augmented But that that birde is seene sometimes in Aegypt is not doubted But murders continuing at Rome Pomponius Labeo whom as I haue said was gouernor of Moesia by cutting his vaines let out with his blood his life and Paxaea his wife followed his example The feare they had of dying by the hand of the hangman did cause them thus so readily to kill themselues bicause such as were condemned lost their goods and wanted buriall but their bodies which slew themselues were buried and their testaments stood good which was the gaine and reward of making haste But Caesar sent letters vnto the Senat declaring it to be a custome among the auncients that when they intended to breake off friendship with any they forbad them their house and that then the friendship ended which he had done to Labeo who blamed for euill gouernment in the Prouince and other matters couered his fault by accusing others vainely putting his wife in feare who was out of danger though not without fault After this Mamercus Scaurus was accused againe of a noble house and a great orator yet of reprochfull life His friendship had with Seianus did nothing hurt him but the hatred which Macro bare him was his ouerthrow who practised the same artes that Seianus had done but more couertly The accusation was an argument of a Tragedie written by Scaurus contayning verses which might be wrested against Tiberius But Seruilius and Cornelius his accusers obiected against him that he had abused his bodie with Liuia and offered magicall sacrifices Scaurus as a thing worthie of the auncient AEmilian familie preuenteth his condemnation by killing himselfe at the incouragement of his wife Sexitia who was both an encourager and partaker of his death Notwithstanding if occasion were giuen he punished the accusers likewise as Seruilius and Cornelius famous by the death of Scaurus bicause they had taken money of Varius Ligur to desist from the accusation were perpetually banished into certaine Ilands And Abudius Ruso once Acdile whilest he went about to procure danger vnto Lentulus Getulicus vnder whom he had charge of a legion bicause he had purposed to marrie his daughter to Seianus sonne was condemned without accusation and driuen out of the citie Getulicus at that time had charge ouer the legions of higher Germanie and had gotten exceeding loue for his clemencie and small seueritie and of the next army welbeloued by meanes of L. Apronius his father in law Whereupon the constant report was that he was so bould as to write vnto Caesar That the affinitie betwixt him and Seianus was begun not of his owne motion and desire but through Tiberius counsell and that as well he as Tiberius might be deceiued and that the selfe same errour could not be to him alone dangerlesse and to others vtter ruine for his part that his loyaltie was trustie and sure and so would continue if snares had not beene laide to intrap him that he would accept of a successor in his charge no otherwise than of a messenger of death and therefore that they should strike as it were an agreement by which the Prince should be master of the rest and that he would keepe and hold the Prouince Although these things seeme verie strange yet were they beleued bicause he alone of all Seianus liesmen escaped without danger and continued in great fauour and grace The reason why was bicause Tiberius thought with himselfe being now aged and hated of all men that his estate would rather continue by fame then force VIII The Parthians complained on Artabanus in whose roome Tiberius placeth Phrahates Pharasmanes gaineth a battell against Orodes King of Armenia WHen C. Cestius and M. Seruilius were Consuls certaine noble men of Parthia came to Rome without the priuitie of Artabanus their King He for feare of Germanicus was faithfull to the Romans and iust towards his subiects but after Germanicus death became proude towards vs and cruell towards his subiects confident by reason of prosperous successe in warres had against his borderers and despising Tiberius as weake old and vnfit for warres and greedy also of Armenia into which after the death of King Artaxia he put his eldest son Arsaces as gouernor iniuring them with contumelious speeches Then sent to redemaund the treasurie and riches left in Syria and Cilicia by Vonones and withall vaine-gloriously bragged and threatned that he would inuade and conquer the ancient bounds and limits of the Persians and Macedonians and recouer all that had beene possessed by Cyrus and Alexander But the principall author and perswader of sending secret messengers to Rome was Sinnaces a man both noble and wealthie and next vnto him Abdus an Eunuch a matter of no disgrace among the Barbarians nor barre to credit and authoritie These two drawing the principall noble men of the countrey to them because they could haue none of the blood of the Arsacides to be their King most of them being slaine by Artabanus or vnder yeeres demaunded Phrahates King Phrahates sonne which was at Rome for saide they there needed no more but the name and consent of Caesar and one of the blood of Arsacis to shew himselfe vpon the bankes of Euphrates That did Caesar desire and prouided for him accordingly with preparations and necessaries to seat him in his fathers kingdom holding still his secret drift by entertayning forraine countries by sleights and pollicie in warre to keepe all quiet at home In the meane space Artabanus vnderstanding what was wrought against him at the first was slow and lingered for feare then boyled with desire of reuenge For barbarous people count temporizing and delay as base and seruile and to goe through presently their deseignments a royall pointe Yet profit tooke place and thereupon sending for Abdus vnder colour of amitie to a banket gaue him a lingring poison and entertained Sinnaces with fained friendship and gifts and busied him in other imployments But Phrahates arriued in Syria and laying aside the Romans manner of liuing in which he had beene so manie yeeres nourished giuing himselfe to the Parthian vsage and vnable to brooke it fell sicke and died Yet Tiberius held on his determination and chose Tiridates one of the same stocke and an enimie to Artabanus and incited Mithradates Hiberus to recouer Armenia and reconciled him to his brother Pharasmanes which then possessed that Empire and maketh L. Vitellius general ouer all this preparation of the Orient I am not ignorant what a sinister report ranne of him in the citie with what infamous matters he was touched yet in gouerning of the Prouinces he demeaned himselfe according to the vertue of auncient times But returning frō thence through the feare of Caesar familiarity of Claudius being changed into a base abiect seruilitie became a patterne vnto posteritie of shamefull flatterie and so his first vertues gaue place to his latter vices and the vertuous acts of his youth his infamous old age defaced Of these pettie Kings Mithradates first induced
Contrarily some sayd that the loue of his father the corruption of times serued him but for a cloake and colour and that he had stirred vp the old souldyers by gifts and bribery through ambition and desire of rule that being yet but yong and a priuate person he had gathered a power corrupted the legions of the Consuls that he made a shewe only of fauouring Pompeius side but had no sooner gotten by order of the Senators the fasces or knitch of rods and the Pretorship after the death of Hircius and Pansa both slaine by the enemie or Pansaes wound poisoned and Hircius murdered by the souldyers or by Caesar the contriuer of the feate but he seased on both their forces extorted the Consulship mauger the Senators and the power assigned him to subdue Antony he conuerted against the Common-wealth He banished the citizens diuided their lands and gaue away their goods which were things by the doers themselues discommended In deede the reuenge and pursuing his fathers death vpon Cassius and Brutus maybe tolerated albeit it had bene conuenient for a publick benefit to haue layd aside priuate grudges but he deceiued Pompey vnder colour of peace and Lepidus vnder a shadow of friendship Afterward he tolled on Antony with the treatie of Tarentum and Brundusium and mariage of his sister which deceitfull alliance he payed with the losse of his life Doubtlesse a peace ensued this but a bloudie one as may witnes the death of Lollius and Varus and in Rome it selfe of Varro Egnatius and Iulus Neither did they forbeare to discourse of his domesticall affaires as that he tooke Neroes wife from him asked the opinion of the Pontife in a scoffe whether there might be a lawfull marriage betwixt them she being with childe by her other husband but not yet deliuered They forgat not L. Atedius and Vedius Pollios riot and lasciuiousnes Finally that Liuia was an intollerable and burdensome mother to the common wealth and to the house of the Caesars a dangerous stepdame There was no honor left for the gods seeing hee would himselfe by the Priests and Flamines be worshipped in the temples with all the ornaments belonging to the gods Neyther was Tiberius chosen successor to the State for loue of himselfe or care of the Common-wealth but deepely inseeing into his loftie and bloudie disposition he would by being so vnequally compared with so outragious a mate win glory afterward to himselfe And although Augustus had not many yeeres before vttered honorable speeches in Tiberius behalfe before the Lords of the Senate when he sued to make him once againe Tribune yet he interlaced some things among touching his attire and behauiour which in the excusing of him seemed to turne to his disgrace and reproch IIII. Tiberius dissembling colour in refusing the empire Augustus iudgement of three vvhich vvere desirous or vvoorthie of the Empire AVgustus funerals being ended according to the vsuall manner a temple and religious ceremonies were instituted in honor of him from that time forward all sutes and requests were made to Tiberius who discoursing diuersly of the greatnes of the empire and in modest termes of his owne insufficiencie thought Augustus wisedome onely capable of so weightie a charge that himselfe being assumed by Augustus as an associate and partner in the state had by good proofe learned how hard a matter and how subiect vnto fortunes change rule and soueraigntie was And seeing the citie was replenished with so many famous and woorthie personages better it were and more ease that manie ioining their studies and cares togither should vndertake the charge than cast all vpon one mans shoulders This speech carried greater maiestie than truth for Tiberius either by nature or by custome yea euen in those things which he would haue knowen spake alwaies darkly and doubtfully but then of set purpose endeuoring to hide his drifts wrapped himselfe more than euer in a darke cloud of vncertaintie and ambiguitie But the Lords of the Senate fearing all one thing which was least some perill might ensue if he should doubt that they perceiued his dissimulation began to lament complaine offer vp vowes and lift vp their hands to the gods to Augustus image and to his owne knees vntill he commanded the booke of remembrances to be brought foorth and read That booke contained the wealth of the publike treasure how many citizens and allies were in armes what strength there was by sea how manie kingdomes prouinces and countries yeelded obedience to the empire what tribute was leuied what customes what necessarie charges issued out what giftes and al written with Augustus owne hand Withal he gaue a politike instruction yet whether for feare or enuie vncertaine how to restraine the empire within bounds and limits Whilest these things were a handeling and the Senators in most lowe and humble maner intreating that he would accept the charge Tiberius letting slip a word by chaunce that as he was vnable to take charge of the whole so he would vndertake the protection of any one part they should assigne him Asinius Gallus asked him what part Caesar wouldest thou haue committed to thy charge Who being stroken into amaze with this vnlooked for demand stood mute a while then gathering his spirits to him answered That it ill befitted his modestie to choose or refuse any one part of that from all which he desired to be excused Gallus replied for by his countenance he coniectured he was offended that he did not therefore demand that question as thought he would seuer that which was inseparable but by his owne confession conuict him that the Common-wealth was but one bodie and therefore to be gouerned by ones onely wisedome And continuing his speech added many things in commendation of Augustus and called to remembrance Tiberius owne victories and diuers notable things done for many yeeres in time of peace But all this could not appease the Princes inueterate hatred against him as though by marrying Vipsana daughter to M. Agrippa once wife to Tiberius he had carried too lostie a courage and higher aspiring minde than the priuate calling of a citizen and sauoring of the headie and fierce humor of Asinius Pollio his father After that L. Aruntius vsing speeches not vnlike vnto Pollio offended alike And although he bore Aruntius no old grudge yet bicause he was wealthie bold learned and in reputation with all men he had him in iealousie When Augustus drew towards his later end discoursing who were likeliest to possesse the place after his death who would refuse it although they should be chosen as meete who being vnmeete and vnable yet would desire it who could discharge it and would vndertake it said that M. Lepidus was for his sufficiencie able but would refuse Gallus Asinius greedie to laie holde on it but was insufficient L. Aruntius was not vnwoorthie and if occasion were giuen would venter for it All men agree that the two first were so named but for Aruntius some put Cn. Piso and
hath hapned in that age if hauing finished this which I haue begun I shall haue longer life to vndertake farther matter Decius Silanus who was accused to haue committed adulterie with Augustus Neece although there was no seuerer punishment decreed against him then that he shoulde be depriued of Caesars friendship yet interpreting that to be a banishment durst neuer intreate pardon of the Senate and the Prince vntill Tiberius came to be Emperour and that by his brother M. Silanus credit and authoritie for his great nobilitie and eloquence highly esteemed But Silanus thanking Tiberius he answered before the Lords of the Senate that he was glad of his brothers returne from a long peregrination and that he might lawfully so do because he was not expulsed by decree of Senate or law yet that the offence committed against his father was entire and that by Silanus returne those things were not made frustrate which Augustus had decreed He remained after this in the citie but as a priuat man without office After this they debated the matter concerning the moderation of the law Papia poppaea which Augustus stroken in yeeres had ordained after the Iulian lawes for augmenting the punishment of single life and enriching the publick treasure Neither for all that were marriages and education of children the more frequented the single life hauing taken strong roote whereby the multitude of the endangered by the law growing greater most houses were subuerted by the interpretations of enformers and as heretofore through lewdnes of life so now by lawes the estate of many was ouerthrowne This giueth me occasion to speake more at large of the beginning of lawes and by what meanes we are come to such an infinite multitude and varietie of them In most auncient times no disordinate desire raigned euery man liued without reproch and vice and therefore without punishment and restraint of lawes neither was there any neede of reward when as euery man desired honest things of his owne will and where nothing was demanded against custome nothing was forbidden by feare But after that equalitie was banished and that ambition and violence crept in in stead of modestie and shame rule and dominion tooke footing and continued for euer among many nations Some presently or after they were weary of kings desired rather lawes which at the first were simple mens minds being yet rude And aboue the rest fame commended those of the Cretensians which Minos gaue and those of the Sparteans which Lycurgus and not long after Solon prescribed more and more exquisite to the people of Athens Romulus ruled vs as pleased himselfe then Numa bound the people with ceremonies and diuine lawes some were found out by Tullus and Ancus but the chiefest law-maker was Seruius Tullius which kings themselues were bound to obey Tarquinius being driuen out the people made many against the factions of the Senators to defend their libertie and establish concord Then ten men were chosen to collect all the best lawes of other countries out of which they composed twelue tables the end of lawe and equitie As for the lawes which followed although they were sometimes made against malefactors for their misdemeanors yet notwithstanding for the most part they were brought in through the dissention of the communaltie and noble men for getting of vnlawfull dignities or driuing out of noble men or other disorders By this occasion the Gracchi and the Saturnini were disturbers of the people and Drusus no lesse prodigall vnder pretence of the Senators name corrupted his companions with hope or mocked them by sundrie oppositions against them Neither did they omit in the warre of Italie nor in the ciuill warre to make many lawes vntill L. Sulla the Dictator the former lawes either abolished or changed after he had added many vnto them forbare sometime from making any more though not long by reason of Lepidus turbulent demaunds and because that not long after licence was yeelded the Tribunes to mannage the people as themselues lusted And now not in generall but against particular men lawes were ordained and thereby in a common wealth most corrupt lawes vpon lawes were multiplied Then Cn. Pompeius being a third time Consull and chosen for reformation of manners being more seuere in punishing then the offence deserued was the author and ouerthrower of his owne lawes and lost those things by armes which he had defended by armes From that time forward there was continuall discord twentie yeares together no custome no law obserued the most lewdest enterprises escaped vnpunished and many vndone for well doing At length Augustus Caesar being the sixt time Consull and setled in the state abolished those things which being Triumuir himself had commaunded and gaue new lawes to be obserued in time of peace and vnder a Prince Straighter lawes were made by him and spies appointed to watch the trāsgressors and many induced through recōpenses graunted by the lawe Papia poppaea that if any forbare from the priuileges of parents ceast from marriage and had no children that then the people who was the common father of all should inherit their goods But the pickthanks went farther and informed against many not only in the citie but also through all Italie and where soeuer else the citizens were and ouerthrew many mens estates and droue a terror into all if Tiberius in prouiding a remedie had not chosen by lot fiue such as had beene Consuls fiue as had beene Pretors and so many of the rest of the Senators which soluing many intricate quirks of this lawe were some ease for the present time VI. Nero is recomended by Tiberius to the Senat and marrieth with Iulia Drusus daughter ABout the same time he recomended Nero one of Germanicus children now entered into his youth to the Lords of the Senat and requested that he might be dispensed with for the office of Vigintiuirat and which to all men seemed ridiculous be lawfull for him to demaund the Questorship fiue yeeres sooner then the lawes did permit pretending that the same was graunted him and his brother at Augustus request But I doubt not but at that time some secretly laughed at that demaund Yet these were the first beginnings of Caesars rising and the auncient custome more in euerie mans eies and a lighter band of alliance helde to be betwixt the father in lawe and his wiues children then the granfather and his nephew The Pontificall dignitie was likewise bestowed vpon him and the first time he entered the place of common assemblies he gaue the people a donatiue verie ioyfull to see Germanicus ofspring now of full age Their ioy was augmented by Neroes marrieng of Iulia Drusus daughter And as these things were gratefull to the people so went it against their stomacks that Seianus should be destined father in law to Claudius son as a disparagement to their nobility that at their own motion they exalted Seianus who cōceiued ouer great hopes in his mind In the end of that yeere died L. Volutius
moued because Augustus did doubt only whether he should bestow her vpon a gentleman how much more ought we to consider that he gaue her to M. Agrippa and then after vnto me These things I would not hide from thee for the friendship which is betwixt vs but I will not be against thine nor Liuiaes deseignments and will forbeare at this time to speake what I had cast in minde and how neerely I purposed to linke thee vnto me I will only say that there is nothing so excellent but thy vertues and good will towardes me doth deserue it and when opportunitie shall serue I will vtter it either in Senate or before the people Seianus hearing this answere was nothing pleased not so much in regard of the marriage as because he feared Tiberius secret suspitions the rumor of the people and enuie which grew fast vpon him Yet fearing if he should cast off those great troupes which daily came to court him he should weaken his authoritie and by entertaining them minister matter of crime the marke he shot at was to perswade Tiberius to leade his life in some pleasant place far from Rome wherein he foresaw many things as that there could be no accesse to the Prince but by him that all letters being conueied by souldiers which were at his deuotion should passe through his hands that Caesar declining now to age and growen slothfull and effeminat through the quietnes of the place would disburden himselfe of cares of state and commit them to another and that the enuie borne to himselfe should be diminished accesse to the Prince being lesser and by that meanes all vaine shadowes remoued he should grow mightie in true power and authoritie Therefore by little and by little he findeth fault with the busines of the citie the concourse of people the flocking together of multitudes extolleth highly a quiet and solitarie life a life without anguish of minde and free from enuie most fit to thinke on important and waightie affaires And falling out by chance that Votienus Montanus cause was to be heard a man of a readie wit Seianus perceiuing Tiberius not resolued to leaue the citie perswaded him to be a very inconuenient matter to be present at the assemblies of the Senate least he should heare railing and reprochfull speeches but yet true vttered of himselfe in his owne hearing For Votienus being accused of contumelious words against Caesar whilest Aemylius a witnes and a souldier laboured earnestly to prooue his assertion rehearsed from point to point though the hearers buzzed and made a noise about him all Votienus words in which Tiberius heard many spitefull and reprochfull speeches backbitingly vttered in secret against himselfe which so moued him that he cried he would either presently or when the cause was heard purge himselfe and was hardly pacified either with intreatie of his neerest friends or flattery of all and so Votienus was punished as for treason Caesar persisting stifly vsing hard and rough dealing though that was one of the crimes obiected against him condemned to exile Aquilia for adulterie with Varius Ligur although Lentulus Getulicus Consull elect had alreadie condemned her by the Iulian law and put Apidius Merula from his Senators roome because he had not sworne to obserue Augustus actes X. Acontrouer sie betvvixt the Lacedaemonians and Messenians touching the rights of the Temple of Diana Piso Pretor of Spaine slaine by a villagois AFter that were heard the Embasies of the Lacedaemonians and Messenians concerning the right of the Temple of Diana Limenetidis which the Lacedaemonians auowed by the records of their Annales and profices to haue beene dedicated by their predecessors in their countrey but taken from them by Philip of Macedon with whom they warred and afterward restored vnto them by the sentence of C. Caesar and M. Antonius The Messenians on the contrarie side alleaged an old diuision of Peloponesus betweene Hercules successors and that that territorie Dentheliate wherein the Temple was fell to their King whereof there remained auncient monuments engrauen in stones and brasse And if it were necessarie to produce the testimonie of Poets and Chronicles they had more then they of good credit neither had Philip so done by force but according to equitie King Antigonus and the Captaine Mummius gaue the like iudgement So the Milesians being publikely made arbitrators of the cause and last of all Atidius Geminus Pretor of Achaia determined the same Whereupon iudgment was giuen on the Messenians side The Segestani likewise demaunded that Venus Temple built on the hill Eryce and fallen downe with age might be reedified calling to remembrance many things of her beginning pleasing vnto Tiberius eares which mooued him to vndertake willingly the charge as being of her blood After that the Massiliens requests were heard and the example of P. Rutilius allowed who hauing by law been expulsed Rome the Smyrnaeans receiued and made a citizen in their citie By which right also the Massiliens receiued Vulcatius Moschus a banished man who left all his goods to their common-wealth as to his countrey Two noble men Gn. Lentulus and L. Domitius died the same yeere It was to Lentulus a great honour ouer and besides that he was Consull and triumped ouer the Getuli that he endured his pouertie patiently then that hauing gotten great riches without iniuriyng of any he vsed them temperatly Domitius credit grew by his father who was lord of the sea in the ciuill wars vntill he thrust himself into Antonies faction and after that into Caesars His grandfather was slaine in the Pharsalian battell taking part with the nobilitie and himselfe chosen to marrie Antonia Octauius yoongest daughter After that he passed ouer the riuer Albis with his host and entered farther into Germanie than any other before him for which cause he obtained the honour of triumphe L. Antonius of great but vnfortunat nobilitie died likewise for his father Iulus Antonius being put to death for committing adulterie with Iulia Augustus sent him being verie yoong and his sisters nephewe to Marsilles where he cloked the name of banishment with the pretence of studie Notwithstanding he had great honor done him at his funerals and his bones buried in the tombe of the Octauians by decree of the Senat. The same men being Consuls a bloodie fact was committed in hither Spaine by a pesant of Termestine who assayling vpon the way L. Piso Pretor of the Prouince at vnawares and vnprouided as being careles by reason of peace killed him with one stroke then fled in post to the woods and forsaking his horse stealing by dangerous bie-waies beguiled his followers though not long for his horse being taken and brought to the next villages it was knowen whose he was And being found and put to the racke to bewraie his complices cried alowde in his countrey language that that was a vaine question to aske him and that his companions might boldly come and behold him on the torture for no torment or griefe should be
his age He was Neroes sonne and on both sides extracted frō the Claudian familie although his mother went by adoption into the Liuian familie and after that into the Iulian. He had doubtfull fortunes from his first infancie for being a banished man he followed his father who was proscribed and being brought into Augustus house as his son in law was greatly maligned al the time that Marcellus and Agrippa and afterward Caius Lucius Caesar liued Yea his brother Drusus was better beloued then he of the citizens but after he had married Iulia his slipperie estate was tied to two great inconueniences which was either to indure the incontinencie of his wife or go from her After that returning from Rhodes he liued twelue yeeres in the Princes house which had no children then possessed the Empire almost 23. yeeres He changed his manners diuersly according to the times Whilest he was a priuat man he was of good life and credite and had commendations vnder Augustus He was close and craftie in counterfeiting vertues whilest Germanicus and Drusus liued and whilest his mother liued he kept a meane somtimes good and somtimes bad For crueltie he was infamous but in lasciuious lusts as long as he loued or feared Seianus secret In the end he burst into all wickednes dishonestie and reproch after that hauing cast away shame and feare he gouerned himselfe wholy according vnto his owne disposition and nature THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Asiaticus and Poppaea * The beginning of this Booke is wanting FOr he beleeued that Valerius Asiaticus who had beene twise Consull had in times past committed adultery with Poppaea withall greedily gaped after those gardens which he bought of Lucullus and beawtified and trimmed most stately Suilius was suborned to accuse them both Sosibius Germanicus bringer vp was ioyned with him who vnder colour of friendship counselleth Claudius to beware of such as were strong and rich as men dangerous vnto the state and that Asiaticus the principall author of murdering Caesar feared not to auouch it in a full assemblie of the people of Rome and challenge the glory of the fact vnto himselfe He was famous in the citie for it and a rumor spread throughout the prouince that he prepared a voyage toward Germanicus armie because that being borne at Vienna and strengthened with strong and great kindred he thought it an easie matter to stirre vp his countrey men But Claudius making no farther enquirie sent Crispinus the captaine of the gard with a band of readie souldiers as though it had bene to suppresse a warre who finding him at Baias layd yrons vpon him and drew him to the citie where he was not licensed to be heard of the Senate but in the Emperours chamber in the presence of Messallina There Suilius accused him that he had corrupted the souldiers and wonne them by money and loose life to all wickednes Then charged him with adultery with Poppaea and vnnaturall dishonestie of bodie At that although he were commaunded to silence he burst forth and sayd O Suilius aske thy children and they will confesse me to be a man And entering into his defence Claudius being wonderfully moued drew teares likewise from Messallinaes eyes who going out of the chamber to wipe them giueth Vitellius warning not to suffer the partie arraigned to escape She maketh haste to ouerthrow Poppaea sending some through the terror of prison to perswade her to kill her selfe Caesar being so ignorant therof that a few dayes after he asked her husband Scipio as he sate at table with him why he had sate downe without his wife who made him answere that she was dead But whilest Claudius consulted of Asiaticus deliuerance Vitellius with teares declaring how long time their friendship had continued and how they two did reuerence honor Antonia the Princes mother then running ouer briefely his seruices towards the common wealth and that so lately done in Britannia and what else might seeme to moue compassion left it in the end to his owne choise what death he would choose Claudius yeelding him the like clemencie with like words After this some perswading him that to die with famine and abstinence was an easie death he answered that he reiected such fauour and therefore hauing done those exercises he was vsually wont to do washed his body and fed daintily saying that it had bene a more commendable death to haue died by Tiberius slienes and cunning or C. Caesars violence then now by the treachery of a woman and Vitellius vncleane mouth cut his vaines and hauing first seene the fire wherein his bodie was to be burned commaunded it to be remoued to another place least the thick tuffed trees should be marred with the smoke so small reckoning did he make of death II. Certaine Romaines accused for a dreame A treatise of aduocates AFter this the Lords of the Senate were called together and Suilius goeth on and accuseth certaine noble and renowned gentlemen of Rome surnamed Petra The cause of their death was because they had lent their house vnto Mnester and Poppaea when they had any cause of conference But there was a dreame also obiected against one of them which was that he dreamed he had seene Claudius crowned with a crowne of eares of corne and the eares turned backwards interpreting that vision to signifie a dearth of corne Some report it to haue beene a garlande of vine braunches with white leaues which he sawe in his dreame and interpreted it to foretell that the death of the Prince shoulde follow at the end of Autumne Whatsoeuer the dreame was it is not to be doubted but that he and his brother were both put to death Crispinus had giuen him by decree of Senate fifteen hundred thousand sesterces and ornaments of the Pretor Vitellius added ten hundred thousand sesterces to be giuen to Sosibius bicause he had beene Britannicus Schoole-master and Claudius Counseller Scipio being demanded his opinion said Seeing I do thinke of Popaeus faults that which all you do thinke perswade your selues that I do say that which all you do say which was an excellent moderation and mean shewing the loue he bare hir as his wife and necessitie of giuing sentence being a Senator Suilius neuer ceased from accusations but prosecuted them with al crueltie and many followed his audacity for the Prince drawing vnto himselfe all the duties of lawes and magistrates opened the way to robberie Neither was there any marchandise more publikely bought and solde then the perfidiousnes of aduocates insomuch that Samius a woorthy gentelman of Rome hauing giuen Suilius fowre hundred thousand sesterces to pleade his cause and after perceiuing his preuarication and collusion ran vpon his sword in Suilius owne house Then C. Silius Consull elect of whose authoritie and fall I will speake in conuenient time beginning to speake the rest of the Senators rose vp and demanded earnestly that the lawe Cincia might be set
vnto him to what a forwardnes he had brought matters by pollicie and that the rest was to bee accomplished by armes In the meane time Pharasmanes seeketh occasions of warre and faineth that when he made warre against the King of the Albani and demaunded succour of the Romans his brother was against him which iniurie he would reuenge to his vtter ruine and ouerthrow And therewithall giueth his sonne a strong power who hauing terrified Mithradates with a sudden irruption and driuen him out of the field forced him to flee into a forte called Gorneas strong by situation and garded with a garrison of souldiers Caelius Pollio being their Captaine and Casperius their Centurion The barbarous people know nothing lesse then engines and subtile deuises in besieging and assayling of fortresses and to vs that part of seruice is most familiar And Rhadamistus in vaine yea with his losse hauing tried to approche the forte beginneth the siege and seeing how little good was to be done that waie trieth what marchandise he could make with the Captaine for money although Casperius protested that a King confederate or Armenia the gift of the people of Rome ought not to be bought and sold by corruption and money In the ende because Pollio pretended the multitude of enemies and Rhadamistus his fathers commaundement Casperius hauing agreed to a suspension of armes departed with intention that if he could not withdraw Pharasmanes from making war against Mithradates he would informe T. Vinidius Quadratus president of Syria in what state Armenia stoode By the departure of the Centurion the prefect being as it were deliuered of a keeper began to exhorte Mithradates to make a peace Shewing him the vnitie that should be betweene brothers that Pharasmanes was his elder brother with other respects of friendship and alliance as that he had married Pharasmanes daughter and how he was Rhadamistus father in law The Hiberi refused not to make a peace although at that time they were strong and the perfidiousnes of the Armenian well knowen Mithradates had no other refuge but the Castle destitute of munition therfore that he should not doubt rather to accept conditions of peace without blood then trie the hazard of war Mithradates resolued not on the sudden suspecting the Captaines counsels because he had lewdly behaued himselfe with the Kings concubines was a man easily corrupted with money to all lewdnes Casperius in the meane space goeth to Pharasmanes and is verie instant that the Hiberi should depart from the siege of Gorneas But the King giuing him openly vncertaine answers and for the most part gentle and milde by secret messengers aduertiseth Rhadamistus by all possible meanes to hasten the assault The price of the treason is augmented and Pollio secretly corrupting the souldiers perswadeth them earnestly to demand a peace and threaten that they would abandon the fortresse Through which necessitie Mithradates taketh a day and place to treate of a peace and goeth out of the fortresse Rhadamistus running immediately to imbrace him faineth great obedience calleth him father in lawe and father and sweareth he would vse no violence towards him neither by sword nor poison And withall draweth him into a wood hard by saying that there he had caused a sacrifice to be prouided to conclude and confirme the peace in the presence of the gods The custome of those Kings is that when they make any attonement to ioyne their right hands and binde their thumbs togither and draw them hard with a knot then when the blood is runne to the outward parts with a small pricke let it out and then licke the one the others that attonement is counted secret as it were hallowed with their mutuall blood But he which should haue tied their thumbs togither faining as if he had fallen catcheth hold of Mithradates knees and ouerthroweth him immediately many ranne in and bound him in chaines and fetters and so drewe him away which the Barbarians repute a great ignominie and dishonor The common people whom he had rigorously tyrannised reuiled him and offered to strike him But contrariwise there were some which had compassion of so great a chaunge of fortune and his wife following with her little children filled all with lamentation who were all thrust into sundrie couered wagons vntill Pharasmanes pleasure was knowen But the Kingdome was deerer vnto him then his brother and daughter and therefore his mind was readie bent to all wickednes onely he tooke order that they should not be murdered in his sight And Rhadamistus as it were mindefull of his othe vsed neither sword nor poison against his sister vncle but laying thē on the ground couereth and stifeleth them with a heauie burden of clothes And Mithradates children were slaine likewise because they wept and bewailed the murdering of their parents But Quadratus vnderstanding that Mithradates was betrayed and that the murderers inioyed the kingdome calleth a councell declareth the matter and consulteth whether he should reuenge or not Few had care of the publick credit most were of opinion that they should imbrace the surest way That they should be glad of all wickednes committed among forraine nations yea that they should cast seedes of sedition and hatred among them as oft the Roman Princes had bestowed the same Armenia vnder colour of liberalitie now to one now to another as an occasion to put those Barbarians togither by the eares That Rhadamistus might inioy his ill gotten kingdome so as withall he be odious and infamous seeing that it was better so for the Romans than if he had gotten it with credit They all condescended vnto this aduise And yet least they should seeme to approoue that wicked fact and least Caesar should commaund the contrarie messengers were sent to Pharasmanes aduising him to depart Armenia and withdraw his sonne away likewise At that time Iulius Pelignus a dastardly coward and no lesse despicable a iesting stocke for mishape and deformitie of bodie was Procurator of Cappadocia but of inward familiaritie with Caesar when being a priuate man in times past in his companie he spent his idle time with delight and contentation This Pelignus hauing gathered togither the forces of the Prouinces as if he would recouer Armenia but wasting and spoiling the allies more then the enimies his owne reuolting from him and the Barbarians making incursions being without succour came to Rhadamistus who with gifts so wonne him that of his own motion he exhorted him to crowne himselfe King and assisted him as the author and approouer of the action Which dishonest fact being bruted abroade least the credit of the rest should be measured according to this fact of Pelignus Heluidius Priscus Lieutenant was sent with a legion to redresse those sturres as the present occasion required Who hauing withall conuenient speed passed ouer the hill Taurus and setling the affaires there rather with moderation then force was cōmaunded to returne to Syria least he should be a beginning of warre against the Parthians For
to go together by the eates because the eight legion demaunded Sirpicus a Centurion to death whom the fifteenth defended if the ninth legion had not interposed her selfe first by way of intreatie then menacing such as made light of them VII Drusus is sent to appease the rebellion in Pannony and the ringleaders punished WHen Tiberius had intelligence of these mutinies although he were close and a great dissembler of bad tidings resolued to send his sonne Drusus vnto these legions with certaine of the principallest Gentlemen of the citie and two Pretorian bands without any limited commission but to determine there as occasion best required These bands were of extraordinary choise men and stronger then any other were vsed to be and a great part of his gard of horsemen and the ablest Germans of his owne gard Aelius Seianus also Captaine of the gard was sent with him once an associate and companion to Strabo his father and a man highly in credit with Tiberius as well to be a guide to the yong Prince as to shew vnto others the danger or reward of ill or well doing When Drusus was come neere vnto them the legions met him as it were to do their dutie but not as the manner was cheerefully with glittering ensignes but in base and abiect habit and in countenance although pretending sadnes yet in deede were neerer wilfull obstinacie After he was entered the trench of the camp they set a strong gard at the gates commanded some troupes to attend at certaine places of the camp and the rest came and enuironed the Tribunall in huge multitudes Drusus stoode vp and with his hand commaunded silence to be made When the souldiers beheld what a multitude they were they made a dreadfull noise with hideous tunes then anon turning their eyes towards Caesar they quaked for feare after that they made a confuse murmuring and buzzing then a cruell outcry and on a suddaine all was husht againe which bred as men were diuersly affected either a feare in themselues or in others At last the tumult ceasing he read his fathers letters which contained what a speciall care he had ouer those most valorous legions with whome he had sustained many battels and that as soone as his minde could be at rest and the mourning for his father past he would deale with the Lords of the Senate concerning their demaunds that in the meane space he had sent his sonne which should graunt without delay as much as for the present could conueniently be yeelded and that the rest should be reserued to the consideration of the Senate whom it was conuenient should iudge as well what deserued fauour as rigor and seueritie They answered all in generall that Clemens the Centurion had charge to propound their demaunds he began with licence to depart after sixteene yeares with recompence after the end of their seruice and that their wages might be a denarius a day that the old souldiers should not be constrained to continue vnder ensignes But when Drusus began to pretend that these were fit matters to be referred to the Lords of the Senate and his fathers consideration they cut off his speech with clamors expostulating That seeing he had no authority to augment their pay nor ease them of their labor nor benefit them any way to what purpose was he come thither But to beate and put them to death euery man had authoritie It was an old trick of Tiberius to frustrate the legions desires with the name of Augustus and Drusus doth now put the same in practice Shall they neuer haue any sent them but such as are vnder the power of another It was strange that the Emperour should referre only that to the knowledge of the Senate which concerned the souldiers commoditie It were as requisite the Senators aduise should be knowne when a souldier should be punished or brought to fight in battell Did it stand with reason there should be maisters appointed to dispose of their rewards and recompence and that without any iudge their punishments should be arbitrary At last they go from the Tribunal and threaten with their fists those they met of the gard or Caesars friends and familiars as desirous to pick quarrels and raise sedition But they bare a speciall grudge vnto Cn. Lentulus because that he for his yeares and experience in martiall feates in greater reputation then the rest was thought to animate Drusus against the souldiers and first of all reiect their licentious demaunds Whom not long after foreseeing the danger he was in going with Caesar to the standing camp they enuironed him asking whither he went towards the Emperour or towards the Senate whether there he would be also against the legions profit And withall comming fiercely vpon him and throwing stones at him all embrued in bloud and certaine of present death yet was succoured by such as came with Caesar That night which menaced great disorder and outragious behauiour was quieted by a meere chaunce For the Skie being cleere and bright yet the Moone seemed to be eclipsed on a sudden which the souldiers being ignorant of the cause construed as a presage of present ill lucke and comparing their attempts to the eclipse were of opinion that their successe should be prosperous if the goddesse should become cleere and bright againe Whereupon they began with Trompets Cornets and other brazen instruments to make a lowd noise now ioyfull now sad as the Moone appeared either cleere or darke But when the black clowdes rising tooke from them the sight of the Moone supposing she had bene hidden in darknes and vtterly lost her light as troubled minds fall easily into superstition they began to complaine and lament that that portended their labours should haue no end and that the gods turned their faces from their wickednes Caesar thinking it expedient to make his profit of their feare and gouerne that by wisedome which fortune had offered commaunded the Pauillions to be viewed Clemens the Centurion to be called and such others as for their laudable vertues were best liked of the common sort who thrusting themselues into the watch the wardes and gate-keepers increased sometimes their feare and sometimes promised hope saying How long shall we besiege the Emperors sonne what shall be the end of our reuolt shall we sweare allegeance to Percennius and Vibulenus shall we looke for our pay at their hands shall they reward the old souldiers with lands to be briefe shall they take vpon them the gouernment of the Romane Empire in Neroes and Drusus stead were it not better that as we were the last which offended so we should be the first to repent Demaunds in common are slowly graunted a priuat fauour is no sooner deserued then obtained These speeches troubled their mindes and bred a mistrust among themselues the yong souldiers forsooke the old and one legion parted from an other By little and little they returned to their allegeance went from the gates which before they possessed carried to
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
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
in the sight of so many standers by and in Germanicus owne presence And thereupon he offered his familie and was verie earnest that his seruitors might be examined vpon the racke But the Iudges were implacable for diuers respects Caesar bicause he had made warre against the prouince the Senators bicause they could neuer beleeue but that Germanicus died by trechery and that they had expostulated the matter by letters the one to the other Which Tiberius did no lesse denie then Piso Withall the outcrie of the people was heard before the Senate house that they woulde not temper their hands if he escaped by sentence of the Senate And they had drawen Pisoes images to the Gemonies and broken them in peeces if they had not beene saued and put in their places againe by the princes commaundement Piso was caried backe in a chariot by a Tribune of the Pretorian band diuersly rumored whether he followed him as a garde for his safetie or executioner of his death The like hatred was toward Plancina but greater fauour and therefore it was doubted how farre Caesars authoritie woulde reach in hir behalfe As long as there was any hope left for Piso she promised to take part of whatsoeuer fortune with him and if it so fell out to be his companion in death But she was no sooner pardoned through Augustaes secret intreatie but she began by little and little to separate hir-selfe from hir husbande and bring hir defences apart The which when Piso perceiued to aboade his vtter destruction doubting whether he should make any further triall in iudgement his sons perswading him he hardneth himselfe and goeth once againe to the Senate Where his accusation being renewed and the Senators voices against him and hauing endured all things aduers and cruell he was amazed at nothing more then that he saw Tiberius without pitie without anger resolute and not swaied with any affection Being brought home from thence as though he had premeditated some iustification for the next day he writeth sealeth and deliuereth some fewe lines vnto a freed man This done he gaue himselfe to the accustomed care of his bodie Then the night being farre spent his wife going out of the chamber he commaundeth the doores to be shut and the next morning earely he was found with his throte cut the sword lying on the ground I remember I haue heard of auncient men that Piso was often seene to haue a little booke in his hands which he published not but as his friends said it contained Tiberius letters Commission against Germanicus and that he had purposed to disclose it to the Lords of the Senat and accuse the Prince had he not beene deluded by Seianus vaine promises and that he killed not himselfe but that some one was sent to murder him But I will not assure either of those things although I ought not to conceale it to haue been vttered by those which liued vntil I came to mans estate III. Pisoes letters to Tiberius Plancina is quit CAEsar hauing changed his countenance into sadnes perswading himselfe that that death of Pisoes would breede him enuie questioned oft in Senat how Piso had behaued himselfe the day before he died how he had passed the last night And he answering most things wisely and some inconsiderately reciteth the cōtents of the writing made by Piso almost as followeth Being oppressed by the conspiracies of my enimies enuie of a false crime so far that there is no place left to my innocencie and truth I call the immortall gods to witnes O Caesar that I haue liued with all loyaltie towards thee and no lesse dutie towards thy mother And I beseech you that you would be an aide and staie vnto my children Among which Cn. Piso is guiltles of my fortune whatsoeuer it be seeing he hath liued all this while in the citie M. Piso did alwaies disswade me from returning to Syria And I would to God I had rather yeelded to the counsell of my yoong sonne then hee to his olde father And therefore I beseech you most earnestlie that being innocent hee suffer not the punishment of my demerit By the seruice of fiue fortie yeares by the fellowship of the Consulship which we bore together once liked of Augustus the father and a friend to thee I recommend vnto thee as my last request my vnfortunate sonnes life Of Plancina he added no word After this Tiberius excused the yong man of the ciuill warres because the sonne could not disobey the fathers commaundement withall he had compassion on the noblenes of his house and his owne heauie fortune howsoeuer he had deserued Of Plancina he spake with shame and discredit pretending his mothers intreatie against whome euery good man was incensed and secretly complained saying Is it lawfull then for the grandmother to looke vpon the murderesse of her nephew talke with her and take her out of the hands of the Senat that iustice might not be executed Shall not that haue place in Germanicus which the law doth permit all other citizens Caesar was bewailed by Vitellius and Veranius Plancina defended by the Emperour and Augusta that now she might conuert her skill and poisons which she had so happely experimented against Agrippina and her children and satiat the good grandmother and vncle with the bloud of a most miserable house Two dayes were spent vnder colour of examining the cause Tiberius vrging Pisoes children to defend their mother and when the accusers and witnesses had spoken a vie against her and no man answered for her pitie increased more then enuie against her Aurelius Cotta being first demaunded his opinion for Caesar propounding the case the magistrates spake first gaue his censure that the memory of Piso should be blotted out of the Chronicles that part of his goods should be confiscated and part bestowed vpon Gn. Piso his sonne with condition that he should change his name that M. Piso being deposed from his dignitie and receiuing fiftie hundred thousand sesterces should be exiled for ten yeares and Plancinaes life pardoned at the suite of Augusta Diuers points of that sentence were mitigated by the Prince as that Pisoes name should not be wiped out of the Fasti seeing that M. Antonius who had made warre against his countrey and Iulius Antonius name who had violated Augustus house remained and M. Piso he deliuered from infamie and graunted him his fathers goodes neuer as I haue often sayd greedie of money and at that time more easilier pleased for shame that Plancina was quit And when Valerius Messallinus propounded that there should an image of gold be set vp in Mars their reuengers temple and Cecina Seuerus an altar erected to reuenge He hindered both alleaging that those things were to be dedicated and offered for forren victories and that domesticall aduersities ought to be buried in sorrow Messallinus added that thanks should be giuen to Tiberius and Augusta to Antonie and Agrippina and to Drusus for Germanicus reuenge
Sal. Crispus two noble personages Volusius was descended of an auncient stocke but neuer higher then a Pretors roome himselfe obtained a Consuls roome was made Censor for the chusing of bands of horsmen the first gatherer of riches whereby that house rose to that greatnes Crispus was a gentleman borne and so called and adopted by that excellent writer of the Roman Historie C. Sallustius bicause he was his sisters nephew But he although he had a readie entrance for obtaining of dignities yet following the example of Maecenas neuer once being Senator had greater authoritie and power then many which had triumphed and beene Consuls Yet differed from his auncestors in manner of life as being neat fine and bountifull very neere riotousnes and was of a great capacitie and in courage able to performe great matters and so much the more liuely by how much in vtter shew he seemed drousie and heauie metled Therefore whilest Maecenas liued next vnto him his credit was best and after his death trusted with greatest secrets of state and priuie to the murdering of Posthumus Agrippa and growne into yeeres helde rather a shadowe of the Princes friendship then the substance Euen so fell it out with Maecenas either so by the course of the heauens decreed that Princes fauour is seldome euerlasting or bicause both haue their fill those when they haue giuen all they can these when there is nothing left to desire Now followeth the fourth time Tiberius and the second that Drusus was made Consull a thing woorthie of remembrance that the father and the son were fellow officers for two yeeres before Germanicus had the same dignitie with Tiberius but that was no ioie to the vncle neither he so neere in blood vnto him In the beginning of that yeere Tiberius went to Campania vnder colour of getting his health yet indeed by little and little to absent himselfe or else that the father being away Drusus might alone mannage the whole Consulship It fell out by meere chance that a matter of small moment growing to a waightie contention brought the yoong man to great credit Domitius Corbulo who had beene Pretor complained before the Lords of the Senat on L. Sulla a noble yoong man that he gaue him not the place at a play of fencers For Corbulo made his age the custome of the countrey and the fauour of the auncient men on the other side Mamercus Scaurus and L. Arruntius and other of his kinred stucke vnto Sulla Orations were made on both sides and examples of old times brought sharpely rebuking the irreuerence of youth vntill Drusus qualified the matter with a fit discourse and Corbulo satisfied by Mamercus the most excellent Orator of his time and vncle and father in law to Sulla The same Corbulo exclaiming that many high waies of Italie were broken and not passable by reason of the fraude of the vndertakers of the worke and negligence of magistrates in great accepteth willingly the finishing of that busines Which did not so much turne to à publick benefit as the destruction of many whose wealth and fame he tyrannised by condemning them and setting their goods to sale VII Whether Captaines and Gouernors of prouinces should haue their vviues vvith them NOt long after Tiberius sent letters to the Senate aduertising them that by Tacfarinas incursions Affrike was againe in armes and that with the aduise of the Lords it were needfull that a Preconsull were chosen skilfull in matters of warre of an able bodie and a sufficient man for this war Which entrance Sextus Pompeius hauing gotten of vttering his malice against M. Lepidus accused him to be a coward beggerly and a dishonour to his auncestors and therefore not to be admitted to lot for the gouernment of Asia The Senators were on his side who thought Lepidus rather meeke then a coward and the small wealth left him by his father and his nobilitie past without reproch rather they iudged a credit then an ignominie And therefore he was sent into Asia And touching Affrica it was decreed that Caesar shoulde chuse one himselfe for that charge Whilest these things were a dooing Seuerus Caecina was of opinion that no magistrate vnto whom should fall the gouernment of a Prouince shoulde haue his wife follow him hauing first often repeated the good agreement betwixt him and his wife that he had sixe children by hir and that he propounded nothing publikely to be executed which he had not obserued at home not suffering his to go out of Italie although he had had commanderie in wars fortie yeeres in many prouinces It was not in vaine said he ordained in times past that womē should not be drawen to cōfederates and forrein nations For it was incident where women followed that in peace they were a hinderance by riot and sumptousnes in warre by feare and made the Romane armie like the Barbarians going to warre That sexe was not onely weake and vnable to take paine but if it got the bridle cruell ambitious and greedy of rule To marche among the souldiers to haue the Centurions at command we haue seene a woman of late and to ouersee the cohorts exercise and the legions horseraces That they should consider that as oft as any were accused of extortion and polling more was obiected against their wiues then themselues That the lew dest persons of the prouinces did by and by cleaue vnto them They woulde intermeddle and conclude of all affaires by this meanes two were courted and two iudgement seats Women being wilfull commaund proudly and brideled by the Oppian and other lawes now hauing gotten the raines in their hands rule houses places of iudgements and armies This was heard but with the good likin of a fewe many interrupting him and saying that that was not the matter propounded nor Caecina a fit censurer to swaie a matter of so great importance Valerius Messallinus sonne vnto Messalla in whom appeared the image of his fathers eloquence answered immediately as followeth Many hard and irksome customes of our predecessors haue beene changed into the better and pleasanter Neither was the citie besieged as in times past or the prouinces at defiance with vs and some few things are graunted to womens necessities which are so farre from ouercharging the confederates that they are not burdensome to their husbands houses Other things were common as well to the husband as the wife and no hinderance at all therein to peace True it is that warres are to be vndertaken by armed men but vnto such as returne after their labours what more honester solace then a mans wife But some haue fallen into ambition and couetousnes What of magistrates themselues are not many of them subiect vnto sundry affections yet it cannot be that none should be sent into the prouince But oftentimes the husbands haue beene corrupted by the naughtines of their wiues are therefore all single men vncorrupt The Oppian lawes were once in vse the state of the common wealth so requiring but
and true The same solemnities which were ordained for Germanicus were appointed for Drusus and as the manner is of the last flattery somethings added His funerall in pomp of images was very magnificent hauing before him in a long procession Aeneas the beginning of the Iulian familie all the kings of the Albani and Romulus the founder of the citie After him followed the nobilitie of the Sabins Appius Clausus and the images of the rest of the Claudians In deliuering Drusus death I haue followed that which many true writers haue vttered but I will not omit a very strong report of those times yet currant in euery mans mouth which is that Liuia being alreadie corrupted to all dishonestie of bodie by Seianus he was sayd to haue abused Lygdus bodie likewise in age and beautie highly pleasing his maister and of all his seruitours of best credit who being made priuie to the practise the place and times agreed when the poison should be giuen grew to that audaciousnes that he turned all vpon Drusus head and by secret aduertisement accused him to haue gone about to poison his father and gaue Tiberius warning to take heede of the first drinke his sonne should offer him at the table Whereupon by that fraud the banket being begun the old man presented Drusus the cup which he had receiued who ignorant of the practise like a raw yong man dranke it vp increasing thereby the suspition as though for feare and shame he had swallowed that death which he had prepared for his father This was the common rumor which wanting a ground and certaine author thou mayest easily refute for who is he though but of meane wisedome much lesse Tiberius experienced and beaten in waightie affaires not hearing his defence would haue offered his sonne his death and that with his owne hands a thing remediles if he should repent it Why had he not rather tortured the minister of the poison sought out the author and vsed that delay which vsually he did euen against strangers towards his owne sonne neuer before detected of any lewd fact But because Seianus was thought to be the inuentor of all bad actions through the great good will Caesar bore him and the hate which the rest bare to both things were beleeued although fabulous and vncredible report speaking alwayes the worst of Princes deaths The order of this fact hath been otherwise discouered by Apicata Seianus wife and by torturing of Eudemus and Lygdus and no writer found so great an enimie to Tiberius although all hath beene sought that may be sayd and inforced against him that hath obiected any such matter The cause why I layd downe and blamed the common rumor was that vnder a manifest example I might discredit false reports and pray such into whose hands our labours shall come that they would not esteeme more of common vncredible tales greedily receiued then of truth not falsified into miracles IIII. Seianus practises to destroy Agrippina and Germanicus children stage-plaiers expulsed Italie BVt whilest Tiberius praised his sonne before the people assembled the Senat and the people rather for a shew then from the hart put on a mourning countenance yet in their mindes reioyced that Germanicus house began to flourish againe which beginning of fauour and Agrippina their mother not well dissembling her hope hastened their ouerthrow For when Seianus perceiued that Drusus empoisoners escaped vnpunished and no publicke mourning of the people for his death emboldned in wicked actions bicause his first attempts had good successe began to cast with himselfe by what meanes he might extinguish Germanicus children the vndoubted successors to the Empire For all three poison he could not by reason of their keepers faithfulnes and Agrippinas inuincible chastitie He began therefore to inueigh against her obstinacie and stirre Augusta hating her of olde against her and incensed Liuia with the memorie of her late fact suggesting that her pride bearing it selfe vppon her fruitfulnes in children by the fauour of the people gaped after the soueraigntie This plot of his he prosecuted by the helpe of craftie accusers amongst whom he had chosen Iulius Posthumus a man noted of infamous life with Mutilia Prisca a principall fauorite of the grandmother and fit instrument for his practises being highly in Augustas bookes an old woman of her owne disposition desirous of rule and therefore easily estranged from her daughter in law Agrippina He had likewise inueighled Agrippinas neere kinred to puffe vp her haughtie spirits and vse hard speeches of Augusta But Tiberius intermitting no care of publicke affaires and embracing busines for solace heard the causes of citizens and the suites of confederates and by his perswasion decrees of Senat were made that the citie of Cibyratica in Asia and Aegiris in Achaia damnified by an earth-quake might be relieued by remitting them three yeeres tributes And Vibius Serenus Proconsull of farther Spaine being condemned for publicke violence through the crueltie of the time was banished into the Iland Amorgus Carsius Sacerdos accused as though he had helped the enimie Tacfarinas with corne was quit and C. Gracchus for the same crime This Gracchus being verie yoong was carried by his father Sempronius to the Iland Cercina as a companion of his exile where growing to mans estate amongst banished men and ignorant of liberall artes by turning and winding base marchandise in Affrica and Sicilia he gayned his liuing and yet he escaped not the dangers of greater fortune And if AElius Lamia and L. Apronius which gouerned Affrica had not defended his innocencie through the noblenesse of his vnfortunate stocke he had tasted of his fathers calamities That yeere came Ambassadors from cities of Greece requesting that the auncient right of priuiledged places might be confirmed at Iunos Temple at Samium and AEsculapius Temple at Cois The Samians grounded themselues on a decree of the Amphictyons to whom belonged the principall examination of all matters when the Grecians building cities through Asia were Lords of the sea coasts The antiquitie of the Coi was not vnlike hauing withall the merite of the place for when by King Mithridates commaundement all the Romans were slaine throughout all the cities and Ilands of Asia they saued in the Temple of AEsculapius as many as they found After this the Pretors hauing made many complaints though in vaine against the stage-players at last Caesar spake of their vnrulines and immodest behauiour as hauing seditiously attempted many things in publicke and many vndecently in priuate houses And the Oscian play a light sport pleasing the peoples humor grew to such insolencie that the Lords of the Senate were faine to interpose their authoritie for the suppressing of it and then the stageplayers were expulsed Italy Caesar had further griefe the same yeere partly by the death of one of Drusus children and partly by the death of Lucillius Longus his friend and partaker of all his fortunes prosperous or aduerse and among the Senators his only companion when he
guard about him seeing his sonne alreadie taken and the Romans on euerie side of him rushing in among their weapons with the losse of his life escaped captiuitie And that was the end of that warre Dolabella desiring the honour of triumphe Tiberius denied it him and gaue it Seianus least his vncle Blaesus commendation should be obscured But Blaesus was neuer the more esteemed and the denying of the honour to Dolabella augmented his honour bicause that with a lesser armie he had taken manie notable prisoners slaine the Captaine and caried away the fame of ending the warre The Ambassadors of the Garamantes a people seldome seene in the citie came after the death of Tacfarinas all astonied as being of the conspiracie to satisfie the people of Rome After this Tiberius vnderstanding of Ptolemaeus diligence in his warres renuing the old custome sent one of the Senators to him with an Iuorie staffe and embrodered or wrought gowne which were woont to be the auncient gifts of the Lords of the Senat and to giue him the greater honor called him King companion and friend of the people of Rome VII A rebellion of bond-slaues suppressed Serenus accused by his owne sonne THe same sommer beginnings of warre attempted in Italie by bond-men were suppressed by meere chaunce The beginner of this tumult was T. Curtisius sometimes a souldier of a Pretorian band who at the first in secret conuenticles in Brundisium and townes adioyning then by writings publikly spread abroad tolled to libertie the rude and fierce bond-slaues dispersed in the woods when by the fauour of the gods there arriued three Galleies for the vse of passengers in that sea And Curtius Lapius rent gatherer in those countries vnto whom by lot fell the Prouince Cales according to the auncient custome hauing in a readines a power of sea souldiers discomfited the conspirators who then did but begin their enterprise Caesar sent out of hand Staius a Tribune with a strong Power who brought the Captaine himselfe and the ringleaders of this bold attempt to the citie greatly afeard of the multitude of bond-men which increased to a huge number the free borne decreasing dayly more and more The same men being Consuls there happened a bloodie example of calamitie and crueltie the sonne accusing the father both called Q. Vibius Serenus both brought before the Lords of the Senat the father out of banishment deformed poore and vnhandsome bound in chaines and his sonne pleading against him who finely and featly attired with a cheerefull countenance affirmed that secret practises had beene wrought against the Prince and certaine firebrands of war sent into Gallia to raise a rebellion himselfe being both accuser and witnes He charged Caecilius Cornutus once Pretor to haue furnished them with money who through the wearisomnes of trouble accounting the danger his bane hastened his owne death But contrarily the defendant stoutly turning towards his sonne shaking his irons called the gods to reuenge praying that they would send him to exile againe to lead his life far from such customs and inflict condigne punishment vpon his son And affirmed constantly that Cornutus was innocent and frighted with a false accusation which should easily be perceiued if some others were appeached also for himselfe could not practise the death of the Prince and an innouation with one only companion Then the accuser named Gn. Lentulus and Seius Tubero Caesar himselfe being ashamed to heare the chiefe of the citie and his deerest friends Lentulus very aged and Tubero of a weake body accused of raising a rebellion and disturbing the common-wealth and therefore both were incontinently acquited The fathers bondmen were put to the racke which made against the accuser who through the wickednes of his fact growing halfe frantick and terrified with the speech of the people which threatned either to cast him headlong from the Robur or draw him in peeces or punish him as a parricide departed the citie but brought back from Rauenna was forced to end his accusation Tiberius nothing at all dissembling the old grudge he bare Serenus the banished For after Libos condemnation by letters he vpbraided Caesar that his seruice only was vnrecompensed with some other things more peremptorily then safely to prowd eares and readie to take offence Eight yeeres after Caesar cast this in his dish many waies carping his actions in the meane space although contrary to his expectation through the constancie of his bondmen the rack could extort nothing against him When all had giuen sentence that Serenus should be punished according to the auncient custome Tiberius to bleare their eyes and dissemble his grudge would not allow of the sentence Gallus Asinius was of opinion that he should be confined in Gyarum or Donusa which he misliked also saying that both those Ilands wanted water and that to whome life was graunted things necessary for life ought to be graunted whereupon Serenus was caried backe to Amorgum And because Cornutus had slaine himselfe it was propounded in Senat whether the informers should loose their rewards if any arraigned only of treason and not condemned slew himself Which they had all followed if Caesar had not sharply and openly contrary to his accustomed manner complained in defence of the informers saying that by that meanes the lawes would be brought to nothing and the common wealth run to ruine and that it were more tollerable to abolish the lawes themselues then take away the keepers of them By this meanes the promooters a race of men found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction and neuer duly punished were allured with rewards These continuall causes of sorrow were sauced with some small contentment for C. Cominius a gentleman of Rome conuicted of scandalous verses against Tiberius was pardoned at the intreatie of his brother a Senator A strange case that knowing what was best for sottish or senseles he was not and what fame followed clemencie yet he desired rather cause of heauines and sorrow Neither is it a matter of deepe insight to know the peoples affection when they extoll Princes actions from the hart and when from the teeth outward And Tiberius himselfe at other times cunningly premeditating his words and with staggering and stammering deliuering his minde yet when he meaneth good in deed vnto any findeth his toong readie and loose But when P. Suilius somtimes rent gatherer to Germanicus was conuict for taking of money for giuing iudgment therfore expulsed Italie his opinion was that he should be banished into some Iland and that with such vehemencie that he bound it with an oath to be profitable for th ecommon wealth Which for the present time was taken for a rigorous sentence but after Suilius returne turned to his commendation whome subsequent times sawe mightie but a slaue to money a long time as he lusted but neuer as he ought vsing Prince Claudius friendship The same punishment was ordained against Catus Firmius a Senator as falsly accusing his sister of treason Catus as I
the auncient manner Nero was against it suffering them to make choise of their manner of death for such kinde of scoffes were vsed after the murders committed P. Gallus a gentleman of Rome because he was inward with Fenius and not an enemie to Vetus was banished the freed man and accuser rewarded for his paines and a place giuen him in the Theater among the beadles of the Tribunes And the month of May which followed Aprill and called Nero was changed into the name of Claudius and Iuly into Germanicus and Cornelius Ofitus whose censure that was saide that therefore the month of Iune was past ouer because two of the Torquatus alreadie executed for their misdemeanors had made the name of Iune vnluckie A yeere continued with so many lewd actions the gods haue marked and made notorious by tempests and diseases Campania was destroied with boisterous stormes of windes which did euerie where beat downe houses woods and graine and brought the violence of it to places adioyning to the citie Where the rage of the pestilence spared none although there was no manifest shew of corruption of the aire to be seene Yet the houses were filled with dead bodies and the waies with funerals no sexe no age free from danger as well bond as free borne indifferently perished amidst the lamentations of their wiues and children who whilest they sat by them and bewailed were often burnt in the same funerall fire The death of gentlemen and Senators although in different with others lesse lamented as though they had by a common mortalitie preuented the Princes crueltie The same yeere they mustered in Gallia Narbonensis Affrick and Asia to supplie the legions of Illyria which worne out either with yeeres or sickenes were freede from their oath The Prince relieued the oalamitie of Lugdunum with fortie hundred thousand sesterces to recouer the losses of their citie which summe of money the Lugdunenses had before bestowed in troubled times III. The death of certaine noble men for desire of their wealth or other iealousies C. Suetonius and L. Telesinus being Confuls Antistius Sosianus banished as I haue sayd before for making slanderous verses against Nero vnderstanding that pickthankes were so honored and the Prince so forward to murders busie minded and not slow in taking hold of occasions insinuateth himselfe through conformitie of fortune into the fauour of Pammenes a banished man of the same place and for his skill in the Chaldean arte supported by the friendship of many This Antistius supposing that messages and consultations came not to him in vaine vnderstandeth withall that he had money yeerely supplied him by P. Anteius Neither was he ignorant that Anteius through the loue he bare to Agrippina was hatefull to Nero that his wealth as it had beene of others might be a motiue to procure his destruction Whereupon hauing intercepted Anteius letters and stolne his writings wherin the day of his natiuitie and things to come were hidden among Pammenes secrets and withall found those things which had beene composed of the birth and life of Ostorius Scapula writeth to the Prince that he would bring him great newes touching his owne safetie if he might obtaine a short intermission of his banishment for Anteius and Ostorius watch for opportunitie to lay hold on the soueraigntie and searched out their owne and Caesars destinies Therupon swift vessels were sent Sosianus brought with all speed And his accusation diuulged Anteius and Ostorius were reckoned rather among the condemned than accused in so much that no man would haue sealed Anteius testament if Tigellinus had not beene their warrant Anteius was first admonished not to delay the making of his testament but he hauing drunken poison weary of the slow working of it by cutting his vaines hastened his death Ostorius at that time was farre off in the confines of Liguria whither a Centurion was sent to make him away with all speed The cause of the haste proceeded of that that Ostorius being for matter of warre of good reckoning and deserued in Britannie a ciuicall crowne of a mightie strength of bodie and skilfull in armes droue Nero into a feare least he should assaile him alwaies timorous fearfull but then more then euer through the conspiracie lately detected The Centurion therfore when he had beset al escaping places openeth to Ostorius the Emperours cōmandement He conuerted against himself his courage often tried against the enimy And bicause his vaines whē they were opened yeelded but little blood vsing the hand of his slaue only to take out a rapier hold it stedfast he drew his right hand to him and ranne himselfe through the necke If I should haue written of forrein wars and deaths sustained for the common-wealth with diuers other accidents chances yet I should not only haue seemed tedious to my selfe but to others also abhorring the deaths of citizens being dolefull and continuall although honorable But now a seruile patience and so much bloode lost at home doth trouble my minde and oppresse it with griefe Neither do I require any other defence or excuse of those who shall know these things but that they hate them not for dying so cowardly That was certainely the anger of the gods against the Roman state which ought not so easily be runne ouer with once writing as in the ouerthrow of armies or taking of townes Let this prerogatiue be giuen the posteritie of worthie personages that as how they are distinguished from the confuse multitude in the solemnitie of their funerals so in the deliuerie of their last ends that they may receiue and haue a proper and peculiar memorie For within a fewe daies by the same violent course Annaeus Mella Cerialis Anicius Rufus Crispinus and C. Petronius perished Mella and Crispinus were gentlemen of Rome and equall in dignitie with Senators Crispinus once Captaine of the guarde and honored with Consularie ornaments and of late through the conspiracie exiled into Sardinia hauing receiued tydings he should die slew himselfe Mella borne of the same parents as Gallius and Seneca forbare purchasing of dignities by a preposterous ambition to the end that a Roman gentleman might be equalled in authoritie to the Consuls Withall he thought it a shorter course of getting wealth to mannage the affaires of the prince in quality of a Procurator The same Mella was Annaeus Lucanus father which was a great credit to him but after his death seeking out too narrowly his goods stirred vp an accuser against him one Fabius Romanus one of Lucans familiar friends which falsly fathered vpō him the father the priuitie of the conspiracie by counterfeiting of Lucans letters which Nero hauing perused commanded to be caried him gaping after his wealth But Mella which was then the readiest way to death loosed his vaines hauing bestowed in his testament a huge summe of money vpon Tigellinus and on his sonne in law Cossutianus Capito that the rest might stand good He added to his will as it were a complaint
banished because he made shew of his wit though not with any diffamatorie verses VII Soranus daughters oration in Senate and his death IN the meane season Ostorius Sabinus Soranus accuser commeth in and beginneth with his friendship had with Rubellius Plautus and that being Proconsull of Asia he caried himselfe rather as fitting his own nobilitie than the cōmon good by entertayning and nourishiug sedition among the citizens These were stale matters but as if they were fresh he ioined the daughter to the fathers alleaging that she had bestowed money vpon Magicians So it was indeede through the loue and affection Seruilia so was she called bare her father and vndiscretion of age yet she consulted of nothing but of the safetie of their house or whether Neroes wrath would be pacified or the Senators hearing of the cause would be to the preiudice of her father She was called into the Senate and stoode one from the other before the Consuls tribunal the father very aged the daughter vnder twentie yeeres a widow and desolate her husband Annius Pollio of late banished and not so much as looking towards her father whose dangers she imagined she had increased Then the accuser asking her whether she had sould her dowrie ornaments and taken her iewell from her neck to get money to practise magicall superstitions first prostrating her selfe on the ground with a long silence and weeping then imbracing the altars said I haue not called vpon any wicked gods I haue made no diuelish inuocatiōs nor any thing else by my vnhappie praiers then that this my very good father thou ô Caesar you Lords of the Senat would saue aliue So I haue giuen my iewels and apparell and ornaments of my dignitie euen as I would haue done my bloud and life if they had demaunded it Let these men heretofore vnto me vnknowen looke what names they carry what artes they practise I made no mention of the Prince vnlesse it were among the gods Yet my most vnfortunate father knoweth it not if it be an offence I alone haue offended Soranus tooke the words out of her mouth as she was yet speaking and cried that she went not with him into the prouince for her age Plautus could not know her she was not confederate with her husbands crimes she was guiltie only of ouer-great and tender loue and therefore whatsoeuer should sort to his lot he besought them that they would separate his cause from hers withall hastned to cast himselfe in the armes of his daughter which came to meete him if the serieants putting themselues between them had not hindered both By and by the witnesses were heard and how much pitie the crueltie of the accuser had moued so much anger P. Egnatius the witnes sturred This man being a client of Soranus and then hired to oppresse his friende pretended grauitie of the Stoicall sect in demeanor and countenance to represent the patterne of honest exercises but in minde was traiterous and deceiptfull couering auarice and a lewd minde which being discouered and made knowne by money hath taught vs to beware of such as vnder colour of liberall sciences are false in friendship no lesse then of those which are notoriously noted for vice and treacherous dealing The same day was shewed a notable example by Cassius Asclepiodotus who for wealth being the chiefest among the Bithynians vsed the same tokens of kindnes towards Soranus in his aduersitie as before he had done in time of prosperitie for which cause being depriued of all his goods and cast into banishmēt by the iustice of the gods * which lay before vs a precident as well of good as of bad Thrasea Soranus Seruilia had their choise giuen them what death they would haue Heluidius and Paconius were banished Italie Montanus was granted to his father with conditiō that he should beare no charge in the common wealth To the accusers Eprius Cossutianus to each were giuen 5. millions of sesterces to Ostorius 12. hundred thousand the ornamēts of a questor Then toward the euening the Cōsuls Questor was sent to Thrasea being then in his gardēs visited with a great companie of noblemen and women very attentiuely hearing the doctor Demetrius one of the Cynicall sect of whom as it was to be coniectured by his countenance and heard if they speake any thing lowd he demaunded sundrie questions of the nature of the soule and of the separation of the spirit from the bodie vntill Domitius Cacilianus one of his familiarest friends came and declared what the Lords of the Senat had decreed Those which were present bewailing and moning Thrasea with all speede were exhorted to depart least their lot should be to partake the dangers of a condemned person perswadeth his wife Arria who would haue died with him to follow the example of her mother Arria to keepe her selfe aliue and not bereaue their daughter of them both of her only stay and support From thence he went to his gallery where the Questor found him rather cheerefull then sad because he had vnderstood that Heluidius his sonne in lawe was only banished Italie Then hauing receiued the order of the Senate he brought Heluidius and Demetrius into a chamber and stretching out the vaines of both his armes after he saw the bloud gush out sprinkling it on the ground and calling the Questor neerer said Let vs sacrifice to Iupiter the deliuerer Behold yong man yet the gods preserue thee from the like lucke neuerthelesse thou art borne in those times in which it is expedient to strengthen thy minde with constant examples then the slow going out of the bloud causing grieuous torments turning to Demetrius * The rest of the Latin is lost FINIS THE DESCRIPTION OF GERMANIE AND CVSTOMES OF THE PEOPLE BY CORNELIVS TACITVS ALL Germanie is diuided from the Galli the Rhaetians and Pannonians with two riuers Rhene and Danubius from the Sarmatians and Dacians by mutuall feare of one the other or high hils The rest the Ocean doth enuiron compassing broad and wide gulphes and large and spatious Ilands the people and Kings of which hath beene of late discouered by warre The riuer of Rhene hauing his beginning on the top of the inaccessible steep Rhaetian Alpes and winding somewhat towardes the West falleth into the North Ocean Danubius springing from the top of the hill Abnoba not so steepe passing by manie nations falleth by sixe channels into the Ponticke sea the seuenth is lost in the marishes I may thinke that the Germans are home-bred and the naturall people of their countrey and not mixed with others comming from other places bicause such as in times past sought new habitations came by sea and not by land and that huge and spatious Ocean and as I may terme it different from the other is seldome trauelled by our men For besides the daunger of the rough and vnknowen sea who vnlesse it were his natiue soile would leaue Asia or Affricke or Italie and plant