These proceedings excited great indignation at Ameria.  The local senate passed a resolution to the effect that the committee of ten should proceed to Sulla’s camp and put him in possession of the facts, with the object of removing the name of the father from the list of the proscribed, and reinstating the son in his inheritance.  The ten proceeded accordingly to the camp, but Chrysogonus cajoled and over-reached them.  It was represented to them by persons of high position that there was no need to trouble Sulla with the affair.  The name should be removed from the list; the property should be restored.  Capito, who was one of the ten, added his personal assurance to the same effect, and the deputation, satisfied that their object had been attained, returned to Ameria.  There was of course no intention of fulfilling the promises thus made.  The first idea of the trio was to deal with the son as they had dealt with the father.  Some hint of this purpose was conveyed to him, and he fled to Rome, where he was hospitably entertained by Caecilia, a wealthy lady of the family of Metellus, and therefore related to Sulla’s wife, who indeed bore the same name.  As he was now safe from violence, it was resolved to take the audacious step of accusing him of the murder of his father.  Outrageous as it seems, the plan held out some promise of success.  The accused was a man of singularly reserved character, rough and boorish in manner, and with no thoughts beyond the rustic occupations to which his life was devoted.  His father, on the other hand, had been a man of genial temper, who spent much of his time among the polished circles of the Capitol.  If there was no positive estrangement between them, there was a great discrepancy of tastes, and probably very little intercourse.  This it would be easy to exaggerate into something like a plausible charge, especially under the circumstances of the case.  It was beyond doubt that many murders closely resembling the murder of Roscius had been committed during the past year, committed some of them by sons.  This was the first time that an alleged culprit was brought to trial, and it was probable that the jury would be inclined to severity.  In any case, and whatever the evidence, it was hoped that the verdict would not be such as to imply the guilt of a favorite of Sulla.  He was the person who would profit most by the condemnation of the accused, and it was hoped that he would take the necessary means to secure it.

The friends of the father were satisfied of the innocence of the son, and they exerted themselves to secure for him an efficient defense.  Sulla was so much dreaded that none of the more conspicuous orators of the time were willing to undertake the task.  Cicero, however, had the courage which they wanted; and his speech, probably little altered from the form in which he delivered it, remains.