The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

VII. Drusus is sent to appease the rebellion in Pannony: and the ringleaders punished.

WHen Tiberius had intelligence of these mutinies; although he were close, and a great dissembler of bad tidings; resolued to send his sonne Drusus vnto these legions, with certaine of the principallest Gentlemen of the citie, and two Pretorian bands; without any limited commission, but to determine there, as occasion best required. These bands were of extraordinary choise men, and stronger then any other were vsed to be, and a great part of his gard of horse∣men, and the ablest Germans of his owne gard. Aelius Seianus also Captaine of the gard was sent with him, once an associate and companion to Strabo his father, and a man highly in credit with Tiberius; as well to be a guide to the yong Prince, as to shew vnto others the danger or reward of ill or well doing. When Drusus was come neere vnto them, the legions met him as it were to do their dutie; but not as the manner was, cheerefully with glittering ensignes, but in base and abiect habit; and in countenance although pretending sadnes, yet in deede were neerer wilfull ob∣stinacie. After he was entered the trench of the camp, they set a strong gard at the gates, commanded some troupes to attend at certaine places of the camp, and the rest came and enuironed the Tribunall in huge multitudes. Drusus stoode vp, and with his hand commaunded silence to be made. When the souldiers beheld what a multitude they were, they made a dreadfull noise with hideous tunes; then anon turning their eyes towards Caesar, they quaked for feare: after that, they made a con∣fuse murmuring and buzzing; then a cruell outcry; and on a suddaine all was husht againe; which bred as men were diuersly affected, either a feare in themselues, or in others. At last the tumult ceasing, he read his fathers letters, which contained what a speciall care he had ouer those most valorous legions, with whome he had sustai∣ned many battels; and that as soone as his minde could be at rest, and the mourning for his father past, he would deale with the Lords of the Senate concerning their demaunds: that in the meane space he had sent his sonne which should graunt without delay, as much as for the present could conueniently be yeelded: and that the rest should be reserued to the consideration of the Senate, whom it was con∣uenient

should iudge as well what deserued fauour, as rigor and seueritie. They an∣swered all in generall, that Clemens the Centurion had charge to propound their demaunds: he began with licence to depart after sixteene yeares, with recompence after the end of their seruice: and that their wages might be a denarius a day; that the old souldiers should not be constrained to continue vnder ensignes. But when Drusus began to pretend, that these were fit matters to be referred to the Lords of the Senate, and his fathers consideration; they cut off his speech with clamors, ex∣postulating: That seeing he had no authority to augment their pay; nor ease them of their labor; nor benefit them any way; to what purpose was he come thither? But to beate and put them to death, euery man had authoritie. It was an old trick of Tibe∣rius to frustrate the legions desires, with the name of Augustus: and Drusus doth now put the same in practice. Shall they neuer haue any sent them, but such as are vnder the power of another? It was strange, that the Emperour should referre only that to the knowledge of the Senate, which concerned the souldiers commoditie. It were as requisite the Senators aduise should be knowne, when a souldier should be punished, or brought to fight in battell. Did it stand with reason, there should be maisters appointed, to dispose of their rewards and recompence; and that without any iudge their punishments should be arbitrary? At last they go from the Tribu∣nal and threaten with their fists those they met, of the gard, or Caesars friends and familiars, as desirous to pick quarrels, and raise sedition. But they bare a speciall grudge vnto Cn. Lentulus, because that he, for his yeares, and experience in martiall feates, in greater reputation then the rest; was thought to animate Drusus against the souldiers, and first of all reiect their licentious demaunds. Whom not long af∣ter (foreseeing the danger he was in) going with Caesar to the standing camp, they enuironed him, asking whither he went? towards the Emperour, or towards the Senate? whether there he would be also against the legions profit? And withall comming fiercely vpon him, and throwing stones at him, all embrued in bloud, and certaine of present death, yet was succoured by such as came with Caesar. That night, which menaced great disorder, and outragious behauiour, was quieted by a meere chaunce. For the Skie being cleere and bright, yet the Moone seemed to be eclip∣sed on a sudden; which the souldiers, being ignorant of the cause, construed as a presage of present ill lucke: and comparing their attempts, to the eclipse; were of opinion that their successe should be prosperous, if the goddesse should become cleere and bright againe. Whereupon they began with Trompets, Cornets, and o∣ther brazen instruments, to make a lowd noise, now ioyfull, now sad, as the Moone appeared either cleere or darke. But when the black clowdes, rising, tooke from them the sight of the Moone, supposing she had bene hidden in darknes, and vtterly lost her light: as troubled minds fall easily into superstition, they began to com∣plaine and lament, that, that portended their labours should haue no end; and that the gods turned their faces from their wickednes. Caesar thinking it expedient to make his profit of their feare; and gouerne that by wisedome, which fortune had offered; commaunded the Pauillions to be viewed; Clemens the Centurion to be called, and such others, as for their laudable vertues were best liked of the common sort: who thrusting themselues into the watch, the wardes, and gate-keepers, increa∣sed sometimes their feare, and sometimes promised hope, saying: How long shall we besiege the Emperors sonne? what shall be the end of our reuolt? shall we sweare allegeance to Percennius and Vibulenus? shall we looke for our pay at their hands? shall they reward the old souldiers with lands? to be briefe, shall they take vpon them the gouernment of the Romane Empire, in Neroes and Drusus stead?

were it not better that as we were the last which offended; so we should be the first to repent? Demaunds in common are slowly graunted: a priuat fauour is no soo∣ner deserued, then obtained. These speeches troubled their mindes, and bred a mistrust among themselues: the yong souldiers forsooke the old: and one legion parted from an other. By little and little they returned to their allegeance; went from the gates which before they possessed: carried to their vsuall places the en∣signes, which in the beginning of their rebellion they had pitched together. Drusus the next morning calling an assembly, although he were no great Orator; yet the worthines of his birth supplying that want, he condemned their former, and com∣mended their present behauior. Assured them that he was not to be ouercome with feare and threatning: but if he perceiued in them a modest cariage, intreatie of pardon with submission; he would write vnto his father, that forgetting that which was past, he would giue eare to the legions suites. At their intreatie Blaesus, and L. A∣pronius, a Gentleman of Rome, and one of Drusus company, and Iustus Catonius a chiefe Centurion, were sent againe to Tiberius. This done, Drusus counsellers dis∣agreed in opinions: some holding it expedient, that expecting the Embassadors re∣turne; the souldiers in the meane season should be gently intreated: some that sharp remedies ought to be vsed: affirming that there was no meane in the com∣mon people; and vnlesse they were kept in awe, they would keepe others vnder. That they might easily be dealt withall whilest they stoode in feare; and therefore it was needefull that they should be brideled by their Generals authoritie: the ring-leaders of the reuolt executed, whilest yet the superstition held them in astonish∣ment. Hereupon Drusus being naturally of a rough disposition, caused Percennius and Vibulenus to be put to death. Some say they were murdered in the Gouernors tent; others that their bodies were throwne out of the rampire to the terror of the rest. After this, a search was made for the principall captaines of the conspiracie: whereof some roming about the camp, were slaine by the gard: others the souldi∣ers themselues deliuered, as a testimonie of their allegeance, into Drusus hands. But there did nothing more augment the souldiers distressed case, then an vntimely win∣ter, continuall and cruell raines; that they could neyther put foote out of their tents; nor meete together: nor hardly keepe vp their standarts, through boisterous windes, and stormie showers, tossing them hither and thither. They were not yet rid of the feare, the heauens ire stroke them into: imagining that the starres grew not darke in vaine against their wickednes; and that the tempests fell vpon them for their lewde and villanous demeanor. There was no comfort left, but to abandon those vnlucky, and disloyall camps; and being purged of their offence by some pro∣pitiatory sacrifice, each legion to repaire to his standing camp. The eight legion departed first; then the fifteenth. The ninth cried that they ought to tarry for Tibe∣rius answere: but being discomfited by the others departure, preuenting imminent necessitie, voluntarily went away. Drusus not expecting the Embassadors returne, seeing all quiet for the present, went back to Rome.