hys fathers frendes Wherefore I meruayled for what purpose CoÌ„modus so longe deferred the matter Why do you therefore thus staye and not execute that ye are commaunded and delyuer me from this dolefull and continual dread Vnto those wordes answered Letus sayinge Cease ê™ he to talke of thynges vnworthy youre selfe and your former lyfe we come not to desyre your deathe but the preseruacion of oure selues and all the Romaine Empyre For the TirauÌ„te is dead and hath suffred condigne punyshmente receauynge at oure handes those thinges he entended to do vnto vs. And we are commen hither to deliuer the Imperiall power vnto you whom onely of all the senate for temperauÌ„ce of lyfe aucthoritie age and grauyte of maners we knowe to be beste entyerly beloued reuerenced of the people Trustynge that we doo shalbe acceptable vnto theÌ„ and profytable to oure selfes Vnto whome Pertinax answered Leue of sayd he thus to scorne and mocke an olde man and so reproue him of timoriousnes entendynge fyrste to deceaue and after to flea hym Why ê™ Electus seynge that you do not credyte vs take this lytle booke for suerly ye knowe the haÌ„de of CoÌ„modus reade it your selfe and ye shall perfectlie perceaue what great dauÌ„ger we haue escaped neyther shal ye fynde in our wordes any temptacion but trustye reporte of truethe The whyche when Pertynax had donne thynkynge it beste to beleaue them whyche had bene alwayes theretofore hys especiall friendes and vnderstandynge all the matter he commytted hym selfe wholye vnto theyr power It seamed good therefore vnto them to go fyrste vnto the hooste and to assaye the myndes of the Souldyours whome Letus promised easely to wynne vnto his sentence because he knewe that hys aucthoryte beynge theyr Captayne woulde somewhat preuayle amonges them Wherefore as many as were presente hasted them vnto the Campe when muche of the nyghte was passed nexte before the fyrste daye of Ianuarye They sente besydes trustye messengers to spreade abrode the rumor that Commodus was dead And that Pertynax whyche shoulde be Emperour was nowe goynge towardes the hoste That bruyte beynge ones blowen sodeynly all the people as they were madde ranne throughe the streates All menne reioysed and euery manne seuerally wente to tell hys frende whyche hadde eyther dygnitye or rychesse remaynynge for vppon theim depended the greateste daunger whyle Commodus lyued They wente therfore vnto the Temples to render thanckes vnto the GODDES talkynge togyther dyuersely Somâ— sayde the Tyrraunte is destroyed some other the sworde player Yea manye spake thynges more detestable And suche wordes as feare had tyll that daye repressed in sylence the same did thei now thrughe license frealy goten bluster oute A great parte also of the people ranne hastely to the campe fearinge lest the menne of armes wold not willyngly accepte Pertinax for Emperour For thei thought that a moderate Prince was not verye gratfull vnto the Souldiors who were accustomed to serue tyranny and exercyse all violence Wherefore they ranne in diuerse plumpes vnto the Campe for to coÌ„pel them to obedience And when they were there arriued Letus and Electus w t Pertinax came thither also And the meÌ„ of Armes beyng called togithers Letus said thus vnto them CoÌ„modus your Emperour is deade of an Appoplexie No other man was the cause of hys death then himselfe For wheÌ„ we in vayne gaue him good and holsome counsel he orderinge himselfe as you all knowe he accustomed was sodeynlye choked with ouermuche meate and drincke so that he perysshed by the ende hymselfe sought For all men dye not by one kynde of death but vnto many men there are dyuers causes and yet all tende to one ende But touching hym we and the people of Rome haue brought vnto you a man graue in age moderate in lyfe and very experte in warfare whose valyaunte prowesse you that are aunciente Souldiors haue by experience knowen And the reste haue iudged beyng so many yeres ruler of the Cyte not onely worthiest honour but also admiracion woÌ„der Wherfore fortune hath not alonely gyue him as a prudent Prince but also a moste louing father vnto you Whose soueraignitie in thempyre shall not perticulerly be mooste pleasaunte vnto you that presently beholde hym but also vnto them that defende the bankes of Riuers and the boundes of the Romayne Empyre as those that retaine in memory the notable actes by him atchiued We shall not at thys presente wynne the Barbarouse people vnto vs by gyftes but beynge myndefull of those thynges they suffered whyles thys man was Capytayne they wyll be rather subdued wyth feare When Letus hadde spoken these woordes the people could no longer wythholde them selues But whyles the menne of armes stoode styll in theyr dompes they pronounced Pertynax Emperour and callynge hym theyr parent they praysed hym with moost ioyful acclamacyons The same dyd the Souldyours alsoo although not with like alacritie But the nomber of the people myxed amonges them beyng voyde of armure and celebratyng the feastfull day easely compelled theÌ„ to shoute and call Pertynax Augustus Furthewyth they being sworne in allegyaunce vnto hym and the sacrifice ended all the people and men of armes crowned wyth Lawrell folowed hym After he was conueyed in the nyghte as we before sayde into the Imperyall Palayce by the Souldyours and the people he was troubled wyth manye cares And although he semed too be of a constante and stoute mynde yet dyd thynges presente put hym in feare not very muche solycyted for hys owne life for he had at other tymes contempned greater perylles but throughe the recordyng in hys mynde the sodaine mutacion of tiranny and ponderynge the nobylytie of manye Senatours who he thought woulde not permyt after an Emperoure of moost noble byrthe thempyre to come vnto a man of pryuate and base stocke For al be it hys temperate and frugall lyfe were well spoken of and that he had gotten in warrelyke affayres great renowne yet was he of symple lygnage Wherefore after the daye appeared he wente too the Senate house not suffrynge the fyre or anye other tokens of dygnytye too be borne before him vntyll the determynacion of the Senate were hearde Whoo as soone as they saw him receiued him al by one accord w t ioyfull welcommynges saluting him as Augustus and Emperour But he refusyng the name of Emperoure as a thynge odyous excused his age and desyred pardon saying there were many of the Senatours more worthy thempyre then he And wyth that worde he tooke Glabrio by the hande commaundynge hym to syt in Themperyall Throne For this Glabrio was the noblest of the Senatours accomptynge the lyne of hys genealogie vnto Aeneas the sonne of Venus and Anchises and now the second time CoÌ„sull Who answered Pertynax thus Truely I whome of all meÌ„ your selfe iudge moste worthye do giue you place in thempyre and with me al the Senate committeth vnto you thole soueraigne aucthoritie Than Pertinax beyng almoste constrayned by the earneste prayer of euerye Senatour and halfe as yet
Macrinus lost the fauor of the Souldiors who chase Bassianus Emperour named him Antonyne The battailes made agaynste Macrinus the ouerthrowe of hym and his armye with hys death And thinsolence of Antonyne after he was Emperor And how he aodpted his cosyn Alexyanus otherwise named Alexander and made hym hys felowe in the Empire And finallye it telleth the causes wherfore and how Antony and Soemis hys Moother were slayne ¶ The fyfte booke of the Hystorye of Herodyan WE haue in the former Booke treated of the Raigne death destructioÌ„ of Anthonine When Macrinus was come vnto Antyoche he sente letters vnto the Senate and people of Rome in thys forme ¶ For asmuche as your selues perfectlye knowe what hath bene the trade of my lyfe from the beginnyng howe muche my maners haue bene bente vnto gentlenes and what clemency I haue shewed towards you in that my dygnitie whyche dyffered not muche from the hyghest tipe of dominion for Themperour alwaies committeth the custodye of him selfe vnto the fidelytie of hys Pretor I thinke it superfluous vse to many wordes vnto you Your selues are not ignorauÌ„t y t I alowed not the thiÌ„ges by Anthonine done wherby for your sakes I was ofte in peril of my life whiles he geuiÌ„g credit vnto euery vniu ste accusation as a man void of reason imagined your hole destruction he vsed to checke me ofte times vpbrayding me openly for my modest humanytie and calling me sluggard cockney For beinge a man delited w t flatery whoso euer incensed him to flagitiouse crueltie or prouoked to malice y e furious seÌ„sualitie of his fraÌ„ticke brayne or els sturred w t accusacions hys exasperate madnes those he accompted his most trusty secrete and faith full freÌ„des But for my part there hath bene nothing more acceptable vnto me from the begynninge then discrete modestie We haue now so finished this meruelous Parthian warre wherin thole Romaine Empyre stode in hasarde that beyng nothing inferioure in fyghte vnto our aduersaries we haue made theyr mighti king of an extreme enemy our faithful freÌ„de Who brought against vs an innumerable multitude of people Further whiles I am your Prince ye shal lyue frealy w tout trouble of discencion So y t ye shal haue cause to name my gouernauÌ„ce rather a coÌ„federacy of good meÌ„ theÌ„ an Empire Neither is ther any occasion why any man shuld iudge me vnworthy to be Emperour or impute it to anye faulte of fortune that being but a Knight I haue attained the Principall Soueraignite For of what effecte or value I praye you is y t the nobilyty it selfe yf it be not coÌ„ioyned w t geÌ„tle meeke clemencie And the gyftes of fortune doo bewtifye many vnworthily but y e vertue of the minde bringeth vnto euery man vsing the same a peculier glorie And although the nobilyte of byrth kinred w t abundauÌ„ce of treasure is accompted the proper substaunce of blessed men yet are not y e same in them coÌ„meÌ„ded as froÌ„ them selfes issuing but as deliuered of others But gentle mekenes modest affability as thei be to be woÌ„dred at so doo thei win much prayse vnto the hauer For what profited you the nobilytie of CoÌ„modus the successioÌ„ of Anthonine after his father Certes such hauing obtained theÌ„pire as it were their iust enheritauÌ„ce are wonte to abuse it as their priuate patrimony But thei whiche receaue the same at your handes being as it were bouÌ„den of dutie vnto you endeuour them selfes to requit your manifolde benefites Further y e natiue nobilitie of Princes chaÌ„geth ofteÌ„ times into pryde despysiÌ„g al others as their inferiors But thei which haue obtained y e same through profe of modesty do defeÌ„d ordre it as a thing goteÌ„ by labor haue al those inreuereÌ„ce which thei had before time And I for my part am fully determined to do nothing w tout your couÌ„sel aucthority to vse you as sole assistauÌ„tes CouÌ„sayllors in thaffaires of y e coÌ„meÌ„ wealth And ye shall al lyue at your own pleasures w t the same libertye whiche beinge by yoÌ„ge Empers succeding their pareÌ„tes takeÌ„ away froÌ„ you both Marcus Pertinar endeuored enteÌ„ded to restore vnto you again Both the which aspired to theÌ„pire froÌ„ priuate estate degree For it is much better for a ma to leue vnto his posteritie y e beginninge of his kynred by him selfe adorned then to defile w t sensuall maners y e nobilitie vnto hym from his predecessors desceÌ„ded After this Epistle was red al thole Senate with one voice decreed the honour of Augustus vnto Macrinus Neither was the Senate so ioyfull w t the successioÌ„ of Macrinus as the coÌ„mon people were glad w t the death of Anthonine For euery maÌ„ as he excelled in aucthoritie riches so much the more he reckened y t he had auoided y t sworde whiche before heÌ„ge ouer his shulders Then wer al bribed Promoters Accusers SeruauÌ„tes whiche had betraied their Masters Lordê haÌ„ged vpoÌ„ Gibbettes And al thole Citie â–ª yea thole Romaine Empire was cleÌ„sed of al false Harlotes VacabuÌ„des PikethaÌ„kes Of y t which som were out of haÌ„d put to deathe other some punished w t banyshemeÌ„t And yf any of theÌ„ laye hid for feare of good meÌ„ y t wer now at rest y e same she wed som apparauÌ„ce of liberti by the space of one yere in y t which onely Macrinê° enioyed theÌ„pire For that was his only fault y t he furthw t dismissed not thole army hauiÌ„g seÌ„t euery maÌ„ to his own CoÌ„trey him self caÌ„not immediatli to Rome whiche was veri desirous of him the people eueri day loking calliÌ„g for him But he remained at Antioche in delicat lyfe vsed a flower pace in going theÌ„ he was before accustomed geuing answer rarely scarsely vnto Ambassadors other persons y t cam vnto him the same w t so low a voice y t none could well vnderstaÌ„d him And in y t doynge he endeuored to folow Marcus but to the resydew of his condicions he did in no point attaine For he vsed daily volupteouse diet taking pleasure in dauÌ„ synge and wrastelyng neglectinge the regimente of thempyre wearing Agglets of Golde a Gyrdle adorned with precious stones The which sumpteouse apparaile was nothiÌ„g gratefull vnto the Souldiors For thei estemed it more congruente to the Barbarous people and women then to theyr Prynce Wherefore in beholding thiese thinges thei greatly reproued it and despysed the trade of hys lyfe as a thing more wanton then became a warlyke person And they compared the wanton sensualitie of Macrinus and the wyttie and warlyke maners of Antonine Further they greatlye grudged that they laye styll in the Campe farre froÌ„ their natiue Conutrey oftentymes wanting their necessary foode and were not discharged home after peace made truce taken whiles he led hys lyfe in wanton pleasures Wherefore hauynge throwen as it were the brydle out of their mouthes thei spake
enstructers for that they wente about to reconcyle theym leauynge throughe hys crueltye none a lyue that was eyther in dygnyty or had reuerenced hys father The Chyuetaynes of tharmye he entyced to perswade the Souldyours to proclayme hym onely Emperoure ymagynynge daylye manyfolde myschyefes agaynste hys brother But he could not wyn the Souldyours good wylles or assent therunto For they remembred that Seuerus brought eyther of them vp from theyr infancie wyth equall diligence them selues had euer shewed lyke honoure obedyence to them both Wherfore Antonine perceiuynge that he coulde not speade of hys purpose wyth tharmye hauynge taken truce wyth the Brytons graunted them peace and receiued theyr hostages he remoued wyth great spede towardes hys Moother Brother WheÌ„ the two Brethren met togither theyr Moother laboured to bryng them to agrement wherin also many of the moste prudente and sage of Seuerus frendes and Counsailors earnestly trauailed Antonyne thereby seyng all men repyned hys sensualytie was enduced rather of force then good wyll to counterfaite loue After whych done the two Brethren gouernynge thempyre wyth equall honoure and Soueraignitye launched oute of Brytayne and sayled wyth the Relyques of theyr father towardes Rome For when they had burned the bodye they caried the asshes intermedled wyth certayne pleasaunt odours in a boxe of Alabastre to Rome that it might be there enteared enclosed amonges the sacred monumentes of other Prynces Them selues ledde thus theyr armye as Conqueroures of Brytayne and passed ouer Thocean vnto the next coaste of Fraunce After what sorte therefore Seuerus deceased and howe hys Sonnes tooke vppon theym thempyre it is in thye presente booke at lengthe declared ¶ The ende of the thyrde booke of Herodyan ¶ The Argumente of the fourthe Booke of Herodian THe fourthe Booke speaketh of the pompe that was at the Cononizacion of Seuerus The discorde and debate of the two two Bretherne and the deathe of Geta slaine by his own Brother Anthonyne who remayned after sole Emperour and was very cruel and vncoÌ„stauÌ„t After that of the TreasoÌ„ done by hym to the Alexandriens and the cause therof Of an other Treason done vnto Artabanus the King of Parthia And howe Anthonyne hym selfe was slayne by Martialis one of hys Garde and howe Macrinus was made Emperour who sustayned and helde on the warre with Artabanus and fynallye made peace and concorde with hym ¶ The fourthe booke of Thistorie of Herodian THe Actes of Seuerus by y e space of .xviii. yeres are in the former booke sufficiently shewed After whose deathe the yonge Emperours his Sonnes w t their Moother retourned hastly towardes Rome vsyng in their iorney continuall rancor and debate For thei neuer lodged in one Iune or vsed one table suspecting daily all theyr mete and drynke leste eyther of them preuenting other should couertly in their seruices worke hys feate wyth poyson And for that cause thei made the speadier remouinges thinking to liue more safely within the Citie where thei purposed to deuyde themperial palaice betwene them or elles as thei bothe chieflye wyshed to lye a sunder in other the largest beautyfullest houses of the Citye When thei were entered into Rome all the people crowned wyth Lawrell receyued and the Senate welcommed them Formoste rode themperours themselfes clothed in Imperiall purple And nexte them folowed the Consulles beringe the vessell wyth Seuerus reliques Which vessell the people after they hadde saluted the newe Emperours dyd reuerentlye worshyp Themperours Consulles beynge thus accoÌ„panied wyth pryncely pompe caryed the same into the Temple where the diuyne monumentes of Marcus and other Emperours are seen After they had fynyshed the solempne sacrifyce and according to the aunciente vsage celebrated the funerall Cerimonyes bothe the Bretherne departed into thimperiall palaice which thei deuided betwene theÌ„ closed vp all backe doores and priuey posternes and mette togither onely at the vtter gates They chose besydes eyther vnto hym selfe a sundrye Garde and neuer came togithers vnles it were some tyme for a lytle whyle to be seen of the people Neuerthelesse first of all thei accoÌ„plished the due funeralles of their Father For the Romaines accustome to coÌ„secrate with Immortalityee suche Emperours as at their death leue eyther ChildreÌ„ or Successours in thempyre behinde them And those whiche are endowed with that honour thei Canonize amonges the Goddes There is throughout the Citye a certayne dolefull lamentacion mixed with feastfull ioye And thei vse to enterre the dead Corpse very sumptuousely after the coÌ„mon sorte of men But then thei haue an Image made as lyke the deade Emperour as maye be The same within the porche of the Imperiall palayce thei laye in a great highe bedde of Iuorie couered ouer with cloth of golde And truely the same Image loketh very pale lyke vnto a diseased pacient About the bedde on eyther syde a great parte of the daye do certayne persons syt That is to weete on the left syde the Senate clothed in blacke garmentes And on the ryghte syde many Matrones whome either their husbaÌ„des or parentes dignitees do bewtify None of thiese are seene to were any owches or chaynes of golde But beyng cladde w t thinne white vesture thei shewe the countenaunce of mourners And thus doo thei continewe the space of .vii. dayes dureng the which euery daye themperours Phisicians â—oo repayre vnto the Bedde And as thoughe thei hadde felte the pacientes pulces declare that he waxeth more sicke then before Finally when it semeth that he is deceassed Certane of the moste noble and worthy yonge meÌ„ of thorders of knightes Senatours doo take vp the bedde on their shoulders and cary it throughe the strete called Sacra via vnto tholde market place where the Romaine magistrates are accustomed to reÌ„der vp their offices Ther on both sides are certaine stages made with steppes vpoÌ„ the which on thone side is a quere of boyes beyng noble mens Sonnes and on thother syde are many bewtyfull women singing Himpnes and balades in prayse of the dead Emperour measured with diuerses lameÌ„table verses When those are fynyshed the yonge men do take vp the bedde againe and bere it out of the citie into the fielde called Campus Martius In the broadest parte whereof there is erected a towre foure square w t sides of equal height builded of great timber lyke vnto a Tabernacle The same within furth is filled with drye chippers Rodes And on the vtter syde haÌ„ged with Arras clothes of golde and decked with ymages of Iuorie and sundry painted pictures Within it also is an other lesse Towre but lyke in forme with doores and portalles opened And ouer y t the .iii. fourthe w t manye other roumes ascending continually vntil thei reiche vnto the highest which is lesse then all the other A man may coÌ„pare this building vnto Towres whiche are set in haueÌ„s with fyre on the Toppes to directe shippes which sayle by nyght on the seas into their perfecte portes and sure stacions The same are
that wyth much dyffyculty after longe stryfe hys aduersaryes were vanquysshed For whyles they both contended fynallye he was by the fauoure of fortune lefte onely Emperour But in this darke ouerthwart inueighyng of these woordes he wysshed rather to haue hys dede vnderstanded then openlye harde Then for hys safetye obtayned he promysed vnto euerye Souldyoure twoo thousande fyue hundreth grâ—tes and he alowed theym halfe as muche more vyttayle as they were accustomed to haue before that tyme. He lycenced theym also to take theym selues money oute of the Temples and Treasouryes lauysshynge out at large in one daye as muche as Seuerus had in xviii yeares gathered and of other mennes calamytyes and myseryes heaped togythers The Souldyours beynge wyth so greate aboundaunce of money entysed perceyuynge thole cyrcumstaunce of the aforesayde murdre by those that were fledde from the Courte pronounced hym sole Emperoure and declared Geta a Traytour Antonyne remayned the same nyghte in the Temple and affayinge hym selfe in the rewardes wherewith he had wonne the Souldyours heartes wente the nexte daye into the Senate house beynge enuyroned wyth all the armye and more armure and weapons then were accustomed to garde the Prynce beynge entered into the Senate he made hys sacryfyce and that eanded he ascended thimperyall Throne and made an Oracyon as foloweth ¶ I am not ignoraunt that euery murdre of a mannes owne kynred as soone as it entreth into the eares of others wyll seame odyouse and the name it self when it is heard wil adde a maruaylous sclauÌ„der For compassioÌ„ foloweth the vnfortunate and enuy pursueth the mighty The vanquisshed is thought to receyue iniurye and the Conqueroure is supposed to commyt wronge But if any man wyll ponder the matter it selfe rather with attentife Counsell then any percyal fauoure towardes hym that is dead and exactly consyder hys cause and entente he shal easely fynd that it is both iust and requisyte to reuenge rather then to receiue iniurye For the infamye of tymorousenes doth ensue the calamity of the murdred but the ouercommer besydes that he is in safetye dothe also beare awaye the renowne of fortytude Now al other thinges the which he entended against me wyth poysons and al other kinde of Treason it lyeth in youre handes to wreste oute by tormentes Therefore perdye haue I commaunded all hys seruauntes to be here presente that you may vnderstaÌ„de the trueth There be many of them already racked whose confession ye maye throughly heare Fynally whyles I was wyth my Moother he came vpon me bringing in his coÌ„pany many armed w t weapoÌ„s But I knowiÌ„g the matter before reueÌ„ged my self on mine enemy For he neither bare any minde nor yet purposed anye thynge pertayninge to a brother And to destroy him the which doth first enteÌ„de mischief eueÌ„ as it is rightfull so is it also receaued in vse For Romulus hym selfe the buylder of this Citye forbare not his Brother which deluded hys workes of so greate importaunce I omytte Germanicus the brother of Nero and Tytus the brother of Domitian Marcus the Philosopher did not suffre y e checkes of his Son in lawe But I in thauoyding of poyson prepared againste me and the swoorde that henge ouer my sholders haue slayne myne enemye for that name hathe he throughe his deades deserued Render you thaÌ„kes vnto the Goddes for that they haue preserued one Prince vnto you And let not your myndes be seuered into sondry opinions but obeyenge youre onely Emperour lede your lyues hereafter in traÌ„quillitie For Iupiter eueÌ„ as he possesseth the onely Empire and dominion amonges the Goddes so hathe he appoynted the same vnto one alone amonges mortall men After he had spoken thiese woordes wyth loude voyce full of yre and cruell countenaunce beholding the frendes of Geta whyche trembled and waxed pale throughe feare he retourned into the palayce Furthewith then were the alyes and frendes of Geta put to death euen those which dwelt in the house wyth hym and all his seruauntes so that the age of infantes was not spared Besydes that the deade karkasses were layde in Cartes for a reproche caried oute of the Citye there throwen on heapes and burned Neyther suffered he to remayne alyue anye one which was but of lytle acquayntaunce with Geta The wrestlars Carters and Stage players and finallye all kynde of thynge that was eyther gratefull or acceptable to the eyes or eares of Geta were euerye where destroyed And euerye Senatour that excelled in nobilitie dignitie or ryches was putte to deathe as his frende vpon euerie smale trifle yea somtyme without any cause vpon euery lyght accusatioÌ„ He caused to be slayne also the sister of Commodus beinge verye aged and thitherunto of all Emperous entertayned with great reuerence as it became the doughter of Marcus takynge for occasion that she had bewayled vnto hys moother the death of Geta And with her his owne wife the doughter of Plantianus whiche before was sente into Cicilia and a kynsman of hys owne named Seuerus the sonne of Pertynax and Lucilla the suster of Commodus Finally he roted out as it were from the botom euerye one whiche remained of Thimperal bloude or in the Senate of the nobilitie He commaunded also all the rulers and officers of the Prouinces to be slain as the frendes of Geta so that all the nyghtes were spent in murderynge a meruaylous numbre of men Yea he buried quicke in the yearthe the Vestall virgines as thoughe they had violated theyr virginitie Fynally that whiche neuer before was done he committed For whiles he was lokynge vpon the playes called Circenses the people of Rome reprouynge I knowe not howe a certayne Carter whome he attentiflye behelde he takynge it for an obloquie towardes hymselfe furthwyth commaunded the whole armie to runne vpon the people and to spoyle and slea euerye one that had spoken agaynst the Carter And the souldyours hauing once gotten licence of rifling and robbyng when they whiche had spoken agaynst the Carter coulde not be dyscerned amonges the people for no man woulde in that multitude confesse the trueth as they happened vpon anye man either slewe hym or elles takynge them all captiues after theyr raunsome payed dyd with great difficultie release them When theise thynges were finished Themperour styrred with remorse of hys euyl actes and detesting the liuinge in the Citye remoued from Rome to set the Souldiors in order and visyte the prouinces After he was passed Italye he wente vnto the bankes of Danowe the which are subiecte to the Romayne Empyre There eyther he exercysed his bodye in Cartinge or huntynge all kynde of wylde beastes or elles sate in iudgemeÌ„t but that was very sealdome giuing sentence brifely and answering verye shortly after he had harde but lytle of the matter He there besydes ioyned all the Germaynes into hys societie so that of them he elected euery moste valyaunte goodly of stature for his companyons in warre and garde of his personne And
Antonyne endeuoured to corrupte him wyth hys sensuall maners that in syngynge and daunsynge beynge partaker of hys Priesthode he shoulde weare the same apparell and vse the same facions with hym But Mammea the Moother of Alexander preserued hym from all dishonestye and fylthye lyfe bryngyng him vp priuely vnder diuers learned men in litterature modestie and good maners accustomynge hym vnto wrastelynge and other decent exercises and instructynge hym in the Greeke and Latyn tongue Wherat Antonine greatly grudged repentinge him of his adoption and participation of the Empyre And therfore he expelled out of his Palaice all those Instructours of whome some the excellentest he put to death and thother he afflicted with exile allegyng agaynst them foolishe and vaine causes that they corrupâ—ed hys Sonne not suffering hym to vse lybertye and daunsynge but instructinge hym in modest and comelye exercises And he fell into suche extreme folye that he distributed the chiefest dignityes in the common wealthe amonges players of Commodies and Enterludes For he made Liuetenaunt generall of the Armye a certayne daunser whiche in hys youth had bene a common Player vpon Scaffoulds Another of the same rabel he appoynted gouernour of the youth and another chiefe of the order of knyghthode Vnto Carters Ruffyans and disordered Brotheis he commytted the chiefe charge of the Empyre And vnto hys Bonde men and Lybertynes as euerye of them exceaded another in abhomination he delyuered the rule of the Prouynces Thereby all thynges whyche before were honest were tourned into vyle beastlynesse whyche caused that all men and chiefely the Romayne Souldyours detested hym as one whych fashyoned hys countenaunce more wantonlye then became anye honeste woman For he was decked wyth chaynes and ouches of golde and apparelled wyth lasciuious clothynge vncomlye for a man and daunsed daylye in the syght of them all Wherfore they bare more beneuolent myndes vnto Alexander and had better confideÌ„ce in that Child for that he was modestly brought vp And they all saued hym from y e treason and myschiefe of Antonyne Neyther woulde hys Moother Mammea suffer hym to touche any meate or drynke that was sent from the other The chylde also vsed not any of the Imperiall or common Cookes and Pastelers but suche as hys Moother had chosen for hym whyche were both trusty and honest She gaue hym money also to distribute priuelye amonges the Souldyours whyche chiefelye couete the same that he myghte by it as by a sure lynked Chayne drawe them vnto hym When Antonyne perceaued that he inuented all the mischiefe he coulde agaynste Alexander and hys Moother Neuerthelesse theyr common Graundmoother Moesa avoyded all suche crueltye For she was a woman of a stoute corage and had also of longe tyme soiourned in the Imperiall Palayce wyth her Suster Seuerus wyfe whereby she was throughlye skylfull of that whiche Antonyne entended who was naturallye full of talke and wythoute discretion accustomed to blase abrode what soeuer he mynded or woulde haue done And then seynge hys enterprise not to proceade as he wyshed he determined to depriue the Chylde all of Imperyal honours And therefore commaunded that he shoulde be no longer saluted as Emperoure neyther woulde he suffer hym to go abrode amonges the people But the Souldiours desyred hym wonderfullye disdaynyng that the Empire should be taken from him Then Anthonine caused a rumoure to be blowen abroade that Alexander was deade to the entente he myght thereby perceaue after what sorte the Souldyours woulde take the same But they seynge the chylde not appeare abrode and hauynge theyr hartes persed wyth those sorowefull tidynges waxed wonderfull wrothe withelde from Antonine hys accustomed garde and hauynge shutte the gates of theyr Campe sayde they woulde perforce see Alexander within theyr Temple Antonyne beyng thereby smitten wyth feare rode vnto the Campe in the Imperiall Chariot beynge adorned wyth precious stones wherin also sate Alexander Whome the Souldiors after they were bothe entred into the Campe and brought into the Temple therof saluted aboue measure folowynge hym wyth ioyfull acclamations and vtterlye as I myghte saye contempnyng Antonyne He beynge therwyth meruaylouslye chaufed after he had lyen one nyght within the Temple and noted the Souldyours whyche had shouted vnto Alexander commaunded them all to be put to deathe as authors of sedicion and rebellion They thereat disdaynynge and abhorrynge before tyme Antonyne whyshyng also to dispatche out of life that monstrous Emperour and to helpe theyr Companyons and perceauyng the tyme to be apte for the deede furthwyth slewe Antonyne hym selfe and hys Moother Soemis who was by chaunce at that tyme ther present and with them all theyr Seruantes and ministers of vice that came wyth them into the Campe. Then they delyuered vnto the common people the bodyes of Antonyne and Soemis to be drawen wyth shame throughoute the stretes of the Cyty The people dyd so and then threw them into the common synkes that they myght be caryed into Tyber And the Souldyours hauynge saluted Alexander for Emperoure broughte hym into Themperiall palaice beyng verye yonge and as yet obedieÌ„t vnto the coÌ„mauÌ„demetes of his grandmother Finis ¶ The Argumente of the syxte Booke of Herodian IN the syxte Booke the Authour treateth of the bountie and clemencie of Alexander the auarice of his Moother Mammea Of the warre made by Artaxerxes Kynge of Persia and the occasyon therof Against whome Alexander apparayled a great army and deuided it into thre partes Then ensuen the causes wherefore Alexander loste the loue of the Souldiours Who in the beginning of the warre against the Germaines chase Maximinus Emperour whiche procured Alexander with his Moother and all hys frendes to be slayne ¶ The syxte booke of the Hystorie of Herodian IT is manifestly in the former booke declared what ende of lyfe had Anthonine theldre After whome Alexandre alone possessed the name and regimente of Thempire But thadministracion of all affayres and gouernaunce of the weale publique appertained to the women who endeuored to reduce all thinges to their pristinaâ—e seemelynes and modesty For fyrst of all thei elected .xvi. of the ordre of Senators excelling in grauity of maners and coÌ„tinencie of life to be assistauÌ„te of preuy vnto CouÌ„saill TheÌ„peror w t oute the consent of whiche Counsaylours there was nothing eyther in word or writiÌ„g coÌ„fyrmed Where by this forme of priÌ„cipality becam grateful vnto y e meÌ„ at Armes and Senate of Rome for that it was chauÌ„ged from moste pestiferous Tiranny vnto the ouersyght and rule of noble men Then were the ymages of the Goddes whiche Anthonine in hys lyfe tyme had remoued oute of theyr Seates restored agayne into theyr owne Temples and places Then were all those whiche Anthonine had rashelye for their â—uyll maners aduaunced vnto highe dignities deposed set to their accustomed lyfe and occupacion Then all Ciuyle and foreyne matters of iudgemente were apoynted to thordring of wyse and profouÌ„de learned men in the lawes And all warlyke affayres coÌ„mitted to the rule
hys secrete friendes aboute the same mater And althoughe the hole armye and people of that Regyon knewe and vnderstode all thys busynesse and were prone also to reuolte sturred with the boldenes and noueltye of so greate enterpryses yet dyd euery man holde his peace taking vpon him to be ignoraūt of the case so greatly was Maximinus feared amonges thē that nothing was hidden from hym For he dyd not onely herke vnto euery mans wordes but also watch and prye vpon the gesture of their faces and handes The thyrde daye he caused all the Souldiours to assemble in a playne before the City and there him selfe sytting in a highe throne rehersed oute of a booke an oration his by frendes composed and penned before thus I know verily that I shal declare vnto you a thing straunge incredible but as I my selfe suppose not worthy so muche wonder as laughter Thei are not the Germaynes so often vanquysshed that do moue warre against you and your valiaūtnes neyther the Sarmatyans whiche dayly treate wyth vs for peace The Persyās also which ones wasted Mesapotamia dothe nowe waxe wyse in quietinge theim selues wythin their owne houses beynge taughte partely wyth youre valiaunte prowes in warrefare partely with the enprises whiche I haue atchiued wherewith thei became aquaynted when I had the gouernaunce of the Armye for their passage ouer the Ryuers But leste I should deteyne you with a thyng more woorthye laughter the Carthaginenses are become madde and wyth an infortunate olde man which doteth throughe extremitye of age I doute whether he were perswaded or compelled therunto thei do as it were in a stage enterlude play and take the Principalytie vpon them For to what Armie do thei truste when as Sergauntes and Catchepolles doe supplye the Proconsulles roume amonges theim what weapons wyl thei beare seynge thei haue none but smale speares to hunte wilde beastes withal And in steade of warlike exercises thei vse daūsing sīging of Ballades Carroles Let not y e thīges which are reported to be done wythin the City of Rome Dismay you 〈◊〉 that Vitalian is slayne by disceyte howe vnstable the myndes of the Romaynes be and howe prompt theyr corage is onelye to make shoutes it is manifest vnto you If these .ii. or .iii. armed men they thruste one another forwarde to the daunger in spurnynge one another and fleinge awaye euerye man from hys owne daunger they neglecte the common peryll If any man hath reported vnto you the thynges done by the Senate there is no cause why you shoulde meruayle that oure contineneye scameth ouer harde vnto theym and thereby that the agremente of Gordianus maners wyth theyrs and hys voluptuouse lyfe is by theym preferred before vs. For amonges them all valiauntnesse and graue deades are counted austere and tyrannous and all dissolute lyfe is estemed gentle and pleasaunte They feare therefore oure gouernaunce because it is moderate and laborious and they reioyse at the name of Gordian whose infamye of lyfe is not vnknowen vnto you Wherfore agaynst them and suche as they are you haue to warre O Souldyours yf a man maye at the leaste wyse call it warre For my mynde geueth me and so maye all other thynke that before we approche neare vnto Italye the greatest parte of theym wyll humblye meete vs wyth Laurell Bowes in theyr handes and caryinge theyr Chyldren wyth them fall prostrate at oure feete or elles beynge stryken wyth cowardlye feare runne awaye leauynge all theyr goodes behynde theym for me to take and distribute amonges you that you may enioye the same for euer When he had thus muche spoken and enterlaced hys talke wyth manye skornefull reproches of the whole Cytye and Senate of Rome threatenynge them wyth the gesture of hys handes and wyth terrible countenaunce and menacynge them as though they had been preset he proclaymed his voyage towardes Italy And then hauinge geuen vnto the Souldyours much monei he soiourned ther for one dai That passed he entred into his iourney leadynge wyth him a meruaylous great armye and all the Romaine power There folowed hym also a great number of Germaynes not to be neglected whome he had eyther by force subdued or els associated in amitie vnto hym He caryed besides diuers engens and Instrumentes of warre with other thynges whiche he had prepared before against the Barbarous nacions Now did he marche slowelye because of the wagons and other necessaries for the warre whiche were caryed in hys companye For seyng that iourney happened sodeynlye vnto hym the thynges expedient for the Souldyours were not gathered by anye mans prouision as it was tofore accustomed but they were then hastelye as it came to hande taken and caryed Wherfore he determined to send before the Pannonian bandes in whome he had great confidence whiche also fyrste saluted him for Emperour and willyngly attempted all perylles for hys saufegarde Theyse he commaunded to set forwarde before the reste of the hoste and to enter into Italye But whyles Maximinus was thus in hys iourney his affaires had better successe in Carthage then he loked for For there was a certayn man named Capellianus of the order of the Senatours Liuetenaūte of Mauritania which is subiect to the Romains and of thē named Numidia This naciō was fortified with stronge armies of men whiche defended it from the inuasions of y e Barbariens theyr neyghbours wherby he had aboute hys person no small bande of men at armes Betwene this Capellianus and Gordyan there was muche discencion aboute a certayne controuersie in the lawe Wherefore after Gordian had obtayned the name of Emperour he sente one to succeade Capellianus in hys office cōmaunded him to depart from the rule of the Prouince But he disdaynyng therat beyng true to hys Prince of whom he had receaued that dignitie gathered all the power he had together And after he had exhorted them to continewe theyr trueth and othe of allegiaunce he remoued towardes Carthage leadynge wyth hym a wonderfull greate and stronge Armye in the whyche there were verye manye menne not onelye of floryshynge age but also instructed in the handelynge of all kyndes of weapons and expert in warrefare and through vsage of skyrmyshes wyth the Barbaryens theyr neyghbours verye prompte quycke and readye to battayle at all tymes When it was declared vnto Gordyan that Capellianus was commynge towardes Carthage bothe hym selfe was stryken wyth a sodeyne tremblynge feare and all the Carthagynensses greatly dismayed who in a dysordered heape wythoute anye warelyke order yet hauinge hope of victorye thruste themselues forwardes oute of the Cytye to meete wyth Capellianus The olde man Gordian as some reporte assone as Capellianus approched to the Cytye despayring of al good hope because he perceaued Maximine to haue a greate power of men then in Affrica remaynynge hanged hym selfe But the Commynaltye kepyng secrete hys death did chose his son for theyr Capitayne So it came to hande stryppes The Carthagynenses were many
of the Goddes and doo greatlye reuerence Liuie in the .ix. booke of hys seconde warre Punique sayth that they founde in the Sybyline bokes whyche were perused and redde ouer because of the often raynynge of stones the same yeare that when so euer anye straunger and forreyne enemye shoulde moue warre agaynste Italye he myghte be vanquysshed and expelled thence yf the Moother Idea were transported to Rome from a fyelde of Phrigia named Pesinus The whyche to do the Romaynes sent fiue Ambassadours wyth fyue greate shyppes called Cynqueremes to Atalus king of Asie Who led them to the place called Pesynus delyuered them the holye stone whych the inhabitauntes there called y e Moother of the Goddes and appoynted theym to carye it vnto Rome It was receyued at the Hauen of Hostia by Publius Scipio beynge iudged at that tyme the worthyest manne in all the Cytye to do the same caryed vnto Rome and sette in the Temple of Victorye wythin the Palayce the .xiij. daye of Apryll whyche was celebrated and solempnyzed wyth feastes and gyftes that the people in greate aboundance offered vnto the Goddesse Whych playes the Romaynes called Megalesia The same Goddesse is called Ops whome they suppose to be y e wyfe of Saturne called Rhea by the whyche they vnderstande the earth that geueth affluence and abundaunce of all thynge She is otherwise named Cybele of the name of a Hyl and cytye of Phrigia where her sacrifyces were fyrst instituted Or she is called Cybele of Cimbals which signifyeth the Instrumentes and Soundes they vsed in the sacryfyces The Poetes sayen that she roade in a Chariot and had a crown of Towers wherby they sygnyfye that the earthe hangeth in the ayre and the world tourneth alwayes rounde aboute and that the earth hathe vpon it Cytyes and Townes wherein be Towers She is called Moother of the Goddes because she engendreth all thyng She is also called Pales for y t she is y e Goddesse of sheperdes her feastes are called Palilia And she is also surnamed Berecinthia of a moūtaygne of Phrigie called Berecynthes Accordyng to the diuersytye of her names she hath dyuers powers dyuers sacryfyces and dyuers ministers Vnder theyse names Cybele Berecynthia Goddesse Pesynuntyne Moother Idea because they came of names of places in Phrigia from whence thys Goddesse was broughte to Rome is no diuersitie of puyssaunce sygnified Thys Goddesse hathe Priestes and Ministers called Galli by the name of a Riuer named Gallus in Phrigia The water wherof causeth theym to be mad that drynke it Those Priestes be gelded who beyng sturred wyth madnesse noddynge theyr heades vp and downe wyth great noyse of small Belles whych they caryed did prophesye and tell of thynges to come in that madnesse They were otherwyse called Corybantes I. ILium is the same Cytye that we call Troye the great Ilus son of Tros in y e coūtrey called Troas dyd buylde thys ritye Iliū so called of his name And of the countrey wherin it stode it was named Troye as wytnesseth Sabellique in the fyfth booke of hys fyrst Enneade The Countrey is ioynyng vnto Phrigia on the East and towardes the west it hath the Sea Hellespontique as Ptolomee hathe described it in hys first Table of Asie Illiria The Royalme of Illiria described by Ptolomee in his .v. Table of Europe hath on y e North Coste y e .ii. Pannonies on y e west y e coūtry called Istria Towards the East it hath y e high Misia And towards y e South a part of Macedonia This Roialme is also named Liburnia y e part which extēdeth towards y e high Misia is called Dalinatia At this presēt the Illiriā Regiō is called Sclauonia Loke Ptolome in y e said .v. cable of Europe India There are .ii. Indes both in Asia ioyning togithers wherof thone maketh an ende of Asie towards thoriēt is called Inde beyonde the Riuer of Ganges On this side the Riuer is Inde called Inde on this side Ganges which hath on the East syde the same Riuer On the west the Royalmes of Paropanisades Arachosia Gedrosia On y e North y e moūtaine Imaus And on the Southe the Indian Sea as sayeth Ptolome in the fyrste Chapiter of the .x. Table of Asye ¶ Iocasta was y e wife of Laius King of Thebes After whose deceasse she maried her own Sone Oedipus vnwares And had by him .ii. childrē Etheocles Polinices who fought togithers after Dedipus death for the Royalme of Thebes And in y e same cōbate both y e Bretherne slew one an other as saieth Sabellique in y e .vij. Booke of his first Emeade For this cause did y e Alexādriens in mocquerie call Antonines Mother Iocasta because Antonyne for to obtayne Thempyre alone had slayne hys Brother Geta as the .ij. Sones of Iocasta slewe one an other for the Royalme of Thebes Ionie Plyne in the .v. Booke the .xxix. Chapi sayeth that the Countrey of Lydia watered ouer wyth the Riuer of Meander very croked and full of tourninges both extende aboue Ionie hauing on y e East syde Phrigia on the North Misia and on the Southe Caria The which Countrey of Lidia was before called Meonie By y e descriptiō y t Ptolomee maketh in y e firste Table of A◠Ionie is y e self same Regiō y t is called Lidye or Meonye At the lest wise it is a parte therof bosiding vpon the Sea whiche for that cause is called Ionyan The same Ionian Sea dothe extende frō the Bankes of Ionie vnto the bankes of thysle of Sicile Plinye in the iiii booke the .xi. Chap. sayeth that the Greekes deuyded the Ionian Sea into the Sea of Sicile and the Sea of Crete so called bicause of the nigh Isles Ptolome in the .v. boke the seconde Capiter sayeth that the Regiō proprelie called Asia hath on the North syde Bithinia On the West a part of Propontis the Sea Hellespontique the Sea Ieariā the Sea Myrtoique On y e East the Regiōs of Licia Pamphilia Galatia And on the Southe the Sea of the Rhodes In this Region are cōprised Lidia Caria other small Royalmes In Lidia is Ionia as it is before saied And Ionie is ryght ouer aneanst an Isle called Icarie whereof the Sea there is named Icariā And it is the same which is called Ionian Caria is betwene Lidie the Sea of y e Rhodes On the West it hath the Sea Icarian or Myrtoique And on y e East is Licia ioyned to Pamphilia ¶ Issicus Sinus is a reflexion bendinge of the Sea which hath on the West thyste of Cipres And on the East Siria ioyned vnto the Bankes of Siria And on the Northe syde is the Countrey of Cilicia In y e plaine by the same tourning of the Sea is the Citye of Alexādrie builded by Alexāder y e grete in memorie of y e batail by him wonne against Darius King of Persia In this place also was the battayle betwene Seuerus Niger ¶ Ister is a great and
that obeyed his commaundemente or requeste dyd moste vnhappely prouyde for them selfes beynge after the battayle put to deathe wyth dyuerse terryble tormentes And those whyche set at noughte hys rule and power although thei did the same more happely then prudently yet escaped they without harme or domage when as the chaunce and fortune of thynges dyscerned bothe theyr counselles When the Seuerian power was entered into Fraunce the skyrmyshes were lyght and volant at the fyrste vntyll at length the grete conflict was geuen at Lions a great and riche Citye For Albynus remayninge hym selfe within the Citye sente furthe his Souldiours to the bataile And when y e two armies ioyned haÌ„de to haÌ„de the batayle endured a longe space with equall streÌ„gth on eyther syde so that the fortune of the victorye depended doubtfull For the Britons were nothyng inferiour to the Illirians eyther in stowtenes of stomake or gredines of slaughter Thus in the fyrste onset the frontes of two moste valiaunte armyes did to neyther syde enclyne or ones recule Yea as manye Authours of the same tyme who wrote it nat for any perciall â—auoure but accordynge to the truthe haue lefte in memorye the whynge of Albynus Armye was the better and of more strenghte againste the bande that Seuerus ledde so that he fledde and fell from hys horse and throwenge awaye hys cote armure hydde hym selfe But whyle the Britâ—ns pursued reioysynge euen as perfecte Conquerours sodeynlye appeared Letus one of Seuerus Capitaynes wyth a freshe Crewe of men who was reproued and yll spoken of by the Souldyours as though he hadde of purpose houered for to see the chaunce of the batayle protracted the tyme and detained them from settynge forewarde that he myghte therebye haue raught the Romayne Empyre to hym selfe For he moued not a foote towardes the fyelde before he was certyfyed of Seuerus ouerthrowe Whiche suspycyon the happe afterwardes ratyfyed For after al thynges were â—et in ordre and Seuerus was at heartes ease althoughe he benefycyally rewarded all hys other Capitaynes with great and riche giftes yet beyng myndefull of Letus â—esloyaltie and Treason he put hym as was expedyente to deathe But these thynges were done afterwardes Then as we before rehearsed at Letus arryuall the Seuerians recouered perfyte hope and Seuerus hym selfe was put vpon hys horse and gyrte wyth a robe of purple And seyng the Albynians who thoughte them selues vyctoryous vanquysshers scattered abrode oute of ordre thys fresshe bande of men sodenlie set vpon them And fynallye after a lytle ressystence compelled them to turne theyr backes and flee away whome beynge ouerthrowen and dysperâ—led the Seuerians pursued and entred into the Citye The number of them that were on eyther parte slayne is dyuerselye lefte in memorye as it pleased the wryters of that age Oute of hand than was the Cytâ—e of Lyons ransaked burnt and destroied and the head of Albinus stryken of and broughte to Seuerus Thus were two notable victoryes obtained in y e East North. So that there is nothynge that a man may compare vnto the contencyons and factes of Seuerus yf he consyder eyther the multytude of men the râ—ysing vp of nacions the nuÌ„bre of batayles or elles the lengthe and spedy celeryte of iourneyes In dede the affayres of Cesar agaynste Pompeius eyther of them hauynge to his assistence the Romayne Souldyours were great and meruailous so were those of Auâ—â—stus agaynste Anthonyus or Pompeius sonnes â–ª And so were the batayles bothe Ciuile and Forreyâ—e betwene Silla and Marius But a man shall nâ— easely fynde suche an other as thys who dispatcheâ— awaye three Emperours alreadye possessed of the domynyon who circumuented with fraude and couine the Citie armye whiche garded Rome selfe and the Senate house who also procured one of the Prynces to be murdered wythin themperyall Palayce destroyed an other in the Oryent whych obtained the chiefe gouernement was erst by the Romaines taken as Emperour finally broughte into his subiectyon the thyrde whiche was endued with the name honour and aucthority of Cesar This ende of life had Albinê° enioying but a smal while his mortall and bloudye dignitie After whose death Seuerus powred out al the Irous crueltie and fyerce wrath of his minde vpon the frendes alies of Albynus And fyrst hauynge sente hys heade vnto the Citie and commaunded that it shoulde be fastened openly vpon an highe gybbet in the latter eande of an Epistle wherin he certyfyed the people of his victorye he wrote thys also that he sent Albynê° head vnto Rome of purpose to be loked on to theÌ„tent theysholde take example euidente what them selues should lykewise suffer Then after he had set in ordre thaffayres of Brytayne deuided into .ij. partes thadministracyon of thole Ile and appeased all Fraunce accordyng as he thought to hys owne mynde and put to deathe all Albynus frendes whom eyther free wil or necescitie hadde ioyned vnto hym he set forwardes immediately towardes Rome leadyng thole army with hym to thentent he might seme y e more terrible And hauyng fynisshed his iourney with swyft spede as he accustomed being enemye mortall vnto Albinê° frendes he entered into the Citie where al the people met receiued him w t great reuerence ioyfull shoutes And thole Senate togithers welcomed him Notwithstanding feare had greatly astonied some of them for they were sure y t he wolde not spare theÌ„ being of hys own nature ouer outragious theÌ„ hauing probable occasions of hatred against theÌ„ After he was entred into the TeÌ„ple of Iupiter he there finished y e accustomed rites of sacrifice theÌ„ retorned to thimperial palayce Anone after he distributed liberallye amonges the people riche giftes iâ— token of victory rewarded y e souldiours w t great suÌ„mes of money gaue theÌ„ many thinges they neuer receiued before For firste he augmented the substauÌ„ce of their corne permitted them to weare ringes of golde euery of theÌ„ to kepe a womaÌ„ in his house Al which being dysagreable to warlike discipline seamed theretofore vnprofytable to theÌ„ which were euer prest ready to the batayle And he fyrst of all other altered the austeritie hardnes of theyr liuing the tolerauÌ„ce of trauailes and all their accustomed reuerence towarde their Capitaynes hauing brought y e Souldiors acquainted w t the gredy gaping for money and the loue of y e Citie comelines When he had after this sort set these affaires in good ordre as him selfe supposed he came at length into the Senate house And there sittyng in theÌ„perial Throne he began with a cruell oracion to detecte the frendes of Albynus shewing furth certaine of their priuy Epistles which he had fouÌ„d with Albinus He reproued some for that they bestowed many bouÌ„tiful giftes vpon him And menaced al other which eyther fauored thorientalles or were of familiare acquaintaunce w t Albynus By these meanes he dyd wythout respecte put to deathe euery notable and prudente
Senatour al other y e bare any rule in the prouynces or excelled in byrth or ryches auengyng hym selfe as he made semblaunte vpon hys enemyes but in deade couetousenesse was the onely cause wherw t he of al other Emperors was most intached For as he gaue place to no man were he euer so commendable in pacience of mynde perseueraunce in laboures and glorye of warfare euen so beynge aboue all measure addicted vnto auaryce he heaped treasure throughe vniuste murders executed vpon euerye tryflyng cause somtime without anye at all enioying thempyre rather throughe force and feare then anye beneuolence or good wyll of the people Neuertheles at the fyrste he would seme familiare affable in settyng out gorgeous shewes and pageauntes of al sortes w t the sleing of an C. cruell beastes at a tyme the whyche he had sent for out of our owne and Barbarouse Regyons He gaue besydes ryche rewardes and publysshed a sumpteous game gettynge from all partes valylyaunte Champyons and cunnynge wrestlers We sawe also in the tyme of hys Reygne sundrye playes of all sortes set furthe in all the Theatres with supplycatyons and watches lyke the sacryfyces of Ceres The same are called Seculer celebrated as they reporte at the ende onely of euery thyrde age And the common Cryers went throughe al the Citye and all Italye callynge all men to the Playes whyche they neuer sawe before nor thereafter shoulde se sygnyfyyng thereby that the space of tyme betwene the celebracion passed that was to come exceded al thage of a man Now Seuerus after he had soiourned a while at Rome and partycypated the regymente of thempyre wyth hys .ii. sonnes perceyuyng hym selfe to be famouse as yet but by one Cyuyle vyctorye obtained agaynste the Romayne power for the whyche also he had refused to Tryumphe determyned to become notable wyth the ouerthrowe and standardes of the Barbaryens Wherfore vnder coloure of reuenging hym selfe vpon Barsemius kynge of the Atrenyens who had assysted Nyger he led hys armye into thoryent And there beyng at the verye poynte to inuade Armenia he was preuented by the kynge therof who sente vnto hym wyllynglye bothe pledges and presētes humblye desyrynge that he myghte entre into frendshyppe and conclude a peace wyth hym After the whyche done Seuerus seyng hys purpose in Armenia proceade as hym selfe wysshed helde on hys iourney towardes the Atrenians And Agbarus the kynge of the Osrohenians came also and yelded him selfe vnto hym And delyuerynge hys chyldren as hostages amplyfyed the truste of hys truthe and loyaltye conceyued by sendynge to the increase of hys armye a greate power of Archers From hence Seuerus passed ouer the Realme of Interamna and the fyeldes of the Albenyans and made a rode into Arabye the fertyle from whence come all the sweete odyferous herbes whyche we vse for pleasaunt◠vapours and perfumes And hauing there destroyed ma-many Cities villages and wasted the hole cuntrey he entred into Atrenia There he besyeged the Citye of Atras beyng buylded vpon an high Rocke cōpassed wyth mightye and stronge walles and fortifyed with a wonderfull puyssaunt garrison of Archers Wherefore the Seuerian hoste assaulted this Citye with all the force thei had and moued to the walles Towres engyns of all sortes omytting nothyng that might auaile to the assaulte and batterye of the same On the other syde the Atrenyans stowtely defended theyr Citie shootinge and throwing downe arowes dartes and stones wherewith thei gretely vexed the Seuerians Thei threwe downe also earthē vesselles fylled with certayne wynged venemous lytle beastes The whiche falling vpon the eyes and faces of the Seuerians or elles creapynge by lytle and lytle in at the open partes of their bodies dyd ryghte sharpely stynge and wounde them The Romayne Souldiours besydes were fallen into diseases beyng vnable to away with the feruentnes of the ayre there because it was to extremely hote throughe the continaunce of the Sonne so that by thiese casualties mamy more of them perished then by the handes of their enemyes Wherefore Seuerus perceyuinge them all for wearied and worne the sieage not prospering and the hoste receyuinge more domage and losse thē gayne or profyt determyned before they vtterlye peryshed to lede them from thence verye sorowefull that they departed withoute atchieuing their entended enterpryse For beyng theretofore accustomed to wynne the victorie in all batayles thei then accompted them selues ouercomen for that they had not vanquished But fortune euermore fauorable vnto them so prouided that thei retourned not w tout any thinge done but with more fortunate successe then thei loked for For the hole armye beyng shypped in sundrie vesselles arriued not as thei fyrste purposed at the hauen of Rome but throughe the rage and vyolence 〈◊〉 the waues were driuen to lande in the costes of Parthian nat farre from the Citie of Ctesiphon wherein standeth the Palayce royal of the Parthenyā Kinge Who then liuing in reste and reckening the warres which Seuerus had with the Atremās nothing pertinent to his charge did not in that his ydle tranquillitie suspecte or thinke vpon any peril or myshappe towardes hymselfe entended When the Seueria armye was as I sayd by vehemencie of weather driuen on lande at the bankes of this Royaulme thei began oute of hāde to spoyle and ryfle all the Cuntrey driuing before them all the heardes of Catel and flockes of sheepe thei founde And burning many vyllages in their waye thei marched by small iorneyes to the Citye selfe of Ctesiphō in the which the great Artabanus then laye And there fyndenge the Barbarouse people vnpurueyed of defence thei slew all that resisted sacked the Citie and caryed away as Captiues bothe women and children The king hym selfe with a fewe horsemen only escaped His treasure ornamentes and householde stuffe the Seuerians as conquerours seased vpon and then retourned Thus Seuerus more thrughe fauorable fortune then prudent policye obtayned the Parthian Conquest After the prosperous atchieuinge wherof he sente vnto the Senate and people of Rome gloriouse Letters full of ostentaciō Tables wherin were gorgeouslie paynted and at length sette out his myghty batailes and valiaunt victories For the which the Senate decreed many honours vnto him and gaue him the surnames of the nacions by hym before Conquered In the meane whyle after this happe in the orientall affaires he retourned towardes Rome hauīg his two Sonnes who were then of rype age in hys Companie And after he had finished his iorney cōmitted the rule of y e prouinces vnto those which lyked hym best and mustered the Misians Pannonyens he finally entered into the Citie with Triumphe The people receyued hym w t ioyfull shoutes and all other Ceremonies to the same appertaining vnto whome he graunted certayne extraordynary holye dayes sacryfyces and shewes And hauynge gyuen amonges theim great giftes hym selfe also solemnyzed sundrye playes for his victorye After this he remained a longe tyme at Rome sate