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Of the Principall Grounds and Basis, of Detraction and Calumniation; the affection of the Prince to both parties: And of feigned friendship under occult and secret inveighings and backbitings.
VVE have said before, that the affection of the Prince towards the Calumniator, makes very much to confirme and strengthen the Calumny. This was throughly noted in Seja∣nus,
who endeavouring to bring Agrippina the widow of Germanicus under suspition with Livia Augusta, chose Julius Posthumus for his turne: for he, by the Adultery and forgery of Mutilia Prisca, was one of Livias intimate ones, and very fit for Sejanus his Counsels, but Prisca was very great in the opinion of Augusta. They are the words of Tacitus, in his fourth book.
2. But the snares and guiles of Calumnies have a more compendious, and short procedure and determination, if the party slandered have for∣merly been any whit suspected by the Prince. For then the Calumniator, may not onely thereby suppresse the other, but advance himselfe al∣so.
3. The familiars and friends of Aulus Vitellius, would not set upon Junius Blesus, before such time as they perceived Vitellius his benevolence and friendship towards him, begin to waxe stale; and do the sooner obtain their desire, because Vitellius his brother Lucius accommodates them with his aid in the accusation. Hist. Book the third.
4. Gracchus, one of the Children of Caesar, and, as Tacitus saith in the 13th of his Annals, by ex∣perience and Age having been taught in the Princes family, even from the time of Tiberius, thought, that the best way, and remedy for him to conserve and keep the favour of the Prince, was, to accuse Cornelius Sylla, whom Nero had a good while before suspected. The like Art Tigel∣linus useth against the same Sylla and Plautus. Whereof Tacitus in the 14th of his Annals saith thus. Tigellinus groweth dayly more strong, sup∣poseth
his evill arts in which only he excelled, will become the more acceptable, if he can but linck the Prince in association of his lewd en∣terprises, his fear then would have a starting hole. And having found that Plautus and Sylla were much dreaded, Plautus having been lately remo∣ved into Asia, Sylla into Gallia Nar••••ensis, makes mention of, and commemorates their no∣bility, and neer Allies, the one of the Easterne the other of the Germane Army. After a few other passages he turnes quite about, and bespeaks Sylla a needy indigent fellow, and by that means nota∣bly adventurous and saucy, and a Counterfeiter of sloath and negligence, while he may find a place for temerity and rashnesse. Plautus by reason of his great wealth was unfeignedly desirous of ease and idlenesse.
5. We have spoken of Ursicinus his being accu∣cused by Eusebius the Eunuch, before the Empe∣rour Constantius, to whom he was formerly under an ill opinion by reason of his alliance & neerness of kindred to Gallus before (in the 27 Chap. Numb. 11.) not observing the event of that cause which was this: The Eunuch fearing that he should want Arguments to prove the crime, devises ano∣ther craft and treachery, desires the matter of accusation may be protracted, and the judgment for a time suspended. The businesse then remain∣ing undecided, he obligeth to himself Ursicinus, whom he seems to free from the danger of the judgment, yet withall removes him from Court, which was his chief aime, making great shew of friendship therein, but occultly and privately in∣veighing against him to the Prince,