with the multitude being entred the Campe and the Souldiers called together Laetus spake thus Laetus his speech to the Army Laetus his speech to the Army COmmodus our Emperor is dead of an Apoplexy There is no other cause of his death but himselfe and though wee endeavoured to reclaime him to a better course of life yet all was but lost labour For carrying himselfe as you know hee was wont hee hath killed himselfe with Gluttony and Drunkennesse This was his fatall destiny for all die not by the same meanes but by different wayes come to their common end But in stead of him Wee and the people of Rome here bring you a man venerable for Age Gravity and Integrity and of approved skill in martiall affaires whose brave * * Pertinax had done honourable service in Britaine and was therefore surnamed Britanniâ—â—â— exployts you which are Veterans experimentally know the rest cannot but acknowledge that he hath these many yeares governed the Citie with singular honour and admiration Fortune doth therefore tender you not onely a Prince but a Parent most indulgent whose government as it will bee pleasing to your selves here present so it must needs bee acceptable to your fellowes in Armes which guard the bankes of the Rivers and defend the Marches of the Empire in regard they well remember his noble acts And now wee shall not need to win the Barbarians with money who will be sufficiently awed with the experience of what they suffered under his victorious Armes Laetus having thus sayd while the Souldiers pawsed and were demurring on the businesse all the people with joyfull Acclamations proclaymed Pertinax Emperor and Father of their Countrey So also did the Souldiers though not with the same Alacrity for the Multitude being every where mixt among them who were unarmed because it was Holi-day did after a sort constraine them to it being but few in comparison of them All therfore having sworn Fealty to him and beene present at the Sacrifice the Souldiers and Commons with Lawrell branches in their hands conduct him ere it was Day-light to the Imperiall Pallace whither being come he was exceeding pensive For though hee wanted neither spirit nor resolution yet did the present action much distract and dismay him not that he doubted so much his owne safety for he had despised greater perills but considering with himselfe the sudden Change of the Tyrannicall Government and the Noble descent of some chiefe Senatours hee supposed they would not suffer the Empire to be invested in a man of a meane and obscure Familie after an Emperour of so Princely a Linage For though his Life was much commended for his temperate carriage and for deeds of Armes hee were most famous yet was hee farre exceeded in birth by many of the Senatorian Order Wherefore as soone as it was Day-light hee went to the Senat-house not suffering Fire to bee carryed before him nor admitting any other Symbol of Soveraignty till he knew the pleasure of the Senatours but they when they saw him did with one accord joyfully receive him stiling him Augustus and Emperor Which high and envious Title as he termed it he disavowed at first excusing himselfe by reason of his Age and desiring them to passe by him and elect some of the prime Nobility which might better beseeme the Empire Then taking Glabrio by the hand and Glabrio a noble Roman pulling him forth he placed him in the Imperiall Throne Hee was the most Nobly descended of all the Peeres and derived his Pedigree from Aeneas sonne to Venus and Anchises and had beene twice Consul Notwithstanding he spake thus I whom you judge most worthy doe here render you this Princely honour yea all this noble Assembly adjudges you the Soveraigne Rule Whereupon Pertinax confirmed by the Senate being irrresistably importun'd and almost compelled by the Senate after much reluctation he seated himselfe in the Chaire of Estate and spake as followeth Pertinax his Speech to the Senatours YOur singular Zeale and incomparable Love in preferring mee before so many excellent Peeres being so farre from the least suspicion of flattery that it is a pregnant proofe and cleare demonstration of your Fidelity might haply make some other more bold and cheerefull to accept this Offer and to imagine he might easily undertake so great a Charge that should be supported with your Friendship â—ut these rare and high â—avours amaze mee with their very sublimity at the sight whereof I am extremely intimidated For it is no easie mâ—tter for a man condignely to requite great Benefits Among Friends if greater Courtesies bee returned than were exhibited not so much the Gratuity it selfe as the Gratitude is respected But when a mans Friend hath first obliged him by signall Offices if hee shew not all viâ—issitudinary Expressions of a thankefull Heart it may well bee thought to proceed rather from blockish Dulnesse and bruitish Ingratitude than any other defect I see therfore what a hard Taske I shall undergoe to render my selfe worthy of this great Henour which you have conferred upon me For the Glory of Soveraignty consists not in a * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chaire of State but in such royall Arts as are well-beseeming a Prince Looke how much Men abhorre the Evilis which are done and past so much more are they apt to hope for better times Great Injuries are ever remembred and Injuries and Benefits Grievances are very rarely forgot but Good turnes perish as soon as they are done together â—ith their Mâ—morie Thus are we not so sensible of the sweetnesse of Liberty as of the bitternessâ— of Bondage and Slavery Nor doe men take it as a Courtesie that they may securely injoy their owne For that they hold belongs to them as their proper right But hee that that is spoyled of his Goodâ—o Fortunes can never forget so haynous a Wrong Neither doe men much esteeme the best Change that can happen for the publike Good for common Benefits are little regarded of private persons But if they be dâ—mnifyed in their own particular estates thâ—n are they touched to the quicke Moreouer they which have beene used to the profuse Prodigality of Tyrants if a man goe about to reduce them when Money failes to a more frugall and regular course they will be ready to impute it rather to miserable basenesse than prudent moderation not considering that such excessive Donatives as heretofore cannot bee given without Oppression and Rapine But he that with Discretion gives to every one according to his Merit is so farre from dispoyling others unjustly that hee teaches all by his Example to bee provident Husbands These things if you take into consideration you will I trust lend me your helping hands and assist mee in the Administration of the Empire for seeing you are not like to live under a Tyranny but rather an Optimacie you have Cause to hope well and perswade others also to the like Confidence Pertinax having with this
City of Rome which A Plague at Rome of it selfe was wonderfull populous and had besides a great number of strangers in it that resorted thither from all parts of the World By reason of which Confluence there was a strange Mortality of Men and Beasts Then was Commodus perswaded by his Physicians to retire to Laurentum which had a more coole and temperat aire and many shady groves of Lawrell from whence it tooke the name For they sayd that the sweet smell and pleasant shade of * Of Antidots against the Plague and groves of Bayes See L. S. Alâ—ans Natural History Centur. 10. Experiment 913. and 936. Bay-trees did much availe against the Contagion For which purpose also the Citizens by advice of Physicians annoynted their Eares and Nostrills with precious Ointments and continually used Perfumes and sweete Odoraments that their senses as they sayd being prepossessed the infected Ayre might not enter or if it did might bee over-mastered But notwithstanding the Plague still raged and Men and Beasts were every where found dead on heapes There was also a grievous A Famine at Rome Famine in the City upon this occasion One Cleander a Phrygian having been publikely sold for a Slave by the common Cryer became the Emperours Page and being bred in Cleander a Favourite the Court grew at last into such favour with 〈…〉 preferâ—'d him to gre 〈…〉 Honour and Authority as first to bâ—â— Squire of the Body then Gentlemâ—n of his Bed-chamber lastly Captaine of the Guard This fellow was so puffâ— up with pride and too much rankenesse of prosperity that hee also had a mind to the Empire And having got a huge Masse of Treasure hee monopoliz'd and ingross'd great store of Corne His treason which hee had lock'd in Granaries intending when the Citie was pincht with want suddenly to winne the good wills of the Commons and Souldiers with magnificent Donatives He also erected a stately * An Actâ—vity-Co 〈…〉 Gymnasium and a publike Bath These were his bayts to catch the people But the Romans having long borne him a grudge and haâ—ed him for his insatiable Avarice sayd that he was the only cause of their Calamities And first they publikely traduced him in He is generally hated the Theaters but at last all in generall ran to the Emperors Pallace in the Suburbs crying out against Cleander and demanding Iustice upon him All the Suburbs being in an uproare while Commodus lay wantonizing in the innermost roomes and knew not of the tumult without for Cleander lookt to that on a sudden ere any wist there rusht among the people the Emperors armed Horsemen who by Cleanders command wounded and He armes the Souldiers against the Commons overthrew all afore them The Citizens being all Footmen and unarmed were not able to resist Whereupon they fied amaine into the Citie but being followed by the Corners of Horse great numbers were slain and trampled under the Horse-feet or thronged to death for the Lanciers pursuing them to the Gates without any stay killd them outright The Citizens which kept home understanding what slaughter was made of their friends and neighbours shut their doores and from their House-tops threwe Stones and Tiles at the Horsemen And now the Commons had the better for not fighting hand to hand but darting and throwing every where aloft out of their reach they wounded many of them and put them to flight some were slaine by the continuall throwing of stones others were throwne to the ground by their Horses which stumbled on the Stones that lay on heapes Also the Bands of Foot which were billeted in the Citie and hated the Horse-troops suddenly came to the aid of the Citizens A civill Warre being thus begunne yet durst none tell Commodus for feare of Cleander At last Fadilla his Fadilla Commodus his sister eldest sister running to the Emperour for they could not deny accesse to her with her haire dishevild and in mourning weeds prostrated her selfe at his feet and said Your Majesty She detects Cleander here pursues your pleasures and little know in what danger you are Wee your flesh and blood are ready to bee slaughterd Your Citie of Rome and a great part of your Armie is overthrowne and those outrages which Barbarians would not offer your owne servants have acted yea they on whom you have heaped greatest Honours are your chiefest enemies Cleander hath armed the Commons and Souldiers against you and being hated of one sort and loved of the other both sides are up in Armes and are now killing one another and filling the Citie with blood And wee anon shall smart for this Geere unlesse you presently make an end of that your wicked Servant who is the Author of all this mischiefe and will instantly bee your ruine Having thus said she rent her garment and divers there present taking heart at the words of so great a Lady put Commodus into a terrible fright And now fearing the instant danger hee sends hastily for Cleander who knew nothing of what was told the Emperour but suspected somewhat Being come hee commands him to bee arrested and having strucke off his head and fastned it to a Speares point hee sent it to the Commons to whom it was a most pleasant and welcome Spectacle Thus was that bloody broile extinguisht and the fight on both sides ceased For the Souldiers seeing him slaine in whose quarrell they fought feared the Emperours displeasure for it was now apparant that hee was abused and that what was done was without his warrant But the Commons were well satisfied with his death that was the cause of all the mischiefe And now Cleanders two Sonnes all the children hee had and all that had beene his Flies and Familiars were murdered to a man whose carkasses were drag'd through the Citie in most opprobrious sort and lastly throwne into the Iakes This was the fatall end of Cleander and his Complices Humanity as I may say having ambitiously shewed in one man that as Fortune can upon small occasion raise from low degree to high dignity so in unexpected manner She can likewise praecipitate whom shee hath advanced Commodus being now afraid left the Commons would rise and attempt some new matter against him was perswaded notwithstanding by his Courtiers to enter the Citie where being received by the People with great Applause and Magnificence hee reposed himselfe in the Imperiall Palace And now having past so many sharpe Pikes hee waâ— jealous of every one killing first one and Commodus his Cruelty 〈…〉 â—reâ—â—â—ity then another for hee gave creditto all * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accusations though never so false Moreover hee was so enslaved to sundry sensuall pleasures which tooke him up wholly day and night that hee abandoned all honourable Studies and Exercises and banisht from his Court as infidious Persons all that had the least measure of Honesty or Learning But Buffons and Debauched Miscreants were as his chiefe Minions most powerfull
renowned Pertinax When this Massacre of the Prince was divulged all places were full of uproars and dolefull Outcries the people ran up and downe like Frantickes And extreamely lamented in a great hurly burly searching for the Actors and not wotting where to find them or how to bee revenged on them but especially the Lords and Senators tooke it most to heart as a common calamity wanting now their indulgent Father and most gracious Governour all men fearing a relapse into Tyrannie which they knew the Souldiers so much delighted in After a day or two the people were calmed with their owne feares and the chiefe Nobles and Magistrates retired to their remotest countrey houses avoiding the danger that might ensue by being present at the elâ—ction of the next Successor The Souldiers perceiving that the people were quiet and that none durst undertake to revenge the Princes death kept themselves close within the Campe appointing those that could speake lowdest to proclaime from the top of the Wall that the Empire was to be sold and hee The Empire seâ— to sale that would give most Silver for it should bee invested in it by force of Armes and safely conducted to the Imperiall Palace When they had made this Out-cry none of the worthier or nobler sort of the Lords or Senators nor yet any of those wealthie Citizens which were the small remaines of Commodus Tyrannie would goe to the wall to traffique with them as scorning the Empire OF THE The braverie of the Romaâ—â—s spirit WORLD on such base and dishonourable termes But when Inâ—ian a man of Consular dignity who was reputed a great monied man but of little honesty had notice late in the Evening being at supper in the midst of his cups and jollity of the Souldiers Proclamation hee was perswaded by his wife and daughter and a number of Parasites to rise from his * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Romans sate not at Tables Pallet and hie him to the Wall to see what was done All the way as hee went they counselled him to lay hold on the Empire now it was profered for having store of coine hee might easily out-vie all in magnificent Donatives if there should bee any competition As soone therefore as hee got to the Campewall hee shouted to them promising to give whatsoever they desired for hee said hee had a mighty Masse of money and Treasuries full of gold and silver At that same instant Sulpitian Iulian and Sulpitian offer for 〈…〉 Provost of the Citie who had also beene Consull and was Pertinaxes Father in law came thither with an intent to buy the Empire But the Souldiers were jealous of him because of his alliance to Bertinax mistrusting hee went about to entrap them and to revenge his death Wherefore rejecting him they put downe a Ladder and tâ—okâ— up Iulian to the top of the Wall yet admitted him not into the Campe till the summe hee should give were agreed upon Being entred the Campe hee promised to renue the memory and restore the honours and Statuaes of Commodus which the Sâ—nate had abrogatâ—d to afford them as much liberty as ever they had under him and to give to every Souldier more silver then they demanded or expected and that without delay in regard he had it ready at home The Souldiers allured with Iâ—lian elected such faire Hopes proclaymed Iulian Emperour sirnaming him Commodus Then slourishing their Ensignes which they had garnisht with his pictures they resolved to bring him into the Citie Iulian having sacrificed in the Campe as new Emperors were wont issued forth with a stronger Guard than formerly had beene accustomed For having forcibly seiz'd the Soveraignety against the Peoples minde by foule and shamefull meanes hee might justly feare a Commotion But the Souldiers arming themselves compleatly put themselves in Battalia that if need were they might be ready to fight placing their Emperour in the midst and covering their heads * In forme of a Testudo Vid. Lips de Milit. Rom. with their Pikes and Targets to prevent the Peoples throwing stones up on them from the House-tops as they marched Thus they conducted him to the Palace none of the Commons daring to resist nor congratulating him as was usuall at the Election of Emperors But on the contrary they stood a farre off cursing and banning him for purchasing The Commons curse him the Empire with mony Here first of all did the Souldiers fall into extremity of Debauchednesse and by their ravenous and insatiable Desire of Money the Imperiall Majesty was blasted with Contumelie For there being none to vindicate the cruell massacre of the former Prince nor to withstand the base Brocage of the present Vsurper it was the chiefe cause of many Insolencies and Mutinies which afterwards happened their Greedinesse of Money and Contempt of Soveraignty still inducing Murther and Bloud shed Iulian having thus ravisht the Empire plunged himselfe presently into all Riot and Disorder little regarding State businesse being wholly devoted to an Vnprincely and voluptuary life And now it was discovered that hee had cogged * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cheated the Souldiers and was not able to keepe up his Credit with them for hee had not so great store of Coyne as he vaunted As for the Excheqâ—er Commodus had long since exhausted it with his vaine luxury and vast prodigality The Souldiers therefore falling short of their hopes were extremely offended with him and the Commoners who knew their minds utterly scorned him rayling at him when he came abroad and taunting him for his lewd and lascivious behaviour Yea in the * The Circus or Horse-race was built in an Ovall forme of great length with rowes of Seats one above the other able to containe above an hundred thousand Spectators 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cirque or Race-yard where was the greatest Concourse of people they decryed Iulian calling upon Niger the chiefest Officer of the sacred Empire to vindicate the Roman State and hasten to free them from that propudious Governour This Niger had beene Consul long before at that time was Praesident of Syria which was then the highest and most eminent Dignity in the Empire for the Phaenician Nation and all the Regions as farr as Euphrates were under his Command He was now well stept in yeares and having gone through many weighty Affaires had got a very high esteeme for his Moderation and Sufficiencie and was reputed to imitate Pertinax for which Cause the Romanes did chiefely affect him And now in all their Assemblies they still cryed aloud for him reproaching Iulian to his face and universally calling upon Niger with acclamations * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imperiall When Niger understood the Romans inclination and what Out cries they made for him in their ordinary meetings considering withall that Iulian was contemned by the Souldiery for falsifying with them and condemned by the communalty for his Mercenary Purchase hâ—e perswaded himselfe that the