Nero Cæsar, or Monarchie depraued An historicall worke. Dedicated, with leaue, to the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Admirall. By the translator of Lucius Florus.

§. VIII. The manner of Agrippina's murther exactly described.

ANICETVS therefore comming to the house, besets it round with part of his en∣trusted forces, to preuent all euasions either of persons, or reports, which might endanger, or publish the businesse till it was done. Finding the gates of the palace shut, he breakes them open, en∣ters, layes hold on such of the house as he meets, and stops not, till by way of surprise he rusheth vp to the very dores of her priuate lodgings, which the ROMANS (for the maiestie of such a person) reputed sacred, and inuiolable. There hee onely findes a few of her night-watch, and those, as it seemd, not arm'd (for NERO had taken away her guards of GERMANS before) the rest being fled for feare. In all which passages, ANICETVS

seemes to haue intended nothing more then only to hinder AGRIPPINA from hearing of his approach, who mutually hating him, was known to her now to be her mortall enemy. Shee who till this instant lay deeply musing with her selfe, and grew more and more solicitous, that neither any messenger came from her sonne, no nor that euen AGERINVS, her owne messenger, did returne, sodainly heard all silent about abroad, which hap∣ned, because ANICETVS had frighted the people home, and then soone after molested her with this tumult, whereof as the reasons were to her vnknowne, so they were the certaine signes of some extreme calamitie at hand. In her chamber there was not any light at all but a small one, which thing did euen it selfe, make a show of somewhat in it like a funerall gloominesse, nor was any of all her people about her but one maid∣seruant onely, and she (of whom there was no rea∣son to looke for more fortitude then her men had discouered) being beckned out, did likewise for∣sake the roome, though her mistresse had sayd vn∣to her; And thou wilt also leaue me. But the iust cause of her departure immediatly appeared, for AGRIP∣PINA, casting her eye backe, sees ANICETVS enter with HERCVLEVS, and OLOARITVS. Their mercilesse minds, euery-where transparent in the fact, were not slightly foretold by their si∣lence, for it is not remēbred that any of one them spake a word. This gastly dumbe show, which was prouided for perdition, not for parlea, did not for all that make her speechlesse, but like a great lady cōtinuing mindful aswel of the empresse, as of the mother in her person, demanded the cause of their so rude, and vnseasonable entrance, saying by way

of preocupation, If their errand was to visite her from her sonne, they might returne, and tell him the ioyfull newes that she was well amended, if to commit the heinous deed, she did beleeue nothing bad, or hard of him, and was sure he neuer signd their warrant for her murther. But no∣thing moued herewith they cast themselues about her; HERCVLEVS with a short club (who not∣withstanding the affinitie of name had nothing in him of heroick HERCVLES) marshald him∣selfe at the beds head (as I conceiue it) the other two at the sides, for more are not named to haue entred. OLOARITVS, without further preface, beginning to vnsheathe his sword, it is not found that she either shrickt, or wept, or vainely begd for fauour, but in retractation of her pretended bet∣ter opinion, laide her bare belly open, and challen∣ged him to strike that, as deseruing it, for hauing brought forth monster NERO. Which while it gaue perhaps some little pause, or stop to the hand of OLOARITVS, troubled with the horror of such a voyce, and action, her selfe at the same time (for what time else more agreeable?) stepping sodainly (saith DIO) out of her bed, HERCVLEVS steyd her, by discharging a blow vpō her head with his churlish bat, and stonisht her, and the sword then finisht the worke with many foines She made what vvards, or fense she could; for othervvise she needed not to haue endured so many vvounds as she did, before she died. And it sorted properly vvith the matchlesse maiesty of her bloud, and the fiercenesse of her fiery spirit, to die as vnvvil∣lingly as she could, being it vvas that she could not die reuenged. Her deaths wound was in her brest, if the authour of the tragedy of OCTAVIA doth not therein vse his professions priuiledge.