charge him on the flanke and Stertinius with the other squadrons of horsmē to enuiron him and set on him behind promising to be himselfe at hand if neede required In the meane season eight Eagles a very luckie signe were seene to flee towards the entrance of the wood Which the Emperour perceiuing cried that they should march on follow the Roman birds the peculiar gods of the legions Wherupon the footmen brake in the horsmen sent before charged them on the flanke and on the backe And which is strange to report two companies of the enemie tooke a contrary flight those which kept the wood ran to the plaine and those which held the plaine hastened to the wood The Cherusci being betweene both were thrust downe from the hils amongst whom with great valour Arminius maintained the battell with his hands voice and wounds All his might he bent against the archers to haue burst out that way if the cohorts of Gallia of Raetia and the Vindelicians had not opposed themselues with their ensignes Neuertheles by strength of bodie and courage of his horse he escaped hauing first died his face with bloud least he should be knowne Some report that he was knowne to the Cherusci which were among the auxiliarie bands of the Romans and let passe by them The same either valour or guile gaue Inguiomerus meanes to escape the rest were slaine on euery side And most of them endeuoring to swim ouer Visurgis were either with the darts throwne after them or force of the riuer or waight of such as lept after or with the banks which fell killed or ouerwhelmed Some cowardly fleeing away sought to clamber the tops of trees and there hiding themselues in the boughes were shot through by the archers in a mockerie and others brused by the ouerturning of the trees The victory was great and vnto vs not bloudie From fiue of the clock vntill night the enemies were slaine which filled ten miles of ground with dead carcasses and armour Some chaines were found among their spoiles brought to emprison the Romans as not doubting a prosperous successe The souldiers saluted Tiberius by the name of Emperour in the same place where the battell was fought and erected a mount of earth as a token of victory and put on it the armour of the enemie and vnderneath the names of the nations which they had conquered V. A second battellvvoon by the Romans against the Germans THe wounds which the Germans receiued and their ouerthrow did not so much fret and greeue them as this spectacle in so much that those which were on the point to abandon their dwellings and make preparation to passe the riuer Albis catche vp their weapons and demaund battell The common sort the chiefe Gentlemen yong and old assaile and endanger the Romans At last they chose a place enuironed with woods and a riuer which had a narrow waterish plaine within it The woods were enuironed likewise with a deepe marsh sauing on one side where the Angriuarians had raised vp a broad causey by which their territories were separated from the Cherusci The footemen stayed there the horsemen hid themselues in the woods adioyning that when the legions should enter the wood they might charge them on the back Caesar was informed of all their plots he knew their deseignments their places their open and secret deuises and turned the enemies fraud to his owne destruction The charge of the horsemen and the plaine he committed to Seius Tubero Lieutenant part of the footemen marched in order of battell to the wood and part went about to win the causey the hardest he vndertooke himselfe and the rest he committed to the Lieutenants They vnto whom the plaine fell did easily enter it but those which were to assault the causey were sore gaulded put backe with blowes from aboue as if they had scaled a wall The Captaine perceiuing that the enemy had the aduantage by fighting so neere caused the legions to retire a little and commaunded the sling-casters and stone-casters to let freely at them and driue them from their fence Many darts and speares were shot out of engins and the more the enemies were in sight the more wounds they receiued The causey being taken Caesar himselfe with his gard couragiously entered the woods and fought with the enemy hand to hand who had behinde him a marsh and the Romans a riuer or mountaines the place brought a necessitie of fighting to both partes their hope consisted in their manhoode and their safetie in the victory The Germans were no lesse couragious but they were ouercome by the aduantage of weapons and manner of fight For being a great multitude and the place narrow they could neither thrust out nor draw back those long pikes nor vse any nimblenes of body in running in and stepping back but were forced to fight and not mooue a foote Contrarily the Roman souldier his shield close to his breast his sword in his hand gored the wide sided and open faced barbarian and by their slaughter opened a way through them Arminius being now courageles by reason of continuall danger or fresh bleeding wound lately receiued but Inguiomerus flue vp and downe the army wanted rather fortune then courage And Germanicus to be the better knowne vnlaced his helmet and besought them to continue the slaughter captiues there was no neede of only the generall butchery of the nation would make an end of the warre And in the euening he draweth out one legion from the army to make ready the camps the rest filled themselues vntill night with the bloud of the enemie And for the horsemen it is hard to gesse which had the better Then Caesar hauing praised the valour of the conquerors in an assembly made a great heape of armour with this prowd title The people betwixt Rhene and Albis being vanquished Tiberius Caesars army doth dedicate those monuments to Mars Iupiter and Augustus Of himselfe he added no word for feare of enuie or because the memory of the fact was sufficient testimonie for him Immediately after he commaunded Stertinius to make warre against the Angriuarians vnlesse they would presently yeeld who humbly intreating and yeelding to all that was demaunded receiued generall pardon But the sommer being now far spent some of the legions were sent back to the standing camps and Germanicus embarking many conueyed them to the Ocean by the riuer Amisia At the first they had a quiet calme sea no noise heard but the noise of the oares of a thousand vessels which somtimes likewise were driuen with sailes by and by haile powring downe out of blacke and thicke clouds and sundry stormes and tempests arising from all parts and vncertaine raging surges depriued them of all foresight and skill in gouerning their shipping And the souldier fearfull and vnacquainted with the dangerous aduentures of sea whilest he troubleth the mariners or vnseasonably goeth about to helpe hindered the office of the more skilfull In the ende
forbearing from rest turned all the waters which rose in the mountaines into the vnder grounds whereupon the plaine being drownd and so much of the worke ouerthrowne as they had cast vp the Romaine souldier was put to a double labour XIIII The Romans escape a great danger through the good conduct of Caecina CAEcina had then in qualitie of a soldier of commander fortie yeere receiued pay and therefore being acquainted as well with the changeable euents of fortune as prosperous successes fell nothing at all in courage but pondering in his minde what might follow found nothing more expedient then to inclose the enimie in the wood vntill the wounded and the cariages were gotten before For betwixt the hils and the marshes there stretched out a plaine capable of a small armie The legions were so placed that the fift shoulde be in the right flancke the one and twentieth in the left the first to lead and the twentieth to defende if they were pursued The night was vnquiet for diuers respects the barbarous enimie in feasting and banketting songs of ioie and hideous outcries filled the valleies and woods which redoubled the sounde againe The Romans had small fires broken voices laie neere the trenches went from tent to tent rather disquieted and not able to sleepe then watchfull The generall had that night a heauie dreame which droue him into a feare for he thought that he had seene Quinctilius Varus rising out of those bogs embrued all in bloud calling him by name and stretching out his hand towards him which he thrust backe refusing to follow At daie breaking the legions appointed for the flankes either for feare or contempt abandoned their standings and seased on the fielde adioining beyond the marshes Arminius although hee might safely haue assaulted them yet forbare a time But he no sooner perceiued their bag and baggage to sticke in the mire and ditches and the souldiers troubled about it disbanded and out of order and the ensignes confusedly disordered as it falleth out in such times euery man busie to helpe himselfe and deafe to harken what was commanded but he encharged the Germaines to breake in crieng aloud Behold Varus and the legions once againe vanquished by the same destinie Hauing thus saide accompanied with a choise band of horsemen breaketh the rankes of the Romans and especially woundeth their horses which slipping by reason of their owne bloud and moisture of the bogs ouerthrowing their masters either trode vnderfeete or scattered all they met Much a doo they had about the ensignes which they could neither beare vp the shot came so thicke nor pitch on the ground it was so mirie Whilest Caecina maintaineth battell his horse was killed vnder him from which being fallen he had been taken by the enimie if the first legion had not opposed herselfe The greedines of the enimie was some helpe vnto them being more thirstie of pillage then bloud whereby the legions had leisure towards the euening to win the open firme land And yet their miseries did not thus end They had defences to make and stuffe wherewithall to seeke their tooles to cast vp earth or cut turfes were almost all lost tentes they had none to couer them nor medicaments to heale the wounded and diuiding their meate partly stained with bloud or beraied with dirt they bewailed that vnfortunate darknes and that onely daie left for so many thousands to liue By meere chance a horse brake loose in the campe and praunsing vp and downe affrighted with noise ouerthrew all he met in his waie which stroake such a feare and terror in the souldiers harts that thinking the Germans had broken vpon them ran all to the gates of the campe and especially to the Decumana which was farthest from the enimie and safest to flee awaie Caecina being assured that it was but a vaine feare yet not being able either by his authoritie entreatie or forcible meanes to staie their fleeing cast himselfe a crosse the gate and so mooued them to pitie stopping the passage bicause they would not tread on their captaines bodie The Tribunes and Centurions shewed them withall that their seare was false and without cause Then assembling them in the Principia and commanding silence admonished them of the time and necessitie they stoode in That their safetie onely consisted in their weapons which yet they were to moderate by discretion keeping still within their trench vntill the enimie with hope to breake vpon them should drawe neere and that then they shoulde rush out on euerie side and so get to the riuer of Rhene Whereas if they should flie they should passe through more woods finde deeper bogs and the enimie more cruell then euer but by conquering they shoulde purchase glorie and renowme putting them in mind of those things which were esteemed deere at home and of credit in campe not once mentioning their disgraces and aduersities This done he assigned to the most couragious a horse beginning with his owne then with the Tribunes and Centurions not respecting calling or quality to the end that they should first inuade the enimie and the footemen follow The Germains what with hope what with greedines of praie what with disgreeing opinions of captaines were as much disquieted as the Romaines Arminius thought it best to suffer them come out of their fort and set on them in the bogs and marshes but Inguiomerus aduise though more cruell was most pleasing to the barbarians which was that they should besiege the campe perswading that by that means the assault would be easier more captiues taken and the bootie entire and vntouched Assoone then as it was day they beate down the trenches filled them vp with hurdles grappled vp to the toppe of the trench fewe souldiers resisting them and those all stocke still in amaze The cohorts within had the alarum giuen the cornets and trumpets sounded and with a great clamour sallied out couragiouslie and hemmed the enimie in casting in their teeth that heere there were neither woods nor quagmiers but the places and the gods indifferent to both The enimies imagining it but an easie conquest and that there were but a fewe to resist and those but halfe armed hearing the sound of the trumpets and seeing the glittering of the armour which seemed so much the greater by how much the lesse they were esteemed on a sudden were beaten downe and slaine as men in prosperitie greedy and in aduersitie vncircumspect Arminius and Inguiomerus fled th'one not hurt and the other greeuously wounded The common sort were slaine as long as the daie and anger lasted the legions returned at night to their forte And although there were more wounded then the day before and no lesse want of victuales yet with the victorie they thought they had recouered strength courage health and all other necessaries XV. The danger the legions vvere in vnder Vitellius Tiberius renevveth the lavv of treason IT was noised abroad in the meane season that the legions were besieged and that the
defend them passed ouer the horsemen at the foord Stertinius and Aemilius sometime captaine of the principall ensigne were the leaders who seperated themselues farre one from the other to deuide the enemies forces Carioualda Captaine of the Batauians where the riuer was swiftest sallied out the Cherusci making as though they fled tolled them to a plaine enuironed with woods and there turning againe and spreading abroad droue back those which made head hotly pursued those which shrunke then being gathered round in a ring ouerthrew them some neere some farre off Carioualda hauing long sustained the brunt of the enemie exhorted his souldiers closely together to breake into the enemie troupes himselfe venturing amongst the thickest was beaten downe with darts and his horse killed vnder him and many noble men about him The rest either through their owne valour or aide of the horsemen with Stertinius and Aemilius escaped danger When Caesar had passed the riuer Visurgis he vnderstoode by a fugitiue from the enemie campe what place Arminius had chosen to giue battell and that other nations were assembled in a wood consecrated to Hercules with intention to assaile the camp by night The runnagate was beleeued lights were seene and the espiales getting neerer reported they heard a great confuse noise of men and horses Being therefore at a iumpe to hazard all thinking it conuenient to founde the souldiers minde he bethought himselfe what was the fittest expedient to trie the truth The Tribunes and Centurions brought him oftener pleasing then true newes the freed men were of a seruile disposition in friends therewas flatterie if he should call an assembly that which a few should begin the rest would applaude That their minds would be best knowen when they were by themselues not ouerlooked in eating and drinking they would vtter their feare or hope As soone as it was night going out at the Augural gate accompanied with one alone in secret and vnknowen places to the watch casting a sauage beasts skin on his backe he went from one place to another stoode listning at the tents and ioyeth in the praise of himselfe some extolling the nobilitie of their Captaine others his comely personage many his patience and courtesie that in sports and serious matters he was still one man confessing therefore that they thought it their parts to make him some requitall in this battell and sacrifice the traitors and peace-breakers to reuenge and glory IIII. Arminius and the Germans ouerthrow AMidst these things one of the enimie campe skilfull in the Latine toong riding close to the trench promiseth a lowd in Arminius name wiues and lands a hundred sesterces a day as long as the war cōtinued if any would flee from the Romans and come to his side That brauado did greatly exasperate the legious wishing among themselues O that the day were come that we might once come to ioine battell with them saying that they would take possession of the Germans lands and bring away their wiues by force They accepted of their words as a presage and vowed they would haue their wiues and money for a bootie About the third watch the enimie assailed the campe but threw no dart bicause he perceiued many in a readines to defend their fortes and no man remisse in his charge The same night Germanicus in a pleasant dreame thought he had beene offering of sacrifice and that his pretext or robes of his infancie had beene sprinkled with holy blood and that he receiued another at the hands of Augusta his grandmother Emboldned with that dreame and the Augures foretelling lucky successe concurring with it he called the soldiers to an assembly and declared vnto them what things by wisedome he had foreseene and what he thought expedient for the imminent danger of the battell That not onely the open fields were commodious for the Romans to fight in but the woods also and forests if they proceeded by discretion Neither were the barbarous huge targets and long pikes so handsome among trees and low shrubs as darts and swords and armour close to the bodie They should therefore lay on thicke load and strike at their faces with their swords That the Germans had neither coat of fence nor helmet and their bucklers were not ribbed with iron or sinewes but with osiars or painted thinne boord Their first rancke was in some sort appointed with pikes but the rest had but short weapons burnt at the point And although they were grim in countenance and of some courage for a short fit yet being once wounded they would flee and be gone without shame of discredit or care of their Captaine in aduersitie faint harted and timorous but in prosperitie vnmindfull both of diuine and humane lawes If they desired an end of their wearisome iournies and sea in this battell they might ease themselues Albis was now neerer then Rhene Neither was there any further warre to be made if in that place treading the steps of his father vncle they would make him Conqueror The heat of the soldier being inflamed with this speech of the Captaine the signe of battel was giuen Neither did Arminius nor the rest of the Germā nobility omit to incourage theirs on the other side saying These are the Romans which fled from Varus campe who for fear of ioining battel had raised a rebelliō Wherofsom their backs loadē with wounds others their sides tired brokē with waues tempests of sea once more offered themselus to the enimy ful of ire without hope of good the gods being against them They tooke sea and chose out the bie-waies of the Ocean least they should haue beene encountered as they came or pursued after they were repulsed But when they shall come to handistrokes they shall find small refuge in the winde and oares That now they should call to minde their coueteousnes crueltie and pride was there any thing els to be done then to maintaine their libertie or die rather then be brought to seruitude Thus encouraged and demaunding battell they were brought into a place called Idistauisum betwixt Visurgis and the hils not of one breadth but now wide now straight as the riuer or iutting out of the hils did suffer Behinde them was a wood of high trees and betweene those trees a plaine and eeuen ground which the Barbarians had possessed with the entrance of the wood the Cherusci put themselues on the tops of the hils to fall furiously vpon the Romans in the heat of the fight The order of our battell was this The aides of Gallia and the Germans were placed in the front followed with the foote archers after them fower legions and Caesar himselfe with two Pretorian cohorts and a choise troupe of horsmen After them so many legions more with light horsemen bow men on horseback and the rest of the confederates all of them most carefull to keepe their order and aray Germanicus perceiuing the Cheruscians troupes to come fiercely toward thē commanded the ablest horsmē to
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
weapons likewise no Lieutenant nor Tribune present to bridle them but euery man licenced to reuenge his fill Germanicus anon after entering the camp with many teares calling that a butchery and not a medicine commaunded the bodies to be burnt The bloudie souldiers thirsted after the enemie as a satisfaction of his furie supposing that the ghosts of their companions could by no other meanes be appeased then by receiuing honorable wounds in their wicked breasts Caesar followed the souldiers heate and building a bridge ouer the riuer past ouer twelue thousand drawen out of the legions sixe and twentie cohorts of allies and eight wings of such horsemen as during the mutinie were of good and modest cariage The Germanes not farre off were iocand whilest we for the death of Augustus and by ciuill discords kept holy day The Romane army marching with speede past the wood Caesia and the bound begun by Tiberius and encamped vpon it fortifying the front and the back with a trench and the sides with loppings of trees From thence they marched through darke forrests and consulting of two waies which was best the short and vsuall or the vnbeaten and hardest and therefore least doubted of the enemie And hauing made choise of the longest they hastened other things the more For the scoutes had brought word that the Germans would spend that night in solemne feasting and banquetting Cecina had charge to leade the way with a cohort lightly armed and make plaine the passage of the wood whom the legions immediately followed The starre-light helped them till they came to the villages of the Marsies whom they beset round being yet either a bed or at table without feare and no watch set So farre had they left all things at randon nothing misdoubting warre nor being drunke greatly caring for peace Caesar deuided the legions greedy of pillage to waste the more ground into foure pointed battels and destroyed with fire and sword fiftie miles neither age nor sexe mouing him to pitie profane and sacred places and the temple called Tanfana a place of great fame among those people he battered to the ground the Romanes receiuing no wound but slaying the enemie halfe a sleepe or vnarmed and stragling without order or aray That slaughter stirred vp the Bructeri Tubantes and the Vsipetes who beset the wood that way the army should returne Whereof the Captaine being aduertised he marshalled his men in order at once both to march and fight Part of the horsemen with auxiliary cohorts lead the way after them followed the first legion the cariages inclosed in the middest had on the left side the 21. legion on the right the fift in the rereward the twentith and after them the rest of the confederates But the enemie stirred not whilest the Romane camp marched through the wood then lightly skirmishing with the flanks and the formen set amaine on the hindmost who being but slenderly appointed and amazed with the thick troupes of Germans were readie to shrinke had not Caesar stepped to the twentith legion crying alowd that now was the time to blot out the infamies of their former conspiracies and shew valoure and make haste to turne their former fault into glory and honor This speech so inflamed their courages that breking in suddainly vpon the enemies droue them to an open place and hewed them in peeces and the vantgard getting out of the wood began incontinently to fortifie and intrench After that they marched without disturbance emboldened with their late successe and forgetting what was past were brought to their standing camps These newes made Tiberius both glad and sory glad that the sedition was suppressed sory that Germanicus had purchased the souldiers fauour by largesse and timely dismissing them not alittle grieued also with the glory that Germanicus got in that warre Yet he imparted these newes to the Senate highly commending his exploites rather in colour and shew of words then beleeued that he spake from the hart Drusus he commended also and the successe of the Illirian rebellions in fewer words but more vnfainedly and with better affection yet confirmed all that Germanicus had graunted and gaue the like to the armies in Pannonie The same yeare Iulia dyed confined first by Augustus her father for her vnchast life in the Iland Pandateria then in Rhegium a towne seated vpon the Sicilian sea She had beene Tiberius wife whom she contemned as an vnfit match for her whilest Caius and Lucius flourished which was the very inward and secret cause why Tiberius withdrew himselfe to Rhodes But hauing gotten to be Emperour and that by the death of Agrippa Posthumus her hopes were cut off banished and infamous with great want hungerstarued her perswading himselfe that her long banishment would haue smothered the speech of her death The like occasion egged him to the like crueltie against Semp. Gracchus who nobly descended quick witted and eloquent to perswade to naughtines seduced the same Iulia to lewdenes when she was M. Agrippas wife Neither was that the end of their licentiousnes but the wilfull adulterer abused her companie when she was Tiberius wife incensing her to disobedience and dislike Diuers supposing that the bitter letters which she sent to Augustus her father against Tiberius were of his inditing Whereupon being banished to Cercina an Iland in the Affrican sea after foureteene yeares exile the souldiers sent to put him to death found him on the shore as one expecting bad tidings Of whom he requested some short time to write his last will to Alliaria his wife which being done he offered his neck to the executioners in the constancie of his death not vnworthy the Sempronian name though in his life he had degenerated Some gaue out that those souldiers were not sent from Rome but from L. Asprenas Proconsull of Affrike by Tiberius appointment hoping though in vaine that the infamie of the murder should redound to Asprenas discredit This yeare were instituted new ceremonies by founding a societie of Priests called Augustales as in times past T. Tatius desirous to continue certaine religious solemnities of the Sabins ordained a companie of Priests called Titians One and twentie of the chiefest of the citie were drawne by lot and Tiberius Drusus Claudius and Germanicus added to the number These playes at their first beginning were disturbed by a contention rising betwixt stage players Augustus himselfe fauoring the sport to please Mecaenas who was exceedingly caried away with affection towards Bathillus and himselfe not disliking them thought it no vnciuill matter to shew himselfe at those disports amongst the common people But Tiberius was of an other humor yet durst not on the sudden reduce the people to a straighter course which so many yeares before had bene nuzled in pleasure and easie vsage XII Germanicus inuadeth the Chatti A strife betweene two noble men of Germanie Armihius and Segestes Arminius wife is taken DRusus Nero and C. Narbo being Consuls a triumph was ordained in honor of Germanicus the war
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
were deuided among themselues some desiring to be gouerned by the Romans and others by Kings And the prouinces of Syria and Iudaea ouercharged with taxes made supplication that their tributes might be diminished These things therefore with those which I haue rehearsed of Armenia Tiberius sheweth to the Lords of the Senat and that the tumults of the Orient could no way be pacified but by Germanicus wisedome As for himselfe he was striken in age and Drusus was not yet of ripe yeares And thereupon by decree of Senate Germanicus had the charge giuen him ouer all the prouinces deuided by sea and a greater commaunde whither soeuer he went then any which either by lot or Princes sending receiued gouernment Now Tiberius had before remoued from Syria Creticus Silanus who was by marriage allied to Germanicus his daughter being promised in marriage to Nero Germanicus eldest son in his roome had appointed Gn. Piso to be Lieutenant a man both rash and headstrong not knowing what it was to obey as hauing that fiercenes of courage naturally from Piso his father who during the ciuill warres ayded in most eager manner the sides which rose in Affrike against Caesar then following Brutus and Cassius faction and licence graunted him to returne forbare all dignities vntill he was wooed to accept the Consulship offered him by Augustus Caesars owne motion But besides the hereditary courage of his fathers the nobilitie and wealth of Plancina his wife made him grow so insolent that he would scarse yeeld to Tiberius and contemned his children as far inferior to himselfe not doubting at all but that he was chosen gouernor of Syria to bridle and keepe vnder Germanicus hopes And some beleeued that he had had secret commaundement by Tiberius so to do and without all peraduenture Augusta had put it into Plancinaes head emulation being a vsuall matter amongst women to contend and quarrell with Agrippina The court was deuided some secretly fauouring Drusus some Germanicus Tiberius did leane to Drusus as his owne and of his bloud but the small affection Germanicus vncle caried him was cause that others loued him the more and because that by the mothers side he was more nobly descended hauing M. Antonius for his grandfather and Augustus for his vncle whereas Pomponius Atticus a Gentleman of Rome great grandfather to Drusus did not answere the honorable memories of the Claudians And Germanicus wife Agrippina did go beyond Liuia Drusus wife in fruitfulnes fame and name Neuertheles the brothers did exceedingly well agree nothing at all moued with the emulation and contentions of their kindred X. The Germans are at variance betweene themselues an earth-quake in Asia NOt long after Drusus was sent to Illyrium to be trained vp in feates of warre and to win the souldiers harts And Tiberius thought it better that the yong man lustly giuen by the wanton lasciuiousnes of the citie should be better fashioned in the camp and himselfe in more securitie both his sonnes being commaunders ouer the legions But the colour was that the Sweuians did craue aide against the Cherusci for being rid of the Romans and voide of forren feare through emulation of glory a thing vsuall in that countrey they turned their armes against themselues Ods there was none in the strength of the nations or valour of Captaines but that the name of a king which Maroboduus tooke vpon him was odious to the common people and Arminius fauoured because he fought for libertie And therefore not only the Cherusci and their confederates Arminius olde souldiers tooke armes but the Sweuian nations also of Maroboduus kingdome The Semnones and the Longobards tooke part and ioyning with Arminius had preuailed if Inguiomerus with a strong companie of his vassalles had not fled to Maroboduus for no other cause but onely being old and vncle to Arminius disdained to obey him being but yoong and his brothers sonne They pitcht their battell with like hope on both sides not vsing rouing incursions or skirmishing in scattered troupes as the manner of the Germans in times past had beene but by long warring against vs they had accustomed themselues to follow their ensignes strengthen and aide one another and obey their Captaines Then Arminius viewing his armie on horsebacke vaunted to all he met that their libertie was recouered the legions slaine shewed in the hāds of many of the soldiers the spoiles and armour which by force they had taken from the Romans Contrarily he called Maroboduus a runnagate vnskilfull in warres that he had saued himselfe in the lurking holes of Hercynia and then by gifts and embassies entreated an agreement that he was a traitor to his countrey and one of Caesars followers therefore that they should thrust him out with no lesse hatred then they had slaine Varus Quinctilius that they should now call to minde so many battels by successe of which hauing in the ende driuen out the Romans it is easilie seene who should haue the vpper hand Neither did Maroboduus on his side forget to vaunt himselfe or inueigh against his enimie but taking hold of Inguiomerus told them that all the honours of the Cherusci consisted in that body and that all that fell out luckily was atchieued by his counsell That Arminius a sot vnexpert in matter of warre attributed others glorie to himselfe because he had entrapped by guile three vnfurnished legions with their Captaine nothing misdoubting their fraude to the great losse of Germanie his owne ignominie seeing his wife his son do yet endure seruitude But as for him he had maintained the honor of Germanie vnstained being assailed by twelue legions vnder the conduct of Tiberius and in the ende parted with reasonable conditions Neither did it repent him that it was yet in their choise either to make war against the Romans or accept of peace without bloudshed Both parts being incensed with these speeches yet other peculiar causes did more inflame them Considering that the Cherusci and the Longobardi did fight for their auncient honours or fresh libertie and contrarily the others to inlarge their dominions A fiercer encounter then this there was neuer seene nor a more doubtfull issue the right wings on both sides being slaine And a new fight was hoped for if Maroboduus an euident token of a faint hart had not retired to the hils and being somwhat weakned by the back sliding of Traitors withdrew himself to the Marcomans and sent Ambassadors to Tiberius to craue aide Vnto whom it was answered that he had no reason to craue the Romans aide against the Cherusci seeing he aided the Romans nothing at all when they fought against the same enimie Yet as we haue said Drusus was sent to make a peace The same yeere twelue famous cities of Asia were destroied by an earthquake in the night a calamitie so much the greater by how much the lesse looked for The vsuall meanes of sauing themselues in in like cases by fleeing to the open fields doing them no good at all
we hasten to come to Rome with Germanicus ashes that Agrippinas lamentation and the vnskilfull multitude at the first rumor should laie hands on thee vnheard and vndefended Thou hast for thee Augustas conscience and Caesars fauour though in secret And none bewaile more braggingly Germanicus death in outward shew then such as in their harts are most glad Piso being forward enough of himself to haughtie attempts was with small adoe drawen to this opinion And sending letters to Tiberius accuseth Germanicus of riot and pride and that himselfe was driuen out of the prouince bicause there might be a way made open to innouation that he had againe taken charge of the armie with the same fidelitie as he had alreadie gouerned it Withall he commanded Domitius with a galley to saile into Syria and auoiding the coasting of the shoare and letting passe the Ilands take wide and open sea Then marshalling and arming runnagates and rascall base companions and sailing ouer to the continent he intercepted an ensigne of yoong and rawe souldiers which were going to Syria And writeth also to the Lords of Cilicia to send him aide the yoong man Piso being nothing slacke in the seruice although he was against the vndertaking of the warre Wherefore passing by the coast of Lycia Pamphylia meeting with the ships which had conueied Agrippina to Rome each side hating one another made themselues readie to fight yet both sides fearing the one the other they proceeded no further then to hard words Mirsus Vibius sommoned Piso to come to Rome to answere for himselfe who scoffingly answered him againe that he would come and appeere when the Pretor which was to inquire of poisonings would appoint a day as well for the plaintif as defendāt In the meane time Domitius being ariued at Laodicea a citie in Syria and going to the standing camp of the sixt legion as most fit for new enterprises was preuēted by the Lieutenāt Pacuuius Sentius openeth that by letters to Piso warning him not to go about to tempt the armie with corrupters nor raise any war in the Prouince And such as he knew to haue Germanicus in minde or were aduersaries to the enimies he assembled togither putting them oftē in mind of the greatnes of the Emperor and how the common-wealth was assailed and thereupon gathereth a strong power readie to fight Yet neither Piso nor his side although his enterprises fell out otherwise than he expected did let slip that which was of most safetie for the present but putteth himselfe in a verie strong castle in Cilicia called Celenderis For by sorting and medling togither the runnagates the new and raw soldier lately taken his owne and Plancinaes slaues and the aides which the Lords of Cilicia sent he marshalled them in forme of a legion And then affirmed that he was Caesars Lieutenant but drouen out of the Prouince committed to him not by the legions for they called him thither but by Sentius which cloaked his priuate malice with false crimes therfore that they should stād stoutly to the battel bicause the soldiers would not fight when they should see Piso whom heretofore they called their father If they would proceed by order of iustice the right was on his side if by armes he wanted not strength Then he displaied his companies in order of battell before the castle on a steepe craggie hils side the rest being inuironed with sea On the contrarie side the old soldiers with their supplies were marshalled into rankes On this side was the strength of souldiers one that of place In courage and hope there was great oddes also and on their side no weapons but rude and clownish prepared for a present shift And when they came to handie strokes there was no lōger doubt who should haue the vpper hand but til the Roman cohorts could win the plaine ground which done the Cilicians shewed their backs shut themselues in their fort In the meane space Piso went about but in vaine to assaile the nauie which waited not farre off Then returned to the castle againe now tormenting himselfe vpon the wals now calling to euerie souldier by his name and offering rewards assaied to raise a mutinie and did so much preuaile that the standard bearer of the sixt legion went with his ensigne to his side Then Sentius commaunded the cornets and trumpets to sounde gaue an assault to the rampiers caused laddres to be put vp and the ablest men to follow and the others out of engines to shoote dartes stones and fire brands In the end Pisoes obstinacie being ouercome entreateth that hauing yeelded vp his weapons he might remaine in the castle vntill Caesar were consulted who should be gouernor of Syria The conditions were not accepted nor any thing graunted him but onely that he should haue shipping and safe conduct to the citie XIX Great bewailing for Germanicus death strange religions suppressed loose life restrained in women of account BVt when Germanicus sicknes was noised at Rome and as in newes it falleth out the farther it goeth augmented to the worser all men burst out into anger griefe and complaints saying that therefore he was sent to forren countries that was the reason why Piso had the prouince committed to him this was the effect of Augustaes secret conference with Plancina that the auncient men said most truly of Drusus that the courteous and modest disposition of children doth dislike such as raigne Neither were they made away for any other reason but because libertie restored they had a meaning to reduce the people of Rome to a certain equalitie These speeches of the common people the newes of his death did so much kindle that before any edict of Magistrates before any decree of Senate was made vacation being taken of themselues the places of iudgement were abandoned houses shut vp silence and mourning euery where nothing of all this counterfeited or done for ostentation And although they did not abstaine from outward tokens of mourning yet in their harts they mourned much more Certaine Merchants returning by chaunce out of Syria Germanicus yet liuing bringing ioyfull tidings of his health were presently beleeued and spread abroad and as they met one another although they had scarse heard the tale to the end yet they reported it againe and they againe to others still making it more and increasing their ioy They ran vp and downe the citie went about to wrest open the gates of the temples the night furthered their credulousnes and in the darke euery man more readie to affirme Neither did Tiberius gainsay these false reports but let them vanish away with time But then the people as though he had beene a second time taken from them greeued more bitterly Such was his funerall pomp done in memory of him as either mens loue or pregnancie of conceipt could inuent as that his name should be sung in a Salarian verse which Mars priests were wont to sing that in the roomes of the Augustall priests chaires of estate
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
woulde shew so much fauour to the Iunian familie and to one who had beene of the same colledge with them that he shoulde rather be sent to the Iland Cythera which was also the request of Torquata Silanus sister a virigin of good life vnto which censure they all condescended XV. More accusations prosecuted A decree touching Iupiters priests Tacfarinas driuen by Blaesus out of Affrike AFter this the Cyrenenses were heard and Caesius Cordus condemned of polling the prouinces at the sute of Ancharius Priscus L. Ennius a gentleman of Rome accused of treason bicause he had conuerted the image of the prince to common vses in plate Caesar forbad to be receiued amongst the criminall persons Ateius Capito openly complaining and by a kinde of libertie saieng That power of determining such a matter ought not to be taken frō the Senate nor so heinous a crime passe vnpunished That the Emperour might be as slowe as he lusted in punishing iniuries done to himselfe yet that he ought not to pardon such as were done to the common-wealth Tiberius vnderstood these things as they were indeed rather then as they were spoken and so persisted in opposing himselfe Capito was so much the more noted bicause that knowing what appertained to diuine and humane lawes discredited the common good and the commendable arts he had learned at home Then there grew a scruple in knowing in what temple the gift should be placed which the gentlemen of Rome had vowed to fortune Equestris for the health of Augusta For although there were many temples in the citie of that goddesse yet there was none which bare that surname In the ende there was one so called found at Antium and all the ceremonies in the townes of Italie and temples and images of gods to be vnder the right and empire of Rome and therupon the gift was placed at Antium And seeing the matter was debated touching the religions Caesar declared the answere which not long before he had deferred against Seruius Maluginensis and recited the decree of the chiefe priestes which was That as oft as the Flamen Dial or Iupiters priest fell into any sicknes he might be absent from the city with licence of the chiefe priest so as it were not aboue two nights or in daies of publike sacrifice nor oftner then twise in one yeere Which being ordained in Augustus time did manifestly shew that the absence for a yeere or administration of prouinces was not graunted to the Diales And the example of L. Metellus the high pontife was alleaged who in the like case had kept Aulus Posthumus the Flamen in the citie And thereupon the lot of Asia was bestowed vpon him who of the Consuls was next vnto Maluginensis At the same time Lepidus made request vnto the Lords of the Senate that he might at his owne charges reedifie and adorne Paulus Aemilius temple the ornament of his memorie for at that time publike munificence was in vse neither did Augustus blame Taurus Philippus Balbus for bestowing spoiles taken from enimies or the ouerplus of their wealth to the ornament of the citie and glorie of posteritie By which examples Lepidus although he had no great store of money did renewe the honor of his auncestors Pompeius theatre consumed by casuall fire bicause there was none left of the familie of abilitie to performe it Caesar promised to build at his own charges and leaue it stil the old name And withall he highly extolled Seianus as though through his labour and watchfulnes the violence of that fire had beene staied from hurting any more then that one thing and the Senate ordained an image to be erected in honour of Seianus in Pompeius theatre And not long after when Caesar had honored Iunius Blaesus proconsull of Affrike with the ornaments of triumph he said that he attributed that to Seianus honour whose vncle he was Yet Blaesus owne acts deserued that honour For although Tacfarinas had beene often put to the woorst yet renewing his aide in the middle of Affrike he grewe to that arrogancie as to send embassadors to Tiberius and require a place for himselfe and his armie to inhabite or else threatned an endles warre It was reported that Caesar neuer more grieued at any disgrace done vnto himselfe or the people of Rome then that a traitor and theefe should deale like an enimie There was neuer so much graunted Spartacus after he had defeated so many armies of Consuls and burnt Italie vnreuenged yea when the common-wealth was greatly weakned by Sertorius and Mithridates great warres that he shoulde be receiued by couenant into safe conduct therefore much lesse that Tacfarinas a theefe the Roman empire being in most flourishing state should be hired with a peace and lands to inhabite He committed the whole matter to Blaesus with charge that he shoulde induce the rest to lay down their armes with warrant that they should sustaine no hurt yet that he should lay holde on the captaine by all means possible through which pardon many came in Not long after they vsed the same maner of fight against Tacfarinas as he had vsed against others for bicause he inferior to the Romans in strength though better in theeuery made many inroades by scattered companies deceiued his enimie and laid many traines to intrap him Their companies were therefore set in order and marched against him of which the lieutenant Cornelius Scipio was the chiefe who lay in waite in that coast where Tacfarinas did waste and trouble the Leptins and the Garamantes places of refuge On another side Blaesus son lead his owne power least the Cirtensien villages shoulde be entised to take part with Tacfarinas In the middle placing fortresses and strong holdes in conuenient places with choise soldiers the captaine himselfe brought the enimie to a narrowe straight and disaduantage bicause that which way soeuer he should bend some of the Romane soldiers were in his face some in his sides and often some in his backe and so many slaine and intrapped Then diuideth the three armies againe into many other companies with centurions of knowen valour ouer them Neither did he as the custome was retire his forces in the ende of sommer or put them in standing campes of the old prouince but as it had been in the beginning of warre his fortresses well manned by light horsemen and skilfull in those deserts he gaue Tacfarinas often changing his cabbins small rest vntill his brother being taken he retired in the end with more speede then was for the allies profit such being left behinde by whom the warre might rise againe But Tiberius taking this to be an ende of this warre gaue Blaesus that honour that he should be saluted Emperour by the legions being an old custome towards such Captaines as had shewen valour for the common-wealth with ioy and acclamations to be saluted by that name by the conquering armies There were many Emperours at one time but none aboue an other Augustus had graunted that name to
haue alreadie said had inueighled Libo then betrayed him and brought him to destruction Which seruice Tiberius not forgetting though pretending other causes intreated that he might not be banished but that he should be deposed from the Senate he hindered not I am not ignorant that many of those things which I haue rehearsed and which I shall rehearse hereafter will seeme of small moment and not worthy the writing But I wish not that any should compare our annales with the writings of the auncient historiographers of the people of Rome for they reported with a free discourse of mightie great warres winning of townes of Kings taken and slaine or if they came to domesticall affaires they recorded the discords betwixt the Consuls and the Tribunes lawes concerning distribution of lands among the common people and iarres betweene the communaltie and nobilitie But the scope of our discourse is streight and our labour inglorious the times I write of being peaceable and quiet or no great warres the state of the citie dolefull and the Prince carelesse in dilating the Empire Yet it shall not bee lost labour to looke into those things which at the first seeme light oft yeelding instruction of greater matters For all Nations and Cities are gouerned by the people or Peers or one alone A forme of common-wealth constituted of one of these may better be praised then found or if it chaunce to be found it cannot long continue Therefore as in times past the people bearing swaie or the Lords of the Senate the humor of the communaltie was to be knowen and the meanes how with greatest discretion they were to be dealt withall and they iudged most wise and experienced who had deepliest entered into the disposition of the Senators nobilitie so the state being now changed and the regiment consisting in one alone it shall be conuenient to note those things which vnto that forme of gouernment doth best appertaine For there are but few which by wisedome distinguish honest things from dishonest and profitable from hurtfull but most men are taught by others euents And my writings bring more profit then delight for situation of countries varietie of battels the death of famous Captaines do feede and recreat the readers mindes But we heape vp bloodie commaundements continuall accusations deceitfull friendships the ouerthrow of innocent persons and causes bringing the like end matters tedious for want of varietie The old writers had also this aduantage that they had no detractors of their writing or fewe not being materiall to any whether he had praised the Affrican or Roman armies But many are yet aliue whose predecessors suffered punishment or infamie vnder Tiberius gouernment And although their familie be extinguished yet thou shalt find many which for conformitie of manners thinke that others misdeedes are obiected against themselues Glorie and vertue haue enimies likewise according to the disposition of euerie mans minde framing reasons contrarie to that which his own inclination is neerest vnto But I will returne to my first purpose VIII An oration of Cremutius in defence of his Annales Tiberius would not suffer the Spaniards to build a Temple in his honour COrnelius Cossus Asinius Agrippa being Consuls Cremutius Cordus was accused of a new crime neuer before heard of that in certaine Annales by him published he had praised M. Brutus and said that C. Cassius was the last of the Romans His accusers were Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta Seianus clients which was his ouerthrow Caesar with a sterne looke hearing his purgation which Cremutius being assured to lose his life began in this manner I am accused for words Lords of the Senate bicause in deedes I am innocent But they were neither against the Prince nor his father whom the lawe of treason doth comprehend I am said to haue commended Brutus and Cassius whose acts manie haue written and all in honorable termes T. Liuius an excellent writer as well for eloquence as truth did so much extoll Gn. Pompeius that Augustus called him a Pompeian yet that no breach of friendship at all Scipio Afranius did neuer call this selfe same Cassius this Brutus theeues and parricides as now adaies they are termed but often worthie famous men Asinius Pollioes writings do deliuer an honorable memorie of them Messalla Coruinus extolleth Cassius as his Captaine and both flourished in wealth and honour When M. Cicero had in a booke extolled Cato to the heauens what did Caesar the Dictator but answere him in an oration as if he had beene before the iudges Antonies epistles Brutus orations haue I confesse many vntrue and bitter speeches against Augustus Men read Bibaculus and Catullus verses which are stuffed with reproches against the Caesars But yet Iulius and Augnstus of famous memorie winked thereat whether with greater moderation or wisedome I know not for things of that qualitie neglected vanish of themselues but repined and greeued at argue a guiltie conscience The Grecians whose not onely libertie but vnrestrained licence escaped vnpunished I speake not of or if any felt himselfe greeued he reuenged words with other words It hath bin alwaies a matter of free libertie and least subiect vnto detraction to speake of those whom death had exempted from hatred and fauor Do I incense the peope by orations to ciuill warre with Cassius and Brutus alreadie in armes and masters of the Philippian fields Do not they who ended their life aboue seauentie yeeres agone as they are knowen by their images which the Conqueror himselfe hath not pulled downe so retaine some remembrance of them by writings Posteritie doth render vnto euery man the commendation he hath deserued Neither will there want some if I be condemned which will make mention not onely of Cassius and Brutus but of me also Hauing thus saide he went out of the Senat ended his life by abstinence Order was giuen by the Senators that the Aediles should burne his bookes which notwithstanding were still extant some secretly some publickly which maketh me the willinglier to laugh at the witles vncircumpection of such as thinke with the power and authoritie they haue in their own time they can also extinguish the memory of future times But it falleth out contrary that when good wits are punished their credit groweth greater neither haue forraine Kings or such as haue vsed the like crueltie purchased any other thing then discredit to themselues and to such wits glorie This yeere accusations were so hotly pursued that euen on the festiuall daies of the Latines Calphurnius Saluianus went to accuse Marius before Drusus Prouest of the citie as he was entering into the Tribunall to begin his charge for which cause Saluianus being publikely blamed by Tiberius was sent into banishment Great negligence was openly layd to the Cyzicenians charge in not solemnising Augustus sacrifices and that they had vsed violence against the citizens of Rome For which cause they lost the freedome which they had gotten in the warre when they were besieged by
if he had once set them abroch that his bad speeches were ioyned with cruell deeds The same time Iulia died whom Augustus hauing conuicted of adulterie had exiled into the Iland Trimerus not farre from the Apulian shores where she indured twentie yeers exile sustained by Augusta whose maner was by secret practises to subuert her sonnes in lawe when they were in prosperitie and openly shew them pitie when they were in miserie XVI The Frisians rebellagainst the Romans Agrippina Germanicus daughter is married to C. Domitius THe same yeere the Frisians beyond Rhene forsooke their obedience rather through our couetousnes then impatiencie of liuing vnder our subiection Drusus in regard of their small abilitie had imposed a small tribute on them which was a certaine of oxe hides for the war no man respecting what strength or largenes they were of vntill Olennius a Captaine of a principall ensigne and gouernor of the Frisians made choise of the skins of the beast called Vrus of that hignes As that had beene a heauie burden for other nations so the Germains could least of all others endure it whose woods although full of huge sauage beasts yet at their houses haue but small heards first therefore they deliuered these oxen then their possessions and lastly the bodies of their wiues and children into bondage From hence grew their griefe and complaints and seeing that no man relieued them they sought a redresse by warre laid hands on such souldiers as receiued the tribute and hanged them vp Olennius escaped the furie of the enimie by flying to a Castle called Fleuus strengthened with no smal power of citizens and consederats which held the coastes of the Ocean in subiection Which when L. Apronius Propretor of lowe Germanie vnderstood he sent for the chiefest ensignes of the legions of higher Germanie aides as wel of the horsmē as footmē broght both the armies ouer Rheine into the Frisian land the rebels forsaking the siege of the Castle to defend their owne Then Apronius maketh causeies and bankes and strong bridges ouer the next arme of the sea for the huge armie to passe ouer And in the meane time hauing found som foords commādeth the wing of the Caninefates such footmen as serued vnder vs to hem in the enemie behind Who raunged into battle aray to fight droue back the confederates legionarie horsmen sent as an aide After that were sent three cohorts lightly armed then two more a little after a strong companie of horsmen Strength sufficient if they had charged couragiously togither but comming some after some dropping in by companies they neither gaue courage to the fearfull but carried away themselues with like feare ran all away for company The residue of the aides he committed vnto Cethegus Labeo Lieutenant of the fift legion who perceiuing things to go doubtfull on his side sent to demaund more aide of the legions The fift legion couragiously issuing first out with a hot skirmish put the enimie to flight receiued into them the wounded and wearied cohorts The Roman Captaine sought neither to reuenge nor burie the dead bodies although there had been slaine manie Tribunes Prefects and diuers Centurions of marke fame It was after knowen by the fugitiues that the fight held on vntil the next day and that there were nine hundred Romans slaine in a wood called Baduhenna and that another power of 400. which had taken the village of Cruptorix which sometime had receiued pay of the Romains fearing treason slewe one another This got the Frisians great renowme among the Germains Tiberius dissembling his losses least hee should commit the charge to some other and the Senate beeing possessed with domesticall feare regarded not much whether the remote part of the Empire went dishonorably to wracke or not but stroken as I haue sayde into a feare sought a remedie by flatterie And albeit they had propounded many matters to deliberate on yet they decreed that all layde aside there should be two altars erected one vnto Clemencie and another vnto Friendship and that Caesars and Seianus images should be set about them and intreated most earnestly they would vouchsafe them so much fauour as that they might see him Neuerthelesse they went neither to Rome nor any place there about but thought it sufficient if they went out of the Iland and be seene in Campania next adioyning vnto it Thither resorted the Lords of the Senate Gentlemen and many of the common people heauie for Seianus vnto whom accesse was hardliest obtained and that with great crouching by approouing and participating his deseignments It well appeared his arrogancie grew greater seeing he blushed not to see such open base and filthie seruilitie vsed For at Rome it was a vsuall matter for men to walke the streetes and by reason the citie is great no man knew anothers busines but there some lying night and day in the field some on the sea shore without any difference endured either the pride of the porters or had fauour as pleased them vntill that that was also denied them Then they returned to the citie with discontented feare and Caesar not hauing vouchsafed either to looke or speake vnto them and some whose vnfortunate friendship with Seianus portended their imminent death were glad in an ill time Tiberius hauing publickly giuen his neece Agrippina Germanicus daughter vnto Gn. Domitius commaunded that the marriage should be solemnised in the citie He made choise of Domitius as well for the antiquitie of his stocke as neerenesse in bloud to the Caesars for Octauia was his grandmother and by her Augustus his vncle THE FIFT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Iulia. Tiberius crueltie increaseth His practises to make away Nero and Agrippina WHen Rubellius and Fusius both of them surnamed Geminus were Consuls Iulia Augusta died being very aged and of the noble familie of the Claudians and besides into the house of the Liuians and Iulians adopted She was first married vnto Tiberius Nero and had children by him who being driuen out of his countrey in the warre of Perusium and a peace after confirmed betwixt Sext. Pompeius the Triumuiri returned to the citie againe After that Augustus rauished with her beautie whether against her will or not it is vncertaine tooke her from her husband shewing himselfe so lustfull of her that not giuing her time to be deliuered of her first husbands childe brought her great as she was to his owne house After that she had no issue but being vnited to Augustus bloud by the mariage of Germanicus and Agrippina they had nephewes children common to them both Her behauior was according to the carriage of auncient times yet more courteous then women of former ages could well allow an vntollerable mother a tractable wife with the subtletie of her husband and dissimulation of her soone well medled and composed Her funerals were not sumptuous her testament long voide She was praised in a funerall oration before
time the Embassadors of the Parthians sent as I haue said before to demand Meherdates for their King entered into the Senat and began to vtter their charge as followeth They came thither not ignorant of the league betweene them and the Romans nor disloyall to the familie of the Arsacides but to aske for Vonones sonne Phrahates nephew against Gotarzes tyrannie alike intollerable to the nobilitie and communaltie Now that his brothers are extinguished by murder his neerest kinsemen and such as were farthese off he would do the like to women with child and small children thinking it a meanes being vnfortunate in warres abroad to couer with that cowardlines his crueltie at home That their amitie with vs was auncient and publickly confirmed and therefore reason we should ayd our allies which might in strength compare with the Romans but in deede yeeld for reuerence Therefore the Kings children were giuen for hostages that if they grew weary of their domesticall gouernment they might haue recourse to the Prince and Lords of the Senate vnder whose manner of liuing the King being brought vp should be presumed to be the better When they had vttered these and the like speeches Caesar began his oration with the greatnes of the Roman Empire and dutifulnes of the Parthians and maketh himselfe equall to Augustus declaring that a King had beene demaunded of him also not mentioning Tiberius at all notwithstanding he had sent ayd likewise He gaue certaine precepts to Meherdates who was there present aduertising him that he should not thinke himselfe a Lord and maister to commaund ouer his subiects as slaues but a guide and they citizens and that he should vse clemencie and iustice vertues so much the more gratefull vnto these barbarians by how much the lesse knowne among them Then turning himselfe to the Embassadors he highly commended the youth which had beene brought vp in the citie as one whose modestie had beene well tried that the dispositions of Kings were to be borne withal because often changes are not profitable That the Romane estate was growne vnto that height with fulnes of glory that it desired peace and quietnes euen to forren nations After he had thus sayd he commaunded C. Cassius gouernor of Syria to conduct the yong man to the riuer of Euphrates Cassius at that time did excell the rest in the knowledge of the lawes For militarie skill is vnknowne in time of rest and quietnes and peace esteemeth alike of the coward and couragious Neuertheles as much as those quiet times gaue him leaue he renewed the auncient discipline kept the legions in practise with care and foresight as if the enemie had beene at hand thinking it a thing worthy of his ancestors and Cassian familie renowned among those people Hauing therefore sent for them through whose consentment the King was demaunded and planted his camp at Zeugma where the riuer is most passable after that the noblemen of Parthia and the King of the Arabians called Abbarus was come he shewed vnto Meherdates that the first brunt of the barbarians was fierce and hote but by delay and lingering became cold or turned into treason and therefore he should couragiously go through his enterprise But his aduise was contemned through Abbarus fraude who detained him like an vnexperienced yong man in the towne of Edessa as though the highest degree of fortune and princely felicitie had consisted in riot and wantonnes And when Carrhenes called them in and assured them that all was in a good readines if they would make haste they did not march straight to Mesopotamia but turned to Armenia in an vnseasonable time because the winter was begun Then wearied with snowes and mountaines comming neere to the plaine they ioyned with Carrhenes forces And hauing passed the riuer of Tigris they entered into the countrey of the Adiabeni whose King Iuliates in open shew professed himselfe a confederate of Meherdates but vnderhand was more faithfully bent to Gotarzes IIII. Gotarzes ouercommeth Meherdates and cutteth off his eares Mithradates vsurpeth the kingdome of the Dandarides and goeth about to driue out Cotys NEuerthelesse in passing by Meherdates tooke the citie of Ninos the most ancient seat of Assyria and a famous Castle because that in the last battell betwixt Darius and Alexander there the Persian power was brought to vtter ruine In the meane time Gotarzes at a hill called Sambulos offered vowes to the gods of the place among which Hercules was chiefly honoured who at a certaine time admonisheth his Priestes in a dreame that neere vnto the Temple they should haue horses readie prepared for hunting the horses loaden with quiuers full of arrowes prawnsing vp and downe the woods returne at night breathing and panting with their quiuers emptie The god again declareth to them in a dreame what woods they haue coursed vp and downe in whither they goe and finde wild beasts killed in many places But Gotarzes not hauing sufficiently strengthened his armie vseth the riuer Corma for a defēce And although he were summoned by diuers messēgers hard speeches to battel yet he sought delayes changed place and sent some to corrupt the enimie and draw them to forsake their obedience Among which Ezates Adiabenus and anon after Abbarus King of the Arabians with their armie began to shrinke through a certaine lightnes incident to that nation and bicause it is tried by experience that the Barbarians had rather come to Rome to demaund a King then when they haue him keepe him Now Meherdates seeing himselfe stripped of his strongest succour and suspecting least the others would betraye him determined for his last refuge to commit the matter to chaunce and hazard it in a maine battell Gotarzes being verie fierce that his enimies forces were diminished refused not to fight They met with great slaughter and a doubtfull issue vntill Carrhenes making cleare way before him and driuing and pursuing the enimies too farre was compassed behind with a fresh companie and slaine Then all hope being lost Meherdates trusting the promises of one Parrhacis a follower of his father by his falshood was taken prisoner and deliuered to the Conquerour Who intreated him not like a kinsman or one of the Arsacis stocke but reuiled him like a stranger and a Roman and hauing cut off his eares gaue him his life as a shew of his clemencie and dishonour and reproch vnto vs. Not long after Gotarzes died of a disease and Vonones then gouernour of the Medes was called to be King There happened nothing in his raigne either prosperous or vnprosperous worthie the telling he liued but a short and an inglorious time and the kingdome of the Parthians was translated to his sonne Vologeses But Mithradates the Bosphoran wandering vp and downe after he had lost his forces vnderstanding that Didius the Roman Captaine with the strength of his armie was departed and that onely Cotys a raw and rude youth was left in the new kingdome with some few bandes vnder the conduct of
Iulius Aquila gentleman of Rome contemnig both of them began to sollicite the countries about him and allure fugitiues and at last hauing assembled an armie chaseth out the King of the Dandarides and inioyeth his kingdome Which being vnderstoode and looking euerie hower that he would inuade the Bosphoran Aquila and Cotys distrustring their owne forces because Zorsines King of the Soraci had taken armes againe sought for forreine aide and sent Ambassadors to Eunones King of the Adorsian nation being no hard matter to draw him to their fellowship after he had declared what oddes there was between the Roman forces and the rebell Mithradates Whereupon they agreed that Eunones should haue charge of the horsemen and the Romains besiege townes Then hauing mustered their armie in order they marche in battell aray the Adorsi defending the front and the rereward the cohorts and Bosphorani the middle battell armed after our fashion And so driuing backe the enimie we came to Soza the chiefe towne of Dandarica which Mithradates forsooke where we left a garrison as being doubtfull of the inhabitants fidelitie From thence they marched to the Soraci and hauing passed the riuer Panda they besieged the citie Vspe situated on a high place fortified with wals and ditches sauing that the wals not being made of stone but of hurdles ioyned togither earth in the middle were too weake against the besiegers who hauing erected towres higher than the wals with fire and dartes disordered they besieged and had not the night broken off the battell the towne had beene assaulted and taken the same day The next day they sent Ambassadors to intreat for the free men but of slaues they offered ten thousand which the Conquerours refused And because that to slaie such as yeelded would be a cruell part and to keepe so great a multitude hard they thought it best to hold on the siege and kill them by right of warre and thereupon the signe was giuen to such souldiers as had scaled the wals to put them to the sword V. Mithradates being forsaken by Zorsines King of the Soraci ye eldeth to Eunones King of the Adorsi and came to Rome after he had made a peace THe slaughter of the Vspensiens stroke the rest into a feare thinking now that there was no safetie in any thing seeing their armes their fortresses high and hard places riuers and townes were forced alike Zorsines then long waighing with himselfe whether he should succour Mithradates desperate case or prouide for his fathers kingdome at length the loue of his countrey swaying him hauing giuen pledges he prostrated himselfe before the image of Caesar to the great glorie of the Roman armie which without any losse of bloodshed on his side came as it is most manifest victorious within three daies iourney of the riuer Tanais But in returning fortune was not alike bicause some of the shippes carried on the Taurian shores were by the Barbarians surprised the prefect of the cohorts and most of the Centurions slaine In the meane time Mithradates finding no safetie in armes debateth with himselfe whose mercie he should trie He feared his brother Cotys because he betrayed him once and was now his enimie There was none of the Romans of such authoritie that their promises should greatly be regarded in fine he addresseth himselfe to Eunones his enimie for priuate grudge but great and of better credit through the friendship newely contracted with vs. Therefore composing his countenance and attiring himselfe sutable to his present estate goeth to the Kings pallace and casting himselfe at his knees saith Behold here Mithradates whom by sea and by land you haue so manie yeeres sought Behold I am here of my owne voluntarie will Vse as thou wilt the sonne of great Achemenes which is the onely thing which the enimies haue not taken from me But Eunones moued with the nobilitie of the man the change of his fortune at his prayer which argued no base minde lifteth vp the suppliant and commendeth him that he had chosen the Adorsian nation and his right hand for obtayning of pardon And withall sendeth Ambassadors and letters to Caesar with these contents That the first friendship betwixt the Emperours and Kings of other mightie nations proceeded of conformitie and likenes of fortune but Claudius amitie and his of a victorie common to them both That the end of warre were most notable when peace was made with pardoning So when Zorsinus was conquered nothing was taken from him for Mithradates although he had deserued woorse no power no kingdome was intreated for but onely that he might not be lead in triumphe and lose his life Neuerthelesse Claudius although he were milde and gentle towards forreine nobilitie yet doubted whether it were best for him to receiue the captiue vnder condition of life or demaund him by force of armes For on one side the griefe of iniuries receiued and desire of reuenge pricked him and on the other reasons to the contrarie That he should take a warre in hand in a hard conntrey and a hauenlesse sea withall that the Kings were fierce and the people scattered and the soile fruitlesse and needy of victuals then that lingering would bring tediousnes and haste danger the praise should be small to the conquerers the infamie great if they tooke the repulse therfore it were best to take the offer and keepe the exiled who being poore how much the longer he liued so much the more punishment he should indure Mooued with these reasons he wrote to Eunones In verie truth that Mithradates deserued examplarie punishment neither wanted he power to execute it neuerthelesse it hath seemed best vnto our predecessors to vse as great benignitie towards humble suppliants as hard and rigorous dealing towards the enimie for triumphes were gotten of whole nations and kingdomes Then Mithradates was deliuered and carried to Rome by Iunius Celo Procurator of Pontus and thought to haue spoken more boldly to Caesar then his estate required His speech was carried to the people in these termes I am not sent backe vnto thee but am come and if thou beleeue me not let me goe and trie There appeered no signe of feare in his countenance when as garded with keepers neere vnto the court he was shewen vnto the people The Consularie ornaments were giuen to Colo and the Pretorian to Aquila VI. The death of Lollia Paulina through Agrippinaes iealousie Calpurnia driuen out of Italie VNder the same Consuls Agrippina boiling with deadly hatred and malice against Lollia because she had contended with her for the marrying of the Prince left no meanes vnsought vntill she had stirred vp some to accuse her of conference had with the Chaldeans and Magicians and counsell asked of the idoll of Apollo Clarius concerning the Emperours marriage Hereupon Claudius the defendant vnhard hauing spoken much before the Senate of her noblenes of birth that she was L. Volusius sisters daughter that Cotta Messallinus was her great vncle and she once wife
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
letters were written to Caenina Tuschus to come and take charge of the guard but that Burrhus credit was saued and kept in his office by Senecaes meanes Plinie and Cluuius seeme there was no doubt made of Burrhus loyaltie and in verie deede Fabius inclineth much to the commendation of Seneca as one of his preferment But our meaning is to follow the consent of authors and if any affirme contrarie we will deliuer it vnder their names Nero trembling for feare and exceeding desirous of the death of his mother could not indure the delay vntill Burrhus had promised to performe it if she were conuicted of the crime But euerie man might alleage what he could for his defence much more a mother Neither were there any accusers present and nothing to ground on but one mans report out of an enimies house He was to cōsider that it was night and that spent in banqueting and therefore all would seeme to smell of rashnes and folly The Princes feare somewhat lightened by these speeches and the day come one went to Agrippina to let her vnderstand of the accusation to purge her selfe or looke to suffer Burrhus was to do the message in presence of Seneca with some freed men as witnes of the speeches Then Burrhus hauing declared the accusation and the authors of it vsed threatning termes and Agrippina not forgetting her old fiercenes returned him his answere saying I maruell not if Silana neuer hauing had childe know not what the affections of mothers are neither are children changed by their parents as adulterers by shamelesse women Neither if Iturius and Caluisius hauing wasted their substance bestow this their last labour in vndertaking this accusation therefore am I to sustaine the infamie of parricide or Caesar haue scruple of conscience that I would commit it as for Domitia I would thanke her for the hate she beareth me if she would likewise in good will and loue towards my Nero striue with me Now by her concubine Atimetus and Paris the stage player she doth as it were compose fables for the stage She was busie about her fish pooles of Baia when by my counsels Neroes adoption proconsularie authoritie election to be Consull and other steps to mount to the Empire were procured Or else let some one be brought foorth to make it appeere that I haue practised with the citie-cohorts corrupted the loyaltie of the Prouinces or sollicited bond-men or freedmen to rebellion I might haue liued if Britannicus had beene soueraigne but if Plautus or some other should get the rule of the common-wealth forsooth there should want accusers to laye to my charge not wordes sometimes vnaduisedly escaped thorough feruencie of loue but such crimes also from which I could not be acquited but as a mother by hir son The assistance moued with these speeches and endeuoring to appease her anger she requireth to speake with her sonne before whom she spake nothing in defence of her innocencie as if she had distrusted or of her benefits as to vpbrayd him but obteined reuenge of her accusers and rewards for hir friends The charge and office of prouision of corne was giuen to Senius Rufus the commission of plaies which Caesar was a preparing to Aruntius Stella Aegypt to C. Balbillus Syria was appointed to P. Anteius then abused with diuers deuises and in the ende detained in the citie But Silana was banished Caluisius also and Iturius Atimetus was executed Paris being in greater credit by reason of pleasures ministred to the Prince then that he should be put to death Plautus was sent away for the time with silence Pallas after this and Burrhus were accused to haue practised to call Cornelius Sylla for noblenes of birth and affinitie with Claudius whose sonne in lawe he was by marriage of Antonia to the Empire The author of that accusation was one Paetus a man infamous by causing debters to forfeit their goods and then manifestly conuicted of vanitie and falshoode Neither was Pallas innocencie so gratefull as his pride insupportable for when some of his freed men were saide to haue beene priuie to the practise he made answer that in his house he appointed nothing to be done but with a nod of his head or hand or by writing if he had much to say least if he shoulde haue spoken vnto them he should seeme to haue made them his fellowes Burrhus although accused yet gaue sentence among the iudges Paetus the accuser was banished and the writings burnt by which he went about to renewe the recordes of the treasurie alreadie cancelled In the end of the same yeere the gard of the soldiers which was woont to be at the plaies was taken away for a greater shew of libertie and bicause the souldier being absent from the disorder of the Theater shoulde be lesse corrupt and the people shewe by proofe whether they would vse modestie if the guarde were away The prince hallowed and purged the citie with sacrifices by aduise of the southsaiers bicause Iupiters and Mineruaes temples were set on fire with lightning VI. Neroes disorders the case of the franchised debated an order for certaine magistrates Q. Volusius and P. Scipio being Consuls there was peace abroad filthie lasciuiousnes at home during which Nero gadded vp down the streetes to infamous brothell houses by-corners in slaues attire to be vnknown accompanied with such as snatched away wares from mens stales wounded such as met them and with such small regard whome that Nero himselfe hath receiued and carried away blowes and marks on the face And when it was knowne to be Caesar which played those pranks the disorder grew greater against both men and women of accompt and with like licentiousnes abusing Caesars name many practised the same insolencies gathered together in particular companies and so spending the night as it had been in taking a towne and captiuitie One Iulius Montanus a Senator who had not yet taken vpon him the dignitie by chaunce coping with the Prince in the darke and rudely thrusting him backe as he offered him violence then knowing him and crauing pardō was inforced to die as though therby he had reproched him of folly Nero more wary and fearefull after that went not without a rabble of souldiers and fencers which medled not at the first and whilest the prince made his party good but after if he were ouermatched by such as he abused they layd hands immediately on their weapons He turned the disordered licence at plaies and part-taking in fauor of stage players almost to a mutinie by giuing impunitie and rewards himselfe priuily or for the most part openly looking on vntill the people growing to sedition and fearing greater stirres no other remedie was found then to expell the stage-players out of Italie and place a gard of souldiers againe on the theater At the same time the deceit and vngratefull behauior of freed men was debated in Senat and instant sute made that the patrons might haue authoritie to reuoke the
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
them But Corbulo sent an armie of Hiberians to waste them reuenging by that meanes with the blood of strangers the audaciousnes of the enemie Himselfe and his armie albeit he receiued no hurt by the battell yet began to faint for want of victuals and ouer great trauell hauing no meanes to driue away hunger but with the flesh of beasts All this with the want of water feruent heat long iournies was mitigated by the onely patience of the Captaine himselfe induring more than a common souldier Then we came into tilled groundes but where haruest was in and of two castles into which the Armenians had fled the one was taken by force and the other which had resisted the first assault was forced with siege From thence passing into the countrey of the Taurantians he escaped an vnlooked for danger for not farre from his pauilion there was found a Barbarian of no small reputation with a weapon which by torture discouered the order of a treason himselfe the inuentor of it and all his complices and they were conuicted and punished which vnder colour of friendship went about treason Not long after Embassadors sent frō Tigranocerta bring tidings that the gates are open and the inhabitāts willing to obey the Romans Withall they presented him a crowne of gold as a gift to honour a stranger which honorably he accepted and tooke away no priuilege from the towne bicause they should more faithfully retaine their obedience Neuerthelesse the Kings fortresse which the fierce youth had shut themselues in was not gotten but by fight for they came foorth skirmisht before the wals but driuē into their rampiers no lōger able to resist at the last yeeld to the forces of the assailers All which the Roman atchieued so much the easlier bicause the Parthians were hindered with warre against the Hyrcanians who had sent to the Romane Prince to craue their alliance declaring that for a pledge of their frindship they had stopped Vologeses Corbulo fearing least those Embassadors in returning backe hauing past Euphrates should be surprised by the ambushe of the enimie with a good guard conducted them to the red sea whereby hauing escaped the confines of the Parthians they retuned safe to their countrey Besides this Corbulo droue away Tiridates farre off and from all hope of warres entering the confines of Armenia by the Medes by sending before the Lieutenant Verulanus with the confederates himselfe following with vncombred legions and hauing wasted with fire sword those he knew to be our enimies adhere to the King put himselfe in possession of Armenia when as not long after came Tigranes chosen by Nero to take the kingdome one of the nobilitie of the Cappadocians and King Archelaus nephew but by being kept a long time an hostage in the citie was humble and lowly euen vnto seruile patience neither accepted by consent some still fauoring the Arsacides but the most part hating the pride of the Parthians desired rather the King giuen by the Romans He had also a garrison sent him by the Romans a thousand legionarie souldiers three bands of allies and two wings of horsemen And to the end he might the easlier defend the new kingdome part of Armenia as it adioyned to Nipolis * Aristobolus and part Antiochus had charge of Corbulo came into Syria which by the death of the Lieutenant Vinidius was without a gouernor and committed to his charge IX An earth-quake in Laodicea An order for appellations THe same yeere Laodicea one of the most famous cities of Asia destroied by an earth-quake without any helpe of ours by her owne wealth recouered her selfe againe But in Italie the auncient towne of Puteolum got of Nero the priuileges and surname of a colonie The old souldiers assigned to inhabite Tarentum and Antium did not furnish the lacke of people in those places many of them being sent into Prouinces where they ended their seruice And not accustomed to marrie nor bring vp children they left their houses without posteritie for whole legions were not brought as in times past with Tribunes and Centurions and souldiers of the same band that by consent and loue they should make a common-wealth but strangers the on to the other of diuers companies without a gouernour without mutuall loue as it were gathered on the sudden of another kinde of people rather a number than a colonie The election of Pretors wont to be chosen at the will of the Senat which was now done by suite and briberie the Prince assumed to himselfe and gaue the charge of a legion to each one of the three which sued extraordinarily And augmented the honour of the Senate by ordayning that such as from ordinarie iudges appealed to the Senators should incurre the same penaltie as they did which appealed to the Emperour for before that was free for euerie man and not punishable In the ende of the yeere Vibius Secundus a Roman gentleman at the suite of the Moores was condemned of extortion and banished Italie and supported by the fauour of his brother Vibius Crispus that he had no grieuouser a punishment X. Warre in England Suetonius Paullinus conquered the Ile of Anglesey The Queene Boudicea abused by the Romans WHen Cesonius Paetus and Petronius Turpilianus were Consuls there was a verie great ouerthrow receiued in Britannie where neither the Lieutenant Auitus as I haue alreadie saide could do no more but keepe that which was alreadie gotten and his successor Verannius with small inrodes hauing wasted the Siluri was hindered by death from making any long warre a man whilest he liued famous for seueritie but in his last will shewed himselfe openly ambitious For after much flattering of Nero added that he would haue subdued the Prouince to his obedience if he had liued the two next yeeres At that time Paulinus Suetonius gouerned Britannie in skill of seruice opinion of the people which suffereth no man without a concurrent comparable with Corbulo desiring to match his honour of recouering Armenia by subduing the enimie of this countrey He maketh all preparation to inuade the Ile of Mona strong with inhabitants and a receptacle of fugitiues and buildeth flat bottomde vessels because the sea is shallow and landing vncertaine So the footemen hauing passed ouer the horsemen followed by the foord or by swimming if the waters were high Against them the enemies armie stoode on the shore thicke in aray well appointed with men and weapons and women running among in mourning attire their haire about their eares with fire-brands in their hands like furies of hell and the Druides round about lifting vp their hands to heauen and powring out deadly curses with the newnes of the sight amazed the souldier and stood stocke still close togither not once moouing a foote as though they had presented themselues to the wounds Then by the encouragement of the Captaine and animating each the other that they should not feare a flocke of women and franticke people they displaied their
ensignes and marched on ouerthrew such as encountered them and thrust them among their owne fires Which being done they placed garrisons in their townes and cut down their woods which through their execrable superstitions among them were reckoned holie For they accounted it lawfull to offer sacrifice at their altars with the blood of captiues and aske counsell of their gods by the aspect of mans intrailes and fibres Newes came to Suetonius as he atchieued this enterprise of a sudden rebellion of the Prouince Prasutagus King of the Icenians verie famous for his riches a long time gotten made Caesar with two of his daughters his heire by will thinking that by that flatterie his kingdome and house should haue beene warranted from iniurie which fell out otherwise for his kingdome by Centurions his house by slaues was wasted spoiled as lawfull booties And to begin withall his wife Boudicea was whipped his daughters defloured And the chiefest of the Icenians as though they had receiued the whole nation for a pray were dispossessed of al their ancient inheritance the Kings kindred reputed as slaues By reason of which contumely feare of worse after that they were reduced into a forme of a prouince they take armes againe the Trinobantes being sturred to rebellion also others not yet broken to the yoke of seruitude by secret conspiracies had vowed to recouer their libertie bearing a bitter hatred against the old souldiers For those which were lately brought into the colonie of Camalodunum thrust out of their houses the auncient inhabitants tooke their liuings from them calling them captiues and slaues the new soldiers fauouring the insolent fiercenes of the old as well for likenesse and conformitie of life as hope of like licence Besides a temple erected in honor of Claudius of famous memory was an eye sore and an altar of perpetuall dominion ouer them and the Priests which were chosen vnder colour of religion wasted all the wealth of the inhabitants Neither did it seeme any hard matter to extirpate that colonie vndefensed and vnfortified which was not circumspectly foreseene by our captaines whilest they had a greater care of pleasure then good gouernment Amongst these things the image of Victorie set vp in Camalodunum fell downe without any apparant cause why and turned back as though it would giue place to the enemie And the women distempered with furie went singing that destruction was at hand And strange noises were heard in their court and the Theater gaue a sound like to a howling and a strange apparition in an arme of the sea was a foretelling of the subuersion of the colonie Further the Ocean bloudie in shew and dead mens bodies left after an ebbe as they brought hope to the Britaines so they droue the old soldiers into a feare who because Suetonius was farre off craued aide of Catus Decianus procurator He sent not aboue two hundred men and those badly armed and the number not great which was there before trusted to the franchise of the temple And those hindering which were confederates of the secret conspiracie troubled their deseignments for they neither made trench nor ditch nor sending away the old men and women and keeping the yong men only being as secure as it had beene in a full peace they were surprised with a multitude of barbarous people and all ouerthrowne and wasted with violence or consumed with fire the temple only excepted into which the souldiers had fled which also within two dayes was besieged and taken And the Britaine being thus conqueror and meeting with Paetus Cerealis Lieutenant of the ninth legion which came to succour them put to flight the legion and slew all the footemen Cerealis with the horsemen escaped to the campe and defended himselfe in the fortresses Through which ouerthrow and hate of the prouince driuen to take armes through the auarice of the Romaines Catus the procurator being afraid sailed to Gallia But Suetonius with wonderfull constancie passing euen among the enemies went on to London not greatly famous by the name of a colonie but for concourse of Merchants and prouision of all things necessary of great fame and renowme and being come thither stoode doubtfull whether he should choose that for the seate of warre or not and considering the small store of souldiers he had and how Petilius had well payed for his rashnes he determined with the losse of one towne to preserue the rest whole Neither was he won by weeping and teares to giue aide to such as demaunded it but gaue signe of remouing and receiued such as followed as part of his armie If imbecillitie of sexe or wearisomnes of age or pleasantnes of the place kept any back they were all put to the sword by the enemie The free towne of Verulamium receiued the like ouerthrow because the barbarians forsaking their Castels and forts and being well manned spoiled the richest and fattest and carrying it to a sure place glad of the bootie went on to places more notable It is certaine there were slaine in those places I haue spoken of to the number of seuentie thousand citizens and confederates Neither did they sell or take any one prisoner or vse any entercourse of traffick of warre but kill hang burne crucifie as though they would requite the measure they had suffered and as it were in the meane time hasten to anticipate reuenge XI Suetonius vanquished the Britaines vvhich Boudicea conducted her stoutnes and death NOw Suetonius hauing with him the foureteenth legion with the Standard bearers of the twentith and the aides from places adioyning which came all to the number almost of ten thousand armed men resolued to lay aside all delay and trie the chaunce of a maine battell And chooseth a place with a narrow entrance and inclosed behinde with a wood being well assured that he had no enimies but before him and that the plaine was wide without feare of ambush The legionarie souldier then marshalled togither in thicke and close rankes and the light harnessed closely about them the horsemen made the wings But the Britaines forces triumphed abroade in troupes and companies by such multitudes that the like had not beene seene and of such fiercenes of courage that they brought their wiues with them and placed them in carts in the vtmost parts of the plaine as witnesses of the victorie Boudicea hauing her daughters by her in a chariot now going to one now to another Told them that the Britaines were woont to make warre vnder the conduct of women But at that time not as though she had descended of such noble auncestors she sought neither for kingdome nor wealth but a reuenge as one of the common people of their lost libertie of her bodie beaten with stripes and the chastitie of her daughters violated That the desire of the Romaines was growen to that passe that they left none of what age soeuer nor any virgin vndefiled Neuertheles that the gods fauored iust reuenge
that the legion which durst vndertake the battell was slaine the rest had either hid themselues in their camp or fought meanes by flight to saue themselues that they could not indure the noise and cry of so many souldiers much lesse their furie and strength If they would waigh with themselues the strength of the souldiers if the cause of the warre they should resolue either to vanquish in that battell or die That for her owne part being a woman was her resolution the men might liue if they pleased and serue Suetonius held not his toong in so great danger who although he trusted in the valour of his souldiers yet enterlaced exhortations and prayers That they should contemne the lowde and vaine threates of the barbarians that there were more women seene in their armie then yong men that being vnwarlike and vnarmed they would presently yeeld when they should once come to feele the weapons and valour of the conquerors who had so oft ouerthrowne them yea where many legions haue beene a few haue caried away the glory of the battell and it should be an augmenting to their glory if with a small power they could win the praise of a whole armie that they should only continue the slaughter and butcherie close together by throwing of darts then with their swords and pikes of their bucklers not thinking on bootie for the victorie once gotten all should fall to their share Such a feruencie and edge followed the captaines words the old souldier experienced in many battels so besturred himselfe and shewed such forwardnes in lancing his darts that Suetonius assured of the euent gaue the signe of battell And first of all the legion not stirring afoote but keeping within the streight as in a place of defence after that the enemie was come neerer and had spent his darts to good purpose the legion in the end sallied out in a pointed battell The auxiliarie souldier was of the like courage and the horsemen with long lances breaking before them all they met or made head against them The residue shewed their backs hardly fleeing away by reason the carts placed about the plaine had hedged in the passages on euery side And the souldiers spared not from killing so much as the women and their horses and beasts thrust through increased the heape of bodies That was a day of great renowme and comparable to the victories of old times for some there are which report that there were slaine fewe lesse in number then fourscore thousand Britaines of our souldiers fower hundred slaine and not many moe hurt Boudicea ended her life with poison And Poenius Posthumus Campe-maister of the second legion vnderstanding of the prosperous successe of the foureteenth and twentith legions because hee had defrauded his legion of the like glorie and contrarie to the order of seruice refused to obey the Captaines commaundement slewe himselfe After this gathering the armie togither they encamped againe readie to end the residue of the warre And Caesar augmented his forces by sending out of Germanie two thousand legion aries eight cohorts of auxiliaries and a thousand horse by whose comming the ninth legion was supplied The cohorts and wings were lodged in newe winter garrisons and all those which were either openly against vs or doubtfull were wasted with fire and sword But nothing so much distressed that nation as famine being negligent in sowing of corne and of all ages giuen to warre and assuring themselues to liue on our prouision being a fierce nation slowly gaue eare to any peace For Iulius Classicianus sent to succeed Catus and at variance with Suetonius hindered the common good with pruate grudges and had bruted abroad that the new Lieutenant was to be expected who without any hostile rancor pride of a conqueror would entreat such as would yeelde with all clemencie He sent worde likewise to Rome that they should looke for no ende of the warres vnlesse some other should succeed Suetonius attributing his aduerse lucke to his own ouerthwartnes and the prosperous to the good lucke of the common-wealth Whereupon to see what state Britannie stood in Polycletus a freed man was sent Nero greatly hoping that by his authoritie there should not onely an agreement be made betweene the Lieutenant and Procurator but also the rebellious mindes of the Barbarians be won to a peace Neither failed Polycletus with his great hoast to seeme burdesome to Italie and Gallia and after he had passed the Ocean sea shew himselfe terrible euen to our souldiers But to the enimies he was but a laughing stocke who being in ful possession of libertie knew not what the power of freed men was and began to maruell that a Captaine and an armie which had atchieued so many great exploits could yeeld to obey a bond-slaue all things neuerthelesse were made the best to the Emperour And Suetonius being occupied in dispatching of busines after he had lost a fewe galleies on the shore and the gallie-slaues in them as though the warre did continue was commaunded to deliuer the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had lately giuen vp his Consulship who neither prouoking the enimie nor egged by him gaue his lasie and idle life the honorable name of peace XII Balbus a Senators testament forged and Pedanius Rufus killed by his bondmen THe same yeere two notable lewd parts were committed at Rome the one by a Senator the other by an audacious bondman Domitius Balbus sometime Pretor being aged without children and of great wealth lay open to much treacherie One of his neerest kinsmen Valerius Fabianus and Consull elect forged a false testament in his name hauing called thereunto Vicius Rufinus and Terentius Lentinus gentlemen of Rome and they associated vnto them Antonius Primus and Asinius Marcellus Antonie was readie and bold Marcellus nobly descended and nephewe to Asinius Pollio of a good cariage and behauiour sauing that he thought pouertie the woorst of all things Fabianus then sealed the testament with those which I haue named and others of lesser calling whereof he was conuicted before the Lords of the Senat with Antonius Rufinus Terentius and condemned by the law Cornelia against forgerie But Marcellus the memorie of his auncestors and Caesars entreatie acquited rather from punishment than infamie The same day ouerthrew Pompeianus Aelianus a yoong man who had been Quaestor and priuie to Fabianus practise and was banished Italy and Spaine his natiue countrey Valerius Ponticus sustained the like ignominie because that eschuing the iudgement of the Prouost of the citie he had informed against some before the Pretor first vnder colour of som lawes then by preuarication to escape punishment Wherupon a decree of Senate was ordained that he who should either buy or sell any such actions should sustaine the same punishment as he who was publickly condemned for forging of crimes in false accusations Not long after Pedanius Secundus Prouost of the citie was slaine by his bondman either because he had denied him his
thousand choise men on the top of the hill Taurus hard by to hinder the King to passe He placed also certaine cornets of Pannonians which were the strength and sinewes of his horsemen in one part of the plaine His wife and sonne were shut vp in a castle called Arsamosata and a cohort appointed to guarde them and thus dispersed the souldiers which vnited in one would much better haue made head against the stragled and rouing enimie It is reported that he was hardly brought to confesse vnto Corbulo that the King was at hand neither did Corbulo make any great haste to the end that the dangers growing great his own praise in succouring might be the greater Neuerthelesse he commaunded three thousand to be set forwarde out of the three legions eight hundred horse and the like number out of the auxiliarie cohorts But Vologeses although he had vnderstood that the passages were shut vp by Paetus on the one side with footmen and on the other with horsmen nothing altering his determination what with violence what with threatnings hauing put the horsemen to flight broke the legionaries one onely Centurion Tarquitius Crescens hauing courage to defend himselfe in a towre wherein he had a garrison making often sallies and slaying such Barbarians as came neere vntill he was forced by fire to yeeld Of the footemen if any was vnhurt he fled to bye-places a farre off the wounded returned to the campe extolling the valour of the King the crueltie and number of his souldiers and all else for feare such easily beleeuing them as were in the like perplexitie The Captaine himselfe not once endeuoruing to remedie the calamitie neglected all duties of seruice and sent againe to intreat Corbulo that he would come away in all poste haste to defend the ensignes and standarts and the onely name left of the vnfortunate armie he for his owne part would whilest life lasted remaine faithfull III. Corbulo goeth to Syria to aide Paetus who in the meane space maketh a dishonorable peace with Vologeses COrbulo daunted nothing at all leauing part of his forces in Syria to defende the fortresses built vpon the shore of Euphrates tooke his iourney as the neerest way and plentifullest of victuals by the Comagenians then by Cappadocia and from thence to Armenia There followed the armie besides the vsuall furniture and prouision of warre a multitude of camels loaden with corne to driue away both the enimie and hunger The first he met of those which were throughly affrighted was Pactius the Centurion of the first ensigne then many other soldiers who pretending diuers and sundry causes of their flying away he admonished to returne to their ensignes and trust to Paetus clemencie As for himselfe he was rigorous to none but to the conquerers Withall he went to his legions encouraged them put them in minde of their old valour and what occasion they had to win new glory That they sought not now villages and townes of Armenia for a reward of their trauels but Roman camps and amongst them two legions If vnto euery common souldier the crowne was giuen by the Emperors hands as a speciall honor to him who had saued one citizen only how great and worthie an honor shall it be when the like number shall be seene of the succourers succoured And with these and the like incouragements generally cheered and some there were whom their brothers perils and neere kindred inflamed of their owne proper motions they hastned their iourney day and night Vologeses so much the more eagerly pursueth the besieged now assailing the trench of the legions now the fort where the fearefull or aged had fled for defence approching neerer then the Parthians custome is to allure by temeritie his enemie to battell But the Romans hardly haled out of their cabins did but defend their rampires part at the commaundement of the captaine and others by their owne cowardlines looking for Corbulo and if they should be put to any distresse purposed to shift for themselues by the example of the ouerthrowe at Caudina and Numantina Neither had the Samnites people of Italie nor the people of Carthage which contended for greatnes with the Romans so great power as the Parthians Their auncestors also both valiant and commended of all when fortune crossed them prouided for their safetie By which desperation Paetus the generall of the armie vtterly cast downe yet sent not his first letters to Vologeses in humble sort but in manner of a complaint That he vsed hostilitie against the Armenians subiect alwaies to the Romans or to a King chosen by the Emperour That peace was alike profitable to both That he should not regard things present only That he was come against two legions with all the power of his kingdome but the Romains had the whole world besides at commandement to aide the warre Vologeses answered nothing touching the matter but that he was to expect his brothers Pacorus and Tiridates and that that place and time was appointed to consult of Armenia * And that the gods had fauored them so much being a matter worthy of the Arsacides greatnes that withall they could determine of the Roman legions After that Paetus sent messengers to intreate a parly with the King who commanded Vasaces captaine of the horse to go Then Paetus beginneth with the Luculli Pompei and such other Captaines as had conquered and giuen away Armenia Vasaces answered that the Romaines had but a shadow of holding and giuing away of Armenia and that the right and power was with the Parthians And hauing sufficiently debated the matter on both sides Monobazus Adiabenus the next day was called a witnes of their agreement which was that the legions should no longer be besieged and all the souldiers depart out of the bounds of Armenia and all forts and prouisions to be deliuered to the Parthians which done that Vologeses should haue licence to send Embassadors to Nero. In the meane space Paetus built a bridge ouer the riuer Arsamites which ran by the camp vnder colour of passing that way but the Parthians had commanded it to be done as a token of the victorie for it serued their turne and our men went another way And the rumor went that the legions were sent sub iugum with other disgraces which the Armenians were wont to vse against the vanquished For they entered the trench before the Romaine camp was departed and beset the way challenging and leading away their horses and such as had beene their slaues Their apparell also and weapons were taken from them and the souldiers yeelded them for feare least any occasion of quarrell should be giuen Vologeses hauing gathered together our weapons and dead bodies to witnes the ouerthrow of our people forbare from seeing the running away of the legions A fame of moderation was sought for after he had satisfied and filled his pride He passed the riuer Arsamites on an Elephant and euery man neere the King on horseback because a rumor was
If he fall by chaunce it is not lawfull for him to rise or get vp but is rowled out all their superstition tending to this that from thence the nation had his beginning that there dwelleth the God ruler of all others and vnto whom all other things are subiect and obedient The fortune of the Semnones giueth this authoritie their countrey is inhabited by an hundred villages and by their great bodie they take themselues to be the head of the Sueuians Contrarily the Longobards are renowned by reason their number is so small that being hemmed in with many verie puissant nations yet maintaine themselues not by doing any dutie to any but by warres and dangers After them the Reudigni and Auiones and Angli and Varini and Eudoses and Suardones and Nuithones are defended by riuers or woods hauing no notable thing particular in any sauing that generally they adore Herthum that is the mother-earth whom they beleeue to be present at mens affaires There is a wood called Castum in an Iland of the Ocean and a chariot dedicated in it couered with apparell which one Priest onely may lawfully touch He knoweth that the goddesse is in some secret part of the house and followeth her with great reuerence as she is lead by Kowes and make those holy daies places of ioy which she vouchsafeth to honor with hir presence Warre they make none nor put on any armour nor shew any weapon but peace and quietnes is onely knowen and loued vntill the same priest bring backe the goddesse to her Temple filled with the conuersation of mortall men Then the chariot and the apparell if you will beleeue it the diuinitie itselfe is washed in some secret lake bond men minister vnto her which the same lake doth incontinently swallow vp Whereof ariseth a secret terror and an holy ignorance what that should be which they onely see which are a perishing And this part of Sueuia reacheth far within the country of Germanie the neerer that I may describe that part which lyeth by Danub as I haue done that which lyeth along the Rhene is the citie of the Hermunduri faithfull to the Romans and therefore of all the Germans trafficke not onely vpon the banke of Rhene but euen within the hart of the countrey and in the most famous colonie of the Prouince Rhaetia These goe all ouer without a guard and whereas we shew other nations somtimes our armes sometimes our campe to these we lay open our houses and villages as people not desiring them In the countrey of the Hermunduri the riuer Albis hath his beginning in times past a famous riuer and well knowen but now onely heard of Neere vnto the Hermundurians dwell the Narisci the Marcomani and Quadi The greatest renowne and strength that the Marcomans haue is in that they got their dwellings by valour and driuing out in times past the Boiens Neither do the Narisci and the Quadi degenerate And that is as it were the frontier of Germanie on that side which the Danube borders The Marcomani and the Quadi had euen vntill times of our memorie Kings of their owne nation of the noble stocke of the Marobodui and Tudri but now they suffer strangers which haue their strength and power by the authoritie of the Romans and seldome vse our armes but are often helpt with our money Neither are the Marsigni Gothini Osi Burij which are behinde the Marcomani and Quadi of lesser valour among which the Marsigni and Burij resemble the Sueuians in speech and attire The Gallican toong doth conuince the Gothinos and the Pannonicall the Osos not to be Germans and that they endure to paie tribute part of the tribute the Sarmates part the Quadi charge them with as strangers The Gothini the more to their shame dig for mines of iron and all these people inhabite small store of plaine ground but wood-landes and hill tops Sueuia is deuided by a continuall ridge of hils beyond which dwell many nations amongst which the name of the Lygians is farthest spread into many cities It will suffice to reckon the strongest as the Arios Helueconas Maninos Elysios Naharualos Among the Naharualians there is a wood long agone consecrated to religion ouer which a Priest apparelled in womans attire is superintendent but the Romans interpret them to be the goddes Castor and Pollux The name of the god is Alcis Images there are none nor signe of strange superstition yet they are reuerenced as brothers and two yong men But the Arij besides their strength wherein they go beyond the other people I haue made mention of fell and cruell do set forth their naturall fiercenes with arte time for they vse black targets and die their bodies with the same colour and choose the darkest nights to fight in striking a terror with the shadow of so deadly an armie into the enemies none of them able to indure so strange and as it were hellish sight the eyes being first ouercome in all battels Beyond the Lygians the Gothones liue vnder Kings in a more seuere gouernment then the other people of Germanie and not in full libertie Then from the Ocean follow the Rugij Lemouij all of them bearing for their marke round bucklers and short swords and liuing vnder the subiection of Kings After those are the cities of the Suionians scituated in the Ocean besides men and armor strong in shipping which in making differ from other vessels in that both ends are fore-parts readie to land at each end without saile or oares in a ranke in the sides but the mariners are at libertie readie to change hither and thither as occasion serueth as in some other riuers Those people esteeme of riches and therefore one hath amongst them absolute rule and gouernmēt and not at the will of the subiect They are not all licensed to weare weapons as in other parts of Germanie but their weapons are shut vp vnder a keeper and that a slaue because the enemie can make no sudden incursion against them by reason of the Ocean If the souldiers be idle and at rest they easily grow insolent and in deede it is not for the Kings profit to commit the charge of armor to noblemen or free borne or freed men Beyond the Suionas there is another sea so slow and almost immoueable that many thinke it to be the bounds which compasse in the whole worlde because that the Sunne continueth so cleare and bright from his setting till the rising that it darkneth the starres And some are further perswaded that the sound of him is hard as he riseth out of the sea and many shapes of gods seene and the beames of his head So farre the fame is true and that there was the end of nature and the world Now on the right shore of the Sweuian sea the Aestyans inhabit whose maner of life is like the Sweuians but their language more like the Britains language They adore the mother of the goddes for a skutchion of
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