The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

PART II. The ROMAN Story.

§. 1. Some Acts of Claudius this year.

THE Roman year was now taken almost wholly up with sacrifices and holy days, even as it is at this day, to the great hinderance of the people in their imploy∣ments and occasions, therefore Claudius being now Consul abrogated abundance of these days and solemnities, and contracted those that he let remain into as narrow com∣pass as was possible: Many things that Caius had foolishly given away, he remanded, and many again that he had wickedly wronged he repaired: He brought Lycia under servi∣tude, because in a tumult they had slain some Romans, and he joyned it to Pamphylia: and disfranchised a Lycian Ambassador that came to treat about the business, because he could not speak Latin, saying, That it was not fit that he should be a Roman that understood not the Roman tongue: and many others he disfranchased for other causes, yet on the con∣trary was he most lavish, he, Messalina and his and her favorites in conferring the Roman freedom and other offices for money, insomuch that he was glad to give an account of it in an oration in Campus Martius. He exhibited some sword plays this year in the Camp.

§. 2. The abominable whoredoms and actions of Messalina the Empress.

She lived in continual lust and uncleanness: and was not content to do so her self, but she forced divers other women to the same course: Nay she caused some women to com∣mit adultery even in the very sight of their own husbands: And those that consented to her villany she honoured and rewarded, and those that did not, she hated and sought to de∣stroy: These her detestable carriages she kept long unknown from Claudius, providing him lasses for his bed, while she took whom she thought good to hers: and killing and taking out of the way, whomsoever she suspected likely to tell Claudius. So slew she Ca∣tonius Justus, to prevent his telling of tales: and the two Julia's upon other occasions.

A Roman Knight was also this year executed as for some conspiracy against the Em∣perour.

§. 3. An expedition into England.

This year did Aulus Plautius with much ado lead an Army into Britain: For one Beri∣cus, who had been expelled thence for sedition, had perswaded Claudius to send an Army over: But hardly would the Souldiers be gotten out of Gaul over thither, they being in∣censed and taking it ill that they should go fight even out of the world: Narcissus being sent by Claudius to the Army, made a speech to them which exasperated them the more, in so much that they made the outery of Jo Saturnialia: or All Masters, and were ready to make head, but at last they willingly followed Plautius: He parted his army into three parts, because that if they were repelled and opposed in one place, they might land in another: They had some trouble in their passage, through cross winds, but they took heart and bare it out, and the rather because a bright light or flame ran from the East to∣ward the West even that way that they were to go: they entred the Island without oppo∣sition: for the Britains suspected not their coming: but when they were now entred and they not ready to withstand them, they ran into the woods and bogs, hoping to weary out the Romans with following and seeking them, and so to cause them to return with∣out doing any more.

It cost Plautius a great deal of toil accordingly to find them out, which at last he did, and overcame first Cataratacus and then Togodumnus the two sons of Cynobellinus, who himself was but lately dead.

These fleeing, he took into homage part of the * 1.1 Boduni, who were subject to the * 1.2 Catuellani, for the Britains were now subject to divers Kings. He leaving a Garrison there, marched on till he came to a river, which the Britains thought he could not have passed without a bridge, and therefore they incamped carelesly on the other side: But Plautius sent over some * 1.3 Germane Souldiers, who were accustomed to swim over Rivers, and they suddenly assault the enemy, but wounded not the men, but only their horses that should have drawn their Chariots, and so spoiled and undid the Riders. Then sent he over Flavius Vespasian, who was afterwards Emperor, and Sabinus his brother, who passing the River slew many of the enemies on a suddain: yet did not the rest flee but gave battel the next day, and the fortune of the fight was doubtful till C. Sidius Geta, be∣ing in danger to be taken, did so stoutly behave himself, that he got the victory, and triumphal honours, though he were not Consul.

Then did the Britains betake themselves to the Thames towards the place where it falls into the Sea and flows high, and they easily get over, knowing the convenientest places: but the Romans following them were in danger: when the Germans had again swum the River, and others had passed at a bridge above, they fell upon the Britains on all parts, and made a great slaughter: but in pursuit of them they fell into some marishes, and so lost many of their men.

Upon this mishap, and because the Britains were exceedingly exasperated for the death of Togodumnus, and made still greater preparations for war, Plautius proceeded no fur∣ther, but garrisoning those places that he had gotten, he sends for Claudius: for so he had been commanded to do if he came to a pinch.

Claudius receiving the tidings, prepares for the expedition, and among many other things brings divers Elephants along with him, and coming to his army at the Thames, and passing the River he fights a pitcht battle and obtains the victory, and takes in * 1.4 Camalo∣dunum the ‖ 1.5 chief City of Cynobellinus; disarms the Britains, leaves them that were conque∣red to be governed, and the rest to be conquered by Plautius, and so goes for Rome, where the Senate gives him the title of Britanni••us, appoints triumphs and Statues for him, and honors for Messalina.

§. 3. A Whorish trick of Messalina.

Little did she either deserve either honour or respect, but fear and flattery regard not desert. Among her various and continual adulteries, she cast her eyes of lust upon one Mnester, an Actor or Player, a man that had been very intimate with Caius, and never the better to be thought of for that. This man she sollicites to her bed, with words promises and gifts, but prevails not with him, not for any honesty that was in the man, but for fear of the displeasure of Claudius: When the shameless strumpet could not pre∣vail with all her sollicitations, she goeth to Claudius, and desires him to command Mne∣ster to do what she would have him: which Claudius did, not knowing what he com∣manded.

And then did Mnester adulterate the Empress so freely from fear of Claudius, that he thought it had been the Emperors express mind he should so do. And by divers other men did Messalina practise the very same project. And to that impudency did she grow in her whoredom with this Mnester, that when the Senate had commanded that all the brass coin that bare Caius his Image should be melted, and this in detestation of Caius, she caused pictures of Mnester to be made of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Glocester∣shire and Ox∣fordshire.
• * 1.2

  Buckingham∣shire and Hart∣fordshire. See Camdens Britan.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.4

  Maldon.
• ‖ 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Regiam.