Commentary Upon Acts, Part 2
PART II. The Roman Story.
Sect. I. Some Acts of Claudius this yeer.
THe Roman yeer was now taken almost wholly up with sacrifices and holy dayes, even as it is at this day, to the great hinderance of the people in their imployments and occasions, therefore Claudius being now Consull abrogated abundance of these dayes and solemnities, and contracted those that hee let remaine into as narrow compasse as was possible: Many things that Caius had foolishly given away hee remanded, and many againe that hee had wickedly wronged hee repaired: Hee brought Lycia under servitude, because in a tumult they had slaine some Romans; and hee joyned it to Pamphylia: and disfranchised a Lyciam Ambassadour that came to treat about the businesse, because hee could not speake Latine, saying, that it was not fit that hee should bee a Roman that understood not the Roman tongue: and many others hee disfranchased for other causes, yet on the contrary was hee most lavish, he, Messallina and his and her favorites in conferring the Roman freedome and other offices for money, insomuch that hee was glad to give an account of it in an oration in Campus Martius. Hee exhibited some sword playes this yeer in the Campe.
Sect. II. The abominable whoredomes and actions of Messallina the Empresse.
Shee lived in continuall lust and uncleannesse: and was not content to doe so her selfe, but shee forced divers other women to the same course: Nay shee caused some women to commit adultery even in the very sight of their owne husbands: And those that consented to her villany shee honored and rewarded, and those that did not, shee hated and sought to destroy: These her detestable carriages shee kept long unknown from Claudius, providing him lasses for his bed, while shee tooke whom shee thought good to hers: and killing and taking out of the way, whomsoever she suspected likely to tell Claudius. So slew shee Catonius Iustus, to prevent his telling of tales: and the two Iulia's upon other occasions.
A Roman Knight was also this yeere executed as for some conspiracy against the Emperour.
Sect. III. An expedition into England.
This yeer did Aulus Plautius with much adoe lead an Army into Britaine: For one Bericus, who had been expelled thence for sedition, had perswaded Claudius to send an Army over: But hardly would the Souldiers bee gotten out of Gaul over thither, they being incensed and taking it ill that they should goe 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 outcry of Io Saturnalia: or All masters, and were ready to make head, but at last they willingly followed Plautius: Hee 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 crosse winds, but they tooke heart and bare it out, and the rather because a bright light or flame ran from the east toward the west even that way that they were to goe: they entred the Iland without opposition: for the Britains suspected not their comming▪ 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 returne without doing any more.
It cost Plautius a great deale of toile accordingly to find them out, which at last hee did, and overcame first Cataratacus and then Togodumnus the two sons of Cynobellinus, who himselfe was but lately dead.
These fleeing, hee tooke into homage part of the *Glocestershire and Oxfordshire.Boduni, who were subject to the *Buckinghamshire and Hartfordshire. See Camdens Bi…anCatuellani, for the Britains were now subject to divers Kings. Hee leaving a Garrison the…e, marched on till hee came to a river, which the Britains thought hee could not have passed without a bridge, and therefore they incamped carelessely on the other side: But Plautius sent over some *foreign.Germane Souldiers, who were accustomed to swim over Rivers, and they suddenly assault the enemy, but wounded not the men, but onelyonly their horses that should have drawne their Chariots, and so spoyled and undid the Riders. Then sent hee over Flavius Vespasian, who was afterwards Emperour, and Sabinus his brother, who passing the River slew many of the enemies on a suddaine: yet did not the rest flee but gave battell the next day, and the fortune of the fight was doubtfull till C. Sidius Geta, being in danger to bee taken, did so stoutly behave himselfe, that hee got the victory, and triumphall honours though hee were not Consull.
Then did the Britaines betake themselves to the Thames towards the place where it falls into the Sea and flowes high, and they easily get over, knowing the convenientest places: but the Romans following them were in danger: when the Germanes had againe 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 warre, Plautius proceeded no further, but garrisoning those places that hee had gotten hee sends for Claudius: for so hee had been commanded to doe if he came to a pinch.
Claudius receiving the tidings, prepares for the expedition, and among many other things bring divers Elephants along with him, and comming to his army at the Thames, and passing the River hee fights a pitcht battle and obtaines the victory, and takes in *Mald…n.Camalodunum the *foreign. Regiam▪chiefe Citie of Cynobellinus; disarmes the Britaines, leaves them that were conquered to be governed, and the rest to bee conquered by Plautius, and so goes for Rome, where the Senate gives him the title of Britannicus, appoints triumphs and Statues for him, and honour… for Messallina.
Sect. III. A Whorish tricke of Messallina.
Little did shee deserve either honour or respect, but feare and flattery regard not desert. Among her various and continuall adulteries, shee 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 bee thought of for that. This man she sollicites to her bed, with words, promises & gifts, but prevailes not with him, not for any honesty that was in the man, but for feare of the displeasure of Claudius: When the shamelesse strumpet could not prevaile with all her sollicitations, shee goeth to Claudius, and desires him to command Mnester to doe what shee would have him: which Claudius did, not knowing what he commanded. And then did Mnester adulterate the Empresse so freely from feare of Claudius, that he thought it had been the Emperours expresse mind hee should so doe. And by divers other men did Messallina practise the very same project. And to that impudency did shee grow in her whoredome with this Mnester, that when the Senate had commanded that all the brasse coine that bare Caius his Image should be melted, and this in detestation of Caius, shee caused pictures of Mnester to be made of it.