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
Bizantium Cyrus King of Persia was the Sone of one Cambises of an obscure familie in Persia Mandane the doughter of Astiages KiÌ„g of Media Who after ther position of his dreame by the whiche he vnderstode y t his doughters Sone shuld be King of all Asye that him self shuld lose his Royalme caused Cirus immediatly after he was borne to be put furth lefte alone in a Forest to y e ende he might be deuoured of wylde beastes But there a Bitche gaue him sucke defended hym from Beastes and Byrdes vntyll that the Kynges Sheperde founde hym caryed hym home to hys wyfe and gaue her the charge to nouryshe hym The woman was afterwardes called Spaâ—on because amonges the Persyans a Dogge is so named After that he waxed greate he was called Cyrus by the Sheperdes his Companions knowen to be Astiages doughters Sone and sente into Persia where he obtained much credite and aucthority Finally he assembled an Armye to make warre vpon Astyages his Grandefather from whom he berefte y e Royalme of Media vnto the which the Persians were subiect And by thys meanes Cyrus became Kynge of Perse and Media Before hys tyme the Persians had no Kinges but were subiecte vnto other Royaulmes After his victorie against Astiages he vanquisshed toke prisoner Croesus the King Lidia which was so riche But in conclusion him selfe was ouercomen and slayne by Thomyris Quene of Scithia wâ—en he had reigned .xxx. yeres Vnto hym succeded Cambises his Sone as Iustin in his first booke meÌ„cioneth Eusebius sayeth that CaÌ„bises reygned .viii. yeres Vnder Cirus Kynge of Persia by hys owne permissioÌ„ begaÌ„ the reparacioÌ„ of y e TeÌ„ple of HierusaleÌ„ which notw tstaÌ„dig was discoÌ„tinued many yeres after And at y e last finished the .vi. yeare of Darius Reigne Kinge likewise of Persya as witnesseth the .vi. .vii. Chapiters of Esdras in the Bible and Sabellyque in the .vii. Booke of his secoÌ„de Enneade After Cambyses two Brethern called Magi vsurped y e kingdoÌ„ .vii. Monethes After whoÌ„ Darius raigned .xxxvi. yeres And in the seconde yere of his Reigne Zorobabell by his permissioÌ„ renewed the reparacion of the TeÌ„ple of HierusaleÌ„ This Darius was nat he y t AlexaÌ„der the great vanquished but that was the .x. king after him called Dariê° also In whom the Royaulme of Persia toke hys eande Cyzicum is a Citye of Asye vpon the Sea syde in a Royaulme called Misia the lesse as witnesseth Ptolomee in the fyrst Table of Asie And so sayeth Plinie in the .xxxii. Chapiter of his .vi. Booke D. DAnubie or Danowe Loke on Ister Darius loke on these wordes AlexaÌ„der Cirê° Dionisus the Elder was a Tirant of Sicile Son of Hermocrates as saieth Sabellique He was verye well learned as writeth Plinie who preferreth none before him sauiÌ„g Plato in Philosophye Philopenê° in Poetrie two y e notablest men of learning in all his time In y e same yere y t the KingdoÌ„ of Athenes ended and Darius Kynge of Perse dyed Dionisus loste his Royalme as sayeth Sabellique in the nynthe Booke of hys fyrste Enneade Wherein he agreeth not wyth Eusebius Dyonisius Sonne was likewyse named Dyonisius the yonger who was also a Tirante of Sicile and raygned in a citye called Siracuses out of the whiche he was expulsed twyse ones by Dion And the second tyme by Timoleon sent agaynst hym by the Corynthians After thys seconde expulsion he kept a schole and taught yonge chyldren at Corynthe as wryteth Valerius Maximus E. Eridanus is a Ryuer of Italye otherwyse called Padus whych coÌ„meth as sayth Plinie in y e .xvi. chap. the .iij. boke of his natural History out of a mountaigne called Vesulus After that he hideth him selfe in the grounde and issueth out againe in the confynes of the Foruibienses Of all Ryuers ther is none more renowned The Grekes cal it Eridanus There is no Riuer besydes that encreaseth greater wythin so lytle space For it hathe a merueylous abundaunce of water falling into y e Sea Adriaitque Betwene the cytyes of Rauenna and Altinum it is verye domageable vnto the Countrey For by the space of .vi. skore myles as sayeth Plinie it doeth seperate it selfe into many Riuers Lakes And because that euerye Ryuer is large and great they call the same seuen Seas as witnesseth Herodyan in hys eyght boke Euphrates Loke on thys worde Syrye Europe Loke on thys worde Aphryque G. Galatians are those whiche enhabit the realme of Galatia which is in Asya betwene Bithinia Capadocia as sayen Plinye in the laste chap. of hys fyfth boke and Ptolome in y e fyrst Table of Asye The same Realme is called also Gallogretia and the people Gallogreci because that when the Gaules came to the ayde and succour of the kyng of Bythynie they helde and possessed that part of the Royalme Wherefore it is so named as wryteth Sabellique Gallus a Ryuer Looke on theyse wordes Goddesse Pesynuntyne Ganymedes was Son of Tros king of Phrigia who had Issue Ilus Assacus and Ganimedes The Fables surmise which is the most coÌ„mon opinion y e Iupiter rauished Ganimedes for his beauty by an Egle. But Sabellique in the .x. boke of hys fyrste Enneade sayth y t Ganymedes the Son of Tros was rauished by Tantalus kynge of Paphlagenie to abuse hym Whereby there arose great warre betwene the two kynges And it is most lyke that being very yonge he was iniuriously rauished by Tantalus vnder y e signe of the Egle were the battayles fought vpon the land or Sea Whych hath bene cause of the inuentioÌ„ of the Fable that sayeth that the Egle by ordynaunce of Iupiter rauyshed hym Gaule or Fraunce Cesar in his commentaries saith that Gaule is deuided into thre partes wherof y e Belges helde the one the Celtes another and the Aquitans inhabited the thyrd The Aquitans are seperated froÌ„ the Celtes by the Ryuer of Garumna The Celtes are sequestred from the Belges by the Ryuers of Marne and Seyn And the Belges are sundred frome the Almaignes by the Rheyn In the which diuision Gaule Narbonique is not comprised Ptolomee in hys fourth Table of Europe and in the chapyters of the same dothe deuyde Gaule into foure partes appoyntynge Gaule Aquitanyque to extende as farre as the Ryuer of Loyre And from Loyre to the Ryuers of Seyn and Marne is Gaule named Lugdunensis And from Seyn vnto Rheyn Gaule Narbonique extendeth it selfe vnto the Sea Mediterranean beyonde the Alpes and the Ryuer Varus vnto the Pyrrhenyan Mountaignes Gaule the rounded or otherwyse called Lumberdye is in the Lymytes of Italye and is the same countreye whyche is named Liguria nexte vnto the Alpes and the Sea All the other Gaule or Fraunce is called Gaule bering bushe Gaule Narbonique was before tyme named Brachata as sayeth Pliniie in the thyrde boke and the fourth chapyter Goddesse Pesynuntyne is y e same that Cicero in hys bokes of the lawes calleth the Moother Idea whyche is the selfe same that the Romaynes name the Moother
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
youthe And as it were in the swolowe and waues of mortall lyfe wāting gouernours lest y e through ignoraunce beyng drawen from his ryghte course he acquaynte himselfe with disordered exercyses Be you therfore for me but one many fathers vnto hym in garnyshing his maners wyth prompting and minystring holsome preceptes vnto hym for neyther maye the aboundaunce of treasour satisfie the sensual lustes of tyranny neyther can the Emperoure be assuredly defended by the bande of his garde enuyroning hys person except he haue the good willes of those whom he gouerneth For euermore they raigne longe and peaceably by whom no feare through cruelti but loue through gentlenes is powred into the hartes of the Citezyns neyther they whome force constrayneth but those which of their free wylles obey are eyther in doing or suffering exempt frō all suspiciō of flatery The same do not at any tyme except they be outragiously handeled grudge or impugne the rule of their superiours But it is very harde for a man which lyueth in moost inordinate licence to gouerne him self and bridle his affections Wherfore yf ye wilbe Authours of well lyuing vnto him and oftentimes admonyshe him of those thinges he presently heareth ye shal with that one labour bothe make hym a good prynce vnto your selfes and all other and also deserue the participation of our memorye whiche with this one poynt ye maye make immortall Whyles themperour Marcus was speaking thiese wordes his vitall spirite began so sodeinly to fayle that furthwyth he was enforced to cease his talke and slyde downe into his bed agayne Then so greate compassion perced the heartes of all that were present that many of them beyng through sorowe almost berafte their ryght senses raysed a dolorouse clamour He hauyng languysshed onely a day and a nyght after ended hys lyfe leuing behinde him a great wante and desyre of hym selfe vnto men of that age vnto their posterite a perpetuall renowne of vertue When the fame of his death was spreadde abroade an incredible lamentacion was aswel amongest the hole armye selfe as the common people So that no man within the Romaine dominion receiued this message without abundaunt sheading of teares And bewayleng the losse of him w t one accorde some called hym a good father other some a bening Emperour Certayne a moost valyaunt Capitayne and many a ryghteous and moderate prynce And truely there was none of them deceyued Nowe after a fewe dayes passed when the funerall obsequies were performed it seamed good vnto his frendes to bryng the yonge Emperour vnto the army that he myght both speake vnto the souldiours and as the vsage of newe Emperours is in distributyng of money largely amongest them establyshe theyr myndes as it wer by obligacion vnto him It was therfore commaunded that the souldiours accordynge to the olde custome shoulde repayre togithers in the fielde After whose assemblie Themperour Commodus came furthe and hauing finyshed the diuine ceremonies ascēded themperiall throne for the same purpose in the myddes of the campe erected Where hauing about hym his fathers frendes who were many excellent lerned men he spake these wordes or muche lyke that ensue ¶ I am fully perswaded that the dolour of this calamite is common to me with you And that you are no lesse sorowfull then my selfe For during my fathers lyfe I neuer behaued my selfe as superiour vnto you for that he loued vs all equally and dyd more wyllingly call me companion then Sonne bicause he esteamed the one to be a name of nature and the other he reckened to be the participaciō of vertue And often times he caried me in his armes whiles I was an infante delyuered me into your handes and as I might saye gaue me wholy vnto your custodie and fidelyte Wherefore I doubt not but that ye wyll exhibyte vnto me your fauour for myne elders oughte to repute me as their sonne and myne equalles in age I may lustly call companyons in armes for euen soo dyd my father loue vs all as one prouyded to haue vs enstructed in all exercyses of vertue and learnyng Nowe after hym hath fortune gyuen me for a prince vnto you not a straunger as some hath bene before me nor one whyche vaunteth hym selfe of a conquered Empyre but I was onelye borne vnto you and brought vp in the verye Imperyall Palayce And as soone as I was out of my moothers wombe thymperyall purple receyued me in so muche that I was no sooner a man then a Prynce Ponderynge therefore these thynges in your myndes loue embrace your ryghtful Emperour not gyuen but borne vnto you For my father is taken vp intoo the heauens made companyon wyth the Goddes And vntoo vs the regymente of the earthe and gouernaunce of mortall causes doo appertayne What successe and effect they shall come vnto it resteth in youre power If ye wyll therefore valyauntly fynisshe the resydue of the warres and enlarge the Romayne Empyre vnto y e great Ocean ye shal not onely purchase vnto your selues exceadynge muche glorye but also duely requyte the memorye of our commune parente And beleue verelye that he nowe heareth vs and presently beholdeth what we doo And let vs accompte our selues mooste happye for that we haue suche a witnesse of our good dedes As for the actes ye haue vnto thys daye valyauntly and prosperously atcheued are attrybuted vntoo hys prudente gouernaunce But what you shall hereafter notablye brynge to effecte wyth me that is to saye wyth a yonge man your Emperour the same shall wynne vntoo youre selues as it were a peculier fame as well of truth as of prowesse whereby ye shall brynge myne age in more estymacyon wyth executing boldely oure affayres And the Barbarous people beyng in the begynnynge of thys newe pryncypalitye throughlye repressed wyll not hereafter ouer boldelye aduaunce theym selues in despysyng my youthe but being ones taught by theyr owne peryls wyl he restrayned and kepte vnder wyth contynuall awe and feare When he had thus muche spoken he dystrybuted amonges the Souldyours a greate summe of money that he myghte thereby confyrme their heartes faythefull and louynge towardes hym and then retourned into hys Palayce By a lytle space after thys all thynges were ruled by hys fathers frendes who were at no tyme absente wyth theyr prudēt counsayle giuyng hym as muche lybertie withall as they thoughte suffycyent for the preseruacyon of his healthe But anone after certayne of themperours housholde crepte by lyttle and lyttle forwarde omyttynge nothynge vndoone that myghte corrupte the good dysposycyon of the yonge Emperoure For the table parasytes who measured felicytie by theyr belies ▪ and fylthye lustes enfourmed hym often tymes of the Cytie pleasures nowe recytynge those thynges whyche were delectable too be hearde or seene there And then extollynge wyth prayse the abundaunce of all thynges They dyspraysed besydes the bankes of Histria as vnprofytable at all seasons for y t it had no pleasaūt apple trees or other fruite was enuyroned
wyth contynual colde cloudes Wylt thou neuer O Emperour sayde they leaue drynkynge of water digged congeled togyther as yse Shal other meÌ„ enioye the clere well springes the pleasaunt colde of the runnynge ryuers and the holsome ayre of Italye By these allurynges to wantonnesse they easely enflammed the yonge mans mynde wyth vehemente desyre of those plesures Wherfore furthwyth hauynge called hys frendes togyther he dyssymuled not that he was verye desyrous of hys natyue countrey But yet fearynge to declare the very cause of hys sodeyn alteracyon of mynde he fayned that he stoode in greate doubte leaste any ryche manne of the nobylytie woulde take possessyon of the Imperyall Palayce And thereupon gatherynge vntoo hym a greate power of meÌ„ would as oute of y e strongest fortresse chalenge vntoo hym selfe the princypall domynyon of all theÌ„pyre For sayd he amonges the people may easely be leuied a mighty approued coÌ„pany of yonge men Whiles he thiese causes moued all the rest hauing their eyes caste vpon the earth with styll and sorowfull countenaunce Pompeianus who in age was the moost auncient and had maried CoÌ„modus eldest syster arose vp and sayed It is no meruayle o Sonne and soueraigne that you are holden wyth desyre of your countrey for the very same desyre of seyng oure housholdes dothe vrge and sturre vs also But we represse that affection for that thaffaires we haue here in hande requyre the fyrste parte and lyeth vs more vpon to dispatche As for the pleasures of the Citye you shall longer enioye hereafter And Rome is contynually where the Emperour soiourneth Nowe to gyue ouer the warre lately begonne besydes that it is shamefull it is also very peryllous for thereby we minister occasion of audacitee vnto the Barbarouse people who wyll thinke that we are not departed for cause of recreacioÌ„ but that we are fledde being daunted with feare And vnto your selfe howe gloriouse wyll it be after ye haue vanquished all your enemies and enlarged the boundes of your Empyre vnto the ocean to retourne to Rome wyth tryumphe and therin to haue ledde bounde as captyues the barbarouse kynges and Lordes for truly after this sorte in the former worldes did the Romaynes were noble and famouse There is no cause why you shoulde feare that your affayres in the city are in any hasarde For euery principall senatour is here present wyth you and the hole army doth before your eyes defende your Empire yea and all your chiefest Treasoure is with vs also The memorie besides of your father hath establysshed a stedfast and perfecte beneuolence towardes you with all estates When Pompeianus perswading hym to the better had thus muche spoken he did somewhat at that present represse the wyll and endeuour of the younge Emperour who fearyng the olde mans sayinges hauing nothing wherwith he myght well replye dismyssed the counsayle promisyng that he would more diligently at leysure debate with hym selfe those thinges Yet afterwarde hys seruauntes and parasites callynge more instantely vpon hym he made no further relacion vnto hys Counsailours But hauyng sent his letters vnto Rome and appointed whom he thought meete to defende the bankes of Hister and restreigne the attemptes of the Barbariens he caused furthwith his remouing to be proclaymed Thei that were lefte behynde diligently executed the offices appoynted them and wythin a lytle space broughte many in subiection And some they ioyned by great gyftes in frendeshyp vnto them The whiche was not verye harde to doo For the Barbarouse people beyng naturally gready of money and despysers of all daungers do eyther gette their liuing wyth inuasions and pylleng of their neyghbours or elles for an appoynted salarie sell their peace The which thing Commodus perceyuyng that he might with money wherof he had innumerable abundauÌ„ce purchase hym selfe securitee and quiet he denyed nothing vnto the demaunders Now assone as the fame of hys setting forwarde was spredde in the armye sodeynly a greate sturre was amonges all the Souldyours euery man desyring to returne vnto Rome and affecting the pleasures of the citye to leue theyr enemyes countrey And when it was blowen abroade by reporte of purseuauntes and postes that the Emperour was retourning to the Citye an incredible ioye wandered amonges the common people euery man conceuing in hym selfe a singuler hope of theÌ„perours presence and trusting assuredly that he would folowe his fathers steppes Hym selfe making speade in hys iourney and passynge wyth a certayne feruencie of youthe in his charyot throughe the myddes of all theÌ„ cities was receiued with princely reuerence and ioyfull assemblies of the people welcomed as one most acceptable and wyshed for vnto them And when he approched nygh vnto Rome the hole Senate and the Romayne commons eche of them coueiting to preuent other crowned wyth lawrell and caryeng all â—ynde of flowers that the presente season of the yere â—yd minister met as farre as they coulde from the citye their prince notable in the floure of youth and nobilitie of byrthe For truely they loued him with most feruent affection beyng borne and brought vp amonges them and then possessynge in the thirde degree thempyer and regimente of Rome For of his fathers syde he issued from the chiefest of the Senatours And hys Mother Faustina a Princes wyfe the doughter of Antoninus Pius niece by her mother vnto Hadrian dyd referre the Pedegrue of her kynred vnto Traian her grete graundefather Of this parentage was Commodus descended vnto whome besydes the flowre of his age was giuen also an excelleÌ„cie of bewtie a congruent stature of body an amiable and manly countenaunce pleasauÌ„t and shining beames in hys eyes and a yelow and curled heare whiche when he came into the Sonne dyd so glyster that manye deamed the same as he passed by them to be sprinkeled ouer wyth golden duste Many also estemed it a token of diuinyte coniecturing that the rayes about the top of his heade were by generacion and nature gyuen vnto hym The softe heares besydes sprange oute of hys cheekes and couered them as it were with flowers They receyued therfore this such an Emperour wyth ioyfull showtes and strawing of Garlandes and flowers in the way as he passed After he was enteryd into the Citie visyted and saluted the Temples fyrste of Iupiter and then of the other Goddes and gyuen thankes to the hole Senate and the Pretorian Souldiours for their fidelite obserued towards hym he went into thimperiall palayce For a fewe yeres after this he did honourably entrete his fathers frendes and vsed their counsaile in all his affayres Those yeres expired he coÌ„mytted the charge of the hole Empyre vnto other coÌ„stituted Capitaine of his garde an Italyan named Perennes a man verie experte and skylfull in warfare The same abusyng the age of the yonge Emperour permytted hym to be corrupted w t sensuall lustes and ruffyans And takynge vpon hym selfe all charge and labour ruled the hole Empyre There was in the man an insatiable thyrste
therefore they hadde broughte the ymage in shyppe vnto the verye mouthe of Tiberys whyche the Romaynes then vsed in steade of a hauen sodeynly with a certayne dyuine power the shyppe stoke faste neyther coulde it be remoued wyth anye strengthe of the people drawynge at it vntyll a Vestall vyrgin came thyther The same beynge sclaundered that she had deflowred her virginitye whiche oughte euermore to be inuiolatlye preserued fearynge condempnacion instantlye intreated the people that they woulde commytte the iudgemente of her vnto the Pesynuncian Goddesse That ones obtayned she bounde the maste of the shyppe wyth her gyrdell mooste humbly desyringe that yf the Goddes knewe her an vncorrupte virgyn she woulde commaunde the shyppe to come forwardes And when she hadde so sayde she drewe the gyrdell in her hande and the shyppe beganne to folowe So dyd the Romaynes togither wonder at the manyfest diuinitie of the God heade and the innocencie of the virgyne But this much haue I hythervnto treated of the Pesynuncian Goddes peraduenture sumewhat more tedyouslye then it behoued but yet lyke to brynge no vnprofytable knowledge vnto them that are not throughlye skylfull in all the Romayne affayres Nowe Commodus hauyng escaped the treason of Maternus dyd wyth a greater Garde strengthen hym selfe and came verye sealdome abrode consumed mooste parte of the tyme in the Suburbes or in hys Principall Manours farre from the Cyte and vtterlye abstayned from syttynge in iudgemente and all Imperyall actes At the same time a wonderfull plage vexed all Italie but it was mooste furiouse in the cytye of Rome as in a place replenysshed wyth people and receauynge straungers from all partes of the worlde Whereby there happened a meruaylouse grete morreyne of menne and beastes Then Commodus departed vnto Laurentum for so had some conninge Physicians counseyled hym because it was a more coulde Regyon and shadowed wyth many woodes of Laurell of whome also the Countrey hathe hys name For they sayde that the sauoure of the Laurelles and the plesauntnesse of the shadowes dyd greatlye preuayle to the auoydynge of the contagion of the ayre And therefore in the Cyte selfe by the Phisycians aduysementes manye stopped theyr eares and noses wyth swete oyntementes and vsed dayly delectable vapors and perfumes that the pores of the senses shoulde not admytte into them anye pestyferouse smell and yf they receyued anye that the perfumes wyth a greater strengthe shoulde vanquysshe the same But neuerthelesse the sycknes encreased destroyeng euery where bothe men and cattell Yea there dyd also a grete famyne vexe and oppresse the Cyte by this occasion There was a certayne Phrygyan named Cleander of that sorte of menne that are soulde openlye by Cryers The same beynge put to seruyce in the Emperours house encreased gretelye in fauoure wyth Commodus and was enhaunsed vnto so hyghe dignytie that he alone obtayned the custodye of the Emperours parson the charge of hys Chamber and the gouernaunce of hys Garde Rychesse and pryde dyd besydes sturre hym to hope of Thempyre Wherefore hauynge gathered togyther a grete somme of money he boughte a wonderfull quantytie of wheate and the same he hadde costely shutte vp trustynge that he shoulde wynne the hartes of the people and the armye yf that he releued wyth large gyftes those that before were in greate penurye of necessarye foode He had also buylded a verye large schole for exercyses and many common bathes that he myght by that meanes allure the people vnto him But the Romaynes were offended wyth hym before imputynge all the cause of thys dearthe vnto hym onely And detesting him as man vnsaciable of rychesse thei fyrst assembled by embushmentes vnto the Theaters and afterwarde Commodus beyng in the Suburbes sodeynly they came all thither wyth huge clamors demaunding Cleander vnto death and when the hole suburbes were fylled with noyse and tumulte Cōmodus him selfe was at his accustomed pleasures in an vpper chamber ignoraunt of all that was donne Cleander perdy had so prouided sodenly beyonde all mens expectacion the Emperours horsemen armed brasse furthe with violence by the commaundemente of Cleander driuing downe and wounding euery mā they met The people beyng on foote without weapon were not able to sustayne the brunte of the horsemen Wherefore with hasty fleynge they retyred into the Cyte where many of them were destroyed not onely those whome the horsemen slewe wyth weapon but also they whome the horses had wyth theyr feate troden downe thei that fought eyther in the prese of the fotemen or elles amonge the horses The horsemē so pursuyng them without any impedimente vnto the gates of the Cytye destroyed a grete parte of the people But they that remayned within knowing the calamytie of theyr frendes without shutte theyr doores and gatte vp into the roofes and toppes of their houses and threwe downe vppon the horsemen bothe stones and tyles Therby was the fortune sodenly chaunged when no horseman durste at that presente stryue all the people fyghting safely from aboue against thē Wherfore many of them beynge wounded when they coulde no lenger endure turned their backes and fled many of them were also slayne throughe the contynuall and thicke fallyng of weapons and many striken from theyr horses whiche founderid amongs the stones that were throwen downe Yea and the footemē whyche had stations within the cyte came to rescue the people againste the horsemen whome they vtterly detestyd And althoughe this were a Cyuyle batayle yet durste no man for feare of Cleanders power declare it vnto Commodus vntyll his eldest Syster named Fadilla vnto hym for the approchynge vnto his presence was ease for hys Syster wyth her heare loose fel down on her knees defourmed wyth a mournyng garmente and sayde Truely O Prynce whyles ye lye here in peace ye are in extreame peryll And we that are of your bloude are almooste vndone The people of Rome are destroied The most parte of your armye is consumed And those thynges we thoughte not to suffre of y e Barbariens the same doth our own housholde seruauntes vnto vs. And they vpon whom you haue bestowed mooste bountyfull benefytes the same are youre moost extreame enemyes Cleander hath armed the people and Souldyours against you amonges whome he is of some abhorred and of some entyerely beloued Yet are they both in armes do cōmyt murdre wythin them selues and fyll Rome with Cyuyle bloude But vpon oure neckes wyll the myserye of bothe companyes lyghte excepte you do deliuer vnto death wyth all haste a moste pernycyous wycked Seruaunte whych hath bene aucthour of so gret a calamitye vnto them already and entendeth shortly to be so vnto vs. Whyles she thus sayde she rente her clothes and manye that were presente hauynge taken courage of the womans woordes dyd put Commodus in feare also He beyng amased and dreadyng the daunger not as Immynente but presente commaunded Cleander to be called hastely vnto hym not knowynge anye certayntye but yet suspectynge that
payment For ê™ he it is safely kepte in my house With which promyses the menne of armes beynge entysed and trayned wyth great hope pronounced Iulyanê° theyr Prynce and gaue hym the surname of Commodus Then dysplayinge theyr baners vpon the which they had painted the pyctures of Iulianus they concluded to brynge hym furthe Wherefore when Sacryfyce after the vsage was ended he wente furthe enuyroned wyth a greater Garde then other Emperours were accustomed For hauyng boughte thempyre by vyolence agaynste the peoples wyll and by fylthye shame w t good cause he feared thinsurrectyon of the Commynaltye But the Souldyours beynge armed and compassed on euerie syde like a cyrcle that if nede requyred they myghte fyghte toke into the myddes of theym theyr Emperoure and lyftynge theyr shyldes and Targettes ouer theyr heades to be therebye the more safer yf any stones were throwen from the houses they broughte hiÌ„ into theÌ„perours Palayce None of the people durste resyste them neyther dyd they folowe the Emperoure as they accustomed with ioyful shoutes but euerye manne cursed hym bytterlye reprouynge hym for that he hadde purchased thempyre wyth money Then fyrst of all were the dysposicyons of the Souldyours corrupted then increased the fylthy and insacyable couetyse of money with contempt of themperyall Maiestye For when there was no maÌ„ remaynynge that woulde reuenge the cruell deathe of the late Prynce neyther anye that woulde wythstande that fylthye facte of sale and vnhoneste marchaundyse the same gaue occasion vnto the menne of armes to waxe thereafter more vnreuerente and rebellynge in so muche that auaryce and contempte of the Prynce daylye encreased euen vnto deathe For Iulyanus hauynge obtayned thempyre gaue hym selfe to ryotte neglectynge the weake publyke and leadynge a naughtye voluptuouse lyfe â–ª yea he deceyued the truste of the Souldyours beyng vnable to performe hys promyses vnto them For he had nat so greate substaunce as he bragged of and the common treasure was exhausted by the immoderate dispeÌ„ces of Commodus For these causes the men of armes on the one part detested him On the other side the people not ignoraunt thereof despysed hym Wherefore they pursued him as he passed by with reproche vpbraiding hym for hys fylthye and vnstable pleasures so that opeÌ„ly in the very Theater vnto the which a great multytude of men resortethe thei wold rebuke Iulianus and call Nyger y e Protector of the Romayne Empire and PresideÌ„te of the Soueraine principality prayeng hym that he woulde wyth all speade come vnto theÌ„ and delyuer them from those manyfolde iniuries The same Niger had bene CoÌ„sull and then was gouernor of all Siria the whyche was the chiefeste dignitye at that tyme. For all Phenyces and all the Regyons vnto the ryuer of Euphrates were vnder hys dominion He was then somwhate stryken in age and hauynge bene occupyed in many weyghty affayres had obtayned the renowne of modestye and ryghteousnesse so that he seamed to folowe the lyfe of Pertynax By the whiche he chiefly wanne the fauor of the people For which respecte thei with often clamours called vpon hym taunting wyth reproches Iulianus beynge present and extollyng wyth prayses and ioyfull showtes Nyger that was absente Whereof when Niger once hearde trusting that all thinges wold prosper accordyng to hys desyre seynge that Iulianus was of the men of Armes neglected as one that had violated hys truthe and promyse and of the people contempned as a man not worthy for that he had purchased hys principalytie he beganne to hope for the obtayning of the Empyre And fyrste he dysmyssed home some on time some an other diuerse of the Capytaynes Tribunes and other meÌ„ of Armes who likewyse had knowledge of all newes that were brought vnto him from Rome This dyd he to the inteÌ„t the rumors mighte be spreade verye broade in the Easte For so he supposed to ioyne manye vnto him yf he seamed nat to enterprise the occupyeng of the Empyre by disceite but to succor them that desyred ayde Wherfore all the people there aboutes came incontinentlye towardes hym euerye man by hym selfe besechynge hym to take the charge of the common wealthe furthwyth vpon hym For the nacioÌ„ of y e Sirians is naturally vnstable and prone vnto chaunge of thinges And thei loued Nyger exceadingly for that he behaued hymselfe verye gentely amonges them delytynge them wyth plesaunte playes and suÌ„pteouse solempnities The Sirians are also of their owne nature very desyrouse of suche shewes Amonges whome the Antyochians enhabyting a great and famouse Cyte do throughoute the hole yere eyther in the Citie selfe or elles in the Suburbes celebrate feastes and playes Wherefore in settyng furthe shewes and solempnytes vnto them he so wanne their hartes that they feruently loued hym The whiche when Niger perfectly perceaued hauing a certayne daye commaunded the men of armes to be presente and all the people commynge togithers in a hyghe place for that purpose erected he said vnto them as ensueth Peraduenture your selues know howe gentle my dysposicioÌ„ hath bene how loÌ„ge I haue coÌ„sulted or I weÌ„t aboute any weyghtye matter neyther woulde I haue come furthe to speke vnto you at this tyme yf I hadde bene ledde eyther by myne owne pryuate counsell or by assured hope or elles with affection surmountinge truste But the Romaynes call me and with intercessions weary me to stretche my helpyng haÌ„de vnto theÌ„ and that I should not permyt so excellente and gloriouse an Empyre lefte by our elders to be nowe shamefully destroyed And as it is a presumtuouse and rashe thinge to medell in so weightie affayres without occasion so yf a maÌ„ deny succour vnto theÌ„ that wante and desyre it then is he then in the lasshe of Cowardyse and Treasone Wherfore for this purpose am I come furthe vnto you that I myghte knowe youre aduyse what ye iudge beste to be done and that I myghte vse you as Counsellers in all thys busynesse Yf it do prosperouslye comme to passe the commodytie thereof shall be comune vnto you and mee It is no smal riches that solicite vs but it is the very Romain people vnto whom the Goddes haue giuen the domynion of al thinges and the Romaine Empyre selfe as yet wauering and to no man certainely establisshed The counsayle whych we enter is assured yf we consyder the mindes of the suters no manne being able to resyste vs. For they that come from thence reporte that the men of armes theÌ„ selues of whome he bought thempire are not very faithful vnto him for y t he hath not perfourmed his promyse Let me heare now your opinions herein Whiles he spake these wordes furth with thole armye and all the common people saluted him as Emperour and Augustus And when he was clothed wyth Purple and adorned wyth Imperyall vesture beyng there sodaynlye as of purpose founde wyth the fyre borne before hym they conuayed hym fyrste vnto the Temples of Antyoche and then to hys owne house The whyche as it were
of vile voluptuousenes vntill theÌ„pire came vnto y e godly olde man the memory of whoâ—e vertue goodnes resteth yet in your myndes whoÌ„ notwithstaÌ„dinge it was so farre from their entent to sustaine y t w c abhominable murder they destroyed him After hiÌ„ hath a man whom I know not purchased the domynion of Sea and lande And for that acte is hated of the people Neyther are the men of armes true vnto hym because he hathe deceyued them And yf they woulde defende hym yet are they not in number or valyaunte prowesse to be compared vnto you Besydes that you haue bene exercysed in warlike affayres For you are accustomed to fight with the barbarouse nacions to suffer al labour to despyse heate and colde to passe ryuerse frosen ouer with yse to drynke water dygged and not springinge oute of the yearthe and to watche in hunting of wylde beastes fynallye you are furnysshed with all prouisyons appertayninge vnto valiauÌ„tnes so that it is easye for no man to withstaÌ„de your strengthe For the man of armes is approued by labour and not by banqueting and ryotte with y t whiche thei are so traded that thei can not susteyne youre voyce muche lesse your syghte But yf the affayres of Siria seame terryble vnto any man let the same ponder howe weake they are and wyth howe symple hope thei be ruled that they dare not once come furth or coÌ„sulte of goynge vnto the Cyte but taking those habitacions in good worthe accompte the pleasures eueri daye goten to be the lucre of that vnconstant aucthoritie As for the nacion of Sirians is chiefly addicted vnto iestes and playes And thei which enhabite Antioche are thoughte principallye to fauour Niger For the other nacyons and Cytes seynge no man worthye the Empyre or that should modestly and valyauntely gouerne the coÌ„mon wealthe at the laste faigned them selues to obey hym But yf they ones knewe that an Emperour were created by the Illyrian armye and hearde therwithall oure name the whyche is not vnknow vnto them for my selfe haue heretofore had dominion ouer them they wyll not alledge cowardise or slouthe vnto vs. Neyther will they abide your inuasions or proue your valiauÌ„te prowesse especially seyng they are not comparable vnto you eyther in talnes of person warlycke exercises or fyghting haÌ„de to haÌ„de Wherfore lette vs with all speade possesse the Cyte of Rome the verye seate of thempyre and then shall we easely bryng to passe the residewe affyeng our selues in the oracles of the Goddes in the strength of your weapons bodyes When Seuerus had spokeÌ„ thiese wordes vnto them they receaued hym wyth ioyefull shoutes and callynge hym Augustus and Pertinax promysed hym their beneuolente hartes and myndes And he thinking it not good to prolonge the time coÌ„maunded them with all celeritee to be armed proclaimed his voyage towardes the Cite gaue vnto euerye manne vytayle and other sufficiente necessaries for their iorney and remoued with all speade restinge in no place nor ones suffring the Souldiors to staye vntyll throughe theyr greate labour they coulde scarsely fetche breathe And hym selfe trauaylinge wyth the formeste of them and lodgynge in a simple tente dyd eate and dryncke of the same the souldyours dyd neuer shewinge anye pompe or imperyall wantonnesse whereby euerye daye he waxed more acceptable then other For seynge he was not onely partaker but also authoure and heade of all theyr trauayle he became so honourable vnto theim all that they seamed mooste gladde to do anye thynge he woulde commaunde After he hadde passed Pannonye and was come vnto the mountaines of Italy preuenting so the fame of his approche that he was in open sight before hys commynge was harde of a meruaylouse dreade inuaded the Italyen Cityes when they sawe soo greate an armye For the inhabitauntes of Italye beynge of a longe space voyde from warre dyd nowe tyll theyr lande and lyued in peace For as longe as the Cytie was free and that the Capitaynes for the warres were elected by the Senate the Italyen nacions were euer in harnesse And hauynge subdued the Grecians and Barbaryens gate vnto theim selues the dominion of Lande and Sea Neyther was there anye clymate or parte of the worlde vnto the whyche the Romaynes stretched not theyr force But after that Augustus hadde obtayned the Empyre he released the Italyans from laboure and toke from theym theyr weapons and reteyned wyth hym for appoyncted wages onely certayne mercenarye Souldyours to defende the Romayne Empyre Then compassed he the boundes of hys Empyre wyth the greatnesse of Ryuerse and dytches wyth hyghe and sharpe hylles and wyth deserte places Wherfore when they harde that Seuerus was nighe with so greate an armye beyng not withoute cause with that vnaccustomed thynge astonyed when they durste neyther resyste him or forbyd hym passage thei mette hym crowned wyth lawrell and receaued hym into theyr Cytyes the gates beynge opened And he abydynge no longer in anye place then suffyced to do sacryfyce and speake vnto the people kepte on hys iorney towardes Rome When this was declared vnto Iulianus he thought hymselfe vtterly vndonne he hadde so oftentymes harde of the power and multytude of the Illyryan armye For he mystrusted the people of whom he knewe himselfe hated neyther had he great affiauÌ„ce in his garde because he had deceaued theÌ„ Wherefore hauinge gathered togither a greate some of money partely of hys owne and partelye of hys fryndes and what so euer he fouÌ„de eyther in the temples or anye other places he distributed it amonges the Souldiours that thereby he myghte reconcyle theyr fauour But they althoughe they hadde receaued many ample gyftes rendred no thankes interpreting their dutie to be nowe paide and not one benefite bestowed on them Furthermore althoughe the friendes of Iulyanus perswaded hym to leade furthe an armie and kepe the straites of the Alpes for this Alpes are moste hyghe hylles wherof the lyke are not in thys Regyon stretched furthe in the maner of a wall and compassing all Italy as thoughe nature for the more felicitie of the countrey hadde added this one heape that it myght haue a munycion vnpreignable stretchinge from the Northerne vnto the Southerne sea yet durste he not ones go furthe of the Cyte But sente vnto the Souldiours desiring them to arme and exercyse them selues and to caste a trenche before the Citye Hym selfe prepared all apparayle for the warre within the Cyte selfe especially he endeuoured to breake the Elephantes whome he had before ordeined for Pompe and triumphe to suffre sittars one theÌ„ thynking that the Illirian Souldiours and theyr horses should be put in feare with the sighte and greatnes of those bestes whose like thei had neuer before seane And all the Cyte was busied with forging of armure and makynge of warlycke instrumentes But whiles the Souldiours of Iulyanus delayed the tyme in apparelling them selues to battayle newes wer brought that Seuerus was ariued euen at hande He had sente many of hys Souldiours priuely
of valiaunte Capitaines and experte men of warre When Thempyre had bene after thys sorte a greate space gouerned Moesa whiche was â—ery aged ended her life Vnto whome all imperial honours were appoynted and as the Romayne vsage is she was canonized wyth immortalitye After her death Mammea perceauing her selfe to be leafte alone vnto her Sone endeuoured to continewe the same forme of gouernement which was begon And seynge that the yonge man enioyed nowe alone thole dominion she feared leste his yonge age shoulde walowe in extreme liberty and thereby fall into some of his kinsmans vices Wherefore she awayted wel his person and all places of the Coorte not sufferiÌ„g him to be approched vnto of any yonge man whose lyfe and maners were suspected least that his good dysposicioÌ„ should be corrupted through Parasytes and Flatterers which wold prouoke his minde appetiâ—e then florishing into waÌ„ton naughty affections She perswaded him to exercyse hys body in decente recreacions the better parte of the daye and that very often leste there should be anye space lefte for yll thoughtes whyles he myghte be better occupyed in apoynting thinges necessary to be done There was naturally besides in Alexander a geÌ„tle and meeke disposition bent vnto affabilytie The which thyng his age folowing made apparaunte For .xiiii. yeares he gouerned Thempyre withoute effusion of bloode not as muche as one man in that time throughe his procurement beyng put to death And although many through greuouse offences iustly deserued death yet dyd he euermore absteyne from the execution of them The whiche thing a man shall not easely finde in any Emperour especially in those whiche succeaded Marcus No man can remember that whyles he raigned any was without iudgement put to deathe He accustomed to reprehende his Moother blame her greatly for that she was somewhat coueytouse of money and seemed ouer gready in heaping of Treasures For taking vpon her that she gathered money togythers to enryche Alexander withall y t he myght therby more abundauntlye bestowe gyftes vpon the Souldiours she fylled her owne Coffers wyth the same The whiche her couetyse blemysshed greately Themperours honour that maugre hys mynde the couetouse woman should catche and pyll by couine and fraude the enheritaunce of many meÌ„ She gaue to her Sonne in Mariage a Mayden descended of noble bloode whome notwithstanding that her husbaÌ„d entyerlye loued her her selfe shortlye after expelled Thimperiall pallaice wyth greate obloquy shame And coueyting her selfe to be onely named Augusta she enuyed for that cause the mayden and became so outragiouse agaynste her that the maydens father albeit he were in greate aucthorise with Alexander beyng impacient of the iniury done vnto his doughter and hym by Mammea fledde into the Campe for his owne safegarde saying although he were muche bounde vnto Alexander for hys manifolde benefites yet he muste of force accuse Mammea for the greate reproche she had done vnto him But she being ther w t chaufed coÌ„mauÌ„ded him to be slaine y t yoÌ„ge woman his doughter beiÌ„g thrust out of y e imperiall Pallaice she exiled into Aphrique Neuertheles this was done agaiÌ„st y e wil of AlexaÌ„der For his Moother ruled hym aboue reasoÌ„ had hiÌ„ alway obedieÌ„t vnto her coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes so y t this one thing may be reproued in AlexaÌ„der y t he vsed more humilitie reuerence towardes his Mother then becam him in obeyeng accoÌ„plysshing her commaundement against hys owne wyll Now wheÌ„ he had after this sorte by the space of thirtene yeres raigned the which tyme he alone enioyed the Empyre in tranquillity without disturbaunce or complainte of any person Sodeinly loo there cam letters out of Siria Mesopotamia wherby he was certified that Artaxerxes King of Persia had ouercomen the Parthianes Artabanus theyr king which firste surnamed hiÌ„ self great waxe twoo Crownes and not onely bereft him thorieÌ„tal dominion but also his lyfe subdued the Barbarouse people his neighbours and made them his tributaries That he helde not him selfe within the Riuer of Tigris but had recouered the baÌ„ckes therof was entred w tin the bouÌ„des of Romaine Empire inuading pylliÌ„g Mesapotamia menacing war vnto Siria That he chalengid all the Scite of Lande called Asia situate ouer against Europe whiche was enuironed w t the AegiaÌ„ Sea the straites of Propontis as the auncient possession of the Persyans Bicause that froÌ„ the tyme of Cirus who first of all translated the kingdome from the Medes to the Persians vntil the raigne of Darius their last Kyng whom Alexander depriued of his dominion all thorientall costes as far as Ionia and Caria were gouerned by the Persian Rulers Capitaines Wherfore he affirmed y t it was his duty to see vnto the restauracioÌ„ of y e auncieÌ„t whole Empire vnto the PersiaÌ„s again WheÌ„ AlexaÌ„der heard hereof beiÌ„g greatly disquieted w t those sodeine tidiÌ„ges of battayle for he had from his infancie ben traded in quiet tranquility norished w t the Citie pleasures and hauing first coÌ„sulted w t his frendes Counsailours he coÌ„cluded to seÌ„de Ambassadours into thorieÌ„t with his letters which he supposed wold represse the Barbariens hope and pacify their tumulteouse inuasioÌ„s The letters were of this sorte directed That it behoued Artaxerxes to holde him selfe content w t his owne Boundes and Limites of dominioÌ„ Not to sturre or cause anye more dyscencion neyther beyng puffed wyth vayne confydence and rashe hope attempte anye greate warre That euerye man ought to quiet hym selfe wyth hys owne substaunce and that he shoulde not haue suche sucesse in hys fyghte agaynste the Romaynes as he had obtayned agaynst hys neyghbours He dyd putte hym in remembraunce besydes of the victories whiche Augustus Traianus Lucius and Seuerus had gotten agaynst them Wyth these letters Alexander supposed to reduce the Barbarous kynge vnto peace and concorde throughe feare of the menaces in them conteyned But he vtterlye contempnynge the same determined all talke set a parte to trye the matter wyth weapon and fyghte And then wyth more crueltye foraged and spoyled the whole countrey of Mesopotamia and caryed awaye the Inhabitauntes as a bootye and assaulted all suche Fortresses of the Romaynes as were buylded vpon the Riuage to defende the boundes of the Romayne Empire And being a man naturally glorious haulty of stomacke he thought to subdew the whole worlde enflamed therevnto wyth the prosperous sucesse of all hys affayres euer without loking for obtayned Neyther were the thynges of smale importaunce whych kyndeled hys mynde to the coueitynge of a greater Realme then hys owne takynge fyrste vpon hym to inuade the Parthians wyth warre and to recouer the Parthian kyngdome For many yeres after the death of Darius from whome Alexander the Macedonian bereft hys kyngdome the Macedonians them selues and those which succeded Alexander gouerned y e regioÌ„s of the Orient and Asia distributed in sundry partes amongs them But when
endeuored to chaunge it vnto cruell tyrannye For perceyuynge him selfe to be odious vnto all men bycause he fyrste of all other had aspyred vnto that Fortune frō a base estate besydes that beynge aswell Barbarous of maners as by nature greadye of bloudshed he endeuoured chiefelye to establyshe the Empyre vnto hym through crueltye fearyng least he should be had in contempte of the Senate and all other Romaines whyles not hys present Fortune but the obscurenes of hys byrthe was specially noted in hym For it was openlye knowen vnto all men that he had been a shepherde in the Mountaynes of Thrace and receaued amonges the symple and base Souldyours of that region for the greatnes and strengthe of hys bodye and nowe exalted vnto the Romayne Empyre Fortune as I myghte saye leadynge hym by the hande Wherefore fyrste of all he rooted oute of the Senate house all the frendes and Councelours of Alexander of the whyche some he dimissed to Rome other some he depriued of theyr offyces accusynge their former administration therein This dyd he to the entente he myghte be alone in the armye hauynge no man of the nobilitye nyghe hym but wythoute the reuerence of anye such as in a strong Fortresse exercise hys tyranny Then dyd he expell oute of the Imperial palaice al the Seruauntes of Alexāder whom he had by so many yeares retayned in seruice and did put some of them to death fearing treason because he perceaued them dolefully to lament the death of Alexander But his tyranny was more augmented thorough the opening of a certayne conspiracie agaynst hym wherin many of the Captaynes the whole Senate were confedered There was a certayne man of the nobilitie which had been Consul named Magnus The same was accused vnto Maximinus that he had entended treason against him persuaded the Souldiours to translate the Empyre vnto him Thys counsayle was supposed to be suche Maximinus had made a Brydge ouer the ryuer to passe agaynst the Germayns hauyng a gredy appetite after he had gottē thempyre vnto warlike affayres For being erected vnto Thempyre through the huge quantitie of his bodie his strength and skill in warfare he endeuoured with open deades to confirme y e same opinion of the souldiours to proue therby that the feare cowardise and slouth of Alexander in warlyke exercises was iustly by him condempned Wherfore he omitted nothynge that appertayned to the exercise of the men of warre And beynge hym selfe daylye in armes dyd therewith greatlye prouoke the courage of the Souldyours After the aforesayde Brydge was fynyshed he determined to passe ouer into Germayne But then it was reported that Magnus had entised a great nūber of Souldiours who excelled the other in prowes especially of those vnto whō the custody of the Bridge was committed that assone as Maximinus were passed vnto the other syde of the riuer they should throw downe the bridge exclude him from all retourne and thereby betray him vnto the Germains For y e depth and breadeth of the Ryuer was suche that it seamed vnpossible for hym to gette ouer agayne especiallye because there was no kynde of vessell on the further shore Suche was the rumor of thys enterpryse But vncertayne it is whether the same were truelye reported or els forged of a purpose For it is hard to giue a resolute Iudgemente therein bycause that wythoute anye tryall aunswere or sentence as manye as were onelye suspected were putte vnto deathe At the same time there began a great commotion of the Osrohenian Souldyours also For they beynge verye sorowfull for the deathe of Alexander and by happe meatynge wyth one of hys frendes named Quarcinus who a lytle before hadde been dimissed by Maximinus from the Campe tooke hym agaynste hys wyll when he loked for no suche matter elected hym to theyr Captayne clothed hym wyth Purple caryed the fyre before hym and so adorned wyth perniciouse honours exalted hym vnto the dygnitie of Emperoure The whyche man shortelye after sleapynge in hys Pauilion was by one of hys owne Companions and as it is supposed hys frende trayterouslye murdered The same was named Macedonius whyche had been before Ruler of the Osrohenians and at that present was fyrste Authour vnto them of reuoltinge from Maximinus And althoughe there were no cause of grudge betwene him and Quarcinus yet dyd he thus murder hym whome hym selfe had fyrste compelled to become Emperour Then thynkynge to shewe Maximinus some great pleasure he caried vnto hym the head of Quarcinus But Maximinus albeit he were glad of that facte for that hys enemye was rydde oute of the waye yet dyd he putte vnto extreame deathe thys Macedonius whych loked after some greate rewarde and hoped to receaue great thankes for hys trauayle because he was Authour of the rebellion and murderer of one whyche hym selfe had induced maugre hys head vnto that mischiefe and had been false vnto the man whyche had moste affyaunce in hym These causes therfore dyd exasperate the mynde of Maximinus and kyndled hys furye beynge already of hys owne nature ouer prone vnto crueltye He was besydes horrible of visage of so huge and myghty stature that none of the most valiaunt Grekes or moste warlyke Barbariens myghte be compared vnto hym When these thynges were thus set in order he gathered together the whole Armye passed wythoute feare ouer the Brydge and made Battayle vpon the Germaynes There folowed hym a wonderfull nomber of men almoste all the power of the Barbariens and wyth theym verye manye Mauritanian Slyngers and Archers There folowed hym besydes the Osrohenians and Armenians the one nacion beinge subiecte vnto the Romaynes the other associated in frendshyppe wyth them they were accompanyed wyth as manye Parthians as beynge hyred or fugityues from theyr natyue countrey or els taken in the warres serued the Romaynes Thys multytude of people was fyrste leuyed by Alexander then augmēted and exercised by Maximinus The Slyngers and Archers seamed verye profytable in the warre agaynste the Germayns bycause they coulde easelye stryke theyr enemyes vnwares and recule theym selues furthewyth into sure defence Maximinus beynge entred wythin hys enemyes lande and fyndynge no man to resist hym for all the Germaines were fledde pylled and foraged the countreye the Corne beynge then rype and permitted the Souldyours to burne and destroye all the Vyllages And in deade the Townes and houses there are verye muche subiecte to daunger of fyre For amonges the Germaynes the Buyldynge wyth Stone and Tyle is verye rare and scarce But wyth great peices of Tymber set in the earthe and Ioyned together in thycke woodes they make as it were tabernacles Maximinus then goynge forwardes in wastynge the Countrey sackyng the corne and distributynge the Cattell whyche was taken amonges the Souldyours founde not as yet anye of hys enemyes For they had abondoned all the fielde playne Countrey and all places destitute of trees and hydde them selues couertly in the woodes and marishes that thei myght there fyght and
more in number but yet out of order and vnskylfull in the warres and being effeminated with bankettes of voluptuousnes wanted weapons and all other warrelyke instrumentes For no man brought out of his house any other weapon then eyther a Dagger a Hatchet or a Huntynge staff or els a Speare hardened in y e fyre as they could get for y e defence of their bodies On the coÌ„trary part were Numidians notable Slingers and verye connyng horsemen so that w tout Bridle they coulde rule their horses w t a Rodde Wherfore y e Carthaginenses were easely repulsed constrained to flye For beyng vnable to abide the brunt of their enemies thei threw away theyr harnesse and weapons and tourned theyr backes altogether in a rude pluÌ„pe thrusting through and treadyng one vppon another there dyd a greater number peryshe amonges theym selues then was slayne by theyr enemyes And in thys thronge was Gordianus Sonne slayne and as manye as folowed hym So that for the multytude of those that were deade they coulde not discerne the bodyes that shoulde be enterred Neyther coulde the bodye of the younge Gordian be founde For of so greate a number whyche fledde there entered but verye fewe into the Citye agayne who saued themselues by lurkyng in darke and vnknowen corners The reste remaynynge in heapes at the gate pressynge forwardes euerye man to get in fyrste were by the Numidian Slyngers and other armed Souldyours slayne Whyche caused a meruailouse lamentacion and houlynge of women and Chyldren for that they sawe before theyr owne faces theyr dearest frendes slayne There be whych reporte that as soone as Gordianus who for hys age abode wythin hys owne house hearde that Capellianus was entered into the Cytye dispairyng of hys safegarde went into hys chamber as thoughe he woulde sleape and wyth hys Gyrdle whych he had about hym hanged hym selfe Thys was the eande of Gordianus who was fortunate in the former parte of hys lyfe and nowe â—anded the same in a symilytude of the Imperyal dygnitye Then Capellianus entred into Carthage ther put vnto deathe euerye one of the noble men whyche remayned oute of the furye of the Battayl Neyther dyd he abstayne from the spoylynge of the Temples and ransackynge all Publyke and priuate Treasures And goyng vnto other Cityes whyche had abolyshed the honours of Maximinus the chiefest therin he put to deathe and the reste he afflycted wyth tormentes permyttyng the Souldyours to burne and robbe the Vyllages Fyeldes therabout vnder a pretence of reuengynge Maximinus but yet priuelye allurynge the Souldyous heartes vnto hym selfe to the eande that if Maximinus sped not wel him selfe might haue the Souldyours good wylles for the obtaynynge of the Empyre Suche was the estate of the affayres in Affrica But after y t the death of Gordian was heard of in Rome a meruaylouse terrour enuaded the Senate people of Rome for that he was lost in whoÌ„ all their hope was sytuate For thei knewe now perfectly y t Maximinus wold spare no maÌ„ being partely of his owne mynde alyenated from theim and then with an enemyes stomake and manifeste hatred for iuste causes detesting them Wherfore thei asseÌ„bled ofteÌ„tymes togithers consulting what thei might do and fynally seyng thei had entred into one peryll determined to prepare for warre and elected two Emperours whiche shoulde wyth equall aucthorite gouerne the common wealthe leste that the Principall dominion shoulde returne vnto Tyranny Thei assembled therefore I saye not in the Coorte as thei were wonte before but in the Temple of Iupiter Capitolyne the whyche beynge buylded in the highest place of the Citie the Romaines haue in most estimacion There the doores beynge shute they sate alone hauinge as it were God to their witnesse of their CouÌ„sell and the beholder of all y t thei entended thei chose furth suche as excelled the reste in age and dignity to giue their voyces of election vnto Out of the which hole numbre ther were two named Maximus and Albinus through the mooste voyces created Emperours Of thiese two Maximus hadde often bene generall Capitaine in the warres and also ordered hym selfe very politiquely in the gouernaunce of the Citie wherby he caused the people to haue a very good opinion of hys wytte prouidence and contineÌ„t lyfe And Albinus being a noble maÌ„ borne twise Consull and hauing ruled many prouinces without strife or complaynte was reputed the meker Thus were thei made Emperours by the decree of the Senate and endewed w t all Thimperyall honours But whiles theise thinges were in doing in the Capitolle the Romain people vncertain it is whether through the solliciting of Gordianus freÌ„des or els stirred thervnto by some peruerse rumors came with force vnto the gates and filled with multitude of people y e waye which goeth into the Capitoll And ther hauiÌ„g Clubbes Stones in their handes labored to interrupte the thinges that were coÌ„cluded in the Capytoll refusynge chiefly Maximus alledging that he was more seuere then the symple Commons could well bere w tall Wherefore thei were moste of all offended wyth hym cryenge and threatninge that thei woulde â—â—ea them bothe for his sake For thei requyred a Prince of Gordianus kynred that in that famyle and name Thimperiall Dominion myght continew Then Albinus and Maximus beynge garded wyth all the youthe of the order of knighthode and the men of Armes of the Cytie wearing swordes attempted to go furth of the Capitole But thei were dryuen backe w t Clubbes and Stones vntyl that through the inueÌ„tione of some one man thei beguyled the people after this sorte Ther was a litle infaÌ„t y e Son of Gordianê° doughter whych was named after hys Grandefathers name The same thei commaunded certayne whome thei sente furth to fetche vnto them who findinge hym playeng at home did put hym vpon their shoulders caryed hym thrughe the myddes of the people declaringe that he was Cordianus neuewe and callynge hym by name vntyll thei had brought hym into Capitol the people makinge ioyfull acclamacions and strowing bowes before hym And after that the Senate had pronounced him Emperour seing he could not gouerne Thempyre because of his tender infancie the yre of the people was asswaged and thei suffered the olde Emperours to enter in to Thimperyall Pallayce But ther happened at that tyme a pestyferouse Calamitye vnto the Citye of Rome throughe the rashe boldenes of two Senatours For when as the Senate was assembled about certaine Publicke affayres two of Maximinus Souldiours which wer departed from the Campe bothe of mydle age came vnto the Coorte gate to herken and spye what was done or determyned beyng withoute weapons And sauing only theyr Iackes and their Clokes thervpoÌ„ thei stods togyther amonges the reste of the people But whyles all other stode at the dore two or three at the moste beyng more desirouse to heare what was sayde then the reste entred into the Coorte and passed a lytle further then the Aultare of