§ 1. Velleius Paterculus.
TIBERIUS keepeth himself still in the Countrey, but not stil at Capreae: * 1.1 for this year he draweth near unto Rome, and haunteth in some places about four miles off, but cometh not at all unto the City. This seemeth to be his first journey towards it, that Suetonius speaketh of * 1.2 when he came by water to the Gardens beside the Nanmachy, or the Pool in Tiber where they used their sport∣ting sea-fights, and returned again, but the cause not known. The first thing menti∣oned of him under these Consuls, both by Tacitus and Dion, is his marrying forth the Daughter of Drusus, which they name not; and Julia and Drusilla the Daughters of Germanicus; Drusilla to L. Cassius, Julia, to M. Vinicius. This was a Son of that M. Vinicius to whom Paterculus dedicated his short and sweet Roman History. And the nearness of the time would very nearly perswade that this was that very Vinicius himself, but that Paterculus sheweth that his Vinicius was Consul when he wrote his book to him; and that (as himself, and Dion agreeing with him sheweth) An. V. C. 783. or the next year after our Saviours Baptism; but this Vinicius, Tiberius his Son▪ in Law, (as Tacitus intimateth) was only a Knight, but a Consuls Son. Howsoever, in these times shone forth and flourished the excellent wit, and matchless pen of that Historian, an Author known to all learned men, and admired by all that know him: His Original was from the Campanians, as himself witnesseth not very far from the beginning of his second book, when he cometh to speak of the Italian war in the time of Sylla and Marius. No pen is so fit to draw his pedegree and Character as his own, and therefore take only his own words; Neque ego verecundia, domestici sanguinis gloriae dum verum refero sub∣traham, &c. Nor will I for modesty derogate any thing from the honour of mine own blood, so that I speak no more than truth; for much is to be attributed to the memory of Minatius Magius my great-Grandfathers Father, a man of Asculum; who being * 1.3 Ne∣phew to Decius Magius, a renowned Prince of the Campanians, and a most faithfull man, was so trusty to the Romans in this war, that with a Legion which he had banded, Pompey took Herculaneum, together with T. Didius; when L. Sulla besieged, and took in Consa. Of whose vertues both others, but especially and most plainly Q. Hortensius hath made relation in his Annals. Whose Loyalty the people of Rome did fully requite, by enfranchising both him and his, and making two of his Sons Pretors. His Grandfather was C. Velleius, Master of the Engeneers to Cn. Pompey, M. Brutus and Tyro; a man, saith he, second to none in Can••pany, whom I will not defraud of that Testimony which I would give to a stranger: He at the departure of Nero (Tiberius his Father) out of Naples, whose part he had taken for his singular friendship with him, being now unweldy with age and bulk of body, when he could not accompany him any longer, he slew himself. Of his Fathers, and of his own rank and profession, thus speaketh he joyntly: At this time (namely, about the time that Augustus adopted Tiberius) after I had been Field-Marshal, I became a Souldier of Tiberius, and being sent with him General of the Horse into Germany, which Office my Father had born before; for nine whole years together, I was either a spectator, or to my poor ability a forwarder of his most celestial designs; being either a Commander, or an Ambassadour. And a little after: In this war, (against the Hungarians and Dalmatians, and other Nations revolted) my meaness had the place of an eminent Officer. For having ended my service with the Horse, I was made Questor; and being not yet a Senator, I was equalled with the Senators. And the Tribunes of the people being now designed, I led a part of the. Army delivered to me by Augustus, from the City to his Son. And in my Questorship, the lot of my Province being remitted, I was sent Ambassadour from him to him again. Partner in the like employments and honours, he had a brother named Magius Celer Velleianus, that likewise attended Tiberius in the Dal∣matian war, and was honoured by him in his Triumph, and afterward were his Bro∣ther and he made Pretors. When he wrote that abridgement of the Roman History