meruaylouse Ryuer otherwyse called Danubie or Danowe comming oute of a mountayne of Almayne named Arnoba Beyonde the Alpes it passeth by Innumerable Countreis The further it runneth the more it encreaseth reteining the name of Danow vntyll it commeth by the Countrey of Illiria nowe called Sclauonie where he chaungeth hys name and is called Ister And receyuinge hys encrease of .lx. Riuers which fall into hym he departeth from y e earth and entreth into the Sea Pontique by .vi. grete armes as sayeth Plynye in the .iiii. booke the .xi. Chapiter of his Historie naturall L. LAodicea is a Cytye of Siria nighe vnto the Sea and not very farre distant from Antioche whyche is also in Siria but further from the Sea as wytnesseth Ptolomee in the .iiii. Table of Asye ¶ Latium is a parte of Italye in the whyche standen Rome Tusculum Prenesâ—e Ardea Tibur and many other Cities as writeth Ptolomee in the fyrste Chapiter of the syxte Table of Europe Those that enhabyte this parte of Italy are by the Romaynes called Latini ¶ Laurentum is a Cytye of Italye in the same parte that is called Latium nighe vnto Hostia By Laurentum there is a forest sacred vnto the Sonne as sayeth Plynye in the .v. Chapiter of his thyrde booke ¶ Liber Pater in Englysshe Free father is the selfe same God that we call Apollo as saieth Macrobius in his Saturnales after Aristotle for diuerse causes and amonges other bicause that in Thrace there is a Temple and Oratory dedicated vnto Liber wherin answeres and Prophesyes are rendered But in the same Temple those whyche oughte to Prophecie do drinke wyne excessiuely as they whyche render oracles in the Cytye of Clarium after thei haue dronke muche water The Lacedemonyens in the sacryfyces whyche they made to Apollo ware Garlandes of Iuye as yf they dyd sacrifyce to Bacchus The Boetians affyrmynge that the Hyll Parnassus was sacred vnto Apollo dyd alwayes there kepe the Oracle of Delphus and the Caues of Bacchus dedicated vnto the same GOD. For thys cause in that Hyll were the sacryfyces made vnto Apollo and Liber Pater ¶ In thys Hyll also where the Bacchanales celebrated ones in two yeare whyche shewed that Apollo Lyber and Bacchus were but one GOD. And he was called Lyber that is to saye Frea bycause the Sonne whyche we call Apollo dothe frealy and without subiection tourne compasse the worlde beynge sometimes highe and sometymes lowe and kepynge his course diuerse wayes ¶ Lybie is a Region of Aphrique And it is expedient to know that there are .ii. Libies For Ptolomee in the .v. Chapitre of his .iiii. Table of Aphrique setteth one Libye ioyned with Egipte the Marmarike Region And saieth y e Egipt the Marmarike Region haue on the West part the Royalme of Cirenia folowynge the continuation of one Lyne whiche draweth by a Citye called Darius that standeth vpon the Egiptian Sea And in the .vi. Chapi of the .iiii. Table of Aphrique he setteth an other Libye called Libye the Inner whiche hath on the North the seconde Mauritanie Aphrique y e lesse the Cirenayake Region On the Easte a parte of the Marmarike Region Ethiope whiche is vnder Egipt Towardes the South it hath Ethiope y e Inner And towardes y e west it hath y e west Sea For more descriptioÌ„ hereof looke Ptolome iÌ„ y e forsaid Chap. tables ¶ Lydie is a Countrie of Asia vpon the Egean Sea betwene Phrigia Caria This Contrey hath .ii. Riuers of great same The one of them is on the Northe coste called Pactolus wherin are founde many vaynes of Golde And thother is in the South syde called Meanâ—er which is very eroked beÌ„ding in oute Loke Ptolome in the fyrste Table of Asye M. MAuritanie Ptolome in his first Table of Affrike appointeth .ii. Mauritanies Thone whereof is more West right ouer aneanst Spaine Betique and called Mauritania Triganica Thother beinge more nere Thorient is named Mauritania Cesariensis and on the Easte parte ioyned vnto Numidia ¶ Medes be the people of the Royaulme called Media Ptolomee in his .vi. booke the secoÌ„de Chap. sayeth that this RegioÌ„ hath on y e North cost a part of the HircaniaÌ„ Sea On the West y e grete Armenie and Assirie On On the Easte Hircanie Parthie And towardes the Southe it hath the region called Corinthena Thus is this regioÌ„ described in the .v. table of Asie Plinie in the vi booke the .xxvij. chap. sayeth that Marcus Agrippa sayd y e Media Parthia the couÌ„trey of Persâ—e had on the East the riuer Indus On the West the ryuer Tygris On the Northe Taurus Cacausus And on the South the redde Sea Media Looke on the worde Medes Mesapotamie is a royalme of Asâ—e betwene the riuers of Euphrates Tigris as sayth Plinie in y e .xii. chap. of the .v. boke And in the .vi. boke the .xxv. chap. he sayeth that all the countreye of Mesapotamâ—e was subiect vnto the Affricans Looke more on thys worde Syrye Misiens The hygh Misie as Ptolomee hath described it in the ninth table of Europe is bouÌ„ding vpoÌ„ Thrace on the East part On the South vnto a lytle Royalme named Dardania which is aboue Macedonia And on North vnto the Ryuer of Danowe The lowe Misâ—e is nygh vnto y e falling of Danowe in the sea called Pontus Euxinus ¶ Loke on this word Propontys The Misiens are those which inhabit these .ii. regions Plinie in the .xxvi. chap. the thyrde boke called these royalmes Misia Ther are .ij. other in Asie after the description that Ptolomee maketh in the fyrste Table of Asie Thone called Misia the more thother Misia the lesse both ioyning to Phrigia vpoÌ„ the Hellespontian Sea N. NIcea is a cytye of Bithynie as sayen Ptolomee and Plinie Nicomedia is a Cytye nygh vnto the Sea in the Royalme of Bithynye Numidia is a countrey in Affrike betwene Mauritanie the countrey of Carthage after the descriptioÌ„ of Ptolome in the .ii. table of Affryke Thys couÌ„trey was very much renowned through the vertue of Masinissa who was king sometyme therof Thinhabitauntes are called Numidians or Nomades because y e often tymes they chauÌ„ge theyr habitations cary theyr housholdes froÌ„ one place to another in wagoÌ„s as saith Plinie in y e thyrd chap. the .v. boke of hys naturall Hystorye Sabellique in the fyrst boke of hys .v. Enneade O. ORgia be sacrifices made aswell vnto the Moother of the Goddes as vnto Bacchus other Goddes by the pryestes called Galli that are madde ¶ Ocean is the great Sea that enuironeth al y e earthe and ioyneth hym self w t the Mediterrane Sea betwene the pyllers of Hercules Thone wherof is in Mauritania called Abilla And thother in Spayne named Calpe The Mediterrane Sea is enclosed w t earth on euery syde that is to say on the right side wyth Affryke and on the lefte syde wyth Europe and Asie P. PAnuonie Ptolome in y e .v. table of
wyth contynual colde cloudes Wylt thou neuer O Emperour sayde they leaue drynkynge of water digged congeled togyther as yse Shal other meÌ„ enioye the clere well springes the pleasaunt colde of the runnynge ryuers and the holsome ayre of Italye By these allurynges to wantonnesse they easely enflammed the yonge mans mynde wyth vehemente desyre of those plesures Wherfore furthwyth hauynge called hys frendes togyther he dyssymuled not that he was verye desyrous of hys natyue countrey But yet fearynge to declare the very cause of hys sodeyn alteracyon of mynde he fayned that he stoode in greate doubte leaste any ryche manne of the nobylytie woulde take possessyon of the Imperyall Palayce And thereupon gatherynge vntoo hym a greate power of meÌ„ would as oute of y e strongest fortresse chalenge vntoo hym selfe the princypall domynyon of all theÌ„pyre For sayd he amonges the people may easely be leuied a mighty approued coÌ„pany of yonge men Whiles he thiese causes moued all the rest hauing their eyes caste vpon the earth with styll and sorowfull countenaunce Pompeianus who in age was the moost auncient and had maried CoÌ„modus eldest syster arose vp and sayed It is no meruayle o Sonne and soueraigne that you are holden wyth desyre of your countrey for the very same desyre of seyng oure housholdes dothe vrge and sturre vs also But we represse that affection for that thaffaires we haue here in hande requyre the fyrste parte and lyeth vs more vpon to dispatche As for the pleasures of the Citye you shall longer enioye hereafter And Rome is contynually where the Emperour soiourneth Nowe to gyue ouer the warre lately begonne besydes that it is shamefull it is also very peryllous for thereby we minister occasion of audacitee vnto the Barbarouse people who wyll thinke that we are not departed for cause of recreacioÌ„ but that we are fledde being daunted with feare And vnto your selfe howe gloriouse wyll it be after ye haue vanquished all your enemies and enlarged the boundes of your Empyre vnto the ocean to retourne to Rome wyth tryumphe and therin to haue ledde bounde as captyues the barbarouse kynges and Lordes for truly after this sorte in the former worldes did the Romaynes were noble and famouse There is no cause why you shoulde feare that your affayres in the city are in any hasarde For euery principall senatour is here present wyth you and the hole army doth before your eyes defende your Empire yea and all your chiefest Treasoure is with vs also The memorie besides of your father hath establysshed a stedfast and perfecte beneuolence towardes you with all estates When Pompeianus perswading hym to the better had thus muche spoken he did somewhat at that present represse the wyll and endeuour of the younge Emperour who fearyng the olde mans sayinges hauing nothing wherwith he myght well replye dismyssed the counsayle promisyng that he would more diligently at leysure debate with hym selfe those thinges Yet afterwarde hys seruauntes and parasites callynge more instantely vpon hym he made no further relacion vnto hys Counsailours But hauyng sent his letters vnto Rome and appointed whom he thought meete to defende the bankes of Hister and restreigne the attemptes of the Barbariens he caused furthwith his remouing to be proclaymed Thei that were lefte behynde diligently executed the offices appoynted them and wythin a lytle space broughte many in subiection And some they ioyned by great gyftes in frendeshyp vnto them The whiche was not verye harde to doo For the Barbarouse people beyng naturally gready of money and despysers of all daungers do eyther gette their liuing wyth inuasions and pylleng of their neyghbours or elles for an appoynted salarie sell their peace The which thing Commodus perceyuyng that he might with money wherof he had innumerable abundauÌ„ce purchase hym selfe securitee and quiet he denyed nothing vnto the demaunders Now assone as the fame of hys setting forwarde was spredde in the armye sodeynly a greate sturre was amonges all the Souldyours euery man desyring to returne vnto Rome and affecting the pleasures of the citye to leue theyr enemyes countrey And when it was blowen abroade by reporte of purseuauntes and postes that the Emperour was retourning to the Citye an incredible ioye wandered amonges the common people euery man conceuing in hym selfe a singuler hope of theÌ„perours presence and trusting assuredly that he would folowe his fathers steppes Hym selfe making speade in hys iourney and passynge wyth a certayne feruencie of youthe in his charyot throughe the myddes of all theÌ„ cities was receiued with princely reuerence and ioyfull assemblies of the people welcomed as one most acceptable and wyshed for vnto them And when he approched nygh vnto Rome the hole Senate and the Romayne commons eche of them coueiting to preuent other crowned wyth lawrell and caryeng all â—ynde of flowers that the presente season of the yere â—yd minister met as farre as they coulde from the citye their prince notable in the floure of youth and nobilitie of byrthe For truely they loued him with most feruent affection beyng borne and brought vp amonges them and then possessynge in the thirde degree thempyer and regimente of Rome For of his fathers syde he issued from the chiefest of the Senatours And hys Mother Faustina a Princes wyfe the doughter of Antoninus Pius niece by her mother vnto Hadrian dyd referre the Pedegrue of her kynred vnto Traian her grete graundefather Of this parentage was Commodus descended vnto whome besydes the flowre of his age was giuen also an excelleÌ„cie of bewtie a congruent stature of body an amiable and manly countenaunce pleasauÌ„t and shining beames in hys eyes and a yelow and curled heare whiche when he came into the Sonne dyd so glyster that manye deamed the same as he passed by them to be sprinkeled ouer wyth golden duste Many also estemed it a token of diuinyte coniecturing that the rayes about the top of his heade were by generacion and nature gyuen vnto hym The softe heares besydes sprange oute of hys cheekes and couered them as it were with flowers They receyued therfore this such an Emperour wyth ioyfull showtes and strawing of Garlandes and flowers in the way as he passed After he was enteryd into the Citie visyted and saluted the Temples fyrste of Iupiter and then of the other Goddes and gyuen thankes to the hole Senate and the Pretorian Souldiours for their fidelite obserued towards hym he went into thimperiall palayce For a fewe yeres after this he did honourably entrete his fathers frendes and vsed their counsaile in all his affayres Those yeres expired he coÌ„mytted the charge of the hole Empyre vnto other coÌ„stituted Capitaine of his garde an Italyan named Perennes a man verie experte and skylfull in warfare The same abusyng the age of the yonge Emperour permytted hym to be corrupted w t sensuall lustes and ruffyans And takynge vpon hym selfe all charge and labour ruled the hole Empyre There was in the man an insatiable thyrste
of the Goddes and doo greatlye reuerence Liuie in the .ix. booke of hys seconde warre Punique sayth that they founde in the Sybyline bokes whyche were perused and redde ouer because of the often raynynge of stones the same yeare that when so euer anye straunger and forreyne enemye shoulde moue warre agaynste Italye he myghte be vanquysshed and expelled thence yf the Moother Idea were transported to Rome from a fyelde of Phrigia named Pesinus The whyche to do the Romaynes sent fiue Ambassadours wyth fyue greate shyppes called Cynqueremes to Atalus king of Asie Who led them to the place called Pesynus delyuered them the holye stone whych the inhabitauntes there called y e Moother of the Goddes and appoynted theym to carye it vnto Rome It was receyued at the Hauen of Hostia by Publius Scipio beynge iudged at that tyme the worthyest manne in all the Cytye to do the same caryed vnto Rome and sette in the Temple of Victorye wythin the Palayce the .xiij. daye of Apryll whyche was celebrated and solempnyzed wyth feastes and gyftes that the people in greate aboundance offered vnto the Goddesse Whych playes the Romaynes called Megalesia The same Goddesse is called Ops whome they suppose to be y e wyfe of Saturne called Rhea by the whyche they vnderstande the earth that geueth affluence and abundaunce of all thynge She is otherwise named Cybele of the name of a Hyl and cytye of Phrigia where her sacrifyces were fyrst instituted Or she is called Cybele of Cimbals which signifyeth the Instrumentes and Soundes they vsed in the sacryfyces The Poetes sayen that she roade in a Chariot and had a crown of Towers wherby they sygnyfye that the earthe hangeth in the ayre and the world tourneth alwayes rounde aboute and that the earth hathe vpon it Cytyes and Townes wherein be Towers She is called Moother of the Goddes because she engendreth all thyng She is also called Pales for y t she is y e Goddesse of sheperdes her feastes are called Palilia And she is also surnamed Berecinthia of a moūtaygne of Phrigie called Berecynthes Accordyng to the diuersytye of her names she hath dyuers powers dyuers sacryfyces and dyuers ministers Vnder theyse names Cybele Berecynthia Goddesse Pesynuntyne Moother Idea because they came of names of places in Phrigia from whence thys Goddesse was broughte to Rome is no diuersitie of puyssaunce sygnified Thys Goddesse hathe Priestes and Ministers called Galli by the name of a Riuer named Gallus in Phrigia The water wherof causeth theym to be mad that drynke it Those Priestes be gelded who beyng sturred wyth madnesse noddynge theyr heades vp and downe wyth great noyse of small Belles whych they caryed did prophesye and tell of thynges to come in that madnesse They were otherwyse called Corybantes I. ILium is the same Cytye that we call Troye the great Ilus son of Tros in y e coūtrey called Troas dyd buylde thys ritye Iliū so called of his name And of the countrey wherin it stode it was named Troye as wytnesseth Sabellique in the fyfth booke of hys fyrst Enneade The Countrey is ioynyng vnto Phrigia on the East and towardes the west it hath the Sea Hellespontique as Ptolomee hathe described it in hys first Table of Asie Illiria The Royalme of Illiria described by Ptolomee in his .v. Table of Europe hath on y e North Coste y e .ii. Pannonies on y e west y e coūtry called Istria Towards the East it hath y e high Misia And towards y e South a part of Macedonia This Roialme is also named Liburnia y e part which extēdeth towards y e high Misia is called Dalinatia At this presēt the Illiriā Regiō is called Sclauonia Loke Ptolome in y e said .v. cable of Europe India There are .ii. Indes both in Asia ioyning togithers wherof thone maketh an ende of Asie towards thoriēt is called Inde beyonde the Riuer of Ganges On this side the Riuer is Inde called Inde on this side Ganges which hath on the East syde the same Riuer On the west the Royalmes of Paropanisades Arachosia Gedrosia On y e North y e moūtaine Imaus And on the Southe the Indian Sea as sayeth Ptolome in the fyrste Chapiter of the .x. Table of Asye ¶ Iocasta was y e wife of Laius King of Thebes After whose deceasse she maried her own Sone Oedipus vnwares And had by him .ii. childrē Etheocles Polinices who fought togithers after Dedipus death for the Royalme of Thebes And in y e same cōbate both y e Bretherne slew one an other as saieth Sabellique in y e .vij. Booke of his first Emeade For this cause did y e Alexādriens in mocquerie call Antonines Mother Iocasta because Antonyne for to obtayne Thempyre alone had slayne hys Brother Geta as the .ij. Sones of Iocasta slewe one an other for the Royalme of Thebes Ionie Plyne in the .v. Booke the .xxix. Chapi sayeth that the Countrey of Lydia watered ouer wyth the Riuer of Meander very croked and full of tourninges both extende aboue Ionie hauing on y e East syde Phrigia on the North Misia and on the Southe Caria The which Countrey of Lidia was before called Meonie By y e descriptiō y t Ptolomee maketh in y e firste Table of A◠Ionie is y e self same Regiō y t is called Lidye or Meonye At the lest wise it is a parte therof bosiding vpon the Sea whiche for that cause is called Ionyan The same Ionian Sea dothe extende frō the Bankes of Ionie vnto the bankes of thysle of Sicile Plinye in the iiii booke the .xi. Chap. sayeth that the Greekes deuyded the Ionian Sea into the Sea of Sicile and the Sea of Crete so called bicause of the nigh Isles Ptolome in the .v. boke the seconde Capiter sayeth that the Regiō proprelie called Asia hath on the North syde Bithinia On the West a part of Propontis the Sea Hellespontique the Sea Ieariā the Sea Myrtoique On y e East the Regiōs of Licia Pamphilia Galatia And on the Southe the Sea of the Rhodes In this Region are cōprised Lidia Caria other small Royalmes In Lidia is Ionia as it is before saied And Ionie is ryght ouer aneanst an Isle called Icarie whereof the Sea there is named Icariā And it is the same which is called Ionian Caria is betwene Lidie the Sea of y e Rhodes On the West it hath the Sea Icarian or Myrtoique And on y e East is Licia ioyned to Pamphilia ¶ Issicus Sinus is a reflexion bendinge of the Sea which hath on the West thyste of Cipres And on the East Siria ioyned vnto the Bankes of Siria And on the Northe syde is the Countrey of Cilicia In y e plaine by the same tourning of the Sea is the Citye of Alexādrie builded by Alexāder y e grete in memorie of y e batail by him wonne against Darius King of Persia In this place also was the battayle betwene Seuerus Niger ¶ Ister is a great and
hys fathers frendes Wherefore I meruayled for what purpose CoÌ„modus so longe deferred the matter Why do you therefore thus staye and not execute that ye are commaunded and delyuer me from this dolefull and continual dread Vnto those wordes answered Letus sayinge Cease ê™ he to talke of thynges vnworthy youre selfe and your former lyfe we come not to desyre your deathe but the preseruacion of oure selues and all the Romaine Empyre For the TirauÌ„te is dead and hath suffred condigne punyshmente receauynge at oure handes those thinges he entended to do vnto vs. And we are commen hither to deliuer the Imperiall power vnto you whom onely of all the senate for temperauÌ„ce of lyfe aucthoritie age and grauyte of maners we knowe to be beste entyerly beloued reuerenced of the people Trustynge that we doo shalbe acceptable vnto theÌ„ and profytable to oure selfes Vnto whome Pertinax answered Leue of sayd he thus to scorne and mocke an olde man and so reproue him of timoriousnes entendynge fyrste to deceaue and after to flea hym Why ê™ Electus seynge that you do not credyte vs take this lytle booke for suerly ye knowe the haÌ„de of CoÌ„modus reade it your selfe and ye shall perfectlie perceaue what great dauÌ„ger we haue escaped neyther shal ye fynde in our wordes any temptacion but trustye reporte of truethe The whyche when Pertynax had donne thynkynge it beste to beleaue them whyche had bene alwayes theretofore hys especiall friendes and vnderstandynge all the matter he commytted hym selfe wholye vnto theyr power It seamed good therefore vnto them to go fyrste vnto the hooste and to assaye the myndes of the Souldyours whome Letus promised easely to wynne vnto his sentence because he knewe that hys aucthoryte beynge theyr Captayne woulde somewhat preuayle amonges them Wherefore as many as were presente hasted them vnto the Campe when muche of the nyghte was passed nexte before the fyrste daye of Ianuarye They sente besydes trustye messengers to spreade abrode the rumor that Commodus was dead And that Pertynax whyche shoulde be Emperour was nowe goynge towardes the hoste That bruyte beynge ones blowen sodeynly all the people as they were madde ranne throughe the streates All menne reioysed and euery manne seuerally wente to tell hys frende whyche hadde eyther dygnitye or rychesse remaynynge for vppon theim depended the greateste daunger whyle Commodus lyued They wente therfore vnto the Temples to render thanckes vnto the GODDES talkynge togyther dyuersely Somâ— sayde the Tyrraunte is destroyed some other the sworde player Yea manye spake thynges more detestable And suche wordes as feare had tyll that daye repressed in sylence the same did thei now thrughe license frealy goten bluster oute A great parte also of the people ranne hastely to the campe fearinge lest the menne of armes wold not willyngly accepte Pertinax for Emperour For thei thought that a moderate Prince was not verye gratfull vnto the Souldiors who were accustomed to serue tyranny and exercyse all violence Wherefore they ranne in diuerse plumpes vnto the Campe for to coÌ„pel them to obedience And when they were there arriued Letus and Electus w t Pertinax came thither also And the meÌ„ of Armes beyng called togithers Letus said thus vnto them CoÌ„modus your Emperour is deade of an Appoplexie No other man was the cause of hys death then himselfe For wheÌ„ we in vayne gaue him good and holsome counsel he orderinge himselfe as you all knowe he accustomed was sodeynlye choked with ouermuche meate and drincke so that he perysshed by the ende hymselfe sought For all men dye not by one kynde of death but vnto many men there are dyuers causes and yet all tende to one ende But touching hym we and the people of Rome haue brought vnto you a man graue in age moderate in lyfe and very experte in warfare whose valyaunte prowesse you that are aunciente Souldiors haue by experience knowen And the reste haue iudged beyng so many yeres ruler of the Cyte not onely worthiest honour but also admiracion woÌ„der Wherfore fortune hath not alonely gyue him as a prudent Prince but also a moste louing father vnto you Whose soueraignitie in thempyre shall not perticulerly be mooste pleasaunte vnto you that presently beholde hym but also vnto them that defende the bankes of Riuers and the boundes of the Romayne Empyre as those that retaine in memory the notable actes by him atchiued We shall not at thys presente wynne the Barbarouse people vnto vs by gyftes but beynge myndefull of those thynges they suffered whyles thys man was Capytayne they wyll be rather subdued wyth feare When Letus hadde spoken these woordes the people could no longer wythholde them selues But whyles the menne of armes stoode styll in theyr dompes they pronounced Pertynax Emperour and callynge hym theyr parent they praysed hym with moost ioyful acclamacyons The same dyd the Souldyours alsoo although not with like alacritie But the nomber of the people myxed amonges them beyng voyde of armure and celebratyng the feastfull day easely compelled theÌ„ to shoute and call Pertynax Augustus Furthewyth they being sworne in allegyaunce vnto hym and the sacrifice ended all the people and men of armes crowned wyth Lawrell folowed hym After he was conueyed in the nyghte as we before sayde into the Imperyall Palayce by the Souldyours and the people he was troubled wyth manye cares And although he semed too be of a constante and stoute mynde yet dyd thynges presente put hym in feare not very muche solycyted for hys owne life for he had at other tymes contempned greater perylles but throughe the recordyng in hys mynde the sodaine mutacion of tiranny and ponderynge the nobylytie of manye Senatours who he thought woulde not permyt after an Emperoure of moost noble byrthe thempyre to come vnto a man of pryuate and base stocke For al be it hys temperate and frugall lyfe were well spoken of and that he had gotten in warrelyke affayres great renowne yet was he of symple lygnage Wherefore after the daye appeared he wente too the Senate house not suffrynge the fyre or anye other tokens of dygnytye too be borne before him vntyll the determynacion of the Senate were hearde Whoo as soone as they saw him receiued him al by one accord w t ioyfull welcommynges saluting him as Augustus and Emperour But he refusyng the name of Emperoure as a thynge odyous excused his age and desyred pardon saying there were many of the Senatours more worthy thempyre then he And wyth that worde he tooke Glabrio by the hande commaundynge hym to syt in Themperyall Throne For this Glabrio was the noblest of the Senatours accomptynge the lyne of hys genealogie vnto Aeneas the sonne of Venus and Anchises and now the second time CoÌ„sull Who answered Pertynax thus Truely I whome of all meÌ„ your selfe iudge moste worthye do giue you place in thempyre and with me al the Senate committeth vnto you thole soueraigne aucthoritie Than Pertinax beyng almoste constrayned by the earneste prayer of euerye Senatour and halfe as yet
Phalaux in the honoure and remembraunce of Alexander When thei were so assembled he commaunded them to seperate themselfes in bandes a greate space one from an other that he mighte electe oute of them the apteste ages statures and personages for the warres The yonge men creditynge the same and perswaded wyth a coloure of truthe thrughe the greate honoure he had before shewed towardes theyr deade Prince resorted thither in many cōpanyes bringinge with them their Parētes and Bretherne with ioyouse acclamaciōs shoutes Then Antonine went about eche companye vewing them and praisinge this and that in euerye one as he liked vntil his whole host had compassed them vnwares and loking for no such thinge And when he perceaued them al to be enclosed with his armie entangled as it were with nettes him self came furth with his garde and gaue a watche word vnto the Souldiours who furthwith ran vpon the people and slewe with meruaylous slaughter the naked and vnarmed youth al other that wer present Of the Souldiors some were occupied in murdering onely other some buried the deade corpses in huge pyttes coueringe them with earth againe raysed a meruaylous highe hil Many were drawen half dead into y e pittes many were buryed quicke There perished besides very many of the Souldiours them selfes For they which had any breth remaining and not fully lost theyr natural strength clipping the Souldiors which ranne vpon them drewe the same also into the pittes wyth them And there was so great a murdre committed that with streames of bloud which ranne alonge the playnes not onely the mouthe of Nylus but also the Sea by the Citie became red of colour Thys eanded Antonyne affecting the Parthyane surname and renowme of Thoriental conquest although the people were nowe in perfecte peace inuented this crafte He wrate letters vnto Artabanus king of Parthia and sent vnto him Ambassadors with sundrie sumptuous giftes In those letters he wrate that he wold take to wife the kinges doughter for y t him self was a prince and a princes sonne And therfore it besemed not hys estate to become son in law of any priuate or meane persone but rather to mary a Queene or the doughter of a great and puisaunt king He alledged that the Empires of Rome and Parthia being the .ii. mightiest of the world ▪ shoulde by this affinitie ioyne togethers and no ryuer disseuerynge them be of so great strength that it were impossible for any forreyne power to vaynquishe them For quod he all the Barbarous nations whiche are nowe subiecte vnto both these Empires wyll easely continewe in subiection when euerye of them shall haue theyr owne rulers and gouernours The Romaynes he affyrmed had an armye of fote men the whyche wyth speares and in playne battayle excelled all other And the Parthians had a greate power of horsemen and experte archers Wherefore these thynges ioyned togethers and agreinge in one they shoulde he sayde easely retayne vnder one Scepter and Diademe the Empire of the whole worlde The pleasaunte spyces and fyne clothe also whiche came from them to the Romaynes and the goodly metall and all curious wroughte thynges which were transported from the Romains to them agayne shoulde not after thys mary age be seldome caried as it was wont by marchauntes but thuse therof shoulde be in common to them without let or interruption in one land and vnder one gouernour After the Parthian kinge had receaued these letters he fyrst denied the request saying that a barbarous matrimony became not a Romain For what cōcord quod he woulde be betwene them which vsed not one language nor one kind of liuing appayrel There were he sayde at Rome manye Senatours doughters amonges whome the Emperoure might chose hym a wyfe as there were in hys dominion certayne called Arsacide Neyther was there anye cause he thoughte why anye of them shoulde be alyenated from theyr natiue countrey With thys aunswere he repulsed the Emperours suyte But Antonyne neuer lefte of sendynge manye gyftes and promysynge by othes hys perfecte loue towardes hys doughter vntyll the Barbarous prynce beleuynge hys wordes promysed to geue hym hys doughter to wyfe When the fame of thys was spredde all the Barbarous people prepared themselues to receaue the Romayne Emperoure reioysynge wyth a certayne hope of contynuall peace thereafter Then Antonine hauing passed without let or staye of anye man the Riuers entred into the Parthian Region and rode thrughe the same as hys owne And in hys waye all the people celebrated sacryfices burning encense vpō the decked Aultares wherwith he fayned hym selfe to be greatly pleased After a lōge iorney he approched at the laste nyghe the Palaice of Artabanus Who met wyth him in a certaine plaine before the Cytye to receaue hym as a newe Brydegrome and hys Sonne in lawe And a greate multytude of the Barbarouse people crowned wyth theyr countrey floures and apparayled in garmentes adorned wyth golde and varyable colours celebrated the same as a feaste and solempnytye daunsynge togithers by the sounde of Pypes and Tabors For in those instrumentes they are aboue measure delyted especially when thei are ones wel tyipled with wine But when all the multytude were assembled togythers and hauing lefte their horses behinde and laide asyde their bowes and arrowes applyed them selfes to banquetynge and gatheringe togither in a rude plumpe stode withoute order whyles thei suspected no harme but euery mā thrusting forwardes to see the newe maryed man Sodeynly Antonyne wyth a preuy sygne commaunded all hys men to slea and destroy the Barbarouse people They beyng astonyed with that sodeyne chaunce turned theyr backes and fledde from the Romaynes whyche pursued and slewe them Artabanus hym selfe beynge socoured and set vpon a horse by some of hys Garde dyd wyth greate dyfficultye escape But the residewe of y e Parthians were euery where ouerthrowen and murdered For thei neither had their horses which thei most vsed thei hadde perdie sente theim before to grasse neyther coulde thei flee for theyr wyde garmentes hangynge downe to theyr heales interrupted theyr runnynge Thei broughte not besydes theyr bowes and arowes with them for what neaded that at a weddynge Thus after a great murder done on the Parthiens and a greate bootye of men and beastes taken captyues and ledde awaye Antonyne departed And withoute any resystence burned the Townes and vyllages geauing lycence vnto his Souldiours to ransake and spoyle all that they woulde or could This mischief calamitie did the Parthiens vnwares receiue Then Anthonyne hauing vyseted the inwarde partes of Parthia and his Souldiours beyng weryed w t rapyne and murder retourned into Mesapotamye From thence he sygnified vnto the Senate people of Rome that he had subdued Thoriente and brought in subiection all the men of those Regiōs The Senate albeit thei before knewe perfectly the hole circumstaunce for Princes affayres can by no meanes contynew longe in hugger mugger yet throughe feare and flaterye
Antonyne endeuoured to corrupte him wyth hys sensuall maners that in syngynge and daunsynge beynge partaker of hys Priesthode he shoulde weare the same apparell and vse the same facions with hym But Mammea the Moother of Alexander preserued hym from all dishonestye and fylthye lyfe bryngyng him vp priuely vnder diuers learned men in litterature modestie and good maners accustomynge hym vnto wrastelynge and other decent exercises and instructynge hym in the Greeke and Latyn tongue Wherat Antonine greatly grudged repentinge him of his adoption and participation of the Empyre And therfore he expelled out of his Palaice all those Instructours of whome some the excellentest he put to death and thother he afflicted with exile allegyng agaynst them foolishe and vaine causes that they corrupâ—ed hys Sonne not suffering hym to vse lybertye and daunsynge but instructinge hym in modest and comelye exercises And he fell into suche extreme folye that he distributed the chiefest dignityes in the common wealthe amonges players of Commodies and Enterludes For he made Liuetenaunt generall of the Armye a certayne daunser whiche in hys youth had bene a common Player vpon Scaffoulds Another of the same rabel he appoynted gouernour of the youth and another chiefe of the order of knyghthode Vnto Carters Ruffyans and disordered Brotheis he commytted the chiefe charge of the Empyre And vnto hys Bonde men and Lybertynes as euerye of them exceaded another in abhomination he delyuered the rule of the Prouynces Thereby all thynges whyche before were honest were tourned into vyle beastlynesse whyche caused that all men and chiefely the Romayne Souldyours detested hym as one whych fashyoned hys countenaunce more wantonlye then became anye honeste woman For he was decked wyth chaynes and ouches of golde and apparelled wyth lasciuious clothynge vncomlye for a man and daunsed daylye in the syght of them all Wherfore they bare more beneuolent myndes vnto Alexander and had better confideÌ„ce in that Child for that he was modestly brought vp And they all saued hym from y e treason and myschiefe of Antonyne Neyther woulde hys Moother Mammea suffer hym to touche any meate or drynke that was sent from the other The chylde also vsed not any of the Imperiall or common Cookes and Pastelers but suche as hys Moother had chosen for hym whyche were both trusty and honest She gaue hym money also to distribute priuelye amonges the Souldyours whyche chiefelye couete the same that he myghte by it as by a sure lynked Chayne drawe them vnto hym When Antonyne perceaued that he inuented all the mischiefe he coulde agaynste Alexander and hys Moother Neuerthelesse theyr common Graundmoother Moesa avoyded all suche crueltye For she was a woman of a stoute corage and had also of longe tyme soiourned in the Imperiall Palayce wyth her Suster Seuerus wyfe whereby she was throughlye skylfull of that whiche Antonyne entended who was naturallye full of talke and wythoute discretion accustomed to blase abrode what soeuer he mynded or woulde haue done And then seynge hys enterprise not to proceade as he wyshed he determined to depriue the Chylde all of Imperyal honours And therefore commaunded that he shoulde be no longer saluted as Emperoure neyther woulde he suffer hym to go abrode amonges the people But the Souldiours desyred hym wonderfullye disdaynyng that the Empire should be taken from him Then Anthonine caused a rumoure to be blowen abroade that Alexander was deade to the entente he myght thereby perceaue after what sorte the Souldyours woulde take the same But they seynge the chylde not appeare abrode and hauynge theyr hartes persed wyth those sorowefull tidynges waxed wonderfull wrothe withelde from Antonine hys accustomed garde and hauynge shutte the gates of theyr Campe sayde they woulde perforce see Alexander within theyr Temple Antonyne beyng thereby smitten wyth feare rode vnto the Campe in the Imperiall Chariot beynge adorned wyth precious stones wherin also sate Alexander Whome the Souldiors after they were bothe entred into the Campe and brought into the Temple therof saluted aboue measure folowynge hym wyth ioyfull acclamations and vtterlye as I myghte saye contempnyng Antonyne He beynge therwyth meruaylouslye chaufed after he had lyen one nyght within the Temple and noted the Souldyours whyche had shouted vnto Alexander commaunded them all to be put to deathe as authors of sedicion and rebellion They thereat disdaynynge and abhorrynge before tyme Antonyne whyshyng also to dispatche out of life that monstrous Emperour and to helpe theyr Companyons and perceauyng the tyme to be apte for the deede furthwyth slewe Antonyne hym selfe and hys Moother Soemis who was by chaunce at that tyme ther present and with them all theyr Seruantes and ministers of vice that came wyth them into the Campe. Then they delyuered vnto the common people the bodyes of Antonyne and Soemis to be drawen wyth shame throughoute the stretes of the Cyty The people dyd so and then threw them into the common synkes that they myght be caryed into Tyber And the Souldyours hauynge saluted Alexander for Emperoure broughte hym into Themperiall palaice beyng verye yonge and as yet obedieÌ„t vnto the coÌ„mauÌ„demetes of his grandmother Finis ¶ The Argumente of the syxte Booke of Herodian IN the syxte Booke the Authour treateth of the bountie and clemencie of Alexander the auarice of his Moother Mammea Of the warre made by Artaxerxes Kynge of Persia and the occasyon therof Against whome Alexander apparayled a great army and deuided it into thre partes Then ensuen the causes wherefore Alexander loste the loue of the Souldiours Who in the beginning of the warre against the Germaines chase Maximinus Emperour whiche procured Alexander with his Moother and all hys frendes to be slayne ¶ The syxte booke of the Hystorie of Herodian IT is manifestly in the former booke declared what ende of lyfe had Anthonine theldre After whome Alexandre alone possessed the name and regimente of Thempire But thadministracion of all affayres and gouernaunce of the weale publique appertained to the women who endeuored to reduce all thinges to their pristinaâ—e seemelynes and modesty For fyrst of all thei elected .xvi. of the ordre of Senators excelling in grauity of maners and coÌ„tinencie of life to be assistauÌ„te of preuy vnto CouÌ„saill TheÌ„peror w t oute the consent of whiche Counsaylours there was nothing eyther in word or writiÌ„g coÌ„fyrmed Where by this forme of priÌ„cipality becam grateful vnto y e meÌ„ at Armes and Senate of Rome for that it was chauÌ„ged from moste pestiferous Tiranny vnto the ouersyght and rule of noble men Then were the ymages of the Goddes whiche Anthonine in hys lyfe tyme had remoued oute of theyr Seates restored agayne into theyr owne Temples and places Then were all those whiche Anthonine had rashelye for their â—uyll maners aduaunced vnto highe dignities deposed set to their accustomed lyfe and occupacion Then all Ciuyle and foreyne matters of iudgemente were apoynted to thordring of wyse and profouÌ„de learned men in the lawes And all warlyke affayres coÌ„mitted to the rule