When by secret meetings, they had gained those who were most
prompt to rebel; with such as were desperate through indigence, or, from
guilt of past crimes, forced to commit more; they agreed that Florus
should begin the insurrection in Belgia; Sacrovir amongst the neighbouring
Gauls. In order to this, they had many consultations and cabals, where
they uttered seditious harangues; they urged "their tribute without end,
their devouring usury, the pride and cruelty of their Governors: that they
had now a glorious opportunity to recover their liberty; for that since
the report of the murder of Germanicus, discord had seized the Roman
soldiery: they need only consider their own strength and numbers; while
Italy was poor and exhausted; the Roman populace weak and unwarlike, the
Roman armies destitute of all vigour but that derived from foreigners."
Scarce one city remained untainted with the seeds of this rebellion; but
it first broke at Angiers and Tours. The former were reduced by Acilius
Aviola, a legate, with the assistance of a cohort drawn from the garrison
at Lyons. Those of Tours were suppressed by the same Aviola, assisted with
a detachment sent from the legions, by Visellius Varro, lieutenant-
governor of lower Germany.
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