82 



ever read_y to anticipate the s>!cret wislies of their master, and by tlieir 

 owa voluntary debasement to raise him more and more to the giddy 

 height of despotic power.* 



The general principles of the administration under Tiberius, were 

 those naturally evolved by a revolution, which destroys an aristocracy. 

 It was a step away from liberty, but two steps towards equality. The 

 government of a clique of families over the mass of Roman freemen, 

 and of the collective freemen of Rome over the provincials for the 

 benefit of the ruling few was at an end. The equal yoke of despotism, 

 whilst bending down the proud neck of the patrician, raised the 

 desponding and helpless provincial to at least an equal claim for justice 

 to his rights, and for attention to his interests. For the first time since 

 their conquest, the well-being of the provinces was considered a subject 

 worthy of the attention of the government. This great change had 

 begun under Augustus ; it w-as worked out under his successor. 

 Tiberius selected with the greatest care the men, whom he sent out to 

 govern the imperial provinces (Tac. Ann. iv. 6), and whereas under 

 the republic the annual change of pro-praetors and pro-consuls was 

 productive of constant misgovernment, and even repeated spoliation, 

 Tiberius continued the same men in office, as long as they conducted 

 themselves to his satisfaction (Tac. Ann. i. 80)." This alone was a 

 great boon ; but it was still increased by the vigilance of the Emperor, 

 who was unrelentingly severe to all those guilty of the old sins of 

 Roman pro-consuls. In the analysis of the " Judicia Majestatis" we shall 

 liud, that what is objected to Tiberius as cruelty, is in many instances 

 bare justice towards by far the largest class of his subjects." Thus Cains 

 Silauus, accused and convicted of spoliation, received his well-deserved 

 punishment (Tac. Ann. iii. 00), so also Lucilius Capito (Tac. Ann. iv. 

 15), Vibius Serenas (Tac. Ann. iv. 13), and others. Nor was it down- 

 right robbery and oppression only, which Tiberius endeavoured to 

 prevent. He wished the provinces to be governed justly and mildly, 

 and used to say, that his sheep should le shorn, not flayed (Suet. Tib. 

 39, Dion Cass. 57, 10). 



The result of this vigilance soon became apparent in the increasing 

 prosperity, happiness and contentedness of the provinces. They 

 revived like countries after a devastating plague, nnd they strove with 

 one another in showing their gratitude to their benefactor, more 



• Tac. Ann. iv. 6. Publico ne5:.>tia apud Patres tractabantur ; dab;iturque priuioribus 

 disserore, ei in adululionem lapsos cohlbehul ipse. 



* For this sensible policy ho was charged with idleness and neglect of hi.s duties by the 

 ignorant rancour of his detractors, carefully repeated and endorsed by Suetonius. 



' A complete list of provincial goveroors accused of extortion or misgovernment duririg 

 the ici^jn of Tiberius, is given by Uein, " Ra^m Criminalrecht," p (jC7. 



