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CHAP. XVIII. [unspec A]
¶ Who they were in Rome, and of whom enfranchised, that of slaues rise to be mightie, and of exceeding wealth.
BVt what meane I to stand vpon those who had learning to commend and bring them into some state of credit and honour? Haue not the same forefathers of ours seene in the like plight standing within a cage, with a marke of chaulke vpon their feet, and a locke about their heeles, Chrysogonus the slaue to Sylla, Amphion to Qu. Catulus, Hero to Lu. Lucullus, Demetrius to Pompey, Auge the bondmaid to Demetrius (though she was thought to be the base daughter of Pompey,) Hipparchus the slaue of Antonius, Menas and Menecrates of Sex. Pompeius, and an infinite sort of others, whom I cannot reckon vp? and yet they all being by their masters enfranchised, [unspec B] became wonderfull rich by the bloudshed and goods of Romane citizens, in that licentious time of proscriptions. Well, this was the marke of slaues set out by companies in the market to be sold: and this is the opprobrious and reprochful note, to twit those by, that in their fortunes are growne insolent. And yet we in our daies haue knowne the same persons to climbe vnto the place of highest honour and authority, insomuch, as we haue seene with our owne eies the Se∣nat (by commandement from Agrippina the Empresse, wife to Claudius Caesar) to decree vnto en∣franchised slaues, the robes of Pretours, with the badges and ornaments to that dignity belong∣ing; yea, and such to bee sent againe as it were with the axes and knitches of rods decked with Lawrell, into those countries to gouerne, from whence they came at first poore slaues with their feet chalked and marked for the market. [unspec C]