THE HISTORIE OF Marcus Salvius Otho,

THe Auncestors of Otho had their beginning in a town [•…] Chap. 1 called Ferentinum; extract out of an auncient and honourable family, even from the Princes of Hetruria. His grandfather M. Salvius Otho having for his Father a Gentleman of Rome, and for his mother a woman of base condition (and whether shee was free-borne or no? it is uncertaine) through the favour of Livia Augusta, in whose house he had his rising and growth, was made a Senatour, and exceeded not the degree of a Pretour. His Father, L. Otho by his mothers side of right noble bloud descended, and thereby allied to many great kinreds, was so deere and in face so like unto Tiberius the Emperour, that most men beleeved verily, hee was his owne sonne. The Honourable Offices within the Citie: the Proconsulship of Asia, and other extraordinarie places of Conduct and Commaund, Page 223 hee managed most severely. Hee adventured also in Illyricum to pro ceed so far, as to put certaine soldiers to death, for that in the commotion of Camillvs upon a touch of conscience they had killed their (*) * Or his. i. Ca [•…] , Captaines and provosts, as authors of the revolt and rebellion against Clavdivs, and verily this execution himselfe in person saw performed in the Campe (a) even before the Prin cipia: notwithstanding that he knew they were for that service advanced to higher places by Clavdivs. By which act of his as he grew in glory so hee decreased in favour. And yet the same he soone recovered againe, by detecting the perfidious plot of a Romaine Knight, whom by the appeachment of his own servants he found to have attempted the death of Clavdivs. For, both the Senate endowed him with an honour most rare and seldome seene, to wit his owne statue erected in the Palatium; and also Clavdivs when he ranged him among the Patritians, and in most honourable tearmes praised him added these words withall, Hee is a man, than whom I would not wish I assure you to haue better Children of mine owne. Of Albia Terentia a right noble and gallant Lady he begat two sonnes, Lvcivs Titianvs, and a younger forenamed Marcvs, and carying the surname. i. Otho. of his father: a daughter also hee had by her, whom as yet not mariageable, he affianced unto Drvsvs the sonne of Germanicvs.

2 This Otho the Emperour, was borne the 4 day before the Kalends of May,* 28 Aprill. when Camillvs Arrvntivs and Domitivs Aenobarevs were Consuls.A, V, C, 785 From the very prime of his youth, hee was roiotous, wild and wanton: in so much as his father swindged him well and soundly for it: reported also to use night walking; and as he met any one either feeble or cupshorten or overcome with drinke to catch hold of him, lay him upon a soldiers gaberdine, and so (b) to tosse and hoist him up into the aire. Afterwardes, uppon his fathers death, a certaine Libertine woman of the Court, a dame very gratious (because hee would make the more benefit by following and courting her as his mistrisse) he pretended love unto: albeit an old trot shee was in manner doting for age. By her meanes winding himselfe into the favour of Nero, he easily obtained the cheife place among his minions and favorites (such was the congruence of their humours and dispositions) and as some write by mutuall abusing also of one anothers bodie against kind. But so mightie hee waxed and bare such a side, as that in consideration of a great peece of money agreed upon, he presumed to bring into the Senate house for to give (*) * For pardon thankes, a man of Consular degree, who stood condemned for extortion, even before hee had fully obtained his (*) * Restoring to h [•…] s former state. restitution.

3 Being now, as he was, privie and partie to all the counsels and secret dessignes of Nero: he to auert all manner of suspicion, that very day which Nero had appointed for the murdering of his mother, entertained them both at supper withmost exquisite, and the kindest welcome that might be. Semblably, Dame Poppaea Sabina, being as yet but the paramour of Nero, whom he had newly taken from her (*) * Rufus Crispus husband, and committed in the meane (*) * vntill he could put awaie Octauia while unto himselfe upon trust for to keepe, under a (*) * So writeth P [•…] utarch But Tacitus differeth from this Narration. colour of mariage hee received: And not content herewith that he alienated her hart from Nero and used her body, hee loved her so entirely, that he could not endure Nero himselfe to be his (*) * Partner with him in loue of that Mistris Corrivall. Certes, it is thought of a truth, that not onely the messengers who were sent to fetch her, Page 224 came againe without her: but also that one time he kept Nero himselfe without dores standing there and cooling his heeles, with threates also and prayers intermingled, demanding his (*) * pledge or gage, to wit Poppaea. pawne which hee had left with him, but all in vaine. Whereupon after the said mariage broken and dissolved, sent out of the way hee was under a pretence of an Embassage into Portugal: Which course was thought sufficient for feare least his proceeding to any sharper punishment might have told (*) * How Nero had beene excluded & shut out of doores &c. tales abroad and marred all the play: howbeit as secretly conueied as it was, out it came and was made knowne by this Distichon.

Having beene afore time in no higher place then Questour, yet governed hee a province for the space of x yeeres with singular (*) * ij. Verses. moderation and (*) * Without rigour abstinence.

4 As occasion at lenght and opportunitie of (*) * Without pilling, pollmg & extort [•…] on. revenge was offred, he was the first that combined with Galba in his attempts. At which very insta͏̄t himself also conceived hope of the Empite & great the same was, no doubt; considering theA. V, C. 821 condition and state of those times, but greater somewhat by reason of Selevcvs* Of Nero. the Astrologers words: who having long before warranted him that he should sur: vive Nero, was then of his owne accord come unlooked for & promised againe that shortly also he should be Emperour. Omitting therfore no kind of obsequious office & ambitious popularity even to the very meanest: looke how often he invited the (*) * Galba. Emperour to supper, he wold deale throughout the Cohort that the͏̄ warded, to every man a peece of (*) * 15, S. 7. D, ob, English, gold: & no lesse carefull was he to oblige unto him one way or other, the rest of the soldiers. And when one of them went to law with his neigh bour abovt a parcell of ground in the skirts and confines of both their lands, he being chosen Arbitratour, bought the whole land for the said souldier and enfeoffed him in it. So as now by this time there was scarce one, but both thought and said that he alone was worthy to succeede in the Empire.

5 Moreover he had fed himselfe with hopes to have been adopted by Galba & that looked hee for daily: But after that Piso was preserred and himselfe disappointed of his hope, he turned to plaine violence: pricked therto, over and besides the discontentment of his mind, by occasion that he was so deepely indebted. For he stucke not to professe. He was not able to stand, unlesse he were Emperour: And it skilled not whether he were over throwne by his enemie in the field, or fell under his creditours hands at the Barre. Some few daies before, he had fetcht over one of Cæsars servants in a millene of Sesterces for the obtaining of a Stewardship: & with the helpe of this sum of mony, enterprised he so great a proiect. At the first he co͏̄ mitted the matter to 5. (*) * Speculat oribus souldiers emploied in Espiall: then to x. others whom they had brought forth with them, to wit every man twaine. To ech one of these he payd in hand. x thousand (*) * 100, Aurei: every Aureus being 15, S. 7, D, ob. sesterces, & promised 50000 more. By these were the rest solici ted, & those not very many: as making no doubt but presuming confidently of this that a number besides would be ready in the very action to second it.

6 He had minded once, presently after the adoption (of Piso) to seize their campe into his owne hands, and so to set uppon Galba as hee sat at supper in the Pallace: but the respective regarde hee had of the Cohort, which then kept watch and warde, hee checked this intent of his: for feare least the same Page 225 should incurre the into lerable hatred of the world: considering, by the guard of that very Cohort, Caivs had beene slaine before, and Nero perfidiouslie betrayed afterwards. Moreouer, exception was taken against the middle time betweene, partly vpon, a (*) * Scrupulosity. superstition that hee had, and in part by direction from Selevcvs. Well then, vpon a (*) * 15 lanu [•…] rij day appointed, after warning giuen aforehand unto those that were privie to the conspiracie, for to attend him in the market place at the golden (a) Milliarium under the Temple of Saturne, hee faluted Galba in the morning, and (as the manner was) beeing received with a kisse, was present also as hee sacrificed and heard the Soothsayers pred [•…] ctions. Which done, a freed man of his brought him word that the Architects were come (this was the watchword agreed upo͏̄ between the͏̄) wherupo͏̄ as if forsooth he were to look upon an house that was to be sold, he departed, gat him quickly away through the backe side of the Palace, and hied a pace toward the place appointed. Others say, that he seigned himselfe to have an ague, and willed those that stood next to him to make that excuse in case he were asked for. Then lying hidden within a womans (*) * Cre [•…] cse chaire, wherein women vse to be carried. Licter, he hastened to the Campe: and for that the Licter bearers were tired and faint, hee allighted on the ground and be ganne to runne a foote: but by occasion that his shooes latchet was slacke, he stayed behinde, untill such time as without any further delay, he was taken up on mens shoulders, and by the [•…] raine and Company there ptesent saluted Emperour; and so with lucky acclamaA, V, C. 822. tions among drawen swords, came as farre as to the (*) * A principall place within the Camp. Principia whiles every one all the way hee went adhaered unto him, as if they had beene all privie and party in the conspiracy. There, after he had dispatched certaine away to kill both Galba and Piso, he to win the soldiers hearts by faire promises, protested before them all assembled together, That himselfe would haue and hold no more, then iust that which they would leaue for him.

7 This done, as the day drewe toward euening he entred into the Senate: and briefely laying before them a reason of his proceeding, as if he had been caried away perforce out of the market place and compelled to take the Empire upon him (which he would administer according to the generall will and pleasure of the͏̄ al), to the pallace he goeth. Now when as beside other sweet & plausible words deliuered by such as did congratulate and flatter him, he was by the base co͏̄mon people called Nero, he gaue no token at al that he refused it. nay rather as some haue reported, euer in his patents, graunts and missives which he first wrote unto certaine presidents & gouernours of Prouinces, he added unto his stile the surname of Nero. This is certen, he both suffered his (*) * Which either were of wax, or peincted images and (*) * Commonly of brasse stone or such solid matter. Statues to be erected againe in their own places: & also restored his Procuratours & freed men to the same offices that they had enioyed before. Neither, by his imperiall prerogatiue and absolute power subscribed he any, thing, before a warrant for fiftie (*) * quingenties Hs or Sestertium millians of Sesterces to the finishing of (Neroes) golden house. It is said that the same night being affrighted in his sleepe hee groned very sore, and was by his seruitours that ran thick into the chamber found lying on the bare floore before his bed: also that he assaied by all kind of propitiatorie sacrifices and peace offrings to appease the (*) * Or Ghost. spirit of Galba, whome hee had seene in his sleepe, to thrust and drive him foorth: Semblably, the morrow after as he was taking his (*) * by observing the sacred Birds: Auspices, there arose a sodaine tempest wherevpon Page 226 hee caughta grievous fall, and oftentimes hee mumbled this to himselfe.

8 And verily about the same time, the forces and Armies in (a) Germanie had sworne fealtie and alleageance unto Vitellivs, which when he understood, hee propounded unto the Senate, That an Embassage might be sent thither, to [〈◊〉] the͏̄ that there was an Emperour chosen alreadie, and advise them with all to peace and con cord: yet, by enter course of messengers and letters between, he made offer unto Vitel Livs to pertake equally with him in the Empire, and accept of a marriage with his daughter: But when there was no way but one and that by open warre: seeing that now alreadie the Capitaines and forces which Vitellivs had sent before, approched hee had good proofe what loyall and faithfull harts, the pretorian souldiers caried towards him, even to the utter ruine and destruction well neere of the most honourable degree of Senatours. Nowe decreed it had (*) * For Fabiu Valens and Aulus C [•…] cina were come with a power out of Germanie into Italie. beene, that by the Sea servitours the (*) * By Otho & thé Senate. armour should be conveied over and sent backe (to Ostia) by shipping. And as the said armour was in taking foorth out of the armorie in the Campe, at the shutting of the Evening, some (souldiers) suspecting treacherie and treason; raised a tumult and gave an Alarum: wherewith sodainely all of (*) * with which the 1 [•…] th. cohort se͏̄t for out of the Colonie Ost [•…] a before to Rome should be armed. them without any certaine leader to conduct them, ranne to the Palace, calling hard to have the (*) * The Pretoria͏̄ or guard Souldiers. Senate massacred: and when they had repelled some of the Tribunes who assaied to represse their violence, and killed other of them, all embrued in bloud as they were, and askinge still where the Emperour was? they rushed in as farre as into his banquetting rowme, and never rested untill they had seene him Then set he forward his expedition lustilie: and beganne with more hast then good speed; without any care at all of religion and the will of God: as having onely stirred and taken those sacred (*) * who to the number of four score, with many Ladies w [•…] re at su [•…] per that night with Otho and by the souldiers suspected to haue plotted his death. shields (b) called Ancilia, and not bestowed them quietly againe in their due place (a thing in olde time held ominous and ever presaging ill lucke): Besides, the very same day it was, upon which the priests and ministers of (Cybele) the mother of the Gods, beginne to lament, weepe and waile: to conclude, when all signes and tokens, were as crosse as possibly they might be. For not onely in the beast killed for sacrifice unto Father (*) * Or Mars. Dis, he found the Inwards propitious (whereas in such a sacrifice as that the contrarie* Gall [•…] . * The infernall God [•…] o named guasi dires [•…] rich as Pluto, of Plouto [•…] e riches because all things arise out of the earth and fall into it againe. had beene more acceptable) but also as his first setting out, staied he was by the inundation, and swelling of the riuer Tiberis. At the twentie miles ende likewise, he found the high way choaked and stopped up against him with the ruines of certaine houses fallen downe.

9 With like inconsiderate rashnes, albeit no man doubted but that in good pollicy, the warre ought to have been protracted, because the enimie was distressed as wel with famine, as the streight wherein he was pent, yet resolved hee with all speed, to hazard the fortune of the field and to trie it out by fight; as one, either impatie͏̄t of longer thought and pensivenesse hoping that before the comming of Vitellivs most part of the businesse, might be dispatched, or else because hee could not rule his souldiers calling so hotely upon him to give battaile. Yet was not he present in that conflict but staied behind at Bryxellum. And verily in three several, Page 227 skirmishes, which were not great, to wit, upon the Alpes, about [•…] lacentia and at Castoris, (*) * Tacitus calleth it Cassrorum, or rather Castorum of Castor and Pollu [•…] . (a place so called) he wan the victorie: but in the last battaile of all, (which was the greatest) he lost the day, and was by a treacherous practise vanquished. namely, when upon hope of a parly pretended, as if the soldiers had been brought out of the Campe to treat of conditions of peace: sodainely and unlooked for, even as they (*) * By the rame of Commilitones: in [•…] psa con [•…] . Some read in ipsa consu [•…] tatione, i as they were in consultation. saluted one another, there was no remedie but fight it out they must. And straight wayes in a melancholy, he conceived a resolution to make him selfe away (as many are of opinion and not without cause) rather for shame, that he would not be thought to persevere in the maintenance of his soveraine dominion with so great jeopardie of the State and losse of men, than upon any dispaire or distrust of his forces. For still there remained a puissant armie whole and entier, which he had detained with him for tryall of better fortune: and another poure was comming out of Dalmatia, Pannonia and Maesia. Neither verily were they discomfited so much daunted and deiected, but that, for to be revenged of this disgrace and shamefull foile, ready they were of themselues, and alone without helpe of others, to undergoe, any hard adventure whatsoever.

10 In this warre served mine own father Svetonivs Lenis, in qualitie of a Tribune of the thirteenth Legion, and by degree a Senatour (*) * Or Colonel, of the seconde rancke. He was wont afterwards very often to report that Otho even when hee lived a* Angusticlavius. private person, detested all civile warres so farre foorth, that as one related at the table the ende of Cassivs and Brvtvs, he fell a quaking and trembliing ther at. Also, that he never would have beene Galbaes concurrent, but that he confidently thought, the quarrell might have ended without warre. Well then, upon a new accident incited he was to the contempt of this present life, even by the example of a common and ordinary souldier: who reporting this overthrowe of the armie, when he could of no man have credite, but was charged one while with the lie, another while for his feare and cowardise (as who was run away out of the bat taile) fell upon his owne sword at Othoes feete. At which sight, hee cryed out alowd and said, That he would no more cast so braue men and of so good desert into danger. Having exhorted therefore his owne brother, his brothers sonne & every one of his freinds severally, to make what shift they could for themselues, after hee had embraced & kissed them ech one, he sent them all away: And retyring himselfe into a secret rowm, two letters he wrot ful of consolation [•…] nto his sister, as also to Messallina, [〈◊〉] widow, whom he had purposed to wed, reco͏̄mending the reliques of his bodie and his memoriall. And looke what Epistles soever hee had in his custody, he burnt them al, because they should breed no man any danger losse, or displeasure with the conquerour. And out of that store of teasure which hee had about him, he dealt monie to his domestical sewitours.

11 Being now thus prepared and fully bent to die, perceiving by occasion of some hurliburly, which while he made delay, arose, that (*) * i. The Senatours. those who began to slip away & depart, were (by his [〈◊〉] ) [•…] ebuked as traytors & perforce detained. Let vs quoth he, prolong our life yet this one night: Vpon which words and no more, hee charged that no violence should be offred to any; but suffering his bed chamber (doore) to stand wide ope͏̄ until it was late in the [〈◊〉] , he permitted al that wold to have accesse unto him. After this, having allayed his thirst with a draught of cold water he caught up two (*) * Or rapier daggers, & when he had tryed how sharpe the points of them both were, and layed one of them vnder his (*) * Or beds head pillow; & so the dores being fast shut Page 28 he tooke his rest and slept most soundly. Wakening then at last about day light and not before, with one onely thrust under his left pap he stabbed himselfe. And whe͏̄ at the first grone that he gave, his seruants brake in, hee one while concealing and another while discovering the wound, yeelded up his vitall breath, and (*) * For feare his head should be severed from h [•…] s bo ie &c. quicklye (according as he had given charge before) was brought to his funerall fire: in the yeere of his age 38. and the 95 day of his Empire.

12 Vnto so great a mind & generous courage of Otho, neither was his perfo͏̄ A, V, C, 822. nor habite answerable: For he was by report of a meane and low stature: feeble feet he had besides, and as crooked shanks. As for his manner of attire, as fine and nice he was well neere as any woman: his bodie plucked and made smooth: wearing by reason of thin haire a (*) * Or counterfeit cap of false haire. perrucke, so fitted and fastened to his head, that no man there was, but would haue taken it for his owne. Nay his very face he was wont euery day to shave and besineere all ouer with (a) soked bread. Which devise he tooke to at first, when the downe began to bud forth, because he would neuer haue a beard. It is said moreouer, that many a time hee open lie celebrated the divine seruice and sacred rites of Isis, in a religious vestiment of linnen. Vvhereby, I would thinke it came to passe, that his death nothing at all consonant to his life was the more wondered at. Manie of his souldiers who were present about him, when with plentifull teares they had kissed his hands and feete dead as he lay; and co͏̄mended him with all for a most valiant man, and the onely Emperour that ever was, presently in the place, and not farre from his funerall fire, killed themselues. Many of them also, who were absent, hearing of the newes of his end, for very greife of heart ran with their weapons one at another to death. Finally most men who in his life time cursed and detested him, now when he was dead highly praised him: so as it came to be a common and rise speech abroad. That Galba was by him slaine; not so much for that [•…] e affected to be Soueraine Ruler as because he desared [•…] orestore the Sate of the Republike, and recouer the freedome that was lost.