woman they inuaded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth Which was foreseene by vs and the cohorts sent to second her fought a hote battell which at the beginning was doubtfull though the end more ioyfull A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded fought with the like successe for Didius being stroken in yeeres and hauing receiued many honors thought it sufficient to execute his charge and driue away the enemie by the help of others These exploites although they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres yet I thought good to ioyne together least being seuered they should not so well haue beene remembred IX Nero Agrippinaes sonne is preferred before Britannicus sonne to Claudius NOw I will returne to the order of times Ti. Claudius beeing the fift time Consull and Ser. Cornelius Orfitus great haste was made to make Nero of full yeeres that he might seeme more capable of the gouernment And Caesar willingly yeelding to the flattery of the Lords of the Senate consented that Nero should be Consull at twentie yeeres of age and being elect in the meane season haue the Proconsulary authoritie out of the citie and be called prince of youth There was also giuen in his name a donatiue to the souldiers and a liberalitie to the people The Circensian playes being exhibited to win the fauour of the people Britannicus in his pretext and Nero in triumphing attire because the people should see the one in the magnificence of an Emperour and the other in the habite of a child thereby to presume what fortune to either of them should hereafter fall Withall if any of the Centurions or Tribunes bewayled Britannicus hap they were remoued either by fained pretences or vnder colour of preferment yea of the freed men if any were faithfull he was not suffered about him As these two met vpon occasion Nero saluted Britannicus by his name and Britannicus rendred him the like by the name of Domitius Which Agrippina taking hold of as a beginning of a quarrel carieth to her husband with a grieuous complaint saying that the adoption was nought set by the decree of Senate the ordinance of the people broken and abrogated in his owne house and if such contemptuous frowardnes of Britannicus teachers were not seuerely looked vnto it would burst out into some publike mischiefe Claudius moued with these complaints as though they had beene faults indeede either banished or put to death the chiefest bringers vp of his sonne and placed such ouer him as his stepmother would appoint Neuerthelesse Agrippina durst not leuell at her chiefest marke which was that her sonne should succeede in state vnlesse Lusius Geta and Rufus Crispinus captaines of Caesars gard were first discharged whom she thought would be mindfull of Messallinaes fauours towards them and therefore bound vnto her children Agrippina therefore beareth the Emperour in hand that the gard was deuided into factions through ambition of the two captaines striuing for superioritie that the discipline of seruice would be better kept if the souldiers were commaunded by one alone The charge of the cohorts was transferred vnto Burrhus Afranius a man of great fame for matter of seruice yet knowing well by whose practise and fauour he came to the place Agrippina began also to raise her owne estate to a higher degree by entering into the Capitol in a chariot which in times past was a custome only lawfull for the Priests in sacred rites which augmented the more the state of this woman because she was the onely example vnto this day of any one who being daughter of an Emperour hath been also sister wife and mother of an Emperour In the meane season her chiefest buckler Vitellius being in highest fauour and very old so slipperie is the state of great personages was accused by Iunius Lupus Senator of treason and aspiring to the Empire and Caesar readie to giue eare to the accusation if he had not rather changed his opinion by Agrippinaes threates then intreaties and so to banish the accuser which was the punishment Vitellius best liked That yeere many prodigious sights hapned as that many birds portending euill luck lighted vpon the Capitol many houses ruined by often earthquakes and the feare spreading among the astonied people many in throngs were smothered The want of corne and the famine which insued thereof was also construed as a presage of euill luck Neither did they complaine in secret only but came about Claudius as he gaue audience with turbulent clamors and hauing thrust him to the end of the forum followed him vntill that with a band of souldiers he brake through the prease It was most certaine that the citie was not victualled for aboue fifteene dayes but by the great goodnes of the gods and mildnes of the winter the citie was relieued in necessitie But truly in times past prouision of corne hath beene transported out of Italie into other prouinces farre distant And at this present we stand not in want through the barrennes of the countrey but we do rather manure Afrike and Aegypt and hazard the life of the people of Rome by sea whereof depends want or abundance X. Warres betweene the Romans and the Parthians THe same yeere a warre begun betweene the Armenians and Hiberi was cause of great troubles betwixt the Romans and the Parthians Vologeses was King of the Parthians descended by his mothers side of a Greek concubine yet got the kingdome by consent of his brothers Pharasmanes hath a long time possessed the Hiberians countrey as a King and his brother Mithradates the Armenians through our forces Pharasmanes had a sonne called Rhadamistus of a comely tall stature and of a verie strong and able bodie trained vp in the qualities and practises his father before him had beene and greatly renowned among his neighbors He was woont to say that the kingdome of Hiberia was small and yet kept from him by his father who was verie olde and so oft he did cast foorth those speeches and so fiercely that it was easily seene how greedie a desire he had to raigne Pharasmanes then seeing this yoong man so desirous and readie to rule misdoubting the peoples affection bent towardes him by reason of his declining yeeres thought it best to feede him with some other hope and set Armenia before his eies telling him that he had giuen that kingdome to Mithradates hauing first expulsed the Parthians Yet that it was not his best course to set on it by force but vse policie against Mithradates and intrap him when he least looked for it Rhadamistus vnder colour of some discontent with his father through the insupportable dealing of his stepmother goeth to his vncle where being intreated with all courtesie as if he had been his owne childe solliciteth the chiefe noble men of Armenia to rebellion Mithradates knowing nothing but still entertaining him with all fauour and kindnes Rhadamistus vnder colour of reconciliation returned vnto his father and declared
time the Embassadors of the Parthians sent as I haue said before to demand Meherdates for their King entered into the Senat and began to vtter their charge as followeth They came thither not ignorant of the league betweene them and the Romans nor disloyall to the familie of the Arsacides but to aske for Vonones sonne Phrahates nephew against Gotarzes tyrannie alike intollerable to the nobilitie and communaltie Now that his brothers are extinguished by murder his neerest kinsemen and such as were farthese off he would do the like to women with child and small children thinking it a meanes being vnfortunate in warres abroad to couer with that cowardlines his crueltie at home That their amitie with vs was auncient and publickly confirmed and therefore reason we should ayd our allies which might in strength compare with the Romans but in deede yeeld for reuerence Therefore the Kings children were giuen for hostages that if they grew weary of their domesticall gouernment they might haue recourse to the Prince and Lords of the Senate vnder whose manner of liuing the King being brought vp should be presumed to be the better When they had vttered these and the like speeches Caesar began his oration with the greatnes of the Roman Empire and dutifulnes of the Parthians and maketh himselfe equall to Augustus declaring that a King had beene demaunded of him also not mentioning Tiberius at all notwithstanding he had sent ayd likewise He gaue certaine precepts to Meherdates who was there present aduertising him that he should not thinke himselfe a Lord and maister to commaund ouer his subiects as slaues but a guide and they citizens and that he should vse clemencie and iustice vertues so much the more gratefull vnto these barbarians by how much the lesse knowne among them Then turning himselfe to the Embassadors he highly commended the youth which had beene brought vp in the citie as one whose modestie had beene well tried that the dispositions of Kings were to be borne withal because often changes are not profitable That the Romane estate was growne vnto that height with fulnes of glory that it desired peace and quietnes euen to forren nations After he had thus sayd he commaunded C. Cassius gouernor of Syria to conduct the yong man to the riuer of Euphrates Cassius at that time did excell the rest in the knowledge of the lawes For militarie skill is vnknowne in time of rest and quietnes and peace esteemeth alike of the coward and couragious Neuertheles as much as those quiet times gaue him leaue he renewed the auncient discipline kept the legions in practise with care and foresight as if the enemie had beene at hand thinking it a thing worthy of his ancestors and Cassian familie renowned among those people Hauing therefore sent for them through whose consentment the King was demaunded and planted his camp at Zeugma where the riuer is most passable after that the noblemen of Parthia and the King of the Arabians called Abbarus was come he shewed vnto Meherdates that the first brunt of the barbarians was fierce and hote but by delay and lingering became cold or turned into treason and therefore he should couragiously go through his enterprise But his aduise was contemned through Abbarus fraude who detained him like an vnexperienced yong man in the towne of Edessa as though the highest degree of fortune and princely felicitie had consisted in riot and wantonnes And when Carrhenes called them in and assured them that all was in a good readines if they would make haste they did not march straight to Mesopotamia but turned to Armenia in an vnseasonable time because the winter was begun Then wearied with snowes and mountaines comming neere to the plaine they ioyned with Carrhenes forces And hauing passed the riuer of Tigris they entered into the countrey of the Adiabeni whose King Iuliates in open shew professed himselfe a confederate of Meherdates but vnderhand was more faithfully bent to Gotarzes IIII. Gotarzes ouercommeth Meherdates and cutteth off his eares Mithradates vsurpeth the kingdome of the Dandarides and goeth about to driue out Cotys NEuerthelesse in passing by Meherdates tooke the citie of Ninos the most ancient seat of Assyria and a famous Castle because that in the last battell betwixt Darius and Alexander there the Persian power was brought to vtter ruine In the meane time Gotarzes at a hill called Sambulos offered vowes to the gods of the place among which Hercules was chiefly honoured who at a certaine time admonisheth his Priestes in a dreame that neere vnto the Temple they should haue horses readie prepared for hunting the horses loaden with quiuers full of arrowes prawnsing vp and downe the woods returne at night breathing and panting with their quiuers emptie The god again declareth to them in a dreame what woods they haue coursed vp and downe in whither they goe and finde wild beasts killed in many places But Gotarzes not hauing sufficiently strengthened his armie vseth the riuer Corma for a defēce And although he were summoned by diuers messēgers hard speeches to battel yet he sought delayes changed place and sent some to corrupt the enimie and draw them to forsake their obedience Among which Ezates Adiabenus and anon after Abbarus King of the Arabians with their armie began to shrinke through a certaine lightnes incident to that nation and bicause it is tried by experience that the Barbarians had rather come to Rome to demaund a King then when they haue him keepe him Now Meherdates seeing himselfe stripped of his strongest succour and suspecting least the others would betraye him determined for his last refuge to commit the matter to chaunce and hazard it in a maine battell Gotarzes being verie fierce that his enimies forces were diminished refused not to fight They met with great slaughter and a doubtfull issue vntill Carrhenes making cleare way before him and driuing and pursuing the enimies too farre was compassed behind with a fresh companie and slaine Then all hope being lost Meherdates trusting the promises of one Parrhacis a follower of his father by his falshood was taken prisoner and deliuered to the Conquerour Who intreated him not like a kinsman or one of the Arsacis stocke but reuiled him like a stranger and a Roman and hauing cut off his eares gaue him his life as a shew of his clemencie and dishonour and reproch vnto vs. Not long after Gotarzes died of a disease and Vonones then gouernour of the Medes was called to be King There happened nothing in his raigne either prosperous or vnprosperous worthie the telling he liued but a short and an inglorious time and the kingdome of the Parthians was translated to his sonne Vologeses But Mithradates the Bosphoran wandering vp and downe after he had lost his forces vnderstanding that Didius the Roman Captaine with the strength of his armie was departed and that onely Cotys a raw and rude youth was left in the new kingdome with some few bandes vnder the conduct of
Iulius Aquila gentleman of Rome contemnig both of them began to sollicite the countries about him and allure fugitiues and at last hauing assembled an armie chaseth out the King of the Dandarides and inioyeth his kingdome Which being vnderstoode and looking euerie hower that he would inuade the Bosphoran Aquila and Cotys distrustring their owne forces because Zorsines King of the Soraci had taken armes againe sought for forreine aide and sent Ambassadors to Eunones King of the Adorsian nation being no hard matter to draw him to their fellowship after he had declared what oddes there was between the Roman forces and the rebell Mithradates Whereupon they agreed that Eunones should haue charge of the horsemen and the Romains besiege townes Then hauing mustered their armie in order they marche in battell aray the Adorsi defending the front and the rereward the cohorts and Bosphorani the middle battell armed after our fashion And so driuing backe the enimie we came to Soza the chiefe towne of Dandarica which Mithradates forsooke where we left a garrison as being doubtfull of the inhabitants fidelitie From thence they marched to the Soraci and hauing passed the riuer Panda they besieged the citie Vspe situated on a high place fortified with wals and ditches sauing that the wals not being made of stone but of hurdles ioyned togither earth in the middle were too weake against the besiegers who hauing erected towres higher than the wals with fire and dartes disordered they besieged and had not the night broken off the battell the towne had beene assaulted and taken the same day The next day they sent Ambassadors to intreat for the free men but of slaues they offered ten thousand which the Conquerours refused And because that to slaie such as yeelded would be a cruell part and to keepe so great a multitude hard they thought it best to hold on the siege and kill them by right of warre and thereupon the signe was giuen to such souldiers as had scaled the wals to put them to the sword V. Mithradates being forsaken by Zorsines King of the Soraci ye eldeth to Eunones King of the Adorsi and came to Rome after he had made a peace THe slaughter of the Vspensiens stroke the rest into a feare thinking now that there was no safetie in any thing seeing their armes their fortresses high and hard places riuers and townes were forced alike Zorsines then long waighing with himselfe whether he should succour Mithradates desperate case or prouide for his fathers kingdome at length the loue of his countrey swaying him hauing giuen pledges he prostrated himselfe before the image of Caesar to the great glorie of the Roman armie which without any losse of bloodshed on his side came as it is most manifest victorious within three daies iourney of the riuer Tanais But in returning fortune was not alike bicause some of the shippes carried on the Taurian shores were by the Barbarians surprised the prefect of the cohorts and most of the Centurions slaine In the meane time Mithradates finding no safetie in armes debateth with himselfe whose mercie he should trie He feared his brother Cotys because he betrayed him once and was now his enimie There was none of the Romans of such authoritie that their promises should greatly be regarded in fine he addresseth himselfe to Eunones his enimie for priuate grudge but great and of better credit through the friendship newely contracted with vs. Therefore composing his countenance and attiring himselfe sutable to his present estate goeth to the Kings pallace and casting himselfe at his knees saith Behold here Mithradates whom by sea and by land you haue so manie yeeres sought Behold I am here of my owne voluntarie will Vse as thou wilt the sonne of great Achemenes which is the onely thing which the enimies haue not taken from me But Eunones moued with the nobilitie of the man the change of his fortune at his prayer which argued no base minde lifteth vp the suppliant and commendeth him that he had chosen the Adorsian nation and his right hand for obtayning of pardon And withall sendeth Ambassadors and letters to Caesar with these contents That the first friendship betwixt the Emperours and Kings of other mightie nations proceeded of conformitie and likenes of fortune but Claudius amitie and his of a victorie common to them both That the end of warre were most notable when peace was made with pardoning So when Zorsinus was conquered nothing was taken from him for Mithradates although he had deserued woorse no power no kingdome was intreated for but onely that he might not be lead in triumphe and lose his life Neuerthelesse Claudius although he were milde and gentle towards forreine nobilitie yet doubted whether it were best for him to receiue the captiue vnder condition of life or demaund him by force of armes For on one side the griefe of iniuries receiued and desire of reuenge pricked him and on the other reasons to the contrarie That he should take a warre in hand in a hard conntrey and a hauenlesse sea withall that the Kings were fierce and the people scattered and the soile fruitlesse and needy of victuals then that lingering would bring tediousnes and haste danger the praise should be small to the conquerers the infamie great if they tooke the repulse therfore it were best to take the offer and keepe the exiled who being poore how much the longer he liued so much the more punishment he should indure Mooued with these reasons he wrote to Eunones In verie truth that Mithradates deserued examplarie punishment neither wanted he power to execute it neuerthelesse it hath seemed best vnto our predecessors to vse as great benignitie towards humble suppliants as hard and rigorous dealing towards the enimie for triumphes were gotten of whole nations and kingdomes Then Mithradates was deliuered and carried to Rome by Iunius Celo Procurator of Pontus and thought to haue spoken more boldly to Caesar then his estate required His speech was carried to the people in these termes I am not sent backe vnto thee but am come and if thou beleeue me not let me goe and trie There appeered no signe of feare in his countenance when as garded with keepers neere vnto the court he was shewen vnto the people The Consularie ornaments were giuen to Colo and the Pretorian to Aquila VI. The death of Lollia Paulina through Agrippinaes iealousie Calpurnia driuen out of Italie VNder the same Consuls Agrippina boiling with deadly hatred and malice against Lollia because she had contended with her for the marrying of the Prince left no meanes vnsought vntill she had stirred vp some to accuse her of conference had with the Chaldeans and Magicians and counsell asked of the idoll of Apollo Clarius concerning the Emperours marriage Hereupon Claudius the defendant vnhard hauing spoken much before the Senate of her noblenes of birth that she was L. Volusius sisters daughter that Cotta Messallinus was her great vncle and she once wife
them But Corbulo sent an armie of Hiberians to waste them reuenging by that meanes with the blood of strangers the audaciousnes of the enemie Himselfe and his armie albeit he receiued no hurt by the battell yet began to faint for want of victuals and ouer great trauell hauing no meanes to driue away hunger but with the flesh of beasts All this with the want of water feruent heat long iournies was mitigated by the onely patience of the Captaine himselfe induring more than a common souldier Then we came into tilled groundes but where haruest was in and of two castles into which the Armenians had fled the one was taken by force and the other which had resisted the first assault was forced with siege From thence passing into the countrey of the Taurantians he escaped an vnlooked for danger for not farre from his pauilion there was found a Barbarian of no small reputation with a weapon which by torture discouered the order of a treason himselfe the inuentor of it and all his complices and they were conuicted and punished which vnder colour of friendship went about treason Not long after Embassadors sent frō Tigranocerta bring tidings that the gates are open and the inhabitāts willing to obey the Romans Withall they presented him a crowne of gold as a gift to honour a stranger which honorably he accepted and tooke away no priuilege from the towne bicause they should more faithfully retaine their obedience Neuerthelesse the Kings fortresse which the fierce youth had shut themselues in was not gotten but by fight for they came foorth skirmisht before the wals but driuē into their rampiers no lōger able to resist at the last yeeld to the forces of the assailers All which the Roman atchieued so much the easlier bicause the Parthians were hindered with warre against the Hyrcanians who had sent to the Romane Prince to craue their alliance declaring that for a pledge of their frindship they had stopped Vologeses Corbulo fearing least those Embassadors in returning backe hauing past Euphrates should be surprised by the ambushe of the enimie with a good guard conducted them to the red sea whereby hauing escaped the confines of the Parthians they retuned safe to their countrey Besides this Corbulo droue away Tiridates farre off and from all hope of warres entering the confines of Armenia by the Medes by sending before the Lieutenant Verulanus with the confederates himselfe following with vncombred legions and hauing wasted with fire sword those he knew to be our enimies adhere to the King put himselfe in possession of Armenia when as not long after came Tigranes chosen by Nero to take the kingdome one of the nobilitie of the Cappadocians and King Archelaus nephew but by being kept a long time an hostage in the citie was humble and lowly euen vnto seruile patience neither accepted by consent some still fauoring the Arsacides but the most part hating the pride of the Parthians desired rather the King giuen by the Romans He had also a garrison sent him by the Romans a thousand legionarie souldiers three bands of allies and two wings of horsemen And to the end he might the easlier defend the new kingdome part of Armenia as it adioyned to Nipolis * Aristobolus and part Antiochus had charge of Corbulo came into Syria which by the death of the Lieutenant Vinidius was without a gouernor and committed to his charge IX An earth-quake in Laodicea An order for appellations THe same yeere Laodicea one of the most famous cities of Asia destroied by an earth-quake without any helpe of ours by her owne wealth recouered her selfe againe But in Italie the auncient towne of Puteolum got of Nero the priuileges and surname of a colonie The old souldiers assigned to inhabite Tarentum and Antium did not furnish the lacke of people in those places many of them being sent into Prouinces where they ended their seruice And not accustomed to marrie nor bring vp children they left their houses without posteritie for whole legions were not brought as in times past with Tribunes and Centurions and souldiers of the same band that by consent and loue they should make a common-wealth but strangers the on to the other of diuers companies without a gouernour without mutuall loue as it were gathered on the sudden of another kinde of people rather a number than a colonie The election of Pretors wont to be chosen at the will of the Senat which was now done by suite and briberie the Prince assumed to himselfe and gaue the charge of a legion to each one of the three which sued extraordinarily And augmented the honour of the Senate by ordayning that such as from ordinarie iudges appealed to the Senators should incurre the same penaltie as they did which appealed to the Emperour for before that was free for euerie man and not punishable In the ende of the yeere Vibius Secundus a Roman gentleman at the suite of the Moores was condemned of extortion and banished Italie and supported by the fauour of his brother Vibius Crispus that he had no grieuouser a punishment X. Warre in England Suetonius Paullinus conquered the Ile of Anglesey The Queene Boudicea abused by the Romans WHen Cesonius Paetus and Petronius Turpilianus were Consuls there was a verie great ouerthrow receiued in Britannie where neither the Lieutenant Auitus as I haue alreadie saide could do no more but keepe that which was alreadie gotten and his successor Verannius with small inrodes hauing wasted the Siluri was hindered by death from making any long warre a man whilest he liued famous for seueritie but in his last will shewed himselfe openly ambitious For after much flattering of Nero added that he would haue subdued the Prouince to his obedience if he had liued the two next yeeres At that time Paulinus Suetonius gouerned Britannie in skill of seruice opinion of the people which suffereth no man without a concurrent comparable with Corbulo desiring to match his honour of recouering Armenia by subduing the enimie of this countrey He maketh all preparation to inuade the Ile of Mona strong with inhabitants and a receptacle of fugitiues and buildeth flat bottomde vessels because the sea is shallow and landing vncertaine So the footemen hauing passed ouer the horsemen followed by the foord or by swimming if the waters were high Against them the enemies armie stoode on the shore thicke in aray well appointed with men and weapons and women running among in mourning attire their haire about their eares with fire-brands in their hands like furies of hell and the Druides round about lifting vp their hands to heauen and powring out deadly curses with the newnes of the sight amazed the souldier and stood stocke still close togither not once moouing a foote as though they had presented themselues to the wounds Then by the encouragement of the Captaine and animating each the other that they should not feare a flocke of women and franticke people they displaied their
made famous and the spoiles dedicated by Augustus with the place where Antonie had camped by those meanes renewing the memorie of his auncestors for as I haue saide before Augustus was his vncle and Antonie his grandfather and therefore in that place he sawe represented things both ioifull and dolorous From thence he went to Athens which being an ancient citie and a confederate with the Romans he woulde haue but one Lictor before him The Graecians receiued him with most exquisite honors and represented the ancient exploites and saiengs of his predecessors that their flatterie might be so much the more gratefull and acceptable And going from thence to Euboea hepassed by Lesbos where Agrippina in hir last deliuerie had Iulia. Then desirous to visite places of antiquitie and fame he went to the confines of Asia Perinthum and Byzans cities of Thrace then he entered the straites of Propontis and the mouth of the Pontion sea Withall he releeued the prouinces which were wearied with ciuill discordes and oppressions of magistrates In his returne desirous to visite the sacrifices of the Samothracians and sundrie other things for change of fortune and our beginning from thence woorthie of honor The northren windes droue him backe againe Then he coasted Asia and came to Colophona to consult with the oracle of Clarius Apollo There is no woman as at Delphos but a priest vsually chosen out of certaine families and for the most part from Miletum doth heare onely the number and names of such as come to consult then going downe to a den and drinking a draught of the secret fountaine giueth answer being commonly ignorant in learning and verses in verses touching those things which a man hath fore-thought in his minde It is reported that by circumstances of darke speeches as the manner of the oracles is he prophecied that Germanicus death was not farre of But C. Piso to the ende he might more speedily begin to effectuate his determination sharpely rebuked the citie of Athens alreadie amazed with his turbulent behauiour indirectly carping at Germanicus that contrarie to the dignitie of the Roman name he had vsed too great curtesie not towards the Athenians which had beene wasted by so manie miseries but towards a rif-raffe of other nations and those which were Mithridates confederates against Sulla and Antonies against Augustus of famous memorie Other stale matters he obiected also against them as that they had not prosperous successe against the Macedonians and vsed violence against their owne citizens bearing them also a speciall grudge bicause that at his request they woulde not deliuer on Theophilus condemned of forgery by the counsel of the Areopagites From thence sailing with all celeritie by the Cyclades and seeking out the shortest cuts at the Iland of Rhodes he ouertooke Germanicus nothing ignorant how he had backbitten him yet neuerthelesse such was his milde disposition that when Piso was driuen through tempest against the rocks and that his miscarieng might haue beene imputed to chance he sent gallies to succour him and so deliuered him from danger But all this did not mollifie Pisoes hart but scarse enduring one daies staie forsaketh and preuenteth Germanicus For being come to the legions in Syria winning the basest of the common soldiers with gifts he began to displace the old Centurions and seuere Tribunes and bestowe their roomes on his followers or to the most lewdest suffered idlenes in the campes licentiousnes in the citie vagrant and riotous souldiers to range the countrey whereby they grew to such corruption that among the common sort he was called the father of the legions Neither did Plancina containe hir selfe within the bounds of womanly modestie but woulde be present at the horsemens exercise as the running of the cohorts and vse reprochfull speeches against Agrippina and Germanicus some of the better sort of soldiers readie to follow hir humour in bad actions bicause there was a secret rumour spred that those things were not done with dislike of the Emperour Germanicus knew all this but his greatest care was to preuent the Armenians That nation was in times past doubtfull and vncertaine to the Romans not onely through their disposition and affection but also through the situation of their countrey which stretching into our prouinces reacheth euen to the Medes And being seated betwixt great kingdomes are often in wars through hatred to the Romans and enuie to the Parthians King at that time they had none Vonones being expulsed But the nation fauoured Zeno Polemon king of Pontus sonne bicause that from his infancie he had imitated the customes and attire of the Armenians their hunting and banqueting and other exercises of the Barbarians greatly esteemed thereby winning the fauour as wel of the nobilitie as cōmon people Germanicus then in the city Artaxata the noble men approouing it in the presence of a multitude crowned him King the rest doing him honor as their King saluted him after the name of the city by the name of Artaxias The Cappadocians being reduced to the forme of a Prouince receiued Q Veranius for their Lieutenant and to giue them a good hope of the Roman gouernment some of the tributes vsually before paid to the Kings diminished ouer the Comageni then first reduced vnder the regiment of a Pretor Q. Seruaeus was made gouernor XIIII Germanicus and Pisoes iarring ALbeit all the affaires of the allies were setled in good order yet Germanicus was nothing the more at his ease by reason of Pisoes pride who being commanded either by himselfe or by his sonne to conduct part of the legions to Armenia neglected both At length they both met at Cyrrum where the tenth legion wintered Piso with a resolute countenance against feare and Germanicus as I haue said the milder of the two lest he should be thought to threaten But his friends their crafts master in prouoking hatred made the most of that which was true suggested much which was false laying diuers things to his own charge Plācinas his childrens In the end Caesar in the presence of a few of his familiars vttered som such speech to Piso as anger dissimulation doth suggest Piso answered with a proud submission so they departed open enemies After that time Piso was seldome seen at Caesars tribunal if he did assist at any time he shewed himselfe froward and alwayes dissented openly from him In a banket made by the king of the Nabateans when there were presented crownes of great waight to Caesar and Agrippina and light ones to Piso and the rest He was heard to say that that banket was made to the sonne of a Romane Prince and not to the sonne of a king of Parthia and withall threw away his crowne vttering many speeches against the superfluitie of the banket which although Germanicus could hardly digest yet indured all patiently Whilest these things were adoing Embassadors came from Artabanus king of the Parthians calling to minde their friendship and alliance with the Romans
by a maine battell Now he determined by some subtiltie to set vpon Rhescuporis King of Thrace That countrey once hauing beene vnder Rhoemetalces after his death Augustus gaue part of it to his brother Rhescuporis part to his sonne Cotys In that partition the erable grounds the cities and places adioining to Greece fell to Cotys share That which was vnhabited wilde and lying neere the enimie to Rhescuporis The dispositions also of those Kings were such that the one was tractable and of a milde condition this stout coueteous and impatient of a companion and both at the first liuing in cunning and dissembled concord Then Rhescuporis began to exceed his bounds and draw that to himselfe which was giuen Cotys and vse violence if he resisted but not so hotly in Augustus time whom he feared being the author of both kingdomes would reuenge if he were despised But vnderstanding of a chaunge of the Prince he sent in troups of theeues beat downe his castles and sought occasions of warre Nothing did more trouble Tiberius then that those things which were once setled should now be disturbed and therefore making choise of a Centurion dispatcheth him away to signifie to the Kings that they should not in any case enter into armes and thereupon Cotys dismissed presently the aide he had prepared Rhescuporis with a fained modestie requesteth a place of meeting to ende their controuersie by conference neither did they long doubt of the time place and conditions the one yeelding to all with a facilitie of nature the other accepting all with a fraudulent meaning Rhescuporis as he pretended to conclude this agreement maketh a banket whē the night was far spent with great myrth much eating quaffing of wine he loaded vncircumspect Cotys with chaines who perceiuing the treason besought him by the sacred ceremonies of the kingdom the gods of the same familie by the entertainment of his table he would vse no such violence Hauing thus made himselfe maister of all Thrace he wrote to Tiberius that there were conspiracies wrought against him and the contriuer of them preuented And withall pretending warre against the Bastarnians and the Scythians maketh himselfe strong with a new power of footemen and horsemen Tiberius wrote to him coldly againe that if there were no fraude in his doing he might trust to his innocencie but neither he nor the Senate could discerne the right from wrong vnlesse they knew the cause therefore that he should deliuer vp Cotys and come to them and purge himselfe of the enuie of the crime Those letters Latinius Pandus Propraetor of Moesia sent with the souldiers vnto whom Cotys should be deliuered But Rhescuporis balancing betweene anger and feare and desirous to be guiltie rather of the fact committed then only attempted commandeth Cotys to be slaine and vntruly gaue it out that he had killed himselfe Yet for all this Caesar altered not his intended course but after Pandus decease whom Rhescuporis accused to haue beene his back friend made Pomponius Flaccus an old souldier and with whom the king was very inward and therefore a more fit instrument to deceiue for the same cause especiall gouernor of Moesia Flaccus being gone to Thrace by way of great promises perswaded him although doubtfull and calling to minde his owne wickednes to enter into the Romane garrison where he was garded with a strong companie vnder colour of honor He had Tribunes and Centurions at hand to counsell and perswade him and the further he went the greater gard and at last knowing in what termes of necessitie he stoode they brought him to the citie where being accused in Senate by Cotys wife he was condemned to be kept far from his countrey Thrace was afterward deuided betwixt Rhaemetalces his sonne who was knowne to be an enemie to his fathers proceedings and Cotys children which not being of full age Trebellienus Rufus who had beene Pretor in the meane season was made gouernor of the kingdome following the example of our predecessors who sent M. Lepidus into Aegypt to be gardian to Ptolemeus children Rhescuporis was caried to Alexandria and there going about to escape or because it was so fathered on him was killed At the same time Vonones who as we haue said was confined in Cilicia hauing corrupted his keepers vnder colour of going a hunting attempted all meanes to escape to the Armenians from thence to the Albanians and Heniochians and to his Cosen the king of Scythia And forsaking the sea coasts gote into bywayes and forrests and by the swiftnes of his horse posted with all speede to the riuer Pyramus The borderers vnderstanding the kings escape hauing broken down the bridges he not able to passe at any foord was taken by the riuers side and bound by Vibius Fronto captaine of the horsemen Anon after Remmius Euocatus vnto whose charge the king was first committed as it had bene in an anger thrust him through with his sword Wherupon it was the easlier beleeued that he had so slaine Vonones as one guiltie and consenting to his escape and therefore fearing he should be bewraied and accused XVII Germanicus sicknes and death The variance betwixt him and Piso BVt Germanicus returning from Aegypt and perceiuing that all which he had commaunded either in the legions or townes left vndone or changed cleane contrary began to vse grieuous and contumelious speeches against Piso and he to requite Caesar with no lesse dangerous attempts Whereupon Piso determined to depart Syria but staying a time by reason of Germanicus sicknes when he heard of his amendment and that the vowes were accomplished for his health he droue away by his sergeants the beast brought to the altar and disturbed the preparation made for the sacrifice and the solemne meeting of the people of Antioch Then he went to Seleucia expecting the euent of his sicknes which he fell againe into the rage thereof so much the more greeuous through an opinion that Piso had poisoned him for there were found pulled out of the ground and wals charmes verses and enchantmēts and Germanicus name engrauen in sheetes of lead ashes halfe burned and tempered with corrupt bloud and other sorceries by which it is thought that soules are dedicated to the infernall powers Some also were accused to haue bene sent from Piso to espie in what state he was in That droue Germanicus both into anger and feare considering with himselfe if his house should be besieged if he should lose his life in the sight of his enemies what should happen after to his wofull wife and his yong children he saw that the poison seemed slow in working but Piso hastened that he might alone haue the gouernment of the legions and the prouince But Germanicus was not so destitute of friends that the murderer should inioy the rewards of the murder And hereupon enditeth a letter to him in which he renounceth his friendship Some adde that he commaunded him to depart the prouince Piso made no longer delay but
some and Tiberius at that time to Blaesus That yeere died two notable men Asinius Salonius nephew to M. Agrippa and Pollio Asinius and brother to Drusus and destined to be Caesars neeces husband and Capito Ateius of whom we haue spoken before by the studies of the ciuill lawes risen to the highest dignitie in the citie but his grandfather Sullanus was but a Centurion and his father Pretor Augustus hastened the Consulship vpon him that by the dignitie of that office he might be preferred before Labeo Antistius skilfull in the same studie for that age had at once two ornaments of peace But Labeo was more desirous of incorrupted libertie and therefore held in greater estimation and Capitoes pleasing humor better accepted of Princes To him the iniurie of not being higher than a Pretor was a commendation to this because he gate the Consulship grew of enuie hatred And Iunia whose vncle was Cato and was C. Cassius wife and M. Brutus sister died threescore and fower yeeres after the Philippensen warre Her Testament was much talked of among the people bicause that being verie wealthie when she had named all the peeres and noblemen and bestowed some legacie vpon them she omitted Caesar which he tooke in good part not hindering but that her funerals should be solemnised with an oration before the people assembled with all other ceremonies The images of twentie noble houses were caried before her and the names of the Manlians the Quinctians and others of like nobilitie But Cassius and Brutus did shine aboue the rest bicause their images were not seene THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Seianus beginning his qualities and by what meanes he aspired to the Empire CAsinius and C. Antistius being Consuls Tiberius had nine yeeres managed the affaires and aduanced his house to a flourishing estate for the death of Germanicus he reckoned amongst his prosperities when as fortune began on a sudden to worke alteration in him waxing cruell or giuing authoritie to such as were The beginning proceeded from AElius Seianus Captaine of the guarde of whose power and authoritie I haue before spoken I will now lay downe his beginning and qualities and by what sinister meanes he went about to clime to the soueraignty He was borne at Vulsinium sonne of Seius Strabo gentleman of Rome and in his first youth followed C. Caesar Augustus nephew not without a rumor that for money he had suffered his bodie to be abused by Apicius a rich man and a prodigall Then by sundrie sleights he had so wrought Tiberius that being close and secret towards others yet to himselfe had made him open and vncircumspect Not so much by his cunning and fraude for such deuises were his owne ouerthrow as by the anger of the gods against the state of Rome by whose ruine and rising it fell alike He was of body able to endure labour of mind bold in his owne actions secret an informer against others as proud as flattering in shew modest but inwardly greedie of aspiring for which cause he vsed sometime largesse and lauishing but more oftner industrie and diligence meanes dangerous alike when they are dissemblingly vsed to win a kingdome His forces which at the first were small he augmented by reducing the cohorts into one campe which before were scattered abroade in the citie that they might receiue their charge togither and by their number strength and seeing one another breed a confidence to themselues and a feare to others He pretended that the souldier liuing scattered grew riotous and if any sudden attempt should be enterprised their strength would be greater vnited then separated and that they would liue more seuerely if their garrison were lodged far from the wanton allurements of the citie As soone as his trenches were finished he began to creepe into the souldiers mindes by going vnto them and calling them by their names withall made choise himselfe of Centurions the Tribunes Neither did he abstaine from ambitiously courting the Senators aduauncing his followers with honours and rule of Prouinces Tiberius being so facile and prone to allow of his dooings that not onely in priuat speeches but in Senat also and before the people extolled him as an associat of his labours and suffered his image to be set in the Theaters and publike places of assemblies and ensignes of the legions But Caesars house being full a yoong sonne nephewes of full age hindered his plots And bicause it was not safe making away of so many at once by violence his trecherie required time to accomplish his wickednes He resolued then to vse the couertest way and begin with Drusus against whom through fresh quarrels he was greatly incensed For Drusus being impatient of a concurrent and therefore easily mooued a contention rising by chance betweene them bent his fist to strike Seianus and he his to saue himselfe Drusus dasht him on the mouth Hereupon leauing nothing vntried he thought it the readiest way to addresse himselfe to Liuia Drusus wife She was Germanicus sister in her youth of a hard fauour but afterward excelled in beautie Her Seianus counterfeiting an ardent and burning loue enticed to adulterie and after he had obtained the first breach of honestie for a woman hauing once lost her chastitie what will she refuse to do put her in hope of mariage and fellowship in the Empire and perswadeth her to kill her husband Thus she who was Augustus neece and Tiberius daughter in law and had children by Drusus defiled herselfe her auncestors and posteritie with adulterie by a meane man leauing an honest and present estate for the hope of a wicked and vncertaine Eudemus a friend and Phisition of Liuias was made priuie to these plots who vnder colour of his arte was often vsed in secret conferences He putteth away Apicata his wife by whom he had three children least his lemmon should haue her in iealousie But the greatnes of the enterprise droue them into a feare bred prolongings and sometimes diuers sorts of counsels In the meane space in the beginning of the yeere Drusus one of Germanicus children was come to mans estate and those things renewed vpon him which the Senat had ordained for Nero his brother Tiberius made an oration tending to the great commendation of his sonne bicause he tendered his brothers children with a fatherly affection For Drusus although it be a hard matter for rule and concord to dwell together shewed himselfe indifferent to the yoong men or at the least was not an enimie to them II. A suruey of the legions and souldiers Drusus poisoned by Seianus TIberius old but fained determination of going to the Prouinces is put on foote againe pretending that there were a great number of old souldiers and that the armies were to be supplied with a new muster For voluntarie men now wanted or if there were anie they were not of so vertuous and modest a cariage bicause that for the most part they are needie and vagrant
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
yet remember Agrippina exiled by Tiberius and Iulia banished by Claudius was fresher in memorie but both besides the strength of age had tasted of some pleasure and comforted their present cruell hap with the remembrance of a better estate Vnto this woman her first day of marriage was in stead of a graue being brought into a house in which she could finde nothing but what was dolefull and lamentable her father poisoned and her brother anon after Then the maid greater then the mistres and Poppaea married for no other end but to ruine her and last of all a crime obiected more grieuous then any death But this yong princesse of the age of twentie yeeres being betweene the Centurions and souldiers as it were alreadie depriued of life with the presage of so many miseries yet could not yeeld to death A few daies after she was commanded to be put to death although she protested she was no wife but a widow only and a sister of the Emperours calling to Germanicus ghost to aid her and Agrippinaes likewise in whose lifetime she should indeede haue indured an vnhappie marriage but without danger of death Notwithstanding she was shut vp in prison and all the vaines of her bodie opened but because the bloud stopped with feare issued forth slowly she was killed with the vapor of a very hot bath And a deadlier crueltie also added that Poppaea saw her head cut off and brought to the city for all which it was decreed that gifts should be offered in the temples Which we haue vttered that who soeuer shall either by vs or other writers vnderstand the euents of those times may be assured that as oft as the Prince commaunded either banishment or murder so oft thanks were giuen to the gods and those things which in times past were marks of prosperitie were then badges of publick calamitie Yet neuertheles we will not hold our toong if any decree of Senat hath beene ordained new and strange by flattery or by base and abiect sufferance The same yeere it was thought he empoisoned his chiefest freed men Doryphorus as being against Poppaeas marriage and Pallas because he kept from him infinite wealth by liuing too long Romanus by secret informations accused Seneca as a confederate of Pisoes but he was touched more neere the quick by Seneca for the same fault which droue Piso into a feare and that commencement of great but vnprosperous treasons against Nero. THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Vologeses King of Parthia crovvned King of Armenia by his brother Tiridates is hindered by Corbulo to enioye it and expulsed by Tigranes WHilest these things thus passed Vologeses King of the Parthians vnderstanding what successe Corbulo had in his affaires and how Tiridates his brother being expulsed and Tigranes a stranger made King of Armenia resolued to reuenge the contempt offered the greatnes of the Arsacides yet considering the great power of the Romans and alliance a long time continued was diuersly perplexed as one of his owne disposition slow and lingering and then intangled with many warres by the reuolt of the Hyrcanians a strong and mightie nation And as he thus wauered he was further exasperated by the newes of fresh iniurie for Tigranes gone out of Armenia had wasted and spoiled the Adiabenians a nation bordering farther and longer than any rodes of enemies heretofore Which grieued not a little the chiefe noble men of that nation that they were growen to that contempt that they should be forraged and robbed not of a Roman Captaine but by the rashnes of an hostage so manie yeeres held and esteemed no better than a bond-slaue Monobazus gouernour of the Adiabenians augmented their griefe asking them what remedie or from whence Armenia was alreadie gone and the countrey adioyning would goe shortly after and vnlesse the Parthians would defend them those which yeelded to the Romans should find an easier seruitude then those which were taken Tiridates chased out of the kingdome by silence complayning not a little was no small griefe telling them that great Empires were not maintained by cowardlines but they must trie the valour both of men and armes For among great Princes he seemed to haue most reason and right who had most strength And it was the praise of priuate houses to keepe their owne but the glorie of a King to warre for other nations Vologeses being mooued with these speeches calleth a Councell and placed Tiridates hard by him and thus began This man borne of the same father that I am hauing yeelded vnto me the name of the King in regard I am his elder I did put in possession of Armenia which is reckoned the third part of my kingdome For the Medes Pacorus had before possessed making account that in so doing I had taken away the inueterate hatred which raigneth between brothers and fully setled the state of our familie The Romans hinder this and now breake the peace also to their owne ruine which they neuer yet disturbed but to their owne destruction I will not deny but I had rather hold things gotten by my ancestors by equitie then blood by reason then armes If I haue offended by lingering I will amend it with valour Your strength and glorie is intire with fame of modestie which neither ought to be contemned of the highest and is esteemed of the gods Hauing thus said he put the Diademe on Tiridates head and gaue Moneses a noble gentleman a gallant companie of horsemen which vsually followed the King and withall the aide of the Adiabenians and commaunded Tigranes to be chased out of Armenia Whilest he pacifiying the sedition of the Hyrcanians draweth his whole forces togither and vtmost power of warre threatning the Roman Prouinces Whereof Corbulo being aduertised by certaine messengers sendeth two legions with Verulanus Seuerus and Vectius Bolanus to aide Tigranes with a secret charge they should proceed rather orderly and aduisedly then hastily for he had rather entertaine than make warre And wrote to Caesar that it was needfull to haue a Captaine of purpose to defende Armenia and that Syria by Vologeses approach was in greater danger And in the meane time he lodgeth the rest of the legions by the banke Euphrates leuieth and armeth in haste a power of the countrey people and intercepteth the enimies passages with a garrison And bicause the countrey is scarce of water he fortified hard by the fountaines couered certain small brookes with mounds of sand Whilest Corbulo vsed this preparatiō for the defence of Syria Moneses because he would preuent the rumour of his comming marched with all speed but yet found not Tigranes vnaduertised or vnprouided who had put himselfe into Tigranocerta a verie strong towne well manned and walled Besides this the riuer Nicephorius of a reasonable breadth enuironeth part of the wals and a huge ditch cast in length where the riuer was distrusted as not sufficient There were souldiers within to man it and prouision of necessaries for conueiyng