them thus Why they would like bondslaues be subiect to a small number of Centurions and a smaller of Tribunes when durst they seeke a redresse if they would not now present themselues to the Prince with intreatie or the sword whilest he is new and not fully setled in the state they had through cowardlines held their toong many yeares some thirtie some fortie in pay ouergrowne with age and many their limmes lost in seruice And after they were licensed to depart yet they were not at an end of seruice but detayned vnder ensignes indure as great toyle as before vnder a new name And if any escaped so many hazards aliue they were drawne into sundry countries where vnder a colour of some lands eyther moorish bogs or barren mountanous crags were alotted to their share Besides seruice was painefull in it selfe and vnprofitable their liues and bodies valued but at ten asses a day hauing no better allowance to furnish themselues with weapons apparell and tents and redeeme themselues from the cruell vsage of the Centurians pay fees of vacations from seruile ministeries yet their stripes wounds hard winters scorching sommers bloudie battels and fruitles peace had no end and hope of redresse there was none vnlesse certaine lawes were set downe for such as enter into seruice as that euery ones pay should be bettered to a deniere a day and none bound to serue aboue sixteene yeares that from that time forward they should not be detayned vnder ensignes but receiue in the same camp they serued their recompence in readie coyne What did the Pretorian bands which receiued two deniers a day and at the end of sixteene yeares were sent to their houses oppose themselues to greater dangers then they yet he did not speake this to depraue or diminish the credite of the citie-gard but because they should consider what a hard part they were offered yet
should be cut into manie branches and so all become a standing poole if the new chanels were not capable of so much water The Reatins did not in this case hold their peace no way yeelding that the mouth of the lake Velinus should be dammed vp where it discargeth it self into Nar for so it would ouerflow al about it And that nature had wel prouided for the necessitie of mans vse hauing giuen all riuers their course and mouth and as well their bounds as beginnings That the religion of their allies was to be considered who consecrated vnto the riuers of their countrey woods and altars Yea that Tiber would not be depriued of his neighbour-riuers and so run his course with lesser glory In the end either through the intreatie of the Colonies or difficultie of the worke or superstition Pisoes opinion was approued which was that there should be nothing changed Poppaeus Sabinus was continued in the gouernment of Maesia and Achaia and Macedonia added to his charge For it was Tiberius manner to continue men in their office and charge either of warre or iurisdiction sometimes during their life whereof there were diuers reasons giuen Some said he did it to auoid the tedious care of often prouiding and that he would haue that to continue which he had thought once well done some did interpret it to be done of enuie because many should not enioy them some that as he was of a subtile wit so of no resolute iudgement as not choosing men of excellent vertue and on the other side hating vices He feared least the best would attempt somewhat against him and the worst dishonor the state Which doubtfulnes brought him to that passe at last that he gaue the gouernment of prouinces to some which he would not suffer to depart the citie Concerning the election of Consuls which was first obserued vnder this Prince and afterward by others I dare assure nothing not only the authors but the Prince himselfe doth so much differ in his orations For sometimes not naming the suters he described euery mans beginning life and what pay he had receiued that a man might easily gesse who they were At another time not touching any of those particulars he perswaded the suters not to disturbe the elections by bribing and canuasing promising that himselfe would be a meane for them And oftentimes he sayd there were no more which pretended to be suters but such only whose names he had presented vnto the Consuls and that others might bring in their names likewise if they would trust either to their merit or fauor But all was but faire words and in deede deceiptfull and without effect and by how much the more they were masked with a colour of libertie by so much the heauier and greeuouser a seruitude they were like to bring after them THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The cause of the Parthian warres Vonones driuen out of his kingdome SIsenna Statilius Taurus and L. Libo being Consuls the kingdome of the East and the Romane prouinces rebelled the beginning thereof proceeding from the Parthians who hauing demaunded and receiued a King from Rome yet contemned him as a forrener although he were descended of the Arsacides Vonones was this King who had beene before giuen in hostage to Augustus by Phrahates For although Phrahates had repulsed the armie and the Romane captaines yet he shewed all duties and reuerence to Augustus And the better to confirme friendship sent some of his children to him not so much for feare of vs as distrust of disloyaltie in his owne subiects After the death of Phrahates and other succeeding Kings through murthers committed among themselues Embassadors came to the citie from the chiefe noble men of Parthia to demaunde Vonones the eldest sonne of Phrahates Caesar thinking that to be an honor to himselfe enduing him with great riches deliuered him and the barbarians as their maner is at the change of a new Prince receiued him with great ioy Not long after the Parthian grew to be ashamed that he had so much degenerated as to demaund a Prince from another countrey trained vp in the sleights of their enimies That now the royall seate of the Arsacides was giuen and accounted among the Romane prouinces Where is the glorie of those which murdered Crassus and chased away Antonie if Caesars bond slaue after so many yeeres seruitude should commaund and rule ouer the Parthians He himselfe kindled their difdainefull minds by swaruing from his predecessors manner of life as going seldome a hunting being carelesse of horses carried in a charriot in the streetes and loathing their countrey fare his Grecian followers were scorned and himselfe laughed at for keeping vnder his seale his basest vtensiles But the free accesse vnto him his courtesie towards all men vnknowen vertues to the Parthians were accounted new vices and bicause they were not vsed of their ancestors were odious alike to the good and bad Whereupon Artabanus one of the Arsacides blood brought vp with the Dahes was raised against him who in the first encounter ouerthrowen recouered newe forces and enioyed the kingdome When Vonones was ouercome hee fled to Armenia then without a King and betwixt the Parthian and the Romane wealth wauering through Antonies trecherie who hauing vnder colour of friendship tolled vnto him their King Artauasdes loaded him with chaines and in the end depriued him of his life Artaxias his sonne hating vs for the iniurie done to his father with the power of the Arsacides defended himselfe and the kingdome against vs. But when Artaxias was slaine by the treason of his neerest friends Tigranes was made King of the Armenians and brought by Tiberius Nero into the kingdom Yet Tigranes raigne dured but a short time nor his childrens although they were as the maner of strangers is linked in marriage with the Armenians Then by commaundement of Augustus Artauasdes was appointed their King and afterward driuen out not without a great slaughter of our men After that Caesar was chosen to settle the affaires of Armenia who with the good liking of the Armenians appointed Ariobarzanes descended from the Medes to be their King a man greatly reckoned of for the comelines of his personage and valiant courage Ariobarzanes dying by misfortune the Armenians would endure none of his race but tried the regiment of a woman called Eratus whom they expulsed in a short time and lead an vncertaine and loose kinde of life rather without a Lord then in libertie and in the ende receiued the fugitiue Vonones againe But when Artabanus began to vse threatning and that small aide was to be expected of the Armenians and yet if he should be defended by our forces it were to enter into war against the Parthians Creticus Silanus gouernour of Syria sent for Vonones and appointed him a guarde and suffered him to inioy all pompe and sumptuousnes and name of a King from which mockerie how he purposed to deliuer himselfe we will set
made famous and the spoiles dedicated by Augustus with the place where Antonie had camped by those meanes renewing the memorie of his auncestors for as I haue saide before Augustus was his vncle and Antonie his grandfather and therefore in that place he sawe represented things both ioifull and dolorous From thence he went to Athens which being an ancient citie and a confederate with the Romans he woulde haue but one Lictor before him The Graecians receiued him with most exquisite honors and represented the ancient exploites and saiengs of his predecessors that their flatterie might be so much the more gratefull and acceptable And going from thence to Euboea hepassed by Lesbos where Agrippina in hir last deliuerie had Iulia. Then desirous to visite places of antiquitie and fame he went to the confines of Asia Perinthum and Byzans cities of Thrace then he entered the straites of Propontis and the mouth of the Pontion sea Withall he releeued the prouinces which were wearied with ciuill discordes and oppressions of magistrates In his returne desirous to visite the sacrifices of the Samothracians and sundrie other things for change of fortune and our beginning from thence woorthie of honor The northren windes droue him backe againe Then he coasted Asia and came to Colophona to consult with the oracle of Clarius Apollo There is no woman as at Delphos but a priest vsually chosen out of certaine families and for the most part from Miletum doth heare onely the number and names of such as come to consult then going downe to a den and drinking a draught of the secret fountaine giueth answer being commonly ignorant in learning and verses in verses touching those things which a man hath fore-thought in his minde It is reported that by circumstances of darke speeches as the manner of the oracles is he prophecied that Germanicus death was not farre of But C. Piso to the ende he might more speedily begin to effectuate his determination sharpely rebuked the citie of Athens alreadie amazed with his turbulent behauiour indirectly carping at Germanicus that contrarie to the dignitie of the Roman name he had vsed too great curtesie not towards the Athenians which had beene wasted by so manie miseries but towards a rif-raffe of other nations and those which were Mithridates confederates against Sulla and Antonies against Augustus of famous memorie Other stale matters he obiected also against them as that they had not prosperous successe against the Macedonians and vsed violence against their owne citizens bearing them also a speciall grudge bicause that at his request they woulde not deliuer on Theophilus condemned of forgery by the counsel of the Areopagites From thence sailing with all celeritie by the Cyclades and seeking out the shortest cuts at the Iland of Rhodes he ouertooke Germanicus nothing ignorant how he had backbitten him yet neuerthelesse such was his milde disposition that when Piso was driuen through tempest against the rocks and that his miscarieng might haue beene imputed to chance he sent gallies to succour him and so deliuered him from danger But all this did not mollifie Pisoes hart but scarse enduring one daies staie forsaketh and preuenteth Germanicus For being come to the legions in Syria winning the basest of the common soldiers with gifts he began to displace the old Centurions and seuere Tribunes and bestowe their roomes on his followers or to the most lewdest suffered idlenes in the campes licentiousnes in the citie vagrant and riotous souldiers to range the countrey whereby they grew to such corruption that among the common sort he was called the father of the legions Neither did Plancina containe hir selfe within the bounds of womanly modestie but woulde be present at the horsemens exercise as the running of the cohorts and vse reprochfull speeches against Agrippina and Germanicus some of the better sort of soldiers readie to follow hir humour in bad actions bicause there was a secret rumour spred that those things were not done with dislike of the Emperour Germanicus knew all this but his greatest care was to preuent the Armenians That nation was in times past doubtfull and vncertaine to the Romans not onely through their disposition and affection but also through the situation of their countrey which stretching into our prouinces reacheth euen to the Medes And being seated betwixt great kingdomes are often in wars through hatred to the Romans and enuie to the Parthians King at that time they had none Vonones being expulsed But the nation fauoured Zeno Polemon king of Pontus sonne bicause that from his infancie he had imitated the customes and attire of the Armenians their hunting and banqueting and other exercises of the Barbarians greatly esteemed thereby winning the fauour as wel of the nobilitie as cōmon people Germanicus then in the city Artaxata the noble men approouing it in the presence of a multitude crowned him King the rest doing him honor as their King saluted him after the name of the city by the name of Artaxias The Cappadocians being reduced to the forme of a Prouince receiued Q Veranius for their Lieutenant and to giue them a good hope of the Roman gouernment some of the tributes vsually before paid to the Kings diminished ouer the Comageni then first reduced vnder the regiment of a Pretor Q. Seruaeus was made gouernor XIIII Germanicus and Pisoes iarring ALbeit all the affaires of the allies were setled in good order yet Germanicus was nothing the more at his ease by reason of Pisoes pride who being commanded either by himselfe or by his sonne to conduct part of the legions to Armenia neglected both At length they both met at Cyrrum where the tenth legion wintered Piso with a resolute countenance against feare and Germanicus as I haue said the milder of the two lest he should be thought to threaten But his friends their crafts master in prouoking hatred made the most of that which was true suggested much which was false laying diuers things to his own charge Plācinas his childrens In the end Caesar in the presence of a few of his familiars vttered som such speech to Piso as anger dissimulation doth suggest Piso answered with a proud submission so they departed open enemies After that time Piso was seldome seen at Caesars tribunal if he did assist at any time he shewed himselfe froward and alwayes dissented openly from him In a banket made by the king of the Nabateans when there were presented crownes of great waight to Caesar and Agrippina and light ones to Piso and the rest He was heard to say that that banket was made to the sonne of a Romane Prince and not to the sonne of a king of Parthia and withall threw away his crowne vttering many speeches against the superfluitie of the banket which although Germanicus could hardly digest yet indured all patiently Whilest these things were adoing Embassadors came from Artabanus king of the Parthians calling to minde their friendship and alliance with the Romans
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
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
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
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
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
able to draw the truth from him And being the next day brought againe to the torture by violent force breaking from his keepers so dasht his head against a stone that immediately he yeelded vp the ghost Some were of opinion that Piso was slaine by the treacherie of the Termestines by reason he exacted more of those barbarous people then they were able to beare XI Poppaeus Sabinus defeateth the Thracians and their obstinacie LEntulus Getulicus and C. Caluisius being Consuls triumphall ornaments were awarded Poppaeus Sabinus for defeating certaine Thracians which wildly liued in high mountaines therfore more sauage fierce The cause of their rebellion besides their naturall disposition was bicause they would not that any muster should be made of their strongest and ablest men for seruice neuer accustomed to obey their Kings farther then themselues listed or if they did send any aide they appointed the conductor of them and would make no warre but against the borderers There was also a rumor then spread that they should be dispersed and brought into other nations and mingled with them But before they began to beare armes they sent Ambassadors to Sabinus declaring their amitie and obedience to the people of Rome and that they would so continue if they were not oppressed with new taxations but if like vanquished men they should liue in seruitude they had both weapons and youth and a resolute courage ether to die or liue in libertie And therewithall shewed their fortresses built on rocks whither they had conueied their parents and wiues and threatened an intricat hard bloody war But Sabinus giuing milde answeres vntill he had gathered his forces together and when Pomponius Labeo was come with a legion out of Moesia king Rhoemetalces with the aid of his countreymen which continued still in their alleageance with the forces he had at hand he marched toward the enemie possessed of the streights of the woods some of the forwardest shewing themselues in open place which the Romane captaine hauing stole vpon were easily put to flight with small bloudshed of the barbarians by reason of their refuges at hand Then fortifying in the same place seaseth on the mountaine which was narrow and euen ridged vnto the next fort garded with great but vnorderly and confuse strength and immediatly sendeth before of his choise archers against the fiercest of them before the trench as the manner of the countrey is singing ditties and verses They wounded many with shot a far off and drawing neere by a suddaine irruption of the enemie had bene driuen to the worst if the Sugambrien cohort which lay not far off in dangers venturous no lesse fierce dreadfull in noise of songs clattering of armes had not receiued them at a pinch After this Sabinus encamped neerer the enemie leauing the Thracians which as I haue alreadie said came to our side at the first fort with warrant to wast burne carry away booties so as they tooke no longer time then the day and returne at night to set a sure watch and a vigilant ouer the camp Which at the first was obserued but afterward through riot wantonnes and desire of riches neglecting their wards hunting after belly cheere and ouertaken with wine fell heauily all to sleepe The enemie vnderstanding their retchles negligence deuided his men into two squadrons the one to set on the forragers and the other to assaile the Romain camp not with hope of any surprise but by their clamors and clashing of weapons euery man intentiue to his owne danger they should not heare the noise of the other skirmish choosing the night withall to make the fear the greater But those which assaied the trench of the legion were easily repulsed the aid of the Thracians in the other fort terrified with a suddaine assault part of them lying asleepe within the trenches and part seeking prouision and stouer abroade were so much the more cruelly slaine because they were reckoned to be as fugitiues and traitors which bare armes to bring themselues and their countrey into seruitude The next day Sabinus sheweth himselfe in a place without aduantage to either side to see whether the barbarians glad of the nights successe durst venter a battell But seeing they went not out of their fortresses or hils adioyning he began to lay siege to them with a strong companie casting a trench and a parapet foure miles compas about them after that by little and little to barre them of water and forrage streightened his enclosure the first enuironing the last and raised vp a bulwarke so neere the enemie that from thence they might throw stones darts and fires into the enemies camp But nothing annoyed the enemie more then thirst a huge multitude of rawe fighting souldiers hauing but one fountaine left them for their vse withall their cattell as the custome is among barbarous people shut vp with them died for want of stouer dead carcases of men lay along as well with wounds as thirst all corrupted with putrefaction stench and infection And to make their troubled estate more miserable they fell at discord among themselues of all calamities the full measure some readie to yeeld some to die some to strike and kill one another some perswading couragiously to sallie out and not perish without reuenge and these not of the basest alloy though deuided in opinions But among the captaines Dinis a man stroken in yeares and who by long experience had tried as well the strength as clemencie of the Romaines counselled them to lay downe their armes as the only remedie in their distresse and was the first which yeelded himselfe with his wife and children to the conquerors the rest which were weake either through age or sexe and desired rather life then renowme did the like But the youth betweene Tarsa and Turesis both resolued to die with libertie were doubtfully distracted but Tarsa crying that death was to be hastened and hope and feare to be cut off at once and giuing example vnto others thrust himselfe through the breast many following the same death Turesis with his companie expected the night our captaine not being ignorant thereof and thereupon reenforced the watch The night being stormie and tempestuous the enemie now making a fierce outcry and on the sudden vsing a maruellous silence droue the besiegers into vncertainties when as Sabinus went about from one place to another exhorting them not to lay chance open to such as by their doubtfull clamors and fained silence layde traines to intrap them but that euery man should keepe his standing and take heed he threw no dart in vaine In the meane space the barbarians clustering together by troups now threw hand-stones against the rampire iauelins burnt at the end and troncheons of oake now filled vp the ditches with shrubs hurdles and dead carcasses Some of them hauing before made bridges and ladders planted them before the bulwarks catched hold of them labored to pull downe the defence grapled fought hand to
is neerest vnto the will and pleasure of a King When Tiridates was come among them they honored him with all those inuentions which Kings had been honored with in times past and with such as later ages haue more abundantly inuented Withall they powred out many reprochfull speeches against Artabanus consessing that he was indeede descended of the Arsacides on the mothers side but in other points nothing sutable Tiridates committed the gouernment of the Seleucians to the discretion of the people then consulting what day he should be crowned receiued Phrahates and Hieroes letters which had two the strongest gouernments of that kingdome intreating him that he would defer it for some small time which to satisfie those great men he yeelded vnto In the mean time he went to Cresiphon the royall seare of the kingdom perceiuing that they prolonged from one day to another Surena with the good liking of many in a great assembly crowned Tiridates according to the custome of the countrey And if he had out of hand entered farther within the countrey and other nations those lingerers had been put out of all doubt and all yeelded obedience vnto one But staying too long at the Castell whither Artabanus had conueyed his money and his concubines he gaue him time to leape back from their agreements For if Phrahates and Hiero and some others came not at the day appointed to the coronation some for feare and some for malice and hate to Abdageses who then possessed the new King and was the only fauorit in Court turned to Artabanus whom they found in Hyrcania meanely and euilfauoredly attired killing with his bow foode for his sustenance At the first he was greatly afraid as though some traine had been laid to intrap him but when they had giuen him their credit and faith that their comming was to restore him to his kingdome his spirits were reuiued and inquireth what sudden change had hapned Then Hiero finding fault with Tiridates said that he was but a child and that the Arsacides gouerned not the kingdome but the vaine name and title was in an vnwarlike person softly and tenderly brought vp among strangers that Abdageses was he which ruled and commaunded all Artabanus knowing of old what it was to rule perceiued well that those which found falshood in friendship dissembled not and therefore making no longer delay then he could assemble the Scythians forces aid setteth forward with al speede to preuent the wiles of his enemies and keepe his friends from slipping back yea he did not so much as wipe off the filth and vncleanes of his bodie because he would moue the common people to compassion There was no subtletie no praier nor ought else forgotten whereby he might draw the doubtful to him or confirme assure the willing readie He came then with a strong power vnto the places adioyning to Seleucia when as Tiridates stroken into a feare with the fame and person of Artabanus was distracted in minde whether he should encounter him or draw out the warre by lingering Such as desired battell and quick worke perswaded that the enemie was dispersed stragled and wearied with their long iourney and scarse resolued to obey Artabanus being so lately traitors and enimies vnto him though now his support aid But Abdageses thought it best to returne into Mesopotamia that hauing the riuer as a defence betweene him the enimie calling in the meane space the Armenians Elymaei and the residue which were behind them and their forces augmēted with allies friends such as the Romane captaine would send them then to trie the chance of war That aduise preuailed bicause of Abdageses authoritie Tiridates rawnes in matters of danger yet that retiring differed not much frō fleeing the Arabians first leading the dance the rest drawing to their houses or to Artabanus camp vntill Tiridates returning backe into Syria with a small company acquited them all of the infamie of treason XI Tiberius repaireth with his owne charges part of Rome which was burnt how Macro wonne C. Caesars fauour THe same yeere Rome was greatly damnified with fire that part of the Cirque which ioyned vnto the hill Auentine and al the buildings also vpon Auentine being wasted consumed to ashes which losse Caesar conuerted to his glory by giuing the owners out of his purse as much as the losse of their houses and buildings came vnto which munificence amounted to a hundred millions of sesterces which was so much the more acceptable to the people bicause that in his owne buildings he was alwaies moderate Neither had he euer made aboue two publicke buildings the one a Temple to Augustus the other the stage of Pompeius Theater which being finished yet he left vndedicated either as despising ambitiō or by reason of his age And to make an estimate of euery mans losse Tiberius fower sons in lawe were chosen Gn. Domitius Cassius Longinus M. Vinicius and Rubellius Blandus P. Petronius ioyned with them by the Consuls appointment euery man inuenting newe honours for the Prince as his wit capacity would giue him leaue which whether he accepted or refused was vncertaine by reason of his death which followed shortly after For not long after the last Consuls in Tiberius raign G. Acerronius C. Pontius began their charge when Macroes power credit was growen ouer great which he increased more more with C. Caesar although before he was neuer negligent therin And after Claudiaes death who as I haue alreadie said was married vnto that Caesar he egged and perswaded his owne wife Ennia to allure draw the yoong man to her loue intangle him vnder promise of marriage as one which would do whatsoeuer to laie hold on the soueraigntie For although he were of a turbulent and hot spirit notwithstanding he had as it were sucked out of his grandfathers bosome the arte of cunning dissembling Tiberius knew this verie well and therefore was not resolued which of his nephewes he should first make successor to the state Of which the one was Drusus sonne neerest vnto him in blood whom he tendered best but was vnder age and Germanicus sonne the other in the flower of his youth and of the people welbeloued therefore the woorse liked of his grandfather And bethinking himselfe of Claudius seeing he was of stayed and setled yeeres and desirous of learning yet altered his deliberation bicause he was weake and slender witted And yet if he should seeke for a successor out of his house he feared least the memorie of Augustus the name of Caesars should be had in reproch and contempt For he was not so carefull to winne the fauour of the time present as ambitious of fame with posteritie But in the end irresolute what to conclude and growing weake and feeble of bodie that which was out of the compasse of his power he committed to fate hauing notwithstanding cast out speeches whereby it might be
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
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
bondmen L. Varius somtimes Consull was restored to his dignitie remoued before for couetous dealing and extortion And Pomponia Graecina a noble woman and wife to Plautius who returned with a small triumph out of Britannia and accused of strange superstition was remitted to the iudgement of her husband and he according to the auncient custome in the presence of her neerest kindred heard her cause of life and death and pronounced her innocent This Pomponia liued long and in continuall sorrow for after that Iulia Drusus daughter was murdered by Messallinaes trecherie she was not seene for forty yeers but in mourning apparel and very sad doleful Which she might lawfully do whilest Claudius raigned afterward turned to her glory Many citizens were accused that yeere of which number P Celer being one at the information of the inhabitants of Asia because Caesar could not acquit him he prolonged his cause till he died of age For Celer as I haue alreadie sayd hauing besturred himselfe in the murdering of Silanus the Proconsull cloaked all other villanies vnder the greatnes of that lewd action The Cilicians accused Cossutianus Capito criminally noted and discredited with many vices thinking he had had the same priuilege of vsing insolent behauiour in the prouince as he had done in the citie But turmoiled and molested with an ouerthwart accusation in the end letting fall his defence was condemned of extorsion Great suings preuailed so much for Eprius Marcellus of whom the Lycians demaunded restitution that some of the accusers were banished as though they had indangered an innocent man VIII A liberalitie of Nero towards certaine decaied gentlemen The warre of Armenia renewed Tiridates departeth the countrey WHen Nero was the third time Consull Valerius Messalla entered the same office whose great grandfather Coruinus an orator some old men remember to haue beene companion in office with Augustus of famous memorie Neroes great grandfathers father But the honor of this noble familie was bettered by giuing Messalla by yeare fiue hundred thousand sesterces to relieue his harmelesse pouertie To Aurelius Cotta likewise and Haterius Antoninus the Prince graunted that an annuall sum of money should be giuen although they had wasted riotously the wealth their ancestors had left them In the beginning of that yeere the warre which was drawne at length with soft and milde beginnings vntill then betweene the Parthians and the Romans for obtaining of Armenia was nowe hotly pursued because Vologeses would neither suffer his brother Tiridates to be depriued of the kingdome in which he had inuested him nor that he should enioy it as a gift from another Lord and Corbulo thought it woorthie of the greatnes of the people of Rome to recouer that which by Lucullus and Pompey had beene once gotten The Armenians being doubtfull and faithfull to neither side inuited both yet by the site of their countrey and conformitie of conditions being more neere vnto the Parthians and intermingled with them by mariages and not knowing what libertie was inclined rather to that seruitude But Corbulo had more adoe with the slothfulnes of the souldiers then perfidiousnes of the enimies for the legions remoued from Syria by a long peace grown lazie and idle could hardly endure the labor and paines of the Roman discipline Certaine it was there were old souldiers in that campe which had neuer kept watch nor ward a rampire or trench they gazed at as at a new and strange deuise without head-peeces without curasses neate and fine hunting after gaine hauing spent all their seruice in townes Whereupon the olde and feeble being dismissed he desired a supplie which was had out of Galatia and Cappadocia And to them was added a legion out of Germanie with wings of horsemen and all the armie kept in campe although the winter were so hard and the earth so couered with yce that they could not pitch their tents vnlesse they had first digged the ground Manie of their limmes grew starcke with extremitie of cold and many died in keeping the watch And there was a souldier noted carriyng a faggot whose hands were so stiffe frozen that sticking to his burden they fell from him as though they had beene cut from his armes Corbulo slightly apparailed bare headed was with them when they marched when they laboured praised the stout comforted the feeble and gaue example vnto them all Then bicause many refusing to endure the hardnes of the season such rigor of discipline forsooke him he sought a redresse by seueritie for he did not pardon the first and second fault as in other armies but he suffered death presently who forsooke his ensigne which by experience proued more profitable then clemencie For fewer forsooke that campe then where there was much mercie shewen In the meane season Corbulo hauing kept the legions in campe vntill the spring and disposed the aydcohorts in conuenient places charged them not to giue the onset The charge of the garrisons he committed to Pactius Ophitus once Captaine of the first ensigne who although he wrote to Corbulo that the Barbarians were carelesse and disordered and a fit occasion offered of atchieuing some exploite yet he was commaunded to keepe within his garrison and expect greater power But breaking his commandement when he saw a few troupes of horsemen issue out of a castle hard by and vnskilfully demaund battell he encountered the enimie and went away with the losse And those which should haue seconded them terrified with that discomfiture fled as fast as they could euerie man to his hold which to Corbulo was an exceeding griefe Who rebuking Pactius and the Captaines and the souldiers commaunded them all to pitch their tents out of the campe and there kept them in that disgrace vntil they were deliuered by the intercession sute of the whole armie But Tiridates besides his own followers succoured by his brother Vologeses not now by stelth but with open warre molesteth Armenia spoiling all such he thought faithfull to vs and if any forces were brought against him he deluded them by flying hither and thither terrifiyng more by fame then fight Corbulo therefore seeking occasion to ioyne battell but in vaine and constrained to make war now in one place now in another as the enimy did seuered his forces to the end that the Lieutenants Captaines might inuade diuers places at once Withall he aduertised King Antiochus to set on the gouernment next adioyning to him For Pharasmanes his sonne Rhadamistus being slaine as a traitor towardes him to testifie his loyaltie towards vs shewed more willingly his inueterate hatred against the Armenians Then the Isichians a nation neuer before confederate with vs being nowe brought to our side inuaded the hardest passages of Armenia whereby all Tiridates deseignments were crossed He sent Embassadors to expostulate in his owne and the Parthians name Why hauing of late giuen hostages and renewed amitie which opened the way to new benefites he should be driuen from the auncient possession of Armenia therefore
Sabina Poppaea daughter of T. Ollius but she had takē the name of Sabinus Poppaeus her grandfather by the mothers side a man of worthie memorie honored with the Consularie dignitie ornaments of triumph for Seianus friendship did ouerthrow Ollius before he came to any dignities This woman was graced with all things sauing an honest mind for her mother surpassing other women of her time in beautie gaue her both glorie beautie wealth she had sufficiēt to maintain her nobilitie her speech affable gratious nor no grosse wit but knowing wel how to pretend modestie liue lasciously she came little abroad and then part of her face couered with a vaile either not to fill the eie of the beholder or bicause it becōmed her best of her credite regard she had neuer making no differēce betweene hir husbands adulterers neither subiect to her owne will nor anothers but where profit was offered thither she carried her affection This woman then being wife to Rufus Crispinus a gentleman of Rome by whom she had a sonne Otho seduced through his youth riot bicause he was most inwarde in friendship with Nero It was not long but they ioined marriage to adulterie Otho either bicause he was vncircumspect in loue or bicause he would enflame the princes lust praised his wiues beautie and comely feature in his presence that both enioying one woman his credite and authoritie might by that bond grow greater He hath bin often heard to say as he hath risen from banquetting with Caesar that he woulde go to her in whom was all beautie and nobilitie and to her who kindling all mens desire was able to make them most happie Through these and the like prouocations there was no long delaie made Nero then finding accesse vnto her Poppaea at the first by allurements and cunning began to inueigle him saying that she was not able to withstande his loue and that she was ouercome with his beautie Then perceiuing the princes lust to be growen hot she began to grow proud and if she entertained him aboue a night or two it was all she coulde affoorde him saying she was a married wife and that she could not abandon her husband as being bounde vnto Otho for his manner of cariage and behauiour which fewe came neere vnto that he was in courage and demeanour magnificent and in all respects woorthie of highest fortune As for Nero vsing a bond-slaue for his concubine and tied to Actes familiaritie he had learned nothing of that seruile companie but basenes and niggardice Otho after this was barred of the accustomed familiaritie with the Prince then of his companie and retinue and last of all least he should be his concurrent in the citie he made him gouernour of the prouince of Portingall Where he liued vntill the ciuill wars not as before disorderly but honestly and vncorruptly as one loosly giuen when he had little to do but in office and rule more stayed and temperate All this while Nero sought to cloke his vitiousnes and licentious life Afterward he beganne to be iealous of Cornelius Syllaes dull and heauie disposition interpreting it contrarie to that which it was deeming him a craftie and subtle dessembler Which iealousie Graptus a freed man of Caesars by age and experience and time vntill then well practised in Princes houses augmented with this lie The Miluian bridge in those daies was notorious for a haunt of dissolute and vnruly persons in the night Whither Nero resorted also to inioy his licentious pleasures more freely being out of the towne and returning backe by the Flaminian way Graptus put him in the head that there had bin wait laid for him which he escaped by destinie because he went another way to Sallustius gardens falsly accused Sylla to be the author thereof Bicause that some of the Princes seruitors returning that way by chaunce were by some licentious behauiour of youth which in that place was verie cōmon put in greater fright than danger Yet there was no one of Syllaes seruitours or vassals knowen His faint hart and not daring any enterprise being well knowen to be farre from any such fact yet neuerthelesse as though he had been conuicted he was commaunded to depart his countrey and liue within the wals of Marsiles Vnder the same Consuls the Embasies of the Puteolanians were heard which the Senators on one side and the communaltie on the other sent to the Senate the Senators charging the communaltie with insolencie and the people charging the magistrates chiefe gentlemen with couetuousnes And when the sedition was alreadie growen to throwing of stones and threatning to fire one another and like to drawe on murder and war C. Cassius was chosen to order the matter but knowing that they could not endure his seueritie at his request that care was committed to the brothers the Scribonians with a band of the Emperours guarde through the terrour of which and punishment of a fewe the townesmen were set at quietnes againe I would not speake of the very common decree of Senate by which the citie of Syracusa was licensed to exceede the number prefixed in the shew of Fencers If Paetus Thrasea had not spoken against it and giuen matter vnto backbiters to reprehend his iudgement For said they if he beleeued that the common-wealth wanted the libertie of Senators why did he meddle in such trifles He should rather haue perswaded or disswaded matters of warre or peace of tributes of lawes and other things wherein consisted the estate of Rome It was lawfull for the Lords of the Senate as oft as they thought conuenient to giue their opinion to propounde what they listed and aske for a consultation vpon it Was it onely woorthie of correcting that at Syracusa the plaies should not be so long Be all other things in the Empire as well as if not Nero but Thrasea had the gouerment thereof The which if they were let passe with great dissimulation how much more should they forbeare vaine trifles Thrasea on the contrary his friends demaunding him a reason why he contradicted the decree made answere that he did it not as being ignorant of the present estate of things but for the greater honour of the Lords of the Senat and shew manifestly that they would not dissemble in important affaires which would looke into such small matters XII Matters of policie redressed The Senators withstand Nero touching subsidies THe same yeere through the often and importunate sute of the people blaming the couetousnes of the farmers of the common rents Nero doubted whether it were best to command that there should no more subsidies and tributes be leuied and giue so faire a gift to the worlde But this sudden pang hauing first commended the bounteousnes of his minde the LL. of the Senate staied affirming it to be the dissolution of the Empire if the reuenewes by which it was sustained should be diminished for if custome were taken away it would follow that the abolishing of
tributes woulde be demaunded Manie societies of tributes and tallages were established by the Consuls and Tribunes of the people euen when the communaltie had greatest libertie Things afterwarde were so proportioned that the receits and reuenues shoulde be answerable to the layings out Indeede the couetousnes of the farmers was to be moderated least things tolerated so many yeeres without complaint should turne to further mischiefe and hatred by their strange greedines The prince therefore by edict commanded that the taxation of euerie custome which hitherto hath bin concealed should now be published and that the farmers should not after the yeere was expired demaund any thing let slip or forgottē during that time That in Rome the Pretor in the prouinces those which supplied the places of the pretors Consuls should extraordinarily determine against the farmers of common rents That souldiers shoulde keepe their immunitie those things excepted wherin they trafficked and many other iust things which obserued a short time afterward came to nothing Neuerthelesse the abolishing of one in fortie and one in fiftie continueth and what other names the farmers had inuented for their vnlawfull exactions The carriage of corne to partes beyond the seas was moderated And ordained that marchants ships should not be valued in the generall estimate of their goods nor tribute paied for them Caesar discharged Sulpitius Camerinus and Pomponius Siluanus who had beene Proconsuls in Affrike and accused by the prouince obiecting against Camerinus rather cruell dealing against a few priuat men then extortion in generall A great number of accusers came about Siluanus and required time to produce witnesses but the defendant desired his defences might presently be hearde which being rich childlesse and old he obtained and ouerliued those by whose suite he had escaped The estate of Germanie was quiet vntill then through the industrie of the captaines who seeing the honor of triumph common hoped for greater glory if they could continue peace Paullinus Pompeius and L. Vetus had charge of the armie at that time yet least they should keepe the souldier in idlenes Paullinus finished a banke begun threescore and three yeeres before by Drusus to keepe in the riuer of Rhene Vetus went about to ioyne Mosella and Araris by a ditch cast betweene them that the armies conueyed by sea then by Rhodanus and Araris by that ditch anon after by Mosa into Rhene in the end should fall into the Ocean that all difficulties of the passages taken away the west and north seas might be nauigable from the one to the other Aelius Gracilis Lieutenant of Belgia enuied the worke dehorting Vetus least he should bring the legions into anothers prouince seeke to win the harts of the Gallois affirming it to be dangerous to the Emperour a pretext which often hindereth honest indeuours Through the continuall rest of the armies a rumor was spred that the Lieutenants were forbidden to leade them against the enemie Whereupon the Frisians placed their youth in the woods and marishes sent their feeble old men to the banks of Rhene planting them in voide grounds appointed out for the vse of souldiers Verritus and Malorigis being the authors thereof who then gouerned the countrey which the Germains were Lords of Now they had built houses sowed the ground and tilled it as though it had been their natiue countrey when Dubius Auitus hauing receiued the prouince of Paullinus threatning to send the Roman forces vnlesse the Frisians would returne to their old homes or obtaine a new place of habitation of Caesar enforced Varritus and Malorigis to fall to intreatie And taking their iourney to Rome whilest they attended for Nero busied in other matters among other things woont to be shewen to barbarous people they went to Pompeius Theater to behold the multitude of people There at their leisure for being vnskilfull in those plaies tooke no great delight in them whilest they inquired of many things touching the assemblie skaffolds differences of degrees which were gentlemen where the Senators sate they perceiued some in a strange attire in the Senators roomes and asking who they were when they vnderstoode that that honour was done to the Embassadors of those countries which excelled in vertue and friendship with the Romans they cried that There were none in the world more valiant and faithfull than the Germans and so went and sate among the Lords of the Senate which was courteously taken of the beholders as a forwardnes of their old good nature and a commendable emulation of vertue Nero gaue them both the priuileges of a citizen of Rome and commaunded the Frisians to depart the countrey they had possessed who refusing to obeie a troupe of ayde horsemen sent on the sudden forced them to it and those taken and slaine which most obstinately resisted The Ansibariās entered the same territories a stronger nation then the other not onely by their owne strength but by the pitie their neighbours take on them bicause that being driuen out by the Chauci and wanting dwelling places they desired they might haue it as a sure place of exile They had for their conductor a man of great reputation in that countrey and vnto vs likewise trustie called Boiocalus who declared how by the commaundement of Arminius he had beene taken prisoner when the Cheruscirebelled then how he had serued the Romans fiftie yeeres vnder Tiberius and Germanicus He said further He would put his nation vnder our dominion What neede was there of such spatious waste grounds to put at sometimes onely the souldiers heards and cattell to feed That they might reserue those grounds they had receiued for their stocks albeit men died with famine so as they desired not rather a wildernes than an habitation of people their confederates In times past those fields belonged to the Chamauorians then to the Tubantians and in the ende to the Vsipians As the heauen was giuen the gods so the earth to makind and that which was not possessed was common Then beholding the sunne and calling vpon the rest of the stars he asked as it were in their presence whether they would see the land naked That they would rather ouerwhelme the takers away of the earth with the sea Auitus mooued with these speeches aunswered that the commaundement of their betters was to be obeied It was the will of the gods whom they called vpon that the arbitrement should belong to the Romans what they should giue and what take away neither would they suffer any iudges but themselues These things he aunswered the Ansibarians in publicke to Boiocalus he would giue grounds in memorie of his friendship Which he as if it had beene a reward of treason contemning added We may want land to liue in but to die in we cannot and so they parted both discontented They called the Bructeri and Tencteri and other nations further off their confederates to ioine in warre with them Auitus hauing written to Curtilius Mancia Lieutenant of the vpper armie that he should passe
ouer Rhene and shew the forces behinde them conducted the legions himselfe into the Tencterans countrey threatning their destruction vnles they would breake with the Ansibarians These therefore desisting the Bructeri daunted with the like feare and the rest fleeing from others perils the Ansibarian nation alone retired back to the Vsipians and Tubantians from whose territories being expulsed as they went to the Catti then to the Cherusci by long wandering strangers poore enemies in a strange countrey that youth that was left was slaine those that for age were vnfit for warre diuided for a pray The same summer there was a great battell fought betweene the Hermunduri and Catti each side striuing by force to be maister of a riuer which yeelded aboundance of salt sited in the confines of both their countries And besides a desire of ending all strifes by warre they had a religion rooted in them that those places are aboue others neere heauen and the prayers of mortall men no where sooner heard then from thence For they were of opinion that by the goodnes of the gods in that riuer and in those woods came increase of salt not as in other countries of the wooes of the sea when the water is dried vp but by that water cast vpon a pile of wood set on fire by the vertue of two contrary elements fire and water which becommeth thick and congealed The warre was prosperous on the Hermundurians side but the vtter ruine of the Catteans because of a vow they made that if they were conquerors they would dedicate the contrary army to Mars and Mercury protesting horses men all things ouercome should be put to the sword and truly those deadly threats were turned against themselues But the citie of the Iuhonians confederate with vs was afflicted with a sudden disaster for fires issuing out of the earth burned townes fields villages euery where and spread euen vnto the walles of a Colonie newly built and could not be extinguished neither by raine nor riuer water nor any other liquor that could be employed vntill for want of remedie and anger of such a destruction certaine peasants cast stones a farre off into it then the flames somewhat slakning drawing neere they put it out with blowes of clubs and other like as if it had been a wilde beast Last of all they threw in clothes from their backs which the more worne and fouler the better they quenched the fires The same yeere the Fig tree called Ruminalis in the place of assemblies which aboue eight hundred and fortie yeeres before had couered Remus and Romulus infancie hauing his boughes dead and the bodie beginning to wither was held as a prodigious signe vntill it began to flourish againe and thrust out new shootes THE FOVR TEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Nero abused by Poppaea determineth to put to death Agrippina his mother Agrippinaes vnchast life to maintaine her greatnes CVipsanius and Fonteius being Consuls Nero deferred no longer his long before intended wickednes his boldnes by long rule being increased and his lust to Poppaea more and more enflamed who casting off all hope of marrying Nero or seeing a diuorce betweene him and Octauia whilest Agrippina liued sometimes tauntingly and sometimes merily began to find her self grieued with the Prince and calling him a ward subiect vnto others controulement said he was so far from the gouerment of the Empire that he wanted his owne libertie For why was the marrying of her delayed forsooth her beautie did not please his eye nor the noblenes of her grand-fathers who had so oft triumphed Or did he misdoubt her childbearing and true affection or least being his wife she should discouer the iniuries done to the Senat and the anger of the people against the pride and couetousnes of his mother But if Agrippina could indure no daughter in lawe but such as her sonne can worst away withall let her be restored againe to Otho her husband She was content to go any whither where shee should rather heare of the contumelies done to the Prince then see them and take part of his dangers These and the like pearcing speeches with teares and cunning by the adulteresse vttered no man hindered all men desiring that the mothers authoritie were taken lower and no man beleeuing that the sonnes hate would extend to her death Cluuius doth report that Agrippina through a burning desire of continuing her authoritie and greatnes grew to that shamelesnes that in the midst of the day when Nero was well tippled and full of good cheere she offered herselfe to him drunke as he was trimly decked and readie to commit incest and the standers by noted her lasciuious kisses and other allurements messengers of her vnchast meaning And how Seneca hauing recourse to another woman for a remedie against these intisments sent Actes a freed woman priuilie to him who carefull as well of her owne danger as Neroes infamie gaue aduertisment that the incest was commonly spoken of by reason his mother bragged thereof and that the souldiers would not endure the gouerment of so profane a Prince Fabius Rusticus reported that not Agrippina but Nero lusted after that but was discouraged by the cunning of the same freed woman But what Cluuius had reported is confirmed by other authors and the fame inclineth that way either because Agrippina had conceiued indeede so heinous a fact in her minde or that an intention of strange lust seemed more credible in her who in her yongyeeres blinded with hope of rule forfeited her honestie with Lepidus and with the like lust abandoned her bodie euen to Pallas will as one hardned and shameles in all loosenes of life by marrying her owne vncle Therefore Nero eschued her secret companie And when she went to her gardens or to Tusculanum or Antiates he praised her that she droue away idlenes At last wheresoeuer she bestowed her selfe thinking her troublesome to him determined to make her away whether by poison or by the sword or any other violence that only was his doubt and first he resolued to do it by poison But if it should be giuen her at his table it could not be attributed to chance Britannicus alreadie dying the same death and to sound the minds of her seruants seemed dangerous and being a woman long practised in wickednes was alwayes armed against the like and by taking counterpoisons before hand it was to be feared it would take no effect To kill her with the sword there was no inuention how to conceale the murder and Nero feared least any chosen to so dangerous attempt should refuse to obey II. Anicetus worketh a meanes how to make away Agrippina Neroes mother ANicetus a freed man captaine of the nauie at Misenum one which had brought vp Nero in his childhood hating and hated of Agrippina found out an inuention for the purpose which was that there might a gallie be made loose by arte in the bottome that should let her fall into the
punishmēts inflicted without note of the seuerity of the iudges infamy of times With the losse of his goods he should be confined in some Iland where by how much the longer he drew his guiltie life by so much the more miserable it should be to himselfe in particular and in time to come a notable example of publicke clemencie Thraseas libertie of speech broke the silence of the rest And after that the Consull had permitted the going aside to agree in their opinions all of them a fewe excepted condescended to Thrafeas opinion amongst whom the forwardest in flatterie was A. Vitellius brauling and contending with euerie one of the better sort but neuer replying to an answere a certaine note to know a timorous and faint hart But the Consuls not daring to put the decree in execution with common consent wrote to Caesar who wauering betwixt shame and anger in the end wrote againe That Antistius no iniurie before offered him had vsed most contumelious speeches against the Prince whereof a reuenge was demaunded of the Senat. And it was conuenient that a punishment should be ordayned answerable to the greatnes of the offence As for himselfe as he would haue hindered the seueritie of their resolution so he would not be against the moderation of the punishment therefore they might determine as they thought good giuing them power if they lusted to acquite him These or the like speeches recited and his dislike manifestly perceiued yet for all that neither did the Consuls alter their relation or Thrasea shrinke from his opinion or the rest goe from that which they had once allowed part of them least they should seeme to haue exposed the Prince to enuie many shrowding themselues vnder the number of voices Thrasea by his accustomed stoutnes of courage and because he would not fall from his glorie alreadie gotten Fabricius Veiento was accused of the like crime for vttering many slanderous speeches against the Lords of the Senate and Priests in those bookes which he called Codicillos Talius Geminus his accuser added further of him that he had sold offices and fauours of the Prince and the right of obtaining honours which was the cause why Nero vndertooke the hearing of that iudgement Who after conuiction banished Veiento out of Italie and commaunded his bookes to be burnt which as long as the reading and getting of them was dangerous were much sought for then libertie of hauing them graunted they were forgotten XIIII The death of Burrhus and who Tigellinus and Rufus his successours were The decay of Senecaes credit with an oration of his to Nero with Neroes answere AS publicke calamities daily increased so the remedies against them grewe scarse And Burrhus ended his life but whether by sicknes or poison vncertain It was coniectured by sickenesse because that his winde-pipe within swelling by little and little and in the end stopped he yeelded vp the ghost Most men affirme that by Neroes commaundement making as though he would haue applied a remedie to the palate of his mouth annointed it with poison and that Burrhus vnderstanding the practise when Caesar came to visite him turned his face from him and asking him how he did answered onely I am well He was much lamented in the citie for the memorie of his vertue and harmlesse sloth of one of his successors and enormous wickednes and adulteries of the other For Caesar had made two Captaines of the garde Fenius Rufus through the fauour of the people because he dealt in corne matters without gaine and Sofonius Tigellinus who helde on his old course of vncleane and infamous life which by custome was another nature in him Tigellinus was more inward with the Prince chosen as one priuie to his secret pleasures Rufus was of good reputation and fame with the people and accepted of the souldiers which he found by experience to breed Neroes mislike The death of Burrhus weakened Senecaes authoritie bicause his good artes wanted the strength they had hauing lost one as it were of their guides Nero inclined to the worser sort Which with sundrie sorts of calumniations set vpon Seneca saying That he continually heaped vp wealth aboue the calling of a priuate man and sought to win the peoples harts that in pleasant gardings and stately buildings he did almost exceede the Prince They obiected also that he attributed to himselfe onely the praise of eloquence and made verses often after he saw that Nero tooke a liking to them For shewing openly a dislike of the princes pleasures he detracted from his skil in riding and scoffed at his voice when he sang to what other purpose but that nothing should seeme excellent in the common-wealth which was not thought to be his inuention Nero was now out of his childhood and in the strength of his youth he should shake off his master being alreadie instructed with sufficient teachers to wit his ancestors But Seneca knowing of these accusations by some which had a care of honestie and Caesar more and more estranging himselfe from his familiaritie desireth a time to be heard and hauing obtained it beginneth thus It is foureteene yeeres Caesar since I haue beene put to thee as a guide to thy hope and eight since thou hast gouerned the Empire From that time vntill this thou hast heaped on me so many dignities and so much wealth that there wanteth nothing to my felicitie but the moderation of them I will alleage great examples not of mine owne calling but of thine Augustus thy great great grandfathers father licensed M. Agrippa to withdraw himselfe to Mitylenum to liue a priuate life and C. Maecenas to abide in the citie yet at ease as if he had beene in a forraine countrey Whereof the one a companion of his warres the other tossed and wearied with many trauels at Rome had receiued large rewards but answerable to their manifold deserts As for my selfe what was there in me for the requitall of thy munificencie saue onely my stuas I may say nourished in the shadow By which I haue gotten credit and reputation because I seemd to haue beene at hand and directed thy youth with instructions a great recompence in very deed of my trauell But thou hast done me besides this great fauours and inriched me with infinite wealth in so much that I do oft debate the matter with my selfe saying Am I being but a gentleman onely and borne out of the citie reckoned among the chiefest peeres of the citie Can it be that my new rising can shine among noble men honored with the marks of ancient antiquity Where is that minde of mine which once was contented with a little What doth he make such goodly gardens walke in such manner houses neer the wals of the citie doth he abound in such scope of grounds and vsury in so many places One defence commeth to minde for all that is that it was not my part to striue against thy gifts but both of vs haue filled our measure thou by
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
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
himselfe in Germanie Being a countrey of it selfe rude and the aire vnpleasant and rough to looke on ilfauoured not mannured nor husbanded They giue it out as a high point in old verses which is the onely way they maintaine the memorie of things as their Annales that the god Tuisto sonne of the earth and his sonne Mannus were their first founders and beginners To Mannus they assigne three sonnes whose names the Ingaeuones tooke a nation neere the Ocean the Istaeuones and Herminones lying betweene them both But some through a licence which antiquitie doth giue affirme that the King had moe sonnes from which moe nations tooke their names as the Marsi Gambriui Sueui Vandali all true and auncient names As for the name Germanie it is a new name lately coyned for those which first past the riuer of Rhene droue out the Gallois were now called Tungri now Germani so the name of one people not of the whole nation growing great by little and little as they were all at the first called for feare as best liked the Conquerour so at last Germans being a name of their owne inuention And they record that Hercules came amongst them of all that euer was the valiantest person They goe singing to the warres And haue certaine verses by singing of which calling it Barditus they incourage their people and by the same song foretell the fortune of the future battell for they both strike a feare into others and are themselues striken with feare according to the measure and tune of the battell seeming rather an harmonie of valour than voices and do affect principally a certaine roughnes of the voice and a broken confuse murmur by putting their targets before their mouthes to the end their voice by the reuerberation might sound bigger and fuller Yea some are of opinion that Vlisses in his long and fabulous wandring being brought to this Ocean came into Germanie and built the towne Asciburgium vpon the banke of Rhene and inhabited at this day which he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And that an altar consecrated to Vlisses hath been found in the same place with his fathers name Laërtes and that there are yet monuments extant and certaine tumbes inscribed with Greeke letters in the confines of Germanie and Rhaetia which I intend not to confirme by reasons or confute and therefore I leaue it to euerie mans iudgement to beleeue or not For mine owne part I hold with them which thinke that the people of Germanie not changed and altered by marrying with other nations haue continued the true and pure nation like vnto none but themselues And therefore you see they haue all one feature and making though they be infinite in number firie and gray eies yellow haire great bodies and strong at a push onely Trauell and paine they cannot endure nor yet thirst nor heate but to hunger and cold the aire and the countrey hath inured them The soile although differing somewhat in kind yet generally is wilde with woods or vnpleasant and ilfauoured with marishes moister towards Gallia more windie towards Noricum and Pannony batfull enough but bad for fruit-bearing-trees cattle plentie but for the most part harletry runts their kine and labouring beast hath no beautie in him all their ioye is in plentie of them and therein consisteth their wealth the wealth they chiefly desire Siluer gold whether the angry or fauourablegods haue denied them I doubt Neither wil I affirme that there is no vaine in Germany which yeeldeth siluer gold for who hath sought it the possession of these metals or vse they do not greatly affect Yet vessels of plate you may see among them presented to their Embassadors Princes but as smally accompted of as if they were of earth although the borderers for commoditie of trafficke like gold and siluer well and do acknowledge and choose some coine bearing our images Those which dwell further in the land go more simplie to worke and according to the old manner haue no buying and selling but by exchange of commodities The older the money and longest knowne the better liked as that which is toothed about like a sawe or hath the picture of a chariot drawen with two horses They desire rather siluer then gold not for any liking vnto it but because that being in smaller money it is easlier put away in buying and selling of small wares Yron they haue little among them as by their weapons it may be gathered Few of them vse swords or great lances but carrie Iauelins or as they terme them Frameas with a narrow and short yron but so sharp and handsome that as occasion serueth with the same weapon they can fight both at hand and a farre off and the horseman is contented with a shield and a framea The footemen vse weapons to throw one man a great many and that a great way off naked or couered with a light cassocke Handsomnes and neatnes in attire they do not brag of but trim and distinguish their shields only with varietie of colours Brigantine or cote of fence few haue Salet or head-peece scarse any one vseth Their horses are neither beautifull to the eye nor swift nor mannaged to the carrire according to our fashion but to go on straight or turne on the right hand so close and round that not one drags behinde another All things well considered their greatest strength consisteth of footemen and therefore in their fight they mingle the one with the other the footemen which are a chosen number out of the youth and placed before the battell neither going too hastily before the horsemen nor drailing after but marching in proportionable measure with them There is a certain number set downe that is of euery towneship or borough an hundred for so they terme themselues and that which was but a number at the first is now a name and an honor Their battels be pointed to giue ground so as they charge lustely after they thinke rather a point of good policie then cowardlines The bodies of their souldiers they carrie away euen in doubtfull battels to abandon his shield is the chiefest disgrace and offence an ignominious person is barred from their sacrifices and from their assemblies and many which haue fled from battels haue for shame hanged themselues Their Kings they choose by noblenes of birth and their Captaines by valour The Kings power is restrained and not to do what he listeth and their Captaines if they be forward in sight and in the point of the battell are admired and reuerenced rather for their example then commanderie Power to punish to emprison or beate none haue but Priests yet that not as a punishment or at the Captaines commandement but as it were by the commaundement of God whom they beleeue doth assist warriors in battels and carrie before them certaine images and monuments taken out of the woods And which is the chiefest encouragement of all they make not their pointed battell at
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
yet continuing for which although great preparation was made for the sommer following yet he by a sudden incursion made on the Chatti did anticipate it in the beginning of the spring For a rumor bred a hope that the enimies were banded into factions some fauoring Arminius and others Segestes the one most loyall and the other most disloyall vnto vs. Arminius disquieted Germanie Segestes discouered often to Varus but especially in the last banket after which armes were taken a rebellion intended and counselled him to cast himselfe Arminius and the chiefest of the conspirators into prison the people not daring any attempt the ringleaders being taken away and that he should haue time thereby to sift out the offenders from the innocent But Varus by destinie and Arminius violence died And although Segestes was by common consent drawen to the war yet he shewed himselfe very backward by his priuate grudge against Arminius increasing more and more bicause he had taken away by force his daughter betrothed to another Thus then the sonne in lawe being odious to the father the fathers in lawe at vtter defiance betwixt themselues that which should serue for a bond of friendship among friends serued here for a prouocation of wrath and malice Whereupon Germanicus committed fower legions to Cecinaes charge fiue thousand auxiliaries and certaine Germain bands leuied in haste inhabiting the hither side of Rhene Himselfe conducted the like number of legions with twise as many confederates and hauing builded a fort on the hill Taunus where his father before him had appointed a garrison led his armie without encombrance against the Chatti leauing L. Apronius behinde him to mend and make sure the passages by land and riuers for by reason of a drought and lownesse of the waters a thing seldome seene in that countrie they had marched a good way without danger but feared raine and rising of the water at his returne But his comming was so sudden vpon the Chatti that the weaker sort by age or sexe were presently either taken or slaine the yoong men swam ouer the riuer Adrana and draue backe the Romans which began a bridge But at last driuen away themselues with shot of arrowes and other engins entreating in vaine of conditions of peace some fled to Germanicus the rest abandoning their villages and houses dispersed themselues in the woods Germanicus hauing burned Mattium the capitall citie of the countrey returned toward the Rhene the enimie not daring to set on him as he retired as his manner is when he gaue grounde rather vpon policie then feare The Cherusci woulde willingly haue succoured the Chatti but Caecinaes armie fleeting from place to place kept them in awe and ouerthrew the Marsi which ventured to ioine battell with him Shortly after embassadors came from Segestes to craue aid against the violence of his countriemen which had besieged him Arminius bearing greater sway bicause he incited them to warre For among barbarous people the more audacious a man sheweth himselfe the more loiall he is reputed and the fittest instrument in troubled times Segestes ioined his sonne Sigismond to these embassadors but being touched in conscience was vnwillingly drawn to it bicause that when the Germans rebelled being priested at the altar of the Vbians he brake his head-bande which was the marke of his calling and fled to the rebels Yet trusting in the Romans clemencie fulfilled his fathers commandement and being courteously receiued was conueied with a garde to the shores of Gallia After this Germanicus thought it conuenient to conuert his power against those which besieged Segestes whom he deliuered with a great number of his kindred and followers Among whom there were many noble dames and Segestes daughter Arminius wife affecting rather hir husband than father and being taken not once falling a teare nor crauing fauor ioining hir hands on hir breast looked down vpon hir great belly The spoiles of Varus ouerthrowe were at the same time brought in and distributed as a bootie to the greatest part of such as had yeelded themselues with Segestes Who with a comely maiestie and bolde courage and loyaltie to the Romans began a speech in this maner This is not the first day that the people of Rome hath had experience of my constancie and loyaltie for since Augustus of famous memorie gaue me the priuileges of a citizen of Rome I made choise of such friends or enimies as might stand you in stead not for any hatred to my countrie for traitors are odious euen to those whose instruments they be but bicause I iudged it profitable alike to the Romans and Germans and preferred peace before war for this cause I accused Arminius rauisher of my daughter and infringer of the league concluded with you before Varus the generall But when I was by the slacknes of the generall deferred to a farther day of hearing hauing small hope of support in lawes I besought him earnestly that he would commit me Arminius and the rest of the conspirators to straight custodie I call to witnes that night which if it had pleased the gods I would it had been my last in which those things ensued which deserue rather to be bewailed than maintained In fine I laide irons on Arminius and suffered the same in my selfe by his faction But seeing you haue vouchsafed me your presence I prefer old quietnes before new garboiles not hoping for any reward thereby but onely to excuse my selfe from disloyaltie and to serue for a conuenient meanes of reconciliation for the German nation if they will rather repent than perish For my sonnes youth and error I craue pardon my daughter I confesse was drawen hither by force It resteth in you to determine whether it ought to be of greater force to be with childe by Arminius or be begotten by me Caesar with a milde answere promised his children his kindred safetie and himselfe his ancient seate in the prouince This done he bringeth backe his armie and with Tiberius liking tooke vpon him the name of Emperor Arminius wife was deliuered of a sonne which was brought vp at Rauenna of whom we will speake more hereafter and how he serued for fortunes scorne XIII Arminius stirreth the Germans to warre seeketh reuenge What danger Caecina vvas in Germanicus burieth the legions vvhich vvere slaine vvith Varus THe newes being spred of Segestes yeelding and gentle vsage as mens mindes were affected to peace or warre so they were mooued with hope or griefe Arminius being fierce of his owne disposition vnderstanding that his wife was taken prisoner and the fruite of hir wombe a bonde slaue became as it were mad and raunging the Cheruscians countrey craued for succour against Segestes and Caesar not being able to containe for outragious speeches saieng That that must needes be a braue father a mightie Emperor a woorthie armie that coulde with so much helpe carrie awaie one sillie woman He had defeated three legions and so many lieutenants not by treason nor against women great with
childe but in the face of the enimie and against armed men atchieued his enterprises And that the ensignes which he had taken from the Romans were to be seene in the woods of Germanie offered vp in honour of their countrey gods Let Segestes inhabite the conquered banks and restore his sonne to his priestlie dignitie that the Germans coulde neuer excuse it that the Romans haue beene seene to beare their roddes their axes and gownes betweene Abbis and Rhene Other nations being strangers to the Romane gouernment could speak nothing of their cruell punishments and grieuous tributes and seeing they had shaken off those burdens and that that Augustus whom they placed among the gods and Tiberius chosen after him lost their labour they shoulde not feare an vnexperienced yoong man nor his mutinous companie If they preferred their countrey their kindred their auncient life before newe lordes and newe colonies they should rather follow Arminius protector of their glory and libertie then Segestes the author of reprochfull seruitude These speeches incensed not only the Cheruscians but the neighbors adioyning also and drew Inguiomerus a man once in credit with the Romans and vncle to Arminius by the fathers side to their partie which increased Caesars feare the more And therefore least the whole waight of the warre should at once fall vpon him he sent Caecinna with fortie cohorts of Romanes to seauet the power of the enemie through the Bructeries countrey to the riuer of Amisia Pedo the Camp-maister had the conducting of the horsemen by Frisia himselfe embarqued foure legions and lead them through the lakes all the horsemen footemen and the whole nauie meeting together at the said riuer and receiued the Chauceans among them who had promised them ayde The Bructeri burning their owne countrey Stertinius ouerthrew with a companie of light harnessed souldiers sent against them by Germanicus and found betweene the slaughter and the bootie the banner of the nineteenth legion which was lost with Varus From thence the armie marched to the vtmost confines of the Bructeri all the countrey wasted betwixt the riuer Amisia and Luppia not farre from the forest Tentoburgh where the reliques of the legions which Varus lead were reported to lye vnburied Whereupon Caesar had a great desire to celebrate the captaines and souldiers funerals all the armie moued to compassion some calling to minde their kinsfolks some their friends and some in consideration of the hazards of warre and the slipperie estate of man subiect vnto fortunes change And hauing sent Caecina before to search out the secret places of the forest and cast bridges and causeyes ouer the moist and deceiptful passages of the bogs they marched those dolefull wayes yrksome to behold and dreadfull to remember Varus first encamping seate by the large circuit of ground it contained and dimensions of the Principia did shew that the inclosure was capable of three legions then by a rampire halfe broken downe and a shallow trench they perceiued where the ouertoyled remnant was retired In the middle of the field lay white bones either scattered or on a heape as they had eyther resisted or fled hard by trouncheons of weapons and horses ribs and before them mens heads fastened vpon the bodies of trees In the woods were their barbarous altars on which they sacrificed the Tribunes and chiefe Centurions Those which escaped aliue or broke prison after the butchery tould that here the Liutenants were slaine there the standards taken where Varus receiued his first wound where with his owne vnluckie hand he slew himselfe On what Tribunall Armin ius made his oration How many gibbets he had set vp for captiues and what ditches and with what prowde disdaine he skoffed at the ensignes and standarts The Romanes then which were present sixe yeares after the slaughter oppressed with griefe yet more then euer kindled with rage against the enemie couered with earth the bones of the three legions as if they had been all their friends or kindred howbeit it was vncertaine whether they buried the stranger or friend Caesar to shew a gratefull memory of the dead and himselfe to be partaker of their griefe with his owne hands put the first turfe on their tombes which Tiberius misliked either as construing all Germanicus actions to the worst or because the sight of the dead vnburied would make the souldiers more fearefull of the enemie and lesse forward to fight and because a Generall honored with the Augurall dignitie and deuoted to most ancient ceremonies ought not to meddle in mortuaries But Germanicus pursuing Arminius alreadie crept into inaccessible places as soone as he found conueniencie thrust his horsemen on him and recouered the field which the enemie occupied Arminius gathered his men together and commaunding them to draw neere the wood turned short on the sudden and gaue them the watch-word which he had hidden there before to breake out Whereat the horsemen amazed and the cohorts sent for a supplie borne backe with those which fled augmenting their feare were almost thrust into the bogs well knowne to the conquerors and dangerous to the Romanes had not Caesar come on with the legions in battell aray Which stroke a terror into the enemie and assured the courage of the souldier both the armies in the end parting on euen hand Anon after the armie being brought to the riuer Amisia he conducted the fleete and the legions back againe in the same manner they came thither Some of the horsemen were commaunded to returne to the riuer of Rhene still coasting the Ocean shore Caecina who conducted another companie although he was skilfull in the wayes yet was charged to returne with all diligence by the long bridges which was a narrow causey betwixt wide marishes throwne vp in times past by L. Domitius The rest of the countrey was miry and full of fast binding clay with some doubtfull brookes Round about were woods ascending little and little which Arminius had filled by a neerer way and light armie preuenting the Romans loden with armour and carriages Caecina doubting how he should at once repaire those bridges alreadie decayed with age and driue back the enemie thought it best to encamp in the same place that whilest some were fortifying others might skirmish with the enemie The barbarians vsed all force to breake the wardes and make way to the trench-makers set on them compassed them in ranne from place to place leauing nothing vndone to disturb them The laborers and the fighters made one confuse cry nothing prospering on the Romans side The place was nothing but a deepe mire not firme to tread on and slipperie to march the waight of their corselets an hinderance and they vnable to launce their iauelins in the waters Contrarily the Cheruscians being a great limmed people and accustomed to fight in bogs were with huge speares able to hurt a farre off To be briefe the night deliuered the legions from an vnluckie battell The Germaines through prosperous successe nothing wearied but