§. 8. Other Occurrences of this year.
But Tiberius his humour was too strong to be stopped with such Rhetorick, in behalf of any more, though this prevailed for Terentius himself. For presently come accusatory letters against Sex. Vestilius, as a libeller against C. Caesar, who to avoid death, by the hand of some other man, would prevent it with his own, and so cut his veins: but tying them up again and repenting his fact he sent a supplicatory petition to the Emperor that he might live: of which receiving but a comfortless answer, he let them open to bleed again. Afterward followed the accusation of Annius Pollio, Apius Silanus, Scaurus Ma∣mercus, Sabinus Calvisius: Vitia the mother of Fusius Geminius late Consul, put to death for nothing but for bewailing the death of her own son; Vescularius and Marinus execu∣ted in Capreae. And Geminius and Celsus came to such fatal ends towards the end of the year. In this year there was a book of the Sibyls offered to the Senate, but he that offered it was sharply checked by the Emperor for his pains. Some scarsity of provision oppressed the City, and plenty of mocks upon the stage jerked the Emperor, but course was taken ere long for the remedy of both, and for the latter sooner than the former. Scribonia∣nus his place of Consulship was often changed according to Tiberius his wavering plea∣sure, the politician craftily shaking and unsetling that ancient government, that his new one of Monarchy might sit the faster. Flaccus Avilius was made Governor of Egypt, an Iberian by birth as may be collected from Dion, and a future scourge of the Jews, as will appear hereafter. Rubrius Fabatus when he saw the City in so desperate an estate, betook himself to fall to the Parthians, but was apprehended by the way, and yet escaped punish∣ment, being forgotten rather than forgiven.