good Prince howe perfect the refourmation thereof was established for surely whether their affaires were eyther with the Prince or with the Senate neyther did they beginne their suit with feare or were dispatched with iust cause to murmur The officers of his house and also of the Senate by whose handes matters were dispatched some he aduaunced and to others he gaue double fée to no other ende but to remoue them from aduenturing to take any bribe Being as he was a great friend vnto the common wealth and not a little delighted to be in the grace thereof and to this ende with the good he vsed great liberalitie and with the euill great clemencie in such wise that of all men he was beloued and also praysed as well for that he pardoned the one as gaue vnto the other All that euer he sayde or wished to be vsed of good Princes the same did he perfourme after he was Emperour and refourmed all things that he thought were to be amended In the third yeare of his Empire Faustine his dearely beloued wife dyed in whose death he did vtter so great sorrowe that it exceeded the authoritie of his estate and also the grauitie of his person In the memorie of Faustine he placed hir picture in all the temples and perfourmed with the Senate that she should be recounted amongest the Goddesses which was as to canonize hir all whiche was truely agréed by the Senate more at the request of Antoninus then for the deseruings of Faustine CHAP. VIII Of certaine notable buildings erected by Antoninus THe buildings which he made were not many but excéeding stately and sumptuous for in them appeared and were represented the greatnes of his estate and the magnanimitie that he had in spending He built a temple in the reuerence of his Lorde Adrian wherein he erected a picture of siluer with a Coronet of golde and a chaplet of Nacre a worke most certainly no lesse curious then costly He reedified a certaine building called Gregostasens which serued to lodge all straunge ambassadours bycause the Romaines did vse to giue ambassadours an house to dwell in and a stipend for their dyet He did amplifie and nobilitate the sepulchre of his Lord Adrian wherevnto none durst approch but on their knées The greatest session house of al Rome was burnt in the time of Domitian which the good Antoninus built from the foundation He built the temple of Agrippa and indued and dedicated the same in the reuerence of the Goddesse Ceres Ouer the riuer Rubicon he built a sumptuous and a stately bridge and also not a little necessarie bycause afore time many were there daungered and aftewardes that way muche victuall and prouision was carried Not farre distant from the port of Hostia neare vnto the sea he built a right strong tower for the safetie and defence of the ships of Rome which a foretime might not bring in any victuall or other prouision but were distressed of pyrates The hauen or port of Gaieta whiche had bene long through great antiquitie forsaken he freshly reedified that is to say built newe houses erected a mightie tower made a strong wall placed inhabitants and gaue them great priuileges in such wise that whereas afore time it was a thing vtterly forgotten it was from thence foorth most estéemed That whiche he did in Gaieta he perfourmed in a porte of Spaine named Taragon whiche he reedified amplified with great buildings and priuileges A myle from the port of Hostia he built a sumptuous and a curious bathe and indued the same in suche manner that in all Italie it was the onely bath that was vnto all men frée without charges A myle without Rome he built thrée temples naming them Laurianos for that many bay trées grewe there to this ende that the dames and matrones of Rome walking according vnto their manner should encounter with some Church to pray in CHAP. IX Of certaine lawes which the Emperour Antoninus Pius made IT was a law amongst the Romaines that such as were put to death by iustice might make no testament but that in loosing their life they lost also their goods Antoninus moued with pietie did ordein that none for any fault what so euer should ioyntly loose both life and goods but if any were put to death he might frankly make a testament of his owne proper goods Where he had placed any good and sound Iudge in any common wealth he did not onely permit him not to be remoued but also with giftes and requestes he did susteine him This good Prince made a law that none should presume to sue to the Prince or Senate for the office of iustice vppon paine to be banished Rome There was in Rome a Iudge named Gaius Maximus who in Rome continued a iudge twentie yeares of whom Antoninus wold oft say that he had neuer séene heard or read of a man more cleare of life eyther right in iustice In the place of Gaius Maximus there succéeded Tatius Succinus a man surely of many hoare haires and of muche learning but the office of Pretour being so tedious and he of yeares so auncient dyed immediately vpon the burthen thereof Antoninus being infourmed that the good olde Tatius dyed with the burthen of his office diuided the same betwixt Cornelius and Repentinus but after the Emperour being infourmed howe the Senate had giuen the same vnto Repentinus not for his deseruing but at the suite of a Gentlewoman of the Courte he commaunded him publikely to be banished declaring by the voice of a cryar throughout all Rome that he was banished for obteining the office of a Iudge by the suit of a woman This was the first officer of Rome that in the dayes of Antoninus suffered punishment which correction gaue so greate feare throughout the Romaine Empire that from thencefoorth the Emperour Antoninus was as muche feared of the euill as beloued of the good A mightie Senatour named Tranquillus confessing to haue procured his fathers death of extreme desire to inherite he commaunded to be remoued into an Island onely to passe his life with the breade of sorrowe and the water of teares All the time of his Empire he gaue wheate and oyle vnto the citizens of Rome The people of Rome in those dayes being giuen to drinke wine without measure he commaunded that none shuld presume to sel wine but in Apothecaries shops for the sicke or diseased He established a lawe for him self and his successours that openly thrée dayes in the wéeke they should shewe them selues in Rome and if by any weightie cause there happened some impediment that on suche dayes their gates should stand wide open without porters that fréely the poore might repaire to follow their suits In deare yeres he did ordeine through Italie that no gardener should dare to sowe in his garden any féede but wheate and barley whereby the poore of the common wealthe might be relieued of their penurie He made an vniuersall lawe throughout the Empire that gouerners
in suche wise that bothe should haue béene intituled Emperours of Rome and ioyntly therewith sware and affirmed that he did it not to remedie the necessitie wherein he stoode but for greate good wil which he did beare him who aunswered this which thou sayest Iulianus be thou assured that I will neither do it either do I loue but yrketh mée to heare it because to gouerne the Empire I am blinde to traueile I am weake and to inioye it am become olde and much more respecting the age which I possesse and the trauels which I haue passed I am more apte to make peace with the Gods then to take warres in hande against men All the men of warre that were in Etruria did passe vnto the seruice of Seuerus whome he would not by any meanes receiue vntil they had sworne to be innocent of the death of Pertinax Seuerus at the breake of the day discouered him selfe with all his armies two leagues from Rome whiche being knowen vnto the Senate ioyntly they agréed to determine two thinges whiche is to wéete to remoue Iulianus from the Empire and to depriue him of his life and in his place to elect Seuerus Emperour Then one of the Senatours came foorth from the Senate and published with open voice vnto the people that they should hold it for certeine that by the authoritie of the sacred Senat Iulianus was depriued of the Empire and in his stéede Seuerus elected Emperour Great was the ioy that the people receiued when they heard Iulianus to be depriued of the Empire and presently at the instant who best might made most hast to receiue the newe Emperour and none passed by Iulianus house that threw not stones at the windowes and spat not vppon the walles At the houre that the Senate went forth to receiue Seuerus they sent a Gentleman to kill Iulianus who expressing the sorrowful ambassage which he brought with many teares Iulianus requested that he might not be slaine before hee had séene Seuerus but the gentleman durst do no lesse then to cut off his head because the Senate stayed at the porte Salaria and had sworne not to procéede to receiue Seuerus vntill they were certeinly aduertised that Iulianus was slaine The vnfortunate Emperour Iulianus being dead his wife Malia and his daughter Escutilia tooke the body buried him in a Sepulcher of his great graundfather on the right hand of the way of Lauinia Iulianus was noted to be a glutton a gamster couetous and ambitious and on the other part he was pitifull amorous eloquent graue and subtile He liued 56. yeares and 4. monethes be reigned 11. monethes and 5. dayes After his death they did neither giue his body honourable funeralls or contemned his Sepulcher This was the end of Iulianus who being old honourable rich would for the exchaunge of the Empire giue his goods aduenture his fame and loose his life R.v. The life of the Emperour Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus THE auncient linage of the Emperour Seuerus was of Africa his grandfather was named Fuluius Pius and his grandmother Agrippa which came and died in Lepe an auncient citie in Mauritania was destroyed in the warres of Iugurtha Massimila his father was named Geta and his mother Fuluia Pia a people neither renowmed in armes or glorious in bloud either indued with riches Seuerus was borne in Etrutio Clarus and Seuerus being Consuls the 4. day of April and as his mother reported she had with him a difficult childbirth very tedious to nourse In his first infancie he chiefly delighted to play with other children his fellowes the play of Iudges and when his lot fell to be Iudge as sharpely did he chastice their trifling faultes as he did afterwards chastice their errours in earnest Hee learned the Gréeke and latine tongues with such singular perfection and was so prompt to speake write read dispute in the said tongues as if hee had béene borne in those countries and learned no other languages At the age of xviij yeres he was a publique aduocate and defended causes in lawe in such wise that if he had followed Science as hée did Warres hée had béene no lesse renowmed in science and letters then he was famous in armes He was not full xx yeares of age when he first entered Rome in which dayes there reigned the right happie Marcus Aurelius and by intercession of his kinseman Septimius Seuerus hée had the office to register daily such as either died or were borne in Rome which office although it were not profitable yet was it an occasion of great acquaintance to be throughly knowen because nightly he wēt to Court to report who was borne or had died that day The first night that he entred Rome by chance his host wher he lodged was reading the life of the Emperour Adrian wherin was relation of the great perils which he passed before he might atteine the Empire Seuerus said vnto his host in iest In trauels perills I imitate Adrian I hope also that I shall succede him in the Empire By chance as the Emperour M. Aurelius made a general sumptuous supper vnto many noble Romans Seuerus was amongest them at the time that he shuld haue taken his seat at the table without regard he placed him in the Emperours chaire and when others derided him for his negligence folly which he had comitted Seuerus aunswered Peace gibe not it is possible my destinies may be such that as I nowe sitt in the imperiall chaire in iest so one day I may sit therin in earnest Seuerus dreamed on a night that he suckt the teats of the wolfe that noursed Remus and Romulus which dreame he alwayes held for a great good signe of his future Empire In the time of his youth he was both absolute and dissolute especially in womens matters other vanities for which causes hee was many times taken banished shamed In the offices of warre he was placed in them all especially the office of Questor which he held long time and it is said of him that hauing by that office charge of monie he was diligēt in recouering faithful in diuiding parting therof In the moneth of Ianuary in the 5. yeare of the Empire of M. Aurelius it chaunced him to be Proconsul of Betica which now in Spaine is named the kingdome of Andoloizia where he remained the space of a yeare a halfe in which gouernment he was no lesse loued then feared and feared then loued Seuerus being Proconsul in Betica receiued newes of his fathers death in Africa wherupon he presently passed into Africa partly to execute the obsequies and to giue his father an honourable Sepulcher and partly to take order for a sister that was left vnto him and goods whiche he did inherite The Consul that then was
resident in Africa sent Seuerus for his Embassadour to the Sardinians which were reuolted from the Romanes and entering into Sardinia with certeine burning torches according to the maner of an Embassadour of Rome there came vnto him a townesman after the fashion of a iester and did imbrace him whom Seuerus commaunded to be whipt saying In the act of so great grauitie trifling gibes be inconuenient For that which this iester did and for the disgrace which Seuerus receiued they ordeyned in Rome that from thence forth Embassadours alwayes should enter all cities on horsebacke as in times past they had vsed on foote Continuing Proconsul in Africa he would néeds vnderstand of a Mathematiciā or Astronomer how farre his fortune extēded or did reach and hauing receiued the day and houre and also the ascendent of his natiuitie the Astrologian being amased and terrified of the Fortune which his natiuitie did promise him said vnto him It is not possible that this be thy natiuitie therfore were it meete thou shouldest giue me thine owne and not the natiuitie of another for were it true that thou wast borne vnder such a cōstellation thou shouldest be Emperour of Rome At the age of 32. yeares hée was in Rome elected Tribune of the people more for the pleasure of Marcus Aurelius whome he serued then for the seruice that Seuerus had done in the common wealth but afterwards he proued so toward and was so vpright in causes of iustice that it neither repented the cōmon wealth to haue chosen him either Marcus Aurelius to haue procured the same His Tribunal office being ended he was named Pretor of the people and on the day of his election the more to aduaunce his honour the Emperour passing throughe the streates of Rome placed him with himselfe in the Licter which déede was not a litle reproched of some through enuie and of othersome thorough disdaine CHAP. II. ¶ Of the offices which Seuerus held in the Empire before he was Emperour THe affaires of Spaine being dispatched Seuerus failed into Asia and assone as he had set his foole a land hee departed vnto Athens partly to behold the gouernement of the Greekes and partly also to heare the doctrine of Philosophers because in those dayes they talked not of any matter more in all this world then of the great Fortune of the Romanes and the profound eloquēce of the Greekes Not a few dayes he remayned in Athens hearing the Philosophers conferring with the Senatours visiting temples and viewing buildings because naturally he was a friend of new inuentions desired no lesse the knowledge of antiquities Although Seuerus of person was valiant and Capitaine of Rome and also of indifferent eloquence yet they gaue him no good interteinment in all Grecia for which cause when he came afterwardes vnto the Empire he streightly reuenged the olde vnkindnesse which he bare vnto the Greekes euery day diminishing their priuiledges Being returned from Asia vnto Rome hee was sente Embassadour vnto the prouince of Lugdune which nowe in Fraunce is named Lion of Sonorona and being at that time a widower they practised with him a marriage with a certeine Lady of noble bloud in countenance most faire and gratious in gesture That Lady was named Iulia of royall bloud vnto whome purposing to present iewels of great price and finding no goldsmith sufficient to performe the same being also aduertised of a goldsmith in Syria that excelled all men in that facultie and doubting all messengers to be insufficient trauelled in his owne person to fetch the same as he after made reporte vnto his spouse that with the rewards which he gaue vnto the goldsmith and the charge of that voyage hée might twise haue béene maried The Senators sēt to reproue Seuerus not because he had married but for the great iourney and large expences which he had passed for a woman aduising him that it was not conuenient for a citizen of Rome to imploy his person but to aduaunce his honour either consume his goods but for defence of the common wealth whereunto Senerus aunsweared that for none of those matters wherof he was blamed he either deserued blame or punishmēt because without all comparison much more was the merite of that Lady with whom he was married then the expences or trauells which for her seruice he had suffered And further he said it seemeth vnto mée fathers conscript that for this acte I deserue honour no blame since thereby ariseth vnto Rome both honour and profite because strange kingdoms haue séene that Captaines of Rome to obteine riches haue strēgth skil and to spend them haue noble minds Seuerus stayed ioyntly 3. yeares in Fraunce both loued and feared no lesse reuerenced of the Frenchmen not onely for that he was iust in iudgment and liberal in expences but aboue the rest in that he was of a sincere life The Calends of Ianuarie being come at what time in Rome they diuide their offices the Proconsulship of Sicylia was allotted vnto Seuerus wherof he receiued no smal griefe partly for that he found himself very wel placed in Fraunce feared the condition of the Sicylians Being resident in the Isle of Sicyl he was accused by his enimies of Rome that he did not exercise the gouernement of the common wealth so much as the search of southsayers who should be Emperour of Rome because in those dayes Commodus was Emperour of Rome and all men held it for certaine that for his wickednesse he should be slaine or himselfe for his great vitiousnes should die Commodus receiued great displeasure when hee vnderstoode that being as hee was aliue and but a young man Seuerus should séeke for the succession of his Empire for which cause Seuerus was forced presently to depart from Sicyl come to Rome there to discouer and make proofe of his innocencie because the daunger was no greater then losse of honour and life Presently vppon his arriuall at Rome he did yéeld himselfe vnto the gaile Mamortina and would not depart from thence vntill by publique sentence his innocencie was vttered and his accusers depriued of their liues Two monethes after these matters passed the Calends of Ianuarie were come in which Seuerus was elected Consul ioyntly with Apuleius Rufinus the day that this was published they say that Seuerus said This day it is manifested in mee that men neither know what prosperities be conuenient for them either what aduersities doe impeache them and I say it for this cause for that criminally I was accused in Rome and my person prisoner in the place of malefactours whereof there proceded that I departed from Sicyl came to Rome giue safetie vnto my life augment my goods recouer fame take vengeance of mine enimies and obtaine the Consulship of the common wealth The time passed of his Consulship hee stoode an whole yeare without any office and as he afterwards said many times the best and merriest dayes of all his life were conteined in that yeare
grinde and be serued He did repaire and inlarge the colledge and placed gates porters and watchemen and many counterfetes and pictures of golde and siluer and did vse for custome as oft as he came thither to be the first that entred and the last that went foorth He buylt in all stréetes in Rome publique purging places and commanded vpon great grieuous penalties that no man should be so hardie to defile the streates or other open places in such maner that all the dayes of Traiane Rome did not séeme but as a hall cleane swept In the fourth region ioyning vnto the temple of Serapis Traiane did buyld most sumptuous baynes much larger then those which Titus made and much richer then those which Tyberius buylt Also Traiane buylt an hundred houses large and strong wherin to kill and sell their béefe and mutton In the gardeines of Vulcane Traiane did buyld an house of pleasure and made therein a certein fishepoole for delight but it is not found or recorded that he did either eate or sléepe in the same Neare vnto the houses of the Fabians he brought from farre a founteine in the compasse whereof he erected a stately house naming it the place of Datia Traiane naturally was a friend not onely of buylding but also to beholde buyldinges and worke men whiche is most certeinly knowen in that he made a lawe that all such men as should raise any newe buyldinges in Rome the thirde parte of the charges shoulde be paide from the common treasure It was a marueilous matter that in all these many other buyldings which Traiane made in Rome he vsed no other mennes money he constrained no man to trauaile by force he deferred no man of payement for he saide and helde opinion that it were more honest and also more sure vnto Princes to dwell in poore lodginges then of other mennes sweat to make riche houses CHAP. IX ¶ Of some vices whereof Traiane was noted TRaiane wanted not some humaine infirmities wherein men at times do fall for if with reason he were praised for many thinges not without occasion in some causes he was iustly discommended Vntill this daye there hath béene no Prince in whome all vertues did concurre either in whome all vices were founde bycause there is no man such an outcast in whome there is not to be found somewhat to be praised either any man of life so reformed that in him there is not somewhat to be amended Traiane naturally was proude and ambitious of honour and after a manner he did delight that in open place they should erecte vnto him pictures and counterfetes of golde and that his fame might be spreade throughout the world In all his erected buyldinges he placed the titles of his triumphes and persuaded the Oratours to compounde many méetres to his praise whiche he made to be grauen in stone in the hyest front of his buyldinges In the vice of the fleshe Traiane was not a little fleshly and yet in this case it is moste true that he neuer vsed force to any person but ioyntly therewith being moste diligent in persuasion and verie liberall in giuing he fixed his amorous affection vppon no person that he inioyed not In his garmentes and in the manner of the fashion and wearing thereof Traiane was most curious and costly bycause there was no daye that either of Golde siluer or silke he did not on his person vse some chaunge As we haue saide Traiane was a Prince both wise and of sharpe and readie iudgement but ioyntly therewith muche affectionate vnto his owne opinion whereof cares many times did followe and persecute him bycause there is not hath beene or shal be Prince in this worlde so wise that necessitie constraineth not at times to chaunge counsell Traiane was a verie friende vnto wise men but he him selfe was not muche learned whereof béeing reproued by his friende and Philosopher Plutarche Traiane saide vnto him the Gods haue not created mee to turne ouer bookes but to deale with armour When Traiane had vacant time from warres he did muche delight to take his pleasure in vaine thinges wherein he consumed many nightes and dayes and of this vice he was not a little noted and also accused and doubtlesse not without great cause for that Princes which presume to bee good Princes in suche wise ought to take their pastime that they seeme not to lose their time Notwithstanding that Traiane deliuered Rome of manye vices and banished from thence many that were vicious he was noted and also blamed that he defended and susteined the swoorde players who were men ydle and seditious and this he did because in his youth they had béene his frends and delighted in them wherin he had leste reason for that It is not iust that Princes take suche recreation for their persons as tendeth to the preiudice of the comon wealth Traiane was verie moderate in féeding but ioyntly therwith not ouer sober in drinking for that to obteine good wine he was somewhat curious and carefull and in the drinking thereof not verie temperate Notwithstanding that sometimes he dranke somewhat more then was conuenient for the health of his bodie and to the authoritie of his person yet at that time neuer man sawe him committ or procure any vile déede CHAP. X. ¶ Of the first warres that Traiane had against the Datians IN the xliiij yere of his age and in the second of his Empire Traiane receiued newes that Decebal king of Datia which in these dayes is named Denmarke rebelled against the Romaine Empire the which newes gaue no small skandal and offence vnto the Senate for that on the one part naturally they were a nation very warlike and on the other parte for that king Decebal was a prince of great vnquietnesse and also of a minde determined For that the Emperour Domitian was a greatter friend vnto vices then an enimie vnto enimies in all his reigne king Decebal did neuer yeald obedience vnto the Romaine Empire whereby the Datians had recouered great boldnesse and the Romaines lost their credite Traiane in his owne person determined to go in those warres for which purpose he made choice of a verie small armie and yet of much strength for he helde opinion that as no other meates should be brought vnto the table then are to be eaten so they ought not to leade vnto the warres but such as must fight and saide further by experience I haue proued as well in eating as in fighting that many meates at table be lothesome and in the warres many men be troublesome King Decebal béeing aduertised that Traiane remoued from Rome to make conquest of him and his countrie determined to marche and encounter with him vppon the waye and as he purposed so he perfourmed for he helde the Romaines in so small estimation that he counted it shame to be béeséeged of them And when the armies were in sight one of another the Barbarians being so manye the Romaines so fewe
and consent vnto the obedience of Rome Rometalce king of the Pindaroes was accused in the Senate of disloyaltie vnto the Romaines in the warres they helde against the Rhodes who coÌ„ming vnto Rome to quite him selfe the good Antoninus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also did not permit that for any thing past any motion should be made affirming that his offence might not be so great but that his submissiue apparance did reforme the same The Olbiopolites a people in Asia held warre with the Taurocistes alies of Rome vnto whom Antoninus sente succour by sea and with assistance of the Romanes subdued the Olbiopolites who not only paid all charges of the warres but also gaue hostages to maintaine peace Antoninus neuer raised warre but that first he sought to conserue peace and praised not a little that saying of Scipio that is to say Hee rather wished the life of one citizen of Rome theÌ„ the death of a thousand enimies When hée married his daughter Faustina vnto Marcus Aurelius he made a suÌ„ptuous feast and gaue great rewards vnto his men of warre He held his sonne Marcus Aurelius in great reuerence and would haue made â—im Consul which hee refused holding it for more happie to turne bookes then to appease nations After he had sent vnto Calcedonie for the great Philosopher Apollonius and had giuen him an house to dwell in solitarilie neare vnto the riuer Tiber Antoninus sent for him who refusing to come sent answeare That schollers do vse to come to their maisters and not maisters vnto their scholers whereat Antoninus laughing said A trim ieste that Apollonius hath paste so many seas from Calcedonie vnto Rome and now refuseth from his house to come to mine Although Apollonius were learned in Philosophie yet was hée in his life very couetous whereat when certaine in presence of the Emperour did murmur hée aunsweared for very deare that Philosophers sell vs their Philosophie alwayes their science is more worthe which they teach vs then the goodes which wée giue them CHAP. XII ¶ Of the succession of the Empire and the occasion of his death AS the Emperour Antoninus in his youth was alwayes a frend vnto the vertuous euen so in his age carefully hée did séeke the conuersation of the wise and therewith had no lesse care of publique matters then of his owne priuate affaires Generally hée was so liked and loued of al nations that in all temples in all walles gates and buildings these foure letters were placed namely V.A.C.R. whiche is to saye Vita Antonini Conseruatur Respublica which is to saye On the life of Antoninus the whole weale of the Romane Empire dependeth Leauing a part many good lawes which he made for the Common wealth for which purpose hee had alwayes attendant about him men in the lawes singularly learned who among the chiefe was Vindemius Verus Siluius Valente Abolusius Metianus Vlpius Marcellus and Iabolinus before whome hée set the lawes of all kingdomes and of the most necessarie and approued to take the choice to be established in his kingdomes When he did institute any lawe either ordeine any proclamation he alwayes expressed therein so great reason that his commaundements were neuer disobeyed either his lawes reuoked The cause of his death they say was after this maner from Gallia Transalpina that is to say swéete Fraunce they did present him certaine chéeses whereof he eating at his supper more then was conuenient they ministred vnto him a perillous vomit whereby they discharged his stomache not onely of meate superfluous but also of bloud righte necessarie which bredd in him a furious feuer and finding himselfe in great weaknesse without disposition to sléepe either appetite to eate he commaunded al the Senatours and chief gouernours to be called vnto his presence and before theÌ„ all did commende the common wealth vnto Marcus Aurelius his sonne and Faustine his daughter And making his testament in verie good order wherin he gaue vnto his seruants great gifts which being finished and perfourmed he gaue vnto his daughter Faustine the inheritaunce of all his lands which he possessed before he came vnto the Empire His feauer increasing and his strength and life wasting the fourth day of his sicknesse about noone beholding and viewing all the circumstants and shutting his eyes as if he would sléepe gaue vp the ghost who was no lesse bewailed at his death then he was beloued in time of life and presently by conformitie of the whole Senate was intituled Holie and all the people at the newes of his death a vie in euery streate did grite skrich and cry aduauncing and magnifying his bountie clemencie benignitie liberalitie iustice patience prudence and prouidence Al the honours were done vnto him and all the famous titles were giuen him that vpon any noble Prince had bene imployed And deserued that in the temple of Iupiter a priest of his owne name should be institute Also they built him a temple and dedicated vnto his honour the Circene playes and a fraternitie where they were all called Antonines This Prince onely amongest all Princes liued and dyed without sheading of bloude and for likelinesse compared vnto Numa Pompilius not onely in good gouernement of the common wealth but also for sinceritie of life The life of the Emperour Commodus the sonne of good Marcus Aurelius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara byshop of Mondonnedo preacher Chronicler and CouÌ„seler vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus THe Emperour Commodus had to his grandfather Annius Verus and his father was the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and his mother was the right faire and renouned Faustine on whose side he was nephewe vnto the Emperour Antoninus Pius a man of a refourmed life and very beneficiall vnto the common wealth of Rome He was borne in a certaine place named Lodie on the eight day of September at the time that his father and Drusius his vnckle were Consuls the one gouerning matters of warre in Datia and the other in refourmation of causes in the common wealth The Empresse Faustine being great with childe and neare vnto the time of her childe byrth dreamed that she was deliuered of certaine serpents but especially of one more fierce then the rest of which dreame when his father Marcus Aurelius was infourmed they say that he sayde I feare me Faustine that the sonne of this birth shall proue so fierce a Serpent that shall be of power to commit a murther of our fame and to poyson the whole common wealth of Rome The Astronomers and Nekromantiques which in those dayes were resident in Rome they sayde and prognosticated many things of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus and as it appeared afterwardes they sayde very little in respect of that which followed bycause this miserable and vnfortunate Prince in his manners did rather resemble the infernall furies then reasonable creatures From his infancie his father Marcus Aurelius carefully did trauell in the
woulde haue made reporte thereof vnto his father terrour and trembling woulde not suffer him to speake At the instant that Pertinax vnderstood how Letus and Electus were come with armed men he leapt from his bedde and commaunded his gates with greate spede to be opened which procéeded of a noble and a valiaunt minde for that he helde it for most certaine that for as much as they were both so priuate with Commodus who did beare him so mortall hatred and comming vnto his house at suche an houre might be to no other end then to take away his life And all the time whilest these matters did passe betwixt the one and the other parte Pertinax was neither troubled or altered but after the maner of a man determined to die saide vnto Letus and Electus these woordes I do well vnderstande that the Emperour Commodus my Lord hath sente to kill me whereof I doe not meruel but wonder it is that so long he suffered me to liue because of all the olde seruants that were bred with his father Marcus Aurelius I onelie am aliue a small remnant of all the reste whiche hee hath slaine I may not with reason complaine me the Commodus in my quietnesse and securitie doth send to put me to death since certaine dayes past I haue attēded this last day houre for that abhorring as I did abhorre his wicked life I was moste sure hee woulde procure my death It grieueth me not to die but for that I die before I see my countrie deliuered from the handes of so cruell a tyrant for I sweare vnto you by the immortall Godds that I neuer wished anie thinge rather vnto my selfe either my posteritie then that it might please them before they woulde take away my life I might beholde my mother Rome set at libertie I haue been a right perfect and sincere Romaine and zealous for the common wealth of my countrie and doe hope in the immortall Godds that I shall obteine that in their presence whiche they haue denyed mee in their absence before whome his malice and mine innocencie shal be examined You Letus and Electus seruauntes friendes and fauoured with Commodus doe that whiche he hath commaunded you and dispatche mee out of this tedious and miserable worlde for in the ende to dye with the swoorde or to dye with an ague all is but death Letus and Electus were astonnied to beholde the constancie that Pertinax had and to consider the excellent woordes whiche he saide whereunto they made aunswere Oh howe secrete are the iudgementes of God and howe variable are the thoughtes of menne This wee saye vnto thee Pertinax because thou thinkest that wee are come to take awaye thy life and wee are not come but to the ende thou shouldest giue vs life and take wretched Rome vnder thy defence Wee may not speake or aduertise thee at large for want of time the breake of day being at hande but the case is thus that the tyrante Commodus is deade the cause thereof proceeded for that he had determined as was founde in memoriall written with his owne handes this day to haue slaine vs all and as by a certaine manner neuer harde of the matter was discouered we determined to preserue our own liues and giue an ende to his tyrannies In this deed which we haue done we neither thinke to haue offended the Gods or committed treason for that the life of this tyrant was odious vnto the Gods and daungerous vnto men It was nowe high time that some man shoulde giue an ende vnto his life that had taken away the life of so many good men We as we were in his fauour had perfect intelligēce whom he helde for friends or enimies and also we knowe right certeinely that if thou Pertinax be now aliue it is not that he so wished it or that he procured not to kil thee but the Gods gaue him no place but haue reserued thee to the ende thou shouldest deliuer Rome and restore the common wealth No man knoweth vnto this houre that Cōmodus is dead but Martia and we that haue slaine him and as we haue laide our handes vpon him to finishe his dayes so haue we fixed our eyes vpon thee to make thee Emperour And beleeue vs Pertinax that if we coulde haue made choice of any better then thy selfe we woulde haue chosen better because they are so many and so greate euills which haue beene committed by this tyrant that they may not be amended or repayred but by the hands of some most vertuous prince That which hath moued vs to elect and giue thee this Empire is because thou art auncient wise valiaunt vertuous riche and of great experience aboue all the rest loued desired of all the people for that Prince whiche is not acceptable vnto his people he shal of many be disobeyed of many much lesse duely esteemed These woordes being noted of Pertinax determinatly did thincke them to be spoken fainedly and with collusion and thereto aunsweared Oh Letus and thou Electus you ought to be satisfied simply to accomplish the vniust commaundement of Commodus without derision of these my poore auncient yeres that is to say first gilefully to flatter me and afterwards to kill mée As I haue said performe that which ye haue to doe which the sooner ye shall accomplish the greater ioy shal ye yéeld vnto Commodus and deliuer me of griefe I well know that Commodus now sléepeth not but carefully abideth your returne for at this present he attēdeth no better newes then the report that ye haue giuen an end vnto my wretched life Letus and Electus considering that Pertinax continued doubtful and suspicious began to say and replie there is so small time for so great affaires as wée haue to do that there resteth no time to contend vpon our ambassage and thy suspicion and because thou shalt sée the truthe of that which we haue said and not as thou supposest take and reade this memoriall written with Commodus his owne hand and there shalt thou sée how great reason wée had to kill him this night since to morrow he ment to haue slaine vs all Pertinax receiuing the memorial into his hands and knowing it to be Commodus writing found himselfe placed in the fourth degrée which is to witt that on the morrowe Commodus would haue killed Martia Letus Electus and Pertinax so by degrées many other Senators Consuls of Rome Pertinax hauing read the memoriall stayed as one astonied againe demaunding if Commodus were dead in déede they aduouched no lesse and thoroughly affirmed the same whereuppon hee beganne most pitiously to wéepe saying that he wept not for the death of Commodus but because the memorie of the good Marcus Aurelius in him was finished And lifting his eyes vp to heauen said Oh vnfortunate Marcus Aurelius Oh vnfortunate Marcus Aurelius Oh infortunate Marcus Aurelius thrée times exclaming him to be vnfortunate and vnhappie because thou wast vnfortunate in thy wife whiche thou
vnder their histories which they shall write our same shal shine and flourish Alexander in the dayes of his youth was deadly hated of his cousen Heliogabalus this procéeded not of the sharpe condition of Alexander but for the euil nature of Heliogabalus that is to say for that he would not consent to be a coÌ„panion in his wickednes as by birth he was his kinseman There were neuer séene two princes so conioyned in parentage so nere in succession so different in liues as Heliogabalus Alexander for that in Heliogabalus there was not one vertue to be praised either in Alexander one vice to be reprehended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe Alexander was aduaunced vnto the Empire and of his laudable manners TWo yeares before the Pretorians killed Heliogabalus the Emperour Alexander was elected Augustus to the great grace liking and conformitie of al the Romane people whereof procéeded that on the day in which they had slaine the vnworthie Heliogabalus they gaue vnto Alexander the ensignes of the empire When Alexander began to reigne he was very younge wherfore Mesia the â—randmother and Manea the mother did take the charge 〈◊〉 gouernement of the empire who although in condition they were womeÌ„ yet most truly in gouernement they discouered themselues to be men They elected xij persons to assist them in the affaires of the Empire which were chosen amongest the auncient the most experte amongst the learned the most wise without determination iudgment of all these they did neither heare what was demaunded either determined any matter that they had to doe The first déede of Alexander his grandmother Mesia his mother Manea his xii counsellours was to take order for reformation of temples namely to repaire the decaide to clense the defiled inrich such as were robbed and to populate such as were disinhabited because in the dayes of his predecessour Heliogabalus not only humaine matters went to wracke but the gods also were profaned Diuine matters being reformed presently they toke order for coÌ„seruation of the coÌ„mon wealth before all things all vicious persons were resolued from their offices and not satisfied to punish their offences with depriuation of their offices he forced them to make restitution of whatsoeuer they had either bribed or purloyned from thencefoorth to liue of their owne proper sweate Matters of iustice were not handled but of men very well learned Martiall affaires were not commended but vnto men of great experience causes of the common wealth were not manured but of persons skilfull therein in such wise that they prouided not offices for men but men for offices Also Alexander reformed the whole condition estate of his house as well the ministers as the expences thereof which all the dayes of Heliogabalus excéeded in disorder was no lesse defiled with vice for which cause he set a seazment of the charges thereof and elected faithful officers to spend the same in such wise that in the house of Alexander there was neither immoderate expences either men wanting offices Although order was taken for the ordinarie expences of his house yet notwithstanding his houshold had all things in abundance conuenient vnto his imperial magnificence and many strangers that came from farre praised Alexander because they might not accuse him of prodigalitie either note him of auarice The temples the common wealth and his house being ordered the good prince forgat not to reforme his owne person not only for the maner of consuming of time but also for the order and maner of his apparel for that he vsed to say if the monie which princes spend in robes superfluous the time which they coÌ„sume in apparelling decking themselues were spent to the profite of their common wealthes they should obteine more fauour of the gods lesse hatred of men Alexander was so humble in condition that publikely he coÌ„maunded none should call him Lord either by word or writing but the priests should call him brother the Senatours sonne men at armes companion and common persons friend and this he did for that he held the gods in so great reuerence that he would they only should be called Lords On the superscriptioÌ„s of letters brought him by Embassadours or sent him from any prouince they wrote theron exquisite and stately titles wherin he prouided no other superscription to be added but this Vnto our sonne our Brother our Companion or Friend Aurelius AlexaÌ„der Romane Emperour Heliogabalus his predecessour did commonly weare precious stones on his feete and most costly iewels of gold and Vnicorne in his apparel whiche thinges Alexander neuer vsed either delighted to weare for as he was wont to say princes are not to be knowen of their vassals by their rich robes but by their good works performed in their common wealthes He was apparelled most coÌ„monly in white in winter with a certaine kind of blaÌ„ket of Britaine and in summer with a certaine maner of cotton that was brought him from Asia Some times he would make him garments of cotton linnen wouen together oftentimes saying that he much delighted therein for that it was very cheape to be bought light to weare might best be washed in summer He would many times walke in Rome with a friend or twaine holding his hands behind and finding himselfe wearie would enter into the first neighbours house and sit downe vppon a banke of earth some times would there fall a sléepe in such maner that he had so great familiaritie with all men as if he had béene one of them He was mild pitiful patieÌ„t silent in all things of great continencie was neuer séene extréemely disteÌ„pered or at any time to vse furious words with any person for which cause no maner of person did wish him euil for his euil déeds but of a cancred and corrupt nature wherewith he was defiled CHAP. III. ¶ How Alexander being inuested with the Empire presently did visite and reforme his common wealth IN the second yeare of the Empire of Alexander his grandmother the great and renowmed matrone Mesia died in whose death he the Romane people also discouered great sorrow bestowing vppon her coarse so honourable a funeral and such solemne obsequies as apperteined to one that had béene cousen vnto the Emperour Seuerus and had for nephues the Emperour Heliogabalus and Alexander Mesia being dead the burden of gouernement was layed vpon Manea mother vnto Alexander whome al men conceiued to be in full possession of chastitie temperance prudence and patience but notwithstanding somewhat inclined to auarice whereof procéeded these words earely in the morning to be written vppon the gates if Manea had not charge of monie in the coÌ„mon wealth such a Romane had neuer béene borne in Rome Long time passed in which the Senate had not béene visited which Alexander forgat not as wel to visite as also to reforme not only by inquisition how they liued and gouerned the common wealth but also how they ordered their houses
on a time murmuring of the insolencies of the Emperour Domitian Traiane sayde vnto them The intention wherwith Domitian hath intreated me the Gods haue to iudge for of his works which he hath done I may not complaine since he hath bene the occasion that I haue recouered Nerua for my father Plutarche for my maister Plotina for my wife and aboue al the rest he brought me acquainted with aduerse Fortune for that afore I presumed of nothing but to commaund but now only to serue A yeare before Domitian died or to say better before they had slaine him he went to the wars in Germanie and in that yeare Traiane was elected Consul in the Senate of Rome It was no smal griefe vnto Traiane to accept that Consulship not for that he liked not to be lincked with the friendship of honour but for the griefe whiche he felt to leaue the companie of Nerua CHAP. V. Howe Nerua was made Emperour and adopted Traiane his sonne THe Romains not able to indure the iniuries and tyrannies of Domitian determined to kil him the which out of hande they did perfourme the xiiii of October in the fourtie fifte yeare of his age when he had reigned xv yeares In many a day the Romaine people had nor receiued so ioyful newes as the newes of the death of Domitian in such maner that they gaue rich rewards vnto currers postes that brought the same and made great ioy in the countries where they passed for that they did as muche desire his death as they did abhorre his life Petronius capteine of the guard and Partenius his chamberleine were the men that practised the death and also violated the life of Domitian and they them selues gaue order that Nerua presently should be elected Emperour The Romaines did so extremely hate Domitian that not contented to sée him deade to hale his bodie péecemeale trayling through the streates of Rome al his pictures and counterfets they did spoyle and take away all his arches and titles they did raze out all his edifices whiche he had built they ouerthrewe all writings which he had firmed they burnt and all that were named Domitians were banished in suche wise that they could neyther indure to sée him aliue neither heare him named after his death The day after the death of Domitian Nerua Coceius was declared Emperour and of his election all the Romaine people were much pleased the one cause for that he was so vertuous and the other bicause he was an enimie vnto Domitian Presently that Nerua was elected Emperour presently he sent Traiane as Pretour into Germanie to the end he should take into his power the legions and gouernement of that prouince on the one parte for that Traiane was liked and muche desired of all the men of warre and the other for that Calphurinus capteine vnto Domitian was holden somewhat suspected Amongest other euill conditions wherewith the Emperour Domitian was possessed was that all thinges which séemed vnto him good riche or faire he dyd much praise it and therof they had to consider for most certaine that all whiche he praised fréely they had to present the same for if otherwise incontinently he tooke it by force Of these like things Nerua found in his palace much goods of other mens whiche by publike proclamation were all restored vnto the owners In suche wise that this good prince wold not only not take frō other men but also make restitution of that which by his predecessours had bin robbed When Nerua was elected Emperour he was excéeding olde and of infirmities much persecuted for in him there was nothing sound but his toung wherewith he did talke and his good iudgement wherewith he did gouerne The Romaines beholding Nerua so olde and sickly complayning that he coulde not sléepe and that for weaknesse of stomach he durst eate but of verie fewe things they helde it for most certaine that his life was verie short and with this motion they beganne to holde him in smal estimation Considered by Nerua that he had not long to liue and that the Romaines did not estéeme him he remembred to adopt Traiane as his sonne and to accept him for companion in the Empire and so it came to passe that presently he sent him the imperiall ensigne which was a certaine manner of cape with a hoode and with the same he wrote him a letter wherein were written no other wordes but these Phoebe tuis telis lachrimas vlciscere nostras As if he shuld say Noble Traiane thou shalt haue charge with thy venturous armes to reuenge my sorrowfull teares For the disobedience which the Romaines committed against his commaundements and the want of reuerence they helde of his person Nerua of Traiane craued that reuengement bycause it is a thing much vsed amongest men persecuted afflicted that the iniuries which they may not reuenge with their handes they bewaile with their eyes In the time that this did passe Traiane was in Almane in the citie of Agrippina which nowe is called Coleine and the night before that he receiued the imperiall ensigne and the letter from the Emperour Nerua he dreamed that he was inuested with a purple garment and a ring put on his right hand and crowned with a certaine crowne Only thrée monethes and fiue dayes did passe after Traiane was elected Emperour vnto the death of Nerua who dyed in the age an hundred tenne yeares ten monethes and tenne dayes THE VI. CHAP. Of the lawes that Traiane made to the profite of the common wealth AT the instant in which Traiane vnderstoode that the Emperour Nerua was deade he departed vnto Rome where at his comming he did celebrate the obsequies of his Lorde and friend Nerua and they were suche and so riche that it séemed rather feastes for the liuing then honours for the dead bycause there was nothing in them that moued sadnesse but to sée Traiane goe verie sad The first thing that Traiane sayd promised sware in the Senate was that no man that was good and peaceable by his cōmaundement or consent should be put to death which he obserued al the daies of his Empire After this he cōmanded Emilia to be sent for which was captaine of the Pretorian armies whom he commaunded to be discharged of his office and to be banished the Empire the one cause for that he had disobeyed the emperour Nerua and the other cause for that he had imbezeled the payes of the men of warre He commaunded publike proclamation to be made that all men that had iust cause to complaine of the Consuls of the Senatours of the Iudges or other officers of Rome that they shoulde come foorth and declare for that he wished satisfaction vnto the one and correction vnto the other Personally Traiane did visite all offices of Rome which is to vnderstande where they solde breade where they weighed flesh where they measured wine where the merchaunts dwelt where straungers did lodge and so of al other offices among
which he allowed all that was good and gaue reformation vnto all that was euill He forbad the vse of shops or tauernes in Rome that is to saye that they should not sell bread wine and fleshe drest in one house affirming that prepared vices is the occasion to make many vicious He commaunded all the neighbours of Rome to be registred and there was found 285000 houses of married men and 42000 young men to be married 7000 priestes of the temples 32000 common women 12000 houses de mesones and 65000 straunger factours He forbad any poore man to goe from doore to doore but that all which were impotent should be succoured of the common treasure and vnto such as could traueile they gaue them whereon to worke from the Senate He commaunded all Iuglars and Iesters to learne some occupation and to mainteine them selues in their owne houses and otherwise to be banished Rome Traiane commaunded reformation in all estates and caused examination to be taken of al students and they were more without comparison that were banished for vnable and vicious then remained for learned and vertuous For that in Rome there were people of many straunge countries ioyntly therewith so many women of which many did perishe in child-bed and many children died for want of place to bréede them For which purpose the good Traiane did cause to be buylt a famous house in the mount Celius and indued the same very well with his owne patrimonie where all women that woulde were kepte and brought abedde by the space of two monethes and that all the children vntill the age of foure yeres were there brought vp and nourished Traiane consented not that in all the yere they should obserue in Rome but xxii holydayes saying that without comparison the Gods were more serued on such dayes as the Romaines did traueile then on such dayes as they rested because the vices were more which they did commit then the sacrifices which they did offer Traiane did moderate the sacrifices that were offered vnto the Gods that is to say neither to haue so many nor yet so sumptuous saying that the Gods would rather we should amend our liues then offer our goods Vnto the priestes of the temple he commaunded to be giuen oyle vnto the vestall virgins wheate vnto the olde horsemen cloth for garments vnto the poore wood to burne vnto Embassadours wine to drinke for that all these things were not onely in Rome verie deare to be bought but also not at all times to be had for money CHAP. VII ¶ Of the noble and notable vertues that were in Traiane THE yere that Traiane came to Rome to be Emperour he was of xlii yeres in which age he had in all thinges such successe and did vse such moderation that neither by his youth did hazarde the attempt of any foolish déed either by slouthfulnesse of old age did leaue any thing euil prouided Traiane was a Prince in whose wordes workes enuie was neuer knowne and as on a certeine time the Philosopher Plutarche did commend him for the same Traiane saide vnto him Plutarche I giue thée to vnderstand that of pure pride I am not enuious for that alwayes I thought my selfe happie to enterprise suche so greate and so notable déedes that all men should enuie mée for the thinges I should take in hand and my selfe to mislike no man for any his noble attempts Traiane was not malitious either suspicious although by nature he were of sharpe iudgement which hapeneth in few persons for the commonly men of sharpe iudgement be not alwayes of sound condition And as great affaires naturally bring with them great thoughtes and displeasures although vnto Traiane they gaue some griefe he was neuer séene of man to be angry because olde wisedome had more Lordship in him then soudeine yre Althoughe Traiane hadde manye that did wishe him euill and procure him euill some for malice some for enuie and some bycause he did chastice them He was neuer found that vtterly did séeke his destruction but that in chastising the quareller and vicious they more commended him for his clemencie then complained or murmured for their griefe and punishment Although Traiane were not much learned he was moste truely a greate friende vnto learned men whome he did promote vnto honours and to estates and did much ioy to holde them for his friendes in suche wise that in his house and court a learned man was neuer séene in necessitie Traiane did much desire to vnderstande the ambitions of Rome and disorders of his house but ioyntly therewith he woulde not be aduertised by the manner of murmuring but rather by the way of aduice Traiane was a great enimie of liers no lesse of detractours for which cause they say that many times he sayd It is more safe vnto princes to haue patiēce to heare their own errours then to giue eare vnto such as reporte other mens defections and sayde more That of necessitie the Prince must haue bloudie hands that giueth eare to murmurers Traiane wāted the general vice which vsually reigneth in all men which is couetousnesse wherof he was not either accused or noted but rather of great bountie larges he was of all nations well liked commended bicause they were infinite that did praise him for that which they had receiued and no man did complaine for that which he had taken Traiane naturally did delight in warres and after they were begunne verie diligent in prosecuting and most constant in finishing the same Albeit he was giuē vnto warres yet therfore he ceased not to procure by al meanes to conserue peace for as he said The Gods neuer permitted that any should be ouercome in the wars but such as be enimies vnto peace Traiane was verie moderate in the ordinarie expēces of his house ioyntly with this most liberall in causes of war and most certainly in the same he shewed him self to be a prince skilful prouident wise for as Plato sayde If the expences of the common wealth be not moderated afterwardes ye shall not faile to want wherewith to withstand the enimies CHAP. VIII ¶ Of the proude and stately buildinges which Traiane made TRaiane made in Rome many very notable buyldings it is to vnderstande a great and sumptuous market place and all the things that were in the compasse thereof He made a paued calsey being a broad high waye that lasted two leagues and halfe whereon they might come go in Summer without dust and in Winter without mire He made a temple vnto the God Apollo another vnto the god Mars another vnto the god Iupiter another vnto the god Esculapius another vnto the goddesse Ceres another vnto the goddesse Bellona another vnto the mother Berecyntha whome the Romaines named the mother of all the Gods. He repaired the decayed walles he made tenne paire of milles vppon barkes on the riuer of Tyber in which he commaunded that the priestes the vestall virgins and the olde knightes shoulde first
offer On the daye of his triumph the sonne of king Decebal was placed in the arche with Traiane for that he was a verie childe whome afterwardes he did intreate not as a prisoner but as his owne proper sonne In the conquest of the Datians and in visiting the Germaines Traiane was deteyned willingly two yeares and at his returne vnto Rome he found not the common wealth in such order as he left the same and thereof is no marueile for Princes making warre with their enimies presently the citizens make peace with vices That day in which Traiane entred triumphing into Rome he that by chaunce was moste noted in those playes and pageantes and of whome Traiane that day did take moste delight was a certeine maister of Enterludes named Pilas who for rewarde of his traueile did not craue of Traiane but licence to vse his facultie wherein Traiane did aunswere him Princes haue to consider that their commaundements be iust but after commaundement for no request or seruice they ought to reuoke the same That which I will do for thée shal be to paye thée yerely out of mine owne treasure as muche as thou maist gaine by playing in the stréetes of Rome Although Traiane went laden with armour compassed with affaires occupied in warres busied in buyldings importuned with friendes tyred with enimies and aboue all moste studious in amplifying his fame and to perpetuate his memorie he neuer grewe negligent in good gouernement of the common wealth He was no lesse attentiue in hearing either lesse diligent in dispatching base ciuil affaires then those cases of great weight in the common wealth Notwithstanding he were much busied in the affaires of warres he did neuer the more growe negligent in the administration of iustice All the time that he was remaining in Rome once or twice a wéeke he did sitt openly to dispatche matters of iustice For any motion that good Traiane had to be solitarie in his house or for any disease whereby he was withdrawne into his chamber either for any affaires that he â—ad for the warres neuer man came to craue iustice vnto whome he denied audience When any person came much troubled and furious in complaining of some friend or enimie presently he stopte his eare with one of his fingers saying that he reserued the same to heare the accused Traiane did neuer sitt to heare and determine matters of iustice but at the gate of the Emperour Titus and in the place of Augustus and being demaunded why more there then elsewhere aunswered I place my selfe where iust Princes were wont to sitt because in remembring them I may committ no want of iustice Traiane being on horsebacke and vpon the voyage of the seconde warres into Datia there came a woman and saide vnto him Emperour Traiane I am poore olde and a widowe and hauing but one daughter one of thy housholde seruaunts hath rauished her Traiane aunswered poore woman be not importune with mée for I sweare vnto thée by the immortall Gods that being returned from the warres I will do thée iustice to this the olde woman did replye and what suretie hast thou Traiane to returne from the warres hearing so byting an aunswere presently he lighted on foote and deferred his departure vntil he perfourmed iustice with the poore olde woman Traiane helde for custome when any person did complaine presently he commaunded it to be written in a booke which he had in his chamber this the good Prince did to the ende to aske accompt of the Iudge to whome he did remitt the same or else for his own better remembrance for dispatch thereof In some thinges some Princes were equall vnto Traiane and in some thinges did surmount him but in rectitude of iustice there was no prince like him in Rome for that he did neuer man wrong in iustice either at any time had affection or passion in giuing sentence Many times Traiane did vse to say that for Princes to be Iusticers it were right necessarie to be iust in their owne persons because subiectes and vassals be more easily persuaded to do that which they sée then to obey in that which they are commaunded Traiane was the first that placed patrones in the Senate that should defend the poore and the first also that gaue order that one daye in the wéeke their causes should be hearde The Censours or Iudges of Rome did sit but two houres in the morning and one at after noone to heare causes and Traiane did giue order that they should be resident thrée houres before noone and two houres at after noone whereof Traiane was much praised because it was occasion both to cut off suits and to dispatch suiters In the dayes of Traiane none that had charge of Iustice might augment his goods but in that estate of riches or pouertie wherein he began to gouerne in the same he had to conserue him selfe and in repaymeÌ„t of his trauaile besides the rewardes which the Prince did giue him his sonnes were married with the goods of the common wealth Being knowen vnto Traiane howe immortall suites were in the Senate he ordeined that all suites of Italie should continue but one yere and the suites of straunge countries but halfe a yere Traiane made diuers houses in Rome where the Censours and Iudges might assemble to heare and administer iustice and also made strong prisones in such wise that this good Prince prouided that the good should be succoured and the euil chastised CHAP. XII ¶ Of the seconde warres that Traiane had against the Datians TWentie monethes after that Traiane had ouercome the Datians the sonne of king Decebal died in Rome whoe remained there as pledge for that which his father had sworne and promised and Traiane was no lesse greued with the death of that childe then if it had béene his owne proper sonne and heire The day that king Decebals sonne was dead they saye that Traiane saide the death of this childe grieueth me not for that it is a sorrowe to the father but for breache of promise which he shal committ for if he haue béene quiet it was more for the recouering of his sonne then for obedience vnto the Senate Not long after this newes came to Traiane howe king Decebal was rebelled and to resist the Romaines he repaired the diches furnished the castels entred confederacie with his neighbours renued and recouered victuals and more and aboue the rest made warre with the friendes of Romaines The campe of Agius which was a greate and a populous countrie being restored by Traiane vnto him from whome it was taken king Decebal reentred did take and occupie the same in suche wise that all thinges which Traiane had set downe and determined was despised and in all that king Decebal had sworne he was forsworne Relation of these thinges béeing made vnto the Senate king Decebal was pronounced an enimie to publishe libertie vnto all persones to giue him and make him warre bycause it was a law amongest the Romaines
an instant some were slaine and some ouerthrowen Traiane disguised and in disposition to viewe the citie was of the enimies both knowen wounded and his Squire slaine The Agarens beeing demaunded if at that instant they had notice of the Emperours person they aunswered that his grauitie and the maiestie of his presence did discouer his estate Traiane being at that siege there arose terrible lightening and thunder which in that countrie was neuer séene and besides there descended vppon the Romaine campe flies so many importune that both their meate and drinke and their owne persons were continually couered with the same Traiane considering the citie to be impregnable did retire his armie They saye that he saide at his retraite Since the Agarens with mine armies either my wordes be neither subdued or persuaded the destinies haue reserued this triumph for some other Prince in the world to come In the prouince of Cyrene Traiane had a greate armie both of Greekes as of Romaines and the pretor of those armies was a certeine Romaine named Andreas against whome the Iewes of those partes did rebell and slewe both captaine Greekes and Romaines The Iewes were not onely contented to haue slaine the Romaines but also brought the dead bodies vnto the shambles and there did quarter cut in péeces and solde by weight with no lesse appetite did eate that humaine fleshe then if it had béene hennes and fesants Adding crueltie vppon crueltie they brought forth certeine Romaines whiche they had in prison and did wage one with another a denéere or a point to strike off the head of a Romaine at a blowe Another thing not more vile then horrible the Iewes committed vppon those miserable Romaines that is they fleyed them quicke and tanned their skinnes for leather and further with greatest disgrace did cut off their most shamefast partes and plaide and tost them as a ball in the market place As the Iewes left no Romaine vnslaine so left they no crueltie or kind of death that they did not experiment and in this matter we haue no lesse to marueile at the hearts of the one to execute then of the patience of the other to suffer That which was don by the Iewes of Cyrene was executed by the Iewes of Aegypt and of the Ilands of Cypres who slewe all the Romaines within their common wealthes which slaughter was no lesse then 500000 Greekes and Romaines When these sorrowfull newes came vnto Traiane he was very sicke but notwithstanding prouided what was conuenient for so desperate a case and presently sent Lucius into Cyrene Marcus into Cypres and Seuerus into Aegypt who committed so great spoiles among the people and executed so cruell iustice vppon the inhabitants that if the dead had béene liuing they would haue yelded them selues for sufficiently reuenged Elius Adrianus was captaine vnto Traiane for the guarde of Syria and hearing what had passed in this matter soudeinly he descended into Iurie and did execute therein a greate slaughter and they of Cypres receiuing warning by this great treason did ordeine that no Iewe shoulde dare to inhabite or passe into that kingdome and that if tempest shoulde bring them by chaunce into that Ilande to haue no redemption therof but by the losse of their heades Traiane naturally was alwayes of greate health but in the traueile of so many prouinces following of so many warres sayling vpon so many Seas and enduring so many woundes the griefe or disease of the piles did not a little vexe him But the case was thus that from the daye that Traiane might not passe into the Indies they neuer sawe health in his person or ioy in his face Through the cause or disease of the piles at chaunge of weather Traiane had a fluxe of bloude which for his health was very profitable Either by the colde which he had passed or angers which in him selfe he suffered or greate age wherewith he was laden there increased vnto the good Prince a Pasma or numnesse of his arme and his purgation by fluxe of bloud was stopped Ioyning vnto the citie of Seleuca there were certeine famous bathes whereunto sicke people of all partes did concurre whether Traiane did cause him selfe to be remoued to make proofe for recouerie of his health And as experience did after declare those bathes did not profite but hinder for being weake consumed and spent although he had force to bathe he had no strength to sweate Nowe when Traiane sawe him selfe without hope of life he wrote a letter vnto the Senate of Rome commending the state of his house vnto Lucius and the affaires of the warres vnto Elius Adrianus He dyed in the citie of Seleuca which is in the prouince of Sicyl which from thence foorth was named Traginopolis in the age of 63. yeres and in the reigne of his Empire 21. yeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes ¶ The life of the Emperour Adrian Compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo Preacher Chronicler and Counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift ⸫ CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred and nourished THE greate Emperour Traiane being dead Adrian succéeded in the Empire who was seruaunt friend and cousin of the saide Traiane The beginning and linage of Adrian by the fathers side was of Italie borne in a citie named Hadra and of the mothers side a Spaniard borne at Cades whiche nowe is named Calize a citie of Andoloizia His fathers name was Elius Adrianus maried vnto a woman of Spaine named Domitia Paulina a woman sufficient wise and faire borne in the citie of Calize shée was néece vnto the Emperour Traiane his sisters daughter whome he did much loue for that of a childe shée was bred in his house Adrian had a sister named Paulina who was married vnto a Consul named Seuerinus and the graundfather of Adrianus was named Marillinus of the linage of the Priscans which linage did not a little florishe in the time of the Scipions Adrian was borne in Rome the 9. daye of Februarie in the consulship of Vespasianus septimus and Titus quintus in the yere of the foundation of Rome 488. Adrian had an high bodie of perfecte proportion except his necke which was somewhat stouping his nose somewhat hawked his face swart his eyes more grey then blacke his bearde blacke and thicke his handes more of sinewes then of fleshe his head great and round and a broade forehead a great signe as he had of greate memorie When his father dyed he was but of ten yeres who left him for tutors Vlpius Traianus and Celius Tatianus the one béeing his vnckle and the other his friend effectually requestinge to traine and instruct that childe in wisedome and valiantnesse for that he had no lesse abilitie for the one then for the other At the age of tenne yeres Adrian studied Grammar and after his fathers death his tutours set him to learne the Greeke tongue wherein he was so
succéede him in his Monarchie answered Vnto the most worthy Traiane made a memoriall of all the most vertuous wise and of most worthinesse within the Empire and ioyntly therewith caused to be written of them seuerall Orations in Gréeke and Latine and he him selfe did adde with his owne hande what he thought agréeable to their conditions and abilities To the ende that after his dayes the Senate might open and reade the same and from thence to make election not of him that did most procure but that did best deserue At one time a certaine Consul named Neratius Priscus was greatly in his fauour vnto whom he had thought to haue left the Empire in so much the one day Traiane said vnto him Neratius Priscus from hencefoorth I comend the Empire vnto thée if any sorrowfull or souden destinie shall happen vnto me All such as did withstande the adoption of Adrian did fauour the election of Neratius Priscus but Fortune that should haue framed the effect brought Neratius into Traianes great hatred not a little to the profite of Adrian bycause from thence foorth although their remained enimies to hinder his intent none as an opposite durst demaunde the same When Traiane passed from Spaine into Asia to the wars of the Parthians Plotina and Surus made great suite that Adrian might be sente as Pretour into Syria whoe being in Antioche was aduertised by a messinger from Traiane which in times past had bene his tutor how he was elected to be Traianes sonne and assigned his successour in the Empire Excéeding was the ioy that Adrian receiued with that newes which he did vtter in such excessiue manner and degrée that presently he did celebrate with great games and feastes the day of his natiuitie and not only vpon that day but euery yeare all the dayes of his life bicause it was the thing that his heart most desired and for the attainement whereof he had imployed his greatest skill and strength At that time were Consuls Sosius and Pretorius with whome Adrian entered newe friendshippe and the ende wherefore he did vndertake this newe affection was that as Plotina Surus did solicite procure the Empire with Traiane so those two Consuls shuld subsist him in the Senate in such wise that if he did watch to obtaine it he did ouerwatch to sustaine it Not long after that Adrian was adopted that is to say after fourtéene monethes Traiane dyed presently Plotina his wife and the Consul Tatianus being chiefe friendes vnto Adrian did take order and vse great diligence that Adrians admission vnto the Empire might first be notified and knowne in Rome before the death of the Emperour Traiane whiche was concealed and couered for certaine dayes saying that he was so sicke that he would not be visited vntill they were possest of the power of the armies and had obteined the good will of the Senate Adrian did write vnto the Senatours giuing them to vnderstand that Traiane was at the point of death and that also he was assigned and adopted to be his successour and heire in the Empire and did right instantly request them to take the same in good parte and therevppon did promise and sweare vnto them to diuide or giue offices but at their owne liking and consent CHAP. VI. Howe at Traianes death Adrian was declared Emperour THe newes of Traianes death being arriued at Rome presently it was published that the succession of the empire was cōmitted vnto Adrian vpon the confirmation or refusal of this election there arose no smal contention in the Senate and the matter so far argued prosecuted by his friendes and so resisted by his enimies that it gaue no small doubt of intestine warrs no lesse cruell then the warres betwixt Caesar and Pompey The seruaunts of Traiane the friends of Plotina and the kinred and alies of Tatian did vse suche diligence in this case that within thrée dayes they confirmed Adrian in the Empire and the greatest cause to moue the Senate therevnto was that they had intelligence that Adrian was in Syria in full power possession and authoritie of the whole armie and might haue bene constrained to yealde by force which they refused to perfourme by good will. Presently after Adrian was confirmed in the Empire he did write vnto the Senate gratifying their friendly fact and requesting that Traiane might be collocate amongst the Gods since he had bene a Prince so diuine whereto the Senate gladly consented saying that although Traiane had finished his life for euermore in Rome his fame shoulde indure In memorie that Traiane had ouercome the Parthians they ordeined that euery yeare the Parthik playes should be celebrated in Rome which indured amongst the Romains many yeres but in fine they and their playes had an end Before all thinges Adrian gaue order that the body of Traiane might be brought into Italie where it shoulde be giuen a generous sepulchre and to effectuate the same commanded his ashes to be inclosed in a boxe of Vnicorne which also was inclosed with golde and placed in a piller of most excellent marble lyned with most rich purple all which being ladē into a gallie he sent Tatian and Plotina with the body vnto Rome al Rome went foorth to receiue the body of Traiane and as it is sayd and written there was neuer so muche ioy vttered for any man that entered being aliue but muche more sorrowe was discouered for Traianes comming deade Adrian stayed in Antioche whiche is the heade of Syria partly to assemble the whole armie and partly to recouer money for being then winter he could neyther campe for coldenesse of the weather eyther marche or iourney for want of money Adrian was there aduertised howe the Mauritans did defie him the Sarmatians did mutinate the Britans did rebell the Palestines resist the Aegyptians disobey and that all the Barbarians were in commotion Finally it is to be vnderstoode that vpon the death of Traiane al people and nations were so escandalized that it séemed not but that he left the world without a maister or an owner Adrian perceiuing the greater part of the Empire in commotion determined to make them no war but to intreate them by peace and for this cause he refused and forsooke al those kingdomes and Prouinces that lay beyond the riuer Euphrates and the riuer Tygris which the good Traiane had wonne and conquered in which conquest he imployed his noble person and gaue ende vnto his honourable life Vnto all kingdomes and Prouinces Adrian sent Embassadours to confederate with some and to confirme peace with others and with some he did capitulate thinges so slaunderous and with so great disaduauntage that it had bene much better to haue raysed warre then to haue procured a peace so infamous Parsnapate king of the Parthians came to complaine vnto Adrian saying that the good Traiane had giuen him that kingdome and crowned him with his owne hands and now vpon the death of Traiane they would neyther obey him or suffer
of the Prince all whiche Adrian did remoue and adnihilate affirming that those lawes were but of small seruice to the behoofe of the Prince and to the great offence of the common wealth Also the Romaine Princes did vse to inherite the goods of straungers wherin Adrian did ordeine that the children or the next of the kinne shoulde inioye the same Also he ordeined that what so euer he were that founde hid treasure in his owne inheritaunce should inioy the whole and if it were founde in an other mans inheritaunce the owner thereof should haue the one moitie and if it were founde in publike or common place that then it should be equally parted with the Confiscator Also he ordeined that no man what so euer of his own authoritie should kill his slaue for any offence but to be remitted vnto the Iudge deputed by the Prince Also he made a lawe of refourmation both for eating of superfluous meates and also for wearing of garments eyther too many or ouer costly Also he did ordeine that none what so euer should goe or be carried in a litter and one whiche he had he commaunded for example to be burnt in the market place He also commaunded that Consuls and Senatours within the compasse of Rome should weare their gownes whiche was a garment of peace He also ordeined that yong men that wanted their parentes shuld haue tutors vnto the age of fiue and twentie yeares although they were married He also did ordeine that no slaue should be solde eyther man or woman to any ruffian iester or iuggler affirming the possession of slaues to be most vniust vnto suche as wander in idlenesse all the dayes of their life Also he did ordeine that merchants or suche as dealt with exchaunge that brake their credite or were bankrupts without iust cause but only of couetousnesse by defraude to inrich them selues to be set vpon the pillorie in the market place and afterwardes to be banished Rome for euermore He did ordeine that none what so euer should suffer execution within the citie of Rome affirming that so generous a citie and consecrate vnto the Gods were not conuenient to be defiled with the bloude of wicked men Also he did ordeine that men and women shoulde haue their seuerall bathes and that who so euer should enter into the forbidden place to suffer death for the same Also he did ordaine that neyther for the Prince or Consuls any victuals should be taken from any man but that euery man might sell to whome he would where he would and how he might He did ordeine that no woman shuld aduēture to heale with words eyther that any man shuld presume to cure with cōpound medicines but to perfourme all their cures with simple hearbes In buildings he did chiefly imitate his Lord Traiane that is to say that in all countries Prouinces and kingdomes where he had bene he erected many and very famous buildings wherein it is to be noted that he neuer placed his owne name but in the temple of Traiane In Rome in a manner he wholy renued the temple named Pantheus dedicated vnto the Goddesse Berecyntha and where all the Gods were honoured The fielde of Mars in olde time was compassed and by great antiquitie the buildings falne flat vnto the grounde wherein Adrian did not only renue the decayed wals but also did furnish the same with very stately buildings He edified the reall palace named Neptunus he enlarged the palace of Augustus he reedified the bath of Tyberius he much aduaunced the temple of Titus in all these edifices he placed the names of the Princes that in times past built them and not his owne name whiche had reedified them From the foūdation he built a stately bridge which was afterwards named Adrians bridge He made also for him selfe a sepulchre ioyning vnto the riuer Tyber the stones whereof were brought from India and the workemen out of Greece He translated the temple of the Goddesse of good Fortune and the figure of Decian the artificer that was placed therein that was of so great weight that hardly foure twentie Eliphants might remoue the same the whiche figure was dedicated vnto the Sunne Adrian did erect one other to be dedicated vnto the Moone of no lesse weight or riches then the other whereof the great Polydore was workman He built in Rome a certaine building which many yeares after was named the mole of Adrian and at these dayes is called the castle of of Saint Angelo He remoued many riuers out of their chanels to water the fieldes brought many fountaines for prouision of cities In Greece he edified a citie which in time past was named Adrianopolis In the kingdome of Palestine he reedified the great citie Hierusalem which had béene destroyed by Titus and Vespasian and gaue it for name Elia for that his owne name was Elius Adrianus CHAP. XIIII Of some of his gratious and pythie sentences THe Emperour Adrian was a Prince not only sharpe of iudgement and prouident in his affaires but also of great vrbanitie and gratious in speache And the case was thus that Fauorinus a very friende to Adrian hauing an olde house at the enterie whereof he had raysed a stately porche paynted white he sayde vnto him This house of thine seemeth a gilded pill whiche outwardly giueth pleasure but within is full of bitternesse An other friende of Adrians named Siluius very blacke of face and of euill shape of body and comming on a certaine day vnto the Palace all clad in white Adrian sayde vnto those that were present That blacke face with that white garment seemeth no other but a flye drowned in a sponefull of mylke The Emperour Adrian vppon a time from his Palace behelde a Senatour in a long blacke gowne wearing vpon the same a short crimson cloake in graine and demaunding why he did weare such apparell in that place the Senatour answered Syr I walke here with this red cloake to see if my good hap may chaunce to fish some faire Ladie Wherevnto Adrian readily answered Thou seemest rather a red worme to fish frogs then as a man enamoured to fishe Ladies A certaine person with a hoarie heade crauing a rewarde whiche at that time the Emperour denyed the sayde hoare headed fellowe remembring him selfe pouling his heade and shauing his bearde came againe vnto the Emperour to renue his suite and Adrian beholding howe he was altered made fresh and growne young did answere That which now thou crauest I denyed vnto thy father They helde in Rome many fierce beastes to magnifie a daye of greate feasting and when certaine Senatours sayde vnto Adrian that it was somewhat late and highe time to go chace the beasts he made answere Ye might better haue sayd to be chaced of them then the beasts to be chaced of men for if there be ten that dare abide them there be ten myllians that runne away There was in Rome a certaine man named Enatius somewhat entered in age and of
naturall condition mutinous ambitious importune intermedling quarellous full of garboyle and being aduertised that Enatius was deade he fell into a greate laughter and sware that he could not a little maruell howe he coulde intend to dye considering his great businesse both night and daye A certaine auncient citizen comming vnto the Emperour Adrian for certaine suites and causes propounding his demaunde and also replying an answere without intermission remouing without all manner any meane for the Emperour to speake answered Friende if thou feede on both cheekes we may not eate both together Surely it was an answere very fayre and of great vrbanitie for thereby he gaue him to vnderstande that if he both propounde and answere he could not giue him iustice There was a Senatour in Rome named Fabius Cato of auncient yeares and amongst the people in great credite but ioyntly therewith he was a man of a small stature which would soone be offended and as soone be pleased vnto whome on a time Adrian sayde Since your chimney is so small you must beware to lay much wood vpon the fire for otherwise it will be alwayes smoakie CHAP. XV. Of the thinges that he did woorthy prayse and some other things worthy dispraise THe Emperour Adrian did vse and intreate such as did serue him very well and with great affection but he might not indure them to presume to be ouer priuate for he would say that he held them not to commaund him but to serue him and grewe not a little displeased with such as were not moderate in their déedes and courteous in their wordes Being in Spaine in the citie of Taragon he behelde in a garden one of his meane seruaunts walking betwixt two Senatours vnto whome he commaunded to be giuen a great blowe with this aduertisement The Emperour commandeth this blow to be giuen thee bycause thou shalt be ashamed to presume to walke with such as thou art bound to serue In his dyet he was neyther temperate much lesse a gormound that vsed excesse for that he left not to eate of any thing in respect of health or vertue but without dyet did eate both what and whē he liked In wine he had a good rellish and at times dranke thereof so frankly that he hindered the health of his person and also the credite of his fame There was in his dayes great earthquakes pestilences dearth and hunger in which calamities he shewed him selfe a pitifull Prince and of great magnanimitie bycause in time of hunger he gaue the people wherewith to be susteined and in time of earthquakes money to reedifie He discharged many cities of their whole tributes and to others some part he released in suche wise that in all his Empire there was no citie that newly receiued not some benefite at his hande eyther deliuered not from some olde payment In the first yeare of his Empire the riuer Tyber did so ouerflowe that thrée dayes damage thereof was not repayred in thrée yeares He was of the men of warre much feared for that he did chastise them and no lesse beloued bycause he did pay them The chiefest cause of his great prayse in Chronicles or of writers of histories and the tender affection that the Romaines did beare him procéeded that in time of peace he helde his men of warre in great ciuilitie and in time of warre he gouerned the common wealth as if it had béene in peace Alwayes when the Senatours repayred vnto him eyther to eate or for affaires he did alwayes entertaine them standing and if they were Consuls he came foorth to receiue them and if they were Iudges he did rise when they came before him and if they were officers of the Senate he would somewhat stoupe or nod with the head in suche wise that with all he vsed greate courtesie and in speache and conference no lesse vrbanitie To repaire temples to prouide priestes and to offer sacrifices he was a Prince both carefull and diligent and ioyntly therewith it is to be noted he consented not to the inuention of newe deuices and muche lesse did he admit straunge customes CHAP. XVI Whome Adrian did adopt to succeede him in his Empire AFter the Emperour Adrian had trauelled in a manner throughout the world by sea and lande and passed both colde and heate he fell into a grieuous sicknesse he himselfe giuing occasion therof for that in his dyet either in the time of heate or colde did sildome or hardly vse any order Presently vpon his sicknesse his heart was touched with great care vpon the determination whom he should adopt to the succession of the Empire bycause many did followe him that did much desire it but verie fewe that did deserue it The death of Seuerian Dion doth report was after this manner Adrian on a certaine daye at his dinner sayd vnto the Consuls that sate at his table I would haue you name me ten men in science learned and sincere of life vnto one of which I may commend after my dayes the estate of the common wealth They all vsing silence vnto that demaund Adrian sayd reckon me but nine for I haue one and such a one as is my brother in lawe Seuerian for that he hath both age and grauitie After a fewe dayes that these things did passe Adrian being in great daunger through a fluxe of bloude that brake foorth without ceassing at his nose doubting that first his life shoulde haue finished before the bloude would haue staunched did point with his finger Lucius Cōmodus to be his successour And after recouering more health he was aduertised that Seuerian and Fuscus his nephew continued murmuring at that whiche he had commaunded and that vnto him the Empire was not directed Adrian beganne to disdaine and abhorre him with great hatred This Seuerian of the age of ninetie yeares Adrian commaunded to be slaine bycause he set him selfe in the imperiall chaire and gaue vnto such as were in fauour with the Emperour a solemne supper and bycause in secrete he had conference with the capteines of warres Before that Seuerian dyed hée determined to haue giuen the Empire vnto the Consul Fuscus which was his nephewe but when Adrian vnderstoode that Fuscus had conference with Magicians and Soothsayers to be aduertised if he should inioy the Empire he put him to death in suche wise that he both lost the inheritaunce and also his life Pletorius Metus came to visite Adrian in his sicknesse which being his great frend he would neither heare nor sée bicause he did imagine that he came not to visite but to inherite Gentian the Consul a noble and auncient Romaine also he persecuted for no other cause but for that he vnderstoode he was both liked and honoured of the Senate and that all men did hope hée shoulde succéede him in the Empire The Emperour Adrian did neuer shewe him selfe so cruell in his life as he did somewhat before his death bycause all those that he thought did hope to succéede him in the Empire
he commaunded to be banished or slayne Being sicke in a village named Tiburtina of a fluxe of bloude where he remained many dayes bothe desperate vnruly and out of temper for that he had no patience to thinke that he shoulde dye and an other shoulde succéede him There was alwayes some vnkindnesse betwixt him and the emperesse Sabina but in the end Adrian vsed such skill that secretly he gaue poyson vnto his wife Sabina whereby she finished his life and he lost his suspicion When Adrian perceiued that of necessitie he must néeds dye and that an other must haue his Empire he appointed Cenoio for his successour sonne in lawe vnto Niger and this he did against the mindes of all them whiche did serue him and also of all such as did best loue him bicause many others séemed to be of more deseruing and also of more abilitie to gouerne the Empire Vnto this Cenoio he gaue the name of Elio vero Caesar and to the ende it should be gratefull vnto the people and confirmed of the Senate he gaue them the Circen playes which was vnto them very acceptable did distribute throughout Rome foure thousand Sextercies Presently vpon the adoptiō of Cenoio he gaue him the Pretourship he placed him before the Panoniaes which were admitted to goe next his person did create him the second time Consul did set him at his owne table and did permit to accompanie him in the litter finally Adrian did intreate him as his sonne and all did serue him as their Lord. Presently after that Cenoio was adopted he fell sicke of the disease of death in suche wise as he had not leasure to giue thankes vnto the Senate whereof Adrian being aduertised sayde vnto the Senate Vnto a weake wall were we stated that day when Cenoio was elected Cenoio dyed in the Kalends of Ianuarie for which cause he was not bewailed of the people for that moneth being dedicated vnto the God Ianus no Romaine durst bewaile the dead eyther vtter any sorrowes for the liuing Adrian finding him selfe more oppressed with infirmitie did adopt and declare Antoninus Pius his successour vpon condition that he should adopt the good Marcus Aurelius and his brother Annius Verus The adoption of Antoninus was displeasant vnto som but especially vnto Attilius Seuerus who with great care did solicite the Empire for him selfe and at that time being Prefect of the citie some he did corrupt with money and some with faire promises but Adrian being aduertised of the web that Attilius had in hande did not commaund him to be slaine but to be banished all Italie CHAP. XVII Howe and where the Emperour Adrian dyed ON the day that Adrian commaunded the olde Seuerian to be put to death before the executioner came to cut his throte in a vessel he put certaine coles adding thervnto some incense lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen he said You immortall Gods I take to witnesse if I be culpable wherein I am accused and for which this daye I am condemned and put to death and ioyntly therewith I request and beseech you that in testimonie of my innocencie ye giue me no other reuengement but that when Adrian shall desire to dye he may not dye For the time that the Consul Seuerian was executed Adrian neuer inioyed one day of health but many times desired to dye and sought occasions to kyll him selfe but Antoninus Pius vnderstanding thereof commaunded him to be guarded by daye and watched by night Being assayled with extreme infirmitie and not able eyther to eate or sléepe he many times sought venome to drinke sometimes he would haue a knife to kill him selfe sometimes he wold not eate by pure hūger to hasten his death whereof the Senate being aduertised they did humbly craue that it might please his excellencie to haue patience in that infirmitie since the Gods were pleased to lengthen his life Adrian was much despited with this suite of the Senate and so much displeased with him that sayd it that he should be taken and put to death Adrian had a Barbar named Mastor both faithfull and valiaunt that did attend on his person when he did hunt being his auncient seruaunt whom he did most instantly desire and secretly threaten to dispatch him of his life but the barbar being terrified to heare such wordes fled out at gates By chaunce he recouered a knife into his handes wherewith he would haue dispatched him selfe but by force it was taken from him but therewith and from thence forwarde more desirous to dye and his life more hatefull vnto him Adrian had also a Physician borne in Africa this man he did most instantly request to minister vnto him some poyson to finish his sorrowful and most wretched life so hatefull vnto him selfe but the Physician was so faithfull vnto his lord not able to resist the suit of his souereigne determined to drink the same to die Adrian holding him self for the most vnfortunat the extremest wretch in distresse that so much desired death and could not but liue most truly the suit of Seuerian vnto the gods was most throughly perfourmed in him that is to say that they woulde inlarge his life when he should desire to dye Antoninus Pius being now declared and confirmed for Caesar and Adrian euery day finding him selfe to growe in weaknesse departed from Rome vnto the port of Baias where he remained vsing many experiences in medicines and Physicke which for his health did little profite and to shorten his life gaue some assistaunce Adrian dyed in that port of Baias the sixt day of Iuly and was buried in a village named Ciceroniana He liued thréescore and two yeares and reigned one and twentie yeares sixe monethes and sixtene dayes Before Adrian dyed he commaunded this verse to be placed vpon his sepulchre Turba medicorum Regem interfecit Which is to say The Emperour Adrian by trusting Physicians gaue so hastie an end vnto his yeares The life of the Emperour Antoninus Pius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mōdonnedo Preacher Chronicler Counseler vnto Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius THe naturall countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius was of Gallia Transalpina whiche is as muche to say of swéete Fraunce and was borne in a citie named Nemesa whiche from the time of Iulius Caesar was established a Colonell of Rome His grandfather was named Titus Fuluius a man both generous and valiaunt who in the times that Iulius Caesar did conquer Fraunce did vtter his greate parcialitie in the behalfe of the Romaine Empire for whiche cause after the warres were ended he came to Rome Titus Fuluius in passing into Italie and setling in Rome had happie and great successe for the Fathers of the Senate besides their recompence for seruice they made him a citizen of Rome He had suche skill to profite him selfe by that libertie and proued so cunning to content the people that within the space of foure
ploughes but he him self would be occupied in sowing corne cutting vines pruning trées and at times would take the plough and make a dozen of furrowes He was extreme in nothing but that in and for all thinges he placed him selfe in the middest which he did very well discouer in the gouernement of his person and estate wherein neither for his prodigall expence he was noted proude either for want of a noble minde estéemed a niggard Many times the Heauens being cleare and a settled faire weather in apparance he would saye vppon suche a daye wee shall haue raine or chaunge of weather wherein he neuer erred and manye times did aduouche that the knowledge thereof procéeded not of science either of Philosophie but of certeine experiences which he gathered when he vsed the labour of the fielde When on a certeine time with his knife he was pruning of a plumb trée in his orcharde ioyning vnto the high way a Senatour saide vnto him since you are an Emperour ceasse to vse the office of a labourer vnto whome Antoninus aunswered it is lesse euil for an Emperour to prune trées in his orcharde then to consume lost time in his palace He was very attentiue to that which was saide and curiously he did consider what others did chiefely to the ende to attaine knowledge for that naturally he was sharpe and of delicate iudgement He was alwayes occupied either in reading studying disputing or doing somethinge with his handes and wherein he wanted skill he disdained not to craue to be taught Alwayes for the more parte he went bare headed through much heate he had therein and one aduising him the ayre of Rome to be very hurtfull and therefore right necessarie to haue his head couered aunswered assure mée from troubles of men on earth and I am assured that nothing shall offende mée which the Gods shal send mée from Heauen He was of him selfe excellent in Musike delighted therein and a greate friende to Musicians Antoninus Pius was suche and so good that all heartes did loue him all toungs did praise him and all suche as did not knowe him but by reporte had him in admiration finally he was compared vnto Numa Pompilius because in him there were not more vertues to be desired either one onely vice to be reprehended CHAP. III. ¶ The workes of pietie which he did and the cause why he was intituled Antoninus Pius ANnius Verus father of the first Faustine and father in lawe vnto Antoninus Pius became so olde that he was not able to sit on horsebacke either to go on foote but that he was led and staide by the arme to saye his opinion in the Senate because from olde putrified men ripe and found counsels do proceede Antoninus Pius beeing the man that delighted to leade his old father did not only giue him way in foule places but in going vp of staires did rather séeme to beare him then leade him Passing on a certeine day and beholding an olde man named Iulianus led vnto prison for debt and vnderstanding the cause he presently payed the same and added a worke of more pittie that payde not onely all his debtes but gaue him also to susteine him his house For that a penall lawe prouided in that behalf that by iustice or otherwise none shuld shead bloud within the compasse of Rome for his cause at the gate Salaria a place deputed for execution of offenders and maisters also did there chastice their seruaunts and thus it chaunced that Antoninus Pius passing that way found there many slaues bounde and beaten moste cruelly he conceiued so great pitie to sée them so beaten without pitie that presently he bought them all and the same daye he bought them the verie same daye he made them frée From his youth it was his inclination to visite the sicke and to accompany suche as were in sorrowe distresse and out of comfort wherein the good Antoninus did so muche vtter the griefe that he had of their griefe he so much sorrowed of their sorrowe that no man did so sensibly féele his owne griefe as he did bewaile the misfortune of others An auncient Romaine widowe which had but one sonne whose misfortune was to kill another young man and being condemned to dye the sorrowfull mother came lamēting wailing and crying vnto the Emperour Antoninus with whome he did so earnestly and so grieuously wéepe as if it had béene his owne sonne And being aduertised by his friendes and his most speciall and priuate seruaunts how euil it became him to wéepe with and like a woman aunswered that sorrowfull woman came to craue helpe and succour for her sonne and for that I may not relieue her with some remedie I did assist to bewaile her mischaunce The Romaines had a custome to leaue the dead bodies of men executed in the fieldes but Antoninus Pius was the first that gaue order for such bodies to be buried affirming it sufficient to take from men their liues and not to féede beastes with their carcases From the time of the proude Tarquine the Romaines held for custome to giue malefactours great tormentes the good Antoninus did take away all tortures wherwith the members of mans bodie was put in daunger saying that the torment was sufficient that were to chastice but not to dismember Fabatus Dioscorus Lipolus Macrinus Fuluius Torquatus Eucenius Bruscos and Emilius whereof foure being Consuls thrée Iudges and two Pretors and banished by Adrian Antoninus gaue them all pardon and for that many did mislike this déede affirming it to be done to the preiudice of the fame and memorie of Adrian he aunswered Adrian my Lorde did not erre in that which he then did and I thinke I do not erre in that which I nowe doe because then he did it to profite him selfe by his iustice as I nowe doe to obteine aduauntage by clemencie Whether so euer he went either in Rome or other places of Italie wéekely he did visite the prisoners and the poore which he found there for debt he commaunded the creditours with his owne money to be payde and after that he had thrée times paide for one man and the fourth time found in prison for debt he commaunded him to be deliuered vnto his creditour for his slaue A fewe dayes after this commaundement his clemencie not able to endure so rigorous Iustice notwithstanding the sentence was moste iust he prouided at his owne cost once more to buy and to giue libertie vnto that poore man As before recited when Adrian was sicke and so distempered with his infirmities that some he commaunded to be taken some banished and some put to death but Antoninus Pius being adopted Augustus and being inuested with the whole gouernement did neither arrest banishe or kill them but onely commaunded to absent them selues and not to appeare in his presence Amongest all the notable workes of pietie that Antoninus did perfourme was that Adrian striuing and watching to kill him selfe Antoninus did ouerwhatche to preserue a liue
being moste true according to sensualitie he shoulde haue procured and not haue giuen any impediment to haue finished his life since vnto him bothe house goods and estate shoulde succéede The Senatours many other magistrates of Rome did attempt to adnihilate the lawes and monumentes of Adrian whiche Antoninus did most stiffely denye withstand and repulse and in the ende not onely did cause all his actes to be ratified confirmed and allowed but also did frame and bring to passe with the Senate that Adrian should be accompted amongest the Gods. He built in the honour of Adrian a moste solemne temple in a certeine place named Pusoll and did furnishe the same with Priestes to serue him and endued them with rents to find them and were commonly named Adrians priests In the honour of Adrian he did institute certeine playes intituled Lustra to be played euery fifth yere for the maintenaunce whereof he gaue great rentes Before Adrian died he had made for him selfe a sumptuous sepulchre neare vnto the riuer Tiber whether Antoninus brought him to be buried and brought to passe with the Senatours and the people of Rome to receiue him with no lesse honour then if he had béene a liue No Prince had reigned in the Empire that had not béene noted either cruell or of small pietie Antoninus Pius excepted whoe with his tounge neuer commaunded man to be slaine either woulde euer firme sentence of death or euer woulde beholde any man executed because so greate was his clemencie that he might not beholde the sheading of bloud CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the woordes that Adrian saide vnto the Senate when he did adopt Antoninus Pius AFter that the Emperour Adrian was recouered of a certeine great surfet it hapned afterwards as he sate at his dinner he was taken with an incessant cough whereof followed a bléeding at the nose in suche abundance and with such continuance that both him selfe and others thought first to haue seene him dead yer the bloud woulde haue ceassed to runne Adrian perceiuing the greater that his fluxe of bloud did increase so muche the more his life did shorten desiring like a good Prince to prouide for the weale of his subiectes comaunded all the Senatours Consuls and all other the notable officers of Rome to come before him vnto whome he briefely saide certeine woordes right worthie to be committed vnto memorie as followeth His Oration to the assemblie Fathers conscript you see with greate certeintie howe soudeinly and vnawares death hath assailed mee and by howe small occasion I lose my life Let mee be an example vnto you and all men and holde it for most certeine that that parte of life is most times in peril where of certeintie of life we had setled most affiance Nature hath not graunted me to haue children of mine owne but therefore I giue great thankes vnto the immortall Gods because in deliuering mee from children they haue discharged mee of greate and many cares There goeth muche difference betwixt the ingendering or the electing of a sonne for the one proceedeth of necessitie the other is elect at large will and libertie The sonnes that nature giueth vs are many times lame filthie and also foolishe but such as wee adopt wee elect them able sound and discrete for that no man is so imprudent which at the time of election chooseth not the best In time past I elected Lucius sufficiently knowen vnto you but the destinies were so contrary vnto him that before he had power to commaunde in the state of Rome he was buried in his sepulture but now we haue elected Antoninus for your emperour whoe wee promise you shall proue milde benigne quiet and mercifull for that clemencie is as naturall vnto him as it is vnto the Sunne to giue light by daye He receiueth the Empire in a competent age to the ende ye feare not by his too muche youth to committ some rashe deede either by too muche olde age negligently to gouerne the common wealth He hath beene bred and nourished in our own countrie and therefore will obserue the customes thereof Also his life hath been trained vnder our own lawes a sufficient occasion to auoide all searche of vnnecessarie lawes of straunge countries and this you haue to regarde not as a matter of small importance because there is not any thing that more doeth offende the common wealth then to infecte the same with straunge and vnused customes He knoweth what thing it is to go on warrefare to gouerne armies to suffer both passions and motions of people to vse clemencie with some and to correct others in suche wise that in him is conteined greate sufficience for the gouernement of the common wealth since in all thinges he hath experience Ye knowe him and he knoweth you ye haue dealt with him and he hath dealt with you I hold of him such opinion that he will neither despise you either forget you in such manner that his obedience shal be vnto mee as vnto a father and shal deale with you in loue like a brother And I woulde that all you which be here present as also all other persons in Rome that vpon such condition I transferre the Empire that after his dayes he leaue the same vnto Marcus Aurelius his sonne in lawe and my seruaunt and from henceforth I sweare and protest that these two elections shal be acceptable vnto the Gods and profitable vnto men In credite life and science Marcus Aurelius doth exceede Antoninus but that hitherto Antoninus hath had more experience for which cause vnto him the rather we haue commended the Empire because for the generall gouernement of any estate or common wealth one yeare of experience is more worth then ten yeres of science I haue beene weake carelesse and negligent in many thinges of the common wealth partely inforced therunto by the greatnesse of mine enimies but for the recompence thereof I do leaue two suche Princes one after the other to gouerne the Empire which for their singularitie in science and vertue shall excell all that be past and I doubt in equalitie not to be matched with any their successours These wordes being saide by Adrian he drewe a ring from his finger and put the same vppon the fingar of Antoninus Pius and after that houre he was holden serued and obeyed as Romaine Emperour notwithstandinge that Adrian liued some time after Perfect was the election of the Emperour Nerua in the good Traiane and no lesse of Traiane in the adoption of Adrian and moste iust of Adrian in the election of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius which fiue Emperours were such and so good one after the other which séemed a Prognostication that the felicitie of Romaine Emperours should in them take an ende CHAP. V. ¶ Of the offices that Antoninus helde before he was Emperour BEfore Antoninus Pius came vnto the height of the Empire he did oft put foorth his money to vsurie but all the gaines of that trade he spent in succouring
his defence in such wise that although they wer of great disorder in their life yet they vsed great conformitie in agréement for the manner and fashion of their robberies One of the thinges wherein the malice of man moste readily doeth shewe it selfe is that to doe euill wee are soone agreed but to perfourme a good woorke wee consent with greate difficultie Commodus was well persuaded that the tyraunt Maternus was nowe deade imagining in his owne conceit that at the forsaking of his campe and renouncing of his armie of extreme desperation and horrour of him selfe he had desperately drowned or committed him selfe to the halter But Maternus in recompence of the losse of his potencie and negligence of his honour bent all his studie to deliuer Commodus from his life The Romaines helde a custome vppon the tenth day of Marche to celebrate the feast of the Goddesse Berecyntha on that day the Emperour and the Senate went vnto her temple to offer sacrifices which done and perfourmed generally all persons for the most part disguised them selues masking and feasting throughout the whole citie in suche manner their faces being couered the one was vnknowne vnto the other Maternus and other his fellowe théeues and friendes had agréed to weare secrete armour with face disguised that when the Emperour Commodus should most chiefly be addicted to viewe and beholde the playes and his guarde most carelesse of his person by a coūterfet braule amongst them selues to finde ready meane to cut off his life But notwithstanding Maternus had lost his welth power and honour he ceased not to continue proude hautie and disdainefull seeking to be serued and reuerenced not as a friende and poore companion but after the manner of a Prince and as one that were very rich Wherevpon certaine of his companions being not onely wéeryed but tyred to walke lurkingly in corners and not able to indure to be handled with so great seruitude and further fearing some day to be discouered they repayred vnto Commodus and with great secrecie manifesting the whole matter which is to wit that Maternus the tyrant was a liue and fully determined in those playes and feastes to kill him Incredible was the feare wherewith Commodus was touched when he hearde that Maternus the tyrant was aliue and no lesse was his ioy to consider the conspiracie to be detected and notwithstanding Commodus had intelligence thereof certaine dayes before the feast hée suspended the execution thereof vntill the day of the Goddesse Berecyntha to the end that nothing should be reuealed vnto Maternus of that which was discouered vnto Commodus The maner that Maternus deuised to murder Commodus the same did Commodus vse to take and kill Maternus that is to say the great day of the feast being come as Maternus and his band came masked and armed so Commodus brought forth his men armed and disguised and with a set quarell the traitour and tyraunt Maternus was slaine and his men cutt all to péeces The greatest feast of that feast was celebrate in strāgling hewing mangling drawing burning of the bodies of these miserable théeues because it is an euident lawe for tyrants that the hurtes robberies slaughters violences and burninges which they haue committed in many dayes they come to make repayment thereof in one houre CHAP. X. ¶ Of the inexpected death of Cleander a fauoured and most priuate seruant vnto Commodus AFter the death of the tyrant Maternus the Emperour Commodus passed his life in great doubt and feare imagining with himselfe that some day they would dispatch him either eating or sléeping for he did both knowe and also would say that they were fewe which prayed for his life but very many that sighed for his death Vntill Commodus died hée euer walked warely for hée doubled his guard to guard him by day and strongly shutt in his house by nighte in that which hée did eate in his lodging where he slept on the palfrey wheron he roade on the garments which hée did weare hée set great watche in such wise that hée paid it but only with his life that durst touch his garment Very séeldome he went to the Senate and much lesse did ride openly in the citie hée had not talke with strangers but by writing with his subiects he had no conference but by a person intermitted and that which was more maruell hée had many times such conceite not onely to refuse to write aunsweare heare causes or dispatch affayres but also in foure or fiue dayes would not speake onely one word In the xi yeare of his Empyre Maternus the tyraunt was slaine on the next yeare there followed a great pestilence and a generall hunger in which hunger and pestilence the third part of Italie was consumed Immediatly after the pestilence had entred Rome Commodus departed vnto the citie of Laurento where were planted many Laurel trées for which cause the citie was named Laurento where also the Emperour more remayned then in any other place the Physicians giuing him to vnderstand that to be vnder the shadowe therof was very proper and conuenient for defence of the pestilence Notwithstanding the scarsitie of bread and wine that was that yeare further a certaine occasion of great hūger happened in Rome which was as followeth When the good Marcus Aurelius triumphed ouer the Argonautes he brought amongest other captiues a younge man named Cleander who was openly solde in the market place in Rome and by chaunce bought by a clarke of the kitchin to swéepe make cleane the larder at courte This slaue Cleander became so handsome in swéeping seruing and pleasing his maister that not many yeares after he did not onely make him frée and marrie him with his daughter but also did aduance him to the office of Clarke of the kitchin in such maner that from the estate of a bondman hée indued him with the condition of a sonne Nowe when Clēander sawe himselfe frée married and in office in the Court he trauelled to obteine the good will of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius which he obteyned by carefulnesse in seruice and diligence in his office and vsed therin so great diligence and promptnesse that he was neuer noted either slacke in prouision or false in reckoning Marcus Aurelius being deade Commodus forgate not to remoue Cleander from the affayres of the kitchin and made him capitaine of his guard and Lord great Chamberlaine of his chamber Vnto none of as many as did serue accompany Commodus in his youth that hée was gratefull but vnto Cleander vnto whom it had bin much better neuer to haue risen to so great honour for thereof onely procéeded the losse of his life Althoughe the fauour of Cleander did rise in iest or of small causes he framed in fewe dayes to performe the same in earnest which was as followeth that as Commodus grew into disgrace was abhorred and had no care of the gouernement of the Empire Cleander did presse and in such maner did thronge to entermedle with affayres
drinke water somtimes wine somtimes ale somtimes sider somtimes sodde water somtimes golden water some times stild water and at other times hee woulde not drinke but brothes and collesses In the manner of his feeding he neither vsed authoritie or obserued grauitie for at some times he woulde eate sittinge in a chaire sometimes on a bench and sometimes walking for he vsed to say that in such manner he did both eate and digest Naturally hee was giuen to sleepe verie litle through the weakenesse of his braine and slepte in all places without respect as well in the temple as in the Senate in the garden in the bath in the bedde and also in the market place in suche wise that hee wanted force to resiste the leaste motions and affections of his inclination Heliogabalus did inuent at Rome a certeine manner of feasting named Festum vindemiarum that is to saye the feast of grape gathering which feast was so dissolute vnshamefast vnto the viewe of the common people that afterwards in Rome they neuer cōsented to the celebratiō therof He was also greatly addicted to playe at tennis and whē he was offended with any olde Senatour either any auncient or honourable Romane he would sende for him to playe and accompany him with whome he would playe so much that in the end the sorrowfull gentleman should departe vnto his house both tyred beswett and drudged and also many times despoyled of his money He went verie seldome vnto the temples was vtterly voide and barren of all friendship or affection vnto wise men was neuer séene to read in bookes greatly abhorred suters affaires was negligent either to paye or refourme the armies made small accompt either of friendes or enimies finally he was addicted vnto his owne opinion and a mortall enimie vnto reason CHAP. X. ¶ Of a letter written by the great matrone Mesia vnto her nephue the Emperour Heliogabalus THE greate matrone Mesia being aduertised in Asia of her nephue Heliogabalus so farre inraged with vice in Rome did write him a letter after his manner My sonne Heliogabalus when thou departedst from Asia vnto Rome I hoped to haue heard such newes of thee as might be ioyfull to thy common wealth and haue giuen vnto mee greate renounce glorie but as I am aduertised here and also giuen to vnderstand from thence there thou doest minister matter for all men to murmur and here vnto mee sufficient cause to weepe Sixtie sixe yeares are past since I was borne into this worlde in which I haue buried and bewailed my father Torquatus my mother Aristina my sister Phillis and her husbande Tharsus Also I buried and bewailed my husband Aristippus my sonne Lucius Francus my daughter Dolobella and her husband Martianus Also I bewailed and buried the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and the Empresse Faustina my good and gratious Ladie in whose house I was borne and in whose palace I was married I also buried and bewailed the Emperour Commodus the Emperour Pertinax Annius Pastor mine vnckle Mirtha mine aunte Camillus my nephue and Ioanna my neece Also I buried and bewailed the Emperour Seuerus my onely good Lorde and famous Emperour Also I bewailed and buried thine vnfortunate father my deare and moste desired sonne whose name I dare not either any other expresse in my presence because the sounde thereof constraineth mee to breake foorth in teares I thought it expedient my sonne to leade thee vnto remembrance of al these thy predecessours to the ende thou mayst see howe small reason it were that I should bewaile the liuing since I haue wept all the dayes of my life for so many persons that are dead When thou wast borne by stealth and I did both hide and couer thee when I did remoue thee from Rome and brought thee vnto Grecia when I caused thee to be instructed in Greeke letters and bred and nourished thee in companie of wise men when I did offer thee vnto the God Heliogabalus and made thee a priest in his sacred temple I thought my sonne that all these thinges should serue mee for ioye and peace in my reposed age and not to bewaile thy childishe youthfulnesse In this I acknowledge how free the iudgements of the Gods are from the thoughtes of men in that the gods determine one thing and men suppose another which hath chaunced both vnto thee and to mee O my sonne Heliogabalus because the childishnesse which thou doest vse and the vices thou possessest I did not onely thinke thou wouldst not committe but also that in thy minde they shoulde neuer haue had passage When I did place thee with the greate prieste Gorgias caused thee to be apparayled in the sacred vesture prayedst daily vnto the gods and also euery weeke diddest offer sacrifice in the temple I hoped thou shouldest haue proued a Paragon in vertue and not as thou arte a monster in all vice If thou wouldest consider many thinges do persuade and also binde thee to be good but nothinge prouoketh thee to be euill that is to weete ▪ to be a man reasonable to haue beene a priest to be borne in Rome to be nowe an Emperour to haue nourished thee in my house and to be descended of bloud so noble and generous for it much prouoketh men to perfourme that which they ought to do to remember from whence they be descended Beleeue mee my sonne that with lesse cost and more ease thou shalt be vertuous then vicious because vices content the fleshe when they are committed and torment the hearte after they be perfourmed but vertues yelde not so much griefe in their woorking as pleasure when we haue giuen repulse vnto vice I may not comprehende the froward fortune that foloweth thee or the sorrowfull destinies which haue pursued mee since I nourished thee in trueth and thou prouest and arte become a lyar I bred thee chaste and thou arte imbrued with impudicitie I brought thee vp in temperance thou hast stained thy selfe with excesse and gluttonie I trayned thee in shamefastnesse and thou rendrest a life moste dissolute and that which is woorst aboue the rest thou doest neither feare to offende the Gods or escandalize men Admitting thou wouldest not be good for any offence vnto the Gods that haue created thee or anye griefe or scandal vnto men with whome thou doest liue yet oughtest thou so to be to remoue all heauinesse and displeasure from mee thy olde and sorrowfull grandmother since thou knowest I bought for thee the Empire by the weight of money drawen out of my chestes and by force of teares issuing breaking from mine entrailes My sonne thou doest well knowe that to make thee a Romane Prince I gaue greate giftes vnto the temples offered vnto the Gods infinite sacrifices gaue vnto the Pretorians all my treasures made vnto the Priestes great offers sent vnto the Senatours moste riche iewels all which is nothing for if it had beene possible I would haue giuen my bloud vnto the immortall Gods that thou
ruled their families for he vsed oft to say that the man which knewe not to gouerne his wife to prouide for his house and direct his familie the prince might not cōmit a greater follie then to place such a one in the gouernment of the cōmon wealth In Rome they were named Milites veterani that long time had serued in warres and were withdrawen vnto their houses these were mainteyned at the charges of the common wealth and priuileged for apparance before a Iudge and as Alexander was infourmed of their licentious and vicious liues he commaunded them to be banished Rome and no more to be mainteyned by the common wealth When he signed the sentence of their exile with his owne hands he added these words It is as iust that the vicious and wicked frō a free man be conuerted to a slaue as the vertuous from a bond man to be made free for where there is corruption of manners liberties haue no place Most truely these wordes were spoken as of a prince right worthie veneration Also he visited the officers of the common treasurie as if we should say the Auditors and others that had charge of the goods of the kingdome amongest whome hée found many bribers and néedelesse officers those hée commaunded to be punished and these to be disfranchised Alexander was greatly affectionate vnto the affayres of the common wealth with which zeale he vsed so great diligence that the goodes of the common wealthe were recouered gotten againe from the handes of robbers and spent and imployed in matters profitable for it was his opinion the Good princes ought not to consent that vagabounds should liue of the entrails of the people He wrote vnto all prouinces that in all ciuil causes Iudges should procéede according to the order and right therof théeues matters of felonie excepted who within thrée dayes after their apprehension should either be punished executed made slaues for the seruice of men or condemned to cōmon works for publique profite and for no cause to let them escape for as he oft said Neuer mā which had made a proofe in the knowledge of thefte vntill his death might at any time depart from so foule a vice He also visited the officers that had the charge of pay for the men of warre against whome he receiued accusations for payment of euil monie imbezeling of payes reckoning the dead with the liuing and valuing their victuals more then they were woorthe whome Alexander commaunded openly to be whipt and for euermore to be banished He established by publique edicte that whosoeuer should aduenture from thencefoorth to steale or imbezill any paiment due for matters of warre should for the same loose his life All thinges which he had to commaunde or prouide in the common wealth hée did first communicate with such persons as hee thought to haue knowledge and experience thereof and his manner was to say that in following his owne proper iudgment he had neuer but tedious successe but by repayring vnto other mens aduise hee alwayes gathered some fruite Hée held in his house many and very notable persons of whome alwayes hée was accompanied but amongest al whome he best loued and did most commend his secréetes was Vlpianus this Vlpianus besides his great learning was a man so vertuous that Alexander would oft say hée had rather aduenture the committing of some odious déede before the Gods then speake a foule woorde in presence of Vlpianus His predecessour Heliogabalus had ordeyned many lawes in the fauour of the fiscall to the greate preiudice of the people for admitting that goods were augmented yet on the other parte the common wealth daily diminished for which cause Alexander commaunded that all those lawes should be reuiewed considered and refourmed for as he vsed to saye it were more commodious for the Prince which is no tyrant that his cōmon wealth be riche and his house poore then the common wealth to be poore and his house riche When he beganne to reigne the people were abandoned to dissolute manners for which cause he made some rigorous lawes and other milde and pittifull but when he commaunded them to be proclaimed openly he gaue aduertisement vnto his ministers to execute them in secrete Consider not so much what I commaund you as the intent wherewith I commaund you which is to weete that rigorous lawes are not but to terrifie but lawes which are pitifull to be executed because we make not lawes to take away mennes liues but to roote and weede vices out of our common wealthes When the Senatours did sitt in graue affaires he was not contented that they should saye their opinions by woorde but by writing neither was he yet satisfyed that they should set it down in writing but adde also therunto the reasons which moued them to that their opinion saying he did it to this ende that none should aduenture to yeld his opinion either forced with affection or corrupted with passion but as reason and vertue should direct him Naturally he was an enimie vnto lyes and lyers and if any man presumed to lye in his presence he receiued thereof as great despight as though he had done him an iniurie He woulde oft saye that good Princes haue to esteeme such for greater enimies that deceiue them with flattering and lyes then such as do intrude vppon their countries for the one taketh not but of his goods but the other robbeth him of his fame At all times when they had talk of the election of any Senatour or Iudge he was alwayes hearde to speake these woordes in the Senate If as nowe being present with men I were in presence of the Gods I would craue their opinions in the electiō of Senatours and Iudges for that the choice of gouernours in a common wealth doth more seeme diuine then humaine election CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the milde conditions of Alexander and of his gratefull conuersation ALexander was friendly vnto his seruaunts whome he would visite indifferently in their sicknesse that is to wéete as well the meaner as the more fauoured and in repayment of such his visitation he woulde request them to giue him aduertisement what was saide of him in the common wealth and if they saide vnto him any thinge more worthie amendement then praise he gaue them as greate thankes for that aduise as at another time he vsed to giue for any greate and notable seruice The Consul Vncoiasson on a certeine time in great secrete saide vnto Alexander I am not a little astonnied at thee moste serene Prince that doest permitt thy selfe to bee gouerned of thy graundmother Mesia thy mother Manea and thy wife Meania who haue framed thy conditions so milde that thereby thou doest impaire the estimation both of thy person and also of thine Empire for that a base and ouerfamiliar condition leadeth vnto cōtempt Vnto this Alexander aunswered I owe reuerence vnto my graundemother because shee nourished mee vnto my mother for that shee bred mee vnto my
wife good companie for as much as she hath married with mee and since it is thus with reason I ought of no man to be euill iudged for that I do no more but duetie From the daye that he was elected Emperour vntill he was placed in his Sepulchre there passed no day wherin he did not some notable déede woorthie to be marked and no lesse to be followed which is to saye hearing causes in Iustice visiting temples being resident in the Senate repayring walles pardoning offences dooing good vnto the poore and dispatching such other affaires Hee was bountifull to Ambassadours and straungers and no lesse refourmed in his ordinarie expences aboue the rest he helde narrowe and straight reckoning and was well aduised with the officers of his common treasurie alwayes to haue in possession treasure in store Hée saide manie times that the poore and needie Prince might neither be serued affectionately of his subiectes or with armes resist his enimies Vnto such as were sound strong to trauell and yet wanted money to mainteine a trade hee commaunded them to be succoured with the goods of the common treasurie vppon condition to repaye the same in processe of time with the fruites and profites of his trade by which meane he discharged his Empire not onely of many poore persons but also of théeues and vagabondes All persons that receiued either wages or stypende he had registred in a booke wherein was written their age linage and seruice which they had done him vsing when he was alone to read in that booke in such wise he did so speake name and had notice of all persons as if they had béene but one man. The common store house for wheate and oyle founded and furnished by Seuerus Heliogabalus had bothe wasted and destroyed in such wise that there remayned nothing in store this storehouse Alexander reedified endued and also prouided with excéeding greate aboundaunce of wheate and oyle so that in his dayes wheate and oyle did flowe and abound as water The Iewes that were in Italie of all men were euill handeled and the Christians no lesse persecuted and banished nowe when bothe the one and the other made complaint Alexander commaunded them to liue within their lawes vppon such condition as they perfourmed their ceremonies in secrete He did much honour the Presidents of prouinces and when he traueiled vpon the way they onely were placed with him in his Coche or licter which he did to the ende that all men might beholde howe much he honoured the ministers of Iustice as also to be infourmed of the state of the common wealth of that countrie for that naturally he was so greate a friend in that which touched the common wealth that he did not onely take pleasure to prouide and talke thereof but also held it for a vice to be forgetfull of the same Hee vsed vnto no kinde of people so great liberalitie as vnto Iudges Tribunes and Pretors which had charge and were sincere in ministring Iustice and aduouched vnto the Senate that a Prince with reason ought not to bee intituled a Prince vnlesse he were carefull for the execution of Iustice and if he finde any that is iust in the administration thereof such a one iustly may not be recompenced for which cause I giue them more then any other persons which serue me that by their enrichement all occasions to make other men poore from them may be remoued In the behalfe of the common wealth he was aduertised that béefe and bacon was excéeding déere in Rome in respect whereof he straitely charged and commaunded that no person should aduenture to kill either calfe or suckinge pig by the space of two yeres whereof it came to passe within the space aforesaide that a pounde of flesh which was solde for eight was woorth but twaine Of men that séemed graue prudent and sincere he woulde alwayes be infourmed receiue aduise for prouision of all graue and doubtfull cases and yet would neuer communicate or commende his trust to any speciall persons for he vsed to saye that when the people do vnderstand that the prince is counselled or directed by any one person such a one with giftes and requestes may easily be corrupted Alexander had a seruaunt named Belon who promised a gentleman to dispatch a certeine matter of great importance with Alexander that touched him not a little giuing to vnderstande that he was verie priuate with the Prince and in remuneration of his promised trauell hee receiued of that gentleman a greate summe of money whereof Alexander being aduertised and that which hee promised to obteine to be a matter most vniust no smal offence vnto the common wealth he commaunded him to be crucified affirming that none should dare to aduenture to sell the fauour of the Prince to the preiudice of the common people He would many times assemble the chiefest of the people and warne them to be vertuous noble minded and pitifull vnto the common sorte aduertising them that assuredly he would deale with the vertuous as with sonnes and with the wicked as with enimies Thrée times hee gaue vnto the Romane people greate quantities of wheate in time of greate dearth Also at other times he gaue of his grace vnto the auncient horsemen great summes of money vnderstandinge the greatest parte of them to be in debt There were in Rome many persones that liued not but by vsurie by which meane much goods were lost and many houses become tributarie wherein Alexander commaunded excéeding diligence to be vsed in the reuiewe of such contracts and a memoriall of the moste notable griefes to be giuen him which when he had considered he punished the vsurers and gaue libertie vnto the poore men that were oppressed The manner of his dispatche in affaires was to be patient in hearing mylde in answering skilfull in conceiuing and pittifull in denying in such wise that if he gaue not that which they demaunded at the least he gaue them comfort with his woordes After he came from the Senate and had dispatched the affaires of suters he did alwayes passe the time in reading Gréeke rather then Latine amongest all other thinges which he vsed to reade was Plato his comon wealth Cicero his offices Horace and Quintus Curtius with the life of Alexander whom his vices excepted he diligently did imitate If he sawe any of his officers that for age or impotencie might not serue he did either call him or visite him giuing him many thankes for the seruice which he had done him and would request him to take it in good parte to receiue his whole stipend with ease and rest in his owne house and to place some other in that office méete for his seruice Vsually he did eate twise a daye and in his féeding more cleanly and curious then costly and sumptuous and neuer was offended with his officers for the lacke of many or exquisite meates but for want of cleanlinesse and good seasoning Many persons wandring in Rome and
were trauersed diuers daungerous skirmishes and no lesse perilous incounters by the consente of Alexander and Artaxerxes they committed both their fortunes vnto the merite of a battell the Persians being ouerthrowen and the Romains remaining conquerours wherein if Artaxerxes had staide his hardinesse and commended the matter vnto policie placeing his power in his fortes and moste stronge places if he had suffered the Romaines by tracte of time to consume thēselues according to the custome of greate armies in straunge countries he might haue preserued both his countrie and honour Great riches were recouered in that battell and infinite the captiues whiche then were taken and as the Persians holde it for a moste greate iniurie to serue any straunge nation so Artaxerxes notwithstandinge hee was poore and ouercome gathered together greate summes of money and redéemed all captiues in suche wise that in Persia there remained no money either anie captiues came vnto Rome Alexander recouered in those warres the renoume of valiant magnanime and not couetous and he was iustely intituled valiaunt for his doughtinesse in fighting magnanime for his magnificent liberalitie and not couetous for the small share that he reserued vnto him selfe The affaires of Persia beeing dispatched Alexander returned vnto Rome entering the same with greate triumph and glorie for that conformable vnto the people and nation which they had subdued was the riches that was brought vnto the treasurie And after being mounted vpon the Capitol he saide vnto the Senate after this manner A shorte Oration made to the Senate Fathers Conscript for that I come tyred with so long a iourney and you no lesse wearied in receiuing mee it were no reason to make long speache muche lesse to inuent newe eloquence because there is nothing so eloquently spoken but if it bee saide out of time or place seemeth tedious vnto the audience He that shall speake or persuade others hath not only to consider what he saith but also to obserue time and respect the assemblie for the Sea at one time doth permitt her selfe to be spurned and at another time not to bee touched By that which ye haue hearde as that which this day ye haue seene ye may vnderstand howe daungerous this warre hath beene and howe copious a victorie we haue obteined for as ye vnderstand Fathers conscript there is no great haruest without great tillage The case is thus that the Persians had in their fauour foure score thousand footemen sixe thousand horssemen seuen hundreth Elephants two thousand yron cartes and two thousand slaues that were young men the one halfe to beare victuals and the other halfe to mend high wayes On that day in which both the one the other came foorth into the fielde to fight no man woulde haue thought but that the whole world had bene come together and also the deade risen out of their graues Of foote men we slewe twentie thousande and did captiuate twentie thousande of horse men two thousande were killed and three thousande did yealde of Elephantes we bringe three hundred and three hundred we haue slaine the cartes the slaues and prisoners they haue redeemed by the weight of money in such wise that we haue taken their countries ouercome their persons and brought away their goods I returne safe sound the armie inriched king Artaxerxes defeated the name of Rome magnified and the confederates satisfied and with all these trauels though we come wearied yet are we not fatigated because victorie is so sweete a thing that it leadeth al trauells past into obliuion Alexander hauing saide these wordes the Senate exclaimed with loude voices The immortal Gods saue thee Alexander the Gods make thy fame immortall since this day thou haste honoured Rome with euerlastinge fame Thou hast ouercome the Persians visited the Parthians subdued kinges inriched the armies and placed vs in great honour for which cause not vnworthily we intitle thee Pater Patriae father of our countrie Tribune of the people most highe Bishoppe first Consul only Emperour of the worlde These such other exclamations manifested by the Senate at the issue of the Capitol gate Alexander saide vnto all persons that there did attend him Fathers sonnes brothers and companions vnto the fathers of the Senate we haue giuen accompt of all that we haue done and will giue you a reason as apperteineth of al that we haue saide For this day the triumph paste sufficeth to morowe we wil visite the temples the nexte daye we will offer greate sacrifices the fourth day wee will giue libertie vnto prisoners the fifte day we will diuide rewardes amongst the poore widowes and orphans the sixte day we wil begin the Persike Circen playes for cōsidering the greatnesse of our victorie we wil first accomplishe with the Gods by whom we haue obteined the same and then with men which gaue vs their assistance When Alexander came from the Capitol hee mounted on horse backe to ride vnto his palace whome at that instante certeine auncient gentlemen of Rome did take beare vpon their shoulders the people gathered together exclaminge with lowde voyces in this manner Blessed is Mamea thy mother blessed art thou Alexander her sonne blessed is Rome that bred thee blessed is the armie that elected thee and blessed is the Senate that did consecrate thee for in thee is conteyned the felicitie of Octauius the bountie of Traiane Thou hast lead with thee into the warres our husbands our sonnes and our friendes whome thou bringest backe with thee all sounde all riche and likewise all contēted wherfore we say vnto thee that if this day we place thee vpon our shoulders for euer more we will lay vp thy memorie in our entrayles In these exclamations the people continued before and behinde for the space of fower houres extremly pestering all passage vntill the chariote triumphant with foure Elephants made the wayes open All that which he saide vnto the people he commaunded presently to be accomplished At the ende of these feastes he did institute a temple of Virgines who were named Maneaes in reuerence of his mother Manea At the same time he receiued newes that at Tanger a citie of Africa Furius Celsus had obteined victorie and Iunius Palinatus likewise in Armenia triumphed ouer the enimies as also Varius Macrinus in Illyria had made a conquest of certeine countries and the currers which brought the newes presented him also with thrée tables of Lawrell The feastes and triumphes being finished he woulde be informed of the officers of the common wealth that is to say how in his absence they had vsed the people and howe they had administred iustice and suche as had not done well he remoued and those that had done well he rewarded giuinge vnto some more honourable offices and to others heritages and money Manie times Alexander woulde say that they deserued as greate glorie that in time of warre did well gouerne the common wealth as they whiche in the warres obteined victorie CHAP. XII Of
as Pretor euen so I discharged thée of thine office not as Antoninus thy old friende but as an Emperour of the Romaine Empire He was not inclined to beginne warres either in his owne person to prosecute the same for he holde opinion that the Prince with more sounde counsell shoulde commend his warres vnto his Captaines to the ende in his owne person to gouerne the common wealth then to goe to the warres him selfe and leaue his common wealth vnto others Talkinge on a time in his presence of warres and battels that Iulius Caesar Scipio and Hanibal had fought and ouercame in the worlde Antoninus Pius aunswered Let euery man holde opinion what he thinketh good and praise what it pleaseth him but for mine owne parte I doe more glorie in conseruing peace many yeares then with warres to conquere many battailes In the seconde yere of his Empire the Britains rebelled against whome he sent the Consul Laelius Vrbicus whoe subdued that Islande although afterwards by mischaunce he lost his life In the thirde yeare of his Empire the Mauritanes also rebelled whiche are a people of Africa againste whome he sent the Consul Murus Cespitius whoe vsed so greate policie in those warres that hée constrained them to craue peace In those dayes the Germaines and the Datians had greate warres amongest them selues vppon the diuision of certeine territories but in the ende after their owne destruction amongest them selues they came to suche concorde that they bent their whole force as cruell enimies against Rome and the countries thereof protesting and affirminge their charges to bée muche more in paying so greate and so continuall tribute then might arrise by defence of their persons against the Romaine power Antoninus vnderstanding of this rebellion hee woulde not presently sende foorth an armie but a Iudge with greate power to visite those countries to mittigate and vnfolde all griefes and to remoue all vniust tributes and ioyntly therewith did write suche and so good woordes that at the instant those Barbarians left their armour and did yeld their countries vnto the obedience of Rome Of this example all mightie Princes haue to take example to the ende that with furie they vndertake not to tame a furious people because manye times hartes be more tamed with swéete woordes then with cruell armes The Iewes that were in the prouince of Pentapolis also he did represse and tame which was don by the hands of the president that was in Assyria whom he commaunded first to offer them peace before he made them warre In Achaia and Aegypt also certeine people did rebell vnderstanding the occasion to procéede of the Romaine Pretors whiche were rigorous in their commaundements and couetous in their dealings gaue order that his officers were chastised and the people pardoned The Pretors that were resident in the countries of the Alanes sent to complaine at Rome howe daily they were threatened to be slaine onely for demaunding tribute vnto whome Antoninus aunswered We haue receiued your letters and be grieued with your perils and no lesse sorrowe your trauailes if these people do paye their tribute which they doe owe suffer their threateninge which they make because it is néedelesse to thinke that any man which is a tributarie shall liue contented In any wise aduenture not to giue them iniurious woordes to committ briberie or to do them wrong because in suche cases wée haue to heare their complaintes and to correct your offences The Gods haue you in keeping and guide well your Fortune CHAP. II. ¶ Howe he did visite the officers of his common wealth and the reformation of his house WHen Antoninus sent any Pretor to gouerne any prouince he was not satisfied that he were wise prudent and valiaunt but also without any infection of pride or couetousnesse for he helde opinion that he may euill gouerne a common wealthe that is a subiect to pride or couetousnesse Vnto Pretours Censours and Questours before he gaue them any gouernement of any countrie first he caused them to giue an inuentorie of their owne proper goods to the end that when their charge were finished the increase of their wealth might be considered and ioyntly therewith he did both say and warne them that he sent them to minister iustice and not by fraude to rob countries In all thinges that Antoninus commaunded prouided and chastised he was very pitifull such excepted as did offend in the execution of iustice with whom he was both rigorous extreme in such wise that other offences were they very great he did pardon them but as concerning iustice the smallest offence was grieuously punished On a time certaine officers of his treasure brought him a memoriall wherein was conteined the manner and fourme yearely to increase his rents which being séene and read in the backe thereof he did write these wordes the order and fourme that you haue to searche ought not to be to the augmentation of my rents but for the aduancement of my common welth eyther to impose newe tributes but to deuise with order to auoyde excessiue expences for if Romaine Princes vse no rule to moderate their charges eyther we shall lose our selues or rob our common wealthes Amongest all the Princes past onely Antoninus did neuer permit the rents of his estate eyther more or lesse to be augmented but rather did pardon many common wealthes of their olde debts and also relieued others of some newe impositions Presents that were brought him of siluer golde silke purple iuels or other riche things he woulde not receiue them were it not of the kings that payde tribute vnto the Empire for he helde opinion that the common wealthes rather then him selfe had néede thereof The things that he vsed most commonly to receiue were bookes to reade in horsses to runne and fruite to féede on which he forgate not gratefully to recompence In affaires he vsed great expedition that is to say that if he once did vndertake any businesse he neuer withdrewe his hand vntill it were finished Euery yeare he caused his house to be visited as concerning excessiue expences if exaction or briberie were committed by any of his houshold against straungers if they did serue which receiued wages if amongest them there were any that were notably vicious finally all that whiche the visitour for the remedie hereof did set downe presently was perfourmed For the time of Domitian the Emperours officers had a custome to receiue many chargeable fées of al men that by warrant of the Princes liberalitie receiued reliefe which the Emperour Antoninus as a vile custome did vtterly take away affirming that a gratious rewarde ought gratis to be dispatched The pryde the presumption the hautinesse and also the tediousnesse of the whole Empire he brought placed and restored vnto the plat of great humilitie in suche wise that as easily they dispatched affaires with the Emperour Antoninus as with a citizen of Rome A matter surely to be noted to beholde the Court of Rome in the dayes of this