THE HISTORIE OF Flavius Domitianus,

DOmitian was borne the (*) * 24, Octobris. ninth day before the Cale͏̄ds of Nouember what time his father was Consul Elect, andA, V, C, 104 to enter upon that honorable place the (*) * Ianuarie. moneth ensuing; within the sixt regio͏̄ of Rome Citty, at the (*) * A place so called like as be fo [•…] e, ad capi [•…] Butula and ad Gallmas Pomegranate: and in that house which afterwards he conuerted into the temple of the Flavian familie. The floure of his tender yeeres and the verie prime of youth, he passed by report, in so great pouertie & (*) * For his impure life. infamy withal, that he had not one peece of plate or vessel [〈◊〉] to be serued with. And ful well it is knowen, that Clodius Pollio, a man of Pretours degree (against whome there is a Poem of Neroes extant, Page 260 entituled Lvscio) kept by him a (*) * Or Bil. skro of his owne hand writing, yea and other whiles brought the same foorth to bee seene, wherein he promised him the (*) * Or abuse rather, use of his bodie one night. Neither wanted some who constantly avouched, that Domi Tian was in that sort abused, even by Nerva who soone after, succeeded him.* Betweene Vitellius & his fathe Vespati an: and their factions. In the Vitellian troubles he fled into the Capitol with his Vn [•…] le Sabinvs, & part of the forces which were then present. But when the adverse faction brake in: and while the Temple was on fire; hee lay close all night in the Sextaines lodging and early in the morning disguised in the habit of a priest of Isis, and among the sacrificers belonging to that vaine superstition, after hee had passed over Tiberis accompanied with one onely person, to the mother of a schoole fellow of his, hee lurked there so secretly, that a beit the serehers traced him by his sooting yet could hee not be found. At last after victory obtained hee went foorth and shewed himselfe; & being generally saluted by the name (*) * The Empe. rours sonne & heire apparant of the Empire. of Cæsar; the honourable dignitie of the Citi Praetour in the consular authoritie, hee tooke uppon him in name and title onely: the iurisdiction whereof hee made over to his next Colleague. But in all power of (*) * As being a young Prince and a Cæsar. Lordly rule, he caried himself so licentiously & without controlment that hee shewed even then betimes, what a one hee would prove hereafter. And not to handle every particular. having with uncleane hands offred dishonour to many mens wives, hee fled a way and maried also Domitia Longina the wedded wife of Aelius Longinvs: and in one day gave and dealt above twentie offices, within the Citie and abroad in foraine provinces: in so much as Vespasian commonly said, That hee marvailed, why [〈◊〉] sent not one also to succeed in his place.

2 Hee enterprised moreover a voiage into Gaule and Germanie, Notwithstanding the same was needlesse, and his fathers freinds diswaded him from it; onely, because hee would equallize his brother both in (*) * Operibus. i. deeds and exploits. workes and reputation. For these prankes of his rebuked he was: and to the end he might the rather be put in mind of his young yeeres and private condition, hee dwelt together with his father: in a licter hee attended the (Curule) chaire of father and brother, whensoever they went foorth of doores: and being mounted upon a white Courser accompanied them both, in their tryumph over Iurie. Of 6 Consulships hee bare but one (*) * Which began the first of Ia nuary, in his owne right. & not in ye v [•…] cant roome of others. ordinary; and the same by occasion that his brother Titvs yeelded unto him his own place and furthered him in his suite. Himselfe likewise made wonderfull sembla͏̄ce of modestie. But above all, hee seemed outwardly to affect Poetrie, (a studie which he was not so much unacquainted with before time, but he despised and reiected it as much afterwards) & recited his owne verses even in publike place. Yet never the lesse, when Vologesvs King of the Parthians required aide against the Alanes, and one of Vespasians two sonnes to be the Generall of those forces, he labou red with might and maine, that himselfe before all others should be sent: and beecause the quarrel was (*) * Peace con cluded between the a, nations dispatched alreadie to his hand, hee assaied by gifts and large promises to sollicite other Kings of the East, to make the same request. When his father was dead, standing in doubtfull tearmes with himselfe a longe time, whether hee should offer unto the souldiers a donative duple to that of his brother Titvs, hee never stucke to give out and make his boast, That left hee was to bee partner with him in the Empire, but that his fathers will was verie much abused. Neither would hee give over from that time forwarde Page 261 both to-lay wait secretly for his brother, and also to practise openly against him, untill such time as he gave commandement when hee was stricken with greivous sickenesse, that he should be left for dead before the breath was out of his bodie: and after he was departed indeed, vouchsafing him no other honour but his (*) * Canonization for a God. consecration, he carped also at him many a time as well in glauncing figurative speeches as in open Edicts.

3 In the beginning of his Empire his manner was, to retire himselfe daily into a secret place for (*) * Horarium or for a certaine time of the day: some say three houres. one houre, and there to do nothing else but to catch flies, and with the sharp point of a bodkin or writing steele pricke the͏̄ through: In so much, as whe͏̄ one enquired, whether any bodie were with Cæsar within? Vieivs Crispvs made answer not impertinently, no, not so much as a flie. After this, Domitia his owne wife, who in his second Consulship had borne him a sonne, and whome two yeeres after he had saluted as Empresse, by the name of Avgvsta, her I say, falling in fansie with Paris the stage player and ready to die for his love, hee put away: but within a smal while after (as impatient of this breach and divorse) tooke her home, and maried her againe, as if the people had instantly called uppon him so to do. In the administration of the Empire hee behaved him selfe for a good while variablie, as one made of an equall mixture and temper of vices and vertues, untill at length hee turned his vertues also into vices: being, (so far as we may coniecture) over & above his naturall inclination, for want coverous and greedie; for feare bloudy and cruell.

4 Hee exhibited ordinarily magnificent and sumpteous shewes not onely in the Amphitheatre, but in the Cirque also. In which, beside the usuall running of Chariots, drawen as well with two steedes as foure. Hee represented likewise two battailes of horsemen and foote men both: and in the Amphitheatre a Navall fight. For, baitings of wild beasts, and sword fencers, he shewed in the very night by cresset and torch lights; and hee brought into the place not men onely to fight, but women also to encounter wild beasts. Furthermore, at the games of swordfight set out by the Questours (which having in times past been discontinued and forlet, hee brought into vse againe) hee was alwaies present in person, so as he gave the people leave to choose two paire of swordfencers out of his owne schoole, and those hee brought in, royally, & courth [•…] e appointed in the last place. And at all sights of sword players, there stood ever at his feet a little dwarfe arraied in skarlet with a small head that it was wonderfull: with whome hee vsed to talke and conferre otherwhiles of serious matters. Certes, over heard he was, when hee dema͏̄ded him of what he knew? & what he thoght, of the last dispose of the Provinces? and namely of ordaining Metius Rvfus Lieutenant generall of Aegypt? Hee exhibited navall battailes performed in manner, by full fleetes and compleat navies: having digged out a great pit for a lake, and built a stone wall round about it, neere vnto Tiberis: and those he would be hold in the greatest stormes & showers* Circumstruct [•…] that were. Hee set forth also the Secular plaies and games making his computatio͏̄ from the yeere, not where in Clavdivs, but Avgvstvs longe before had made them. During these, uppon the daie of the Circentia͏̄ solemnities, to the end there might be an hundred (*) * Missus. every of which ordinarily confists of 7 races. courses the sooner runne, hee abridged the races of every one, to wit, from 7. to 4. He ordained moreover, in the honour of Ivpiter Page 262 Capitolinvs, Quinquennall Games of three fold Maisteries, musicke, horseriding, & Gymnicke exercises: & in the same, rewarding victours with Coroners, more by a good many then now they be. Herein the concurrents strove also for the prise in Prose, both Greeke & Latin: and besides single harpers, there were Setts of those also that played uppon the harpe, yea and consorts of such as sung therto, in a quire. In the running place, Virgins also ran for the best games. At all these masteries and solemnities, he sat as president in his Pantofles, clad in a robe (a)* Or [•…] lippers. of purple after the Greekish fashion, wearing on his head a golden Coronet; with the Image of Iupiter Ivno and Minerva: having the priest of Iupiter and the Colledge of the religious, called Flaviales, sitting by him in like habit; saving that in their Coronets there was his Image also. Semblably, hee celebrated everie yeere uppon the Albane mount, the Quin quatria of Minerva. In whose honor he had instituted a Societie, out of which there should be chosen by lot, Maisters and Wardens of that solemnitie who were to exhibite peculier and especiall Beastbaitings and stage playes, yea and contentions for the prise, of Oratours and Poets besides. He gave a (*) * Congiarium largesse to the people thrice: to wit, three hundred sesterces a peece: & at the (*) * Xiphilin shew of the swordfight a most plenteous dinner. At the solemne (*) * So, Called of the se [•…] en hils, whereupon the Citie stood. Septimontiall sacrifice, hee made a dole of Viands, allowing to the Senatours and gentlemen faire large paniars: to the commons, final (*) * Or Baskets. maunds with Cates in them: and was the first himselfe that fell to his meat. The next day after, he (*) * Or Sent. skattered among the͏̄, (*) * Gifts o [•…] fauours. Missils of al sorts: and because the greater part thereof, fell to the rankes of the common people, he pronounced by word of mouth for every skaffold of Senatours and gentlemen, 50. tickets or tallies.

5 Manie buildings, and those most stately, which had beene consumed with fire, hee reedified: and among them the Capitoll which had been (*) * In Vespatians dayes. fired again: but all under the title of his owne name, without any memoriall of the former founders. Mary, he founded a new Temple in the Capitoll to the honour of Iupiter Cvstos: also the Forum, which is now called Neruae Forum: like wise the Temple of the Flauian familie: a shew place for running and wrest ling: another for Poets and Musicians to contend in, and a Naumachie for ships to encounter. Of the stone that was about which, the greatest Cirque of al was afterwards built, by occasion that both sides thereof had been burnt downe.

6 Expeditions hee made, some voluntarie; some uppon necessitie. Of his owne accord that against the Catti: uppon constreint one, against the Sarmatians; By occasion that one whole Legion together with their Lieutenant fell upon the sword: two against the Daci, the former, because Oppius Sabinvs a man of Consuls degree was defaited and slaine; and the second, for that Cornelius Fvscvs, Capitaine of the Praetorian bands (unto whom he had com mitted the whole conduct of that war) lost his life. Over the Catti & Daci (after sundry feilds fought with varietie of fortune) he triumphed twice. For his victo ry of the Sarmatians, hee presented only Ivpiter Capitolinvs with his Lawrel guirland. The civill warre stirred up by Lvcivs Antonivs governer of the higher Germanie, hee dispatched and ended (*) * By N [•…] rbanus Appius who [•…] lew the said [〈◊〉] . in his absence: Page 263 and that by a wonderfull good hap: when, as at the very houre of conflict, the Rhene swelling and overflowing sodainly staied the Barbarians forces as they wold have passed over to Antonivs. Of which victorie hee had intelligence by pre [•…] ages, before the newes by messengers came. For uppon that very day when the battaile was fought, an Eagle after a straung manner having overspred his statue at Rome and clasped it about with her wings, made a great flapping noise in token of much ioy; and within a little after, the bruit was blowen abroade so rife and common, of Antonies death, that many avouched confidently, they had seene his head also brought home (to Rome,)

7 Many new orders besides in matters of common use, hee brought uppe. The dole of Viands given and distributed in little baskets in lieu of a publike supper, he abolished: and reduced the auncient custome of* compleat and formall suppers: Vnto the * 4 factions in former time, of severall crewes running with Chariots atWhereas contrariwise vnder Nero, tublu [•…] can [•…] ad [•…] portu. tas reducta Circean games, hee added twaine; to wit the golden and purple live [•…] y. Players & Actours of enterludes hee forbad the open stage: but within house verily, he granted free and lawfull exercise of their Art. Hee gave commandement that no males should be guelded: And of such Eunuchs as remained in the hands of (*) * White Blew Red Greene Hucksters, hee abated the price and brought it downe to a meaner. By reason one time of an exceeding plentiful vintage, and as [•…] uch scarcity of Corne, supposing that by the* Who [•…] uelded pan pe [•…] ed and set them [•…] ut to sale. immoderate care imployed upon Vineyards, tillage was neglected hee made an Edict, That no man in all Italie should plant any newe young Vineyardes: and that in (a) foraine Provinces they should cut them all downe reserving at the most but the one halfe. Howbeit, hee continued not in the full execution of this Act: Some of the greatest offices he communicated indiffere͏̄tly between Libertines & souldiers. He prohibited, that there should be two (*) * Geminari c [•…] ira the greater and the lesse as we read in Livie &c. Camps of the (b) legions. Item that any man should lay up more than a thousand Sesterces about the (c) Camp-ensignes. For that L. Antonius intending rebellion in the wintering harbour of two Legions, was thought to have taken heart and presumed more confidently upon the great summes of monie there bestowed in stocke. Hee added a fourth stipend also for souldiers, to wit, 3. (*) * Euery one about 15, s. 7 d. ob, sterling. peeces of gold by the poll.

8 In ministring iustice precise he was & industrious. Many a time, even in the co͏̄mon place, sitting extraordinarily upon the Tribunal he reversed the definitiue sente͏̄ces of the Centumuirs, given for favour and obtained by flattery. He warned eft [•…] oones the commissioners and Iudges delegate, not to accommodate the͏̄selues & give eare unto perswasive and Rhetoricall (*) * Of such bond men, as against their Lorde [•…] & Masters Right claimed freedome & vsed therein the plea of Oratours. Assertions. The iudges that were bribed and cor rupted with monie hee noted and disgraced every one, together with their Assessours uppon the bench. Hee mooved also and perswaded the Tribunes of the Commons to accuse Iudicially for extortion, and to force vnto restitution, a base and corrupt (*) * who by taking [•…] oney exercised his office otherwise th [•…] be ought. Aedile: yea and to call unto the Senate, for to have a Iurie [•…] mpannelled upon him. Moreover, so carefull was hee to chastise as well the magistrates within Rome as the Rulers of Provinces abroad of their misdemeanours that never at any time they were either more temperate or iust in their places. The most part of whome after his dayes, we our selues have seene culpable, yea and brought into question for all manner of crimes. Having taken uppon him the censuring and reformation of manners, he inhibited that licentious libertie taken up in Theatres, Page 264 of beholding the playes and games pell-mell one with another in the quarter and rankes appointed for gentlemen. Diffamatorie libels written & divulged, wherin men and women of good marke were touched and taxed, hee abolished not with out shame and ignominie of the Authors. A man of Questours degree; because he tooke pleasure in Pu [•…] pet-like gesturing and dauncing, hee remooved out of the Senate. From women of dishonest cariage, he tooke away the priviledge and use of their Licters: hee made them uncapable also of Legacies and inheritances. A gentleman of Rome hee rased out of the Roll and Tables of Iudges, for receiving his wife againe into Wedlocke, whome hee had before put away and sued in an action of adulterie. Some of both degrees, as well Senatours as Gentlemen, hee condemned, by vertue of the law (*) * Against the filthy sin of Paederastie or Sodomie. Scarinia. The Incestuous whoredomes committed by vestall votaries; negligently passed over, by his father and brother both, hee punished after sundrie sorts: The former delinquents in that kinde, with simple (*) * As to loose their head death: the later sort according to the auncient manner: (d) For, having given libertie unto the sisters (*) * Surnamed so of a familie in Rome. Ocellatae as also to Varomilla, for the chuse their owne deaths, and banished those who had defloured them, hee afterwardes commanded, that Cornelia (*) * Or Maxima Sc. Vestali [•…] , i. the chiefe of those Nunns, as Lady Pri [•…] resse or Abbatesse. Maximilla, who in times past had beene acquit, and a long time after was called into question againe and convicted, shold be buried quicke: and the parties who had committed incest with her, beaten with rods to death in the Comitium: except on alone a man of Praetours degree; unto whom whiles the matter remained yet doubtful, and because he had confessed and bewraied himselfe (upon his examination by torture which was uncertaine) he granted the favour of Exile. And that no religious service of the Gods should bee contaminated and polluted without condigne punishment, the monument or Tombe, which his freedman had built for a sonne of his with the stones appointed for the Temple of Iupiter Capitolinvs, hee caused his souldiers to demolish: and the bones and reliques therein hee drowned in the Sea.

9 At the first hee abhorred all bloudshed and slaughter, so farre foorth, as that (while his father was yet absent) callinge to rememoraunce this Verse of Virgil.

Hee purposed fully to publish an Edict, Forbiddiuge to kill and sacrifice any Oxe. Of (*) * Cupiditatis quoque atque avarit [•…] By cove tousnesse hee meaneth the greedy de [•…] re of other mens goods: by avarice, in this place the pinch ing expense of his owne. Covetousnesse also and avarice, hee gave scarcely the least suspition; either at any time when hee led a private life, or a good while after hee was Emperour: but contrariwise rather, he shewed great proufes oftentimes, not of abstine͏̄ce onely but also of liberalitie. And whensoever he had bestowed gifts most bountifully upon those that were about him, hee laied uppon them no charge before this nor with more earnestnesse, than to do nothing basely and beggerly. Moreover, one Legacie put downe in the last Will of Rvscius Caepio who had provided therin. That his [•…] eire should giue yeerely unto euery one of the Senatours, as they went into the Caria, a certaine summe of money, he made voide. Al those likewise, whose suits had hung and depended in the Chamber of the Citie, from before five yeeres last past, hee discharged and delivered from trouble. Neither suffered hee them to be sued and molested againe, but within the compasse of one yeare and with this condition, that the accuser (unlesse hee overthrew his (*) * Plaintife. adversarie by that time) should be banished for his labour. The Scribes and Notaries beelonging to the* Defendant. Page 265 Questours, who by an olde custome, (but yet against the Law Clodia) used to negotiate and trade, he pardoned onely for the time past. The [〈◊〉] ends and cantels of grounds, which after the division of lands by the (*) * Old souldiers who had served out their full time. Veteran Souldiours, remained heere and there cut out, as it were, from the rest, hee graunted unto the olde owner [•…] and Landlords as in the right of Prescription. The false information of matters whereof the penaltie came to the Exchequer he repressed: and sharplie punished such Informers. And this (by mens saying) was a speech of his, The Prince that chastneth not Promoters, setteth them on to promote.

10 But long continued he not in this [•…] aine, either of clemencie or of abstinence. And yet fell hee somewhat sooner to crueltie than to cove [•…] ousnesse. A Schollar of the cunning player and counterfeit Paris, being as yet of tender yeeres, and at that time very sicke, hee murdered: for that, both in skill and also in countenance and feature of body he seemed to resemble his Maister. Semblably dealt he with Hermogenes of Tarsus, for certaine figures (*) * As Ironia and Anti. hrasis. &c. whereby he seemed to glaunce at him. of Rhetorick interlaced in his Historie: and withall, crucified the Scrivenars and Writers that had copied it out. An (a) Housholder, for saying but these words, That the Phracian (*) * Who was armed with a buckeler Fencer was (b) equall to the mirmillon; but inferiour to the setter forth of the (*) * of sword fight. Game, he caused to bee plucked downe from the scaffold in the Theater, into the plaine beneath; and there to be cast before the greedy Mastives, with this title, I [•…] pie locu. t [•…] s Parm [•…] larius. i. The (*) * The favourer of the armed fenser Thrax. above saide. Parmularius (c) hath blasphemed. Many Senatours, and some of them which had beene Con [•…] uls, hee killed. Among whom Civicus Cerealis, in the very time when he was Proconsull in Asia; Salvidienus Orfitus and Acilius Glabrio during their exile, he put to death; pretendingDomitia longi [•…] a that they practised Innovation in the State: all the rest every one formost slight causes. As for example, Aelius Lamia, for certaine suspitious iests (I must needs say) but such as were stale and harmlesse: namely, because unto Domitian when (after he had taken from him (*) * Vocemsuam, or La [•…] ia, his voice as some expoundi [•…] , his wife) he fell a praising of her (*) * As if he had uttered these words: This is meere iniury but I must say nothing. voice. he said, I (d) hold my* peace, Helas. As also, for that unto Titus, moving him to a second mariage, he made answer, Me ka [•…] su Gam [•…] sai Theleis? What! (and if I should wed another) would not you also marie her? (*) * Vnderstand here, and in the other following (he slew or put to death) Salvius Cocceianus, because he had celebrated the Birth-dayes minde, of Otho the Emperour, his * Vn [•…] le. * Metius Pompcsianus, for that it was commonly said, He had the Horoscope in his Nativity of an Emperour; and caried about him the Map or Geographical description of the (*) * For his father L. Salvius [〈◊〉] nus was Othoes brother. world in certaine parchments; and withall, the Orations of Kings and brave Capitaines written out of Titus Livius; for imposing likewise the names of Mago (*) * See V [•…] spatian. cap. 14, and Annibal upon some of his slaves. Sallustius Lucullus Lieutenant generall of Britaine, for suffring certaine speares of a new fashion to be called (*) * Or earth. Luculleae. Iunius Rusticus, for publishing the praises of * Paetus Thrasea and * Helvidius Priscus; and calling them most holy and upright persons. By occasion of which criminous imputation (charged upon Rusticus) hee packed away all Philosophers out of the Citie of Rome and Italie. Hee slewe also Helvidius the (*) * Two most renowmed warri ours of the Ca [•…] haginians, and mortall enimies of the Romaines. sonne, for that in an Enterlude (as it were), and by way of an Exo [•…] ium upon the Stage, hee had under the persons of Paris and O [•…] none (*) * O [•…] his owne name: acted the Divorse betweene* Who beeing persecuted by Nero cut his owne maister veines. * The sonne in lawe of Thrasea, even another Cato or Brutus and a man of most free speech in the behalfe of the Common wealth. * For the father, Vespafian had slaine before, Tractasset, i. * handled, al, taxasset, i., taxed or reproved. Page 266 (*) * [〈◊〉] , him and his wife. Flavius Sarinus, one of his cousin germaines, because upon the Election day of the Consuls, the Crier chaunced to mistake a little, and before the people to pronounce him (being Consul Elect) not Consull, but Emperour. And yet, after his victorie in the (*) * Of the Fl [•…] vians and Vitellians. Civill warre, [•…] ee became much more cruell: For, many of the adverse part, even such as (*) * [〈◊〉] late [•…] tes, per cens [•…] s inves [•…] gatos lying [•…] id a good while were found out by those that were privie unto them, hee by devising a new kinde of torture made to confesse: namely by thrusting fire into the passage of their secret parts: Some also hee dismembred by cutting off their hands. And this is for certaine knowne: That two onely and no more, of the most notorious among them, to wit, a Tribune of Senatours degree, and a Centurion, were pardoned: Who the sooner to shew that they were unguiltie, had proved themselves to have beene effeminate Catamites, and therefore could not possibly be of any reckoning, either with Capitaine or Souldiours.

11 Now, in this Crueltie of his hee was not onely excessive, but also subtill and craftie; comming upon men when they looked least for it. A (*) * Actor [•…] m summ [•…] s. Controller of his owne, the very day before he crucified him, hee called into his bed-chamber, and made him to sit downe by him upon a pallet or beds side: he dismissed him lightharted and merie: he deigned him also a favour and (*) * A dish of meate, &c: remembrance from his own supper. Vnto Aretinus Clemens, a man of Consuls degree, one of his familiar minions and bloodhounds to fetch in Booties, when he purposed to condemne to death, he shewed the same countenance, as before time, yea and more grace than ordinary: untill at last, as hee (*) * Simul gestanti went with him in the same Licter, by occasion that hee espied the Informer against him, How sayest thou, quoth hee, Clemens, shall wee to morrow heare this most errant knave and varl [•…] t, what hee can say? And because hee would with greater contempt and disdaine abuse mens patience, hee never pronounced any heavie and bloudie sentence, without some preamble and preface of Clemencie: So that, there was not now, a surer signe of some horrible end and Conclusion, than a milde beginning and gentle exordium. Some that stoode accused of Treason he had inducted into the (*) * Senate house. Curia; and when he had premised a Speech, That hee would make triall that day, how deere hee was unto the Senate, hee soone effected thus much thereby, That the parties should have their iudgement, to suffer (*) * To have their necks fast locked in pillory, and so to be beaten with rod [•…] o death. More maiorum: And then, himselfe, affrighted as it were with the rigorous cruelty of that punishment, would intercede, in these words (for, it shall not bee impertinent to knowe the very same as hee delivered them) Permit my good Ll. this to be obtained of your gracious Piety (which I know I shall hardly obtaine) that yee would doe so much favour unto these persons condemned; as that they may choose, what death they will die: for, by this yee shall spare your owne eyes, and all the world shall know, that I was present in the Senate.

12 Having emptied his coffers with expences of buildings and Games exhibited to the people, as also with that (*) * . i. of 3. aurei. Stipend paied unto the Souldiours, over and above the former; hee assaied verily for easement of the charges belonging to the Camp, for to diminish the numbers and companies of Souldiours. But perceiving that heereby he was both in daunger of the Barbarians, and also never the lesse to seeke which way to be relieved from burdens: hee made no reckoning at all, but to raise booties, to rob and spoile he cared not how? The goods of quick Page 267 and dead both, were every where seized upon: who the Accusers were? or what the matter was? it skilled not. Sufficient it was, if any deede or word whatsoever, were obiected against one, to make it high treason against the Prince. Inheritances, were they never so farre off and belonging to the greatest straungers, were held confiscate and adiudged to the Emperours Coffers, in case but one would come forth and depose. That hee heard the party deceased say whiles hee lived, That Cæsar (a) was his heire. But, above all others the (b) Iewes were most grievously plagued in the Exchequer. Vnto which were presented as many of them as either professed in Rome to live as Iewes, or else dissimuling their Nation, had not payed the Tributes imposed upon them. I remember, that my selfe being a very youth was in place when an aged Iew, fourescore and tenne yeeres olde, was by the (*) * Or Master of the Exch. quer. Procuratour in a most frequent Assembly searched, whether he were circumcised or no? From his very youth nothing civill (*) * But proud & scornfull. and sociable hee was: bolde of hart, audacious withall, and as well in words as deede beyond all measure excessive. Vnto Caenis his fathers Concubine newly returned out of Istria, and offring to kisse his lips (as her manner was) hee put forth his hand. Taking it hainously that his (*) * Who married Titus his daugh ter Iulia. brothers sonne in Law had attending about him his, Servitours also, clad in faire white, he cried out,

13 But when hee was mounted once to the Imperiall Seate, hee stucke not in the very Senate to make his boast, That he it was who had given unto his father and brother both, The Empire, and they had but delivered it up to him againe. Also when after Divorsement he brought home and remarried his wife, hee bashed not to give it out, that she was called to his (*) * Pulvinar [〈◊〉] as if he had beene a God. for, their Gods and Goddesses they bestowed in certaine bed lofts called Pul vi [•…] aria. sacred bed. Moreover, upon the day when hee made a great (*) * During y• solemne Games exhibited vnto them. Dinner unto the people, hee was well content and pleased to heare their acclamation throughout the Theater in these words,

“Domino et Dominae, faeliciter.”

“All happines, to our Lord and Lady.”

Likewise at the Solemnity of Trying Maisteries in the Palatium, when all the people besought him with great consent and one accord, to (*) * To his Senatours place: restore Palfurius Sura (one in times past degraded and thrust out of the Senate, but at that time crowned among the Oratours for his Eloquence) hee vouchsafed them no answere, but onely by voice of the publike crier Co͏̄maunded them Silence. With semblable arrogancie, when as in the (*) * Or behalfe. name of his Procuratours he endited any formall Letters, thus hee began, Our Lord and God thus co͏̄maundeth. Whereupon afterwards this order was taken up, that neither in the writing or speech of (*) * Co͏̄mon talke any man he should be otherwise called. No Statues suffred he to be erected for him in* Ponderis certi. Sabelli [•…] us readeth centen [•…] , i, of an hundred pounds according to Stati [•…] Pop [•…] nius of Domitian [•…] statue Sylv 5, Da Capitoli [•…] aetern [•…] sedibus [•…] rum. the Capitoll, but of gold and silver; and the same of a certaine weight, iust. As for two-fronted Iani and Arches with their foure Steedes, together with the Ensignes and Badges of Triumph, hee built them stately and so many in every quarter and Region of the Cittie, as that in one of the saide Arches there was this Mot in Greeke written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (a). i. It is enough. Hee tooke upon him seventeene Consulships, more than ever any man before him. Of which, those

* Quo niteant sacri cente [•…] pondere vultus Cæsari [•…] Page 268 seven in the middle, hee bare continually one after another; and in manner all, in name and title onely: but none of them beyond the (*) * Not above 4 moneths. Kalends of May; and most, to the (*) * Not a fortnight full. Ides onely of Ianuarie. Now, after his two (*) * Over the Catti and D [•…] ci. triumphs, having assumed into his stile the Addition of Germanicus, hee chaunged the Denomination of the moneths September & October; calling them after his owne names Germanicus and Domitianus: for that in the (*) * September. one hee entred upon his Empire, and was borne in the (*) * Oct [•…] ber. other.

In these courses that hee tooke, beeing both terrible and odious also unto all14 men, surprised he was in the end, and murdred by his (*) * Minions. friends and freed men that were most inward with him; who together with his wife conspired his death. The last yeere and day of his life, the very houre also and what kinde of death he should die, he had long time before suspected. For when he was but a youth, the Chaldaean Astrologers had fore-tolde him all. His Father also one time at supper, when hee saw him forbeare to eate Mushromes, laughed him to scorne as ignorant of his owne destinie, for that hee did not feare the sword rather. And therefore beeing alwaies timorous and strucken into his pensive dumps upon the least suspitions presented, hee was beyond all measure troubled and disquieted: In so much as it is credibly reported, that no other cause moved him more, to dispense with that Edict which hee had proclaimed for the cutting downe and destroying of Vineyards, than certaine Pamphlets and Libels scattered abroade with these verses.

In the same fearefulnesse hee refused a new honour and that which never was devised before, offred by the Senate unto him, (though otherwise most eager and greedie of all such things) whereby they decreed, That so often as hee was Consull, the Gentlemen of Rome, as it fell by lot to their turnes, should in their rich and gay coates and with militare Launces march before him among the Lictours and other Sergeants and Apparitours. When the time also of that daunger drew neere which he suspected, he became perplexed every day more than other: and therefore he garnished the walls of those galleries wherein hee was wont to rome himselfe and walke, with the stone Phengites; by the images rebounding from the brightnesse whereof he might see before his face whatsoever was done behind his back. The most part of prisoners and persons in duresse, hee would not heare but being alone and in a secret place, taking holde first of their chaines in his owne hand. And because he would perswade his houshold servitours, that no man should be so hardy as to lay violent hand upon his owne Patrone to kill him, no though much good might ensue thereof; hee condemned Epaphroditus the Secretarie of Nero, for that it was thought, his Lord & Maister (after he was forlorne and forsaken of all) had his helping hand to dispatch him out of the world.

To conclude, his Vnkles sonne (a) Flavius Clemens (a man for his lithernesse15 and negligence most contemptible) whose sonnes being yet very little ones, hee had openly ordained to bee his Successours: and abolishing their former names, commanded the one to be called Vespatian and the other Domitian, he killed sodainely, upon a slender & small suspition, even when he was scarce out of his Consulship. By which deede of his most of all, he hastened his own end Page 269 and destruction, For 8 moneths space together, so many lightnings were seene & reported unto him, that he cryed out, Now let (*) * Iupiter or God. him strike whom he will The Capitol was smitten and blasted therewith the Temple also of the F [•…] Avian Linage: likewise his owne house in the Palatium, and verie bedchamber. Moreover, out of the base of his triumphall Statue, the (*) * Or Pied stoole. Title being driven by force of a storme, fel down into the Sepulcher next adioyning. That tree which being laid along, had risen up againe when Vespasian was yet a private person, [•…] ell sodainely then a seconde time. The Image of fortune at (*) * Or Inscr [•…] tion. Preneste, which all the time of his Empire, when he recommended unto her the new yeere, was wont to give him an happy answere &* Where w [•…] s on Oracle. alwaies the same, now in this last yeere, delivered one mostwofull, and not without mention of bloud. He dreamed, that (b) Minerva, whom he worshipped superstitiously, departed out of her Chappell, and said, She could not protect him any longer, for that shee was by Ivpiter disarmed. But with no one thing was hee so much disquieted, as with the answere of Ascletario the Astrologer; & the accident that chanced unto him thereupon. This Ascletario beeing enformed against, and not denying that he had delivered what by his art and learning he foresaw, he questioned with and asked, what his owne end should be? & when he made answer & affirmed, That his destinie was to be t [•…] rne in peeces with dogs, & that shortly after; he caused him presently to be killed but to reprove the rashnes and uncertaintie of his skill and profession, he commanded with all, that he should be buried with as great care as possibly might be. In the doing whereof accordingly, it fortuned that by a sodaine tempest, the corps being cast downe out of the funerall fire, the dogs tare and rent peecemeale, when it was but halfe burnt and the same hapned to be reported unto him among other (*) * Fabulus narrations to make Princes merry tales and newes, of that day, as hee sat at supper, by Latinvs the player and counterfeite iester, who as hee passed by, chaunced to see and marke so much.

16 The day before his death, when he had given commandement that certaine Mushromes set before him shold be kept against the morrow, he added moreouer, if I may have vse of them & turning to those that were next him he said; The day following it would come to passe, that the Moone should embrue her selfe with bloud in the signe Aquarius, and some act be seene, whereof men should speake all the world over. But abovt midnight, so (*) * He dreame haply that Iun [•…] us Ru [•…] ticus whom hee had killed came vpon him with a naked sword. X [•…] philin. skared he was, that he started out of his bed. Hereuppon in the morning betimes he gave hearing unto the Soothsayer sent out of Germanie, who being asked his opinion about the lightning, had foretold a chang in the state: and him he condemned. And whiles he scratched verie harde at a wert in his forehead which was festered and growne to be sore, seeing bloud run out of it, would God quoth he, this were all. Then asked he what was a clocke [•…] and insteede of the (*) * 11 Ofy• clock 5th. houre which he feared, word was brought for the nonce that it was the 6th. Being ioious hereupon that the danger was nowe past, and hastening to cherish his body and make much of himselfe, Parthenius his principall Chamberlaine turned him an other way; sayinge there was one come who brought tidinges (I wot not what) of great co͏̄seque͏̄ce & of a matter in no wise to be deferred. Voiding therfore all persons from him, he retired into his bedchamber, and there was he murdered.

17 As touching the manner how he was forlaide and of his death, thus much (in manner) hath beene divulged. Whiles the conspiratours were in question with themselues and doubtfull, when, and how, they should set upon him? that is to say, whether he bathed or sat at supper? Stephen the procuratour of (*) * Whom Eus [•…] bius reporteth to haue beene n [•…] ipce by the sister of Flavius Clement and a Christian, therefore confined to the Iland Ponti [•…] . Domitilla, & at the same time in trouble for intercepting certaine monies, offered his advise and Page 270 helping hand, who having for certaine dayes before bound up aud enwrapped his left arme (as if it had beene amisse) with wool and swadling bandes, thereby to avert from himselfe all suspition, at the very houre interposed fraud and made a lie. For, professing that hee would discover the conspiracy, and in that regarde being admitted into the chamber, as Domitian was reading of a bill which hee preferred unto him, and therewith stood amazed, hee stabbed him beneth in the very share neere unto his privie parts. When hee was thus wounded and beganne to struggle and resist; Clodianvs a (*) * Certaine soul diers were so tearmed, Co [•…] icularius, and Maximvs afreed man of Parthenius, and Satvrivs the Deane or Decurion of the Chamberlaines with one out of his owne swordfencers schoole, came in uppon him, gave him seven wounds, and killed him out right. A youth and page of his, who stood by (as his wonted manner was) because he had the charge of his bedchamber (a) Lares, and was present at this murder committed, made this report moreover, that Domitian, at the very first wound given, immediatly bad him reach the (*) * Or rapier dagger, that lay under his pillow, and to call in his ministers and servitours: but at the beds head hee found nothing at al thereof save the haft onely: and as for the doores besides, they were all fast shut: Also, that Domitian in this meane space, tooke hold of Stephen, bare him to the ground and wrestled with him a longe time: That he one while assaied to wrest his sword out of his hands, another while (albeit* 17. th. of September, his fingers were hurt and mangled) to plucke out his eyes. Well, killed he was, the 14th day before the Kalends of October, in the 45th yeere of his age, and the 15th of his Empire. His dead bodie was caried foorth upon the common bierre by the ordinary bearers: and Phyllis his nource burned it in a funerall fire, within a country manour of his owne neere unto the Citie, situate upon the high way Latina. But the reliques thereof shee bestowed in the Temple of the Flavian family, and blended the same with the ashes of Iulia the daughter of Titvs, whom she had reared and brought up.

Of Stature he was tall, his countenance modest, and given much to (a) rednes: his eyes full and great, but his sight very dimme. Besides, faire he was and of come ly presence especially in his youth: well shaped all his body throughout, excepting his feet: the toes wherof were of the (*) * Restrictiores drawen inward shortest. In processe of time, he became disfigured and blemished with baldnesse, with a fat grand-panch and sclender shanks: & yet they grew to be so leane upon occasion of a long sickenes. For his modesty & shame facednesse he so well perceiued himselfe to be commended, that one time before the Senate he gave out these words, Hitherto certainly ye haue liked wel of my minde and of my countenance. With his bald head he was so much yrked, that hee tooke it as a reproach unto himself, if any man els were either in bord or good earnest twitted therewith: albeit in a certaine little booke, which he wrot unto a freind of his, concerning the nourishment & preseruation of the haire of the head, he by way of consolation both to that friend and also to himselfe, inserted thus much.

“ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .”

And yet quoth he, my (*) * Homer Iliad 21. Lyc [•…] on the Sonne of Pri [•…] mus vnto Achil les, destinie and fortune wil be to have the same defect of haire: & with a stoute heart I endure, that the bush of my head waxeth olde in my fresh (*) * Eadem me manent some read ( [〈◊〉] ). youth. And this would I have you to know, that nothing is more louely, nothing more fraile and transitorie than beautie and fauour.

19 Being impatient of all labour and paines taking, he was not lightly seene to walke in the Citie. In any expedition and march of the army seldome rod he on Page 271 horsebacke, but was caried in a (*) * Vpon mens shoulders. lictour. No affection had hee to beare armes or weld weopons. but delighted he was especially to shoot arrows. Many men have seene him oftentimes. during his retiring abode at Alba, to kill with shot an hundred wild beasts of sundrie sorts at a time. & of very purpose to sticke some of them in the head; so, as that with two shoots hee would set his shafts in their fronts like a paire of ho [•…] es. Sometimes he would drive his arrows point blanke so iust against the palme of a childs right hand, standing farre of and holding it foorth stretched open for a marke, as they should all directly passe through the voide spaces beetweene the fingers, and do him no harme at all.

20 All liberall studies in the beginning of his Empire he neglected: albeit hee tooke order to repaire the Libraries consumed with fire, to his exceeding great charges: making search from all parts for the copies of bookes lost, and sendinge as farre as to (*) * In Aegypt. Alexandria, (a) to write them out and correct them. But never gave he his minde to know histories; or to have any skill in verse, or to write ought, though necessitie so required. Except it were the commentaries and acts of Ti [•…] Rius Cæsar hee never used to read any thing. For his Epistles, Orations and Edicts, hee employed the wits of other men to drawe and [•…] rame them. Howbeit, his ordinary speech was not unelegant: and other whiles you shold have him come foorth even with mirable sentences and Apophthegmes. As for example; Would God quoth he, I were as faire and well fauoured, as Metivs thinkes himselfe to be: And seeing ones head (*) * Of two colours party coloured, with yellowish and white silver haires intermingled: Hee said it was (*) * A kind of delicate drinke among the Romains, snow and mede mixed together. His saying it was, that the condition of Princes was most [•…] miserable, who could not bee credited as touching a conspiracie plainely detected unlesse they were slaine first.

21 Whensoever his leasure served, he solaced himselfe with dice play, even uppon the very worke daye, and in morning houres. Hee ba [•…] hed (*) * De die. by day time, and made his dinner so liberall to the [•…] ull, that seldome sor his supper he tooke any thing, unles it were a (*) * It tooke the name of one Matius who loued an hortyard well: like as Appian [•…] and Scapti [•…] na m [•…] la of Appius and Scaptius. Matium Apple, and a smal supping or potion out of a narrow mouthed and great bellied glasse. He feasted often, & that very plentifully, but his feasts were short and after a snatching manner: Certes, hee never sat past sunne setting, nor admitted any reare bankets after supper. For, towards bedtime, hee did nothing, but in a secret chamber walke by himselfe alone.

22 To fleshly lust he was over much given. The ordinary use of Venvs, as it were a kind of exercise, hee named Clinopale, as one would say, bed-wrestling. The report went, that him selfe used with pinsers to depilate his concubines, and to swim among the commonest naughtie packes, that were. His brothers (*) * Iulia. daugh ter offred first unto him in marriage whiles she was yet a maide͏̄, when he had most resolutely refused, by reason he was entangled and overcome with the mariage of Domitia; not long after when she was bestowed upon another, of his owne accord he sollicited, and was naught with her. even verily whiles his brother Titvs yet lived. Afterwards when she was bereft of father and husband both, hee loved her with most ardent affection, and (*) * As his wedded wife. that openly: in so much, as that hee was the cause of her death, by forcing her to miscarie and cast away the untimely (*) * Conceived, as some say, by her former hus band: others, by Domitian in her widow. head: and here to accordeth luvena. Qu [•…] tot aborti [•…] is, &c. Iulia vul [•…] am Solueret, et patru [•…] similes effunderet offas. fruicte wherewith she went.

23 That he was killed the people tooke it indifferently: but the souldiers, to the very heart: and forthwith went about to canonize him a God, and to call him (*) * A Saint or of sacred memorie. Divus: ready enough also to revenge his death; but that they wanted heads to Page 272 lead them. And ye [•…] [〈◊〉] whiles after they did it, [〈◊〉] [〈◊〉] most instantly and [〈◊〉] giving [•…] ver for (*) * [〈◊〉] and [〈◊〉] . [〈◊〉] . [〈◊〉] . the authors of [〈◊〉] [〈◊〉] to be executed. [〈◊〉] , the Senate so much reioi [•…] , that beeing [〈◊〉] in great [〈◊〉] within the Curia, they could not [•…] ule themselues, but [〈◊〉] [•…] o re [•…] and [〈◊〉] him now dead with the most [〈◊〉] and [〈◊〉] kinds of (a) acclamations that they could devise: com [•…] ding ladders to be [〈◊〉] in, his (*) * Coates of [•…] mes, s [•…] cheons & Images to be taken downe [〈◊〉] their sight, and [〈◊〉] there in place to be throwen and dashed against the hard floo [•…] e: In the end that all titles wheresoever bearing his name should be rased and s [•…] aped out, and his memoriall abolished quite for euer, Some few mo [•…] hs before [〈◊〉] was murdered, there was a Cro [•…] e in the Capitoll [〈◊〉] these wordes plainely, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . i. All shall be well: And there wanted not one, who interpreted this strang P [•…] igie thus.

And reported it is that Domitian himselfe dreamed, howe hee had a golden excrescence rising & bunching behind his necke: & knew for certaine, that therby was po [•…] ended and foresignified unto the common wealth, an happier state after him. And so it fell out, I assure you shortly after: such was the ab [•…] nent and moderate cariage of the (b) Emperours next ensuing.

Finis.