The historie of tvvelve Cæsars emperours of Rome: written in Latine by C. Suetonius Tranquillus, and newly translated into English. With a marginall glosse, and other briefe annotations there-upon.

ANNOTATIONS VPON Caius Caesar Caligula.

(a) CALLED by some, An∣nales or A•…•…nariae: of o∣thers, Comitiales. By which provided it was, In what yeares of a mans age, he was capable of Questure, Preture, Con∣sulate, or any other like Office of State: as also, it was limited, within what time betweene, one might eftsoones beare the same Office againe. Item, what the terme of everie Magistracie should be? &c. And albeit the auncient Romanes had no such lawes, but (as CORNELIVS SCIPIO at his petition of Aedileship made answere, when exception was ta∣ken against him for his young age) whomsoever the Quirites would charge to be a Magistrate, hee had yeares enough on his backe, yet afterwards, sundrie Statutes were enacted in that behalfe: although by vertue of speciall privileges, the same were not duly obserued. By the Chronologie it appeareth, that he was but ninteene yeares old when he became Que∣stor, like as TIBERIVS before him.

(b) Which TIBERIVS envying his greatnesse, wrought, therby to expose him unto greater dangers.

(a) WELL might this unseasonable exercise puff up and fill his skin with crudities and foggie humors, but hurtfull unto his health it was, and brought upon him diseases, and namely, that, called Cardiac•…•…, of which, some say, he died. Let them looke to it ther∣fore, who, because they would be fat, not only fall to bodily exercise out of time, even upon ful stomacks, but also every morning eate in their beds and sleepe upon it, yea and ordinarily take a nap at noone, so soone as their meat is out of their mouthes.

(a) By this Attribute, Civill, in our Author, ye must understand, Courtesie, Affabilitie, and a part not exceeding that of private Citizens, without ta∣king any state.

(a) As if the Gods, whose Images were shrined within, were not to be honoured any longer as Gods, suffering so good a man as Germanicus was, to die. For, as in token of honour, the people used to adorne the Statues and Images of famous persons with flowers and greene leaves, so, whom they did vilipend and despise, they were wont to cast stones at their Images and Statues.

(b) The Tut•…•…larie Gods of the house which ordi∣narily stood within a closet, called thereupon La∣rarium.

(c) For, to what end should they reare children any more? since Germanicus, growen to so good proofe, sped no better, but was taken away by un∣timely death.

(d) In this place, the circumstance sheweth, that the King of Parthians is meant, how ever the Per∣sian King and such mightie Mo•…•…ches, having un∣der their Dominion other pettie Kings as Tribu∣taries or Homagers, be so called: like as AGA∣MEMNON also in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

(a) Which, at Rome betokened a generall mour∣ning, occasioned upon some extraordinary calamitie, or feare of publicke daunger, even as with vs, the shutting in of Shop-windowes, &c.

(a) ABOVT the mids of this moneth, began the feast Saturnalia, celebrated with good cheere, with revels, dances, gaming and all kinde of liber•…•…e.

(a) For, common souldiers wore a certaine stud∣ded shoe, named Caliga.

(a) WHICH was later than the ordinarie time, by reason of Tiberius his lingering. For, usually these complements were performed at 17 yeares of age.

(a) IN this habite and manner of attire, coun∣terfeiting a woman, thereby to decline suspicion when he entered into other mens houses for to dis∣honour them and abuse their wives, whom our au∣thor termeth heere Adulteria, pro adulteris, as else where, conjugi•…•…, pro conjugibus.

(b) The fabulous Historie of Phaeth•…•… is well known, namely, how by misgovernment of the steeds which drew the Chariot of the Sunne his Father, he set the whole world on fire: By Ph•…•…thon therfore is meant, a combustion (as it were) and generall confusion of the Provinces, like as by the watersnake, the verie bane and poyson of the Roman State.

(•…•…) To doe him the greater honour, they inter∣taine him upon the way (as the maner was), with Sacrifices, Torches, Tapers, and wax lights.

(a) An opinion there was deepely setled in mens heads, that the death of one man might be excused and redeemed, with the death of another.

(a) The two hundred penie.

(b) His halfe image downeward from the head to the wast, portrayed with a Shield or Scutchion: & the same was commōly set out with the largest. Here∣upon, M. TVLLIVS CICERO, when he saw such a demie personage representing his brother QVIN∣TVS in the province that he governed (& a very litle man he was of stature) My brother, quoth he, in his halfe part, is greater than in the whole.

(b) A festivall holiday solemnized by heardmen, in the honour of Pales their Goddesses and Patro∣nesse. Vpon which day, the foundation of Rome Citie was laid. This feast they kept, the 12. day be∣fore the Kalends of May, to wit, the 20 of Aprill.

(a) Menius, a riotous unthrift, when he had wa∣sted his Patrimonie and sold his Capitall house in Rome, excepted in the sale, and reserved to himselfe

and his heires, one Columne or Pillar, from which he projected and put forth into the street a jettie, and upon i•…•… built a gallerie: out of which he might behold the sword-sencers in the market place, whereunto he had a fa•…•…e prospect from the said Pil∣lar. Whereupon all such galleries or buildings jet∣ting out in the street, be called Ma•…•…a.

(a) THE end of one verse, and beginning of a∣nother, cited out or H•…•…r in the second of his Ilias. The Poet ascribeth them unto sage •…•…lysses, in this sease.

One [Sovera•…•…gne] Lord, One King let there be.

(b) By exchaunging the ensignes and Ornaments of the Roman Soveraigne or Emperor, with the Re∣gall Diadem, purple Robe and S•…•…epter.

(c) Phoenico•…•…us is a water foule haunting lakes and fenaes, and the river Nilus, as H•…•…siodus writeth. The fethers be of colour read, or purple. Whereof it taketh the name: and the tongue is a most daintie and pleasant mo•…•…sell. So said Apitius, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 altis•…•… gurges. Of this Bird Martiall made an Epigram.

D•…•… •…•…ihi pe•…•…a ru•…•…ens •…•…omen: sed li•…•…gua gulosu N•…•…stra sapit. Quid si g•…•…ula lingua fores.

My name I take of wings so red, but unto glut∣tons ta•…•…t, My tongue right pleasing is: oh, what, if it could prate as fast.

(d) Some take them for Bistards: Birds decked, no doubt, with most beautifull fethers: as may ap∣peare by Tertullian against Marcion, in these words: V•…•…a Tetraon•…•…s pennula, (taceo de pa•…•…o) sordid•…•…m artifi∣cem pronuntiabit tibi Creatorem?

(e) They are thought to be Hens of Guinny.

(f) By the description of Clit•…•…, they be our Turkies.

(g) The Phesant called in old time Itis, (which was the sonne of Terens and Progne, transformed, as Poets feigne, into this Bird) and afterwards Phasia∣•…•… or Phasiana [A•…•…is], tooke his nams of Phasis a river and Citie in Colch•…•…s, according to this Epigram of Martials,

Argiva 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sum transp•…•…rtata Carina: A•…•…te mihi not•…•… •…•…il •…•…isi Ph•…•…sis erat.

In Argive ship transported first, I was to forraine land: Fore-time, nought else but Phasis towne, I knew, or Phasis strand.

(a) PHILO reporteth this farre otherwise, and telleth a pitifull Narration: How, by commission from Cai•…•…, certaine Colonels and Centurians came to young TIBERIVS, commaunding him to kill himselfe: because, forsooth, unlawfull it was for any other to murder a Prince of the Imperiall bloud. The youth, who had never seene any man killed, and by reason of his tender yeares was nothing at all experienced in the world, requested first of them, who were come thus to him, for to strike off his head, which he held out unto them: but seeing his request would not be heard, he desired them yet, to instruct him, in what part of his bodie he should stab him∣selfe for the speediest death? And so by instructi∣ons from them he was his owne executioner.

(a) ROMVLVS •…•…avished the Sabine virgins: and AVGVSTVS, by force tooke from TIBERI∣VS his wife LIVIA.

(a) Selena, in Greeke, signifieth the Moone. And well knowen it is, that as M. AN•…•…ONIVS the Tri•…•…vir called himselfe BACCHVS and OSI•…•…IS, so, CLEOPATRA his wife, tooke pleasure to be named Luna. i. the Moone, and Isis. Whereupon they gave to their sonne ALEXANDER be gotten betweene them, the name of the sunne, and to their daughter CLEOPATRA the name of the Moone, or Selena, which is all one.

The Consuls were reputed still (in outward shew) Soveraigne Magistrates, although indeed, that Cae∣sars caried all before them, and were absolute Mo∣narches.

(c) Some read, Tesseras deci•…•…a citius. i. Before the tenth houre, or foure of the clocke after noone, for so long continued the Stage-plaies ordinarily. At which time, the Emperours were wont to bestow their Tickets or Talies among the people, by vertue whereof they received such and such gifts.

(d) There be learned Criticks that expound this place farre otherwise, reading Pegmares, in steede of Pegmatis, and vnderstanding thereby such sword∣fencers, whose good hap it had beene to escape with life, the fall from those Frames or Pageants called Pegmata or Pegm•…•…, which with certaine vices or Skrewes were set up, and let downe, Vpon which as on scaffolds, malefactors were brought forth, eyther to exhibit a shew unto the people, fighting one with another at sharpe, to the outrance, or to make them sport, by falling downe into a pit underneath, where eyther wild beasts were readie to devoure, or fire to consume them. A devise wrought by dissolving the joynts of the said Pegmes under them. And in this sense they interprete the rest that followeth, concer∣ning Patresfamilias, i. good honest Citizens house∣holders.

(a) HE had espied in the multitude of those pri∣soners and malefactors, two with bald heads, distant farre a sunder, and happily, as much as from the one end of the place unto the other: all those betweene, without respect of their cause, he commaunded to be put to death indifferently.

(b) An ordinarie thing it was at Rome, to sweare by the Genius, as also by the Fortune, the health &c. of their Emperours. And what a devout oth this was, per Geniuns. i. the Dam•…•…n, the spirit, or super∣intendent Angell of the Prince, which I take to be as much, as by his owne good selfe, appeareth by Tertullian Apologet. cap. 28. Citius apud vos per omnes deos, quam per Geniuns principis peieratur.

(c) Seneca lib. 2. de Ira. cap. 33. reporteth the like example of Castor a right worshipful Gentleman of Rome, whose sonne, the same CALIGVLA, up∣on verie envie that the young man was a proper and beautifull person, put to death in his fathers sight, and then invited the old man to supper, provoked him to carouse and be merie, which the good father was faine to endure and make semblance of content∣ment, for feare, least the Tyrant would have done as much by another sonne, whom he had living.

(d) Catenis verberatum. Among other chastice∣ments of the bodie, there is reckoned Vinculorum v•…•…rberatio, as Callistratus witnesseth, lib. 7: de poe•…•…is.

The ignorance whereof, hath made some to read, in Catenis verberatnm. 1. bound in chaines and then beaten, others, habenis, for catenis: as if he had beene well lindged with lether thongs or halters ends, as slaves were wont to be served by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

(a) ALBEIT, the proper use of these Graphia was to cut or engrave letters onely, in tables of barke or soft wood: yet, because it was unlawfull to weare weapons in the Senate house, some, of a mischievous minde, made those writing stiles or Steeles so, as they might kill therewith, Enacted therefore it was, that no man should carie about him such writing instruments of yron or steele, but of bone onely. And yet even these, as others also of reeds and quils, were made so keene and sharpe, that they were able to give a mortall wound.

(a) For the manner of the Roman Emperours was, upon displeasure, to send men and women away into some desert Isles, and there to confine them.

(b) Ellebor, that groweth in the Isles Anty cire, is of most effectuall operation. The roote is that, whereof is made our sneesing powder. It purgeth ex∣treemely by vomit. Thereupon ariseth the Proverb, Naviget Anticyram 1. Let him sayle to Anticyra, ap∣plied to one that is melancholicke in the highest degree, and little better than mad. See Plinie. Na∣tural. Hist. lib. 35. cap. 5.

(a) Some conjecture verie well, that this Tetrinius was not surnamed LATRO, being the addition ap∣propriate to the noble Family of Rome, of the Por∣tii, but a notorious theefe or robber, such as in Latin is called Latro. And of that sort commonly were they that performed before the people this bloudie fight with unrebated swords, without foiles. And no mervaile, if he termed all the Citizens there as∣sembled Tetrinios. i. Theeves, considering he wished before, that he could cut of al their heads at one blow

(a) He suspected, that she had given him some love∣drinks.

(a) PRAETER aq•…•…um.] How this can stand with his pride or malice, which our author hath pro∣pounded to exemplifie, I cannot see. In some copies we read, praeter cum. i. beside him, that is to say, o∣therwise than he would have them, or approve. And one Critick or Iudicious Lawier, •…•…anc. Hott•…•…man, as also Coracius, read, prater Eccum, as if hee should say, All Lawyers shall give none other answere but this. Behold him, meaning the Emperor CAIVS, therby referring the decision of all matters to his will and pleasure. Lastly, Torrentius concludeth the Period thus, Ne quid respondere possint. i. That they should give no answere at all. And for praeter aequum, &c. he putteth praeterea▪ i. Moreover, for a beginning of the next chapter.

(a) COLOSSEROS, seemeth to be a word com∣pounded of Colossos and Eros. The one importeth his talnesse, resembling the stately and Giant like perso∣nages called Col•…•…, and the other, his lovely visage, representing Eros, even Love, or Cupid it selfe.

(b) These fencers, called Threces or Thraces, thought to be the same that Retiarii, were lightly appointed for armour, and put to desperate fight, as having all parts of their bodies exposed to daunger, whereu∣pon they were called also Tunicati, & were matched in oppositiō with the Mir•…•…illones, as this verse of An∣sonius implie•…•…h,

Quis mirmilloni * componitur? aequim•…•…nus Thrax. Whereas the other named Hophmachi, had for their defence, head peeces and targuets. Senec. lib. 1. Epist. 7.

(c) The priest, called Rex N•…•…rensis, of •…•… place where Diana Ari•…•… was worshipped, within a temple beautified with a grove about it, by a barbarous cu∣stome of the Scithians, so long onely held his place, untill after one yeares revolution, some one stronger than himselfe, stepped unto him and overcame him in single fight, and so deposed him, like as, by the first institution, himselfe, foyling another in combat attained thereto.

(a) Seneca writeth Consolat. ad Helv. That i•…•… was ordinarie with him, to consume at one supper ten millions of sesterces, and who studied himselfe, and laid his head to others, how he might at one supper make an even hand with the revenewes and tributes of all the provinces belonging to the state of R•…•…me.

(b) Some read for [•…•…e Cedris] Deceres, after the forme of Maneres, meaning by Dec•…•…res a mightie •…•…al∣lie furnished with ten rankes of Oares, for such •…•…e Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

(a) Dum inculta commissa fierent.] Which may be expounded otherwise thus, when as many things were forfaited and confiscate.

(a) Taking the name from Exploratores, a mi∣litarie terme, signifying the Avant-couriers and fore∣riders, to discover the enemy, & to cleere the coasts.

(a) Yet Di•…•…n reporteth of him, that otherwhiles, when it thundred aloft, he would seeme to doe the like beneath with a thunder barrell, or such a kinde of devise: when it lightened, to make flashes with fireworks: and if a thunderbolt fell, to discharge like∣wise some stone out of an engine.

(a) Which ornaments belonged to Iupiter and Aesculapi•…•….

(b) Resembling thereby Neptune, for it Symbolizeth his po•…•… •…•…er waters in Sea River. Lakes.

(c) The Ensigne of Mercury, betokening his Elo∣quence.

(a) So called, because they were exhibited in the Palatium.

(a) Capitalium, although 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it was the state∣ly mount or Castle of Rome, yet it became a gene∣rall name of all Citadels and strong Castles built for the defence of any Citie.

(b) Meaning the murder of Caius Iulius Caesar Dictator.

(c) Bearing the name of a notorious theefe, or Captayne rather of theeves, crucified for his desertes.

Notes

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• so think•…•… Sabelli▪ •…•…s.
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