for in so dooing industrie would decay and idlenes increase if men had not a feare and a hope in them And if all men should careleslie expect reliefe from others they would be to themselues vnprofitable and to vs burdensome These the like speeches although they were heard with the approbation of such whose custome is to applaude all the Princes actions be they honest or dishonest yet manie held their toong or secretly muttered which Tiberius perceiued and hauing paused a little saide that he had answered Hortalus Neuerthelesse if it so seemed good vnto the Lords of the Senat he would giue euerie one of his male children * two hundred thousand sesterces The rest gaue him thankes Hortalus helde his toong either for feare or as retaining somewhat of the nobilitie of his auncestors euen in extremitie of fortune Yet Tiberius had no compassion afterward on him although the Hortensian familie fell into shamefull pouertie IX Clemens a bondslaue counterfeiteth himselfe to be Agrippa and his bold answere THe same yeere an audacious part of a bondslaue had shaken the whole state with ciuill wars and discord had it not beene preuented in good time A bondman of Agrippas called Clemens vnderstanding of Augustus death with a courage more then seruile purposed to go to the Iland Planasia and by fraud or force bring away Agrippa to the German campe But his enterprise was hindered by the slownes of a ship of burden and in the meane season Agrippa being murdered bending his mind to greater and dangerouser attempts stealeth away his ashes and being come to Coram a promontorie of Ethruria in vnknowen places hideth himselfe vntill his beard and haire were growen out being in fauour and yeeres not vnlike his Lord. This done he whispereth it abroad by fit companions of his secrets first as in things forbidden commonly it is wont to be by priuie rumors that Agrippa was yet aliue then openly in the credulous eares of the weaker sort or busie headed and turbulent and therefore most desirous of nouelties His manner was towards night to go to small townes shewing himselfe abroad but seldome nor stay long in a place And bicause time and the eie trie out truth and falshood winneth credit on a sudden and by vncertainties he either left some speech of him where he had beene or preuented it before any was begun In the mean time it was commonly reported throughout Italy and beleeued at Rome that Agrippa by the goodnes of the gods was preserued aliue In so much that being arriued at Hostia there great multitudes and in the citie secret assemblies shewed signes of ioy Tiberius being doubtfull and perplexed whether he should make away his bondman by souldiers or suffer that vaine credulousnes to vanish away with time Thus wauereing betwixt shame and feare sometimes thinking it no policie to make light of any thing and sometime lesse to feare all things in the end committed the matter to Sallustius Crispus He chuseth two of his followers or as some saie souldiers and perswadeth them as though they had fled for some offence to goe to him offer him money promise him loyaltie and that they would stand to him in all dangers They fulfilling his commaundement espieng a night when he had no guarde with aide sufficient bound him stopped his mouth and drew him to the pallace And when Caesar asked him How he was made Agrippa it is reported hee answered As thou wast made Caesar He could not bee brought by any meanes to disclose his confederates Neither durst Tiberius punish him openly but in a secret part of the pallace commaunded him to be murdered and his bodie priuily to be conueied away And although many of the Princes own house Senators and gentlemen were reported to haue sustained him with their goods aided him with their counsell yet there was no further enquirie made In the end of this yeere a triumphall arch was erected neere to Saturnus Temple for the recouerie of the ensignes lost with Varus vnder the conduct of Germanicus and Caesars good fortune And a Temple built also of strong fortune neere Tyber in the gardens which Caesar the Dictator had bequeathed to the people of Rome and a Chappell dedicated to the Iulian familie and an image to Augustus at Bouilles IX Germanicus triumpheth is sent to the East The death of Archelaus King of Cappadocia C. Coelius and L. Pomponius being Consuls the seuenth Kalends of Iune Germanicus Caesar triumphed for the victories gotten against the Cherusci Chatti and Angriuari and all other nations inhabiting to the riuer of Albis In which triumph were caried the spoiles and captiues and counterfeit of the mountaines riuers and battels and so the warre was taken as ended because he was forbidden to prosecute it any further The comlines of his person and triumphall chariot loaden with fiue of his children made the shew more gallant But when they thought with themselues how vnluckie the peoples fauour was in his father Drusus that his vncle Marcellus was taken from them in the flowre of his youth heate of the peoples loue that the affection of the people of Rome was vnfortunate and of small continuance they were all secretly striken into a feare And although Tiberius gaue in Germanicus name to euery one of the people * three hundred sesterces a man and made him his copartner in the Consulship yet could neuer be accompted a sincere friend but that he went about to remoue the yong man vnder colour of honor and forged pretences or greedily taking hold of such as were offered by chaunce King Archelaus had now fiftie yeares enioyed Cappadocia greatly disliked of Tiberius because that during his being at Rhodes he had vsed no shew of dutie towards him which Archelaus did not omit through pride but because he was so admonished by Augustus familiarest friends For whilest C. Caesar yet flourished and managed the affaires of the East Tiberius friendship was suspected as dangerous The house of the Caesars was no sooner extinguished and that himselfe was in possession of the Empire but he tolleth Archelaus by his mothers letters to Rome who not dissembling her sonnes displeasure offered him all gentle intreatie if he would come to him with submission He then ignorant of the trechery or misdoubting violence if he seemed to perceiue it maketh haste to the citie where being churlishly receiued and anon after accused in Senate not for the crimes which were pretended but by anguish of minde or feeblenes of age and because not only base but also things indifferent are strange and vnusuall to kings he either willingly or naturally ended his life The kingdome was afterward reduced into a prouince and Caesar declaring that with the reuenews thereof the tribute of one in the hundred might be eased made a decree that from thence forward one should be leuied in two hundred At the same time Antiochus king of the Comageni and Philopater king of the Cilicians being dead those nations
should be cut into manie branches and so all become a standing poole if the new chanels were not capable of so much water The Reatins did not in this case hold their peace no way yeelding that the mouth of the lake Velinus should be dammed vp where it discargeth it self into Nar for so it would ouerflow al about it And that nature had wel prouided for the necessitie of mans vse hauing giuen all riuers their course and mouth and as well their bounds as beginnings That the religion of their allies was to be considered who consecrated vnto the riuers of their countrey woods and altars Yea that Tiber would not be depriued of his neighbour-riuers and so run his course with lesser glory In the end either through the intreatie of the Colonies or difficultie of the worke or superstition Pisoes opinion was approued which was that there should be nothing changed Poppaeus Sabinus was continued in the gouernment of Maesia and Achaia and Macedonia added to his charge For it was Tiberius manner to continue men in their office and charge either of warre or iurisdiction sometimes during their life whereof there were diuers reasons giuen Some said he did it to auoid the tedious care of often prouiding and that he would haue that to continue which he had thought once well done some did interpret it to be done of enuie because many should not enioy them some that as he was of a subtile wit so of no resolute iudgement as not choosing men of excellent vertue and on the other side hating vices He feared least the best would attempt somewhat against him and the worst dishonor the state Which doubtfulnes brought him to that passe at last that he gaue the gouernment of prouinces to some which he would not suffer to depart the citie Concerning the election of Consuls which was first obserued vnder this Prince and afterward by others I dare assure nothing not only the authors but the Prince himselfe doth so much differ in his orations For sometimes not naming the suters he described euery mans beginning life and what pay he had receiued that a man might easily gesse who they were At another time not touching any of those particulars he perswaded the suters not to disturbe the elections by bribing and canuasing promising that himselfe would be a meane for them And oftentimes he sayd there were no more which pretended to be suters but such only whose names he had presented vnto the Consuls and that others might bring in their names likewise if they would trust either to their merit or fauor But all was but faire words and in deede deceiptfull and without effect and by how much the more they were masked with a colour of libertie by so much the heauier and greeuouser a seruitude they were like to bring after them THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The cause of the Parthian warres Vonones driuen out of his kingdome SIsenna Statilius Taurus and L. Libo being Consuls the kingdome of the East and the Romane prouinces rebelled the beginning thereof proceeding from the Parthians who hauing demaunded and receiued a King from Rome yet contemned him as a forrener although he were descended of the Arsacides Vonones was this King who had beene before giuen in hostage to Augustus by Phrahates For although Phrahates had repulsed the armie and the Romane captaines yet he shewed all duties and reuerence to Augustus And the better to confirme friendship sent some of his children to him not so much for feare of vs as distrust of disloyaltie in his owne subiects After the death of Phrahates and other succeeding Kings through murthers committed among themselues Embassadors came to the citie from the chiefe noble men of Parthia to demaunde Vonones the eldest sonne of Phrahates Caesar thinking that to be an honor to himselfe enduing him with great riches deliuered him and the barbarians as their maner is at the change of a new Prince receiued him with great ioy Not long after the Parthian grew to be ashamed that he had so much degenerated as to demaund a Prince from another countrey trained vp in the sleights of their enimies That now the royall seate of the Arsacides was giuen and accounted among the Romane prouinces Where is the glorie of those which murdered Crassus and chased away Antonie if Caesars bond slaue after so many yeeres seruitude should commaund and rule ouer the Parthians He himselfe kindled their difdainefull minds by swaruing from his predecessors manner of life as going seldome a hunting being carelesse of horses carried in a charriot in the streetes and loathing their countrey fare his Grecian followers were scorned and himselfe laughed at for keeping vnder his seale his basest vtensiles But the free accesse vnto him his courtesie towards all men vnknowen vertues to the Parthians were accounted new vices and bicause they were not vsed of their ancestors were odious alike to the good and bad Whereupon Artabanus one of the Arsacides blood brought vp with the Dahes was raised against him who in the first encounter ouerthrowen recouered newe forces and enioyed the kingdome When Vonones was ouercome hee fled to Armenia then without a King and betwixt the Parthian and the Romane wealth wauering through Antonies trecherie who hauing vnder colour of friendship tolled vnto him their King Artauasdes loaded him with chaines and in the end depriued him of his life Artaxias his sonne hating vs for the iniurie done to his father with the power of the Arsacides defended himselfe and the kingdome against vs. But when Artaxias was slaine by the treason of his neerest friends Tigranes was made King of the Armenians and brought by Tiberius Nero into the kingdom Yet Tigranes raigne dured but a short time nor his childrens although they were as the maner of strangers is linked in marriage with the Armenians Then by commaundement of Augustus Artauasdes was appointed their King and afterward driuen out not without a great slaughter of our men After that Caesar was chosen to settle the affaires of Armenia who with the good liking of the Armenians appointed Ariobarzanes descended from the Medes to be their King a man greatly reckoned of for the comelines of his personage and valiant courage Ariobarzanes dying by misfortune the Armenians would endure none of his race but tried the regiment of a woman called Eratus whom they expulsed in a short time and lead an vncertaine and loose kinde of life rather without a Lord then in libertie and in the ende receiued the fugitiue Vonones againe But when Artabanus began to vse threatning and that small aide was to be expected of the Armenians and yet if he should be defended by our forces it were to enter into war against the Parthians Creticus Silanus gouernour of Syria sent for Vonones and appointed him a guarde and suffered him to inioy all pompe and sumptuousnes and name of a King from which mockerie how he purposed to deliuer himselfe we will set
on foote by which it is prouided of old that for pleading of causes no man should take either money or gift Then they whom that iniurie seemed to touch making a noise Silius was eager and earnest against Suilius and contradicted him alleaging the example of Orators in times past Which esteemed fame with posteritie to be the fairest rewarde of eloquence otherwise that the princesse of good arts should be distained with the seruitude of base lucre and that no faith could be sincere and inuiolate where excesse of gaine is regarded And if causes shoulde be defended without rewarde there would be fewer of them where as now enmities accusations hatred and iniuries are fostered and that as the multitude of diseases brought the Phisitions gaine so the pestilent infection of the bar serueth now to inrich the lawiers Let them call to minde C. Asinius and Messalla and of later memorie Arruntius and Eserninus which were lifted vp to the highest degree of dignitie by their vpright life and vncorrupted eloquence The Consull elect vttering these speeches the others approouing the same they went about to giue iudgement that such shoulde be condemned vnto the like punishment as they were who had by briberie and extortion polled and oppressed the commons When as Suilius and Cossutianus and others which perceiued that there should be no generall decree set downe but a punishment for those which had beene openly conuicted came about Caesar and besought him pardon of that which was past And after a little silence nodding with his head vnto them they began as followeth Who was he so puft vp with pride that would presume or hope for eternitie of fame that it was expedient men should prouide for necessarie maintenance least through the want of aduocates the poore be oppressed by the rich and mightie Neither did eloquence come by chance and gratis vnto any without paine and labor the care of a mans owne familie was neglected if he were occupied in another mans busines many maintained their life by warre some by tilling the earth no man laboured to attaine to any knowledge vnlesse he had seene some commoditie in it It was an easie matter for Asinius and Messalla which were inriched with great rewards betweene Antonies and Augustus wars to shew a gallant and braue minde and for Eserninus and Aruntius heires of rich houses to do the like Examples were as readie for them to shew for what great rewards P. Claudius and C. Curio were woont to plead As for themselues they were but meane Senators which expected no gaine of the common-wealth but such as grew of peace The meanest of the people endeuored what he could to better his estate the rewarde of studies being taken away studies do also decay as hauing neither glory nor honor The Prince thinking that this was not spoken without ground of reason moderated the sum which they should take vnto ten thousand sesterces and that they which passed this summe should be condemned of extorsion III. Mithradates recouereth his kingdome Warres betweene Gotarzes and Bardanes for the kingdome of Parthia ABout the same time Mithradates who as I haue shewed gouerned Armenia and was brought to Caesar returned into his kingdome at Claudius perswasion trusting in the power of Pharasmanes King of the Hiberi and Mithradates brother who told him that the Parthians were at variance among themselues doubtfull what would become of the Kingdome and matters of smaller importance vtterly neglected For whilest Gotarzes practised great cruelties going about to kill his brother Artabanus his wife and his sonne whereby the rest were afeard they called in Bardanes who being a man of action and able to go thorow great enterprises in two daies inuaded three thousand stadia and chased out Gotarzes all amazed and dismayed not once dreaming of his comming and without any lingring seased on the next gouernments the Seleucians onely refusing to obey him Whereupon inflamed with greater anger then the present occasion ministred cause bicause they had reuolted from his father he besieged their citie which was strong and well fortified with a wall inuironed with a riuer and furnished with victuals and munition In the meane time Gotarzes strengthened with the Daharian and Hyrcanian power renueth the war And Bardanes enforced to abandon Leleucia remooued his campe to the champion countrey of the Bracteri Then the forces of the Orient being deuided and vncertaine which way to leane Mithradates had oportunitie offered him by chance to sease vpon Armenia and with the force of the Roman souldier rase and beat downe the strong fortresses the Hiberian campe at once wasting and spoiling the champion Neither did the Armenians make heade at all against them Demonactes their gouernour being slaine who onely durst haue waged battell against them Cotys King of lesser Armenia did somewhat hinder them some of the nobles ioyning with him But afterward being rebuked by Caesars letters all turned vnto Mithradates side more cruell then was expedient in a kingdome newly gotten But the Parthian Emperours making preparation to fight suddenly conclude a peace hauing discouered the treacherie of their subiects which Gotarzes bewraied vnto his brother At the first meeting they had a ielous conceit the one of the other then taking one another by the right hand before the altars of the gods they promised and couenanted to reuenge the treason of their enimies and agree and helpe one another Bardanes seemed most meete to possesse the kingdome And Gotarzes because there should remaine no sparkle of emulation went to Hyrcania And Bardanes returning againe Seleucia yeeldeth the seuenth yeere after her reuolt not without discredit to the Parthians whom one bare citie had so long deluded Then he inuadeth the strongest Prouinces and began to recouer Armenia if Vibius Marsus Lieuetenant of Syria had not hindered him by threatning to warre against him In the meane time Gotarzes repenting that he had yeelded the kingdome and the nobilitie vnto whom obedience in peace seemeth hardest calling him backe againe assembleth his forces togither whom Bardanes met at the riuer Erindes where skirmishing long on both parts for the passages Bardanes had the vpper hand and with prosperous battels subdued all the middle countries vnto the riuer Gindes which diuideth the Dahas from the Arij There his fortunate successes had an end for the Parthians although they were conquerers yet liked not to make warre so far off Wherefore building monuments in token of his wealth and power and that none of the Arsacides had euer before leuied any tribute of those nations he returned with great glorie and therefore so much the more fierce and intollerable to his subiects who hauing long before laide a snare to intrap him killed him at vnawares as he was a hunting in the Prime of his youth fewe of the old Kings to be matched in renowne with him if he had as well sought the loue of his subiects as to be feared of his enimies By the death of Bardanes the Parthian
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
Vologeses thinking there had fell out iust occasion of inuading Armenia which possessed of his ancestors a forraine King now occupied by a lewde practise assembleth his power and because none of his house should liue without rule and soueraigntie goeth about to inuest his brother Tiridates in the kingdome By the comming of the Parthians the Hiberi were driuen out without stroke striking and the cities of the Armenians Artaxata Tigranocerta submitted themselues to the yoke But the sharpe and hard winter or else scarsitie of victuals other prouision the sicknes proceeding of both cōstrained Vologeses to forsake his pretended enterprise and Rhadamistus inuadeth Armenia a fresh hauing none to resist him more cruell then before as against rebels readie at all times to rebell if occasion were offered In so much that they though accustomed to bondage yet breake all patience and besiege the Kings house Rhadamistus hauing no other refuge then the swiftnes of his horses saued both himselfe and his wife But his wife being great with childe endured the first flight so so for feare of the enimie and loue of her husband afterward by continuall haste and ouer-much iogging and shaking she began to pray her husband that with an honest death she might be deliuered from the reproch of captiuitie He at the first embraced her comforted her encouraged her then admiring her stoutnes then sicke with griefe least leauing her behinde him any should enioy her at last ouercome with loue and being no babe in wicked atrempts draweth his cymetter and hauing giuen her a wound drew her to the banke of Araxis and committed her to the riuer least her bodie should bee carried away and posteth himselfe to Hyberia his fathers kingdome In the meane time the shepheards espied Zenobia for so was Rhadamistus wife called drawing breath and aliue vpon the quiet shore of the riuer and iudging her by the comelines of hir person of some noble race bound vp hir wound applied such medicaments as the countrie affoordeth Then vnderstanding her name chaunce carried her into the citie Artaxata from whence at the charge of the common purse she was conducted to Tiridates who entertained her with such curtesie as beseemed a Kings wife XI A decree against the Mathematicians Cumanus and Felix gouernours of Iudaea be at variance War against the Clītes WHen Faustus Sylla and Saluius Otho were Consuls Furius Scribonianus was banished as searching out by the Chaldeans the time when the Prince should die And Iunia his mother who before exiled was touched with the same crime as bearing impatiently her former fortune Camillus Scribonianus father had heeretofore stirred vp warres in Dalmatia and therefore Caesar thought it a point of clemencie to keepe aliue the progenie of his enimie Neuerthelesse the banished man enioyed not any long life after this but ended his daies either by naturall death or by poison euery man giuing out as he beleeued Ofbanishing the Astrologers out of Italie there was a straight decree of Senat made but tooke no effect After this the Prince cōmended such in an oratiō who knowing their own estate decaied gaue vp their Senators roome of their own accord those put from it which continuing in it ioyned impudencie to their pouertie Among other things the matter was debated in Senat touching the punishmēt of such womē as married with slaues and an order set down that she who without the priuity of his Lord had fallen into that folly should as if she had consented therto become herselfe a bond-slaue and the children borne of them be taken as Libertini And Pallas whom Caesar publickely confessed to haue beene author of this relation was by the aduise of Barea Soranus Consull elect honored with the Pretorian ornaments receiued further a hundred fiftie hundred thousand sesterces and it was added by Scipio Cornelius that thankes should be publickly giuen him that being descended from the Kings of Armenia he would prefer the publike good before his auncient familie and vouchsafe to be accounted one of the Princes officers Claudius affirmed that Pallas was contented with the Pretorian dignitie onely and would continue in his former pouertie Whereupon a decree of Senate was publikely engrauen in brasse in commendation of this freed man who being possessor of three hundred millions of sesterces was content to liue according to the prouident maner of sparing of our ancestors But his brother surnamed Felix of late made gouernour of Iudaea vsed not the same moderation but bare himselfe vpon his authoritie as a sufficient warrant for all lewdnes whatsoeuer The Iewes made shew of a rebellion through a sedition * after they vnderstood of the death of Caius they were still afearde least some other Prince should commaund them the like things In the meane season Felix going about to redresse all by vnseasonable punishments exasperated them the more And Ventidius Cumanus vnto whom part of the Prouince was committed and was his secret enimie egged him forward For the countrey was so diuided that the Galileans were gouerned by Cumanus and the Samaritans by Felix enemies of olde and now more then euer shewing themselues through the contempt of the gouernors And therefore made inroades one against the other set in companies to rob and spoile laide ambushes and sometimes they met in battell and carried the booties and spoiles to their gouernours Who at the first were glad of it but in the end perceiuing the mischiefe to grow greater they sent in souldiers to quiet them which were all slaine And the whole Prouince had been in an vprore if Quadratus the gouernor of Syria had not found meanes of redresse who stayed not long vntill he had reuenged the death of the Roman souldiers which the Iewes had slaine Cumanus Felix drew the matter at length because Claudius hauing vnderstoode the occasions of the rebellion had giuen authoritie to the Gouernor to determine punish the Procurators Cumanus and Felix if their demerit had so required But Quadratus caused Felix to sit among the iudges and receiued him into the tribunall to him to the end the heate of the accusers should therby be cooled and condemned Cumanus for all the misdemeanor which both of them had committed and by that meanes he set the Prouince at quietnes Not long after the peasants of the Cilician nation surnamed Clites which at diuers other times had rebelled hauing Trosobor for their Captaine encamped on a rough and high hill And frō thence running downe to the sea shores cities ventured on the husbandmen and citizens and often set on marchants and sea men And then hauing besieged the citie of the Anemurienses the horsemen sent out of Syria to ayde them were put to flight with Curtius Seuerus their Prefect by reason the difficulties and vncleannes of the place round about fit for footemen was most incommodious for horsmen to fight Then Antiochus King of that quarter vsing faire words to the countrey people craft
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
thousand choise men on the top of the hill Taurus hard by to hinder the King to passe He placed also certaine cornets of Pannonians which were the strength and sinewes of his horsemen in one part of the plaine His wife and sonne were shut vp in a castle called Arsamosata and a cohort appointed to guarde them and thus dispersed the souldiers which vnited in one would much better haue made head against the stragled and rouing enimie It is reported that he was hardly brought to confesse vnto Corbulo that the King was at hand neither did Corbulo make any great haste to the end that the dangers growing great his own praise in succouring might be the greater Neuerthelesse he commaunded three thousand to be set forwarde out of the three legions eight hundred horse and the like number out of the auxiliarie cohorts But Vologeses although he had vnderstood that the passages were shut vp by Paetus on the one side with footmen and on the other with horsmen nothing altering his determination what with violence what with threatnings hauing put the horsemen to flight broke the legionaries one onely Centurion Tarquitius Crescens hauing courage to defend himselfe in a towre wherein he had a garrison making often sallies and slaying such Barbarians as came neere vntill he was forced by fire to yeeld Of the footemen if any was vnhurt he fled to bye-places a farre off the wounded returned to the campe extolling the valour of the King the crueltie and number of his souldiers and all else for feare such easily beleeuing them as were in the like perplexitie The Captaine himselfe not once endeuoruing to remedie the calamitie neglected all duties of seruice and sent againe to intreat Corbulo that he would come away in all poste haste to defend the ensignes and standarts and the onely name left of the vnfortunate armie he for his owne part would whilest life lasted remaine faithfull III. Corbulo goeth to Syria to aide Paetus who in the meane space maketh a dishonorable peace with Vologeses COrbulo daunted nothing at all leauing part of his forces in Syria to defende the fortresses built vpon the shore of Euphrates tooke his iourney as the neerest way and plentifullest of victuals by the Comagenians then by Cappadocia and from thence to Armenia There followed the armie besides the vsuall furniture and prouision of warre a multitude of camels loaden with corne to driue away both the enimie and hunger The first he met of those which were throughly affrighted was Pactius the Centurion of the first ensigne then many other soldiers who pretending diuers and sundry causes of their flying away he admonished to returne to their ensignes and trust to Paetus clemencie As for himselfe he was rigorous to none but to the conquerers Withall he went to his legions encouraged them put them in minde of their old valour and what occasion they had to win new glory That they sought not now villages and townes of Armenia for a reward of their trauels but Roman camps and amongst them two legions If vnto euery common souldier the crowne was giuen by the Emperors hands as a speciall honor to him who had saued one citizen only how great and worthie an honor shall it be when the like number shall be seene of the succourers succoured And with these and the like incouragements generally cheered and some there were whom their brothers perils and neere kindred inflamed of their owne proper motions they hastned their iourney day and night Vologeses so much the more eagerly pursueth the besieged now assailing the trench of the legions now the fort where the fearefull or aged had fled for defence approching neerer then the Parthians custome is to allure by temeritie his enemie to battell But the Romans hardly haled out of their cabins did but defend their rampires part at the commaundement of the captaine and others by their owne cowardlines looking for Corbulo and if they should be put to any distresse purposed to shift for themselues by the example of the ouerthrowe at Caudina and Numantina Neither had the Samnites people of Italie nor the people of Carthage which contended for greatnes with the Romans so great power as the Parthians Their auncestors also both valiant and commended of all when fortune crossed them prouided for their safetie By which desperation Paetus the generall of the armie vtterly cast downe yet sent not his first letters to Vologeses in humble sort but in manner of a complaint That he vsed hostilitie against the Armenians subiect alwaies to the Romans or to a King chosen by the Emperour That peace was alike profitable to both That he should not regard things present only That he was come against two legions with all the power of his kingdome but the Romains had the whole world besides at commandement to aide the warre Vologeses answered nothing touching the matter but that he was to expect his brothers Pacorus and Tiridates and that that place and time was appointed to consult of Armenia * And that the gods had fauored them so much being a matter worthy of the Arsacides greatnes that withall they could determine of the Roman legions After that Paetus sent messengers to intreate a parly with the King who commanded Vasaces captaine of the horse to go Then Paetus beginneth with the Luculli Pompei and such other Captaines as had conquered and giuen away Armenia Vasaces answered that the Romaines had but a shadow of holding and giuing away of Armenia and that the right and power was with the Parthians And hauing sufficiently debated the matter on both sides Monobazus Adiabenus the next day was called a witnes of their agreement which was that the legions should no longer be besieged and all the souldiers depart out of the bounds of Armenia and all forts and prouisions to be deliuered to the Parthians which done that Vologeses should haue licence to send Embassadors to Nero. In the meane space Paetus built a bridge ouer the riuer Arsamites which ran by the camp vnder colour of passing that way but the Parthians had commanded it to be done as a token of the victorie for it serued their turne and our men went another way And the rumor went that the legions were sent sub iugum with other disgraces which the Armenians were wont to vse against the vanquished For they entered the trench before the Romaine camp was departed and beset the way challenging and leading away their horses and such as had beene their slaues Their apparell also and weapons were taken from them and the souldiers yeelded them for feare least any occasion of quarrell should be giuen Vologeses hauing gathered together our weapons and dead bodies to witnes the ouerthrow of our people forbare from seeing the running away of the legions A fame of moderation was sought for after he had satisfied and filled his pride He passed the riuer Arsamites on an Elephant and euery man neere the King on horseback because a rumor was
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
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
should be placed with garlands of oake that his image grauen in Iuory should be caried before the Circensian plaies and that none should be created Flamen or Augur in Germanicus place vnlesse he were of the Iulian familie At Rome and at the banke of Rhene and on the hill Amanus in Syria were erected arches with an inscription of his exploites and that he died for the common wealth a sepulchre at Antioch where his bodie was burnt a tribunal at Epidaphna where he ended his life It would be hard to number the images and places in which he was honored And when some thought it conuenient that he should haue a sheeld of exquisite gold and greatnes dedicated him among the authors of eloquence Tiberius saide he should haue none but such as was vsuall and equall to the rest for neither was eloquence to be iudged of by fortune and that it was a sufficient honor for him if he were put in the number of auncient writers That which before was called the band of yong men the Gentlemen called Germanicus cuneum or pointed battell and ordained that the squadrons of horsemen should follow his image the Ides of Iuly Many of these ceremonies yet remaine some were presently left off and some time wore out But whilest this griefe was yet fresh in euery mans memorie Liuia Germanicus sister and Drusus wife was at once deliuered of two sonnes which being a thing rare and welcome euen to meane families did so reioice the Prince that hee could not containe for euen casuall things he attributed to his glorie but must needes bragge before the Lordes of the Senate that no other of the Romans of his greatnes had euer before had two male children at a birth But in such a time euen that also brought griefe vnto the people as though that Drusus increase of children would the rather depresse Germanicus house The same yeere womens lasciuious life was punished by seuere decrees of Senat and ordained that none should put their bodies to sale whose grandfather father or husband had beene a gentleman of Rome For Vistilia descended of a pretorian familie had made hir loose licentious life knowen to the Aediles according to a receiued custome among the auncients who thought it a sufficient punishment for vnchaste women if publickly they confessed their lewdnes And Titidius Labeo Vistilias husband was called into question bicause he had not inflicted the punishment of the law on his wife manifestly taken in the offence But he for his excuse alleaged that the three score daies giuen to deliberate were not yet past and therefore thinking it enough to punish Vistilia she was confined in the Iland Seriphon It was debated in Senat touching the rooting out of the Aegyptian Iudaical ceremonies a decree made that fower thousand libertines of competent age infected with that superstition should be conueied into the Iland Sardinia to suppresse robberies committed there and if they should die through the vnwholesomnes of the aire the losse were but vile and small and that the rest should depart Italie if before a certain day they would not forsake those prophane rites When those things were done Caesar propounded that another virgin should be receiued in the roome of Oecia who with verie great integritie seuen and fistie yeeres had beene gouernesse of the ceremonies of the Vestall virgins and gaue thankes to Fonteius Agrippa and Domitius Pollio who offering their daughters stroue in dutie to the common wealth But Pollios daughter was preferred for no other reason but bicause her mother had continued wife to her first husband Agrippa hauing diminished the reputation of his house with diuorcement Yet Caesar in regard the other was preferred did comfort her with ten hundred thousand sesterces for her dowrie The people complaining of a dearth of corne he put downe a price for the buier promising to paie of his owne in euerie bushell two nummos Yet for all this he would not take vppon him the title of father of his countrey before offered him but did sharplie rebuke them who had called his affaires diuine and him Lord. And therefore vnder a Prince which feared libertie and hated flatterie all speeches ought to be briefe and yet can hardly escape captious construction I finde in auncient writers of that time that Adgandestrius Prince of the Chatti letters were read in Senat promising Arminius death if poison were sent him to commit the deed And that it was answered him that the people of Rome vsed not to reuenge on their enimies by treachery and priuie meanes but openly and armed Wherein Tiberius equalled himselfe to the old Roman Captaines which did forbid king Pyrrhus to be poisoned but disclosed it vnto him Now Arminius the Romans being departed and Maroboduus expulsed earnestly coueting the kingdome had the people as defending their libertie against him and being assailed and fighting with doubtfull fortune was slaine by the fraud of his own neerst familiars Doubtlesse the deliuerer of Germanie and who prouoked not as other Kings Captaines had done the first springing vp of the people of Rome but when they flourished most in rule and Empire In his battels he had doubtfull fortune sometimes luckie sometimes vnluckie but neuer was ouercome in war He liued full seuen and thirtie yeeres and was Prince twelue To this day he is famous amongst barbarous nations but in the Annales of the Greeks which admire nothing but their own dooings vnknown and not greatly spoken of among the Romans Who whilest we extoll auncient things are careles of our owne time THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Agrippina commeth to Rome Germanicus funerals AGrippina although it were winter yet stil continuing her voiage by sea arriued at last at the Iland Corcyra ouer against the coast of Calabria where as one without meane in mourning and vnable to endure she rested a few daies to settle her mind In the meane time her arriuall knowen her deerest friends and especially souldiers which had serued vnder Germanicus and manie also which she knew not from the townes round about some thinking it to be their dutie towards their Prince and many following them flocked to Brundisium being the neerest and safest place of landing And as soone as her ships were discerned a far off not onely the hauen and places neere the sea side but the walles and house tops and other places from whence a man might farthest kenne were filled with a mourning and heauie multitude of people asking as not knowing what was fittest for the time one another whether they should receiue her with silence or acclamation when she came out of her ship But when by little and little the ships drew neere they sawe no cheerefull rowing as the manner was wont to be but all of them composed to sadnes But being come to land with her two children holding the funerall pot with her husbands ashes in her hand and her eies fixed on the ground all men began
is neerest vnto the will and pleasure of a King When Tiridates was come among them they honored him with all those inuentions which Kings had been honored with in times past and with such as later ages haue more abundantly inuented Withall they powred out many reprochfull speeches against Artabanus consessing that he was indeede descended of the Arsacides on the mothers side but in other points nothing sutable Tiridates committed the gouernment of the Seleucians to the discretion of the people then consulting what day he should be crowned receiued Phrahates and Hieroes letters which had two the strongest gouernments of that kingdome intreating him that he would defer it for some small time which to satisfie those great men he yeelded vnto In the mean time he went to Cresiphon the royall seare of the kingdom perceiuing that they prolonged from one day to another Surena with the good liking of many in a great assembly crowned Tiridates according to the custome of the countrey And if he had out of hand entered farther within the countrey and other nations those lingerers had been put out of all doubt and all yeelded obedience vnto one But staying too long at the Castell whither Artabanus had conueyed his money and his concubines he gaue him time to leape back from their agreements For if Phrahates and Hiero and some others came not at the day appointed to the coronation some for feare and some for malice and hate to Abdageses who then possessed the new King and was the only fauorit in Court turned to Artabanus whom they found in Hyrcania meanely and euilfauoredly attired killing with his bow foode for his sustenance At the first he was greatly afraid as though some traine had been laid to intrap him but when they had giuen him their credit and faith that their comming was to restore him to his kingdome his spirits were reuiued and inquireth what sudden change had hapned Then Hiero finding fault with Tiridates said that he was but a child and that the Arsacides gouerned not the kingdome but the vaine name and title was in an vnwarlike person softly and tenderly brought vp among strangers that Abdageses was he which ruled and commaunded all Artabanus knowing of old what it was to rule perceiued well that those which found falshood in friendship dissembled not and therefore making no longer delay then he could assemble the Scythians forces aid setteth forward with al speede to preuent the wiles of his enemies and keepe his friends from slipping back yea he did not so much as wipe off the filth and vncleanes of his bodie because he would moue the common people to compassion There was no subtletie no praier nor ought else forgotten whereby he might draw the doubtful to him or confirme assure the willing readie He came then with a strong power vnto the places adioyning to Seleucia when as Tiridates stroken into a feare with the fame and person of Artabanus was distracted in minde whether he should encounter him or draw out the warre by lingering Such as desired battell and quick worke perswaded that the enemie was dispersed stragled and wearied with their long iourney and scarse resolued to obey Artabanus being so lately traitors and enimies vnto him though now his support aid But Abdageses thought it best to returne into Mesopotamia that hauing the riuer as a defence betweene him the enimie calling in the meane space the Armenians Elymaei and the residue which were behind them and their forces augmēted with allies friends such as the Romane captaine would send them then to trie the chance of war That aduise preuailed bicause of Abdageses authoritie Tiridates rawnes in matters of danger yet that retiring differed not much frō fleeing the Arabians first leading the dance the rest drawing to their houses or to Artabanus camp vntill Tiridates returning backe into Syria with a small company acquited them all of the infamie of treason XI Tiberius repaireth with his owne charges part of Rome which was burnt how Macro wonne C. Caesars fauour THe same yeere Rome was greatly damnified with fire that part of the Cirque which ioyned vnto the hill Auentine and al the buildings also vpon Auentine being wasted consumed to ashes which losse Caesar conuerted to his glory by giuing the owners out of his purse as much as the losse of their houses and buildings came vnto which munificence amounted to a hundred millions of sesterces which was so much the more acceptable to the people bicause that in his owne buildings he was alwaies moderate Neither had he euer made aboue two publicke buildings the one a Temple to Augustus the other the stage of Pompeius Theater which being finished yet he left vndedicated either as despising ambitiō or by reason of his age And to make an estimate of euery mans losse Tiberius fower sons in lawe were chosen Gn. Domitius Cassius Longinus M. Vinicius and Rubellius Blandus P. Petronius ioyned with them by the Consuls appointment euery man inuenting newe honours for the Prince as his wit capacity would giue him leaue which whether he accepted or refused was vncertaine by reason of his death which followed shortly after For not long after the last Consuls in Tiberius raign G. Acerronius C. Pontius began their charge when Macroes power credit was growen ouer great which he increased more more with C. Caesar although before he was neuer negligent therin And after Claudiaes death who as I haue alreadie said was married vnto that Caesar he egged and perswaded his owne wife Ennia to allure draw the yoong man to her loue intangle him vnder promise of marriage as one which would do whatsoeuer to laie hold on the soueraigntie For although he were of a turbulent and hot spirit notwithstanding he had as it were sucked out of his grandfathers bosome the arte of cunning dissembling Tiberius knew this verie well and therefore was not resolued which of his nephewes he should first make successor to the state Of which the one was Drusus sonne neerest vnto him in blood whom he tendered best but was vnder age and Germanicus sonne the other in the flower of his youth and of the people welbeloued therefore the woorse liked of his grandfather And bethinking himselfe of Claudius seeing he was of stayed and setled yeeres and desirous of learning yet altered his deliberation bicause he was weake and slender witted And yet if he should seeke for a successor out of his house he feared least the memorie of Augustus the name of Caesars should be had in reproch and contempt For he was not so carefull to winne the fauour of the time present as ambitious of fame with posteritie But in the end irresolute what to conclude and growing weake and feeble of bodie that which was out of the compasse of his power he committed to fate hauing notwithstanding cast out speeches whereby it might be
affaires were in a hurly burly whilest they wauered whom they should receiue for their King Many inclined to Gotarzes sonne to Meherdates sonne to Phrahates who was giuen vs in hostage In the ende Gotarzes preuailed who inioying the Kings seate through crueltie and dissolute life forced the Parthians to send secretly to intreat the Roman Prince to release Meherdates and inuest him in his fathers kingdome IIII. Messalina falleth in loue with Silius THe same men being Consuls the plaies called Seculares were exhibited eight hundred yeeres after the foundation of Rome and threescore and foure yeeres after those which Augustus had caused then to be represented I omit the reasons which moued both these Princes as sufficiently declared in my bookes which I haue composed of the acts of Domitian the Emperour for he likewise did set forth the same plaies which I was present at so much the more carefully because I was then one of the fifteene Priests and Pretor Which I speake not to vaunt or brag thereof but because that charge in times past was committed to the colledge of the fifteene and magistrates did chiefly execute the office of ceremonies Claudius sitting to see the race when the noble mens children represented on horseback the play of Troy and among them Britannicus the Emperours sonne and L. Domitius anon after adopted to the Empire and surnamed Nero. The fauour of the people was more affectionat to him then Germanicus which was taken as a prefage of his future greatnes And it was rumored abroad that in his infancie dragons were found about him in manner of a gard which are fables not vnlike vnto strange miracles for he himselfe who neuer derogated from himselfe was wont to report but of one serpent which was seene in his chamber But that affection of the people was a relick of the memorie of Germanicus who left no other male behinde him but he and the commiseration towards Agrippina his mother was increased by reason of Messallinaes crueltie who alwaies hating her and now more then euer kindled against her was hindered no way from forging of crimes and suborning accusers against her sauing only by a new loue and next cosen vnto madnes For she did so burne in loue with C. Silius the fairest youth of all Rome that to content her lust she caused him to put from him his wife Iunia Syllana an honorable dame to enioy wholy to her selfe the adulterer now vntied from the bands of matrimonie Neither was Silius ignorant how lewd the practice was and what perill he might incurre but if he refused certaine of his destruction and hauing some hope to bleare the eyes of the world and enticed with great rewards he tooke it for the most expedient to expect what might fall and inioy the present She not by stealth but with a great retinue frequented his house was alwayes at his side bestowed wealth and honor bountifully vpon him and at last as though fortune had transferred the Empire slaues freed men and all princely ornamēts and preparations were seene at the adulterers house But Claudius not knowing what rule was at home vsurped the office of a Censor reprehended with seuere edicts the ouergreat licence the people vsed in the Theater vsing opprobrious speeches against P. Pomponius who had bin sometime Consull and gaue verses to the stage and other noble women He made a law to restraine the crueltie of creditors forbidding them to lend money to interest vnto mens sonnes subiect to the fathers power to be payed after their death He brought water to the citie from the Simbruan hils He added and published new letters and characters being a thing most certaine that the manner of the Greekes writing was not begun and perfected at once The Aegyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of their mind by the shape of beasts and the most auncient monuments of mans memory are seene grauen in stones they say that they are the first inuēters of letters Then the Phoenicians because they were strong by sea brought them into Greece and had the glory of inuenting that which they receiued of others For there goeth a report that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenicean ship was the inuentor of that arte among the Greekes when they were yet vnexpert and rude Some record that Cecrops the Athenian or Linus the Theban and Palamedes the Grecian at the time of the Troian warre inuented 16. characters then others and especially Simonides found out the rest But in Italie the Etrurians learned them of Corinthius Damaratus and the Aborigenes of Euander the Arcadian and the fashion of the latine letters are like vnto the old greeke letters but we had but a few at the beginning the rest were after added By which example Claudius added three letters which during the time of his raigne were in vse and afterward forgotten and are yet to be seene ingrauen in brasen tables hanged vp in temples and places of assembly to shew the peoples lawes Then he propounded in Senate touching the colledge of southsayers least that the most auncient discipline of Italie should come to naught by slothfulnes seeing that in the hard and aduerse times of the common wealth they haue been sent for and by their aduise the ceremonies haue been renewed and better afterward looked into And the chiefest noble men of Etruria either of their owne motion or at the perswasion of the Lords of the Senate haue continued their science and propagated it to their families which now is very carelesly accomplished by a sloth vsed towards commendable artes and because strange superstitions preuaile and take deeper roote All well for the present thanks were to be rendered to the goodnes of the gods therefore and heed taken that sacred rites in doubtfull times had in reuerence be not in prosperous forgotten Whereupon a decree of Senate was made and order taken that the high Priests should consider what was meete to be retained and established concerning the southsayers V. The Cherusci craue Italus for their King THe same yeere the Cherusci came to Rome to demaunde a King all their nobilitie being extinguished by ciuill warres and one onely left of the blood royall called Italus then being at Rome He was sonne vnto Flauius Arminius brother his mother was the daughter of Catumerus Prince of the Catti and was of a comely personage practised in armes and riding as well according to the maner of our countrey as his owne Caesar therefore hauing furnished him with money and appointed him a guarde encourageth him stoutely to take vpon him the honour of his house and auncestors putting him first in minde that he was borne at Rome where he remained not as an hostage but citizen and that now he was to goe to a strange Empire At the first the Germans were glad of his comming and so much the rather bicause he was not nusled in factions and discords and therefore would beare like affection vnto all He was reuerenced and honoured of all
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
to Mennius Regulus for of purpose he left out that she had beene married to C. Caesar added in the end that she had practised dangerous things against the state and that all occasion and matter of euill was to be taken away therefore he was of aduise that she should lose her goods and depart out of Italy leauing the banished woman of the infinite wealth which she was mistres of but fiftie hundred thousand sesterces And Calpurnia a woman of great birth was ouerthrowne only because the Prince had praised her beawtie not for any amorous affection but by chaunce yet Agrippina stretched not her malice to the vttermost against her but sent a Tribune to make away Lollia And Cadius Rufus was condemned for bribery and extorsion at the instance of the Bithynians And in consideration of the great reuerence the inhabitants of Gallia Narbonensis bare the Lords of the Senat it was graunted to the Senators of that prouince that without licence of the Prince they might go visit their houses dispose of their goods with the like priuiledge as they which were of the prouince of Sicilia The Ituraei and Iewes after their Kings Sohemus and Agrippa were dead were ioyned to the prouince of Syria It was ordained that the ceremonies of the auguration of health intermitted fiue and twenty yeeres should be renewed and continued from thenceforth Caesar inlarged the circuit of the citie according to the auncient custome by which licence was giuen them which had inlarged the bounds of the Empire to inlarge the bounds of the Citie Neuertheles none of the Roman captaines L. Sylla and Augustus excepted although they had subdued mightie nations had vndertaken to do it but whether the Kings which then ruled the citie did it for ambition or vaine-glory there run diuers reports But it shall not be impertinent as I thinke to lay downe the beginning of the foundation of Rome and what circuit Romulus first assigned He therefore began the circuit at the oxe market called forum boarium where we see set vp a picture of a brasen Bull because that kinde of beast is broken to the plough from thence drawing a furrow as a plat of the circuit of the citie which contained within it the great altar of Hercules From thence by certaine distances stones were put by the foote of the hill Palatine vnto the altar of Consus then to the old Curies then to the chappell of the houshold gods For some haue thought that the forum Romanum and the Capitoll were not added to the citie by Romulus but by T. Tatius After that the circuit or pomoerium was augmented according to the fortune and riches of the Kings And for the limits that Claudius then put they are easily knowne and are written in the publike actes VII Domitius sonne of Agrippina is adopted by Claudius The Catti send hostages to Rome Vannius driuen out of his countrey goeth to Rome CAntistius and M. Suilius being Consuls the adoption of Domitius was hastened through Pallas credit who being wholie at Agrippinaes deuotion as a principall meane of working the marriage betweene Claudius and her then bound vnto her for vnlawfull companie of her bodie vrged Claudius to prouide for the common wealth and strengthen Britannicus estate whilest he was yong So Augustus wiues children did flourish although he had nephewes of his owne for a stay to his house and Tiberius hauing issue of his owne adopted Germanicus therefore that he should also strengthen himselfe with this yong man who would take part of the care vpon him Claudius yeelding to this perswasion preferreth Domitius being but two yeeres elder before his owne sonne and maketh an oration before the Lords of the Senate which he receiued of his freed man Pallas The skilfull and wise did note that there had neuer beene any adoption before that time in the Patrician familie of the Claudians that the succession had neuer failed from Atta Clausus Neuertheles great thanks were rendred the Prince and exquisite flatterie vsed to Domitius and a decree set downe by which he should be accompted one of the Claudian familie and be called Nero. Agrippina also was magnified with the surname of Augusta Both which done there was no man so voide of pitie which was not grieued and sory for Britannicus fortune for by little and little he was abandoned and skorned of his basest seruants by shewing an vnseasonable dutie to his stepmother which he well perceiued as not dull witted but of good conceipt as it is reported either because he was so indeede or attributed to him in his distresse the same and opinion continued without triall Agrippina to make her credit and power knowen among the confederates also commaunded the old souldiers and a colonie to be brought to the citie of Vbiumw here she was borne which was afterward called of her name Agrippina It hapned by chaunce that when that nation passed the Rhene her grandfather Agrippa tooke them into his protection About the same time vpper Germanie quaked with feare through the comming of the Catti which robbed and spoiled all where they came Whereupon L. Pomponius Lieutenant gaue aduertisement to the aide Vangiones Nemetians adding vnto them a company of horsemen to get before those forragers or if they slipped away compasse and surprize them on a sudden The diligence of the souldiers followed the captaines counsell and diuiding themselues into two companies those which tooke the left hand came vpon them and slew them as they newly returned from pillage riotously abusing their bootie and heauie asleepe Their ioy was increased because they had deliuered from seruitude some of their fellowes which fortie yeeres before had beene taken when Varus was defeated But those which tooke the right hand and the neerest way meeting the enemie in the face and daring to encounter made a greater slaughter and loaden with bootie fame returned to the hill Taunus where Pomponius was expected with the legions if the Catti desiring a reuenge would offer occasion to sight But they fearing least the Romanes would set on them on one side and the Cherusci with whom they are alwayes at iarre on the other sent Embassadors and hostages to Rome where the honor of triumph was awarded Pomponius a small part of his fame with posteritie being more renowmed for skill in poetrie About the same time Vannius made King of the Sweuians by Drusus Caesar was driuen out of his kingdome in the beginning of his rule well liked and accepted of the people but in the end growing prowde partly by the hatred of the borderers and partly by ciuill discords was put to the worst The authors of this practise were Iubillius King of the Hermunduri and Vangio and Sido Vannius sisters children yet Claudius although often intreated whilest these barbarous people were together by the eares would no way intermeddle only he promised Vannius refuge if he were driuen out wrote vnto P. Attilius Histrus gouernor of Pannonie to lodge a
Vologeses was not yet moued to warre because he had rather debate the matter by reason then by force But if they would persist in warre the Arsacides should neither want courage nor fortune often experimented to the losse of the Romans Hereupon Corbulo knowing well that Velogeses was troubled with the Hircanians rebellion perswadeth Tiridates to deale with Caesar by intreatie that he might obtaine a firme possession of a kingdome without bloudshed if leauing of a long and slow hope he would imbrace that which was present and more sure Then they resolued because by entercourse of messengers they profited nothing for the full knitting vp of peace to appoint time and place for a parlie Tiridates sayd that he would come with a thousand horse for his gard how many of whatsoeuer sort of souldiers Corbulo should bring he weighed it not so as they came without curasses helmets as a better shew of peace The barbarous treacherie was palpable to all men much more to an old circumspect captaine therfore a small number was limited on one part and a greater permitted to the other that the treason might be the better effected for to oppose against practised horsemen archers vnarmed men the multitude would auaile nothing Yet Corbulo making as though he had not perceiued the treason answered that publick affaires would better be debated in the face of both the whole armies And for the purpose chose a place whereof the one part had hils of an easie ascent fit for ranks of footemen the other stretched out into a plaine conuenient to display troupes of horsemen And the day agreed on Corbulo appeared first in this order He placed the cohorts of allies and succours sent by Kings in the wings and in the middle the sixt legion among which he had intermingled three thousand of the third sent for by night from other garrisons with one ensigne as if all were but one legion Tiridates the day being well spent shewed himselfe aloofe where he might better be seene then heard so the Romaine captaine without parlie commaunded his souldiers to depart euery man to his owne camp The King either suspecting fraude because our men went at once to diuers places or to intercept our prouision of victuals comming from the sea of Pontus and the towne Trapezunt maketh away with all speede But he could not hinder the comming of the victuals because it was brought through mountaines possessed by our owne garrisons and Corbulo because the warre should draw to an end and the Armenians constrained to defend their owne goeth about to raze their Castels IX Corbulo hauing taken the Castles destroyeth Artaxata the chiefe towne of the countrey COrbulo chose to himselfe the strongest place of the countrey called Volandum to assault the lesser he committeth to Cornelius Flaccus Lieutenant and Isteus Capito camp-maister Then surueying his forces and seeing all things in a readines for the assault incourageth his souldiers to vnnestle the vagabond enemie neither readie for peace nor warre acknowledging by his fleeing away his perfidiousnes and cowardise and so win at once both glory and wealth After this hauing deuided his armie into foure parts he lead some close and thicke ranked together for a target fence to vndermine and beate downe the rampire others to scale the walles others to let flee fire and darts out of engins of warre the sling-casters and stone-throwers had a place appointed them from whence they might a farre off throw pellets of yron and stone that the besieged might haue no refuge or comfort of one another all places being full of like feare The courage of the assailants was so great that within the third part of the day the wals were naked of defendants the gates broken downe the fortresse scaled and all of lawfull yeeres put to the sword no one souldier lost on our side and verie few hurt the weake and vnable people were sold in a portsale and made slaues the rest of the bootie fell to the Conquerours share The Lieutenant and camp-master had the like fortune three castles taken in one day the rest for feare and by consent of the inhabitants yeelded which encouraged the Romans to set on Artaxata the chiefe towne of the countrey Yet the legions were not brought the next way bicause that passing the riuer Araxis which washeth the wals by the bridge they should haue come vnder the danger of blowes but went ouer a farre off at broade foordes But Tiridates assailed with seare and shame least if he should suffer the besieging he might seeme not to be able to succour it if hinder it encomber himselfe and his horsemen in dangerous and difficult places resouled in the end to shew his armie in battell aray and a day appointed giue the onset or making as though he would flee dresse an ambush Whereupon on a sudden he enuironeth the Romans our Captaine not ignorant thereof who had marshalled his armie in such aray that it might both march on and fight On the right side the third legion on the left the sixt marched in the middle a companie chosen out of the tenth the carriages betweene the rankes and a thousand horsemen in the rereward with commaundement that they should resist and make head against the enimie if they passed in but if they sled not to follow In the wings went the footemen archers with the residue of the horsemen the left wing stretched somewhat longer to the bottome of the hils that if the enimie should enter on them he should haue beene receiued both in the front and middle Tiridates on the contrarie side came about the Romans freely yet not within a darts cast now threatning now making as though he were afraide and so retiring to see whether we would open or breake our rankes to follow and so entrap vs being scattered But not seeing any thing disordered nor any ranke broken by rashnes and onely one vnder Captaine of horsemen ventring boldlier then the rest to haue beene slaine with an arrow and the rest by his example to obey the night being almost come he departed Corbulo hauing pitched his campe in the same place considered with himselfe whether he should goe by night to Artaxata and besiege it with light and vncumbered legions supposing that Tiridates had retired thither Then the scouts hauing brought intelligence that the King had taken a longer iourney doubtfull whether to the Medes or Persians he staied vntill it was day sending before a companie lightly armed to enuiron the wals and beginne the assault a farre off But the townesmen opening the gates of their owne accord yeelded themselues and all they had to the Romans whereby their liues were saued But Artaxata was burnt and raced to the ground because it could not be kept without a strong garrison by reason of the compasse of the wals and our forces were not so great that we could leaue there a sufficient garrison and withall keepe the field or if she should be left standing and
they had promised the Tribes came to meete him the Lords of the Senate in their holy-daie robes wiues and children placed according to their age and sexe and all the way he should goe builded with staires as in publicke shewes or triumphes Thereupon puffed vp with pride as a conquerour of publicke seruitude he went to the Capitoll and gaue thanks to the gods letting loose the raines to all lusts and licenciousnes of life which before badly restrained yet the reuerence towards his mother such as it was did in some sort bridle IIII. Neroes exercises IT was an old practise of his neuer to be absent from the race of chariots and no lesse vnseemely was that other delight of his at supper to sing to the harp as minstrels did which he said to haue beene a custome of auncient Kings and Captaines and a thing highly commended by Poets and attributed to the honor of the gods For melodie is sure dedicated to Apollo in that attire he doth stand not only in the cities of Greece but also in the temples at Rome a principall deitie and knowing things to come Neither could he now be remoued seeming good also to Seneca and Burrhus to yeeld him the one least he should persist in both And thereupon a space was inclosed in the valley of the Vatican to mannage his horses and not to be seene indifferently of euery man and not long after of his owne accord he called the people to see it who highly extolled him as the manner of the people is to be desirous of pastimes and very glad if the Prince draw them to it And his shame published abroad brought him not as it was thought it would any loathing therin but a farther prouocation thinking that the discredit would be shaken off if he could dishonor many with the like He brought to the skaffold many descended of noble houses bought for pouertie which because they be dead I will not name as hauing regard vnto their auncestors being rather his fault to giue money for ill doing then least they should commit that which is naught He constrained also the chiefe gentlemen of Rome with mightie gifts to promise their labour in the Theater vnlesse you say that a reward giuen by him who may commaund bringeth a necessitie in obeying Yet least he should be discredited by the publick Theater he instituted Playes called Iuuenalia as it were for the health of youth to which euery man willingly gaue his name not any ones nobilitie not his age or office borne being any hinderance vnto them but that Greekes and Latins exercised the arte of a stage player euen vnto gestures and measures vnseemely for men Yea noble women practised many gestures and vnseemely to their calling And in the wood which Augustus planted about the lake where he represented a sea fight Tauernes and meeting places were built where all prouocations of wanton lusts were sold where money was giuen to the good to spend of necessitie and to the intemperate to glory and brag of From thence sprang all lewdenes and infamie neuer at any time not when there was great corruption in manners in times past more dissolute lasciuiousnes vsed then at those impure assemblies Shame is scarse retained among men of honest example much lesse among such which striued who should haue most vices can chastitie and modestie or any good behauior be maintained Last of all Nero himselfe entereth on the stage tuning and playing on his instrument with great care and premeditating what to say his familiars assisting him and besides them a cohort of souldiers Centurions and Tribunes and Burrhus both grieuing and praising him Then also were first inrowled the gentlemen of Rome called Augustani men for their age and strength of body highly esteemed part of them shamelesse and saucy in behauior and part hoping thereby to rise to greater authoritie day and night with clapping of hands made all to ring of them commending the feature and voice of the Prince with termes attributed to the gods and were respected by him as honorable personages for their vertue And yet least the Emperours skill on stage only and musick should be published he desired to be well accompted of for versifying hauing gathered about him such as had any cunning therein much more such as were excellent They sate together * and made those verses hang together which he made there or elsewhere and supplied his words howsoeuer they were vttered which the fashion it selfe of his verses doth declare not running with one and the same vehemencie and vaine of writing He bestowed also some time after meate with Philosophers taking pleasure to heare how euery man defended his owne opinion and ouerthrew the contrarie Neither wanted there some which with their voice and graue countenance desired to be thought pleasant with the Emperour V. A strife betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and the Pompeians ABout the same time of a light quarrell rose a great murder betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and Pompeians at a shew of fencers which Liuineius Regulus put from the Senate as before I haue rehearsed represented to the people For first prouoking one another with bitter termes as it is often seene in malapert and saucie townesmen they came to stones and last of all to weapons the Pompeians being the stronger with whom the shew was set forth Many of the Nucerians were brought lame and wounded to the towne and many wept for the death of their children and parents the determining of which the Prince referred to the Senate the Senate to the Consuls And the cause being againe brought to the Senators the Pompeians were forbidden to assemble any such companies for tenne yeeres and their corporations erected against the lawes dissolued Liuineius and such others as raysed the sturre were banished Pedius Blaesus also was put from his Senators roome at the information of the Cyrenensians who layd to his charge that he had robbed the treasure of the god Aesculapius and mustered souldiers for money and suite The same Cyrenensians accused Acilius Strabo sometime Pretor and sent by Claudius as arbitrator of certaine lands which once belonging to King Apio and left to the people of Rome with the kingdome their neighbours possessed and occupied and by long licence and iniurie defended them to be theirs by right and equitie The lands therefore being giuen from them by sentence they enuied the iudge and the Senate answered they were ignorant of Claudius pleasure and that they should aske the Princes aduise The Prince approuing Straboes sentence wrote neuertheles that he would ayde the allies and giue them that which they had vsurped There died not long after Domitius Afer and M. Seruilius two notable personages which flourished with great honors and eloquence he in pleading of causes Seruilius famous for long frequenting the Forum and then for writing the Romane histories carriage of himselfe and neatnes of life which made him more renowned as equall to the other in wit yet
ensignes and marched on ouerthrew such as encountered them and thrust them among their owne fires Which being done they placed garrisons in their townes and cut down their woods which through their execrable superstitions among them were reckoned holie For they accounted it lawfull to offer sacrifice at their altars with the blood of captiues and aske counsell of their gods by the aspect of mans intrailes and fibres Newes came to Suetonius as he atchieued this enterprise of a sudden rebellion of the Prouince Prasutagus King of the Icenians verie famous for his riches a long time gotten made Caesar with two of his daughters his heire by will thinking that by that flatterie his kingdome and house should haue beene warranted from iniurie which fell out otherwise for his kingdome by Centurions his house by slaues was wasted spoiled as lawfull booties And to begin withall his wife Boudicea was whipped his daughters defloured And the chiefest of the Icenians as though they had receiued the whole nation for a pray were dispossessed of al their ancient inheritance the Kings kindred reputed as slaues By reason of which contumely feare of worse after that they were reduced into a forme of a prouince they take armes againe the Trinobantes being sturred to rebellion also others not yet broken to the yoke of seruitude by secret conspiracies had vowed to recouer their libertie bearing a bitter hatred against the old souldiers For those which were lately brought into the colonie of Camalodunum thrust out of their houses the auncient inhabitants tooke their liuings from them calling them captiues and slaues the new soldiers fauouring the insolent fiercenes of the old as well for likenesse and conformitie of life as hope of like licence Besides a temple erected in honor of Claudius of famous memory was an eye sore and an altar of perpetuall dominion ouer them and the Priests which were chosen vnder colour of religion wasted all the wealth of the inhabitants Neither did it seeme any hard matter to extirpate that colonie vndefensed and vnfortified which was not circumspectly foreseene by our captaines whilest they had a greater care of pleasure then good gouernment Amongst these things the image of Victorie set vp in Camalodunum fell downe without any apparant cause why and turned back as though it would giue place to the enemie And the women distempered with furie went singing that destruction was at hand And strange noises were heard in their court and the Theater gaue a sound like to a howling and a strange apparition in an arme of the sea was a foretelling of the subuersion of the colonie Further the Ocean bloudie in shew and dead mens bodies left after an ebbe as they brought hope to the Britaines so they droue the old soldiers into a feare who because Suetonius was farre off craued aide of Catus Decianus procurator He sent not aboue two hundred men and those badly armed and the number not great which was there before trusted to the franchise of the temple And those hindering which were confederates of the secret conspiracie troubled their deseignments for they neither made trench nor ditch nor sending away the old men and women and keeping the yong men only being as secure as it had beene in a full peace they were surprised with a multitude of barbarous people and all ouerthrowne and wasted with violence or consumed with fire the temple only excepted into which the souldiers had fled which also within two dayes was besieged and taken And the Britaine being thus conqueror and meeting with Paetus Cerealis Lieutenant of the ninth legion which came to succour them put to flight the legion and slew all the footemen Cerealis with the horsemen escaped to the campe and defended himselfe in the fortresses Through which ouerthrow and hate of the prouince driuen to take armes through the auarice of the Romaines Catus the procurator being afraid sailed to Gallia But Suetonius with wonderfull constancie passing euen among the enemies went on to London not greatly famous by the name of a colonie but for concourse of Merchants and prouision of all things necessary of great fame and renowme and being come thither stoode doubtfull whether he should choose that for the seate of warre or not and considering the small store of souldiers he had and how Petilius had well payed for his rashnes he determined with the losse of one towne to preserue the rest whole Neither was he won by weeping and teares to giue aide to such as demaunded it but gaue signe of remouing and receiued such as followed as part of his armie If imbecillitie of sexe or wearisomnes of age or pleasantnes of the place kept any back they were all put to the sword by the enemie The free towne of Verulamium receiued the like ouerthrow because the barbarians forsaking their Castels and forts and being well manned spoiled the richest and fattest and carrying it to a sure place glad of the bootie went on to places more notable It is certaine there were slaine in those places I haue spoken of to the number of seuentie thousand citizens and confederates Neither did they sell or take any one prisoner or vse any entercourse of traffick of warre but kill hang burne crucifie as though they would requite the measure they had suffered and as it were in the meane time hasten to anticipate reuenge XI Suetonius vanquished the Britaines vvhich Boudicea conducted her stoutnes and death NOw Suetonius hauing with him the foureteenth legion with the Standard bearers of the twentith and the aides from places adioyning which came all to the number almost of ten thousand armed men resolued to lay aside all delay and trie the chaunce of a maine battell And chooseth a place with a narrow entrance and inclosed behinde with a wood being well assured that he had no enimies but before him and that the plaine was wide without feare of ambush The legionarie souldier then marshalled togither in thicke and close rankes and the light harnessed closely about them the horsemen made the wings But the Britaines forces triumphed abroade in troupes and companies by such multitudes that the like had not beene seene and of such fiercenes of courage that they brought their wiues with them and placed them in carts in the vtmost parts of the plaine as witnesses of the victorie Boudicea hauing her daughters by her in a chariot now going to one now to another Told them that the Britaines were woont to make warre vnder the conduct of women But at that time not as though she had descended of such noble auncestors she sought neither for kingdome nor wealth but a reuenge as one of the common people of their lost libertie of her bodie beaten with stripes and the chastitie of her daughters violated That the desire of the Romaines was growen to that passe that they left none of what age soeuer nor any virgin vndefiled Neuertheles that the gods fauored iust reuenge
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