kept in prison, and to all the marines he had held out hopes of honourable service.[1] To the fleet he attached the cohorts of the City Garrison and a large force of Guards. These were the flower of the army and its chief strength, well able to advise their own generals and to take good care of them. The command of the expedition was entrusted to Antonius Novellus and Suedius Clemens, both senior centurions,[2] and to Aemilius Pacensis, to whom Otho had restored his commission,[3] of which Galba had deprived him. In charge of the fleet he still retained the freedman Moschus[4] to keep an eye on his betters. In command of the cavalry and infantry he placed Suetonius Paulinus, Marius Celsus, and Annius Gallus, but the man in whom he put most faith was the Prefect of the Guards, Licinius Proculus. This ofhcer had shown himself efficient in garrison service, but was without any experience of warfare. He maligned the characteristic virtues of his colleagues, Paulinus' power of influence, Celsus' energy, Gallus' ripe judgement, and being a knave and no fool, he easily got the better of men who were both honest and loyal.
It was about this time that Cornelius Dolabella[5] 88 was banished to the colony of Aquinum,[6] though not
- ↑ i. e. of becoming eventually a legion or praetorian cohort.
- ↑ Cp. p. 47, note 2.
- ↑ The command of a cohort in the City Garrison.
- ↑ He had held this post under Nero and Galba. His functions were those of steward and spy combined.
- ↑ He had been a rival candidate for adoption by Galba. Vitellius had him killed (ii. 63).
- ↑ Aquino.
