less. And as these descendants of Herod, whom we have enumerated, were in being at the same time that Agrippa the Great took the kingdom, and I have now given an account of them, it remains that I relate the several vicissitudes which befel Agrippa, and how he surmounted them, and was advanced to the greatest height of dignity and power.

CHAP. VI.

Of the voyage of King Agrippa to Rome, to Tiberius Caesar; his confinement on the accusation of his own freedman; his liberation by Caius, after Tiberius's death; and his accession to the tetrarchy of Philip.

A LITTLE before the death of Herod the * king, Agrippa lived at Rome: and was generally brought up with Drusus, the emperor Tiberius's son; and contracted a friendship with Antonia, the wife of Drusus the Great: who had his mother Bernice in great esteem, and was very desirous of advancing her son. Now as Agrippa was magnanimous and generous in the presents he made, while his mother was alive this inclination of his mind did not appear, that he might be able to avoid her anger for such extravagance. But when Bernice was dead, and he was left to his own conduct, he spent a great deal extravagantly in his daily way of living, and in the immoderate presents he made; and those chiefly among Cæsar's freed-men, in order to gain their assistance. Insomuch that he was in a little time reduced to poverty; and could not live at Rome any longer. Tiberius also forbade the friends of his deceased + son to come into his sight; because on seeing them he should be put in mind of his death, and his grief would thereby be revived.

For these reasons he went away from Rome, and sailed to Judea, but in evil circumstances: heing dejected with the loss of that money which he once had; and because he had not wherewithal to pay his creditors, who were many in number, and such as gave him no room for escaping them. In this situation he knew not what to do: but he retired to a certain tower at Malatha, in Idumea, and had thoughts of killing himself. But his wife Cypros perceived his intentions, and tried all sorts of methods to divert him from taking such a course. So she sent a letter to his sister Herodias, who was now the wife of Herod the tetrarch, and let her know Agrippa's design; and what necessity it was which drove him thereto, and desired her, as a kinswoman, to give him her help, and to engage her husband to do the same: since she saw how she alleviated her husband's troubles all she could, al

Tetrarch. + Drusus.

Spanheim observes, that we have here an instance of

though she had not the like wealth to do it withal. So they sent for him, and allotted him Tiberias for his habitation; and appointed him some income for his maintenance: and made him a magistrate of that city, by way of honor to him. Yet did not Herod long continue in that resolution of supporting him : though even that support was not sufficient for him. For as once they were at a feast at Tyre, and in their cups, and reproaches were cast upon one another, Agrippa thought that was not to be borne; while Herod upbraided him with his poverty, and with his owing his necessary food to him. So he went to Flaccus, one that had been consul, and had been a very great friend to him at Rome formerly, and was now president of Syria.

Hereupon Flaccus received him kindly, and he lived with him. Flaccus had also with him there, Aristobulus, who was Agrippa's brother, but was at variance with him. Yet did not their entity to one another hinder the friendship of Flaccus to them both; but they were both honourably treated by him: However, Aristobulus did not abate of his ill will to Agrippa: till at length he brought him into ill terms with Flaccus. The occasion of bringing on which estrangement was this. The Damascens were at difference with the Sidonians, about their limits. And when Flaccus was about to hear the cause between them, they understood that Agrippa had great influence with him. So they desired that he would be on their side; and for that favour promised him a great deal of money. So he was zealous in assist ing the Damascens, as far as he was able. Now Aristobulus had gotten intelligence of this promise of money to him; and accused him to Flaccus of the same. And when, upon a thorough examination of the matter, it appeared plainly so to be, he rejected Agrippa out of the number of his friends. So he was reduced to the utmost necessity: and came to Ptolemais. And because he knew not where else to get a livelihood, he thought to sail to Italy. But as he was restrained from so doing by want of money, he desired Marsyas, who was his freed-man, to find some method for procuring him as much as he wanted for that purpose; by borrowing such a sum of some person or other. So Marsvas desired of Peter, who was the freed-man of Bernice, Agrippa's mother, and by the right of her testament was bequeathed to Antonia, to lend him so much upon Agrippa's own bond and security. But he accused Agrippa of having defrauded him of certain sums of money: and so obliged Marsyas, when he made the bond of twenty thousand Attic drachmæ, to accept of two thousand five hundred drachma less than what he desired. Upon the

the Attic quantity of use money; which was the eighth part of the original sum, or 12 per cent. For such is the proportion of 2500 to 20,000. + receipt

receipt of this money, Agrippa came to Anthedon, and took shipping, and was going to set sail. But Herennius Capito, who was the procurator of Jamnia, sent a band of soldiers to demand of him three hundred thousand drachmæ of silver, which were by him owing to Cæsar's treasury while he was at Rome: and so forced him to stay. He then pretended that he would do as he bade him: But when night came on, he cut his cables, and went off, and sailed to Alexandria: where he desired Alexander the alabarch to lend him two hundred thousand drachmæ. But he said he would not lend it to him, but would not refuse it to Cypros; as greatly astonished at her affection to her husband, and at the other instances of her virtue; so she undertook to repay it. Accordingly Alexander paid them five talents at Alexandria; and promised to pay the rest of that sum at + Dicearchia: and this he did out of the fear he was in that Agrippa would soon spend it. So this Cypros set her husband free, and dismissed him to go on with his voyage to Italy: while she and her children departed for Judea.

When Agrippa was come to Puteoli, he wrote a letter to Tiberius Cæsar, who then lived at Caprcæ, and told him, that he was come so far in order to wait on him, and to pay him a visit: and desired that he would give him leave to come over to Ca. preæ. Tiberius wrote to him an obliging answer, and told him, he was glad of his safe return, and de. sired him to come to Capreæ. And when he was come, he did not fail to treat him, as kindly as he had promised in his letter. But the next day Cæsar received a letter from Herennius Capito, informing him, that Agrippa had borrowed three hundred thou sand drachmæ, and had not paid it at the time appointed; but when it was demanded of him he ran away, like a fugitive out of the places under his government; and put it out of his power to get the money of him. When Caesar read this letter, he was much troubled at it; and gave order that Agrippa should be excluded from his presence, until he had paid that debt. He however was no way daunted at Caesar's anger; but intreated Antonia, the mother of Germanicus, and of Claudius who was afterward Cæsar himself, to lend him those three thousand drachmæ; that he might not be deprived of Tiberius's friendship. So out of regard to the memory of Bernice his mother, (for those two women were very familiar with one another;) and out of regard to his and Claudius's education together, she lent him the money and upon the payment of this debt, there was nothing to hinder Tiberius's friendship to him. After this Tiberius recommended to

him his grandson, and ordered, that he should always accompany him when he went abroad. But upon Agrippa's kind reception by Antonia, he betook himself to pay his respects to Caius, who was her grandson: and in very high reputation, by reason of the good will they bare his § father. Now there was one Thallus, a freed-man of Cæsar's, of whom he borrowed a million of drachmæ: and thence repayed Antonia the debt he owed her. And by spending the overplus in paying his court to Caius he became a person of great authority with him.

Now as the friendship which Agrippa had for Caius was come to a great height, there happened some words between them, as they once were in a chariot together, concerning Tiberius; Agrippa praying to God (for they two sat by themselves) that Tiberius might soon go off the stage, and leave the government to Caius, who was in every respect more worthy of it. Now Eutychus, who was Agrippa's freed-man, and drove his chariot, heard these words and at that time said nothing of them. But when Agrippa accused him of stealing some garments of his, (which was certainly true;) he ran away from him. But when he was caught, and brought before Piso, the governor of the city; and the man was asked, why he ran away? he replied, that he had somewhat to say to Cæsar, that tended to his security and preservation. Accordingly Piso bound him, and sent him to Capreæ. But Tiberius, || according to his usual custom, kept him still in bonds; being a delayer of affairs, if there ever was any other king or tyrant that was so. For he did not admit ambassadors quickly; and no successors were dispatched away to governors or procurators of the provinces, that had been formerly sent, unless they were dead. Whence it was, that he was so negli gent in hearing the causes of prisoners. Insomuch that when he was asked by his friends, what was the reason of his delay in such cases? he said, that he delayed to hear ambassadors, lest upon their quick dismission, other ambassadors should be appointed, and return upon him; and so he should bring trouble upon himself, in their public reception and dismission. That he permitted those governors who had been once sent to their governments to stay there a great while, out of regard to the subjects that were under them. For that all governors are naturally disposed to get as much as they can: and that those who are not to fix there, but to stay a short time, and that at an uncertainty when they shall be turned out, do the more severely hurry themselves on to fleece the people. But that if their governinent be long conti nued, they are, at last, satiated with the spoils; and

so become less sharp in their pillaging. But that if successors are sent quickly, the poor subjects who are exposed to them, as a prey, will not be able to bear the new ones: while they shall not have the same time allowed then wherein their predecessors had filled themselves, and so grew more unconcerned about getting more. And this because they are removed before they have had time for their oppression. He gave them an example to shew his meaning. A great number of flies came about the sore places of a man that had been wounded. Upon Which one of the standers by pitied the man's mis. "fortune; and thinking he was not able to drive those flies away himself, was going to drive them away for him. But he prayed him to let them alone. The other, by way of reply, asked him, the reason of such a preposterous proceeding, in preventing relief from his present misery? To which he answered, if thou drivest these flies thou wilt hurt me worse. For as these are already full of my blood, they do not crowd about me, nor pain me so much as before, but are sometimes more remiss; while the fresh ones that come almost famished, and find me quite tired down, will be my destruction. "For this cause therefore," said Tiberius, "I am careful not to send such new governors perpetually to those of my subjects, who are already sufficiently harassed by many oppressions, as may, like these flies, farther distress them. And so besides their natural desire of gain, may have this additional incitement to it, that they expect to be suddenly deprived of that pleasure which they take "in it."

Now as a farther attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of Tiberius, I appeal to this practice itself. For although he were emperor twenty-two years, he sent in all but two procurators to govern the nation of the Jews; viz. Gratus, and his successor in the government, Pilate. Nor was he in one way of acting with respect to the Jews; and in another with respect to the rest of his subjects. He farther informed them, that even in the hearing of the causes of prisoners he made such delays; "Because," said he, "immediate death to those that must be condemned to die, would be an alleviation of their present miseries: while those wicked wretches have not deserved any such favor: but I do it, that by being harassed with the present calamity, they may undergo greater misery."

On this account it was that Eutychus could not obtain a hearing: but was kept still in prison. How

*This high commendation of Antonia for marrying but once; given here, and supposed elsewhere, XVII. 13. and this notwithstanding the strongest temptations, shews how honorable single marriages were, both among the Jews and Romans, in the days of Josephus, and of the Apostles, and takes away much of that surprise which the modern protestants have at those laws of the Apostles, where no wi

ever, some time afterward, Tiberius came from Ca. prea to Tuscalanum: which is about a hundred furlongs from Rome. Agrippa then desired of Antonia that she would procure a hearing for Eutychus, let the matter whereof be accused him prove what it would. Now Antonia was greatly esteemed by Tiberius on all accounts: from the dignity of her relation to him, who had been his brother Drusus's wife: and from her * eminent chastity. For though she were still a young woman, she continued in her widowhood, and refused all other matches: although Augustus had enjoined her to be married to somebody else. Yet did she ali along preserve her reputation from reproach. She had been also the greatest benefactress to Tiberius when there was a very dangerous plot laid against him by Sejanus: a man who had been her husband's friend, and who had the greatest authority, because he was general of the army, and when many members of the senate, and many of the freed-men joined with him, and the soldiery was corrupted, and the plot was come to a great height. Now Sejanus had certainly gained his point, had not Antonia's boldness been more wisely conducted, than Sejanus's malice. For when she had discovered his designs against Tiberius, she wrote him an exact account of the whole; and gave the letter to Pallas, the most faithful of her servants, and sent them to Capreæ, to Tiberius: who when he understood it, slew Sejanus, and his confederates. So that Tiberius, who had her in great esteem before, now looked upon her with still greater respect, and depended upon her in all things. Accordingly when Tiberius was desired by Antonia to examine Eutychus, he answered; "If indeed Eutychus hath falsely accused Agrippa, in what he hath said of him, he hath had sufficient punishment, by what I have done to him already: but if, upon examination, the accusation appear to be true, let Agrippa have a care lest out of a desire of punishing his freed-man, he do not rather bring a punishment upon himself." Now when Antonia told Agrippa of this, he was still more pressing that the matter might be examined into. So Antonia, upon Agrippa's intreating her continually to beg this favor, took the following opportunity. As Tiberius once lay at ease upon his sedan, and was carried about; and Caius her grandson, and Agrippa were before him, after dinner: she walked by the sedan, and desired him to call Eutychus, and have him examined. To which he replied, "O Antonia! the gods are my witnesses,

dows, but those who had been the wives of one husband only, are taken into the church list: and no bishops, priests, or deacons are allowed to marry more than once, without leaving off to officiate as clergymen any longer. See Luke II. 36. 1 Tim. v. 11, 12. iii. 2. 12. Tit. i. 6. Constitut. Apost. II. 1, 2. III. 1, 2. VI. 17. Can. XVII. Grot. in Luk. ii. 36.

that

that I am induced to do what I am going to do, not by my own inclination, but because I am forced to it by thy prayers." When he said this, he orderedMacro, who succeeded Sejanus, to bring Eutychus to him. Accordingly, without any delay, he was brought. Then Tiberius asked him, what he had to say against a man who had given him his liberty? Upon which he said, "O my lord, this Caius, and Agrippa with him were once riding in a chariot, when I sat at their feet; and among many other discourses that passed, Agrippa said to Caius, O that the day would once come, when this old fellow would die, and name thee for the governor of the habitable earth! For then this Tiberius, his grandson, would be no hindrance, but would be taken off by thee, and that earth would be happy, and I happy also." Now Tiberius took these to be truly Agrippa's words: and bearing a grudge withal at Agrippa, because, when he had commanded him to pay his respects to Tiberius, his grandson, and the son of Drusus; Agrippa had not paid him that respect, but disobeyed his commands, and transferred all his regard to Čaius; he said to Macro, "Bind this man." But Macro not distinctly knowing which of them it was whom he bade him bind ; and not expecting that he would have any such thing done to Agrippa, he forbore; and came to ask more distinctly what it was that he said? But when Cæsar had gone round the hippodrome, he found Agrippa standing." For certain," said he, " Macro this is the man I meant to have bound." And when he still asked, which was to be bound? he said, Agrippa. Hereupon Agrippa began to make supplication for himself: putting him in mind of his son, with whom he was brought up; and of Tiberius his grandson whom he had educated: but all to no purpose. For they led him about bound, even in his purple garments. It was also very hot weather, and they had but little wine to their meal: so that he was very thirsty. He was also in a sort of agony; and took this treatment of him heinously. As he therefore saw one of Caius's slaves, whose name was Thaumastus, carrying some water in a vessel, he desired that he would let him drink. So the servant gave him some water to drink : and he drank heartily, and said, "O thou boy, this service of thine will be for thy advantage; for if I once get clear of these bonds, I will soon procure thee thy freedom of Caius, who hast not been wanting to minister to me now I am in bonds, in the same manner as when I was in my former state and dignity," Nor did he deceive him in what he promised; but made him amends for what he had now done. For when afterward Agrippa was come to the kingdom, he took

particular care of Thaumastus, and procured him his liberty from Caius, and made him the steward over his own estate and when he died he left him to Agrippa his son, and to Bernice his daughter, to minister to them in the same capacity. The man also grew old in that honorable post, and therein died. But all this happened a good while later.

Now Agrippa stood in his bonds before the royal palace, and leaned on a certain tree for grief; with many others who were in bonds also. And as a certain bird, which the Romans call Bubo, sat upon the tree on which Agrippa leaned, one of those that were bound, a German by nation, saw him, and asked a soldier, who that man in purple was? and when he was informed that his name was Agrippa, and that he was by nation a Jew, and one of the principal men of that nation; he asked leave of the soldier, to whom he was bound, to let him come nearer to him, for that he had a mind to enquire about some things relating to his country which liberty, when he had obtained, and as he stood near to him, he said thus to him by an interpreter :

"This sudden change of thy condition, O young man, is grievous to thee; as bringing on thee a manifold and very great adversity. Nor wilt thou believe me when I fortel how thou wilt get clear of this misery, which thou art now under: and how divine providence will provide for thee. I, however, appeal to my own country gods, as well as to the gods of this place, who have awarded these bonds to us; that all I am going to say about thy concerns shall neither be said for favor, nor bribery; nor out of an endeavor to make thee cheerful without cause. For such predictions, when they fail, make the grief at last, and in earnest more bitter than if the party had never heard of any such thing. However, though I run the hazard of my awn self, I think it fit to declare to thee the prediction of the gods. It cannot be that thou shouldest long continue in these bonds: but thou wilt soon be delivered from them, and wilt be promoted to the highest dignity and power; and thou wilt be envied by all those who now pity thy hard fortune: and thou wilt be happy till thy death, and wilt leave thine happiness to the children whom thou shalt have, But do thou remember, when thou seest this bird again, that thou wilt then live but five days longer. This event will be brought to pass by that God who hath sent this bird hither to be a sign unto thee. And I cannot but think it unjust to conceal what I foreknow concerning thee: that by thy knowing beforehand what happiness is coming upon thee, thou mayst not regard thy present misfortunes. But when this happiness shall actually befal thee, do not

forget what misery I am in myself, but endeavor to deliver me."

When the German had said this, he made Agrippa laugh at him, as much as he afterward appeared worthy of admiration. But now Antonia took Agrippa's misfortune to heart. However, to speak to Tiberius on his behalf she took to be a very dif ficult thing, and indeed quite impractable, as to any hope of success. Yet did she procure of Macro that the soldiers that kept him should be of a gentle nature; and that the centurion who was over them, and was to diet with him, should be of the same disposition; and that he might have leave to bathe himself every day; and that his freed-men and friends might come to him; and that other things that tended to ease him might be indulged him. So his friend Silas came in to him; and two of his freed-men, Marsyas and Stechus brought him such sorts of food as he was fond of and indeed took great care of him. They also brought him garments, under pretence of selling them and when night came on, they laid them under him: and the soldiers assisted them; as Macro had given order to do beforehand. And this was Agrippa's condition during six months.

Now Tiberius, upon his return to Capreæ, fell sick at first his distemper was but gentle; but as it increased upon him, he had small or no hopes of recovery. Hereupon he commanded Euodus, who was that freed-man whom he most of all respected, to bring † the children to him: for that he wanted to talk to them before he died. Now he had at present no sons of his own alive: for Drusus, who was his only son, was dead; but Drusus's son, Tiberius, was living: whose additional name was Gemellas. There was also living Caius, the son of Germanicus, who was the son of his brother Drusus. He was now grown up, and had had a liberal education, and was well improved by it, and was in esteem and favor with the people, on account of the excellent character of his father Germanicus: who had attained the highest honor among the multitude, by the firmness of his virtuous behavior; by the easiness and agreeableness of his conversing with the multitude; and because the dignity he was in did not hinder his familiarity with them all, as if they were his equals. By this behavior he was not only greatly esteemed by the people and the senate, but by every one of those nations that were subject to the Romans. Some of whom were affected when they came to him with the gracefulness of their reception by him: and others were affected in the same manner by the report of the others that had been with him. And upon his death there was a lamentation made by all men : not such an one as was to be made

*A. D. 37.

Tiberius, his grandson; and Caius, his brother Drusus's grandson.

in way of flattery to their rulers, while they did but counterfeit sorrow, but such as was real. While every body grieved at his death, as if they had lost one that was near to them. And truly such had been his easy conversation with men, that it turned greatly to the advantage of his son among all. And among others, the soldiery were so peculiarly affected toward him, that they reckoned it an eligible thing, if need were, to die themselves, if he might but obtain the government.

For

But when Tiberius had given order to Euodus to bring the children to him the next morning, he prayed to his country gods to shew him a manifest signal, which of those children should come to the government: being very desirous to leave it to his son's son; but still depending upon what God should foreshew concerning them, more than upon his own opinion and inclination. So he made this to be the omen; that the government should be left to him who should come to him first the next day. When he had thus resolved within himself, he sent to his grandson's tutor, and ordered him to bring the child to him early in the morning: as supposing that God would permit him to be made emperor. But God proved opposite to his designation: for while Tiberius was thus contriving matters, and as soon as it was day, he bade Euodus to call in that child which should be there ready. So he went out, and found Caius before the door: for Tiberius was not yet come, but staid waiting for his breakfast, Euodus knew nothing of what his lord intended. So he said to Caius, "thy father calls thee," and then brought him in. As soon as Tiberius saw Caius, he reflected on the power of God; and how the ability of bestowing the government on whom he would was entirely taken from him: and thence he was not able to establish what he had intended. So he greatly lamented that this power of establishing what he had before contrived was taken from him: and that his grandson Tiberius was not only to lose the Roman empire by this fatality, but his own safety also; because his preservation would now depend upon such as would be more potent than himself: who would not be able to protect him. But he would be feared and hated by him that had the supreme authority: partly on account of his being next to the empire, and partly on account of his perpetually contriving to get the government, both in order to preserve himself, and to be at the head of affairs also. Now Tiberius had been much addicted to astrology, and the calculation of nativities; and had spent his life in the esteem of what predictions had proved true, more than those whose profession it was. Accordingly when he once saw Galba coming in to him,

This is a known thing among the Roman historians and poets, that Tiberius was greatly addicted to astrology," and divination. he