CHAP. I. Of his Countrey and Parents .

IT hath beene an olde custome to publish the liues of worthy men , and those whose wisedomes , writings and actions we admire it doth not a little content vs to know such other things as concerned or appertained vnto them . I will therefore speake of Seneca as farre as may be , and will collect and dispose all those things that concerne this matter , both out of himselfe and diuers other writers . It appeareth that he mas borne in Corduba , an olde and flourishing Colony in Andalouzill in Spaine , and besides that , the chiefest in those Regions . This doth Strabo testifie in these wordes : Amongst all other Cities of Hispania , Batica , or Andalouzie , Corduba i● enlarged both in glorie and power by Marcellus meanes : Lib. 3. as also the Citie of Gaditana , the one by reason of Nauigations , and the societies o● the Romanes : the other , because of the goodnesse and greatnesse of the country ; the riuer Babs likewise conferring much hereunto . They praise it , and therewithall proue it to be auncient , because it was Marcellus worke : which of them , was it his that was Praetor , or the other that was Consull ? For Marcus Marcellus the Praetor gouerned Spaine , as Pliny testifieth in the yeare of the Citie DLXXXV . although , Lib. 43. as it seemeth , in peace and quietnesse ; by which means the rather this Colony of his countrimen was drawne thither , and happily the Ci●ie both increased and adorned . For that it was not built anew , it appeares by Siluius , who euen in Hanibals time called it Corduba . I had rather therfore ascribe it to him , then to the Consul Marcell●s , who in the yeare DCI gouerned the hither part of Spain , as it appeares in the Epitome , and thou mayest gather out of Appian ● and hauing worthily executed his charge in that place , triumphed Celtib●rs . He had therefore at that time nothing to do with Baetica , or our Corduba , which is in the farther part of Spaine . But Strabo addeth more , The most chosen Romanes and Spaniards inhabited this Corduba from the beginning , and into these places did the Romanes send their first Colonie . Note this word Chosen ; for it was so indeed : and thereupon afterwards , as I suppose , it obtained this priuiledge , that it was called Colonia Patricia . Pliny testifieth it most plainly ; Corduba ( saith hee ) named the Patrician Colonie , and in Augustus stampe of money , Permissu Caesaris Augusti , Lib. 3. cap. 1. with his head on the one side , and then on the other side , Colonia Patricia . The cause of which title , in my opinion , is , because that being both a faire and a rich Citie , it supplied the Roman● Common-wealth with Fathers and Senators . For now in Augustus age they made choice of men out of euery Prouince to make vp the Senate . Furthermore , Strabo saith , That the first Colonie was sent thither , which reade thou with circumspection . For Carteia in the same countrey of Bae●ica , before this time had a colonie planted in it by Lucius Canuleius Praetor : but because they were not of the better sort , it was called Colonia Libertinorum , or the colonie of the Libertines . Thou shalt reade it in Liuy , in the beginning of his 43. booke : yet mayest thou , and happily oughtest thou to defend Strabo , that those inhabitants were not sent from Rome or Italie , but that they were begotten by the Romane souldiers vpon the Spanish women ; and by the permission of the Senate the Bastards had their libertie giuen them and were planted in a colonie . But Strabo expresly writeth , that a colonie was sent thither . Enough of Corduba , and this was his countrie ; but who were his parents ? It appeareth that they were of the Annaean race , whose name seemeth to be giuen them in way of good fortune , ab Annis . The sirname of Seneca likewise was fortunate . For the first , in my iudgment , had this name giuen him , although Isidore thinke , that hee who was at first so called , was borne grey headed . Vndoubtedly Seneca , or as the Auncients write , Senica : ( for Senecis is deriued à Sene ) signified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Senecio doth . Let Nonius be seene in Senica . Hereunto I adde that in another kindred also I finde this sirname ; as in Accia in an ancient stone M. Accio Seneca . Manlio Plauta 11. virg. Quinq . But whether those of the race of Annaea were of the Spanish race , or were sent out of Italie in a Colony , I dare not affirme ; this onely I say , that they were of the order of Knights : for so Seneca himselfe speaketh of himselfe in Tacitus . Lib. 14. Am I he that sprung from the order of knight , and in a prouinciall place , numbred amongst the chiefest Peers of the Citie ? Can it be amongst the Nobles , that boast themselues of their long worthinesse and antiquitie , that my noueltie should shine ? his father therefore , and happily his grandfather were Knights , and not aboue . For he presently maketh mention of his noueltie ; which he would not haue done , if any of his Ancestors had attained vnto honours . But his father was known both by himselfe and his writings , to be Lucius Annaeus Seneca , whom for the most part , they distinguish from the sonne by the title of Declaimer , in which kinde he excelled . Diuers Declamations are extant , which were not his own but another mans , digested by him , which he distinguished by some titles and Annotations , and by this meanes sufficiently expressed his milde & happy wit : he had to wife one Heluia a Spanish Ladie , a woman of great constancie and wisedome as her sonne sufficientlie describeth her in his Consolatorie booke vnto her . The father came to Rome in Augustus time , and presently after his wife with her children followed him ; amongst which was this our Seneca , as yet but verie yong . In that place liued he long , and followed his af●airs with the fauor and good report of all men , and I thinke that hee liued till about the later time of Tiberius ; and hereunto am I perswaded , because he maketh mention of Seianus conspiracie in his bookes , and of other things that appertaine hereunto . I let him passe , and returne vnto his sonne , of whom I haue intended to speake .

CHAP. II. Of Lucius Annaeus Seneca himselfe and his brethren , where he was borne , and when he was brought to Rome .

IN Corduba was he borne , and was translated from thence to Rome when hee was a childe ; Co●s . ad Hel. cap. 16. which hee himselfe testifieth thus , where hee praiseth his Aunt : By her hands was I brought into the Citie , by her pious and motherly noursing I recouered my selfe after my long sickenesse . If he were carried in her armes , it must needs be that he was but an infant , and thou seest that h●e was sicke at that time likewise and was recomforted by her care and diligence . This thinke I hapned in the fifteenth yeare or thereabouts , before Augustus de●th , the argument whereof i● Senecaes young yeares in Tiberius time , whereof I must speake hereafter . The father therfore not long before that time came to Rome : he had two brothers , and no sisters ; which appeareth by his wordes vnto his mother ; Thou bu●iedst thy dearest husband , by whom thou wert the mother of three children . Ad Hel. c. 2. And these three were M. Annaeus Nouatus , L. Annaeus Seneca , L. Annaeus Mela ; all borne in such order as I haue set them downe . This appeareth by the inscriptions of the Controue●si●s , where they are so set down , althogh by their sirnames . But the eldest of these brethren presently changed his name , and was c●lled Iunius Gallio , because hee was adopted by him . Which Gallio is oftentimes named by Seneca the father in his declamations , and is called ours , either by reason of their common countrie Spaine , or of that friendship which was betweene them● were they not likewise allied and a kin ? I know not , yet suspect 〈◊〉 , by reason of this adoption . And this Gall●o it is who is called Father by Quintilian and Tacitus likewise , in the sixt of his Chronicles . But this our adopted Gallio in the Eusebian Cronicle is called Iunius Annaeus Gallio , Senecaes brother , and a worthy Declamer . Was it by the name of both the Families ( which was rare amongst the Auncients ; nay more , neuer heard of ) that it might appeare into what familie hee entered by adoption , and in what hee was borne by nature ? It appeareth mani●estly , if the name and title bee true . He it is to whom our Seneca both sent and wrote his bookes of Wrath , in which he calleth him Nouatus : yet the same man in his title of blessed life calleth he his brother Gallio , and likewi●e in his Epistles his Lord Gallio ● and that honestly as him that was his elder brother . Obserue this therefore that he seemed not to be adopted at such time as his bookes of Anger were written , that is , when Caius was aliue , but afterwards , and that then he changed his sirname : but his yongest brother was Annaeus Mela , so called by Tacitus Dion and Eusebius , who was onely a Romane Knight ( for he that was the elder was a Senator ) who begat Lucan a great accesse to his greatnesse , as Tacitus saith . These therefo●e were the three brothers , of whom Martiall witnesseth , And learned Senecaes house , That is thrice to be numbred . He calleth him learned , ( I meane , the Orator ) his treble-house ; his three sonnes called his families .

CHAP. III. His youth , his Masters and studies .

HEe came therfore to Rome when he was a childe , Epist. 113. and in that place ripened he his excellent wit in the best studies : his youth hapned in the beginning of Tiberius gouernment , as he himselfe confesseth , and about that time , when forraine sacrifices were remoued and abolished . This was in the fift yeare of Tiberius , Lib. Annal. 14. in fine . & of that of the Citie Dcclxx●● . which appeareth manifestly by Tacitus , who writeth , that the sacrifices of the Egyptians and Iewes were abolished . Seneca therefore about that time grew to mans estate , & was about som twentie or two and twentie yeares olde . For that he was well stept in yeares in Augustus time , hereby it appeareth ; because he obserued a Comet or a flame before his departure ; Qu●st. 1. c. 1. of which he saith● We saw before the death of Augustus such a kinde of prodigie , which children could not so curiously obserue . His father , in my opinion , was he that first instructed him in eloquence● & this do his books of Controuersies & their Praefaces testifie . For why shold not this worthy olde man , who both directed & taught others , direct and instruct his owne children in that kinde . Hee did it , and left two of them most excellent & exercised in eloquence , Gallio , and this our Seneca , for I haue red nothing of Mela. This is that Gallio whom Status commendeth for his sweet discourse . And thus much more , that from his happy line He blest the world with Seneca diuine , And brought to light that Gallio , whose grace And fluent speech the commons did embrace . He that was the author of the booke Of the causes of corrupted eloquence , said , that hee had a certaine resounding and pleasing eloquence , which he calleth the resounding of Gallio , meaning it by the sonne and not by the father . But our Seneca , besides his eloquence , addicted himselfe to Philosophie with earnest endeuor , and vertue rauished his most excellent wit , although his father were against it . He himselfe diuers times saith , that hee was withdrawne from Philosophie , and that his wife was shee that disswaded him ; yea , and that she hated it , hee openly writeth in another place : yet did the sonnes desire and forwardnesse get the vpper hand , so that hee diligently and carefully heard the most famous and serious Philosophers of that age , and namely , Attalus the Stoicke , Sotion one of the same sort , although he seemed to follow Pythagoras and Papirius Fabius , ●p●st . ●9 . which he names likewise , and praiseth with a g●atefull memorie● he was Sotions scholler in his yonger yeares , and he writeth , And now , though a childe , I sate and heard Sotion . Moreouer , he admired and honoured Demetrius the Cinique , conuersing oftentimes with him in his elder dayes , and at such time as he serued in Cour● , both priuately and publiquely . For he made him his companion both in his walks and trauailes . Such was his forwardnesse in honest studies , yet his father broke him off , and in the interim caused him to follow the Courts and to pleade causes : which course , as it appeareth he continued long , yea , euen in Caius time , being greatly fauoured and famed for his eloquence . Epist. 49. Vndoubtedly there are no Philosophicall treatises extant , that were his before that time .

CHAP. IIII. His honours and ciuill life .

HIs father likewise perswaded him to affect gouernement , and to make sute for honours : he therefore first of all was Threa●orer , in obtayning which office , hee acknowledgeth what helpes his Aunt had procured him : Cons. ad Hi● . cap. 16. She ( saith he ) tried all her friends in my suite for the Threaso●ership , and she that scarcely would endure to be confer'd withall , or publikely saluted in my behalfe , ouercame her modestie by her loue towards me . What woman this was , and what husband she had thou shalt learne by my notes : but when he was Threasorer I doe not certainly know : for his yeares , it might haue been vnder Tiberius , or it might be vnder Caius , but I intend not to define the matter . This had I rather say , that by Agripinals meanes presently after his exile he got and exercised the Praetorship . For thus saith Tacitus : Agripina got at her husbands hand , not onely a release of Annaeus Senecaes banishment , but also the Praetorship , supposing that it would be pleasing to the common sort by reason of the fame of his studie , 12. Annalls . and to the end that Domitius childehood might be the better ripened by such a master , and that hee might vse his counsailes , vnder hope to attaine the soueraigntie . Thou see●t that hee was suddenly made Praetor , and ●earest what praises and endowments Tacitus vnfainedly honoureth him with . The loue of the commons was gotten by that meanes . Because Seneca now was accompanied with euery mans good words and fauours , by reason of the excellencie of his studies , and was desirous that vnder such and so great a Master , that their Domitius should be brought vp , and should be addressed ( and herein note his ciuill prudence ) both to obtaine the Empire , and to gouern it . He was therefore Praetor the yeare of the Citie DCCII . and was hee not afterwards Consull ? The Law bookes affirme the same to S.C. Trebellian , as Vlpian . In the time of Nero in the Octaues of the Calends of September , when Annaeus Seneca and Trebellius Maximus were Consuls , it was made irreuocable . The same is written in the elements of Iustinians institutions . But they that made our holy●daies , make these substitute Consuls ( for ordinarie they were not ) the yeare of the Citie DCCCXV . which should be the yeare , and some few moneths before Senecaes death . Some men perhaps will doubt of the whole matter , because Ausonius in his thankesgiuing s●ith openly , The rich man Seneca , but yet not Consull● Seneca likewise himselfe neuer maketh mention of this honour , although he wrote many Epistles at that time . I answer , for Ausonius it is to be vnderstood , that it seemed to him to bee an ordinarie Consulate ; for our Seneca , that a silence is no deniall . Furthermore , ● adde this likewise , that the Chronicle-makers seem to haue digested their relations badly ; for in that yeare vndoubtedly he was not . For see here in the very beginning of the yeare , how Tacitus maketh mention of his cold entertainement by Nero , Annal. 14. and how his detractors had diuersly iniuried him , and how he himselfe with a confident Oration came vnto the Prince , and desired viaticum , and resigned his substance : yet Caesar permitted it not , & yet Seneca from that time forward , as Cornelius saith , changeth the prescripts of his former power , forbiddeth intercourse of Courtiers , auoydeth attendants , is sildome seene in the Citie , and as if ouer-tired with sickenes , keepeth himselfe at home , intending onely the studie of wisedome . These are no proper actions of a new made Consull or a Candidate , and his death that followed presently afterwards , forbiddeth vs to consent hereunto . But what was it that learned men suspected thus ? That which Tacitus writeth in that yeare was done by the consent of the Senate , lest a fained adoption should in any sort further a publique Office , & least in vsurping heritages , it should profit . But this appertaineth nothing to that of Trebellian , it hath another reference : if a man doe examine those things likewise that are in Tacitus . I therefore consent that he was Consull , but in another and a former time , the certaintie whereof I will not set downe . But the perpetuall honour of this man , and how hee was both the teacher and gouernour of a Prince , vndoubtedly worthy as long as he addicted himselfe to his counsailes and admonitions● Tacitus concealeth not , and nameth two , to whom the Prince was well inclined for his owne profite . Murthers had preuailed except A●ranius Burrus and Annaeus Seneca had withstood them . These were the Gouernours of the Emperour in his yonger yeares , and con●formed in that equall societie they had in gouernement , and in diu●rs sorts they had equall power . Burrus in his charge , in regard of warlike affaires and seueritie in his manners . Seneca in his precepts of eloquence and honest affabilitie● assisting one another , whereby they might more easily restraine the tender yeares of the Prince if he despised vertue , by granting him ple●sures● O laud●ble endeuour and consent , which is too ra●e in Court , where ●uery one for the most part will desire to be so eminent that he desireth no second . But to Seneca .

CHAP. V. His priuate life , his wife , his children , his banishment .

WHether he acted any other thing in publique , I know not ; Consola● . ad Helu●am . cap. 21. but priuately I find , or at least wise I collect , that during his yonger yeares hee was in Egypt vpon this occasion ; because his Vncle was P●ae●ect t●ere : for he writeth of his Aunt to his Mother , Shee will shew th●e her example , whereof I was an eye-witnesse . An eye witnesse ? he therfore associated his Aunt in that Nauigation ( of which he speaketh in that place ) when as his Aunt returned from Egypt . And how could this be , except he himselfe likewise had beene in AEgypt ? Vndoubtedly it was thus : and this is the cause why he curiously intermixeth many things of AEgypt and Nilus , especially in his bookes of Naturall Questions . Lib. 6. c. 17. Perchance he trau●iled out of AEgypt into ●ndia by the red Sea , and therefore would hee comment vpon ●ndia , vpon that which was written by Pliny . But now he married a wife at Rome , which though it be vncertain to be so , yet the reason he had children do approue it : for he maketh mention of Marcus a wanton lad , with much praise and affection to his mother Heluia : neyther is it to be doubted but that he was his sonne , at least wise his owne verses will approue it , where amongst his vowes , So may yong Marcus , who with pleasing prate Contents vs now , in eloquent debate , Prouoke his vncles , though in being yong In wit , in wisdome , and in fluent tong . For should I giue way to those who attribute this to Marcus Lucanus , I finde no reason for it ; yet maketh hee no mention o● his former wife : not in these books , I confesse ; what then ? nor o● his brother Annaeus Mela by name , had hee not therefore a brother ? Notwithstanding thou art to consider whether thou vnderstand not this by his first wife : Thou knowest that Harpastes my wiues foole remained as an hereditary burthen in my family : 3. de Ira. c. 1. what wife ? his first wife ? for the books of Anger seem to be written in a place well known to vs . But he married Paulina after his exile , a woman of great Nobility , which , as I tell thee , married him when he was old & powerful in the Court : which very thing Dio likewise , or whatsoeuer he were in Dion , thought good to obiect against Dion ; which is , that being s●ept in yeares he had married a yong wench . Such were both of them , and Seneca himselfe , testifieth it . This said I to my Paulina which commends my health vnto me : Epist. 104. it came into my mind , that in this old man there is a yong one that is forborn . A yong one ? he meanes Paulina her selfe : for vndoubtedly she loued her husband , as there in many places he boasteth , and that vnfainedly , which she expressed in his death , when in as farre as in her lay , she sought to accompanie his soule with hers . Hereafter we shall see it . And these were his wiues . The rest of his life quiet , and without offence , excepting onely that grieuous accident of his exile . For vnder Claudius the first yeare of his reigne , when Iulia the daughter of Germanicus was accused of adulterie ( Gods and Goddesses by Messaline ? ) and was driuen her selfe into banishment : and Seneca , if he had beene one of the adulterers , was exiled and sent into Corsica ; I will not say whether it were vpon a iust cause , I could wish it were not , and happily Tacitus with me , who when hee speaketh of his banishment . Seneca was angrie with Claudius , it was supposed by reason of the iniurie that was done him . Note this ●niurie : hee therefore had receiued some . For who would otherwise be ignorant to interprete the accusations of that impudent Ha●lot ( I meane Messaline ) and that my sonne beast Claudius ? For , for the most par●e they practised no mischiefe but against good and innocent persons . Hee liued about some eight yeares or thereabouts in exile , I , and constantly too ; yea , if wee may beleeue himselfe , happily intending onely the best st●dies , and the wholsomest meditations . For thus writeth ●e to his mother ; That hee is blessed amongst those things which are wont to make other men wretched . And afterwards ( but I pray thee obserue him ) he worthily Philosophieth , he addeth in the end , and rowseth himselfe ; Conceiue what thou shouldest , thinke mee to be ioyfull and addressed as it were in the best fortunes . Cap. 4. But they are the best , when as the minde , deuoide of all thought intendeth himselfe , and somtimes delighteth himselfe in lighter studies , and somtimes mounteth into the consideration of the nature of himselfe , & the whole world being desirous of truth . O man , O honest wordes , which the Author of Octauia's Tragedie would imitate● for it was not he ( God forbid ) in these Verses in the person of Seneca ; Farre better lay I hid : remoued farre From enuies stormes amidst the Corsicke shores , Whereas my minde was farre from any iarre , Fixt on my studies , not on earthly powres : O what content had I ? ( For neuer nature Mother of all things , Mistris of each creature Could grant no more ) then to behold the heauen , The Sunnes true motion , and the Planets seuen . These are better , yea , farre truer then he hath written in his consolatorie booke to Polybius , ouer-basely and humbly . And is it impossible that our Seneca should write it ? Oftentimes haue I doubted it , and almost durst forsweare it . Howsoeuer , he was a man , and happily that writing was enlarged and published by his enemies , and happily they corrupted it : yet note this in Senecaes words abouesaid ; That there he delighted himselfe in more slighter studies likewise , which I suppose should be Poesie : & amongst them is Medea , which I am halfe assured was written in his exile , at such time as Claudius conquered Britanie ; and therfore made he choice of that argument of Iason , that he might intermixe somewhat of the Ocean that was subdued . Is it possible that those verses in the Chorus should haue relation to any but Claudius ?

Spare me , O gods , I doe intreat for grace , Long let him liue secure that hath subdude .

And againe , The Seas — Enough already O you gods , you haue Reuengd you on the Seas , now spare the Powre . Which he applied to Cla●dius , although he were liuing , and will haue the gods to spare the god in his Poeticall fiction .