THE HISTORIE OF Flavius Vespatianus Augustus,

THe Empire standing thus a long time in doubtfull termes, unsetled & wandering (as it were) by occasion of the rebellious* Galb [•…] , Otho, Vitellius. broils & bloudy slaughter of three princes; the Flauij at length tooke into their hands & established: a house I must needs say, of obscure descent and not able to shew any pedigree and images of auncestours to commend their race; howbeit, such as the common weale had no cause to dislike and bee ashamed of; although it be well knowne that Domitian abidd condigne punishment for his avarice and crueltie. Titus Flavius Petronianus, a burgesse of the free borrough Reate, and a Centurion, siding in time of the ciuill warre, with Pompeius (but whether he serued voluntarie or was called foorth and prest, it is uncertaine) fledde (*) * Or, after the battaile, fled from him. out of the battaile in Pharsalia and went home to his house. Where afterwardes, having obteined his pardon and discharge from warrefare, Page 240 he became a bailife under the Bankers and mony changers to gather up their monies. This mans sonne surnamed Sabinvs, nothing martiall nor skilfull in feates of armes (although some write, that he had beene a principall leader of the formost Cohorts: and others that whilest he led certaine companies, hee was acquit from his militarie oth by (*) * Such be called Causarij. occasion of sicklinesse) came to be a (*) * Public [•…] num, or Publicum both to the same effect. Publicane in Asia, and gathered the custome or impost (a) Quadragesima for the state. And there remained certaine Images which the Cities in that province erected for him with this title and superscription, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . i. For him that was a good and faithfull (*) * Or customer Publicane. After this he put foorth mony to vsurie among the Helvetians, where he ended his life, leaving behinde him his wife Polla V [•…] Spasia, and two children which he had by her. The elder of which, named Sa [•…] Invs, was advanced to the provostship of the Cittie: the younger called Vespasianvs, attained to the dignitie Imperiall: This dame Polla, borne at Nursia and descended of worshipfull parentage, was the daughter of Vespasivs Pollio, one that had beene a (*) * Or Colonel. militarie Tribune thrice, and (*) * Or camp maister, provost Marshal of the Campe besides: and sister to a man of Senatours degree, and promoted to the dignitie of Praetour. There is a place moreover even at this day sixe miles from Rome, (as men goe to Spoletum from Nursia) upon the hill top, bearing the name of Vespasiae: where many monuments of the Vespasii are to be seene: a great evidence to prove the Noblenesse and antiquitie of that family. I cannot deny, that some have given out, how the father of that P [•…] Troianvs came out of the (*) * Beyond the riuer l’o in respect of Rome. Transpadane region, and was an undertaker by the great, to hire those labourers and hines which were wont yeerely to repaire out of Vmbria into the Sabines Countrie for to till their grounds: how hee planted himselfe and stayed in the Towne Reate aforesaid, and there maried a wife. But my selfe could never finde (make what search I could) any signe or trace to lead me thereto.

2 (*) * The Empe rour. Vespasian was borne in the Sabines territorie beyond Reate within a smal village named Phalacrine, the fifteenth day before the (*) * 17, th Of Nouember, Calends of December, in the evening, when Q. Camerinvs and Caivs Poppaevs Sabinvs were consuls: five yeeres before that Avgvstvs departed out of this world. His bringing up he had under Tertvlla his grandmother by the fathers side, in the land and living that she had about Cosa. Whereupon, when hee was Emperour hee both frequented continually the place of his birth and breeding, the Capitall hovse and manour remaining still as it had beene in former times, nothing altered (because forsooth, his eyes should have no losse nor misse of that which they were wont to see there) and loved also the memoriall of his grandmother so deerely, that on all solemne and festivall, and high daies, hee continued ever drinking out of a silver pot that was hers and out of none other. After he had put on his (*) * In 17 th yeere of his age, virile gowne, he refused a long time the (a) Senatours robe, although his brother had attained therto: neither could he be forced to seeke for it at last but by his owne mother. Shee in the end wrought perforce so much from him, by way of reprochful taunts more than by faire intreatie or reverent authoritie: whiles, ever and anone, shee called him in taunting wise, his brothers huisher. He served as Tribune military in Thra cia: and in quality of Questor had the government of Crete and Cyrene, provinces by lot fallen unto him. When he sued to be Aedile, & afterwards Pretour he hard ly attained to the former Offices (and not without some repulse) euen in the sixth Page 241 place: but presently at his first suit and with the formost being chosen Pretour, and upon displeasure taken, maliciously affected against the Senate; because he would by all maner of demerite win the favour of Caius the Emperor, he earnestly demanded extraordinary playes & games in honor of him for his victory in Germanie. and gave opinion in the Senate house, that to augment the punishment of certeine conspiratours (against him), their dead bodies should bee cast forth and left unburied. Hee gave him also solemne thankes before that right honorable degree, for vouchsafing him the honor to be a guest of his at a supper.

Amid these occurrents, he espoused Flavia Domitilla, the freed woman3 of Statilius Cap [•…] Lla, a Romane gentleman of Sabraca, and an Africane borne, committed unto him sometime upon trust, and enfranchised in the freedom of Latium: but afterwards pronounced a gentlewoman born & naturalized a Citizen of Rome, in the Court of Iudges delegate, upon claime made by her father Flavius Liberalis borne at Ferentinum, (a man that never rose higher than to be a (*) * Of nota [•…] , Scribe to a Questour) who vouched her freedome. By her he had issew, Titus Damitianus, and Domitilla. His wife & daughter he overlived, and buried them whiles he was yet in State of a private person. After his foresaid wives decease, he called home againe to cohabite with him in his house Caenis a freed-woman of Antonia, and her (*) * Or Keeper of her books and accompts. Secretarie, whom he had fansied in former time: and her he kept when he was Emperour, insteede of his true and lawfull wife.

Vnder the Emperour Claudius, by especiall favour of Narcissus,4 sent he was into Germanie as Lieutenant of a legion: from thence being removed into Britaine, he fought thirtie battailes with the enemie: Two most mightie nations, and above twentie towns, togither with the Isle of Wight lying next to the said Britaine, he subdued, under the conduct partly of A. Plautius Lieutenant to the consul, and in part of Claudius himselfe, for which worthyA, V. C. 804. acts he received trivmphall ornaments, and in short space two sacerdotall dignities with a consulship besides which he bare the two last moneths of the yeere. For the middle time between, even until he was Proconsul, he led a private life in a retyring place out of the way, for feare of Agrippina, who as yet bare a great stroke with her (*) * Nero. sonne, and hated to the heart all the friends of Narcissus, although deceased. After this, hauing the province of Africk allotted unto him, hee governed the same with singular integritie, & not without much honor & reputation: but that in a seditious commotion at Adrumetum, there were (*) * Or Tu [•…] eps. Rape- (a) rootes flung at his head. Certaine it is, that from thence he returned nothing richer than he was; as who not able to keepe credit, but growen almost bankrupt, was driven to mortgage all his houses and lands unto his brother: and of necessitie, for the maintenance of his estate and dignity, went so low as to make gaines by hucksters (*) * Mang [•…] ices qu [•…] stus. Which extendeth also to slaves & old wares or thripperie. trade pampering * beastes for better sale. Whereupon he was commonly named Mulio i. Mulitier. It is said also that conuicted he was for extorting from a young man 200 thousand sesterces, in consideration that by his meanes hee had obteined a Senators dignitie even against his owne fathers will, For which hee had a sore rebuke. Whiles he travailed through Achaia in the traine and inward companie of Nero, he incurred his heavie displeasure in the highest degree, for that Page 242 whiles he was chaunting, either he made many starts away out of the place, or else slept, if he staied there still. And being forbidden not only to conuerse in the same lodging with him, but also to salute him publikely with others, he withdrew himselfe aside into a small cittie, and which stood out of the way: untill such time, as lying close there and fearing the worst, the government of a (*) * [〈◊〉] . province with the commaund of an armie was offred unto him. There had been spred throughout all the East parts an opinion of olde, and the same setled in mens heades and constantly beleeved, That by the appointment of the destinies about such a time there should come out of Ivry those, who were to be Lords of the whole World: which being a prophesie (as afterwards the event shewed) foretelling of the Romane Emperour, the (*) * Who then looked for their Messias & doe so still. Iewes drawing to themselues, rebelled: and having slaine the (*) * Or governour, Sabinus. President there, put to flight also the (*) * Gallus. Lieutenant generall of Syria (a man of consular degree) comming in to ayde; and tooke from him the (*) * i. The maine standerd. Aegle. To represse this insurrection, because there was neede of a greater armie and a ualiant Captaine, yet such an one, as to whom a matter of so great consequence might safely be committed; himselfe was chosen above all others, as a man of approved valour and industrie; howbeit no way to be feared for the meannesse of his birth, linage and name. Having therefore under his hand an addition to the former poure, of two (*) * Romaine. legions, eight (*) * these cornets and cohorts seeme to bee Auxiliaries cornets of horse and tenne cohorts (of foote): taking also unto him among other Lieutenants, his elder (*) * Titus. son, no sooner arrived he in that province, but the other (*) * Or Provinces rather in the East part states likewise next adjoyning, he brought into admiration of him, for re forming immediatly at his first comming the discipline of the campe, and giving the charge in one or two battailes with such resolution, as that in the assault of a castle, he caught a rap with a stone upon his knee, and received in his targuete some shot of arrowes.

5 After Nero and Galea, whiles Otho and Vitellius strove for Soveraintie, hee had good hope of the Empire, conceived long before, by these presaging tokens (which I wil now relate) within a countrey ferme by the Citie side, belonging to the Flavij, there stood an olde Oke consecrated unto Mars, which at 3. childbirths of Vespasia sodainly did put forth every time a several bough from the stock: undoubted signes fore-shewing the destinie & fortune of each one. The first was small and slender, which quickly withered (and therefore the girle at that time borne lived not one yeere to an end): the second grewe very stiffe and long withall, which pretended great felicitie: but the third, came to the bignesse of a tree. Whereupon Sabinus the father (of Vespasian) beeing confirmed beside by the answere of a (*) * One of these that prie into beastes bowels Southsayer, brought word backe (by report) unto his owne (*) * [〈◊〉] the Grandmother of Vespasian. Mother, that she had a Nephew borne who should be (*) * Emperour. Cæsar: Whereat, shee did nothing else but set up a laughter, meruailing that her sonne should have a cracked braine and fall a doting now, since that his Mother had her wittes still whole and sound: Soone after, when Caius Cæsar, offended and angrie with him, for that beeing Aedile hee had not beene carefull about sweeping and clensing the streetes, had commanded hee should bee all bedawbed with mire that the Souldiours gathered up and threw into the lap of his embrodred Page 243 robe, some were ready to make this interpretation thereof, that the common weale trodden one day under foote and forlorne by some civill troubles, should fall into his protection and as it were into his boso [•…] e. As hee was at his dinner upon a time, a strange dog brought into his dining roome a mans hand and layed it under the boarde. Againe, as hee sate another time at supper, an Oxe having beene at plough and shaken of his yoke, rushed into the parlour where hee was at meate: and when hee had driven the waiters and seruitours out, as if all on a sodaine hee had beene wearie, layed him downe along at his feete where hee sate, and gently put his necke under him. A Cypresse tree likewise in his Grand-fathers land without anie force of tempest plucked up by the roote and layed along, the very next day following rose up againe greener and stronger than before. But in Achaia hee dreamed, That hee and his, should beginne to prosper so soone as Nero had a tooth drawen out of his head. Now it fortuned, that the morrow following, a Chirurgion that came forth into the court-yeard shewed unto him a tooth of Neroes newly drawen. In Iurie, when hee consulted with the Oracle of the good (a) Carmelus, the answere which was given, assured him in these tearmes, That whatsoever he thought upon and cast in his minde (were it never so great) it should so come to passe: And one of the Noble men of that Countrey taken captive, named (*) * Who wrote the Iewish historie. Iosephus, when hee was cast into prison, avouched and sayde unto him most constantly, that hee should shortly be set at liberty even by him, but hee should be Emperour first. There were moreover significant tokens presaging no lesse reported unto him out of the very Citie of Rome: and namely, that Nero in his latter dayes, a little before his death, was warned in a dreame to take the sacred Chariot of Iupiter Optimus Maximus forth of the Chappel where it stoode, into Vespasians house, and so from (*) * Inde in Circum thence into the Cirque. Also, not long after, as Galba held the solemne election for (*) * Vespasians. his second Consulship, the statue of Iulius, late Cæsar of famous memorie, turned of it selfe into the (b) East. And at the field fought before Bebriacum, ere the battailes joyned, two Aegles had a conflict and bickered together in all their sights: and when the one of them was foyled and overcome, a third came at the very instant from the sunne rising and chased the Victresse away.

6 Yet for all this attempted he no enterprise (notwithstanding his friends & souldiours were most prest and forward yea and urgent upon him) before that hee was sollicited by the unexpected favour, of some, who as it fell out were both unknowen to him and also absent. Two thousand drawen out of the three legions of the Maesian armie and sent to ayde Otho, when they were upon the way marching (albeit newes came unto them that hee was vanquished and had layed violent hands upon himselfe,) held on their journey neverthelesse as farre as to Aquileia; as giving small credit to that rumour: where after they had by vantage of opportunities offred, and vncontrolled libertie, committed all manner of robberies and outrageous villanies, fearing least if they returned backe againe, they should answere for their misdemeanours, and abide condigne punishment therefore; layed their heades togither, and consulted about the chusing and creating of an Emperovr. For, worse they tooke not themselues nor inferiour, eyther to the Page 244 armie in Spaine that had set up Galba: or to the Pretorian bands, which had made Otho: or to the Germanician forces who had elected Vitellius, Emperours. Having purposed therefore and nominated of the Consular Lieutenants as manie, as they coulde in anie place thinke upon: when they misliked all the rest, taking exceptions against one for this cause and another for that: Whiles some againe of that third Legion, which a little before the death of Nero had been translated out of Syria into Mesia, highly praysed and extolled Vespasian; they all accorded thereto, and without delay, wrote his name upon their flagges and banners. And verily, for that time this project was smuddred, the companies for a while reclaimed, and all brought into good order. But when the sayde fact was once divulged: Tiberius Alexander (*) * Or Governour. Provost of Aegypt was the first that forced the Legions to sweare allegeance unto Ve [•…] Pasian, upon the (*) * The first day. kalends of Ivly, which ever after was celebrated for the first day and beginning of his Empire. After them, the armie in Iurie tooke the same oath before Vespasian himselfe, the (*) * The 11 of Iuly fifth day before the Ides of Iulie. These enterprises were very much farthered, by the copie of a letter that went commonly through mens hands (true or false I wote not) of Otho now deceased, to Vespasian, charging and willing him now at the last cast, of all love to revenge his death, and wishing him withall, to relieve the distressed state of the Common-wealth: by a rumour also spred abroad, That Vitellius upon his victorie ment fully to make an exchange of the legions winter harbours: namely, to remove those that wintered in Germanie into the (*) * No maruaile then, if the armies there inclined to Vespasi [•…] n. East Provinces, as to a more secure seruice and easier warfare. Moreover, among the Governours of Provinces, Lucinius Mucianus, and of the Kings, Vologesus of Parthia, had promised; the (*) * Mucianus. one (laying downe all grudge and enmitie which unto that time he openly (*) * Vnto Vespasia͏̄ professed upon a humour of aemulation) the Syrian armie: and the (*) * K. Vologesus. other fortie thousand archers.

7 Vespasian therefore having undertaken a civill warre, and sent before him his Capitaines and forces into Italie, pas [•…] ed over in the meane time to Alexandria, for to be possessed of the frontier streights and Av [•…] Nues of Aegypt. Heere when he had voided all companie from him and was entred alone into the Temple of Serapis, after he had, upon much propitious favour of that god obtained, devoutly at length turned him selfe about; him thought hee sawe (a) Basilides one who was knowen to have had accesse unto no man, and long since for the infirmitie of his sinewes, skarce able to set one foote before another, and withall to bee absent a (*) * The Palsey. great way of, to present unto him Veruaine & sacred herbes guirlands also and loaves of bread,* 80 Miles, hap pily, the same whom Tacitus reporteth to have been the Priest of Ca [•…] ne lu [•…] . (as the manner is in that place. And heereupon immediately letters came unto him, emporting thus much, that the forces of Vitellius were discomfited before Cremona: reporting besides, that himselfe was killed at Rome. The onely thing that hee wanted; (being as one would say, a Prince unlooked for, and as yet new come to the Empire) was Countenance, authoritie, and a kinde as it were of royall majestie. But even that also came on a pace (by this occasion) It fortuned that a certaine meane commoner starke Page 245 blind; another likewise with a feeble and lame leg, came both togither unto him as hee sat upon the tribunall, craving that helpe and remedie for their infirmities which had beene s [•…] ewed unto them by Serapis in their dreames: namely, Tha [•…] (*) * Vespasian. hee should restore the one to his sight, if he did but spit into his eyes: and strengthen the others legge, if hee vouchsafed onely to touch it with his heele. Now when as hee could hardly beleeve, that the thing anie way would finde successe and speede accordingly, and therefore durst not so much as put it to the venture: at the last through the perswasion of friends, openly before the whole assembly, hee assayed both meanes, neither missed hee of the effect. About the same time, at Tegea in Arcadia, by the Instinct and motion of Prophets, there were digged out of the ground in a consecrated place, manufactures and vessels of antique worke: and among the same an Image, resembling for all the World Vespasian.

8 Thus qualified as hee was and graced with so great fame, hee returned toA, V, C, 823 824 825 827 828 829 830 832 Rome: and after his triumph over the Iewes, hee added eight Consulships more to that which of olde hee had borne. He tooke upon him also the Censureship: and all the time of his Empire esteemed nothing more deare, than first to establish and afterwards to adorne the Common weale, brought almost to utter decay, and at the point to fall downe. The souldiours, some presuming boldly of their victories, others in griefe for their shamefull (*) * In taking part against him. disgrace were growen to all manner of licentiousnesse and audacitie. The Provinces likewise and free states, yea and some kingdomes, fell to discord & seditious tumults among them selues. And therefore of the Vitellians he both cassed and also chasticed very many. As for the partners with him in victorie: so farre was hee from allowing them any extraordinary indulgence, that their very due and lawfull rewardes hee payed not but slackely. And because hee would not let slip anie occasion of reforming militarie discipline, when a certain gallant youth smelling hote of sweet balmes and perfumes came unto him, to give thanks for an (*) * Or charge. Office obtained at his hands; after a strange countenance shewing his dislike of him, hee gave him also in words, a most bitter and grieuous checke, saying, I would rather thou haddest stunke of garlicke, and so revoked his letters patents for the graunt. As touching the mariners and sea seruitours, such of them as are wont to passe to and fro on foote, by (*) * Per vices, some reade per vicos [〈◊〉] the townes [•…] nd villages turnes from Ostia and Puteoli to Rome; who were petitioners unto him that some certaine allowance might bee set downe for to finde them shoes: hee thought it not sufficient to sende them awaye without answere, but commanded that for ever after they should runne up and downe betweene (*) * Barefoote. unshod. And so, from that time they use to doe. Achaia, Lycia, Rhodes; Bizantivm and Samos, (*) * Whereas they had been free State [•…] , first diffranchised: likewise, Thracia Cilicia and Comagene, subiect untill that time to Kings hee reduced all into the forme of a province. Into Cappadocia, for the continuall rodes and incursions that the Barbarians made, he brought a poure besides, of Legions, and in liev of a Romane knight, he placed there for Ruler, a man who had beene Consul. The Citie of Rome by reason of olde skarefires Page 246 and ruines was much blemished and disfigured. Hee permitted therefore any man to seize as his owne all vacant plots of ground, and to builde thereupon, in case the owners and Land-lords were slacke in that behalfe. Him selfe tooke upon him the reedefying of the Capitoll, and was the first man that did set his hand to the ridding of the rubbish and rammell, yea and upon his owne necke caried some of it awaye: three thousand tables of brasse also which were burnt with the sayd Temple, hee undertooke to make and set up againe, having searched and sought ought from all places the pattrons and (*) * For in them were engraven the publike evidences and words. &c copies thereof. A most bewtifull instrument and right auncient record of the whole Empire hee compiled and finished; wherein were contained from the first beginning well neere of the Citie, all actes of Senate, all deedes passed by the Communalty as concerning Leagues Alliances and priviledges granted to any whatsoever.

9 Hee built also newe workes: the temple of peace, situate next unto the Forum: That likewise of Clavdivs late Emperour of sacred memorie, seated upon the mount Caelius which verily had beene begun by (*) * Claudius his wife. Agrippina, but almost from the very foundation destroyed by Nero. Item a most stately Amphitheatre in the heart of the Citie, (*) * Vt destinasse compererat Augu stum, amplissimi [•…] according as hee understood, that Avgvstvs intended such an one. The two (*) * Of Senatours ad gentlemen degrees wasted by sundry massacres and disteined through the negligence of former times, he cleansed and supplyed, by a review and visitation of Senate and gentry both: wherein he remooved the unworthiest persons and tooke in the most honest that were to bee found, either of Italians or provinciall inhabitants. And to the ende it might be knowne, that both the said degrees differed one from another not so much in libertie as in dignitie; hee pronounced in the case of a certaine braule betweene a Senatour and a knight of Rome. That Senatours might not be provoked first with foule language: mary to aunswere them with evill words againe, was but Civilitie and a matter allowed.

10 Suites in law depending one uppon another were growen in everie Court exceeding much: whiles the old Actions by the Intervall of (*) * The vacation during the Ci vil troubles: Iurisdiction, hung still undecided and new quarrels arose to encrease them, occasioned by the tumultuous troubles of those times. Hee chose therefore certaine commissioners by lot, some by whome the Gods taken and caried away perforce during the warres might be restored; and others, who extraordinarily should determine and iudge betweene partie and partie in (a) (*) * Which pertai [•…] [〈◊〉] to the Centumvirs Court. to wit, C [•…] vile causes between private persons, as pro bates of Testaments &c, Vide Cicer. 1, de Oratore. Centumvirall cases; (which were so many, as that the (*) * Plantifes & defendants. parties themselues, as it was thought, could hardly by course of nature live to see an end of them) and reduce them all to as small a number as possiblie might be.

11 Wanton lust and wastfull expense, without restraint of any man had gotten a mightie head. Hee mooved the Senate therefore to make a decree: That, what woman soever ioyned her selfe in (*) * Si iunxiet, as Sabellicus expoundeth it: or, at large. carnally. wedlocke unto another mans bondseruant, should be reputed a bondwoman. Item that it might not bee lawfull for Vsurers to demaund any debt of young men whiles they were under their fathers Page 247 tuition for mony credited out unto them. I mean, not so much as after their decease. In all other matters, from the very first. beginning of his Empire unto the end, hee was curteous enough and full of Clemencie.

12 His former meane estate and condition, hee dissimuled not at anie time. nay hee would often of himselfe professe the same and make it knowen openly: Yea and when some went about to fetch the originall of the Flavian Linage, from as farre as the founders of Reate, and the companion of Hercules whose monument is to bee seene in the way (*) * By which salt was brought out of the Sabines countrey to Rome. Salaria, hee mocked and laughed them to skorne for their labours. And so farre was he from desiring anie (*) * Extrinsecu [•…] : outward ornaments in shewe of the World, that upon his triump day, being wearied with the slow march and taedious traine of the pompe, he could not hold but say plainely, that hee was well enough serued and iustly punished; who beeing an aged man had so foolishly longed for a triumph: as if forsooth it had of right beene due unto his (*) * who were but of meane calling. forefathers, or ever hoped for (*) * Being threescore of age, & therefore past the ambitious desire of such glory. by him selfe. Neither accepted he so much, as the tribunes authority and addition, of Pater patriae in his stile, but it was long first. For hee had forlet altogether the custome of searching those that came in duty to salute him even whiles yet the Civill warre continued.

13 The (*) * Libertatem which the greekes call Parrhesian. franke-speech of his friendes: the figurative tearmes and quippes of Lawyers pleading at the barre, and the unmannerly rudenesse of Philosophers hee tooke most mildely. (*) * His friend. Licinivs Mucianus, a man notorious for preposterous wantonnesse but (presuming confidently of his (*) * Whatsoever you are: noting him for that he was Pathicus. good deserts) not so respective of him as reverent duty would, hee could never finde in his heart to gird and nip againe but secretly: and thus farre forth onely as in complaining of him unto some good friend of them both to knit up all with these words for a conclusion, yet (*) * For he was the chiefe hel per of him to the Empire. am I a man. When (*) * A Lawyer. Saluius Liberalis, pleading in the defence of a rich client was so bolde as to say. What is that to (*) * Noting Vespasian, as it he had a longing eye after his wealth and therefore sought his con demnation. Cæsar, if Hipparchus be worth an hundred millians of Sesterces? him selfe also commended and thanked him for it. Demetrius the (*) * A phi [•…] osopher Cynicke meeting him in the way after hee was come (*) * Post dominati onem alias damnat onem i. after he was conde͏̄ ned for Vespasia͏̄ had banished al Philosophers out of Rome & confined this Demetrius to an Iland Xiphilin. to his Soveraigne dignitie, and not deigning once to rise up nor to salute him, but rather barking at him I wote not what, he thought it enough to call (a) Cur.dogge.

14 Displeasures to him done, and enmities, he never caried in mind nor revenged. The daughter of Vitellius his enemie he maried into a most noble house: he gave unto her a rich dowry withall, and furniture accordingly. Whe͏̄ as, by reason that he was forbidden the Court under Nero hee stood in great feare, and was to seeke what to do or whether to goe? one of the gentlemen huishers, whose office it was to admit men into the presence, in thrusting him out, had bidden him abire (*) * Or Morbovia͏̄ according to which phrase we say, the foule ill take thee. The Greekes: Eis Choracas. i. The Crowes eate thee. The Latines in mala͏̄ crucem i go hang Morboniam, i. to be gone in a mischiefe. When this fellow afterwards came to aske forgivenesse, he proceeded no further in heat of anger but to wordes onely, and to quite him with just as many and almost the very same. For, so farre was hee from working the overthrowe and death of anye person, upon anye suspicion or feare conceived: Page 248 that when his friendes admonished him to beware of Maetius Pomposianus, because it was generally beleeved that the Astrologors had by the horoscope of his nativitie assured him to bee Emperour another day, hee aduanced the same Metivs to the Consulship, presuming and promising in the mans behalfe, that hee would be one day mindfull of this benefit and good turne of his.

15 There is not lightly found an innocent person to have beene punished, but when hee was absent and not ware thereof: or at leastwise unwilling thereto and deceived. With Heluidius Priscus who onely had saluted him after his returne out of Syria, by his private name, (*) * Not Cæsar nor Augustus nor Imperator plaine Vespasian: and being pretour in all his Edicts and Proclamations passed him over without any honour at all, or once naming him, hee was not angry and displeased, before that he had, with his most insolent altercations made him in manner contemptible and little better than an ordinarie person. Him also, notwithstanding he was first confined to a place and afterwards commanded to bee killed, hee would have given a great deale to have saved by all meanes possible: as who sent certein of purpose to call backe the murderers: and saved his life hee had, but that false word came backe that he was dispatched alreadie. Otherwise he never rejoyced in the death of any but rather when malefactours were justly punished and executed, hee would weepe and groane againe.

16 The onely thing, for which hee might worthily bee blamed was covetousnesse. For, not content with this, To have revived the taxes & payments omitted by Galba: to have laied unto them other newe and heavie impositions: to have enhaunsed also the Tributes of the provinces, yea and of some d [•…] pled the same: he fell openly to negotiate and deale in certaine trades, which, even for a private person were a shame to use: buying up and engrossing some commodities for this purpose onely to put the same of, afterwardes at an higher price. Neither made hee it straung to sell either honourable places unto suiters for them . or absolutions and pardons, to men in trouble, whether they were innocent or gultie it skilled not. Furthermore, it is verily thought that of his Procuratours, if any were greedy and given to extortion more than other, his manner was to promote such for the nonce to higher offices: to the ende, that when they were more enriched, hee might soone after condemne them. And commonly it was sayd, that those hee vsed as spunges, for that hee did wet them well when they were drie, and presse them hard when they were wette. Some write that hee was by nature most covetous; & that an old Neat heard upbraided him once therwith who being at his handes denied freedome without paying for it (which hee hu͏̄blie craved of him now invested in the Empire) cryed out with a lowd voice and said, The Wolfe might change his haire, but not his qualities. Contrariwise there bee againe who are of opinion, that hee was driven to spoyle, to pill and poll of necessitie, even for extreame want both in the common treasurie and Page 249 also in his owne exchequer: whereof he gave some testimonie in the beginning immediately of his Empire; professing that there was neede of fortie thousand Millenes to set the State upright againe. Which also seemeth to sounde more neere unto the truth. Because the monie by him ill gotten: Hee used and bestowed passing well. To all sorts of men hee was most liberall. The (a) Estate and wealth of Senatours he made up to the full. To decaied men that had beene Consuls, hee allowed for their maintenance 500 thousand Sesterces by the yeere. Very many Cities throughout the World by Earth-quake or fire ruinate, hee reedified better then they were before.

17 Fine wits and cunning Artisanes hee set much store by, and cherished them above all others, Hee was the first, that out of his owne coffers appointed for professed Rhetoricians, as well in Latine as in Greeke, an yeerely Salarie of an hundred thousand Sesterces a peece. Excellent Poets, as also (*) * Artifices, for so Livie termeth Lud [•…] os et histriones i. stage players. Actours he (*) * Or hyred. bought up. Semblably, upon the workeman who had repaired and set up againe, the Geantlike Image called Colossvs, hee bestowed a notable (*) * Or reward congiarie, and endewed him with a great stipend beside: to an Enginer also, who promised to bring into the Capitoll huge Columnes with small charges, hee gave for his devise onely no meane reward; and released him his labour in performing that worke, saying withall by way of preface, That he should suffer him to (*) * To allow the͏̄ wages for their paineful labor in such works rather then to have the same done without them: and as we say, to keep poore people at worke. feed the poore commons.

18 At those playes during which the stage of Marcellus Theatre newly reedified, was dedicated: he had brovght into request and vse againe even the olde (*) * Eare delights as Players Mu sicians, &c. (a) Acroames. To Apollinaris the Tragoedian hee gave foure hundred thousand sesterces. To Terpnus and Diodorus two harpers, two hundred thousand a peece: to some one hundred: and to whom hee gave least fortie thousand, over and above a great number of golden Coronets. Hee feasted continually: and for the most part by making (*) * Rectá: in opposition to. sportul [•…] full suppers and those very plentifull: for why? His meaning was to helpe the Butchers and such as solde victuals. As hee delivered foorth giftes unto men at the Saturnalia, so hee did to Women upon the (b) Kalends of March. Yet verely for all this, coulde hee not avoide the infamous name of his former avarice. The men of Alexandria termed him still Cybiosastes after the surname of one of their Kings, given to most base and beggerly gayne. And even at his very funerals, Favor the Arch-counterfaict representing his person, and imitating (as the manner is) his deeds and wordes whiles hee lived, when hee asked the Procuratours openly, what the charges might bee of his funerall and the pompe thereto belonging? No sooner hearde that it would arise to tenne Millenes of Sesterces, but hee cried, Give mee one hundred thousand, and make no more adoe but throw mee into Tiber.

19 Of a middle stature hee was: well set: his limmes compact and strongly made: with a countenance as if he streined hard for a stoole. Whereupon [•…] ne. Page 250 of these plaisants came out with a pretie conceit. For when Vespasian seemed to request the fellow for to breake a iest upon him also, as well as upon others, that I will quoth he, If you had done your businesse once upon the seege. His health hee had no man better: although for the preseruation thereof hee did no more, but rub his owne chawes and other parts of the bodie to a certeine iust (a) number within the (*) * A rou͏̄d place of exercise be lo͏̄ging to the baines. some would have it to be a tennis court. Sphaeristerium: and withall, monethly interpose abstinence from all foode one (*) * Naturall i. 24 houres. whole day.

20 This course and order of life for the most part he held. Whiles hee was Emperour he waked alwayes very early, and (*) * Or arose be fore day. de nocte vigilabat Sextus Aurelius writeth of him that he watched al night, Plinie also saith Nocte vti solitum. ut dierum actus noctibus, et nocturnos diebus traijceret. late in the night. Then, having red through all missives, and the Breviaries of everie office: hee admitted his friends: and whiles hee wat saluted, he both put on his own shooes, and also apparailled and made himselfe ready. After dispatch of all occurrent businesses, hee tooke himselfe to (a) gestation, and so to rest: having one of his Concubines, lying by his side: of whom hee had appointed a great number in steede of Caenis deceassed. From his (*) * A Secrete, or re tiring place privie closet, hee passed into his Baine and so to his refection roume. Neyther was he, by report, at any time fuller of humanitie, or redier to doe a pleasure. And such oportunities of time as these, his domesticall seruants waited for especially, to preferre their petitions in.

21 At his suppers, and (*) * Et semper alias Cum amicis, &c. Others read, et super aieas Communissimus i. & whiles he plaied at hazard &c. otherwise at all times with his friends being most pleasant and courteous, hee dispatched many matters by way of mirth. For given exceedingly hee was to skoffs, and those so skurrile and filthy, that he could not so much as forbeare words of (b) ribaudrie. And yet there bee many right pleasant conceited iests of his extant. Among which this also goes for one. Being aduertised by Menstrius Florus, a man of Consuls degree, to pronounce (*) * A word in latine that signifieth Carts or wa [•…] nes. Plaustra, rather than Plostra, hee saluted him the next morrow by the name of (*) * And not Flo rus. (c) Flaurus. Having yeelded at length to a certaine woman enamoured of him, and readie as it were to dye for pure love, when she (*) * Cum perducta &c. not perducta, in a quite contrarie sense, as if he had given her so much. was brought to his bed, and had given him fortie thousand sesterces for lying with her, his Steward comes to put him in minde in what manner and forme hee would have this summe of money to bee set downe in his (*) * Quadraginta Sestertia. alias quadringenta sestertia i. 400 thousand. booke of accompts? marie thus quoth he, Vespasiano adamato i. Item given to (d) Vespasian beloved.

22 Hee used Greeke Verses also in good season and aptly applyed: as namely of a certaine fellow, tall and high of stature, but (a) shrewde and testie withall, in this mannner, “ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ,” and especially of Cerylus, his freed-man: upon whom, for that being exceeding* To wit, in the page of receits rich, yet to avoyde a payment sometime to his Exchequer, hee began to give it out that hee was free borne, and so changed his name and called himselfe Laches, Vespasian placed in these tearmes:

Howbeit, most of all hee affected a kinde of dicacitie in his unseemely gayne and filthy lucre: to the end, that by some skoffing cavill, hee might put by and doe awaie the enuie of the thing, turning all to merrie jests. A Minister and seruitour about him, whom hee loved deerely; made suite in the behalfe of one as his brother, for a Stewardship. When hee had put him off to a farther day, hee called unto him the partie himselfe, that made meanes for the thing: and having (*) * Or received. exacted so much monie at his hands, as hee had agreeed for with the Mediatour aforesayd, without more delay, he ordained him Steward. Soone after when the Seruitour interposed him selfe, Goe your wayes quoth he, seeke you another to be your brother: For, this fellow whom you think to be yours is become mine. Suspecting that his mulitier who drave his carroch alighted one time, as it were to shoo his Mules, thereby to winne some aduantage of time and delay, for one that had a matter in lawe and was comming unto him: hee asked the Mulitier what might the shooing of his mules (*) * The parti [•…] that came to sollicite his owne cause. cost? and so covenanted with him to have part of his gaines. When his sonne Titus seemed to finde fault with him for devising a kinde of tribute, even out of urine: • For to receive the money. the monie that came unto his hand of the first paiment, hee put unto his sonnes nose: asking withall, whether he was offended with the smell, or no, and when he answered No: and yet quoth he, it commeth of Vrine. Certaine Embassadours brought him word, that there was decreed for him at the common charges of the States a gean [•…] like image, that would cost no meane summe of money. He commanded them to reare the same immediately, shewing therewith his hand (*) * Meaning his hand. hollow. Here is the base quoth he and (*) * Monume͏̄t or Sepulchre. piedstall for it, ready. And not so much as in the feare & extreame perill of death forbare he skoffing. For when as among other prodigious signes the (*) * The Mausoleum Mausoleum of the Cæsars opened sodainely, and a blazing starre appeared: The one (*) * Wheras himself was not of that line. of them he sayde, did concerne Iunia Calvina a gentlewoman of (*) * A blazing starre Augustus (Caesars) race: the other had reference to the King of the Parthians, who ware his haire (*) * Whereupo͏̄ is called Siella Crinita & Cometes in Greeke. long. In the very first accesse also and fit of his disease, Me thinkes quoth he, I am (*) * Am a dying, & to grow to be a god. a deifying.

23 In his ninth Consulship, after he had been assayled in Campania with some light motions and grudgings of his sicknesse, and thereupon returned forthwith to the Citie, hee went from thence to Catiliae and the lands he had about Reate, where every yeere hee was wont to summer, Heere, having (besides the maladie still growing upon him) hurt also his guttes and bowels with the use of (*) * These waters of Catili [•…] as Plini [•…] writeth were exceeding cold. colde (a) water, and yet neverthelesse executed the functions of an Emperour, after his accustomed manner, in so much as lying upon his bed, hee gave audience to Embassadours: when all of a sodaine he fell into a loosenesse of the bellie, that hee fainted and was ready to swound therewith, An Emperour quoth he ought to dye standing. As he was arising therfore and streining still to (*) * To avoid the order of the guttes. ease his bodie he dyed in their hands that helped to lift him up, the 8thA, V. C. 832. day (*) * 24. Iune. before the Calends of Iuly: when he had lived threescore yeeres and nine, (*) * Su [•…] erꝫ mese [•…] ac d [•…] em [〈◊〉] . seven moneths and seven dayes over.

24 All writers agree in this, that so confident he was alwayes of his owne (*) * Or nativitie. Horoscope and his childrens, that after so many conspiracies continually plotted against him hee durst warrant and assure the Senate that either his owne Sonnes should succeede him or none. It is sayde moreover, that hee dreamed upon a time, How hee sawe a paire of skales hanging in the midst of the porch and entrie of his house palatine, with the beame thereof even ballanced, so as in the one ballance stoode Claudius and Nero: in the other, himselfe and his sonnes. And it fell out so indeede: for they ruled the Empire of both sides so many yeers, and the like space of time just.