what to spend and not to learne to keepe audit It is a loue disordinate for the prince to folow the direction of his owne proper will bicause it is impossible but he should fayle to perfourme that which hee ought that alwayes executeth his owne wilfull minde Loue is disordinate when the Prince imployeth his loue in fewe being Lord of many bycause Princes in such wise ought to loue and be bountifull vnto their priuate and fauoured seruaunts that they disgrace not the nobles of their kingdome Loue is disordinate when Princes in vanities and trifles do consume their times bycause the curious gouernour in such wise diuideth time betwixt him and the common wealth that he neither wanteth for affaires or hath too much to imploy in vices Loue is disordinate when the Prince is orgulous quarellous ambitious and proude for notwithstanding that as a Prince they ought all to serue him it followeth not that as a God they shoulde adore him Loue is disordinate to hazarde the giuing and diuiding of rewardes not as euerie man deserueth but according to the wil of him that gouerneth for there is no equal infamie vnto the prince as it is to chastice vice not to remunerate seruice Loue is disordinate when of will he taketh away frō another that of right apperteineth not vnto him self bicause to the greatnes sinceritie of princes it is iust conuenient that in their rewardes gifts they shew their franke liberalitie in receiuing they stande with all men in iustice The case standeth thus that the Prince which is indued with these loues affections may not escape many trauels and also many souden assaults and perils for that euerie disordinate affection she her self with her self bringeth griefe and displeasure Plutarche in his bookes of cōmon welth persuadeth the Emperour Traiane that hee hath his will at libertie and his loue subiect to no man for that according as hee sayeth It little profiteth that a Prince be Lord of many kingdomes if on the other part he become bondman to many vices The diuine Plato saide that for a prince to be good hee ought to giue his heart vnto the common wealth his rewardes vnto such as serue him his desires vnto the Gods and his loue vnto his friendes his secretes to his priuie counsell and the time to affaires Oh how happy were that prince that according to this Platonicall sentence should diuide and repart his person bicause he being diuided for all the whole should be ioyned together with and for him ¶ The authour applyeth all that which is sayd vnto the end wherfore he did speake the same All that which we haue aboue sayde by writing most souereigne Prince wee will vtter and declare by example for according to the saying of Eschines the Philosopher Words well spoken do awake and reuiue the iudgements but great and manifest examples persuade the heart For to leade or intice a man to be vertuous and to do vertuous woorkes it maketh muche to the matter to persuade with discrete reasons sweete words but in conclusiō for much credite which we giue to that which he sayth much more is giuē to that which he doth The Poet Homer said that it is a thing verie easie to write acts of great prowesse and verie difficil to performe them For whiche cause it is necessarie for such as deale with princes to shewe them by example all which they persuade thē by writing to the end they see most cleare that the great and mightie deedes done by other Princes in the worldes they want not force to performe them but a minde to vndertake them No Prince hath to holde of him selfe so small estimation that he doubt to performe that which another Prince hath done in time past for after this manner Theodosius should be dismaide by the remembraunce of Seuerus Seuerus of Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius of Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius of Traiane Traiane of good Titus Titus of Caesar Augustus Caesar Augustus of Iulius Caesar Iulius Caesar of Scipio Scipio of Marcus Marcellus Marcus Marcellus of Quintus Fabius Quintus Fabius of Alexander Magnus and Alexander Magnus of Achilles the Greeke The heartes of these so high Princes did not reade and inquire of the deeds of their forefathers to feare them but to imitate them surely they had great reason bicause None amongst the mortal hath done any deed so glorious that by another man may not be beautified and made better Princes be boūd to do such and so high deedes and enterprises that of them selues be worthy praise and very honourable for others to folow for the same it is not more necessarie to haue a noble minde to giue the enterprise thē after wards to haue the aduenture to finish the same Plutarche saieth that Agesilaus the Greeke said that Fortune did neuer shew her selfe noble but vnto a minde that was generous and noble and surely he said most truth bicause men lose many things not bicause they may not attaine them but for that they dare not attempt them The Prince ought to straine and enforce him self to be good and to imitate the vertuous since with lesse cost mē be vertuous thē vitious milde then ouerthwart valiant then cowards patient thē furious and sober then gluttons for the theefe doth need as desperate a minde to scale an house as a noble minde is due to a captein that foloweth the wars Dionysius the tyrant Gorgius the tyrant Bias the tyrant Macrino the tyrant Catiline the tyrant if we might commend them and they of thē selues giue reason they would sweare and affirme that they passed more trauell and found thē selues in more perill in defending their tyrannies then Scipio and Cato in conseruing their cōmon wealthes Oh what great reason and how much occasion haue Princes to be good and to fauour the good since they haue authoritie to commaunde and riches to giue whereof if they haue skyll to take the aduauntage with their potencie they frame them selues to be serued and with their giftes they bring to passe to be loued Ioyntly with this I admonishe and also aduise Princes and great lordes to be magnificent in their giftes and verie attemptiue in their commaundements For notwithstanding a Prince may do what he list it is not conuenient he do what he may Although the authoritie of the prince be free absolute and without measure to him it is conuenient in all thinges to vse measure and moderation for that euery gouernement that is absolute hath a taste or relishe of tyrannie Many Princes haue lost thē selues by their vices which they vsed and many more haue beene cast away by executing their will and power for princes in perfourming all that they can and all which they will it followeth that their affection maketh them stumble passion their eyes to dazell But moste souereigne Prince speaking more particularly by the imitation of Plutarche and Suetonius Tranquillus I thought good to translate compile and to
refourme the storie of the liues of tenne Romaine princes worthie moste surely to be knowen and verie pleasant to be read The purpose wherefore moste mightie Prince I haue taken so exceeding trauaile to compounde this worke is vnto the ende my penne may aduertise wherein my tongue with shame dismaieth to speake for as Bias the philosopher saide The authoritie of princes is so greate that of more thinges they haue to giue them to vnderstand then to dare or presume to speake The king Artaxerxes trauailing on a certeine daye a man of the countrie presented him with a little water in the palme of his hand the which water the king receiued and dranke and when some did murmur of that deede and also detract him the king made aunswere It is no lesse noblenesse vnto the Prince to receiue little then to giue greate and bountifull rewardes The philosopher Lycurgus that was lawe giuer vnto the Lacedaemonians commaunded those of his common wealthe that they shoulde offer vnto their Gods fewe thinges in number and not riche of value whereof when he was noted and also accused made aunswere I commaund not to offer vnto the Gods fewe thinges for that I thinke them not to deserue muche but because all men should haue wherewith to offer since of all men they will be serued for in the time of Apollo they saide vnto mee that they had rather haue little of manie then much of fewe In the lawe whiche God gaue vnto the Hebrues he was so limitted in the thinges he demaunded and so humaine in that he commaunded that in the order of the sacrifices which they should offer he did ordeine and coÌ„maund that the poore man whiche could not offer a goate should offer no more but of the hayre therof In considering that Lycurgus offered vnto his Gods iewels of small price and that king Artaxerxes receiued of a poore man an handfull of water and that vnto the true and liuing God they durst offer no more but of the hayres of a Goate giueth mee hardinesse to present this work vnto your Maiestie ⸫ The life of the good Emperour Traiane Coceius naturally a Spaniard borne in the citie of Calize compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counsellour vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth CHAP. I. Of foure renoumed Cities that perished and were subuerted in Spaine BEfore they had Emperours in Rome either warre was raised in Carthage ther were in foure prouinces in Spaine foure right notable cities which in potencie did matche with Rome in riches with Tyrus in beautie with Helia in opulencie with Tarento The firste was Numantia the seconde Cantabria the thirde Ystobriga the fourth Italica Strabo Isodore and Pomponio Mela giue great admiration vnto the readers of the great power richesse and wealth of these foure cities And on the other part it is great pitie to consider that there is nothing of them remayning to beholde Not without cause it is saide that nothing remaineth in them to be séene because notwithstanding the prouince boundes and climate is knowen of the foundation thereof yet we may hardly attaine to name the verie place where it was buâ—lt Vnto the citie of Numantia Soria succéeded vnto the citie of Cantabria succéeded Tudela of Nauarre vnto the citie of Ystobriga succéeded Merida vnto the citie of Italica succéeded Ciuil The situation of the famous Numantia as some men affirme was vpon a certeine hill neare vnto Soria on the other side of the bridge and as others doe thinke her foundation stoode in Garray a village of Soria ioyning vnto Duero The situation of Cantabria was a league from the citie of the Groine and on that side of Ebro vpon a certeine height where nowe are planted many vines The seate of Ystobriga was where nowe the ventes of Caparra being bayting places stand and others say yt was on the hill that standeth betwixt the two riuers Las varcas de Alconeta yel casare de carceres The situation of Italica was ioyning vnto the citie of Ciuil and some saye it was vpon the way to Carmona and that the arches of Carmona were made to furnishe the citie of Italica O secrete iudgementes of the moste high or humaine instabilitie that all these places being viewed personally of my selfe where these so excellent cities were buylt I found not so muche as a tower a wall a stréete or a house to beholde neither so much as a stone almost to stumble at We haue great reason to exclaime and much more hath the discréete reader to wonder since we vnderstand that fourtéene yeres Numantia resisted the power of the Romaines and now we sée it made a pasture for shéepe We vnderstande that Cantabria was the last thing whiche the Romaines did subdue in Spaine and nowe there remaineth but a patche of vineyardes in the same We certeinly knowe that the greatest strength which king Viriato held in Spaine was Ystobriga and nowe there remaineth not but certeine grâ—ene trées shrubbes They which write of the citie of Italica do saye that it was the most strong and the most estéemed of all the kingdome of Vandalia and nowe they gather both wheat and barley in the same Scipio the Africane destroyed the citie of Numantia because in the first Punicke battels they would not helpe the Romaines Gracchus a Romaine captaine subuerted the citie of Ystobriga because from thence Viriato made him warre Pompeius hoste destroyed the citie of Italica for that in the parcialitie of Iulius Caesar they were most faithfull The Emperour Augustus ouerthrewe the citie of Cantabria as a man more moued with yre then directed by reason The case was thus that as he had the citie besieged and brought in great distresse he sent to require of the citizens to yelde him all their treasure and giue vnto Rome perpetuall tribute The Cantabrians considering what the Emperour demaunded aunswered in a letter after this manner Emperour Augustus we pray the immortall Gods to receiue thee into their defence and that it may please them to examine betwixt thee and vs who in this warre hath more iustice and thou knowest O immortall Prince that men although they haue power to take warre in hande it is not in their handes but in the Gods to obteine victorie because we men begin many thinges with malice the which afterwardes the Gods do finish by iustice with thy exceeding potencie it may not be denied but that thou hast brought this sorrowfull citie into great distresse in such wise that we haue neither bread to eate either water to drinke either skinnes to make garments or corke to make shooes neither towers to couer vs but ioyntly with this thou hast to vnderstande that if wee want armour wherwith to fight wee lacke not heartes to abide death It wel appeareth that thou hast made experience of our weake forces and vnderstandest not the greatnesse of our mindes since thou demaundest the treasure of our houses and the libertie of our persons
made answere I confesse vnto thee Marius Fabritius that thy good face was knowne in Rome before thy euill life but thou canst not denie that in Rome they did not knowe mine honest life before my euill face At the first when Traiane came to Rome Titus sonne to Vespasian the Emperour placed him Pretour of ten legions and sent him to the frontiers of Illyria where he remained all the life of Titus The Romaine legions did not a little murmur to haue Traiane for their capteine affirming that in age he was a childe in nation a straunger but after when they found him so valiant in fighting so wise in gouernment they loued him as a father obeyed him as a captein And as in winter Traiane wāted victuals for that he had taken truce with the Barbarians a certaine gentleman sayd vnto him it is not conuenient thou shouldest be so sad or that we shoulde suffer so great penurie take in good part that by dissimulation we break the truce by which meane we shal prouide for our selues and our cattel The good Traiane answered I am not only grieued with that thou speakest but also despited with that thou presumest to say for those matters which we set downe by promise we haue not so great cause to obserue our fidelitie made vnto men as for that we haue sworne by the immortal Gods. And the Emperour Titus being dead his brother Domitian did succéede him in the Empire which whē Traiane vnderstood presently he left the charge of frontier capteinship of Illyria The emperour Domitian was not a little grieued the whole armie as also all the Senate the Traiane had forsakē the frontiers of Illyria for that in matters of warre he had great experience no lesse fortune The Romaines did vse great vigilancie in séeking and conseruing fortunate capteines with whom they did dissemble suffer more defections then with al other persons and this they did bicause there be many capteines that if they be expert in armes they be moste vnfortunate in the execution thereof Traiane remaining in Rome without all disposition to take charge of an armie the emperour Domitian sayd vnto him tell me Traiane it it doutful that my empire is lesse then that which my father Vespasian helde or that I am more ingrate then my brother Titus was that for them thou shouldest euerie day aduenture thy life and for my seruice thou dainest to take a launce in hande Traiane did answere him I confesse that thy power is as great as thy fathers and thy knowledge no lesse then thy brothers but ioyntly with this thou arte verie souden in thy commaundements and very swift in the execution thereof and it may be that hauing charge of thy armies I might be commaunded to doe some thing the accomplishment whereof might stand muche against all bountie and not perfourming the same I should breake the oth of fidelitie that I haue made vnto thée CHAP. IIII. Of the friendship and parentage that Traiane had with the Emperour Nerua IN those dayes there was a certaine Consul named Nerua Coceius banished out of Rome by the Emperour Domitian a man in yeares very auncient and in all that he eyther sayde or did of great credite As Traiane was at that time in the disgrace of the Emperour Domitian frō Rome he departed vnto Nola a certain place where Nerua was in Campania bycause It is a thing very common vnto a man afflicted to seeke the companie of an other in like trouble These two right excellent men whiche is to say Nerua and Traiane remained there long time in Campania poore banished persecuted out of fauour abyding the time when Domitian shuld send to kill thē or when they should heare that he were dead bicause if they desired his death no lesse did he séeke occasiō to take away their liues Traiane for that he was young helde Nerua who was olde in great veneration and Nerua did beare so great affectiō vnto Traiane that he did loue him vse him as his sonne for that Traiane besides his sufficiēcie ablenesse for all causes was in his conuersation most amorous Nerua and Traiane remaining in that banishment found themselues of neare kinred and affinitie that is to say of one countrie which was Spaine of one place which was Italica and that the one discended of the Coceians and the other of the Vlpians two famous and auncient linages of whome we haue aboue made mention When Traiaane passed into Italie he found no other parētage but Nerua and Vlpius Ricinius his vnckle which was two times Consul in Rome Some say that this Vlpius Ricinius was father vnto Traiane but the truth is that he was but his vnckle for Plutarche in an Epistle that he writeth vnto Traiane sayth The good newes in Rome being knowne howe thou hast ouercome king Decebal which did tyrannize this lande so great was the ioy which the people did receiue that as thy fathers bones be in Spaine they had bene here in Italie they would do no lesse honour vnto them in the sepulchre then they shall yealde vnto thee on that day when thou shalt enter triumphing into Rome And for that Nerua was so auncient and so honourable and Traiane so valiaunt and so wel liked many Romaines did come and goe betwéene Rome and Campania to sée them and this was done more secretely then publikely bycause the Emperour Domitian was verie suspicious being most true Verie fewe dare serue or followe such as princes do hate Amongest all other that went frō Rome vnto Campania to sée these two knights was the great Philosopher Plutarche who with Traiane and Traiane with him did plante so perfect and sounde friendship that onely death was able to giue ende to the same And as Plutarche sawe suche abilitie and will in Traiane to learne ioyntly with this there was no wars wherein to be exercised he was so drunken with learning that he did abhorre armes vppon which occasion Nerua saide in iest By my counsel thou shalt leaue bookes and returne to armes since thou haste better handes to fight then a tong to dispute for that it is not iust thou shouldest cease to be singular amongest capteines to be indifferent among Philosophers Traiane remayning there in Campania did marrie with Plotina which was his onely wife and is sayde only for that before nor after did euer marrie other the which vertue vntil his time was found in no Romaine prince for that by growing olde or misliking of the one presently they did take another And as on a day certaine Romaines practised by secrete deuice to kil the Emperour Domitian and in great secrecie gaue part therof vnto Traiane did answere I do well sée that Domitian deserued not to be elected Emperour much lesse deserueth to be sustained in the same yet neuer the more shal I consent vnto his death for that I will rather suffer a tyraunt then recouer the renowne of a traitour Many Romaines
Homer in great estimation whereof Adrian did take so great enuie that he gaue streight commaundement that none shoulde reade Homer eyther openly or secretly but the workes of Anthimachus who was a Philosopher most obscure Adrian had condition curiously to inquire of common and small matters whereof he was both noted and murmured bicause Princes being giuen to make search of trifling causes proue variable in prouiding for matters of importance Also Adrian was of fickle disposition for that at the souden he woulde determine to perfourme some enterprise and after growe colde and incontinent omit the same of this as of the rest with great reason he was noted and accused bycause graue Princes ought to haue a reposed deliberation and a diligent execution Adrian was in two things most extreme that is to say he vsed no measure or weight in his loue or hatred for vnto whom he did loue he gaue all his heart and where he did abhorre he did imploy all his strength Admitting that this manner of loue or hatred is tollerable in others yet most truely of vertuous Princes not permitted bycause if they be vnbridled in loue in others which they loue not they cause enuie and if they be absolute in hatred they séeke vnto them selues great infamie wherefore it is conuenient in loue to be discrete and in hatred prouident and aduised He was likewise most extreme that if he praised any thing he did aduaunce it to the cloudes and if it fell not into his fauour he dispraised it to the déepest bottome in such manner that all sayd of Adrian that in praising he was verie gracious and in nippes tauntes and gyrdes not a little malicious Adrian had great delight in faire women who was so absolute and also so dissolute in that vice that he did not onely inioy virgins persuade married women but also in the houses of his verie friendes he had his secrete loues Of the one part considering his iniustice and of the other parte the great iustice that he did execute the historiographers would not place him amongest the pitifull Princes neither condemne him that were tyrannous bycause most truly if he did chastice some by iustice also he siue others by enuie CHAP. III. Of the friends and enimies which Adrian had ADrian being of the age of ninetene yeres Traiane conceiuing the abilitie and towardnesse of the yong man as well in letters as in armes sent to Spaine for him to come to Rome with whome he did so behaue himselfe that for entertainment he did receiue him into his chamber and in his loue did place him as a childe The naturall bountie and great abilitie of Adrian being in apparance Traiane from thence foorth did so regard and fixe his eyes as well to honour him all the dayes of his life as also to leaue him Emperour after his death Adrian being in so great fauour with the Emperour Traiane there folowed thereof in processe of time no small displeasures to his person and perils vnto his life for his enimies by enuie with the Emperour procured his disgrace and with their malice did maligne him with the people It is an auncient pestilence in the courtes of Princes that the Prince being pleased to beare affection or to honour any person forthwith they ioyne to murmur procure to persecute the same As Seuerianus being husband vnto a sister of Adrian did murmur of him vnto Traiane saying that it was a wonder vnto all men in Rome to sée Adrian to priuate so far in fauour that they presumed that after his dayes he should leaue him the Empire vnto whome Traiane made answere Who hath to succéede me in the Empire only the Gods be acquainted therewith but admitting that it were my will and the Goddes permitting that Adrian shoulde succéede me in the Empire I can say vnto thée that to gouerne the same he will proue no foole neyther a cowarde to defende it The answere that Traiane made was very good and yet not without a secret taunt for that the Consul Seuerianus had neyther praised him for valiaunt eyther held him for wise This Seuerianus was alwaies a great enimie of Adrian did not cease trauelling to disgrace him with the Emperour wherby Adrian hapned at times to be both in fauour and disfauour in suche manner that Adrian burned betwixt two fiers whiche is to wit eare to resist his enimies and solicitude in conseruing his frends The first office that Adrian had in Rome Traiane being Consul and Domitian being emperour he was made a Decem viriato that is to say he was appointed for one of the ten men that were deputed to determin contentions amongst the people Adrian gaue so good account of his office and recouered in Rome so good fame that he séemed sufficient vnto al men alone and in his own person to gouerne a common wealth and so it came to passe that in the yeare folowing he was deputed Tribune of the second legion that is to say that he had charge to gouerne and correct the seconde capteinship of the armies that were in the wars bycause it was a custome in Rome that euerie capteinship should haue a capteine to fight and a Tribune to rule and gouerne The yeare of the tribune office being past he was sent vnto the inferiour Misia gouerning that Prouince with so great prudence and was of suche readinesse and skill amongest those Barbarians that some delighted to obey him the others durst not resist him Adrian was in no small perplexitie for the doubt he had to be remoued from Traianes fauour which he suspected to sée him selfe in Misia his enimie Seuerianus with Traiane in Rome that vppon any report that might be made of him there the malice of his enimie had place to aggrauate and he for him selfe being farre distant not able to answere Traiane had in his chamber one whome he much fauoured named Gallus a most speciall friend vnto Adrian and Adrian being aduertised that Gallus his most faithfull friende was deade made for him great obsequies and wept for him many teares There succéeded in fauour vnto this Gallus another named Surus a man sufficiently wise and prudent and also this as Gallus was most special friend vnto Adrian and the very cause wherby he obteined the fauoured to be his friends was for that in his giftes he was very liberall and to doe for his friend no lesse determined Also Adrian gaue him self to content serue and please Plotina Traianes wife and vsed therein so great skill and came so farre into fauour with Plotina that out of that so narrowe friendship he gathered more profit then she did honour Traiane had in his house a néece named Sabina whiche was to marrie and requested for wife of many noble Romaines but Plotina and Surus trauelled and persuaded Traiane to marrie her vnto Adrian affirming that with this marriage he was excused of two marriages that is to say to séeke a wife for Adrian
proconsulship was successour vnto Pertinax and although he spake it of the succession of the proconsulship yet they conceiued his spéeche to be a prognostication of his succession in the Empire It was discouered vnto Pertinax that the Consul Falconius desired and also procured to succéede him in the Empire and to that ende had taken a deuise to dispatche him of his life of whiche case Pertinax grieuously complained vnto the Senate the trueth whereof being afterwardes tryed and knowen he as instantly intreated that Falconius might be pardoned saying he had rather extoll him selfe by his clemencie then boaste him selfe of his vengeance whereupon Falconius was pardoned leading his life euer after in his house and for that he had béene in greate honour and amongest the Romaines muche estéemed but by that treason had lost his credite within fewe dayes méere sorrowe gaue an ende vnto his life CHAP. IX Of the occasion that the Pretorians tooke to murther him THE officers that Commodus vsed for his seruice in court as Chamberlaines Secretaries maisters of housholde clarkes of the kitchin porters cookes and such other Pertinax had not chaunged staying that chaunge vntil the daye of celebration of the buylding of Rome for he helde opinion that before the euil shoulde be remoued it were greate reason at leasure to make election of others that were good That which Pertinax had thought to haue done in his house he determined also to execute amongest the captaines of warres and other officers of the common wealth because they were so absolute in commaunding and so couetous in robbing that if the paine were recompenced with the fault it had béene a small matter from euery one of them to haue taken away life When affaires of importaunce are deferred the secreat thereof incurreth greate daunger and for this cause as Pertinax deferred this matter from day to day all officers suspected what he woulde do with them and therfore determined to dispatche him of his life Extremely was Pertinax hated of the men of warre and of the particular officers of the common wealth which hatred procéeded not of any iust offence done by this good Prince but for that he consented not that they should robbe cōmitte vile déedes Many times the wicked beare enuie vnto the good not because the vertuous suffer them to do well but for that they consent not vnto them to do euill for so peruerse is the malice of some peruerse persons that they take more delight to do euil vnto others then to receiue benefite vnto them selues Vnto all the officers of the common wealth Pertinax commaunded that they shoulde enioye intierly all fées and profites appertaining vnto their offices and vnto all the Pretors and souldiers of the warres he prouided their wages very well paide them and besides all this he dealte not with them as with vassals but the chiefteines he did honour as brethren and to meaner persones he spake as vnto his sonnes but all this notwithstanding they liued in greate passion and no lesse discontented for that in times past their extraordinarie robberies were muche more then their wages But thus was the case On a daye certeine Pretors of the armies did assemble at a dinner with other officers of the citie as also diuers seruitours of the courte and after they had largely eaten and aboundantly drunken they beganne to talke of the dayes of Commodus that is to saye howe then they were at libertie riche and honoured and now since Pertinax reigned they were poore captiues and defaced and that the faulte thereof consisted more in their owne cowardise then in any other person And further procéeding in this matter they concluded to spoile Pertinax of his life and to choose another Emperour of Rome at their liking which shoulde renewe the memorie of their Lorde Commodus and violate all actes that Pertinax had confirmed and that it was a more safer waye to bee gouerned by a wise young man like Commodus then by an olde dotyng foole as Pertinax Partely for that they had their heades troubled with drinke and their stomaches hoate with eating but aboue all the rest furiously inflamed with talke soudeinly they rose all from the boorde and euery man goeth home to be armed with a determination to dye in that enterprise or that same daye to dispatche Pertinax of his life All the people being at quiet and Pertinax rechelesse and without regarde the pretorians of the armies with a greate number of armed men some trayling their lances and others with swordes drawen marche vnto the imperiall palace where Pertinax was reposing for that it was but little more then past noone And as they approched the house they began to exclaime the memorie of Commodus liue for euer and the false olde Pertinax is but dead All such as were present with Pertinax in the palace neither knewe what to doe and muche lesse what to counsell some saide vnto Pertinax that he should sende for succour vnto the people others that he shoulde hide him selfe in some secrete place others that he shuld fight vntil his friendes shoulde sende reliefe finally the case conteined so great confusion that he whiche feared least did feare to lose his life because all those deintie courtiers had excesse of garments to walke in the stréetes but wanted armour to come foorth to fight It séemed vnto Pertinax that to demaund succour there was no time and to attempt to fight they were too fewe to put them selues to flight there was no place to traueile to be hidden were a great blemishe the good prince determined to come foorth to talke with the Pretorians to sée if with wordes he might apease them And as afterwardes they reported which were present with him 〈◊〉 that great conflict Pertinax did wel discouer the greatnesse of his mind and howe little he estéemed the Empire and also howe muche he lothed the vanities of this worlde because hee neither shewed any apparance of feare for that he heard either chaunge of countenaunce either was troubled in any thing that he had to saye Pertinax caused the gates of his court to be set wide open and came foorth of his chamber hauing no manner of armour or weapon and began to reason with them that did inuiron him after this manner CHAP. X. Of a notable speach that the Emperour Pertinax vsed when his souldiours came to kill him IF this so greate commotion whiche this day ye haue raised O my friendes and commilitants be for that I seeme not woorthy of the Empire of Rome ye haue to remember that I neither obtained the same by suite or request either bought it for money but that forceably ye made me to take it I of my parte imploying my forces to resist it And if it be for that I haue had no regard vnto the common wealth yee knowe howe ofte I haue requested to cease from gouernement and to departe vnto my house and since this is moste true I knowe not to what end ye shoulde
in suche wise that bothe should haue béene intituled Emperours of Rome and ioyntly therewith sware and affirmed that he did it not to remedie the necessitie wherein he stoode but for greate good wil which he did beare him who aunswered this which thou sayest Iulianus be thou assured that I will neither do it either do I loue but yrketh mée to heare it because to gouerne the Empire I am blinde to traueile I am weake and to inioye it am become olde and much more respecting the age which I possesse and the trauels which I haue passed I am more apte to make peace with the Gods then to take warres in hande against men All the men of warre that were in Etruria did passe vnto the seruice of Seuerus whome he would not by any meanes receiue vntil they had sworne to be innocent of the death of Pertinax Seuerus at the breake of the day discouered him selfe with all his armies two leagues from Rome whiche being knowen vnto the Senate ioyntly they agréed to determine two thinges whiche is to wéete to remoue Iulianus from the Empire and to depriue him of his life and in his place to elect Seuerus Emperour Then one of the Senatours came foorth from the Senate and published with open voice vnto the people that they should hold it for certeine that by the authoritie of the sacred Senat Iulianus was depriued of the Empire and in his stéede Seuerus elected Emperour Great was the ioy that the people receiued when they heard Iulianus to be depriued of the Empire and presently at the instant who best might made most hast to receiue the newe Emperour and none passed by Iulianus house that threw not stones at the windowes and spat not vppon the walles At the houre that the Senate went forth to receiue Seuerus they sent a Gentleman to kill Iulianus who expressing the sorrowful ambassage which he brought with many teares Iulianus requested that he might not be slaine before hee had séene Seuerus but the gentleman durst do no lesse then to cut off his head because the Senate stayed at the porte Salaria and had sworne not to procéede to receiue Seuerus vntill they were certeinly aduertised that Iulianus was slaine The vnfortunate Emperour Iulianus being dead his wife Malia and his daughter Escutilia tooke the body buried him in a Sepulcher of his great graundfather on the right hand of the way of Lauinia Iulianus was noted to be a glutton a gamster couetous and ambitious and on the other part he was pitifull amorous eloquent graue and subtile He liued 56. yeares and 4. monethes be reigned 11. monethes and 5. dayes After his death they did neither giue his body honourable funeralls or contemned his Sepulcher This was the end of Iulianus who being old honourable rich would for the exchaunge of the Empire giue his goods aduenture his fame and loose his life R.v. The life of the Emperour Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus THE auncient linage of the Emperour Seuerus was of Africa his grandfather was named Fuluius Pius and his grandmother Agrippa which came and died in Lepe an auncient citie in Mauritania was destroyed in the warres of Iugurtha Massimila his father was named Geta and his mother Fuluia Pia a people neither renowmed in armes or glorious in bloud either indued with riches Seuerus was borne in Etrutio Clarus and Seuerus being Consuls the 4. day of April and as his mother reported she had with him a difficult childbirth very tedious to nourse In his first infancie he chiefly delighted to play with other children his fellowes the play of Iudges and when his lot fell to be Iudge as sharpely did he chastice their trifling faultes as he did afterwards chastice their errours in earnest Hee learned the Gréeke and latine tongues with such singular perfection and was so prompt to speake write read dispute in the said tongues as if hee had béene borne in those countries and learned no other languages At the age of xviij yeres he was a publique aduocate and defended causes in lawe in such wise that if he had followed Science as hée did Warres hée had béene no lesse renowmed in science and letters then he was famous in armes He was not full xx yeares of age when he first entered Rome in which dayes there reigned the right happie Marcus Aurelius and by intercession of his kinseman Septimius Seuerus hée had the office to register daily such as either died or were borne in Rome which office although it were not profitable yet was it an occasion of great acquaintance to be throughly knowen because nightly he wēt to Court to report who was borne or had died that day The first night that he entred Rome by chance his host wher he lodged was reading the life of the Emperour Adrian wherin was relation of the great perils which he passed before he might atteine the Empire Seuerus said vnto his host in iest In trauels perills I imitate Adrian I hope also that I shall succede him in the Empire By chance as the Emperour M. Aurelius made a general sumptuous supper vnto many noble Romans Seuerus was amongest them at the time that he shuld haue taken his seat at the table without regard he placed him in the Emperours chaire and when others derided him for his negligence folly which he had comitted Seuerus aunswered Peace gibe not it is possible my destinies may be such that as I nowe sitt in the imperiall chaire in iest so one day I may sit therin in earnest Seuerus dreamed on a night that he suckt the teats of the wolfe that noursed Remus and Romulus which dreame he alwayes held for a great good signe of his future Empire In the time of his youth he was both absolute and dissolute especially in womens matters other vanities for which causes hee was many times taken banished shamed In the offices of warre he was placed in them all especially the office of Questor which he held long time and it is said of him that hauing by that office charge of monie he was diligēt in recouering faithful in diuiding parting therof In the moneth of Ianuary in the 5. yeare of the Empire of M. Aurelius it chaunced him to be Proconsul of Betica which now in Spaine is named the kingdome of Andoloizia where he remained the space of a yeare a halfe in which gouernment he was no lesse loued then feared and feared then loued Seuerus being Proconsul in Betica receiued newes of his fathers death in Africa wherupon he presently passed into Africa partly to execute the obsequies and to giue his father an honourable Sepulcher and partly to take order for a sister that was left vnto him and goods whiche he did inherite The Consul that then was
the Romanes went after him hearing what he said and praising what he did If in humaine affaires he were prouident in diuine matters surely he was not negligent for that euery day hée visited temples honoured priestes offered sacrifices repaired edifices heard orphans and afflicted in such wise that in victories they compared him vnto Iulius Caesar in humaine policies to Augustus and in diuine thinges to Pompilius The old Senatours and auncient Romanes that had béen bred with Seuerus from their youth were amased to sée how his euil condition was changed and on the other part they thought with themselues that all which he did was but fained for of his owne naturall condition he was subtile warie milde and double and did know how to denie his owne will for a time in that which hée wished to doe afterwardes with all men all that he desired It is a point of wise and skilfull men to ouercome their owne wills in small matters afterwardes to drawe others after them for causes of greater importaunce Althoughe there bee more credite to bee giuen to that which wée sée then vnto that which wée suspect yet in this case they were more deceiued that praised Seuerus in his good woorkes then those which did suspecte him for his old subtilties for that in shorte space they vnderstoode in him great cruelties and no lesse disordinate couetousnesse Those that from their youth bee not bredd in vertuous woorkes or that naturally of themselues bee not of good condition they may for a time deceiue some persons with their guiles but in the end their malice commeth to the notice of all men all which was experimented in Seuerus who vsed violence with his owne proper nature vntill hée sawe himselfe in possession of the common wealth The first office that hée gaue in Rome was vnto Flauius Iuuenal whome hee made Pretor of the people of whiche prouision of the one part he pleased all men because Flauius was a vertuous person and on the other parte it did grieue them because he was seruaunt vnto Iulianus The whole armie that Seuerus led with him he also brought into the citie of Rome and being in quantitie great and of condition proud they might not be contained within the citie for which cause they lodged not onely in houses priuileged and in sacred temples but forceably brake vp doores and entred houses The Romanes receiued the same for a very great iniurie because they onely felt not the despight done vnto their persons but also did bewaile the breach losse of their liberties Thrée dayes after Seuerus entered Rome the captaines of his armies sent to demaund of the Senate to haue giuen them an hundred thousand pesants of gold which were due vnto them for that in times past so much was giuen vnto them that first entered with the Emperour Augustus At the houre when the captaines sent these words vnto the Senat presently and ioyntly they armed themselues and marched vnto the field swearing and forswearing by the life of Seuerus by the world of Marcus that if it were not giuen that day at night they would sack Rome After that Seuerus heard that his armie was in readinesse in the field of Mars and without his cōmaundement he was not a litle escandalized thinking there had béene some treason against him amongest the people but the truth being knowen he requested them to be pacified and to disarme themselues saying that it proceeded not of wise Captaines but of seditious persons to demaund with threatenings that which would be giuen by request Seuerus saw himselfe in great trauell to finish agréement betwixt the one the other but in the end giuing them some monie out of his owne coffers and some from the common wealth he brought them all to a vnitie which was that vnto the Captaines was giuen lesse then they demaunded and the Romanes paid somewhat more then they offered Before all things Seuerus did celebrate the obsequies of Pertinax whereat all the Romanes were present and offered that day vnto the Gods great sacrifices accompting Pertinax amongest the Gods and placeing Priestes to do sacrifices vpon the sepulchre that for euermore should susteine his memorie When Seuerus entred the Empire he found many rents of the treasurie morgaged which is to wéete the royall patrimonie wherein he gaue order for the redéeming thereof to be reduced vnto the royall crowne Seuerus had two daughters of ripe age the one of xxv the other of xxx yeres whome he married within twentie dayes after he came to Rome the one with Prolus and the other with Laertius men of greate wealthe and riches and generous in bloud Seuerus offered his sonne Prolus the office of Censor which he refused saying that he fought not to be sonne in lawe vnto the Emperour to be a scourge of euill men but to be serued of good men Seuerus made bothe his sonnes in lawe Consuls and about Rome he bought them great rentes and also gaue them large summes of money to spend and to his daughters he gaue Iewels wherewith to honour them CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe the Emperour Seuerus passed into Asia against capteine Pessenius that rebelled against him ONe of the famous capteines that rebelled against the Emperour Iulianus as hath béene recounted in his life was Pessenius Niger who with the armies that were in Assyria did gouerne and rule all Asia Seuerus rose in Germanie and Pessenins in Asia and notwithstāding they were both traitours vnto their Lorde the difference betwixt them was that Seuerus for his comming vnto Rome they aduaunced vnto the Empire and Pessenius for remaining at his ease in Asia was condemned for a traitour At the houre that Iulianus his death was published presently Pessenius inuested him selfe with the title of Emperour and Augustus in such wise that Seuerus in Europa and Pessenius in Asia had diuided betwixt them selues all countries and prouinces and much more the one from the other had diuided their willes mindes Pessenius was very wel aduertised in Asia howe Seuerus had entred Rome with a great power and was in state of gouernement as naturall Emperour of the common wealth but neither for letters that were written vnto him or for any thing that might be saide vnto him would he obey Seuerus or muche lesse shewe any feare of him Pessenius was grosse of person valiant warlike and of al men with whome he dealt very well liked and surely if he lost the Empire it was not for want of friendes in Rome but that he abounded with vices in Asia After that Seuerus sawe that neither for threateninges either for promises that he made or for letters that he wrote he might not drawe Pessenius Niger vnto his seruice he determined to conquer him as an enimie although as he afterwardes saide he wished not with him to come in contention because Pessenius was a friende in earnest and no enimie in iest Seuerus commaunded a muster to be taken of all the men he had and
but that which was more odious vppon wagers would kill a whole kinred vntil they left no persone in whome any remembrance might remaine Many noble persons were determined to haue slaine Bassianus in the beginning of his Empire which they left not vndone for his deseruing either for want of will but for doubt that after his death many should rise with the Empire for presently they thought it lesse euill to suffer one then to resist many Now when Bassianus sawe himselfe rich in treasure of the temples and obeyed of the Pretorians he determined to mount aloft vpon the high Capitol and there to speake vnto the Senat partly to giue accompt of that which was done and partly to giue them to vnderstād what he would doe Being placed in the middest of the Senate and set in the imperiall chaire and euery man vsing silence he said after this manner CHAP. VI. ¶ Of a certaine speach vsed of Bassianus vnto the Senate excusing himselfe of the death of his brother Geta. ALthough in age I am but younge and in mine attemptes reputed as rash yet I cease not to confesse that I am in great hatred with the people and that my death should as much content them as now my life is displeasant vnto them And as princes are in the view of all persons so are all their works iudged of al men and from thence it procedeth that their iust attempts are praised of many but their errours condemned of all They that presume to iudge the woorkes of princes are not alwayes so iuste that they iudge continually conformable vnto iustice for as many times they praise the prince with lies so it may happen that they accuse them with malice One of the extremest trauels that princes haue is that such as throng in themselues to talke of our liues and to examine our deeds and actes they talke not as we liue but as we vse and deale with them for if we honour magnifie them they report we be no princes but gods but if we chastise and bring them downe they say wee be no men but furies Many times princes do chastise many not because we delight to punish but that it so agreeth with the imperiall authoritie so to be done for as with rewardes and pardons wee magnifie our pierie clemencie so it is cōuenient that with rigorous chastisements wee make our iustice to bee esteemed Many presume to iudge the vices of princes which if they were princes would not onely commit thinges worthie of iudgement but also iustly to be depriued of the Empire for the knowledge of good gouernement is not a thing that men obtaine of themselues but a gift which the Gods do giue vnto whome they please There is no prince so absolute or dissolute that at the least in his gouernment desireth not to be iust but what shall wee doe that haue no more power but to wish to do well and the gods onely to giue grace to gouerne well But comming to the case now chaunced for which the whole multitude with me be escādalized I sweare by the immortall gods that if the truth as it was were manifested I should be found without blame but I am of the one part so vnfortunate and of th other part the multitude is so variable that it many times happeneth that of my manifest actes they say nothing and of that which neuer passed my thought they accuse me O ye iust gods vnto you all I appeale as witnesses who first would haue kild the other either whether my brother Geta would haue slaine mee or I would haue slaine him for ye well vnderstand that being reposed on my bed he entered vpon me with a naked sword with which hee would haue drawne forth my soule if by chaunce I had not found one at my beds head If hee was the beginner of that quarrel and that fortune would fauour me at that instant wherefore being vtterly without any fault should I be blamed of all persons in Rome What greater testimonie would ye of my innocencie but respecting that hee being the person that offended and I the man that defended my selfe the gods haue brought vppon him that which hee ment to perfourme on mee neither in any good iudgement may it be conteined that if by malice or enuie I would haue slaine my brother that I should execute the same by stealth and within the sacred palace for that in so enorme a case I deserued not so much chastisement for the deede as to committe the same in the place where that was done I will not denie that vnto my brother I was not bound to honour him loue him succour him and to deale well with him but I will not confesse that I was bound for all treasons and iniuries to suffer him for as it is honourable for great princes to dissemble pardō iniuries that are done to them by their inferiours so necessarie is it for them to reuenge the discourtesies and displeasures done vnto them by their betters or equals It is notorious vnto al men that in times past many princes of the Romaine Empire had brethren with whom they might not endure but that many of them were slaine ▪ or at the least driuen out of the Empire for in fine there is none of so great temperaunce that in case of commaundement would haue a companion no not his brother Consider the behauiour of Remus and Romulus Tiberius and Germanicus Titus and Domitian Marcus and Lucius others infinite that were brethren amongest whome vppon the point of commaundement and gouernement there arose so great displeasures and vnkindnes not as though they had beene natural brethren but as most cruel enimies O fathers conscript and friends giue thanks vnto the Gods that haue preserued your prince safe soūd for that with out cause they would not haue giuen him his death and conserued my life for the workes of our gods are so profound secreate and vnknowne that althoughe wee see what they doe yet wee see not the end why they do it Amongest all the gods onely Iupiter is he that hath dominion and so amongest al men the god Iupiter would not but that onely one should possesse the Empire for it were no lesse monstruous to gouerne the Empire by two persons then one body to haue two heads If for all the Heauens one God be sufficient and for all Bees but one king and all members be gouerned with one heart all birds haue but one guide I demaund of you my friends to gouerne the common wealth of Rome if one man be not sufficient As we haue read in bookes of our forefathers and as we haue seene in our dayes there is nothing more conuenient vnto the Romane Empire as to be gouerned by one only person for that we haue seene more warres raised vppon which prince should commaund then for any disobedience of subiects Howe fierce warres were raised betwixt Silla Marius Caesar and Pompeie Augustus and Marcus
stopt with multitudes of people he began by force to make his way and teare and treade the people who made resistance for their safetie adding thereunto woordes ouer furious as people passioned And as the Emperour then being placed in the same chariot although they said no word to his offence he receiued the cochemans iniurie as his owne presently cōmaunding al his Pretorians which there did guard his person to make slaughter at their libertie And as al persons there present were more deckt and trimmed for the feast then armed either in redinesse for battel so great cōpassion was it to behold the multitudes of people that died there without any offence and sheading of bloud of so many innocentes for if tenne or twelue had offended they were more then 15. thousād that were there executed The Romanes did neither eate drincke sléepe or doe any thing but with great trembling not doubting when they should be accused but when Bassianus shoulde commaunde them to be slaine for neuer tyrant did execute that which he ordinarily perfourmed in Rome which is to wéete without any accusement of fiscall or complaint of enimie or wante of seruice to commaunde any man to be slaine CHAP. VIII Of the prouinces whiche Bassianus did trauell and the thinges which he did therein AFter that Bassianus had slaine his brother Geta and his enimies as also manie of his friendes and infinite others that were neither friends nor foes he departed from Rome iourneying towardes Germanie whiche nowe is named high Almaine with determination to visite those Prouinces and to refourme his armies whiche by continuance of peace were growne to greate negligence in matters of warre A whole summer hee lodged neare vnto the riuer of Danubie where he exercised hunting fishing playing running torneying and sometimes sate in iudgmente and a matter wherein he made all men to woonder was that in hearing anie cause at the instant he gaue sentence wherein he neuer erred and also iudgmente according to iustice He had greate delectatiō of that countrie and the people of the same makinge choyce of the valiauntest and gallantest personages of the youthe of Germanie for the guarde of his person The prouinces adioyning vnto Danubie being set in order he passed into Thracia and from thence into the lande of Macedonia with determinatiō to visite the natiue countrie of Alexander the greate All thinges wherein the actes of Alexander were grauen or painted hee repaired renewed and made better manie other thinges he did both adde and inuente in such wise that in al the kingdome of Macedonie there was neither citie or temple where he did not erecte some edifice or place some picture or counterfeite Bassianus perfourmed manie notable things in Macedonia right worthy praise and some other thinges no lesse to be derided because in manie places he caused a bodie with two heads to be painted and also grauen whereof one he intituled vnto him selfe and the other vnto Alexander The Macedonians did not a little scorne this acte that Bassianus woulde compare with the greate Alexander for they estéemed their kinge in suche possession and estate that they say and affirme neither anie in this life to be equall vnto him either in the other worlde surmoūted of none of the Gods. Bassianus grewe so proude when he sawe him self so generally praysed for his woorthy actes done in Macedonia that he cōmaunded al his househoulde not to call hym Bassianus but Alexander and commaūded al the captains of his armie to intitule thē selues with the names of Alexanders auncient captaines whereof the Romanes receiued no small griefe and al the aunciente seruaunts of his father were not a little disgraced for it séemed vnto them that since he did not trust them with the garde of his person he woulde not loue them either deale with them according vnto his accustomed manner Hee woulde ofte put off all his Romaine apparrell and cladde him selfe after the Flemmish fashion and further the more aptly to resemble them he woulde weare counterfeite red haire and howe muche the more he vsed these thinges so muche the greater was the griefe vnto the Romaines Also he obserued a custome both in eating and drinking in his apparrell and seruice as in all other trauels which all wayes followe the warres but as a common souldiour It happened manie times that if a trench were to be made he firste woulde digge carrie forth earth marche on foote grinde breade corne for his owne diet and bake it vnder the asshes Hee delighted in base lodging to resemble the common soldiour and woulde not drinke in golde or siluer but in woodden tankards finally he did not onely abhorre all thinges that séemed superfluous but also manie times that which was right necessarie Hee commaunded also that none shoulde attende him except he were commaunded or call him Emperour but companion all whiche hee did to obtaine their loue and to seeme admirable in his trauels He commaunded his armie to be diuided into three partes and the one to be called Macedonike the other Laconike and the thirde Spartanike in memorie of three famous prouinces of Grecia whiche folowed the greate Alexander in all his wars and the people which he estéemed most valiaunt and warlike From Macedonie hee tooke his way vnto Pergamus a famous citie in Asia to viewe the temple of Esculapius the father and founder of physicke in which temple he slept manie nights and as he afterwardes saide receiued there manie aunswers of the God Esculapius many coūsels as well for conseruation of his health as the gouernemente of his cōmō wealth From Pergamus Bassianus departed to the citie Ilion that in times paste had beene head of the kingdome of Troy where greate warres were long continued betwixt the Greekes and the Troyans whiche hee founde not onelie destroyed but also plowed and sowen Bassianus did there greately desire to burie some persone after the fashion as in times past they had buried Patroclus and for accomplishment of his desire he commaunded poyson to be giuen vnto Festus his priuate and fauoured seruaunt whome after he was deade he buried there according to the fashion whiche the Troyans vsed with Patroclus whiche fact of his some excuse affirming that Festus died without Bassianus his commaundemente Before that Bassianus entred high Almaine he would visite Gallia Transalpina after a fewe dayes of his entraunce therin commaunded the Proconsul of Narbona to be slaine of which déede as also of others which he executed he fel into the hatred of that cōmō people deserued the name of a tyrant In his nauigatiō frō Germanie into Asia he foūd him self in so great danger that the ship it selfe wherin he sailed did rent sinke he escaped in a litle barke He was strikē with so greate feare on sea that after he had escaped that daunger he woulde oftentimes say I knowe not what man hauing breade to eate and garments to weare and couer him selfe on lande woulde to become an
drinke water somtimes wine somtimes ale somtimes sider somtimes sodde water somtimes golden water some times stild water and at other times hee woulde not drinke but brothes and collesses In the manner of his feeding he neither vsed authoritie or obserued grauitie for at some times he woulde eate sittinge in a chaire sometimes on a bench and sometimes walking for he vsed to say that in such manner he did both eate and digest Naturally hee was giuen to sleepe verie litle through the weakenesse of his braine and slepte in all places without respect as well in the temple as in the Senate in the garden in the bath in the bedde and also in the market place in suche wise that hee wanted force to resiste the leaste motions and affections of his inclination Heliogabalus did inuent at Rome a certeine manner of feasting named Festum vindemiarum that is to saye the feast of grape gathering which feast was so dissolute vnshamefast vnto the viewe of the common people that afterwards in Rome they neuer cōsented to the celebratiō therof He was also greatly addicted to playe at tennis and whē he was offended with any olde Senatour either any auncient or honourable Romane he would sende for him to playe and accompany him with whome he would playe so much that in the end the sorrowfull gentleman should departe vnto his house both tyred beswett and drudged and also many times despoyled of his money He went verie seldome vnto the temples was vtterly voide and barren of all friendship or affection vnto wise men was neuer séene to read in bookes greatly abhorred suters affaires was negligent either to paye or refourme the armies made small accompt either of friendes or enimies finally he was addicted vnto his owne opinion and a mortall enimie vnto reason CHAP. X. ¶ Of a letter written by the great matrone Mesia vnto her nephue the Emperour Heliogabalus THE greate matrone Mesia being aduertised in Asia of her nephue Heliogabalus so farre inraged with vice in Rome did write him a letter after his manner My sonne Heliogabalus when thou departedst from Asia vnto Rome I hoped to haue heard such newes of thee as might be ioyfull to thy common wealth and haue giuen vnto mee greate renounce glorie but as I am aduertised here and also giuen to vnderstand from thence there thou doest minister matter for all men to murmur and here vnto mee sufficient cause to weepe Sixtie sixe yeares are past since I was borne into this worlde in which I haue buried and bewailed my father Torquatus my mother Aristina my sister Phillis and her husbande Tharsus Also I buried and bewailed my husband Aristippus my sonne Lucius Francus my daughter Dolobella and her husband Martianus Also I bewailed and buried the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and the Empresse Faustina my good and gratious Ladie in whose house I was borne and in whose palace I was married I also buried and bewailed the Emperour Commodus the Emperour Pertinax Annius Pastor mine vnckle Mirtha mine aunte Camillus my nephue and Ioanna my neece Also I buried and bewailed the Emperour Seuerus my onely good Lorde and famous Emperour Also I bewailed and buried thine vnfortunate father my deare and moste desired sonne whose name I dare not either any other expresse in my presence because the sounde thereof constraineth mee to breake foorth in teares I thought it expedient my sonne to leade thee vnto remembrance of al these thy predecessours to the ende thou mayst see howe small reason it were that I should bewaile the liuing since I haue wept all the dayes of my life for so many persons that are dead When thou wast borne by stealth and I did both hide and couer thee when I did remoue thee from Rome and brought thee vnto Grecia when I caused thee to be instructed in Greeke letters and bred and nourished thee in companie of wise men when I did offer thee vnto the God Heliogabalus and made thee a priest in his sacred temple I thought my sonne that all these thinges should serue mee for ioye and peace in my reposed age and not to bewaile thy childishe youthfulnesse In this I acknowledge how free the iudgements of the Gods are from the thoughtes of men in that the gods determine one thing and men suppose another which hath chaunced both vnto thee and to mee O my sonne Heliogabalus because the childishnesse which thou doest vse and the vices thou possessest I did not onely thinke thou wouldst not committe but also that in thy minde they shoulde neuer haue had passage When I did place thee with the greate prieste Gorgias caused thee to be apparayled in the sacred vesture prayedst daily vnto the gods and also euery weeke diddest offer sacrifice in the temple I hoped thou shouldest haue proued a Paragon in vertue and not as thou arte a monster in all vice If thou wouldest consider many thinges do persuade and also binde thee to be good but nothinge prouoketh thee to be euill that is to weete ▪ to be a man reasonable to haue beene a priest to be borne in Rome to be nowe an Emperour to haue nourished thee in my house and to be descended of bloud so noble and generous for it much prouoketh men to perfourme that which they ought to do to remember from whence they be descended Beleeue mee my sonne that with lesse cost and more ease thou shalt be vertuous then vicious because vices content the fleshe when they are committed and torment the hearte after they be perfourmed but vertues yelde not so much griefe in their woorking as pleasure when we haue giuen repulse vnto vice I may not comprehende the froward fortune that foloweth thee or the sorrowfull destinies which haue pursued mee since I nourished thee in trueth and thou prouest and arte become a lyar I bred thee chaste and thou arte imbrued with impudicitie I brought thee vp in temperance thou hast stained thy selfe with excesse and gluttonie I trayned thee in shamefastnesse and thou rendrest a life moste dissolute and that which is woorst aboue the rest thou doest neither feare to offende the Gods or escandalize men Admitting thou wouldest not be good for any offence vnto the Gods that haue created thee or anye griefe or scandal vnto men with whome thou doest liue yet oughtest thou so to be to remoue all heauinesse and displeasure from mee thy olde and sorrowfull grandmother since thou knowest I bought for thee the Empire by the weight of money drawen out of my chestes and by force of teares issuing breaking from mine entrailes My sonne thou doest well knowe that to make thee a Romane Prince I gaue greate giftes vnto the temples offered vnto the Gods infinite sacrifices gaue vnto the Pretorians all my treasures made vnto the Priestes great offers sent vnto the Senatours moste riche iewels all which is nothing for if it had beene possible I would haue giuen my bloud vnto the immortall Gods that thou
vnder their histories which they shall write our same shal shine and flourish Alexander in the dayes of his youth was deadly hated of his cousen Heliogabalus this procéeded not of the sharpe condition of Alexander but for the euil nature of Heliogabalus that is to say for that he would not consent to be a coÌ„panion in his wickednes as by birth he was his kinseman There were neuer séene two princes so conioyned in parentage so nere in succession so different in liues as Heliogabalus Alexander for that in Heliogabalus there was not one vertue to be praised either in Alexander one vice to be reprehended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe Alexander was aduaunced vnto the Empire and of his laudable manners TWo yeares before the Pretorians killed Heliogabalus the Emperour Alexander was elected Augustus to the great grace liking and conformitie of al the Romane people whereof procéeded that on the day in which they had slaine the vnworthie Heliogabalus they gaue vnto Alexander the ensignes of the empire When Alexander began to reigne he was very younge wherfore Mesia the â—randmother and Manea the mother did take the charge 〈◊〉 gouernement of the empire who although in condition they were womeÌ„ yet most truly in gouernement they discouered themselues to be men They elected xij persons to assist them in the affaires of the Empire which were chosen amongest the auncient the most experte amongst the learned the most wise without determination iudgment of all these they did neither heare what was demaunded either determined any matter that they had to doe The first déede of Alexander his grandmother Mesia his mother Manea his xii counsellours was to take order for reformation of temples namely to repaire the decaide to clense the defiled inrich such as were robbed and to populate such as were disinhabited because in the dayes of his predecessour Heliogabalus not only humaine matters went to wracke but the gods also were profaned Diuine matters being reformed presently they toke order for coÌ„seruation of the coÌ„mon wealth before all things all vicious persons were resolued from their offices and not satisfied to punish their offences with depriuation of their offices he forced them to make restitution of whatsoeuer they had either bribed or purloyned from thencefoorth to liue of their owne proper sweate Matters of iustice were not handled but of men very well learned Martiall affaires were not commended but vnto men of great experience causes of the common wealth were not manured but of persons skilfull therein in such wise that they prouided not offices for men but men for offices Also Alexander reformed the whole condition estate of his house as well the ministers as the expences thereof which all the dayes of Heliogabalus excéeded in disorder was no lesse defiled with vice for which cause he set a seazment of the charges thereof and elected faithful officers to spend the same in such wise that in the house of Alexander there was neither immoderate expences either men wanting offices Although order was taken for the ordinarie expences of his house yet notwithstanding his houshold had all things in abundance conuenient vnto his imperial magnificence and many strangers that came from farre praised Alexander because they might not accuse him of prodigalitie either note him of auarice The temples the common wealth and his house being ordered the good prince forgat not to reforme his owne person not only for the maner of consuming of time but also for the order and maner of his apparel for that he vsed to say if the monie which princes spend in robes superfluous the time which they coÌ„sume in apparelling decking themselues were spent to the profite of their common wealthes they should obteine more fauour of the gods lesse hatred of men Alexander was so humble in condition that publikely he coÌ„maunded none should call him Lord either by word or writing but the priests should call him brother the Senatours sonne men at armes companion and common persons friend and this he did for that he held the gods in so great reuerence that he would they only should be called Lords On the superscriptioÌ„s of letters brought him by Embassadours or sent him from any prouince they wrote theron exquisite and stately titles wherin he prouided no other superscription to be added but this Vnto our sonne our Brother our Companion or Friend Aurelius AlexaÌ„der Romane Emperour Heliogabalus his predecessour did commonly weare precious stones on his feete and most costly iewels of gold and Vnicorne in his apparel whiche thinges Alexander neuer vsed either delighted to weare for as he was wont to say princes are not to be knowen of their vassals by their rich robes but by their good works performed in their common wealthes He was apparelled most coÌ„monly in white in winter with a certaine kind of blaÌ„ket of Britaine and in summer with a certaine maner of cotton that was brought him from Asia Some times he would make him garments of cotton linnen wouen together oftentimes saying that he much delighted therein for that it was very cheape to be bought light to weare might best be washed in summer He would many times walke in Rome with a friend or twaine holding his hands behind and finding himselfe wearie would enter into the first neighbours house and sit downe vppon a banke of earth some times would there fall a sléepe in such maner that he had so great familiaritie with all men as if he had béene one of them He was mild pitiful patieÌ„t silent in all things of great continencie was neuer séene extréemely disteÌ„pered or at any time to vse furious words with any person for which cause no maner of person did wish him euil for his euil déeds but of a cancred and corrupt nature wherewith he was defiled CHAP. III. ¶ How Alexander being inuested with the Empire presently did visite and reforme his common wealth IN the second yeare of the Empire of Alexander his grandmother the great and renowmed matrone Mesia died in whose death he the Romane people also discouered great sorrow bestowing vppon her coarse so honourable a funeral and such solemne obsequies as apperteined to one that had béene cousen vnto the Emperour Seuerus and had for nephues the Emperour Heliogabalus and Alexander Mesia being dead the burden of gouernement was layed vpon Manea mother vnto Alexander whome al men conceiued to be in full possession of chastitie temperance prudence and patience but notwithstanding somewhat inclined to auarice whereof procéeded these words earely in the morning to be written vppon the gates if Manea had not charge of monie in the coÌ„mon wealth such a Romane had neuer béene borne in Rome Long time passed in which the Senate had not béene visited which Alexander forgat not as wel to visite as also to reforme not only by inquisition how they liued and gouerned the common wealth but also how they ordered their houses
ruled their families for he vsed oft to say that the man which knewe not to gouerne his wife to prouide for his house and direct his familie the prince might not cōmit a greater follie then to place such a one in the gouernment of the cōmon wealth In Rome they were named Milites veterani that long time had serued in warres and were withdrawen vnto their houses these were mainteyned at the charges of the common wealth and priuileged for apparance before a Iudge and as Alexander was infourmed of their licentious and vicious liues he commaunded them to be banished Rome and no more to be mainteyned by the common wealth When he signed the sentence of their exile with his owne hands he added these words It is as iust that the vicious and wicked frō a free man be conuerted to a slaue as the vertuous from a bond man to be made free for where there is corruption of manners liberties haue no place Most truely these wordes were spoken as of a prince right worthie veneration Also he visited the officers of the common treasurie as if we should say the Auditors and others that had charge of the goods of the kingdome amongest whome hée found many bribers and néedelesse officers those hée commaunded to be punished and these to be disfranchised Alexander was greatly affectionate vnto the affayres of the common wealth with which zeale he vsed so great diligence that the goodes of the common wealthe were recouered gotten againe from the handes of robbers and spent and imployed in matters profitable for it was his opinion the Good princes ought not to consent that vagabounds should liue of the entrails of the people He wrote vnto all prouinces that in all ciuil causes Iudges should procéede according to the order and right therof théeues matters of felonie excepted who within thrée dayes after their apprehension should either be punished executed made slaues for the seruice of men or condemned to cōmon works for publique profite and for no cause to let them escape for as he oft said Neuer mā which had made a proofe in the knowledge of thefte vntill his death might at any time depart from so foule a vice He also visited the officers that had the charge of pay for the men of warre against whome he receiued accusations for payment of euil monie imbezeling of payes reckoning the dead with the liuing and valuing their victuals more then they were woorthe whome Alexander commaunded openly to be whipt and for euermore to be banished He established by publique edicte that whosoeuer should aduenture from thencefoorth to steale or imbezill any paiment due for matters of warre should for the same loose his life All thinges which he had to commaunde or prouide in the common wealth hée did first communicate with such persons as hee thought to haue knowledge and experience thereof and his manner was to say that in following his owne proper iudgment he had neuer but tedious successe but by repayring vnto other mens aduise hee alwayes gathered some fruite Hée held in his house many and very notable persons of whome alwayes hée was accompanied but amongest al whome he best loued and did most commend his secréetes was Vlpianus this Vlpianus besides his great learning was a man so vertuous that Alexander would oft say hée had rather aduenture the committing of some odious déede before the Gods then speake a foule woorde in presence of Vlpianus His predecessour Heliogabalus had ordeyned many lawes in the fauour of the fiscall to the greate preiudice of the people for admitting that goods were augmented yet on the other parte the common wealth daily diminished for which cause Alexander commaunded that all those lawes should be reuiewed considered and refourmed for as he vsed to saye it were more commodious for the Prince which is no tyrant that his cōmon wealth be riche and his house poore then the common wealth to be poore and his house riche When he beganne to reigne the people were abandoned to dissolute manners for which cause he made some rigorous lawes and other milde and pittifull but when he commaunded them to be proclaimed openly he gaue aduertisement vnto his ministers to execute them in secrete Consider not so much what I commaund you as the intent wherewith I commaund you which is to weete that rigorous lawes are not but to terrifie but lawes which are pitifull to be executed because we make not lawes to take away mennes liues but to roote and weede vices out of our common wealthes When the Senatours did sitt in graue affaires he was not contented that they should saye their opinions by woorde but by writing neither was he yet satisfyed that they should set it down in writing but adde also therunto the reasons which moued them to that their opinion saying he did it to this ende that none should aduenture to yeld his opinion either forced with affection or corrupted with passion but as reason and vertue should direct him Naturally he was an enimie vnto lyes and lyers and if any man presumed to lye in his presence he receiued thereof as great despight as though he had done him an iniurie He woulde oft saye that good Princes haue to esteeme such for greater enimies that deceiue them with flattering and lyes then such as do intrude vppon their countries for the one taketh not but of his goods but the other robbeth him of his fame At all times when they had talk of the election of any Senatour or Iudge he was alwayes hearde to speake these woordes in the Senate If as nowe being present with men I were in presence of the Gods I would craue their opinions in the electiō of Senatours and Iudges for that the choice of gouernours in a common wealth doth more seeme diuine then humaine election CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the milde conditions of Alexander and of his gratefull conuersation ALexander was friendly vnto his seruaunts whome he would visite indifferently in their sicknesse that is to wéete as well the meaner as the more fauoured and in repayment of such his visitation he woulde request them to giue him aduertisement what was saide of him in the common wealth and if they saide vnto him any thinge more worthie amendement then praise he gaue them as greate thankes for that aduise as at another time he vsed to giue for any greate and notable seruice The Consul Vncoiasson on a certeine time in great secrete saide vnto Alexander I am not a little astonnied at thee moste serene Prince that doest permitt thy selfe to bee gouerned of thy graundmother Mesia thy mother Manea and thy wife Meania who haue framed thy conditions so milde that thereby thou doest impaire the estimation both of thy person and also of thine Empire for that a base and ouerfamiliar condition leadeth vnto cōtempt Vnto this Alexander aunswered I owe reuerence vnto my graundemother because shee nourished mee vnto my mother for that shee bred mee vnto my
the Prince to be holden in small estimation then to be vntractable ouer haughtie or straunge for if he be inconuersible they abhorre him and if not esteemed they disobey him Sardanapalus the last King of the Assyrians was with all men so humaine that women made him spinne and of Phalaris the tyrant it is read that he was so inconuersible that his owne daughters durst not speake vnto him To the ende that Princes be not abhorred in their common wealthes they haue to consider and also beware to be noted of extremities which is to witt in vsing too great familiaritie with some and no lesse straungenesse with others because muche straungenesse ingendreth hatred and too much familiaritie leadeth to contempt The rule that in this case wee dare giue vnto Princes mightie and noble men is that they be neither so affable with their priuate and fauoured seruants whereby to giue them hardinesse to craue any thing vniust either so straunge with them that be not priuate as to giue them feare to demaund iustice It is not remoued from Princes to giue their kingdomes vnto their children to committ their secretes vnto such as be seruiceable to vse their liberalitie with their priuate and fauoured seruauntes to take their pastimes with their friendes vpon such condition that their conuersation be somewhat generall for asmuche as the liberalitie of Princes extendeth not to satisfie euery suite they supply much more with their amorous aunswers that they giue then with the rewardes which they bestowe Not vnworthily was it ordeined of the moste auncient Greekes that the vse of Princes shoulde not be to pronounce in their letters patents and commaundementes I commaund this I will this I forbidde this but that they should saye We commaund this We will this and ordeine this for their better remembrance that by speaking in the name of all they should in time be conuersant with all be familiar with all and diuide rewardes amongest all and that they are of all and not of them selues He that hath to holde the least parte of the prince ought to be the prince him selfe for that great regarde is to be had of all men as concerning the seruice of his person and he ought to be vigilant in all things that are profitable to the common wealth Howe much the more the Prince regardeth him selfe so muche the more he neglecteth him selfe And howe muche the lesse he careth for him selfe so muche the more shall he attaine to him selfe for that the harmonie of the common wealth consisteth in nothing more then all men to liue of the liberalitie and bountie of the prince and that the Prince liue in the loue of all men ¶ The Authour prosecuteth his intent It is also necessarie counsell vnto the prince that he haue a sound minde and disposition and his intents verie well aduertised for that if in his affaires he make no accompt to be certeine he shall hardly cease to erre and if he be not attentiue to the affaires of the common wealth he shall neuer vnderstand them The prince ought grauely to regarde the thing he doth before it be done for the errour of any other whatsoeuer the offence is onely felt in his own house but the errour of the prince redoundeth to the whole common wealth The princes that be wilfull in the thinges which they will and headstrong wherein they commaund besides that they go laden with thoughts holding their persons in perill escandalize their common wealth accused to be ouer amarous of their owne proper iudgement and moste great enimies of others counsell The prince also ought very particularly vnderstand the things of the common wealth if he wil vse good gouernement thereof And this he hath to be aduertised not of suche as goe to murmur but of such as make iust report and also giue counsel therein for that twixt the Prince and the common wealth there shall neuer be peace if to lyars and murmurers he giue audience Euen as Princes desire not in their subiectes but to be serued euen so their subiects desire not of their princes but to be beloued most truely the one is annexed vnto the other and depēdeth each of other for if in the Prince there be no loue there is none that wil serue him with affection Princes and great lordes ought to holde in great estimation that their subiectes do obey them but much more haue the subiectes to make accompt when their lordes do loue them because without comparison his bountie is much greater that bindeth vs to loue then the trauaile of him that offereth to serue As loue is not repayed but with loue so Princes are not to be satisfied with only giuing such as do serue and followe them offices castels customes houses and money but also they ought to shewe them loue in their palaces and fauour in their affaires because with their liberalitie they recompence their seruice past but with their loue they bind them to serue in time to come Princes and men of power ought in their countenance to be amorous in their speach milde in their behauiours muche ordered for that generous hartes and blusshing and shamefast faces that followe courtes and go in Princes houses do muche more feele the disfauour whiche they shewe them then the rewardes that they denye them To the ende that Princes be deliuered of displeasures and their kingdomes better gouerned it shal be moste sound counsell for them to be affable with all to giue vnto all to deale for all to loue all but if they determine to holde some more priuate they ought much to consider whome they admitt to their speciall fauour because for one to be priuate in Court it is not sufficient that the king doe choose him but that also he be of merite and deseruing In giuing rewardes princes may not alwayes escape errour but in commending their heartes they ought to be most certaine for that In this whole world there is not the like torment as a man to haue his loue euill imployed If Princes and great Lordes will particularly take into their fauour any of their seruaunts they ought to be of particular deseruing bycause loue shall neuer be fixed when in him that is loued there wanteth merite Not without cause we sayde that it were necessarie in a Prince to be indued with a good mynd and disposition and with sound meaning and intention bicause if the Prince be taken with imperfect and vnlawfull affection Alas of him and also of his kingdome that by him is gouerned It is euill that the Prince haue no rule in feeding in play in drinking in speaking and also in spending but it is much worse if he vse it not in his loue and affection for it is a rule infallible that euerie disordinate loue bringeth with it some notable vice It is a loue disordinate to bee carefull to gather riches and not to haue a mynde to spend them bicause vnto the greatnesse of Princes it appertaineth to seeke
which he allowed all that was good and gaue reformation vnto all that was euill He forbad the vse of shops or tauernes in Rome that is to saye that they should not sell bread wine and fleshe drest in one house affirming that prepared vices is the occasion to make many vicious He commaunded all the neighbours of Rome to be registred and there was found 285000 houses of married men and 42000 young men to be married 7000 priestes of the temples 32000 common women 12000 houses de mesones and 65000 straunger factours He forbad any poore man to goe from doore to doore but that all which were impotent should be succoured of the common treasure and vnto such as could traueile they gaue them whereon to worke from the Senate He commaunded all Iuglars and Iesters to learne some occupation and to mainteine them selues in their owne houses and otherwise to be banished Rome Traiane commaunded reformation in all estates and caused examination to be taken of al students and they were more without comparison that were banished for vnable and vicious then remained for learned and vertuous For that in Rome there were people of many straunge countries ioyntly therewith so many women of which many did perishe in child-bed and many children died for want of place to bréede them For which purpose the good Traiane did cause to be buylt a famous house in the mount Celius and indued the same very well with his owne patrimonie where all women that woulde were kepte and brought abedde by the space of two monethes and that all the children vntill the age of foure yeres were there brought vp and nourished Traiane consented not that in all the yere they should obserue in Rome but xxii holydayes saying that without comparison the Gods were more serued on such dayes as the Romaines did traueile then on such dayes as they rested because the vices were more which they did commit then the sacrifices which they did offer Traiane did moderate the sacrifices that were offered vnto the Gods that is to say neither to haue so many nor yet so sumptuous saying that the Gods would rather we should amend our liues then offer our goods Vnto the priestes of the temple he commaunded to be giuen oyle vnto the vestall virgins wheate vnto the olde horsemen cloth for garments vnto the poore wood to burne vnto Embassadours wine to drinke for that all these things were not onely in Rome verie deare to be bought but also not at all times to be had for money CHAP. VII ¶ Of the noble and notable vertues that were in Traiane THE yere that Traiane came to Rome to be Emperour he was of xlii yeres in which age he had in all thinges such successe and did vse such moderation that neither by his youth did hazarde the attempt of any foolish déed either by slouthfulnesse of old age did leaue any thing euil prouided Traiane was a Prince in whose wordes workes enuie was neuer knowne and as on a certeine time the Philosopher Plutarche did commend him for the same Traiane saide vnto him Plutarche I giue thée to vnderstand that of pure pride I am not enuious for that alwayes I thought my selfe happie to enterprise suche so greate and so notable déedes that all men should enuie mée for the thinges I should take in hand and my selfe to mislike no man for any his noble attempts Traiane was not malitious either suspicious although by nature he were of sharpe iudgement which hapeneth in few persons for the commonly men of sharpe iudgement be not alwayes of sound condition And as great affaires naturally bring with them great thoughtes and displeasures although vnto Traiane they gaue some griefe he was neuer séene of man to be angry because olde wisedome had more Lordship in him then soudeine yre Althoughe Traiane hadde manye that did wishe him euill and procure him euill some for malice some for enuie and some bycause he did chastice them He was neuer found that vtterly did séeke his destruction but that in chastising the quareller and vicious they more commended him for his clemencie then complained or murmured for their griefe and punishment Although Traiane were not much learned he was moste truely a greate friende vnto learned men whome he did promote vnto honours and to estates and did much ioy to holde them for his friendes in suche wise that in his house and court a learned man was neuer séene in necessitie Traiane did much desire to vnderstande the ambitions of Rome and disorders of his house but ioyntly therewith he woulde not be aduertised by the manner of murmuring but rather by the way of aduice Traiane was a great enimie of liers no lesse of detractours for which cause they say that many times he sayd It is more safe vnto princes to haue patiēce to heare their own errours then to giue eare vnto such as reporte other mens defections and sayde more That of necessitie the Prince must haue bloudie hands that giueth eare to murmurers Traiane wāted the general vice which vsually reigneth in all men which is couetousnesse wherof he was not either accused or noted but rather of great bountie larges he was of all nations well liked commended bicause they were infinite that did praise him for that which they had receiued and no man did complaine for that which he had taken Traiane naturally did delight in warres and after they were begunne verie diligent in prosecuting and most constant in finishing the same Albeit he was giuē vnto warres yet therfore he ceased not to procure by al meanes to conserue peace for as he said The Gods neuer permitted that any should be ouercome in the wars but such as be enimies vnto peace Traiane was verie moderate in the ordinarie expēces of his house ioyntly with this most liberall in causes of war and most certainly in the same he shewed him self to be a prince skilful prouident wise for as Plato sayde If the expences of the common wealth be not moderated afterwardes ye shall not faile to want wherewith to withstand the enimies CHAP. VIII ¶ Of the proude and stately buildinges which Traiane made TRaiane made in Rome many very notable buyldings it is to vnderstande a great and sumptuous market place and all the things that were in the compasse thereof He made a paued calsey being a broad high waye that lasted two leagues and halfe whereon they might come go in Summer without dust and in Winter without mire He made a temple vnto the God Apollo another vnto the god Mars another vnto the god Iupiter another vnto the god Esculapius another vnto the goddesse Ceres another vnto the goddesse Bellona another vnto the mother Berecyntha whome the Romaines named the mother of all the Gods. He repaired the decayed walles he made tenne paire of milles vppon barkes on the riuer of Tyber in which he commaunded that the priestes the vestall virgins and the olde knightes shoulde first
grinde and be serued He did repaire and inlarge the colledge and placed gates porters and watchemen and many counterfetes and pictures of golde and siluer and did vse for custome as oft as he came thither to be the first that entred and the last that went foorth He buylt in all stréetes in Rome publique purging places and commanded vpon great grieuous penalties that no man should be so hardie to defile the streates or other open places in such maner that all the dayes of Traiane Rome did not séeme but as a hall cleane swept In the fourth region ioyning vnto the temple of Serapis Traiane did buyld most sumptuous baynes much larger then those which Titus made and much richer then those which Tyberius buylt Also Traiane buylt an hundred houses large and strong wherin to kill and sell their béefe and mutton In the gardeines of Vulcane Traiane did buyld an house of pleasure and made therein a certein fishepoole for delight but it is not found or recorded that he did either eate or sléepe in the same Neare vnto the houses of the Fabians he brought from farre a founteine in the compasse whereof he erected a stately house naming it the place of Datia Traiane naturally was a friend not onely of buylding but also to beholde buyldinges and worke men whiche is most certeinly knowen in that he made a lawe that all such men as should raise any newe buyldinges in Rome the thirde parte of the charges shoulde be paide from the common treasure It was a marueilous matter that in all these many other buyldings which Traiane made in Rome he vsed no other mennes money he constrained no man to trauaile by force he deferred no man of payement for he saide and helde opinion that it were more honest and also more sure vnto Princes to dwell in poore lodginges then of other mennes sweat to make riche houses CHAP. IX ¶ Of some vices whereof Traiane was noted TRaiane wanted not some humaine infirmities wherein men at times do fall for if with reason he were praised for many thinges not without occasion in some causes he was iustly discommended Vntill this daye there hath béene no Prince in whome all vertues did concurre either in whome all vices were founde bycause there is no man such an outcast in whome there is not to be found somewhat to be praised either any man of life so reformed that in him there is not somewhat to be amended Traiane naturally was proude and ambitious of honour and after a manner he did delight that in open place they should erecte vnto him pictures and counterfetes of golde and that his fame might be spreade throughout the world In all his erected buyldinges he placed the titles of his triumphes and persuaded the Oratours to compounde many méetres to his praise whiche he made to be grauen in stone in the hyest front of his buyldinges In the vice of the fleshe Traiane was not a little fleshly and yet in this case it is moste true that he neuer vsed force to any person but ioyntly therewith being moste diligent in persuasion and verie liberall in giuing he fixed his amorous affection vppon no person that he inioyed not In his garmentes and in the manner of the fashion and wearing thereof Traiane was most curious and costly bycause there was no daye that either of Golde siluer or silke he did not on his person vse some chaunge As we haue saide Traiane was a Prince both wise and of sharpe and readie iudgement but ioyntly therewith muche affectionate vnto his owne opinion whereof cares many times did followe and persecute him bycause there is not hath beene or shal be Prince in this worlde so wise that necessitie constraineth not at times to chaunge counsell Traiane was a verie friende vnto wise men but he him selfe was not muche learned whereof béeing reproued by his friende and Philosopher Plutarche Traiane saide vnto him the Gods haue not created mee to turne ouer bookes but to deale with armour When Traiane had vacant time from warres he did muche delight to take his pleasure in vaine thinges wherein he consumed many nightes and dayes and of this vice he was not a little noted and also accused and doubtlesse not without great cause for that Princes which presume to bee good Princes in suche wise ought to take their pastime that they seeme not to lose their time Notwithstanding that Traiane deliuered Rome of manye vices and banished from thence many that were vicious he was noted and also blamed that he defended and susteined the swoorde players who were men ydle and seditious and this he did because in his youth they had béene his frends and delighted in them wherin he had leste reason for that It is not iust that Princes take suche recreation for their persons as tendeth to the preiudice of the comon wealth Traiane was verie moderate in féeding but ioyntly therwith not ouer sober in drinking for that to obteine good wine he was somewhat curious and carefull and in the drinking thereof not verie temperate Notwithstanding that sometimes he dranke somewhat more then was conuenient for the health of his bodie and to the authoritie of his person yet at that time neuer man sawe him committ or procure any vile déede CHAP. X. ¶ Of the first warres that Traiane had against the Datians IN the xliiij yere of his age and in the second of his Empire Traiane receiued newes that Decebal king of Datia which in these dayes is named Denmarke rebelled against the Romaine Empire the which newes gaue no small skandal and offence vnto the Senate for that on the one part naturally they were a nation very warlike and on the other parte for that king Decebal was a prince of great vnquietnesse and also of a minde determined For that the Emperour Domitian was a greatter friend vnto vices then an enimie vnto enimies in all his reigne king Decebal did neuer yeald obedience vnto the Romaine Empire whereby the Datians had recouered great boldnesse and the Romaines lost their credite Traiane in his owne person determined to go in those warres for which purpose he made choice of a verie small armie and yet of much strength for he helde opinion that as no other meates should be brought vnto the table then are to be eaten so they ought not to leade vnto the warres but such as must fight and saide further by experience I haue proued as well in eating as in fighting that many meates at table be lothesome and in the warres many men be troublesome King Decebal béeing aduertised that Traiane remoued from Rome to make conquest of him and his countrie determined to marche and encounter with him vppon the waye and as he purposed so he perfourmed for he helde the Romaines in so small estimation that he counted it shame to be béeséeged of them And when the armies were in sight one of another the Barbarians being so manye the Romaines so fewe
so opulent the king obteined great riches welth and power Whē Traiane came the second time into Datia king Decebal had great riches both of gold siluer not only for the great rents which he receiued throughout his kingdome but that also he exacted of his subiectes great sūmes of money King Decebal being doubtfull vnto what destinies he and his kingdome were committed determined to burie all his treasure in a riuer which he remoued out of his naturall chanell and in the greatest depth therof he made sepulchres of stone to burie his saide treasure whiche being done he returned the riuer into his olde chanell which was named Sargetia and to the end that no man shoulde discouer this secrete he commaunded to murder all that were present at the hiding thereof But to small purpose for that a fisher which at that time did fish the riuer discouered the whole matter vnto Traiane in suche manner that there is nothing so much hidden that humaine couetousnes doth not discouer Those treasures being brought into Traianes power he diuided thereof amongest his armies vnto euerie man according to the merites of his seruice and of his owne share the first that he commaunded was to builde a most sumptuous temple vnto the God Iupiter wherein he left prouided that for him selfe and the people of Rome yearely sacrifice to be offered He reedified there also the royall house that is to say where the kings of Datia did vse to be resident whiche for the antiqutie thereof was somewhat decayed and through continuall warres not well repayred a worke most certeinely delectable to behold and pleasant to dwell in He repaired also many decayed bridges and mylles vpon high wayes he renued their broken calseys in all places he did build newe houses and reedified others infinite that were burnt He brake and made plaine many wayes vpon the sharpe moūtaines and raysed many newe fortes and renued the old finally you might hardly trauell a league throughout all the kingdome wherein shoulde not be found some notable worke of Traiane Not yet all satisfied he built vpon the riuer of Danubie a bridge of stone which was so curious in the building and so costly in the making that fewe works did match it but none did passe it That bridge contained twentie arches in length and euery piller of one square stone and the arches were of the height of an hundred and fiftie foote wrought without cymet and the distaunce betwixt the pillers were a hundred thréescore and two foote and the breadth of the arches aloft was fortie foote and aboue all the rest the singularitie of the mould and fashion was to be considered and the richnesse of the stone to be regarded bycause the stone was of such glosse that in iudgement it deserued to be set in plate It séemed incredible to mans iudgement for a bridge to be made vpon that riuer bicause the streame was broad déepe in course very swifte and aboue all the rest on no side it might be turned out of his chanell to the end it might be drie at any time to lay the cymet That building was so extreme or to say better so monstrous that it néeded to make experiēce of al high iudgements and capacities and the Romaines there to shewe their strengthes and Traiane there to spend his treasure bicause in the worke there required great potencie and in the order thereof great industrie it is verie small that the penne can magnifie in respect of the wonder which he séeth that beholdeth the same for the better credite therof at these dayes the pillers giue a muster vpon the fierce waters declaring the pryde of his power and the riches of the emperour Traiane would with that edifice giue terrour vnto the liuing and admiration to his posteritie to giue manifest argument that any thing may not be so impossible eyther so hard that with mans hand may not be enterprised and with the riches of Rome might not be finished The cause that moued Traian to build this costly bridge so monstrous was as they say to the end the barbarous people on the other side Danubie might come to fight with the Romaines although the riuer were ouerflowen and also that the Romaines that remained there shuld not giue them selues to pleasure and idlenesse when they considered them selues to be in the eye of the enimie The Emperour Domitian had no suche mynde and valiantnesse whiche for feare that the barbarous people should come to fight with the Romaine hoast cōmaunded the arches of that bridge to be ouerthrowne in such wise that the one made a bridge to prouoke the enimie to fight and the other did raze the same for feare of battell CHAP. XIIII Of the seconde entring of Rome by the Emperour Traiane and the notable thing which he did in the same IN finishing the warrs in giuing order for the Prouince in diuiding the countries and in yealding perfection vnto all his workes and buildings Traiane was deteined in Datia more then thrée yeares in which as he after did report great were the trauels and perils wherein he did sée his person and not small were the expences that he made of his goods The victories that Traiane had obteined being knowne vnto the Barbarians that did inhabite the other side of Danubie the mightie buildings that he had made the great rewardes that he had giuen and the clemencie that with prisoners he had vsed sent their ambassadours vnto Traiane who with verie good will did set down with him a perpetual peace amitie bound them selues to kéepe and defend for him the kingdome of Datia Incredible was the loue that all those nations did beare vnto Traiane which was well knowne when he departed from that countrie to goe vnto Rome in that by all cities where he did passe and by all wayes where he did trauell so great were the teares and cries vttered by all persons that it séemed the grounde to tremble In respect of the great largesse and prowesse that Traiane had perfourmed in those Prouinces it was no maruell that his departing was so be wailed bicause with his great benefites he had won their hearts and with his great and sumptuous buildings he had ennobled his people Vniuersally of al friends and enimies neuer prince as Traiane was so much feared in warres either loued in peace The cause wherby Traiane obteined so great loue and to be so well liked and in such especial grace with al men was that with his frends he neuer vsed negligence and also in readinesse and straite reckoning with his enimies in such wise that such as stood in his disgrace by his wordes they had to vnderstand therof but vnto such as did bende to serue him both in worde and déede he did manifest the same They were infinite that praised Traiane in that he had ben pitiful with them but none did cōplaine that he had found him ingrate Ennius Priscus a noble aunciēt Romaine demaūded of the
thereof In the place where olde Carthage stoode Traiane did builde a castle more faire then strong and erected therein two counterfets the one of Hanibal the Carthaginian and the other of Scipio the African but presently vpon his departing from that countrie the pyrates layde it flat on the earth Incontinent after Traiane had arriued into Africa there grewe a generall pestilence throughout the same for whiche cause he coulde neyther goe to sée that he desired eyther perfourme that whiche he determined And as the pestilence grewe so cruel Traiane was constrained to retyre vnto the port of Bona which was somwhat more sound and from thence he sent for the principals of the Numidians and also of the Mauritans who incontinently in presence of Traiane were made friends and left and committed into his onely handes all their affaires Amongest all the Princes of this worlde Traiane obteined this excellencie That neuer man came into his presence that denied him that whiche he craued eyther disobeyed him wherein he commaunded bycause in his commaundements hee was verie wise and in requesting verie humble Traiane thought to haue stayed in Africa more then two yeares and yet remained there but foure monethes and as he sayde afterwardes that if the pestilence had giuen no impediment he would of him self haue lefte as great memoriall in Africa as he did in Datia Traiane tooke sayle at the porte of Bona and came by the streightes to Cadix whiche is nowe called Calize a citie of Spaine wherein he had béene bred and from whence being a verie young man he had departed Traiane gaue many Priuileges vnto the Gauditains as vnto his naturall friendes amongest whiche two were most notable namely that they shoulde be citizens of Rome and paye no custome or tribute for any merchandize whiche they transported Traiane did builde in Calize a most sumptuous temple vnto God Genius whiche the Romaines helde for the God of byrthe He made also a calsey of stone along the shoare but it was not all finished when by the furie of the water it was all destroyed He intended to repayre the pillers of Hercules whiche by their great antiquitie were then consumed and being persuaded by certaine persons to erect others in his owne name to the ende that in time to come they might be called the pillers of Traiane and not of Hercules he answered that whiche I ought to doe is that as Hercules came from Graecia vnto Spaine to obtaine honour so ought I from Spaine to goe into Graecia to winne fame Traiane commaunded the bridge of Alcantara in Spaine to be made a worke that lasteth to this our age wherein concurreth statelinesse subtiltie cunning and profite He made another bridge vpon the riuer Teio neare vnto Ystobriga and is the bridge that nowe is broken at the bankes of Halconeta Traiane commaunded the way named Publius to be continued being the waye that nowe is called in Spaine the Calsey that goeth from Ciuil vnto Salamanca and is named the Publian waye whiche is to say the waye of Publius for that the firste that beganne the same was Publius Fabatus one of the Consuls that fought with Viriato That which Traiane made of that calsey little more or lesse was from the Casar of Casares vntil within a league of the vents of Capara whiche be lodging or bayting places and so to be vnderstoode not bicause the histories do clearely report thereof but by the pillers which vpon that way be erected which say in their grauen letters that they were placed there in the dayes of Traiane And he that will be curious to goe and sée as I many times haue gone to sée and reade and also to measure shal finde within the sayde boundes the name of no other Prince but of Traiane and before the Casur which is a towne neyther after the vents of Caparra which be lodgings vpon no piller shall they finde Traiane written The cause wherefore the Consul Publius Fabatus did raise that calsey was to make a diuision betwixt the Vetical Prouince which is Andaluzia and the Prouince of Lusitania which is Portugal diuiding from Ciuil to Salamanca all on the left hand of the calsey in olde time being Lusitania and all on the right hande Andaluzia Betwixt the Proconsul of Betica and the Proconsul of Lusitania there did arise great contention vppon the diuision of their boundes wherevpon this large and sumptuous calsey was erected and perfourmed Vpon the riuer of Gadiana Traiane commaunded a long bridge to be made on the middest whereof he built a market place for the merchants of both people to trade and concurre This bridge appertaineth to the citie of Merida which at this day appeareth verie large and had in the middest thereof a diuision stretching vppe into the riuer the hurle of a stone whiche on both sides came backe vnto the bridge continued directed and sustained by walles in the compasse wherof was the place or market When the Greeks did first giue foundation vnto Merida they made therein two streates and the riuer Gadiana betwixt them both and where Merida nowe standeth was the stronger and that on the other side the riuer was more delectable in suche wise that they helde the one to retyre vnto in time of warre and the other to delight in time of peace As the Consul Publius Fabatus made diuision of Portugal and Andaluzia the streate on the other side the riuer fell to the Prouince of Lusitania and the streate which is nowe Merida fell to the Prouince of Betica and frō thenceforth there was alwayes betwixt thē great contention in such wise that they ouerthrew the bridge that stoode in the middst of the citie and the coyne that in times past had ben currant they made of no value betwixt them This good Emperour Traiane meaning to cut off these so old enimities made in the midst of the citie vpon Gadiana the bridge that nowe is and to remoue all quarels for walking in eache others streates he made a market place in the midst of the bridge where they should congregate talk and traffike of their merchandize The prosperitie of Merida continued vntil the time that the Gothes entered Spaine whiche holding warre with the Silingues being in those dayes Lordes of Andaluzia fortifying them selues in Merida by the Gothes were there ouercome and those generous sumptuous and auncient buildings throwen flat vpon the earth In no citie of all Europe did ioyntly concurre foure buildings suche as Merida helde that is to say a stately college certaine conduites and arches for conueyaunce of waters a temple of Diana and a bridge that contained a great and large market place which continued in building many yeares and perished in one day CHAP. XVI Howe Traiane did passe out of Spaine into Asia and the manner that he vsed in the warres AFter that Traiane had visited in Spaine the Prouince of Betica of Lusitania and the Prouince of Carpentania he came through the prouince of Tarragona in which
learned and expert that for excellencie therein in Rome they named him the Greeke childe for that he was as readie in the Greeke tongue as others in the Romaine speache At the age of xvi yeares he had a desire to passe into Spaine to sée his olde countrie he arriued at Calize where his mother was borne and from whence Traiane was natiue and there leauing his letters did exercise him selfe in armes because in those dayes the Spaniardes had there a famous studie of science and the Romaines helde there a schoole for the warres Adrian bothe in leaping and running was verie light wherein it is sayd of him that he ranne for many wagers and not a fewe times by running and leaping did winne to supply his necessitie He greatly delighted to ride swift running horses and did much presume to iudge and make choyce of them and after in his olde age he would vaunt and say of him selfe that he neuer roade in coche mule or other beast but an horse In the time of Adrian his youth he was an enimie to idlenesse and also of them that were giuen therevnto and many times sayde that he remembred not since the age of tenne yeares whether hee stoode still or walked by the way that he had not eyther a booke to reade in or some weapō to fight with Adrian was naturally sharpe of wit and of great life most apparant in that he was not satisfied to knowe what some men did knowe but trauelled to haue skill in all things that men vnderstoode with Philosophers he woulde dispute with maisters at weapons he woulde fight with artificers he would worke and with painters he would paint Adrian did praise him selfe and according to writings of olde time he had great reason so to do bycause there was no Art science occupation or inuention in the worlde that he knew not or at the least did not trauell to knowe When Adrian was young he was but of small patience for that he indured not any to excell him neyther yet to compare with him and rare was that quarell which he did not make or mainteine When Tatian Adrians tutor did reprehend him for his impatience and bycause he was not mylde as the young man his cousen Emilius he made answere My cousen Emilius is not patient but for that he is a coward and I by quarelling am become valiaunt Neyther being a childe or growne to more yeares Adrian vsed not to breake foorth into foule wordes although they sayde or did him great iniuries but indéede although his toung were slowe his handes were very ready Adrian was of a sound bodie except that sometimes he complained of his left eare and that one of his eyes at times did water but two euils did not hinder his hearing much lesse his sight CHAP. II. Of some euill inclinations that possessed and had power in Adrian THe Emperour Adrian did muche delight in hunting which he did not exercise in the plaines but in mountaines for he tooke no care to flée with haukes but to fight with fierce beastes to make a shewe of his valiauntnesse So giuen and so venterous was Adrian in his chace that with great reason I will not say did reproue but note the time that he consumed and that not onely for much time he spent therein but for that many times he was in great daunger It hapned somtimes that in following the chace of wilde beasts Adrian did loose himself in those rough and craggie moūtaines wherof there folowed not a few times that he would haue eaten if he had had breade and woulde haue dranke if he had had water When he went to hunt he carried his crosbowe to shoote his quiuer of quarels and his wallet of victuals and alwayes did place him in the pace where the beast should passe and had so little feare and so desirous of chace that if it were a beare he did execute some aduenture and if it were a Lion he did abide him It is not read that he siue any Lion but one but beares and other cruell beastes that he siue with his owne hands were infinite Adrian followed most fiercely a certaine beast with so great desire and did so trauel to attain the same that he fell ouer a rocke put his shoulder out of ioynt brake one of his legs and cast much bloud out of his mouth In the Prouince of Misia Adrian built a citie which he did name The chace of Adrian bicause there he vsed to pitch his Pauilion and from thence at mornings he went foorth to hunt and at night did returne to bed He had an horsse very ready for hunting which would staye and make ready as a man when he vnderstoode the chace comming and therewithall ranne as sure downe the hill as vp the hill This horsse was named Borystenes which being deade Adrian did not only cause to be buried with muche honour but also commaunded for the same a very riche sepulchre of Marble to be made and erected Adrian did muche estéeme and delight to paynt figures and counterfets very naturally and to graue in Marble with great skil and deuice sometimes in waxe to make newe inuentions and was in these Arts so curious that he made the Goddesse Venus in Alabaster and with a pencill did paint the wars of Carthage and of ware did fourme the whole Island Creta And albeit that in these things he were readie and expert ioyntly therewith he was very ambitious bycause he had as great enuie and also rancour at an artificer which was sayde to paynt or worke more curiously then him selfe as if the maintenance of his liuing had consisted therein There were in Rome two excellent men the one named Dionysius the other Milesius men right famous in the liberall Arts for that many in Rome did frequent their studies but muche more did peayse their workes Adrian did take thereof so great enuie that although he found no cause to kill them he wanted not occasion to banish them A certaine skilfull carpenter in drawing plots for buildings being in some question with the Emperour Traiane of the fourme and manner of placing of a staire Adrian being present sayd his iudgement somwhat besides the purpose whervnto the carpenter Polydorus answered Maister Adrian if your cunning did not serue you better to paint gourdes and coocumers then to place staires you shuld obteine a smal credite amōgst painters as you haue amongst artificers Although Adrian could dissemble those words he might not in any wise forget them for after the death of Traiane he attaining the empire those iniurious words were no more costly vnto the sorrowfull Polydorus but to serue Adrian for sufficient reuenge to take away his life Adrian being so great a Grecian and also a Latinist compounded certaine workes in Heroicall metre as also in prease did muche delight to haue them praised could not indure but the some must read them In those daies the Gréek tong flourishing in Rome brought the of
succéede him in his Monarchie answered Vnto the most worthy Traiane made a memoriall of all the most vertuous wise and of most worthinesse within the Empire and ioyntly therewith caused to be written of them seuerall Orations in Gréeke and Latine and he him selfe did adde with his owne hande what he thought agréeable to their conditions and abilities To the ende that after his dayes the Senate might open and reade the same and from thence to make election not of him that did most procure but that did best deserue At one time a certaine Consul named Neratius Priscus was greatly in his fauour vnto whom he had thought to haue left the Empire in so much the one day Traiane said vnto him Neratius Priscus from hencefoorth I comend the Empire vnto thée if any sorrowfull or souden destinie shall happen vnto me All such as did withstande the adoption of Adrian did fauour the election of Neratius Priscus but Fortune that should haue framed the effect brought Neratius into Traianes great hatred not a little to the profite of Adrian bycause from thence foorth although their remained enimies to hinder his intent none as an opposite durst demaunde the same When Traiane passed from Spaine into Asia to the wars of the Parthians Plotina and Surus made great suite that Adrian might be sente as Pretour into Syria whoe being in Antioche was aduertised by a messinger from Traiane which in times past had bene his tutor how he was elected to be Traianes sonne and assigned his successour in the Empire Excéeding was the ioy that Adrian receiued with that newes which he did vtter in such excessiue manner and degrée that presently he did celebrate with great games and feastes the day of his natiuitie and not only vpon that day but euery yeare all the dayes of his life bicause it was the thing that his heart most desired and for the attainement whereof he had imployed his greatest skill and strength At that time were Consuls Sosius and Pretorius with whome Adrian entered newe friendshippe and the ende wherefore he did vndertake this newe affection was that as Plotina Surus did solicite procure the Empire with Traiane so those two Consuls shuld subsist him in the Senate in such wise that if he did watch to obtaine it he did ouerwatch to sustaine it Not long after that Adrian was adopted that is to say after fourtéene monethes Traiane dyed presently Plotina his wife and the Consul Tatianus being chiefe friendes vnto Adrian did take order and vse great diligence that Adrians admission vnto the Empire might first be notified and knowne in Rome before the death of the Emperour Traiane whiche was concealed and couered for certaine dayes saying that he was so sicke that he would not be visited vntill they were possest of the power of the armies and had obteined the good will of the Senate Adrian did write vnto the Senatours giuing them to vnderstand that Traiane was at the point of death and that also he was assigned and adopted to be his successour and heire in the Empire and did right instantly request them to take the same in good parte and therevppon did promise and sweare vnto them to diuide or giue offices but at their owne liking and consent CHAP. VI. Howe at Traianes death Adrian was declared Emperour THe newes of Traianes death being arriued at Rome presently it was published that the succession of the empire was cōmitted vnto Adrian vpon the confirmation or refusal of this election there arose no smal contention in the Senate and the matter so far argued prosecuted by his friendes and so resisted by his enimies that it gaue no small doubt of intestine warrs no lesse cruell then the warres betwixt Caesar and Pompey The seruaunts of Traiane the friends of Plotina and the kinred and alies of Tatian did vse suche diligence in this case that within thrée dayes they confirmed Adrian in the Empire and the greatest cause to moue the Senate therevnto was that they had intelligence that Adrian was in Syria in full power possession and authoritie of the whole armie and might haue bene constrained to yealde by force which they refused to perfourme by good will. Presently after Adrian was confirmed in the Empire he did write vnto the Senate gratifying their friendly fact and requesting that Traiane might be collocate amongst the Gods since he had bene a Prince so diuine whereto the Senate gladly consented saying that although Traiane had finished his life for euermore in Rome his fame shoulde indure In memorie that Traiane had ouercome the Parthians they ordeined that euery yeare the Parthik playes should be celebrated in Rome which indured amongst the Romains many yeres but in fine they and their playes had an end Before all thinges Adrian gaue order that the body of Traiane might be brought into Italie where it shoulde be giuen a generous sepulchre and to effectuate the same commanded his ashes to be inclosed in a boxe of Vnicorne which also was inclosed with golde and placed in a piller of most excellent marble lyned with most rich purple all which being ladē into a gallie he sent Tatian and Plotina with the body vnto Rome al Rome went foorth to receiue the body of Traiane and as it is sayd and written there was neuer so muche ioy vttered for any man that entered being aliue but muche more sorrowe was discouered for Traianes comming deade Adrian stayed in Antioche whiche is the heade of Syria partly to assemble the whole armie and partly to recouer money for being then winter he could neyther campe for coldenesse of the weather eyther marche or iourney for want of money Adrian was there aduertised howe the Mauritans did defie him the Sarmatians did mutinate the Britans did rebell the Palestines resist the Aegyptians disobey and that all the Barbarians were in commotion Finally it is to be vnderstoode that vpon the death of Traiane al people and nations were so escandalized that it séemed not but that he left the world without a maister or an owner Adrian perceiuing the greater part of the Empire in commotion determined to make them no war but to intreate them by peace and for this cause he refused and forsooke al those kingdomes and Prouinces that lay beyond the riuer Euphrates and the riuer Tygris which the good Traiane had wonne and conquered in which conquest he imployed his noble person and gaue ende vnto his honourable life Vnto all kingdomes and Prouinces Adrian sent Embassadours to confederate with some and to confirme peace with others and with some he did capitulate thinges so slaunderous and with so great disaduauntage that it had bene much better to haue raysed warre then to haue procured a peace so infamous Parsnapate king of the Parthians came to complaine vnto Adrian saying that the good Traiane had giuen him that kingdome and crowned him with his owne hands and now vpon the death of Traiane they would neyther obey him or suffer
and promise for from that day wherein Princes shal vnable thē selues to punishe vice and sinne from thenceforth their vassals shal followe wickednesse In the yere that Adrian entred Rome all thinges were deare and the people not sounde or in health who vsing greate magnificence commaunded much money to be giuen to the poore of the common wealth in such wise that it was not founde that any died for hunger either suffered any extreme necessitie There were many that had béene banished and diuerse in prison for debt due vnto the Fiscall that is to saye vnto his chamber Adrian gaue commaundement by publique proclamation that all such debtes should be absolued and that for any such debte none should be runnagates either kept in prison Adrian did derogate the law custome of his predecessours which is to wéet that the goods of the condemned should be for the Prince which he commaunded from thenceforth to be imployed not to his chāber but to the comfort of the common wealth for he saide and helde opinion that the Iudge should neuer be grieued to punishe offendours when he should remember to inherite a share of the offendours goods He extremely delighted when any person came to craue and much more did reioyce if he had to giue but if by chaunce he had not to satisfie his demaund at the least he gaue him a friendly aunswer From the time that Adrian was in possession of the Empire he was neuer heard to say or name Traiane but my Lord Traiane CHAP. VIII ¶ Of the good conditions and inclinations of Adrian WIth much diligence and no lesse secrecie Adrian inquired what life the Senatours did leade and what exercise they vsed and such as he found poore and vertuous he augmented their patrimonie and such as he found riche and vicious he found meane to depriue them from the Senate Adrian was a Prince verie skilfull and muche considerate in punishing his officers and seruauntes that is to saye he kept secrete from the people the causes why he remoued any person from his office And further if he displaced any person from his commoditie he did not forget otherwise to recompence him in such maner that if he did chastice them he did not dishonor them Many times did Adrian speake these woordes Whome I shal see esteemed and worshipped in the common wealth I wil rather determin to take away his hed then his honour The rēts which the good Traiane left in many partes of Italie for the bréeding of children the sustaining of widowes the marriage of Orphans he did not only confirme but also made better All the seruants of Traiane he did aduaunce to better offices such as were not méete for offices he gaue thē money Adrian commaunded serch to be made how many noble men were falne into pouertie such as were decayed by mischaunce he relieued such as procured pouertie by vice he gaue them leaue to endure necessitie He gaue help to al the Romaine widowes to marrie their daughters he was not more boūtiful in giuing relief vnto the daughters then he was an enimie to succour the sonnes for he helde opinion that that young man deserued not to be married that with his handes did not obteine a marriage By thrée dayes space he did celebrate the feast of the god Genius that is to saye the daye of his birthe and commaūded vpon those dayes to giue pitances vnto all the people and he with all the Senatours and nobles did eate and banquet in his imperiall palace the cost whereof did not amount vnto so little but as they were thrée if they had béene sixe the rentes of the whole Empire had béen spent and parte of their treasure By the space of sixe continuall dayes he did cause them to represent the game of swoorde players and the people craued certeine other playes which he would not consent not for that he delighted not therein but to giue them to vnderstand in Rome that it appertained vnto Princes as much to moderate their pleasures as to giue order for thinges of importance Before Adrian was Emperour he was thrise Consul for which cause he made diuers Romaines thrée times Consuls and whereas some were offended for want of like fauour he did aunswer Such as did exceede mee in merite ought to be equall with mee in dignitie Within the compasse of Rome neuer before the dayes of Adrian were permitted more then two Consuls the one to gouerne the common wealth the other to go to the warres but Adrian did adde and create a thirde Consul for that if the one should be sicke and the other resident in the warres the common wealth shoulde not remaine without an head Tutinus a noble knight of Rome Adrian did create Senatour and gaue him the ensignes of Consul whereat the whole Senate was offended affirming that the Emperour ought or might not create in such manner partely because Tutinus was not of deseruing and partly for that the aduise of the Senate should haue béene vsed therein Adrian was displeased with these wordes of the Romaines and from thence foorth did vse more libertie in reparting offices and lesse companye in determining causes He helde Seuerianus in greate veneration which had married his sister vnto whome he gaue both honour and great rewardes and at all times when Seuerianus came vnto his chamber to conferre and to vnderstand his pleasure Adrian came foorth to méete and receiue him at the doore Although Seuerianus came to visite Adrian and Adrian came foorth to receiue Seuerianus yet auncient and very mortall was the hatred betwixt them for in this case either of them did vtter and discouer to be possessed with a moste vile intent for that Seuerianus did trauaile to depriue Adrian from Empire and honour and Adrian with no lesse facilitie did take away his life When Adrian was in Rome at the least he went thrise a wéeke vnto the Senate and if he were either sicke or muche busied they did repaire vnto his presence in such maner that nothing of importance did passe in the Senate wherein they did not vse his iudgement Adrian was of familiar conuersation with his speciall friendes and with his particular seruaunts with whome he went to eate in their gardeines to fishe at riuers to hunt in the fieldes and all other such like pastimes Naturally he was giuen to haue compassion of the sicke and herein he did neither consider whether they were friends or foes for that indifferently he did visite them and at his owne charges did prouide for them He did not onely visite the sicke but also the olde men decrepite with age of whome at large he woulde inquire of the yeres that they had liued the kingdomes they had trauelled the daungers they had passed the enimies which they had helde the necessities that they had endured in suche wise that many times of the things which they had saide of times past he tooke example for the time
him or his maister also with great pitie prouided for his cure of which déed Adrian was praised for valiant and pitifull Also in the prouince of Taragon they had coteÌ„tion for their bounds wherein Adrian prouided to plant lande markes of stone after the maner of pillers to the ende that they shoulde neither be stolne or chaunged CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Adrian did passe into Asia and of the things that chaunced there ALl the prouinces of Spaine being visited Adrian made his nauigation by the Sea Mediterrane vnto the Isle of Sicyl where he mounted the hill Aetna to behold the marueilous thinges therein conteined from whence he descended more in feare and abashed then either instructed or satisfied Adrian being descended from the hill Aetna astonied wearied and also derided staide not in that kingdome but to visite the woorkes of the good Traiane which he did amplifie with buyldinges and indued with patrimonies Adrian being resident in Sicyl vnderstoode that Asterlike the greatest lorde of Germanie was dead in whose place he presently created a king whom he sent to gouerne the same bothe well receiued and better obeyed bycause the Germaines helde them selues escandalized in that they had not kinges to gouerne them but Consuls to chastice them The Mauritans and the Numidians being diuided in cruell dissention and vnderstanding that Adrian was in Sicyl readie to passe into Africa amongest them selues they cut off all causes of warre and concluded an assured peace At that time also the Parthians soudeinly did arme them selues came into the fielde made captaines and fortified their frontiers and brought their seigniorie to be ouer the Romaines and not the Romaines ouer the Parthians Adrian being aduertised of this commotion prepared a greate armie to passe into Asia and also did write vnto the Parthians giuing to vnderstand that he helde them as his friendes and the Senate estéemed them as brethren and not as vassals wherewith the Barbarians were so muche satisfied that presently they left their armour and proclaimed peace throughout the lands Notwithstanding he was aduertised of the Parthians retire he alwayes continued his nauigation into Asia and descended first in Achaia and entred Elusin a famous citie of that prouince and leading a great armie possessing but little money he seazed the sacred thinges of the temples saying that he did it not as a Romain Prince but as a Grecian for that Hercules and Philip béeing Greeke Princes had first done and attempted the same He alone did enter the temples of Asia which was holden for great valiantnesse because without armour he entred amongest the armed Priestes and being demaunded why he would enter to robbe those temples alone and vnarmed aunswered because from our barbarous enimies we take by violence but from the Gods by request Adrian departed also vnto Athens and curiously did consider the order of their studies and the maner of their life and saide that in Athens there was nothing perfect but Agonata the swoorde player because he had greater readinesse and skill to playe with the swoorde then the Philosophers in teaching Sciences Whiche notwithstanding he did greatly honour the Philosophers and to some townes he gaue great liberties from thence he returned to Rome where he stayed but to visite to honour and also to bewaile and mourne vppon the tumbe of Plotina Which being finished Adrian againe went into Sicyl and from thence into Africa where he did visit many townes and cities reedified certeine buyldinges banished diuers Numidians and also Mauritanes for their mutinies From thence he did passe once more into Asia streight vnto Athens where he finished a certeine temple which he had begonne dedicating the same vnto the God Iupiter wherein he did ingraue the Image of Traiane did paint with his owne handes the figure of Plotina his moste especiall souereigne ladye and mistresse The greatest exercise that Adrian did vse in Asia was in buylding repairing and consecrating temples wherein he did place his name and paint with the pencill or else in Alabaster did graue his figure Adrian feasted and made a greate banquet vnto king Cosdroe at that time king of Parthians also did restore him his daughter which was committed for hostage vnto the good Traiane and a litter curiously wrought with siluer golde and Vnicorne and gaue him also many other iewels Many kinges of Asia and other greate Princes came to visite and to honour Adrian who gaue them all so noble entertainement and so highly rewarded them that greate was the honour and magnificence he obtained amongest them Pharasmano king of the Albans refusinge to visite the Emperour Adrian and to renue the league made betwixt him and the good Traiane not many dayes after Adrian wanted not occasion to dispossesse him of his estate and to banishe him all Asia constrained thereby to craue vpon his knees which would haue béen giuen him sitting in his chayre Adrian traueiling and iourneying throughout Asia visiting his presidentes procurors and chiefe officers finding amongest them faultes of great enormitie did punishe the same with moste cruell chastisementes The cause is not vnknowen of the displeasure that Adrian did beare vnto Antioche which hatred was so greate that he trauailed to diuide Syria from Phoenicia to the ende that Antioche shoulde not be the head of so many prouinces Visiting also the whole countrie of Arabia he came vnto the renoumed citie of Peluno onely to visite the sepulture of the great Pompeius which he renued and enriched and also did offer greate and sumptuous sacrificâ—s in the honour of the great Pompeius wherof the Romaine people being aduertised receiued no small delight He did not onely honour the sepulture of Pompeius but also gaue greate rewardes vnto the people of Pelusio because they had that sepulchre in reuerence placing vppon the sepulchre with his owne handes this verse as followeth Ossa viri magni tenni quam blausa sepulchro Howe small a tumbe of lime and stones Conteines a valiant warriours bones CHAP. XII ¶ Of the great liberalitie that Adrian vsed and some cruelties that he committed ONe of the thinges wherin the Emperour Adrian deserued most iustly to be praised was that with al meÌ„ he vsed great magnificence and liberalitie for that naturally in receiuing he was a niggard but in giuing very bountifull There was not euer any thing demaunded that he gaue not if it were not preuented by some others suite which alwayes he did recomfort with hope for time to come The rewardes of his noblenesse was the gift of townes cities castles Prouinces kingdomes mountaines riuers flockes or heardes salt marishes milles offices and not onely such as hapned in the gouernement of the common wealth but also he gaue the horsses out of his stable the garments for his person the prouision for his dispences and the money for his chamber in such wise that to deliuer others from necessitie he brought him selfe in to want of prouision Adrian in his life was noted of diuers weaknesses and defections
naturall condition mutinous ambitious importune intermedling quarellous full of garboyle and being aduertised that Enatius was deade he fell into a greate laughter and sware that he could not a little maruell howe he coulde intend to dye considering his great businesse both night and daye A certaine auncient citizen comming vnto the Emperour Adrian for certaine suites and causes propounding his demaunde and also replying an answere without intermission remouing without all manner any meane for the Emperour to speake answered Friende if thou feede on both cheekes we may not eate both together Surely it was an answere very fayre and of great vrbanitie for thereby he gaue him to vnderstande that if he both propounde and answere he could not giue him iustice There was a Senatour in Rome named Fabius Cato of auncient yeares and amongst the people in great credite but ioyntly therewith he was a man of a small stature which would soone be offended and as soone be pleased vnto whome on a time Adrian sayde Since your chimney is so small you must beware to lay much wood vpon the fire for otherwise it will be alwayes smoakie CHAP. XV. Of the thinges that he did woorthy prayse and some other things worthy dispraise THe Emperour Adrian did vse and intreate such as did serue him very well and with great affection but he might not indure them to presume to be ouer priuate for he would say that he held them not to commaund him but to serue him and grewe not a little displeased with such as were not moderate in their déedes and courteous in their wordes Being in Spaine in the citie of Taragon he behelde in a garden one of his meane seruaunts walking betwixt two Senatours vnto whome he commaunded to be giuen a great blowe with this aduertisement The Emperour commandeth this blow to be giuen thee bycause thou shalt be ashamed to presume to walke with such as thou art bound to serue In his dyet he was neyther temperate much lesse a gormound that vsed excesse for that he left not to eate of any thing in respect of health or vertue but without dyet did eate both what and whē he liked In wine he had a good rellish and at times dranke thereof so frankly that he hindered the health of his person and also the credite of his fame There was in his dayes great earthquakes pestilences dearth and hunger in which calamities he shewed him selfe a pitifull Prince and of great magnanimitie bycause in time of hunger he gaue the people wherewith to be susteined and in time of earthquakes money to reedifie He discharged many cities of their whole tributes and to others some part he released in suche wise that in all his Empire there was no citie that newly receiued not some benefite at his hande eyther deliuered not from some olde payment In the first yeare of his Empire the riuer Tyber did so ouerflowe that thrée dayes damage thereof was not repayred in thrée yeares He was of the men of warre much feared for that he did chastise them and no lesse beloued bycause he did pay them The chiefest cause of his great prayse in Chronicles or of writers of histories and the tender affection that the Romaines did beare him procéeded that in time of peace he helde his men of warre in great ciuilitie and in time of warre he gouerned the common wealth as if it had béene in peace Alwayes when the Senatours repayred vnto him eyther to eate or for affaires he did alwayes entertaine them standing and if they were Consuls he came foorth to receiue them and if they were Iudges he did rise when they came before him and if they were officers of the Senate he would somewhat stoupe or nod with the head in suche wise that with all he vsed greate courtesie and in speache and conference no lesse vrbanitie To repaire temples to prouide priestes and to offer sacrifices he was a Prince both carefull and diligent and ioyntly therewith it is to be noted he consented not to the inuention of newe deuices and muche lesse did he admit straunge customes CHAP. XVI Whome Adrian did adopt to succeede him in his Empire AFter the Emperour Adrian had trauelled in a manner throughout the world by sea and lande and passed both colde and heate he fell into a grieuous sicknesse he himselfe giuing occasion therof for that in his dyet either in the time of heate or colde did sildome or hardly vse any order Presently vpon his sicknesse his heart was touched with great care vpon the determination whom he should adopt to the succession of the Empire bycause many did followe him that did much desire it but verie fewe that did deserue it The death of Seuerian Dion doth report was after this manner Adrian on a certaine daye at his dinner sayd vnto the Consuls that sate at his table I would haue you name me ten men in science learned and sincere of life vnto one of which I may commend after my dayes the estate of the common wealth They all vsing silence vnto that demaund Adrian sayd reckon me but nine for I haue one and such a one as is my brother in lawe Seuerian for that he hath both age and grauitie After a fewe dayes that these things did passe Adrian being in great daunger through a fluxe of bloude that brake foorth without ceassing at his nose doubting that first his life shoulde haue finished before the bloude would haue staunched did point with his finger Lucius Cōmodus to be his successour And after recouering more health he was aduertised that Seuerian and Fuscus his nephew continued murmuring at that whiche he had commaunded and that vnto him the Empire was not directed Adrian beganne to disdaine and abhorre him with great hatred This Seuerian of the age of ninetie yeares Adrian commaunded to be slaine bycause he set him selfe in the imperiall chaire and gaue vnto such as were in fauour with the Emperour a solemne supper and bycause in secrete he had conference with the capteines of warres Before that Seuerian dyed hée determined to haue giuen the Empire vnto the Consul Fuscus which was his nephewe but when Adrian vnderstoode that Fuscus had conference with Magicians and Soothsayers to be aduertised if he should inioy the Empire he put him to death in suche wise that he both lost the inheritaunce and also his life Pletorius Metus came to visite Adrian in his sicknesse which being his great frend he would neither heare nor sée bicause he did imagine that he came not to visite but to inherite Gentian the Consul a noble and auncient Romaine also he persecuted for no other cause but for that he vnderstoode he was both liked and honoured of the Senate and that all men did hope hée shoulde succéede him in the Empire The Emperour Adrian did neuer shewe him selfe so cruell in his life as he did somewhat before his death bycause all those that he thought did hope to succéede him in the Empire
he commaunded to be banished or slayne Being sicke in a village named Tiburtina of a fluxe of bloude where he remained many dayes bothe desperate vnruly and out of temper for that he had no patience to thinke that he shoulde dye and an other shoulde succéede him There was alwayes some vnkindnesse betwixt him and the emperesse Sabina but in the end Adrian vsed such skill that secretly he gaue poyson vnto his wife Sabina whereby she finished his life and he lost his suspicion When Adrian perceiued that of necessitie he must néeds dye and that an other must haue his Empire he appointed Cenoio for his successour sonne in lawe vnto Niger and this he did against the mindes of all them whiche did serue him and also of all such as did best loue him bicause many others séemed to be of more deseruing and also of more abilitie to gouerne the Empire Vnto this Cenoio he gaue the name of Elio vero Caesar and to the ende it should be gratefull vnto the people and confirmed of the Senate he gaue them the Circen playes which was vnto them very acceptable did distribute throughout Rome foure thousand Sextercies Presently vpon the adoptiō of Cenoio he gaue him the Pretourship he placed him before the Panoniaes which were admitted to goe next his person did create him the second time Consul did set him at his owne table and did permit to accompanie him in the litter finally Adrian did intreate him as his sonne and all did serue him as their Lord. Presently after that Cenoio was adopted he fell sicke of the disease of death in suche wise as he had not leasure to giue thankes vnto the Senate whereof Adrian being aduertised sayde vnto the Senate Vnto a weake wall were we stated that day when Cenoio was elected Cenoio dyed in the Kalends of Ianuarie for which cause he was not bewailed of the people for that moneth being dedicated vnto the God Ianus no Romaine durst bewaile the dead eyther vtter any sorrowes for the liuing Adrian finding him selfe more oppressed with infirmitie did adopt and declare Antoninus Pius his successour vpon condition that he should adopt the good Marcus Aurelius and his brother Annius Verus The adoption of Antoninus was displeasant vnto som but especially vnto Attilius Seuerus who with great care did solicite the Empire for him selfe and at that time being Prefect of the citie some he did corrupt with money and some with faire promises but Adrian being aduertised of the web that Attilius had in hande did not commaund him to be slaine but to be banished all Italie CHAP. XVII Howe and where the Emperour Adrian dyed ON the day that Adrian commaunded the olde Seuerian to be put to death before the executioner came to cut his throte in a vessel he put certaine coles adding thervnto some incense lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen he said You immortall Gods I take to witnesse if I be culpable wherein I am accused and for which this daye I am condemned and put to death and ioyntly therewith I request and beseech you that in testimonie of my innocencie ye giue me no other reuengement but that when Adrian shall desire to dye he may not dye For the time that the Consul Seuerian was executed Adrian neuer inioyed one day of health but many times desired to dye and sought occasions to kyll him selfe but Antoninus Pius vnderstanding thereof commaunded him to be guarded by daye and watched by night Being assayled with extreme infirmitie and not able eyther to eate or sléepe he many times sought venome to drinke sometimes he would haue a knife to kill him selfe sometimes he wold not eate by pure hūger to hasten his death whereof the Senate being aduertised they did humbly craue that it might please his excellencie to haue patience in that infirmitie since the Gods were pleased to lengthen his life Adrian was much despited with this suite of the Senate and so much displeased with him that sayd it that he should be taken and put to death Adrian had a Barbar named Mastor both faithfull and valiaunt that did attend on his person when he did hunt being his auncient seruaunt whom he did most instantly desire and secretly threaten to dispatch him of his life but the barbar being terrified to heare such wordes fled out at gates By chaunce he recouered a knife into his handes wherewith he would haue dispatched him selfe but by force it was taken from him but therewith and from thence forwarde more desirous to dye and his life more hatefull vnto him Adrian had also a Physician borne in Africa this man he did most instantly request to minister vnto him some poyson to finish his sorrowful and most wretched life so hatefull vnto him selfe but the Physician was so faithfull vnto his lord not able to resist the suit of his souereigne determined to drink the same to die Adrian holding him self for the most vnfortunat the extremest wretch in distresse that so much desired death and could not but liue most truly the suit of Seuerian vnto the gods was most throughly perfourmed in him that is to say that they woulde inlarge his life when he should desire to dye Antoninus Pius being now declared and confirmed for Caesar and Adrian euery day finding him selfe to growe in weaknesse departed from Rome vnto the port of Baias where he remained vsing many experiences in medicines and Physicke which for his health did little profite and to shorten his life gaue some assistaunce Adrian dyed in that port of Baias the sixt day of Iuly and was buried in a village named Ciceroniana He liued thréescore and two yeares and reigned one and twentie yeares sixe monethes and sixtene dayes Before Adrian dyed he commaunded this verse to be placed vpon his sepulchre Turba medicorum Regem interfecit Which is to say The Emperour Adrian by trusting Physicians gaue so hastie an end vnto his yeares The life of the Emperour Antoninus Pius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mōdonnedo Preacher Chronicler Counseler vnto Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius THe naturall countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius was of Gallia Transalpina whiche is as muche to say of swéete Fraunce and was borne in a citie named Nemesa whiche from the time of Iulius Caesar was established a Colonell of Rome His grandfather was named Titus Fuluius a man both generous and valiaunt who in the times that Iulius Caesar did conquer Fraunce did vtter his greate parcialitie in the behalfe of the Romaine Empire for whiche cause after the warres were ended he came to Rome Titus Fuluius in passing into Italie and setling in Rome had happie and great successe for the Fathers of the Senate besides their recompence for seruice they made him a citizen of Rome He had suche skill to profite him selfe by that libertie and proued so cunning to content the people that within the space of foure
ploughes but he him self would be occupied in sowing corne cutting vines pruning trées and at times would take the plough and make a dozen of furrowes He was extreme in nothing but that in and for all thinges he placed him selfe in the middest which he did very well discouer in the gouernement of his person and estate wherein neither for his prodigall expence he was noted proude either for want of a noble minde estéemed a niggard Many times the Heauens being cleare and a settled faire weather in apparance he would saye vppon suche a daye wee shall haue raine or chaunge of weather wherein he neuer erred and manye times did aduouche that the knowledge thereof procéeded not of science either of Philosophie but of certeine experiences which he gathered when he vsed the labour of the fielde When on a certeine time with his knife he was pruning of a plumb trée in his orcharde ioyning vnto the high way a Senatour saide vnto him since you are an Emperour ceasse to vse the office of a labourer vnto whome Antoninus aunswered it is lesse euil for an Emperour to prune trées in his orcharde then to consume lost time in his palace He was very attentiue to that which was saide and curiously he did consider what others did chiefely to the ende to attaine knowledge for that naturally he was sharpe and of delicate iudgement He was alwayes occupied either in reading studying disputing or doing somethinge with his handes and wherein he wanted skill he disdained not to craue to be taught Alwayes for the more parte he went bare headed through much heate he had therein and one aduising him the ayre of Rome to be very hurtfull and therefore right necessarie to haue his head couered aunswered assure mée from troubles of men on earth and I am assured that nothing shall offende mée which the Gods shal send mée from Heauen He was of him selfe excellent in Musike delighted therein and a greate friende to Musicians Antoninus Pius was suche and so good that all heartes did loue him all toungs did praise him and all suche as did not knowe him but by reporte had him in admiration finally he was compared vnto Numa Pompilius because in him there were not more vertues to be desired either one onely vice to be reprehended CHAP. III. ¶ The workes of pietie which he did and the cause why he was intituled Antoninus Pius ANnius Verus father of the first Faustine and father in lawe vnto Antoninus Pius became so olde that he was not able to sit on horsebacke either to go on foote but that he was led and staide by the arme to saye his opinion in the Senate because from olde putrified men ripe and found counsels do proceede Antoninus Pius beeing the man that delighted to leade his old father did not only giue him way in foule places but in going vp of staires did rather séeme to beare him then leade him Passing on a certeine day and beholding an olde man named Iulianus led vnto prison for debt and vnderstanding the cause he presently payed the same and added a worke of more pittie that payde not onely all his debtes but gaue him also to susteine him his house For that a penall lawe prouided in that behalf that by iustice or otherwise none shuld shead bloud within the compasse of Rome for his cause at the gate Salaria a place deputed for execution of offenders and maisters also did there chastice their seruaunts and thus it chaunced that Antoninus Pius passing that way found there many slaues bounde and beaten moste cruelly he conceiued so great pitie to sée them so beaten without pitie that presently he bought them all and the same daye he bought them the verie same daye he made them frée From his youth it was his inclination to visite the sicke and to accompany suche as were in sorrowe distresse and out of comfort wherein the good Antoninus did so muche vtter the griefe that he had of their griefe he so much sorrowed of their sorrowe that no man did so sensibly féele his owne griefe as he did bewaile the misfortune of others An auncient Romaine widowe which had but one sonne whose misfortune was to kill another young man and being condemned to dye the sorrowfull mother came lamēting wailing and crying vnto the Emperour Antoninus with whome he did so earnestly and so grieuously wéepe as if it had béene his owne sonne And being aduertised by his friendes and his most speciall and priuate seruaunts how euil it became him to wéepe with and like a woman aunswered that sorrowfull woman came to craue helpe and succour for her sonne and for that I may not relieue her with some remedie I did assist to bewaile her mischaunce The Romaines had a custome to leaue the dead bodies of men executed in the fieldes but Antoninus Pius was the first that gaue order for such bodies to be buried affirming it sufficient to take from men their liues and not to féede beastes with their carcases From the time of the proude Tarquine the Romaines held for custome to giue malefactours great tormentes the good Antoninus did take away all tortures wherwith the members of mans bodie was put in daunger saying that the torment was sufficient that were to chastice but not to dismember Fabatus Dioscorus Lipolus Macrinus Fuluius Torquatus Eucenius Bruscos and Emilius whereof foure being Consuls thrée Iudges and two Pretors and banished by Adrian Antoninus gaue them all pardon and for that many did mislike this déede affirming it to be done to the preiudice of the fame and memorie of Adrian he aunswered Adrian my Lorde did not erre in that which he then did and I thinke I do not erre in that which I nowe doe because then he did it to profite him selfe by his iustice as I nowe doe to obteine aduauntage by clemencie Whether so euer he went either in Rome or other places of Italie wéekely he did visite the prisoners and the poore which he found there for debt he commaunded the creditours with his owne money to be payde and after that he had thrée times paide for one man and the fourth time found in prison for debt he commaunded him to be deliuered vnto his creditour for his slaue A fewe dayes after this commaundement his clemencie not able to endure so rigorous Iustice notwithstanding the sentence was moste iust he prouided at his owne cost once more to buy and to giue libertie vnto that poore man As before recited when Adrian was sicke and so distempered with his infirmities that some he commaunded to be taken some banished and some put to death but Antoninus Pius being adopted Augustus and being inuested with the whole gouernement did neither arrest banishe or kill them but onely commaunded to absent them selues and not to appeare in his presence Amongest all the notable workes of pietie that Antoninus did perfourme was that Adrian striuing and watching to kill him selfe Antoninus did ouerwhatche to preserue a liue
the poore and redéeming captiues He was sent on a time by Adrian to visite the Isle of Sicyl in which visitation he reformed many people chasticed many tyraunts depriued many officers remoued many enimities repaired ruinous buildinges did melt manye counterfeit coynes but moste of all in suche manner did gouerne the common wealth that no man remained discontented He was iiij yeares Pretor within Rome he was Consul in Campania with Catilinus Seuerus he was Iudge thrée yeres together in al which offices he was neuer noted either rashe in commaundements or rigorous in his chasticements Adrian diuided all Italie into foure iurisdictions placing in euery one a Consul for gouernement thereof and established Antoninus supreme gouernour of them all in such wise that he helde such authoritie and credite that in Rome all was gouerned by his counsell and in Italie all did obey his commaundementes Were his person farre distant alwayes Adrian and the Senate had his counsell present the cause whereof procéeded of his cleare iudgement in the foundation of that which he saide and through the bountie of his vertue he frankly did speake his opinion Wée saide not without iust cause that by his vertue he did fréely saye his opinion for speaking the very truth he is not onely vniust but verie wicked that hath libertie in his speeche and hath not vertue in his life Exercising in Asia the office of Proconsul he vttered so greate wisedome in his commaundementes and so much without couetousnesse in his dealings that he was intituled the holy proconsul which gouernement amongest strangers by a straunger was a case somewhat straunge because detestation alwayes accompanieth such gouernement Comming from Asia vnto Rome in Antioche he buried his eldest daughter whoe had such fame in her life that after her death she left behinde a slaunderous memorie Wée haue saide howe the wife of Antoninus was named Faustine which was mother vnto the faire Faustine wife vnto Marcus Aurelius and moste truely both mother and daughter were touched with infamie by the meane of too muche libertie and too little vertue It was neuer séene in the Romaine Empire that two so vertuous Princes had wiues so licentious notwithstanding the one was sufficiētly aduised the other corrected but for that they were so gratious in their conuersation and so perfect beautifull of their persons it was very little which was saide vnto them in respect of that which was dissembled Antoninus was so limitted in that which he saide and so aduised in the counsels which he gaue that he neuer repented that demaunded the same Before Antoninus came vnto the Empire he was couetous but afterwardes very liberall and his wife reprehending that he vsed no order in giuing or spending he aunswered Faustine simple is thy iudgement since thou vnderstandest not that after we were aduaunced vnto the Empire we lost all that euer we had because all Princes of noble mindes be bounde to giue but haue no licence to kéepe or hoorde The tribute coronall that is to saye the money that was giuen vnto the Emperours for their coronation the one halfe therof he gaue vnto the cities of Italie to relieue the charges of the common wealth His wife he did both honour and cause to be honoured and it was in such maner that he obtained and brought to passe with the Senate that shée shoulde be intituled Augusta Faustina and in her owne name to graue and stampe certeine money the whiche is séene at these dayes Antoninus was imbraced with so ardent affection of the Senate that without his request they erected the pictures and counterfeits of his father and mother his graundfathers and graundmothers his brothers and sisters notwithstanding they were all dead The Circene playes which were vsed euery fifth yeare the Senate did ordeine to celebrate euery yere on the daye of his natiuitie And after that he therefore had greatly gratified the Senate by greate request he obteyned the celebration of them to be perfourmed on the day of Adrians death The Senate to satisfie Antoninus consented that his wife Faustina shoulde be intituled Augusta and also in the coynes whiche they made vnto her honour there shoulde be ingrauen Augusta Faustina whiche excellencie was neuer graunted to anye Woman of Rome for that in giuing her the title of Augusta they gaue her authoritie to set her hande to the thinges of the common wealth CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe he helde all prouinces in peace not by armes but with letters AMongest al the Romaine Princes there was none that performed so great constancie in his affaires as Antoninus Pius which procéeded for that he was not rashe in his commaundements either variable in his determinations but that exactly he considered and examined what he did commaunde and after for no importunitie would reuoke the same Antoninus being resident in the prouince of Campania sending vnto the Senate to request a certeine matter which notwithstanding the difficultie thereof was graunted Gaius Rufus a Senatour saide vnto him Serene Prince I beséeche thée to giue mée to vnderstande by what reason it is brought to passe that in all thy enterprises thou doest neuer repent in all thy requestes thou art neuer denied either in al thy commaundements thou arte neuer disobeyed To whome Antoninus made aunswere If I repent mée not of any my déedes it is because I do them according to reason and if my requests are not denied of the Senate it is because I craue not but that which is iust and if in my commaundements I am not disobeyed it procéedeth that they are more profitable vnto the common welth then for mine owne person Most truely these were words right worthie of such a mā and to the memorie of Princes most chiefely to be commended It was an auncient custome amongst the Romaines to haue the time limitted for their residence in their offices that is to say the Dictatour sixe monethes the Consul one yere the Pretor two yeres the Censour three yeres the maister of the horssemen halfe a yeare and so of the rest Antoninus woulde not consent vnto this custome but in euery respect did alter the same in such wise that with some that shoulde haue continued but two or thrée yeares he helde them in office seuen or eight yeares and others that shoulde haue continued thrée yeares hee displaced them in thrée monethes affirminge that the good officer ought to be conserued all the dayes of his life but the euill not to be suffered one onely daye He sent Fuluius Tusculanus as Pretor into the prouince of Mauritania whome within half a yere he depriued of his office for that he was bothe impatient some what couetous and complaining of the iniurie saide and alledged that in times past he had béene friend vnto Antoninus which nowe was forgotten Whereunto Antoninus Pius did aunswer thou hast no reason thus vniustly to blame mée because the office was giuen thée by the Emperour and not by Antoninus and since thou diddest offende not as Fuluius but
as Pretor euen so I discharged thée of thine office not as Antoninus thy old friende but as an Emperour of the Romaine Empire He was not inclined to beginne warres either in his owne person to prosecute the same for he holde opinion that the Prince with more sounde counsell shoulde commend his warres vnto his Captaines to the ende in his owne person to gouerne the common wealth then to goe to the warres him selfe and leaue his common wealth vnto others Talkinge on a time in his presence of warres and battels that Iulius Caesar Scipio and Hanibal had fought and ouercame in the worlde Antoninus Pius aunswered Let euery man holde opinion what he thinketh good and praise what it pleaseth him but for mine owne parte I doe more glorie in conseruing peace many yeares then with warres to conquere many battailes In the seconde yere of his Empire the Britains rebelled against whome he sent the Consul Laelius Vrbicus whoe subdued that Islande although afterwards by mischaunce he lost his life In the thirde yeare of his Empire the Mauritanes also rebelled whiche are a people of Africa againste whome he sent the Consul Murus Cespitius whoe vsed so greate policie in those warres that hée constrained them to craue peace In those dayes the Germaines and the Datians had greate warres amongest them selues vppon the diuision of certeine territories but in the ende after their owne destruction amongest them selues they came to suche concorde that they bent their whole force as cruell enimies against Rome and the countries thereof protesting and affirminge their charges to bée muche more in paying so greate and so continuall tribute then might arrise by defence of their persons against the Romaine power Antoninus vnderstanding of this rebellion hee woulde not presently sende foorth an armie but a Iudge with greate power to visite those countries to mittigate and vnfolde all griefes and to remoue all vniust tributes and ioyntly therewith did write suche and so good woordes that at the instant those Barbarians left their armour and did yeld their countries vnto the obedience of Rome Of this example all mightie Princes haue to take example to the ende that with furie they vndertake not to tame a furious people because manye times hartes be more tamed with swéete woordes then with cruell armes The Iewes that were in the prouince of Pentapolis also he did represse and tame which was don by the hands of the president that was in Assyria whom he commaunded first to offer them peace before he made them warre In Achaia and Aegypt also certeine people did rebell vnderstanding the occasion to procéede of the Romaine Pretors whiche were rigorous in their commaundements and couetous in their dealings gaue order that his officers were chastised and the people pardoned The Pretors that were resident in the countries of the Alanes sent to complaine at Rome howe daily they were threatened to be slaine onely for demaunding tribute vnto whome Antoninus aunswered We haue receiued your letters and be grieued with your perils and no lesse sorrowe your trauailes if these people do paye their tribute which they doe owe suffer their threateninge which they make because it is néedelesse to thinke that any man which is a tributarie shall liue contented In any wise aduenture not to giue them iniurious woordes to committ briberie or to do them wrong because in suche cases wée haue to heare their complaintes and to correct your offences The Gods haue you in keeping and guide well your Fortune CHAP. II. ¶ Howe he did visite the officers of his common wealth and the reformation of his house WHen Antoninus sent any Pretor to gouerne any prouince he was not satisfied that he were wise prudent and valiaunt but also without any infection of pride or couetousnesse for he helde opinion that he may euill gouerne a common wealthe that is a subiect to pride or couetousnesse Vnto Pretours Censours and Questours before he gaue them any gouernement of any countrie first he caused them to giue an inuentorie of their owne proper goods to the end that when their charge were finished the increase of their wealth might be considered and ioyntly therewith he did both say and warne them that he sent them to minister iustice and not by fraude to rob countries In all thinges that Antoninus commaunded prouided and chastised he was very pitifull such excepted as did offend in the execution of iustice with whom he was both rigorous extreme in such wise that other offences were they very great he did pardon them but as concerning iustice the smallest offence was grieuously punished On a time certaine officers of his treasure brought him a memoriall wherein was conteined the manner and fourme yearely to increase his rents which being séene and read in the backe thereof he did write these wordes the order and fourme that you haue to searche ought not to be to the augmentation of my rents but for the aduancement of my common welth eyther to impose newe tributes but to deuise with order to auoyde excessiue expences for if Romaine Princes vse no rule to moderate their charges eyther we shall lose our selues or rob our common wealthes Amongest all the Princes past onely Antoninus did neuer permit the rents of his estate eyther more or lesse to be augmented but rather did pardon many common wealthes of their olde debts and also relieued others of some newe impositions Presents that were brought him of siluer golde silke purple iuels or other riche things he woulde not receiue them were it not of the kings that payde tribute vnto the Empire for he helde opinion that the common wealthes rather then him selfe had néede thereof The things that he vsed most commonly to receiue were bookes to reade in horsses to runne and fruite to féede on which he forgate not gratefully to recompence In affaires he vsed great expedition that is to say that if he once did vndertake any businesse he neuer withdrewe his hand vntill it were finished Euery yeare he caused his house to be visited as concerning excessiue expences if exaction or briberie were committed by any of his houshold against straungers if they did serue which receiued wages if amongest them there were any that were notably vicious finally all that whiche the visitour for the remedie hereof did set downe presently was perfourmed For the time of Domitian the Emperours officers had a custome to receiue many chargeable fées of al men that by warrant of the Princes liberalitie receiued reliefe which the Emperour Antoninus as a vile custome did vtterly take away affirming that a gratious rewarde ought gratis to be dispatched The pryde the presumption the hautinesse and also the tediousnesse of the whole Empire he brought placed and restored vnto the plat of great humilitie in suche wise that as easily they dispatched affaires with the Emperour Antoninus as with a citizen of Rome A matter surely to be noted to beholde the Court of Rome in the dayes of this
good Prince howe perfect the refourmation thereof was established for surely whether their affaires were eyther with the Prince or with the Senate neyther did they beginne their suit with feare or were dispatched with iust cause to murmur The officers of his house and also of the Senate by whose handes matters were dispatched some he aduaunced and to others he gaue double fée to no other ende but to remoue them from aduenturing to take any bribe Being as he was a great friend vnto the common wealth and not a little delighted to be in the grace thereof and to this ende with the good he vsed great liberalitie and with the euill great clemencie in such wise that of all men he was beloued and also praysed as well for that he pardoned the one as gaue vnto the other All that euer he sayde or wished to be vsed of good Princes the same did he perfourme after he was Emperour and refourmed all things that he thought were to be amended In the third yeare of his Empire Faustine his dearely beloued wife dyed in whose death he did vtter so great sorrowe that it exceeded the authoritie of his estate and also the grauitie of his person In the memorie of Faustine he placed hir picture in all the temples and perfourmed with the Senate that she should be recounted amongest the Goddesses which was as to canonize hir all whiche was truely agréed by the Senate more at the request of Antoninus then for the deseruings of Faustine CHAP. VIII Of certaine notable buildings erected by Antoninus THe buildings which he made were not many but excéeding stately and sumptuous for in them appeared and were represented the greatnes of his estate and the magnanimitie that he had in spending He built a temple in the reuerence of his Lorde Adrian wherein he erected a picture of siluer with a Coronet of golde and a chaplet of Nacre a worke most certainly no lesse curious then costly He reedified a certaine building called Gregostasens which serued to lodge all straunge ambassadours bycause the Romaines did vse to giue ambassadours an house to dwell in and a stipend for their dyet He did amplifie and nobilitate the sepulchre of his Lord Adrian wherevnto none durst approch but on their knées The greatest session house of al Rome was burnt in the time of Domitian which the good Antoninus built from the foundation He built the temple of Agrippa and indued and dedicated the same in the reuerence of the Goddesse Ceres Ouer the riuer Rubicon he built a sumptuous and a stately bridge and also not a little necessarie bycause afore time many were there daungered and aftewardes that way muche victuall and prouision was carried Not farre distant from the port of Hostia neare vnto the sea he built a right strong tower for the safetie and defence of the ships of Rome which a foretime might not bring in any victuall or other prouision but were distressed of pyrates The hauen or port of Gaieta whiche had bene long through great antiquitie forsaken he freshly reedified that is to say built newe houses erected a mightie tower made a strong wall placed inhabitants and gaue them great priuileges in such wise that whereas afore time it was a thing vtterly forgotten it was from thence foorth most estéemed That whiche he did in Gaieta he perfourmed in a porte of Spaine named Taragon whiche he reedified amplified with great buildings and priuileges A myle from the port of Hostia he built a sumptuous and a curious bathe and indued the same in suche manner that in all Italie it was the onely bath that was vnto all men frée without charges A myle without Rome he built thrée temples naming them Laurianos for that many bay trées grewe there to this ende that the dames and matrones of Rome walking according vnto their manner should encounter with some Church to pray in CHAP. IX Of certaine lawes which the Emperour Antoninus Pius made IT was a law amongst the Romaines that such as were put to death by iustice might make no testament but that in loosing their life they lost also their goods Antoninus moued with pietie did ordein that none for any fault what so euer should ioyntly loose both life and goods but if any were put to death he might frankly make a testament of his owne proper goods Where he had placed any good and sound Iudge in any common wealth he did not onely permit him not to be remoued but also with giftes and requestes he did susteine him This good Prince made a law that none should presume to sue to the Prince or Senate for the office of iustice vppon paine to be banished Rome There was in Rome a Iudge named Gaius Maximus who in Rome continued a iudge twentie yeares of whom Antoninus wold oft say that he had neuer séene heard or read of a man more cleare of life eyther right in iustice In the place of Gaius Maximus there succéeded Tatius Succinus a man surely of many hoare haires and of muche learning but the office of Pretour being so tedious and he of yeares so auncient dyed immediately vpon the burthen thereof Antoninus being infourmed that the good olde Tatius dyed with the burthen of his office diuided the same betwixt Cornelius and Repentinus but after the Emperour being infourmed howe the Senate had giuen the same vnto Repentinus not for his deseruing but at the suite of a Gentlewoman of the Courte he commaunded him publikely to be banished declaring by the voice of a cryar throughout all Rome that he was banished for obteining the office of a Iudge by the suit of a woman This was the first officer of Rome that in the dayes of Antoninus suffered punishment which correction gaue so greate feare throughout the Romaine Empire that from thencefoorth the Emperour Antoninus was as muche feared of the euill as beloued of the good A mightie Senatour named Tranquillus confessing to haue procured his fathers death of extreme desire to inherite he commaunded to be remoued into an Island onely to passe his life with the breade of sorrowe and the water of teares All the time of his Empire he gaue wheate and oyle vnto the citizens of Rome The people of Rome in those dayes being giuen to drinke wine without measure he commaunded that none shuld presume to sel wine but in Apothecaries shops for the sicke or diseased He established a lawe for him self and his successours that openly thrée dayes in the wéeke they should shewe them selues in Rome and if by any weightie cause there happened some impediment that on suche dayes their gates should stand wide open without porters that fréely the poore might repaire to follow their suits In deare yeres he did ordeine through Italie that no gardener should dare to sowe in his garden any féede but wheate and barley whereby the poore of the common wealthe might be relieued of their penurie He made an vniuersall lawe throughout the Empire that gouerners
and consent vnto the obedience of Rome Rometalce king of the Pindaroes was accused in the Senate of disloyaltie vnto the Romaines in the warres they helde against the Rhodes who coÌ„ming vnto Rome to quite him selfe the good Antoninus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also did not permit that for any thing past any motion should be made affirming that his offence might not be so great but that his submissiue apparance did reforme the same The Olbiopolites a people in Asia held warre with the Taurocistes alies of Rome vnto whom Antoninus sente succour by sea and with assistance of the Romanes subdued the Olbiopolites who not only paid all charges of the warres but also gaue hostages to maintaine peace Antoninus neuer raised warre but that first he sought to conserue peace and praised not a little that saying of Scipio that is to say Hee rather wished the life of one citizen of Rome theÌ„ the death of a thousand enimies When hée married his daughter Faustina vnto Marcus Aurelius he made a suÌ„ptuous feast and gaue great rewards vnto his men of warre He held his sonne Marcus Aurelius in great reuerence and would haue made â—im Consul which hee refused holding it for more happie to turne bookes then to appease nations After he had sent vnto Calcedonie for the great Philosopher Apollonius and had giuen him an house to dwell in solitarilie neare vnto the riuer Tiber Antoninus sent for him who refusing to come sent answeare That schollers do vse to come to their maisters and not maisters vnto their scholers whereat Antoninus laughing said A trim ieste that Apollonius hath paste so many seas from Calcedonie vnto Rome and now refuseth from his house to come to mine Although Apollonius were learned in Philosophie yet was hée in his life very couetous whereat when certaine in presence of the Emperour did murmur hée aunsweared for very deare that Philosophers sell vs their Philosophie alwayes their science is more worthe which they teach vs then the goodes which wée giue them CHAP. XII ¶ Of the succession of the Empire and the occasion of his death AS the Emperour Antoninus in his youth was alwayes a frend vnto the vertuous euen so in his age carefully hée did séeke the conuersation of the wise and therewith had no lesse care of publique matters then of his owne priuate affaires Generally hée was so liked and loued of al nations that in all temples in all walles gates and buildings these foure letters were placed namely V.A.C.R. whiche is to saye Vita Antonini Conseruatur Respublica which is to saye On the life of Antoninus the whole weale of the Romane Empire dependeth Leauing a part many good lawes which he made for the Common wealth for which purpose hee had alwayes attendant about him men in the lawes singularly learned who among the chiefe was Vindemius Verus Siluius Valente Abolusius Metianus Vlpius Marcellus and Iabolinus before whome hée set the lawes of all kingdomes and of the most necessarie and approued to take the choice to be established in his kingdomes When he did institute any lawe either ordeine any proclamation he alwayes expressed therein so great reason that his commaundements were neuer disobeyed either his lawes reuoked The cause of his death they say was after this maner from Gallia Transalpina that is to say swéete Fraunce they did present him certaine chéeses whereof he eating at his supper more then was conuenient they ministred vnto him a perillous vomit whereby they discharged his stomache not onely of meate superfluous but also of bloud righte necessarie which bredd in him a furious feuer and finding himselfe in great weaknesse without disposition to sléepe either appetite to eate he commaunded al the Senatours and chief gouernours to be called vnto his presence and before theÌ„ all did commende the common wealth vnto Marcus Aurelius his sonne and Faustine his daughter And making his testament in verie good order wherin he gaue vnto his seruants great gifts which being finished and perfourmed he gaue vnto his daughter Faustine the inheritaunce of all his lands which he possessed before he came vnto the Empire His feauer increasing and his strength and life wasting the fourth day of his sicknesse about noone beholding and viewing all the circumstants and shutting his eyes as if he would sléepe gaue vp the ghost who was no lesse bewailed at his death then he was beloued in time of life and presently by conformitie of the whole Senate was intituled Holie and all the people at the newes of his death a vie in euery streate did grite skrich and cry aduauncing and magnifying his bountie clemencie benignitie liberalitie iustice patience prudence and prouidence Al the honours were done vnto him and all the famous titles were giuen him that vpon any noble Prince had bene imployed And deserued that in the temple of Iupiter a priest of his owne name should be institute Also they built him a temple and dedicated vnto his honour the Circene playes and a fraternitie where they were all called Antonines This Prince onely amongest all Princes liued and dyed without sheading of bloude and for likelinesse compared vnto Numa Pompilius not onely in good gouernement of the common wealth but also for sinceritie of life The life of the Emperour Commodus the sonne of good Marcus Aurelius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara byshop of Mondonnedo preacher Chronicler and CouÌ„seler vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus THe Emperour Commodus had to his grandfather Annius Verus and his father was the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and his mother was the right faire and renouned Faustine on whose side he was nephewe vnto the Emperour Antoninus Pius a man of a refourmed life and very beneficiall vnto the common wealth of Rome He was borne in a certaine place named Lodie on the eight day of September at the time that his father and Drusius his vnckle were Consuls the one gouerning matters of warre in Datia and the other in refourmation of causes in the common wealth The Empresse Faustine being great with childe and neare vnto the time of her childe byrth dreamed that she was deliuered of certaine serpents but especially of one more fierce then the rest of which dreame when his father Marcus Aurelius was infourmed they say that he sayde I feare me Faustine that the sonne of this birth shall proue so fierce a Serpent that shall be of power to commit a murther of our fame and to poyson the whole common wealth of Rome The Astronomers and Nekromantiques which in those dayes were resident in Rome they sayde and prognosticated many things of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus and as it appeared afterwardes they sayde very little in respect of that which followed bycause this miserable and vnfortunate Prince in his manners did rather resemble the infernall furies then reasonable creatures From his infancie his father Marcus Aurelius carefully did trauell in the
his defence in such wise that although they wer of great disorder in their life yet they vsed great conformitie in agréement for the manner and fashion of their robberies One of the thinges wherein the malice of man moste readily doeth shewe it selfe is that to doe euill wee are soone agreed but to perfourme a good woorke wee consent with greate difficultie Commodus was well persuaded that the tyraunt Maternus was nowe deade imagining in his owne conceit that at the forsaking of his campe and renouncing of his armie of extreme desperation and horrour of him selfe he had desperately drowned or committed him selfe to the halter But Maternus in recompence of the losse of his potencie and negligence of his honour bent all his studie to deliuer Commodus from his life The Romaines helde a custome vppon the tenth day of Marche to celebrate the feast of the Goddesse Berecyntha on that day the Emperour and the Senate went vnto her temple to offer sacrifices which done and perfourmed generally all persons for the most part disguised them selues masking and feasting throughout the whole citie in suche manner their faces being couered the one was vnknowne vnto the other Maternus and other his fellowe théeues and friendes had agréed to weare secrete armour with face disguised that when the Emperour Commodus should most chiefly be addicted to viewe and beholde the playes and his guarde most carelesse of his person by a coūterfet braule amongst them selues to finde ready meane to cut off his life But notwithstanding Maternus had lost his welth power and honour he ceased not to continue proude hautie and disdainefull seeking to be serued and reuerenced not as a friende and poore companion but after the manner of a Prince and as one that were very rich Wherevpon certaine of his companions being not onely wéeryed but tyred to walke lurkingly in corners and not able to indure to be handled with so great seruitude and further fearing some day to be discouered they repayred vnto Commodus and with great secrecie manifesting the whole matter which is to wit that Maternus the tyrant was a liue and fully determined in those playes and feastes to kill him Incredible was the feare wherewith Commodus was touched when he hearde that Maternus the tyrant was aliue and no lesse was his ioy to consider the conspiracie to be detected and notwithstanding Commodus had intelligence thereof certaine dayes before the feast hée suspended the execution thereof vntill the day of the Goddesse Berecyntha to the end that nothing should be reuealed vnto Maternus of that which was discouered vnto Commodus The maner that Maternus deuised to murder Commodus the same did Commodus vse to take and kill Maternus that is to say the great day of the feast being come as Maternus and his band came masked and armed so Commodus brought forth his men armed and disguised and with a set quarell the traitour and tyraunt Maternus was slaine and his men cutt all to péeces The greatest feast of that feast was celebrate in strāgling hewing mangling drawing burning of the bodies of these miserable théeues because it is an euident lawe for tyrants that the hurtes robberies slaughters violences and burninges which they haue committed in many dayes they come to make repayment thereof in one houre CHAP. X. ¶ Of the inexpected death of Cleander a fauoured and most priuate seruant vnto Commodus AFter the death of the tyrant Maternus the Emperour Commodus passed his life in great doubt and feare imagining with himselfe that some day they would dispatch him either eating or sléeping for he did both knowe and also would say that they were fewe which prayed for his life but very many that sighed for his death Vntill Commodus died hée euer walked warely for hée doubled his guard to guard him by day and strongly shutt in his house by nighte in that which hée did eate in his lodging where he slept on the palfrey wheron he roade on the garments which hée did weare hée set great watche in such wise that hée paid it but only with his life that durst touch his garment Very séeldome he went to the Senate and much lesse did ride openly in the citie hée had not talke with strangers but by writing with his subiects he had no conference but by a person intermitted and that which was more maruell hée had many times such conceite not onely to refuse to write aunsweare heare causes or dispatch affayres but also in foure or fiue dayes would not speake onely one word In the xi yeare of his Empyre Maternus the tyraunt was slaine on the next yeare there followed a great pestilence and a generall hunger in which hunger and pestilence the third part of Italie was consumed Immediatly after the pestilence had entred Rome Commodus departed vnto the citie of Laurento where were planted many Laurel trées for which cause the citie was named Laurento where also the Emperour more remayned then in any other place the Physicians giuing him to vnderstand that to be vnder the shadowe therof was very proper and conuenient for defence of the pestilence Notwithstanding the scarsitie of bread and wine that was that yeare further a certaine occasion of great hūger happened in Rome which was as followeth When the good Marcus Aurelius triumphed ouer the Argonautes he brought amongest other captiues a younge man named Cleander who was openly solde in the market place in Rome and by chaunce bought by a clarke of the kitchin to swéepe make cleane the larder at courte This slaue Cleander became so handsome in swéeping seruing and pleasing his maister that not many yeares after he did not onely make him frée and marrie him with his daughter but also did aduance him to the office of Clarke of the kitchin in such maner that from the estate of a bondman hée indued him with the condition of a sonne Nowe when Clēander sawe himselfe frée married and in office in the Court he trauelled to obteine the good will of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius which he obteyned by carefulnesse in seruice and diligence in his office and vsed therin so great diligence and promptnesse that he was neuer noted either slacke in prouision or false in reckoning Marcus Aurelius being deade Commodus forgate not to remoue Cleander from the affayres of the kitchin and made him capitaine of his guard and Lord great Chamberlaine of his chamber Vnto none of as many as did serue accompany Commodus in his youth that hée was gratefull but vnto Cleander vnto whom it had bin much better neuer to haue risen to so great honour for thereof onely procéeded the losse of his life Althoughe the fauour of Cleander did rise in iest or of small causes he framed in fewe dayes to performe the same in earnest which was as followeth that as Commodus grew into disgrace was abhorred and had no care of the gouernement of the Empire Cleander did presse and in such maner did thronge to entermedle with affayres
possessedst in thy daughters which thou nourishedst in thy sonnes which thou begattedst CHAP. IIII. ¶ A certeine notable speach vttered by Letus vnto the armie in the fauour of Pertinax AFter that Pertinax had bewayled the death of Commodus not for his owne condition but for that he had béene the sonne of the good Marcus Aurelius hée said vnto Letus Electus that he would not by any meane receiue the Empire if the Senate did not commaund it and the armie consent vnto it because to hold the Empire safe and established and not to enter the same as a tyrant vnto the Senate it apperteyned to vse their election and the armie their confirmation Letus made offer to finishe all that which Pertinax demaunded that is to say the Senate should elect and choose him the armie confirme and allow their election and the hope that he had to obteine the same was that hée had amongest them many friends and kinsefolke and the ioy that all would receiue vppon the newes of his death Letus departing to talke with the Capteines and leaders of the armie made vnto them a compendious speach after this manner His Oration to the assemblie THAT which now I meane to say right excellent Princes and my martial companions will be verie straunge vnto your hearing although not farre distant from your desires because of many things whiche we desire the least and fewest parts thereof we do obteine Neither are the Gods so liberall to giue vs al that we desire either so niggard to denie vs all that we craue and this they do because we shal acknowledge them to be good for that which they giue vs and cōfesse our selues to be euill for that which they denie vs The good and vertuous be not onely knowen in the good woorkes which they doe but also in their good desires which they haue because the euill and wicked if they durst would neuer cease to commit mischiefe and the vertuous if they might would neuer growe cold in doing vertuous acts The Gods neuer ioyntly accomplished the desires of so many as this day they haue accomplished all your desires for being as you are noble generous valiaunt true and no counterfect Romanes it is not to be thought that ye should wish or desire but the libertie of our mother Rome and the reformation of our auncient common wealthe Ye haue all seene what the Emperour Commodus hath beene whiche is to witt howe large in commaundement howe cruell in killing howe carelesse in gouernment how filthie of life through which cause we not onely held our houses as consumed lost and our persons in perill but also were defamed throughout all straunge nations The Prince that is ouer youthly foolish absolute or dissolute looseth his people and defameth his kingdome Since ye haue seene the euils and cruelties which hee hath done I would haue you see heare vnderstād what he mēt to doe for as it seemeth by this memoriall written with his owne hand hee had a will to haue slaine all persons within the Empire and if hee might haue brought it to passe it is credible he would haue cut the throtes of so many as be in this world It was neuer seene or heard off in this world of any tyraunte that hath beene of the maner and condition of Commodus for that naturally he delighted in losse of friends and did glorie to haue enimies Commodus your Emperour is now dead if I be not deceiued I suppose he dieth with conformitie of the whole Empire because there is nothing more certaine then that hee which liueth to the preiudice of all men should die to the conformitie of all men In as much as the Gods haue taken in good part to deliuer vs from the seruitude of this tyrant it is necessary that another Emperour be prouided and chosen and this election may indure no delay but must be dispatched at this instāt because otherwise as the great dignitie of the empire is a thing that many desire few deserue so it might happen that at the time wee would bestowe the same vppon some vertuous man it might be vsurped by some straunge tyrant If vnto euery man that is here present we should haue due respect according to their deseruing I sweare by the immortall Gods wee should want Empires and not Emperours but considering the Empire is but one is not to be giuen but vnto one in the end none shall obteine the same but he vnto whome the Gods shall assigne and the destinies permit The prince that ye haue to electe ought in my iudgement to be natiue of your countrie because the prince that is not natiue but a straunger he shall rather first finishe his dayes then attaine to the loue of his common wealth Ye haue also to elect chuse an Emperour that possesseth age grauitie for that it furthereth not a little the profit and reputation of the common wealth to haue a beard on the face hoarie haires on the head Also it is right necessarie in the Emperour which ye shal elect that he be no foole either a coward but that he be wise pregnant noble minded of experience because in naturall science and long experience the good gouernement of the whole common wealth doth consist Manifesting my minde more clearely I say againe vnto that which I haue said that if my opinion might be taken in this case we ought to determine and fixe our eyes vppon Publius Pertinax in whome concurre all the conditions aforesaid that is to say naturalitie age grauitie science and experience that this is most true there needeth no greater testimonie for the credite thereof then that Commodus held him for his enimie It is not to be thought that the Gods in vaine haue conserued the life of Pertinax vntil this day Commodus procuring by a thousand meanes to put him to death as it is most true that of al the old seruaunts of his father by him slaine onely Pertinax is reserued aliue As wee haue all wel knowen that be here present that Pertinax hath been the man most afflicted banished enuied toyled and persecuted of al the men that now are aliue in this world and surely it is a great argument to thinke that for him for no other the Empire hath beene reserued because the Gods do neuer preserue the life of any man amongest so many perils but afterwards greatly they aduaunce him Wee ought all to hold it for great good hap and greatly to gratifie the gods in respecte of such and so many as haue bin slaine in our common wealth that we finde such a prince for our mother Rome whom they shal not aduenture to contemne because of his grauitie neither be daūted with feare for that he is noble minded either noted of simplicitie in as much as hee is sapient neither accused of vice for that he is vertuous either reproued of feeblenes because he is reposed finally no man may deceiue
giue vnto the multitude to murmur He many times came foorth vnto the fielde of Mars and there he caused the whole armie to exercise feates of war rewarding such as were industrious and reprehendinge such as were dull and hartelesse There were many Romaines and others in the confines of Italie whiche did owe great summes of money not onely vnto the fiscall but also vnto the treasurie among whome some in times past had béene his friendes and others that were in great necessitie he cōmaunded both the one the other to bee deliuered of the fiscall since it was due vnto him selfe and made payement of their whole debt that was due vnto the treasurie Amongest other vertues the Emperour Pertinax of twaine was muche noted and praised whiche is to wéete of clemencie and gratefulnesse for that he was pitifull vnto the afflicted and thankfull vnto his friendes Pertinax had a sonne whome after he was Emperour he would not permit to come to the court either as much as vnto Rome but that he helde him in his countrey following his owne affaires and the profite of his owne house whereuppon the Consul Fuluius Turbone saide vnto Pertinax that he séemed rather the sonne of a labourer then of an Emperour he lift vp his eyes to heauen and with a greate sigh saide My mother Rome hath cause to be contented that I offer and put my life in perill for her cause without venturing my sonne and house in like daunger Most surely the saying was lamentable and the more it is considered the more profounde it is whereby it appeareth that he helde him self for moste vnfortunate to be established in the Empire and that he left his sonne in greatest felicitie to be depriued of the Empire Although Pertinax were olde and graue and was placed in the height of the Empire he alwayes vsed greate vrbanitie towardes all men in suche wise that no man did him reuerence vnto whome he did not vtter some courtesie according to the qualitie of the person Fiftie seruauntes in Rome in one night and in one houre slewe their maisters for whome the Emperour caused so diligent searche that onely fiue escaped and the paine that he commaunded they should suffer was to carrie the dead bodies bounde fast backe to backe in suche wise that the stenche of the dead did finishe the wretched life of the liuing In the schoole where Pertinax studied a certeine Romaine named Valerius was there also a student and being alwayes in companie and of age not much vnlike and continuing in greate friendship did many times eate with Pertinax which during their repast were neuer hearde to talke but of science knighthood repayring of Rome or else the reformation of the common wealth It did well appeare in Pertinax that he tooke the Empire against his will for truely neither in his dyet either in his apparell either in his gesture or spéeche either in any other thing did he behaue him selfe as an Emperour in suche wise that he presumed not to represent what he was but what he had béene He saide manie times that in this worlde he neuer made the like faulte as when he accepted the Empire and many times made motion to leaue the same and to returne vnto his house but that he did recomfort him selfe with this saying that for as muche as he was of so greate age he might not liue longe but be deliuered of his tedious life CHAP. VIII ¶ Of certeine vices wherewith he was infected and of the prodigies of his death AS the Emperour Pertinax was olde so was he charged with the infirmities of olde age that is to saye with auarice because in gathering and kéeping of money he was verie diligent and in giuing or spending verie dull and vnwilling Also he was noted to be a man verie flexible in his affaires that is to saye he was not stiffe either greatly did vse therein any contradiction but that which one did counsell him another might easily persuade the contrarye the cause whereof was his good naturall inclination whiche coulde not without griefe beholde any man that was in sorrowe Also Pertinax was noted that he neuer denied any thing that was demaunded although many his promises were neuer perfourmed for at moste times he promised to giue that which was impossible to be accomplished And because the maiestie and greatenesse of Princes doth consist to haue and possesse whereof to giue they ought much to be aduertised in consideration what is craued of them and what they promise for hauing to do as they haue with so manie and to furnishe so infinite necessities they ought if their subiectes be vnshamefast in crauing to be graue in promising Ioyntly with this Princes ought to be aduertised that where they haue once gaged their royall worde all things set aparte they ought to perfourme the same Pertinax was twise married his seconde marriage was with the daughter of Vulpitianus whome he made prefecte when he was made Emperour As concerning the vnchastitie of his wife also Pertinax was noted whiche is to wéete of negligence in gouerning and remisse in reprehending her for that truely shée was both young and faire absolute and dissolute and reported in Rome to be more enamoured with a young Musician then with Pertinax her olde husbande Also Pertinax was much noted to haue vsed vnlawfull loue with Cornificia his néere kinswoman whome he had nourished from her childhood for shée was committed by her father vnto his protection this matter was no lesse scandalous then foule and no lesse foule then scandalous for that suche like and so great euill was not conuenient to a man of so greate age either permissible in a Prince of so great grauitie Some prodigious and straunge signes appeared before his death especially on a time offering certeine sacrafices vnto the Goddes Penates that when the coales were moste kindled and on fire soudeinly they were séene all dead and quenched whiche did signifie that in the greatest certeintie of his life soudeinly death should assaile him Not sixe dayes before he was slaine as in the temple of Iupiter he was offering great sacrifices with his own handes he offered a Pecocke wherein he found no hearte when it was opened and soudeinely the head vanished when the throate was cutt Eight dayes before he was slaine a Starre ioyned with the Sunne and did shine at noone dayes as if it had béene midnight Thrée dayes before he was slaine Pertinax dreamed that he fell into a fishepond and that there was a man with an huge knife to kill him and woulde haue fled and could not Iulianus whiche after succéeded Pertinax in the Empire hauing a Nephewe newe married vnto his Néece and hauing repaired vnto Pertinax to visite him Pertinax saide vnto the young married man be good and I shall holde and esteeme thee as my sonne serue thy vncle Iulianus as a father because he is my fellowe in office and successour They had béene ioyntly Consuls and afterwardes Iulianus in the
Pertinax died the fifte daye of April Falconius Clarus being Consuls his head was throwne of his enimies into Tiber his bodie burieed by his friends and kinsfolkes in the sepulchre of his father in lawe at that present without anie funerall pomp because they slewe all persons that vttered sorrowe or griefe for his death The life of the Emperour Iulianus that bought the Empire compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. Of the life linage and countrie of the Emperour Iulianus THe Emperour Didiê° Iulianê° had to his great graundfather a Romaine named Salianus who was a learned lawyer twise Consul Pretour of the citie and died in the secoÌ„d yeare of the reigne and Empire of Nero and they say he died of pure sorrowe to sée the common wealth in the handes of so furious a tyrant as Nero. His graundfather was named Salbius Iulianus who gaue him selfe more to armes then to letters and went vnto the warres of Datia with Traiane and was captaine of the seconde Legion and longe time diuider of the victualls and in the ende dyed in his office that is to say in the warres against kinge Dacus His father was named Didius Petronius who neither gaue him selfe to science either folowed the warrs as his predecessours but was residente and liued alwayes in Rome folowing his affaires and holdinge offices in the common wealth hee was an assured friende vnto Antoninus Pius and dyed in the Empire of the good Marcus Aurelius His mother was named Clara Emilia a generous and noble Romaine a greate friende and kinswoman of Domitia Lucilla that was mother vnto Marcus Aurelius so did she intreate and fauour him as a sonne and he did obey her as a mother The first office that Didius Iulianus did beare in the common wealth was Decemviriato which is to wéete to be one of the x. visitours of the people and though he wanted age to vse it yet he wanted not fauour to obteine it because Domitia mother vnto Marcus Aurelius did craue this office for him in the Senate He was also Questor two yeares together which office he helde against the Romane lawes for that he was vnder the age of xxx yeares but as hee obtained the office of Decemviriato by the sute of the mother so did they graunte the other by the fauour of the sonne which is to wéete Marcus Aurelius And after that Didius Iulianus was past the age of thirtie yeares he neuer wanted offices in the common wealth for vntill that age the Romanes had rather that yongemen shoulde occupie them selues in learning then in commaunding and gouernement Iulianus was Edil Pretor and Censor diuerse times diuers yeares and at times muche distant but the office wherein he continued longest time was Romane Pretor because he had learning to gouerne and iustice to execute He was naturallie giuen to the warres and with this motion he went one time into Germanie where hee neither obtained fame either augmented his goods for that certeinely he was more handsome in gouernemente then hardie in fight He gouerned by the space of three yeares the prouince of Belgica whiche nowe is named Swetia in which gouernement he behaued him selfe so venturouslie that he obteined what he had lost in the warre which is to say much reputation in the common wealth and greate goodes for his house In the seconde yeare of the Empire of Marcus Aurelius the inhabitantes neere vnto the riuer Albo whiche is in the kingdome of Bohemia rebelled vnto which commotion Didius Iulianus repayred and as hee was humble of speache skilful and aduised in his affaires so in short space he reduced them vnto the seruice of the Romaine Empire When the Senate had intelligence what Iulianus had done in Bohemia the Emperoure thoughte him selfe therein verie well serued and the Senate no lesse contented chieflie for that so exactlie hee had perfourmed the same without requeste or commaundemente and in recompence of this so singular a seruice they sent him the Consulshippe without his requeste or anie other to solicite the same When the newes of Consulshipe came vnto Iulianus they saye that he saide I sweare by the immortall Godes that I neither solicited the Consulship either thought to haue obteined the same but here in it clearelie appeareth that the good dothe more solicite with his good woorkes then the euill with his manie guiles After he had accomplished the yeare of Consulshipe hee was sent vnto the lower Germanie as Pretor which countrie is nowe called Flanders where he remained two years froÌ„ theÌ„ce returned to Rome where he had charge of victuals which office amongst the Romaines was more profitable then honourable The Emperour Marcus Aurelius being deade his sonne Commodus reigning in the Empire Iulianus was accused for a traitour for that he and Siluius his cousen had conspired to haue slaine Commodus his accuser was a noble gentleman of Rome named Seuerus but for that he might not proue his accusation they cut off his heade and set Iulianus at libertie At one time Iulianus was in fauour with Commodus an other time in disgrace but after that he was accused of conspiracie he did allwayes beare him mortall hatred and when he vnderstoode this in Commodus both in worde and deede moste times he kéept his house and excused him selfe from the offices of the common wealth Iulianus was a lawyer and in letters moste learned of whome it is said that fewe did surpasse him in science and none was equall vnto him in eloquence for hee did neuer pleade anie cause in the Senate but he obteined the victorie He was prompt in speache sharpe in propounding and graue in determination of stature somewhat lowe of sanguine complexion and in his youth beganne to be horeheaded of whome in this case it may be saide that hee was a monster in nature for that he had neuer a white haire in his bearde either anie blacke haire in his heade His wife was named Malia Escantilia and had but one daughter named Didia Clara. In this also as in the other nature woulde be extreme because the mother was the moste foule woman that had bene seene in Rome and the daughter was the fairest dame that euer was séene in Italie As Iulianus had gouerned manie countries had the charge of victuales was chiefest aduocate in lawe in al Rome so he obteined the possession of manie iuells and the hoording vp of greate summes of money for whiche cause all the principall Romaines sought to be his sonnes in lawe partelie to marrie with the daughter that was so faire as also to inherite the goods that were so greate Iulianus was slender drie and towards his later dayes he was growne to be cholerik adust he neuer drank wine and therefore did eate muche and yet notwithstanding he was so curious and so costlie in his manner to drinke water that with lesse cost he might haue druncke wine Beinge nowe growne
resident in Africa sent Seuerus for his Embassadour to the Sardinians which were reuolted from the Romanes and entering into Sardinia with certeine burning torches according to the maner of an Embassadour of Rome there came vnto him a townesman after the fashion of a iester and did imbrace him whom Seuerus commaunded to be whipt saying In the act of so great grauitie trifling gibes be inconuenient For that which this iester did and for the disgrace which Seuerus receiued they ordeyned in Rome that from thence forth Embassadours alwayes should enter all cities on horsebacke as in times past they had vsed on foote Continuing Proconsul in Africa he would néeds vnderstand of a Mathematiciā or Astronomer how farre his fortune extēded or did reach and hauing receiued the day and houre and also the ascendent of his natiuitie the Astrologian being amased and terrified of the Fortune which his natiuitie did promise him said vnto him It is not possible that this be thy natiuitie therfore were it meete thou shouldest giue me thine owne and not the natiuitie of another for were it true that thou wast borne vnder such a cōstellation thou shouldest be Emperour of Rome At the age of 32. yeares hée was in Rome elected Tribune of the people more for the pleasure of Marcus Aurelius whome he serued then for the seruice that Seuerus had done in the common wealth but afterwards he proued so toward and was so vpright in causes of iustice that it neither repented the cōmon wealth to haue chosen him either Marcus Aurelius to haue procured the same His Tribunal office being ended he was named Pretor of the people and on the day of his election the more to aduaunce his honour the Emperour passing throughe the streates of Rome placed him with himselfe in the Licter which déede was not a litle reproched of some through enuie and of othersome thorough disdaine CHAP. II. ¶ Of the offices which Seuerus held in the Empire before he was Emperour THe affaires of Spaine being dispatched Seuerus failed into Asia and assone as he had set his foole a land hee departed vnto Athens partly to behold the gouernement of the Greekes and partly also to heare the doctrine of Philosophers because in those dayes they talked not of any matter more in all this world then of the great Fortune of the Romanes and the profound eloquēce of the Greekes Not a few dayes he remayned in Athens hearing the Philosophers conferring with the Senatours visiting temples and viewing buildings because naturally he was a friend of new inuentions desired no lesse the knowledge of antiquities Although Seuerus of person was valiant and Capitaine of Rome and also of indifferent eloquence yet they gaue him no good interteinment in all Grecia for which cause when he came afterwardes vnto the Empire he streightly reuenged the olde vnkindnesse which he bare vnto the Greekes euery day diminishing their priuiledges Being returned from Asia vnto Rome hee was sente Embassadour vnto the prouince of Lugdune which nowe in Fraunce is named Lion of Sonorona and being at that time a widower they practised with him a marriage with a certeine Lady of noble bloud in countenance most faire and gratious in gesture That Lady was named Iulia of royall bloud vnto whome purposing to present iewels of great price and finding no goldsmith sufficient to performe the same being also aduertised of a goldsmith in Syria that excelled all men in that facultie and doubting all messengers to be insufficient trauelled in his owne person to fetch the same as he after made reporte vnto his spouse that with the rewards which he gaue vnto the goldsmith and the charge of that voyage hée might twise haue béene maried The Senators sēt to reproue Seuerus not because he had married but for the great iourney and large expences which he had passed for a woman aduising him that it was not conuenient for a citizen of Rome to imploy his person but to aduaunce his honour either consume his goods but for defence of the common wealth whereunto Senerus aunsweared that for none of those matters wherof he was blamed he either deserued blame or punishmēt because without all comparison much more was the merite of that Lady with whom he was married then the expences or trauells which for her seruice he had suffered And further he said it seemeth vnto mée fathers conscript that for this acte I deserue honour no blame since thereby ariseth vnto Rome both honour and profite because strange kingdoms haue séene that Captaines of Rome to obteine riches haue strēgth skil and to spend them haue noble minds Seuerus stayed ioyntly 3. yeares in Fraunce both loued and feared no lesse reuerenced of the Frenchmen not onely for that he was iust in iudgment and liberal in expences but aboue the rest in that he was of a sincere life The Calends of Ianuarie being come at what time in Rome they diuide their offices the Proconsulship of Sicylia was allotted vnto Seuerus wherof he receiued no smal griefe partly for that he found himself very wel placed in Fraunce feared the condition of the Sicylians Being resident in the Isle of Sicyl he was accused by his enimies of Rome that he did not exercise the gouernement of the common wealth so much as the search of southsayers who should be Emperour of Rome because in those dayes Commodus was Emperour of Rome and all men held it for certaine that for his wickednesse he should be slaine or himselfe for his great vitiousnes should die Commodus receiued great displeasure when hee vnderstoode that being as hee was aliue and but a young man Seuerus should séeke for the succession of his Empire for which cause Seuerus was forced presently to depart from Sicyl come to Rome there to discouer and make proofe of his innocencie because the daunger was no greater then losse of honour and life Presently vppon his arriuall at Rome he did yéeld himselfe vnto the gaile Mamortina and would not depart from thence vntill by publique sentence his innocencie was vttered and his accusers depriued of their liues Two monethes after these matters passed the Calends of Ianuarie were come in which Seuerus was elected Consul ioyntly with Apuleius Rufinus the day that this was published they say that Seuerus said This day it is manifested in mee that men neither know what prosperities be conuenient for them either what aduersities doe impeache them and I say it for this cause for that criminally I was accused in Rome and my person prisoner in the place of malefactours whereof there proceded that I departed from Sicyl came to Rome giue safetie vnto my life augment my goods recouer fame take vengeance of mine enimies and obtaine the Consulship of the common wealth The time passed of his Consulship hee stoode an whole yeare without any office and as he afterwards said many times the best and merriest dayes of all his life were conteined in that yeare
giuen vnto the Romanes so many and so great triuÌ„phes there ought to be in them many very notable deseruings There be two things which cause the Romans to hold freÌ„dship with the gods to be lords of meÌ„ which is to wit great worshippers of temples and conseruers of people in iustice for that countrie where temples be not honoured and the wicked chastised may be better termed a den of theeues then a kingdome of good men Ye all vnderstand that be here present howe ye haue slaine the Emperour Pertinax a maÌ„ most surely both holy and most holy because the greatnes of the Empire being conferred with the sinceritie of his deseruing it had not beene much for him but rather a smal reward to haue beene Lord of the whole world In this deede ye haue offended the gods escandalized men committed treason vnto your Lord defamed your countrie troubled your common wealth and brought all Rome vnto confusion in such wise that your fault being so exceeding it may not deserue any parcialitie in punishment Now that ye haue slaine him is it as if ye had slaine Caligula Nero Sergius Vitellius DomitiaÌ„ or Commodê° no but Pertinax which was one of the princes most without repreheÌ„sion that euer reigned in the Romaine Empire As princes be few wilful so it is a venture to chance on such as be good so much the more deserue ye the greater paine as the good Pertinax was profitable vnto the common wealth Vnto whome shall Rome aduenture to commit her trust since they which were appointed for her guard haue set her a sale O treason neuer thought of Oh wickednes neuer heard of to kill the Emperour and to sell the Empire After the vassals haue slaine their Lord and the natiues of the countrie haue sold their common wealth I know not why the gods coÌ„maund not the ground to swallow you vp and presently put not fire into Rome to consume it for after so great an infamie Rome ought neuer more to be named in this world Who should haue said to Quintus Cincinatus Numa Pompilius Camillus Marcus Fabritius Mutius Scaeuola Silla Marius Scipio Iulius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who with great and many triumphes did both beautifie and magnifie Rome that ye should haue set Rome in open sale I firmely beleeue and am out of doubte that they would haue died of pure sorrowe or else would haue slaine your progenitours from whom ye are descended FroÌ„ the time I departed out of Germanie I came musing vppon the way what punishment I should giue you for of the one part if I suffer euery one of you with his life it redoundeth to the scandal of the common wealth and if I would take the same from you the paine is very smal in respecte of your extreme fault for vnto one that is euil they doe him no small benefite to rid him out of this world I coÌ„maund your noses to be slit your tongues to be boared your garments beneth the wast to be cut off and your beards halfe shauen yee shall liue without honour credite or libertie as slaues bondmen in the common wealth in such wise that ye shall not die as the good do vse to die to the end to liue but ye shal liue as the wicked do liue to the end to die Neither doe I suffer you to liue because ye deserue life but for that I will not staine my fame with your filthie bloud If in giuing you al death I might giue the good Pertinax his life not onely yours but also right willingly would I offer mine owne because there is no vent more iust then that one good life by the exchange of many wicked liues might be bought redemed If the gods would permit that at the houre I should coÌ„maunde ye to bee slaine ye should reuiue and recouer life a thousand times would I take away your liues because the horror of your offence deserueth a thousaÌ„d deathes but since losse of life in a momeÌ„t doth deliuer the malefactour of his scourge and torment and afterwardes no other meane remayning to take vengeaunce it is more iust that ye should liue euery day desiring death then that ye should die abhorring life There is nothing more iust then to kil him that killeth but I commaund not that ye be slaine although ye durst kill the good Pertinax and this I do not to the end to do no iustice either to doe you good or pleasure but for that many yeares ye shall haue time to bewaile your wretched life and his innocent death CHAP. V. ¶ Of thinges that he did in Rome presently after he was Emperour AFter that Seuerus had said and finished his speach and coÌ„demned and banished the murtherers of the Emperour Pertinax he determined to enter Rome and his receyuing was mixt with ioy and sorow because of the one part seing him so great a frend of iustice they reioyced and on the other part to sée him coÌ„passed with so great armies they feared him Presently vpon his entrie into Rome he visited the temples according to the custome of the Romane Emperours and there he offered no small but generous sumptuous sacrifices Although in his receyuing a great part of the day was spent and in visiting temples the rest was consumed and now wheÌ„ it was night he was requested of all men to take his ease and to withdrawe vnto his palace yet he would in no wise consent vntil he had visited the Sepulcher of the good Marcus Aurelius where he remained a great space vppon his knées and poured foorth many lamentable teares The next day he went vnto the high Capitol where all the Senate was assembled and there he spake vnto all the Senatours Consuls and all other Romane officers to whome he said many good words and gaue them great hope of many rewards All the people of Rome were astonied terrified to behold the great audacitie and fortune of Seuerus which procéeded of consideration howe without daunger and lesse trauell hée obteyned the Empire for that he gat it not by sheding others bloud neither by the exchange of his owne proper goodes The first day that Seuerus spake in the Senate he made a solemne vow before them all Neuer to kill any Romane if he were not iudged by iustice or to take the goods of any person if by the fiscal he were not condemned If it had béene found in Seuerus workes which hée sware that day in wordes namely that they might not accuse him of crueltie either note him of couetousnes it had béene a great weale for the Romane Empire for there is nothing wherwith princes doe more destroy their common wealthes and also staine their persons then to bee giuen to reuenge their owne proper iniuries and couetous of other mens goodes Forthwith at his beginning Seuerus did shew himselfe milde benigne pitifull liberall valiant harted affable gratious and humaine imbracing his familiars ioying and laughing with straungers in such wise that
the recouering of a gate and to fortifie a certeine place in the ende Pessenius lost the citie and Seuerus obteined the victorie Pessenius greatly complained and so was it bruted amongst the people which is to wéete that the capteine Emilianus had secrete practise with Seuerus for considering the stately walles wherewith the citie Cizica was compassed and the valiant people wherewith it was defended al men iudged it impossible to take it and follie to besiege it The cause that moued the capteine Emilianus to do this vnworthie déede was that his sonnes who were left at Rome Seuerus brought with him into that warre vnder great garde and it is to be thought that to giue libertie vnto his sonnes which he had ingendred he made a breache of his fidelitie and othe which he had sworne The Emperour Commodus as he was suspicious of them with whome he had to deale and so euil wished of all such as did serue him so it was his fashion for the most parte when he sent any noble Roman to gouerne any prouince presently to place their sonnes in a fort and this he did to the end their fathers should not be traitours respectinge their children that were kept vnder ward From the time that Commodus reigned in Rome Emilianus gouerned the prouinces in Asia by which cause Seuerus recouered the children Pessenius lost the father The fame being diuulgate throughout all Asia that the citie Cizica was sacked that Seuerus kept the field with victorie all Pessenius knightes that scaped from thence all other their companions that heard therof gaue them selues to flight to séeke places of fortificatioÌ„ wherein to hide their persoÌ„s Seuerus not onely recouered honour profite of this victorie but also planted both feare discorde almoste throughout all Grecia for some rebelled against Pessenius and others did obey Seuerus Although the people of Grecia haue ablenesse to learne science they are no lesse mutable in martial affaires for in warres which they prosequute they follow not the Prince that hath most iustice but him that most is fauoured of Fortune The citizens of Bithynia sent Ambassadours vnto Seuerus saying that they their children were at his commaundement and on the other side the people of Nicena gaue Pessenius to vnderstand that if he sent his armie thither they woulde not only receiue them but also mainteine them which offers they preseÌ„ted not vnto these two Roman princes for loue or friendship that they did beare them but for the auncient enimitie which they had betwixt them selues Seuerus with his armie entring Bithynia and Pessenius into Nicena from thence as from two fortes they did issue to fight in the end betwixt the two armies vpon a certeine day they trauersed so fierce a skirmishe that in bloud slaughter it was no lesse then a battel where the field remained vnto Seuerus Pessenius bands were put to flight Pesseniê° neither for the losse of the citie Cizica neither for that he was beaten out of the field at Bithynia did shewe either feare or weakenesse but diuiding his armie that remained in two partes he sent the one to mount Taurus to defend that passage from Seuerus the other parte he ledde with him selfe vnto Antioche partely to take money out of his treasurie partly to renue as also relieue his armie Seuerus marched with his armie froÌ„ Bithynia vnto Galatia from Galatia vnto Cappadocia which stoode in defence on the behalf of Pessenius where Seuerus souldiours with great furie did assault the same in which iourney the Seuerians receiued no small losse because the citie was situate vpoÌ„ the side of an hill froÌ„ whence to execute slaughter amongest their enimies they néeded no other defence but to whirle stones The affaires standing in this estate there chaunced two cities of Phoenicia to reuolt from Pessenius and to yelde them selues vnto Seuerus that is to saye Laodycia and Tyrus of which newes Pessenius tooke greate griefe and no small hatred which passions conceiued against those cities he not onely vttered in the foule wordes which he sent to be saide vnto them but also in the cruel acts which he commaunded to be done vnto them Pessenius had in his armie fiftéene thousand archers which were called Mauri people that naturally of their owne inclination were giuen to bloud and without al feare of death these Pessenius commaunded to go vnto Laodycia and Tyrus vtterly to burne and consume both citie and people with a warning confirmed by an othe that if they tooke any prisoners to giue any man life the person that vsed that pitie should be slaine These fiftéene thousand archers named Mauri departed vnto Laodycia and Tyrus and manie other that ioyned with them as they tooke them at the soudeine being vnprouided and hauing no time to demaund succour of Seuerus so cruell and inhumane was that barbarous people to those so generous and noble cities that they left not vpon the walles one stone vpon an other either house that they subuerted not either the hed of man woman or childe that they did not cutt off When these matters passed in Assyria the knightes of Seuerus were in Cappadocia traueiling greatly to possesse the mount Taurus but as it was naturally of great height and rockie Pessenius possessing all the passages so they might not by any meane assaile them or conceiue hope of any profitable or honourable attempt Vpon the top of this mount Taurus Pessenius his people had brought an huge number of great stones and rockes to throwe down vpon Seuerus souldiours if they should attempt to climbe the hill but as on the side of the mounteine there grewe many trées both high and great which Seuerus souldiers cut downe in great heapes multitudes to stay the stones before they tumbled vpon men that might be throwne In hauing redy captaines to fight and skilfull to defende none of the armies had cause to complaine either of their enimies to haue enuie except that Pessenius was more vertuous and Seuerus more venturous CHAP. VIII Of a cruell and furious battell betwixt Pessenius and Seuerus wherein Pessenius was slaine IN certaine broken worne and hollowe places as in suche groundes the waters do vse to make Pessenius souldiers had fortified with stones boughes whiche serued them to blinde and stoppe the waye for passage as also from thence both to defende and offend their enimies Neither for trauell to climbe the hill either for feare of death did Seuerus his captaines ceasse any houre to attempt the recouering of the mounte but the wayeâ— and passages were so narrowe and the mountaines so rockie maccessible that tenne defended an hundred an hundred a thousand a thousand tenne thousand The case was thus that the Seuerian armies more daunted with despaire theÌ„ aduaunced with hope soudenly on a night there fel vpon Pessenius souldiours retired from theire rampiers and fortified rockes and that whiche was worse many
lesse by the presence of Seuerus then by the absence of Albinius for according to the olde prouerbe the absent is neuer without blame nor the present without excuse When Seuerus sawe that he had wonne the hearts of his armies hee recouered newe hope to be reuenged of Albinius and to the purpose he made a generall muster of his men of warre and founde tenne thousande horsemen and xl thousand foote men all whiche he presently payde not onely that whiche he did owe them but also gaue them many and greate rewardes adding therevnto many faire promises The first iourney that Seuerus made was to besiege Bizantio for thither the captaines repaired that had escaped the mortall battaile of Pessenius Niger and in the ende tooke it not by force but by hunger and hauing the citie vnder his power he displaced the bulworkes made plaine the towers ouerthrewe the Theaters subuerted their bathes burnt their houses strangled the straungers the natiues he did captiuate finally he behaued him selfe not as a Romane prince but as a moste cruel tyrant With the riches that hee recouered in Bizantio and the aboundance whiche he robbed in other partes he commaunded the cities to be repaired that Pessenius souldiours had sackt and charged the fortes to be erected that they had throwne downe and leauing officers necessarie for gouernement and men of warre to defende those countries he departed with greate celeritie vnto greate Britaine with a determined intente to make furious warres against Albinius His desire was so disordinate to encounter with Albinius that he traueled night and day thicke and thinne foule and faire and that wherefore they most blamed him was that he neither obserued the solemne festiuall dayes or had compassion of the tyred Traueling on those wayes when it snowed manie times hee was bare headed and in the mire hee woulde trauell one foote when it rained hee woulde marche in his doublet and hose and wanting victualles he woulde eate bareley bread and as he after reported to be reuenged of his enimie he thought it all well imployed Hee sent before him valiant captaines and men very light of greate swiftnesse to cleare the wayes vpon the highte of the mountaines and to defende the most perilous places chiefly when he passed the Alpes of Italie doubting that Albinius might haue in that place some hidden ambushe Nowe when Seuerus sawe him selfe and all his armies in Gallia Transalpina and that in so longe a iourney hee had incountered with no stumbling blocke if vntill that time he went with hope from thence foorth he marched in certeintie to obtaine victorie for the feare whiche he had was that his armie trauelinge both weary and spent Albinius at the souden might discouer to giue him battell In al this time Albinius remained in the Isle of Britane which nowe is Englande but presently after hee vnderstoode that Seuerus had passed the Alpes he brought foorth all his armie out of the Isle sente them into Fraunce rather to defende the frontiers then without any commaundement to make warre because Seuerus was so souden in his arriuall the he was then in Fraunce whē they belieued him not to be departed from Italie With great speede Albinius did write vnto the cities adioyning requesting their helpe for money and commaunding them to be stronge and valiant in his seruice of whom manie disobeyed and other rebelled against him notwithstanding they all confessed that they rather did it for feare of the potencie of Seuerus then for the hatred whiche they did beare vnto Albinius But in the ende the two armies beeing ioyned and all the cities diuided into parcialities euery day betwixt them there was incounters and daily meetings to skirmishe and for the moste parte the souldiours of Seuerus departed with broken heades and Albinius his bandes returned victorious They trauersed on a certaine day so furious a skirmish that it was necessarie Seuerus shoulde come foorth armed vnto the same and as hee was not able to make his souldiours to retire neither constraine his enimies to flie thinking to enter to haue parted the fray hee was vrged to fight in his owne person in whiche fight he receiued so greate a blowe with a plummette of leade that hee was feld downe to the grounde and lay for deade so longe space that many did kisse the handes of his sonne Geta as Emperour After Seuerus had escaped that daunger and was cured of his wounde in greate secrecie he called into his presence certaine Sorcerers and Inchanters that hee brought with him both requesting threatening and promising them manie thinges if they woulde tell him the ende of those warres for if hee shoulde be conquerour hee woulde prosecute the same and if hee shoulde be ouercome he woulde returne into Italie The Sorcerers and Inchaunters answered that his armie should receiue greate hurte but in the ende his enimie Albinius shoulde be ouercome and that hee shoulde not obtaine in this case that which he desired that is to say to kill Albinius with his owne handes but that hee shoulde sée him deade before his eyes The tenth of March Seuerus receiued this answere of his Inchanters and presently on the next day he tooke muster of all his men commaundinge them to shooe their horse and amend their armour and the third day hee gaue battell vnto Albinius neare to a citie named Lugduno whiche nowe in Fraunce is called Lions Sonarona whiche on bothe sides was so extremely contended that a greate parte of the day it might not be knowne vnto whome the victorie would incline When al the day was passed and darke within night the one army fighting with the other in the ende Albinius was ouercome This battaile was so bloudie that of so greate a number of people as both the hoastes did conteine there escaped not a man that was not slaine in the fielde or returned vnto his tente vnwounded Albinius remained to keepe the citie and sent his capteines to giue battaile who beeing beaten out of the fielde the Seuerians entred into the citie spoyling goodes burning houses and slaying people Seuerus had a captaine named Letus whiche was the cause of the conquest of that battell for that Seuerus his souldiours beeing in a manner ouercome and Seuerus ready and prest to flie he relieued the battell with a fresh bande of souldiours Letus of skill and industrie woulde not fight that day vntil he sawe Seuerus fledde and also fall from his horse thinking that if Seuerus shoulde die or be slaine and hee ouercomminge and conquering the battell to aduaunce him selfe with the Romaine Empire Seuerus was not ignorant of the good seruice whiche his captaine had done him at that instant either did he hide the intente wherewith he perfourmed the same for whiche cause the warres beeing finished he commaunded his heade to be cut off not for that whiche hee did but for that which he woulde haue done When the Seuerians destroyed the citie of Lugduno amongst the reste they slewe the
sorrowfull Albinius who so slaine they brought vnto Seuerus commaunding to cutte off his heade and to dismember and mangle his bodie all to pieces whiche beeing done he riding vpon a rough horse all to trampled the body of Albinius whiche was hackt and hewed to mamocks All men that behelde Seuerus vse so greate inhumanitie with the body of Albinius wepte and all men that hearde the reporte thereof were escandalized and not without greate reason for The office of a prince of moste perfecte pietie is to pardon the liuinge and to bury the deade Seuerus treading and trampling the bodie of Albinius after the maner of a fierce Lion his horse grewe fearefull and gaue him so shrewde a fall against the grounde that he remained a great space astonnied and in dismay in such wise that he missed verie narrowly presently to haue paide with life so enorme an iniurie These matters being finished Seuerus dispatched his Purseuaunts into all partes with the newes of this victorie and the head of Albinius vnto Rome and his bodie as it was all to pieces troaden trampled and drawen he commaunded to be throwen into the riuer Rhodanus to the ende that as he had taken away his life so by no meanes any memorie should remaine of Albinius CHAP. XII ¶ Howe after the death of Albinius Seuerus returned to Rome and there slewe many SEuerus not satisfied with slaying his enimie Albinius treading his bodie vnder his horsse féete casting the pieces thereof into the riuer Rhodanus and sending his head vnto Rome to be set in the pillorie but commaunded serch to be made for the bodies of all the noble Romans which had béene slaine in the seruice of Albinius and for that he might not chastice them in time of their life he aduised to vituperate and defile them after their death causing their bodies to be drawen cut in pieces and burnte some throwen into riuers to the ende they should neuer more appeare and othersome vnto beastes to be deuoured In all cities that receiued obeyed or succoured Albinius or his souldiours Seuerus did greate hurte robbing their goods and punishing their persons Manie cities and people made their excuse saying they had not serued or followed Albinius for that they had a desire so to do but because they were not succoured of Seuerus and yet ceased not to chastice and robbe them Albinius had thrée sonnes a daughter and a wife generous in bloud and beautifull of face whose throte with his children he commaunded to be cutt and their bodies also to be cast into the riuer Rhodanus And as Albinius was of greate power in all the Empire of Europe and of him self verie gratious liberal valiant and noble minded so in a manner all the nobles of Spaine and Fraunce had followed his parte alike the throtes of all which Seuerus after the battaile cōmaunded to be cutt and though he slewe the fathers yet he did not therefore pardon the wife and children Albinius his wife and his children being slaine and execution done vpon all persons that followed his opinion Seuerus applyed all their goods and riches for his owne chamber which were so great and of such value that it was doubted whether any Emperour had euer attained vnto the like The prouinces of Spaine and Fraunce being ordered and two gouernours placed in greate Britaine Seuerus departed vnto Rome and led with him all his armie not for that in all Italie he had any enimie bent against him but to terrifie the common wealth of Rome Seuerus of his owne naturall inclination was so quarelous proude vnquiet bloudie and doubtfull that although he had peace yet he woulde goe alwayes after the fashion of a warriour Seuerus was receiued with greate ioye of the Romanes although most certeinly many of them stoode in greate feare for that they had wished that Albinius might haue preuailed whereof Seuerus had certeine intelligence whose condition was so harde that to giue a cruell chasticement a small occasion was sufficient After that he had visited the great temple of Iupiter he diuided amongst the capteines that followed in the warres many iewels and greate riches and further gaue them certeine liberties which is to wéete that they might wear rings of golde vpon their fingers and entertaine Courtisans within their houses It was no small griefe vnto the Romanes that Seuerus had giuen such liberties vnto his men of warre saying that from thenceforth for euer to weare ringes of golde they woulde spende their owne robbe others and to vse concubines in their houses would cause dissention amongest the people and also debilitate their persons In Rome there was a Consul named Claudius which had his picture placed in the Senate was praised before all the people with a publique Oration for his worthie actes done in Asia whereof Seuerus tooke greate despight because this Claudius was kinsman vnto Albinius Seuerus did not knowe how to be reuenged of the Senate but publiquely by proclamation commaunded vpon paine of death that al men should call Commodus a God for confirmation whereof he did not only place his picture in the Senate to the end they should reuerence him but also in the temples to be adored To commaund the Romanes to adore reuerence Commodus as one of the Gods being as he was the woorst of all men it was vnto them so grieuous to heare so harde to perfourme that they determined not to go to the church either to offer sacrifice vnto their Gods because no parte thereof should be allotted vnto the God Commodus Seuerus vppon a daye went vnto the Senate made there a long and truculent Oration wherin after he had spoken many threateninge malicious woords he commaunded certeine letters to be read which he found amongst Albinius writings made by many Consuls Senatours other gentlemen amongst the people vnto Albinius offering him their persons sending their goods that he should not be dismaid in those warrs for that in the common wealth he was much desired The reading of these letters being ended he commaunded them presently to be torne for the time did dissemble the matter or to say better did deferre the chastisemēt for that after wardes as well of such as were absent as of them that were present he tooke so great reuengement that as the stréets were bathed in bloud the fields filled with carcases the wayes scattered with quarters the pillories beset with heades they saide in Rome the Silla was reuiued Nero was not dead Seuerus made a memoriall of all the riche men valiant of power that were in all the Empire the greater parte whereof he charged to haue béene the seruauntes friends or fauourers of Iulianus of Niger or else of Albinius his mortall enimies for which cause of frée men he made them slaues of lordes seruauntes of riche poore and also of liuing dead men in such wise that he slewe many not for offences which they had committed but to rob them of their goods
which they had gathered togeather Seuerus slewe some with some reason others vpon smal occasion but all these which followe he killed without all reason or occasion that is to say Munius Sellius Claudius Bitalius Papianius Elius Iulius Lolius Aurelius Antoninus Posthumius Sergius Fabius Nenius Amussius Casperius Seyonius Sulpitianus Coceyus Eructus Assilonius Claudius Honoratus Petronius Pessenius Cestus Aurelianus Materius Iulianus Albinius Cerelius Faustinianus Herenius Valerius Nobius Arabianus Marcus Fabatus These men were glorious both of bloud also for noble déedes riches for they were either Consuls Censors Pretors Senatours Ediles Tribunes or capteines whose goods he imployed not vnto the publique treasurie but did incorporate vnto his patrimonie for him selfe to inioy the dayes of his own life to leaue vnto his children after his death Seuerus defamed Cincius an auncient Consul affirming that he had procured poyson to kill him wherfore he commaunded him to be slaine but the trueth being knowen as Seuerus afterward reported but the Cincius did much delight to goe on hunting had a fine yeark to kill the Bore other venerie in the mountaines He commaunded also Narcissus to be cast vnto the Lyons who at the request of Martia choked Commodus it was nothing to commaund them to be slaine but that with his owne eyes he would behold them executed which was wont to be so straunge vnto Romaine princes that they neuer vsed to sée any person put to deth neither so much as in the citie to be resident but they vsed if any suffered to ride or go foorth on hunting CHAP. XIII ¶ Howe Seuerus returned into Asia and conquered many prouinces AFter that Seuerus had conquered and slaine thrée Emperours that is to saye Iulianus in Rome Niger in Asia and Albinius in Fraunce it séemed vnto him that since he had chasticed and triumphed ouer the Romans he ought also to make his name glorious amongest the Barbarians because all the warres that he helde vnto that daye were more to make him selfe Lorde of the common wealth then to magnifie his name Seuerus aduised him selfe to go in his owne person to make warres with the Parthians the occasion of which enterprise was for that the king of Atrenoes had fauoured the parcialitie of Niger but had deferred the reuengement thereof to make conquest of Albinius being in great Britain If Seuerus in this case had taken the opinion of the people either the counsell of the Senate he woulde neither haue taken those warres in hande or made accompt of the iniurie because at that time those kingdomes were neither friendes or foes with Rome And as the Romans were fatigated tyred with warres so they were contented for the time to ceasse the recouering of them for their vassals to obtein them for quiet enimies Seuerus departed vnto Asia and in the way would first take the kingdōe of the higher Armenia whereof the king of Armenia being aduertised and that he came with an armie of so greate power and so determined to take his kingdome met him vppon the way not armed as a man of warre but clad with the garments of peace his truce being set downe with Seuerus presently he gaue him much money and offered to sende him succour for the accomplishment wherof he deliuered vnto Seuerus his two sonnes in pledge Seuerus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also tooke him vnder his protection The affaires of Armenia being dispatched Seuerus departed towardes the kingdom of Hosdroenos whose king was named Anguaro bothe crooked and same but yet no foole for he had such skill to recouer the good will of Seuerus that he neither admitted him as a vassall tooke no money demaunded no hostages or did his countrie hurt but receiued him to his familiar friendship and made him a confederate with the people of Rome Hauing passed the kingdome of Hosdroenos Seuerus entred the landes and countries of Albanos and being then the moneth of April and spring time he founde the fieldes full of flowers and grasse and commaunded his horsses for the space of fiftéen dayes to be fedde and his armie to be recreated and refreshed because his horsses were growen leane and his men tyred Seuerus beeing departed from the fieldes of Albanos entred the countrie of Arabia Felix where they found that which they found not in all the kingdomes of the worlde namely the trées that hare the precious Aromatike spices and the boughes whereof they gathered the most fine and excellent baulme Seuerus sacked all the townes of Arabia Felix cut downe their fieldes spoyled and oppressed all people and as he afterwardes saide he would not haue entred therein for that being as it was so riche so ioyfull pleasant and delectable but because he found him selfe in greate cumber to withdrawe his souldiours from thence for that they felt them selues more delighted with the vices of Arabia then with the hazardes and daungers of the warres Hauing passed the delectable countrie of Arabia Felix Seuerus entred the countrie and kingdom of Athrabanos against whose king principally he made that iourney Athras was a great citie situated vpon the top of a most high hill and chiefest citie of all the kingdome and for that cause was named the kingdome of Athrabanos Seuerus went presently to the siege thereof but as the king had inclosed him selfe therein with great readinesse and prouision the wall being strong the citie rockye the people warrelike and furnished with munition and victuals small was the hurte that Seuerus did vnto them within but which the Romans receiued was very greate And as Seuerus gaue foorth no other bruite when he came from Rome but to be reuenged of the Athrabanos he perfourmed that warre so exactly that there was no daye but he battered the citie of Athras and occupied his warlike engins deuised and practised all manner fights and offences that might be against the enimie and the moste notified Romans that there did not notifie them selues but in the ende might neither take the same either as much as a capteine or ouerthrow one windowe Those that were besieged within that citie to iest with their enimies tyed very subtily little earthen pottes vnto a kinde of byrdes like vnto Crowes which flying ouer the armies of Seuerus let fall their pottes vpon their pates by which iest many had their heades broken but much more were the Romans despighted to consider howe little they did estéeme them not fighting with them in armour but with pottes and tankardes The ayre of that mountaine was verie subtile the waters verie thinne fruites in great aboundaunce and the Sunne verie hoat and the grounde somewhat moyst by which occasion Seuerus his whole campe fell into the disease of the fluxe and there died amongest the rest seuen notable capteines two of Seuerus cousins and a little bastarde sonne which all men likewise thought to be his cousin but by his greate sorrowe teares he discouered the childe to be of his owne proper fleshe
commaunded two Fortunes of gold to be made for either of his sonnes one because it was the ensigne of the Empire to take away all occasion after his death for any of them by him selfe or for him selfe to be aduaunced with the Empire but equally to remaine in power and estate This was the ende of Seuerus whome his enimies might not kill with armes and yet with griefe and sorrowe was slaine by his sonnes Seuerus liued thrée score and fiftéene yeres and reigned two and twentie yeres his bones were burnt and the ashes carried to Rome Of this Emperour Seuerus the Senate determined that which of no other prince was determined namely Illum aut nasci non debuisse aut mori whiche is to saye It had beene good in respect of his cruelties which he did he had not beene borne and since that he was borne in consideration of the profite which he did in the common wealth it had beene good he had not died The life of the Emperour Bassianus sonne vnto Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Howe Bassianus and his brother Geta did inherite the Empire of their father Seuerus PResently after the death of the Emperour Seuerus in great Britaine his two sonnes Bassianus and Geta did succéed him in the Empire betwixt whome there was extreme discorde and cruell hatred for notwithstanding in bloude they were brothers yet in wil works they dealt as enimies As Bassianê° was elder brother and also more cauillous troublesome so he began secretely to practise and subborne the capteines of the armie to him onely to giue the Empire and to exclude Geta his younger brother from the inheritaunce and to drawe them vnto his purpose he spake swéete wordes blinded them with faire promises of greate hope and also gaue them riche Iewels Nothing might Bassianus attaine with the capteines of his armie for that euery one in particular and all in generall made him aunswer that since they were sonnes vnto their lord Seuerus and bothe brethren and ioyntly had sworne vnto them as their Lordes and Princes it were not iust they should be traytours in their promise vnto their father or shoulde make a breache of their othe that in the temples they had sworn vnto the Gods. After that Bassianus might not corrupt the armie with woordes déedes or giftes he tooke peace with the Britans to the ende presently to departe towardes Rome and his brother Geta being aduertised that Bassianus sought the Empire vnto him selfe which the father Seuerus had lefte vnto them both grewe into great hatred disdaine with his brother in such wise that from thenceforth the two brethren behaued them selues not only as vtter enimies but also the courte was diuided into bandes Bassianus Geta were brethren by the father but not by the mother for that Bassianus was his sonne by his first wife and Geta by Iulia whiche was the second wife Geta his mother and the auncient and honourable Romanes that were remaining after the death of Seuerus did not a little trauaile to confederate and set them at agréement but in the ende they were neither conuinced with the infinite beares of the mother either might be persuaded by the great requestes and instant intreatance of their friendes The affaires of Britaine being set in order the two brethren much without order departed towardes Rome carrying with them the reliques of their father Seuerus that is to say his bones made ashes which in all cities as they passed were receiued with as great reuerence as if Seuerus had béene aliue From the time that Bassianus Geta departed from Britaine vntil they entred Rome they neuer lodged in one lodging or fedde at one table or had conference vppon the waye but had of eache other great suspicion yea in meat and drinke to haue receiued poyson To go in so greate doubt and suspicion was cause of small staye vppon the waye although it were very long and before their comming vnto Rome either of them had sent their secreate messengers not onely to take vp the best lodginges in Rome but also to solicite and to winne the willes of the common wealth because they conceiued that they might not ioyntly be conserued in their seigniorie but that one must remaine with the Empire That day on which Bassianus and Geta his brother shoulde enter Rome all Rome came foorth to receiue them which was mixed with ioye and sorrowe sorrowe for the death and buriall of Seuerus and ioye for that his children were come aliue to reigne in his steade Entring into the citie the two brethren and newe Emperours went before appareled in purple on horssebacke after them came the Senatours all on foote who bare on their shoulders a chest of Unicorne wherein was placed the ashes of Seuerus such persons as attended the dead went wéeping and those that accompanied Bassianus Geta went singing Being entred into the citie and the day farre spent they went vnto the temple of the greate Emperour Marcus Aurelius where the two newe Princes fell on their knées to adore his sepulchre as a moste holie man and there bestowed the ashes of their father Seuerus Before Seuerus departed vnto the second warres of Britaine he had begon a most sumptuous sepulchre in the fielde of Mars amongest other ornaments that it had were seuen pillers polished verie high and stately wherein was grauen all his actes and victories but his life first was finished before his sepulture was ended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe in Rome they burie their Emperours and of greate ceremonies which there they vsed After that Bassianus and Geta his brother had reposed the body of their father Seuerus in the temple of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius presently they beganne to consecrate his body and to place his soule with the Gods accordinge to the custome of the Romans whiche ceremony was not done but vnto dead Emperours and the order thereof was thus Presently vpon the death of an Emperour the Senate did assemble to determine if hee deserued to be buried with the Godes either els after his burial to leaue him to obliuion as other men and if he had beene euill the Senate woulde be absent at his buriall and if he had bene good all clad in blacke woulde attend to consecrate his body And to do the same their firste attempt was to bury the body of the deade prince without any ceremonie and then made him an image of woode after the manner of a sicke and colourlesse man which they placed alofte vpon a scaffolde ouer the Courte gate and that image although it were of a sicke man yet did they clad it with garmentes of silcke and golde as though the counterfeite were aliue In the hight of that scaffolde or throne the Senate were set on the lefte hande and on the right hand all the matrones of Rome of whome none might he apareled richly either deckt with
become friendes and their agréement was that they had diuided the Empire he remaining with the estate and seat of Rome and Geta his brother hauing Antioche the head of his Empire and the estate of all Asia As Bassianus then saide so it was agréed that the goods of the patrimonie were diuided in thrée partes two partes for the two brethren and the third for Iulia their mother and further that all Senatours capteines and other notable persons of the Empire fréely if they so liked might go with Geta into Asia or remaine with Bassianus in Rome There was no man there that liked this agréement much lesse allowed the same for they all did sée it was but fained and that ere long the Empire would be inflamed with warres as in the dayes of Iulius Caesar and Pompeyus of Caesar Augustus and Marcus Antonius Although all men were grieued with that which was saide yet all men did both dissemble and kéepe silence with sad countenance casting their eyes to the ground which their mother Iulia possessing patience in sufficient aunswered and saide vnto them as followeth CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of an excellent speache vttered by the mother vnto her sonnes I may wel call ye sonnes O children of my heart since thou Geta proceededst from mine intrailes thee Bassianus I haue nourished with my breastes I sweare by the immortall Gods that much greater is the loue that I bare thee then the affinitie which I haue with thy brother Thou well knowest Bassianus that from the first houre that I came to the court was wife vnto thy father Seuerus I had the name of mother in lawe the works of a perfect mother and that many times thou didst request mee to cherish thy brother Geta for that it seemed vnto thee he was not fauoured in such wise that if he be the only person that I haue borne thou only wast he that was cherished I haue great reason to call you my children to bewaile you as children to talke with you as children for on the day that the one proceeded frō my bowels the other entred into my harte Maruell ye not to see mee powre forth so many teares at euery worde to be dismaide swoone for as ye see my sorrowfull eyes so may you behold my lamentable heart ye should well perceiue it gush out more with bloud then mine eyes doe flowe with teares If my husbande your father shoulde heare that which I heare and should see that which I see it would grieue him that euer ye were borne and no lesse that euer he begate you because you wil giue no credite vnto your friendes either obey me your sorrowfull mother or perfourme his will cōmaundemēt Wherfore do ye seeke the whole for one since he left the same for bothe what an heauie matter is this my children the Gods haue created ye brethren and you haue conuerted your selues enimies the glory which ye possesse to haue had such a father ye would quite him with so much griefe to haue so frowarde children To leaue the Empire entire your father slewe Iulianus Pessenius Niger and Albinius that helde it diuided in three partes and nowe againe ye will diuide and rent it in pieces Do ye not vnderstand howe Princes that haue their willes vnited neede not to diuide their countries Haue ye not heard say that to obteine honour to defende that which we possesse for these two only things for no other cause warre is raised betwixt kinges and princes If this be true as it is and both you falling out for goods knowe ye not that your father onely of him self hath left ye more then all the Princes of the worlde haue left vnto them And if it so be that ye striue for the attainement of honour I knowe not to what ende ye would haue more honour then to be Emperours of Rome O immortall Gods I inuocate and moste humbly pray you that ye deale not according to the childishnesse of these young men but agreeable vnto the great seruice which their father hath done you the abundance of teares which their lamentable mother hath powred foorth for otherwise the memory of my Lord Seuerus shal perish be lost the maiestie of the Empire put in great danger If we did think my children that this diuision of the Empire might be an occasiō frō henceforth to deale liue like brethrē we would hold it all for good and thinke it all right well but what doth it profite that ye haue diuided the Empire onely in two partes and ye twaine remaine diuided in an hundreth thousande differences If ye wil be fauoured of the Gods obeyed of men call to remembrance your fathers commaundement condescend vnto your mothers request and yealde your selues vnto the iudgement of your friendes for that young Princes do neuer knowe to gouerne wel if they permitt not to be gouerned of the vertuous Consider children that ye are but younglings and in great affaires haue small experience and that your youth shall leade you vnto many vices your smal experience cause you to fall in great many errours Also my children ye haue to consider that ye possesse your heartes too much passioned and go inuironed with many lyars which two thinges be most cruell and enorme in the persons houses of princes because with their passion they committ much iniustice and by lies they cloake many foule and pernicious deedes The passioned and furious hearte is sufficed with his owne furie to be lead into all errours and the lyar defendeth him from all knowlege and acquaintaunce of his owne fault If ye remember your selues that ye be men and that I am a woman with great reason ye might haue small regarde vnto that which I do say but if ye consider that ye be my children and I your mother greate estimation should ye conceiue of my counselles for that credite which I lose to be a woman I recouer for that I am your mother If ye did loue your father as your father loued you your sorrowful mother should haue no cause so much to persuade you to be friendes for that to remoue all causes to bring his honour in disputation ye would refuse cast behind you all interest whatsoeuer of any goods Since ye will not liue in peace in as muche as it toucheth the seruice vnto the Gods and the great mischiefes that must follow your owne persons and the infamie wherewith ye shall infect your dead father yet shoulde ye doe the same for the loue and behalfe of your liuing mother because the dissentions trauelles and infidelities of the children many they be that doe beholde them but in the ende the mothers do onely bewaile them Against the testament of your father without the will of your mother contrarie vnto the custome of the Senate and without aduise of any friend ye haue betwixt you diuided the empire leauing me vnto my selfe to be diuided wherein speaking
Antoninus Galba and Othos Othos and Bytellus Bytellus and Vaspasianus now of late betwixt Seuerus my father and Iulianus and Albinius All these great calamities whiche the miserable common wealth of Rome hath suffered was not for that many would not be commaunded but for that many would commaund Admitting that my father commaunded in his testament that Geta my brother and I should diuide the Empire yet many doe know they are not fewe which presume that he would neuer haue done it but his wife and my mother in lawe constrained him so to assigne and in a case so great hard graue respect ought not to be giuen to that whiche hee did but vnto that which he would haue done because the magnificence of the Empire and the wisedome of the Senate ought not to be bound to the procurement of a vaine woman but vnto that which is most conuenient for the common wealth CHAP. VII ¶ Of the great crueltie of Bassianus and of such as he commaunded to be slaine ALl the time that Bassianus vsed this speach vnto the Senate no mā cut off his talk or when he had finished no person durst aunswere one word but that he in ending his tale beheld all his friends such as he suspected he would not once looke vppon wherof they remained not only despited but also terrified because the thinge that the heart loueth is seene and knowne by the vents and windowes of the eyes Neither for that Bassianus had said in open place either for any aduisement of friends in secrete did he cease to continue his cruelties but that presently he commaunded to be slaine not onely such as his brother Geta held for friends but also the friends of his friends He slue all the seruaunts and officers of his brother not only such as serued him in the common wealth but all such also as serued him in all maner of vile things of his house that is to say cookes butlers caters swéepers moile kepers turne spits and boyes of the kitchen at the death of whom albeit both before and after he slue many yet of none had they so great compassion in Rome as of those persons Also he slue al his wagginers all his horsekéepers all his bakers all his laūderers all his musicians al his taylers finallie he slue all that his brother loued and all such as did serue him Hée slue all the Senatours and officers of Rome that folowed the parcialitie of his brother Geta and kilde all Questors Pretors and valiant capitaines throughout the Empire He slue Lucilla an excellent matrone of Rome sister vnto the Emperour Commodus and daughter vnto the great Marcus Aurelius whome all Emperours past did honour as an Empresse and serued as a mother and this was in such wise that as any temple of Rome her house was priuileged The cause wherefore they say he slue the Lady Lucilla was for that when she heard of the death of Geta shee went vnto the Courte to comfort the mother and bewailed her sorrowe whereof Bassianus being aduertised said Since Lucilla mourneth for the death of my brother Geta with my mother in law it signifieth that she would ioy of his life and of my death but I will liue and she shal die Also he slue many of the vestall virgins some that he accused for breaking their virginitie and others for that they presumed to be virgins saying it was a iest to beleue that any might liue and die a virgine in this life He slue an auncient knight named Letus which was at the death of Commodus and also was acquainted with the death of Geta his brother He slue Rufus a knight of Africa and his néere kinsman that is to say his vnckles sonne who at the euening did inuite him to supper and in the morning commaunded to be slaine He slue Pompeyanus the sonne of Lucilla and nephue vnto Marcus Aurelius a man of great courage in warres and venturous in armes whome he commaunded to be slaine trauelling vppon the way and cast foorth report that théeues had slaine him Hée slue Papianus the learned Lawyer who in those dayes was most famous in knowledge and counsell that was in all the Romane Empire and thus it passed that Bassianus when hée came out of the Senate did take Papianus on his right hand and all alongest the streate layde his righte arme vppon his shoulder vntill they came vnto the entrie of the house at the foote of the staire where with an axe such as they cleaue woode hee commaunded his head to be cut off Hee slue Petronius whiche had béene Consul Senatour Questour Pretor Edil and Flamen fourtie yeares in all whiche time hee neuer offended any man either any person had complained of him wherefore hee was named the good Petronius Hee slue Samonicus Serenus whiche also was a Lawyer and of this man it is said that in eloquence hee was very sweete and in writing no lesse Satyricall Also hee slue a sonne of the Emperour Pertinax named Elius Pertinax who for a wonder was said in Rome that in either woord or déede it was neuer perceiued in him that euer in his whole life hee did so muche as vent for the Romane Empire whiche was not a little to bee praised and also meruailed because sonnes naturally are not onely inclined to inherite their fathers goodes but also to succeede them in their honours Furthermore hee commaunded a notable Romane to be slaine named Chilus because hee had continually traueiled to make him friende wyth his brother Geta whoe presupposing that they came to kill him stripte himselfe cleane oute of his apparell and escaped oute at a certaine windowe of his house He killed his first wife the daughter of Plautianus which was exiled into Sicyl caused search to be made in Rome throughout the Empire for al that were sonnes cousines vnckles nephues or néere parentes vnto the bloud royall all which hée commaunded to be slaine both men and women because neither roote branche or memorie should remaine of auncient or generous bloud As well in Rome as els where throughout the Empire Bassianus cōmaunded many others to be slaine but that which was more cruell the erecutioners had authoritie to take away their miserable liues but not to burie their bodies leauing them to the foules of the ayre as for the noblest they were carried in carres on heapes and consumed with fire euen to ashes He was not onely euill and cruell but also did boast himselfe to be a friend of such as were noted to be euil cruell for they neuer heard him say well of any prince past but of Silla the cruell Brute the traitour Catiline the tyrant the Gracchies seditious Domitian the defamed and Commodus the dissolute Exactly to accomplishe his cruelties it chaunced on a certaine day represēting the Circen playes in Rome vnto which feast an huge nūber of people were come to behold that as the guide of the imperiall chariot might not passe because the streats were
not greater daunger either more safetie then soundly to consider in to whose hands they commende their causes The Pretorian bands being euill intreated and worse payde great was their ioy when they hearde that Heliogabalus was the sonne of Bassianus for whom the grandmother craued the Empire whome they all accepted and bound them selues to receiue for their Emperour not only to be reuenged of the tyrant Macrinê° but also to possesse the money For so much as the temple where he was Priest was without the citie agréement was made betweene the matrone Mesia and the armie that presently the same night notwithstanding it were verie late both her nephue and also her owne person by streÌ„gth and deuise should be conueyed ouer the wall into the citie that at the breake of day they shoulde seaze the citie and aduaunce Heliogabalus vnto the Empire Neither was the matrone Mesia slack to acomplish their request either was there anie wante in the promise made by the Pretorians but that Mesia and her nephue approching to the foote of the wall with purposed engins mounted them ouer into the citie the young man being placed amids the Romaine captaines beléeuinge him to be the sonne of Bassianus by resemblance of his face and by a marke in his hande as Bassianus had The Romane armies receiued greate ioy to beholde Mesia and her nephue Heliogabalus chiefly to see the young man so comely faire and towarde and in beholding they would all say that since he had so good a face necessarily it followed that his déedes shoulde be vertuous but his inclination beeing discouered there was no vice wherein he was not noted either any vertue wherefore to be praised The great matrone Mesia as a woman that dealt in affaires both daungerous and escandalous would first assure the Empire vnto her nephue before shée departed from her treasure and the case was thus Shée framed all the principals of the armie presently to sweare vnto Heliogabalus as their onely Emperour to kisse his hande as their naturall Lorde A matter most truely verie marueilous and no lesse worthie to be commended vnto memorie namely the dispatche and diligence vsed by Mesia in one night moste manifestly apparant that within sixe houres shée brought forth her nephue from the temple passed him ouer the wall did yeald him credite to be the sonne of Bassianus obteined their othes as vnto their Emperour kissed his hand as loyall subiectes diuided her treasure amongst the armies fortified them selues in the fortes of the citie and brought the whole hoste into armour At the breake of daye in euery tower they did sound their trumpets placed their Standards and Pendons bothe on bulworkes and corteines and with loude voices exclaimed through all streates Viua viua el Emperador Heliogabalo hiio del buen Bassiano that is to saye happie and long life vnto the emperoure Heliogabalus sonne to the good Bassianus This béeing done proclaymed Heliogabalus came foorth into the citie neither on foote or on horse backe but vppon the shoulders of the moste auncient and honourable of the armie wearing the imperiall crowne vppon his head and holding the royall scepter in his hande and haueing vppon his shoulders the ensigne of Augusta before him the pendon of the Eagle because these were the ensignes whereby the emperours of Rome were knowen And now after the standards were placed and the strength of the citie possessed the armie publiquely proclaimed and receiued the Emperour Heliogabalus for their lorde and Emperour presently the renowmed matrone Mesia did yelde vnto them all her treasure both siluer and golde without breache of any promise or reseruing of any one Iewell The Romanes were so contented with the matrone Mesia that there they did both sweare and vowe to estéeme her as a mother to hold Heliogabalus for their Lorde and to persecute the tyrant Macrinus euen to death CHAP. IIII. ¶ Howe Macrinus did write a letter vnto the renowmed Mesia after he vnderstoode his depriuation of the Empire THE tyrant Macrinus was settled with greate securitie in the citie of Antioche when they remoued him from the Empire in Phoenicia for so it hath béene is and shal be that when Princes moste greedily doe prosecute vices then their enimies are weauing some webb of most deadly daunger Heliogabalus was not the full age of seuentéene yeres when he was aduaunced to the Empire when Macrinus in Antioche heard the newes of that whiche was don in Phoenicia he fell into a great laughter made a iest of it chiefely being certified to be so very a childe framed by his grandmother Mesia whome he helde bothe for a woman ambitious and also contentious Those persons that remained with Macrinus after they hearde of a newe Emperour that the Romane hosts had don him homage and fealtie aduised also prayed him that he would not estéeme the matter ouer light but with better and riper counsell should thinke and consider for the remedie thereof for it might come to passe by conceiuing it to be but a iest that the other might remaine Emperour in earnest As Macrinus naturally was both ambitious orgulous and disdaineful so he demaunding ynke and paper presently did write a cholerike letter with his own hands vnto the famous matrone Mesia after this maner Macrinus Ancius onely Emperour and vniuersall Lord to the matrone Mesia her person small health and lesse grace with the Gods. Here I am aduertised that in the offence of the Gods vnto my great want of reuerence thou hast attempted with mine armies to establish a newe Emperour which deede exactly declareth thee to be as in deede thou art a woman both seditious and also ambitious since thou knowest that by meanes of thy toung and mutinie in the common wealth I did banishe thee my house Also they saye that the emperour which thou hast made is a boye a priest a bastard and thy nephue whereunto there is no more to be aunswered but that I shal chastice thee as a woman and him as a childe that is to saye commaund him to be whipt thy selfe to spinne I sweare vnto thee Mesia by the immortall Gods that if thou driue mee to take my lance in hand I will force thee to put thy distaffe vnder thy girdle for vnto women such as thou it were more honestie to be spinning then to practice mutinies amongst souldiours Also it is saide vnto me that thou hast giuen infinite treasures vnto mine armies to moue them to reuolt from mee and to elect thy nephue Emperour these with the rest be the fruites of thy guyle for that only of thee and neuer of any other it is saide or shall be saide that thou hast robbed the Empire to buy the Empire If all princes past had knowen thee as I do knowe thee neither would they haue giuen credite vnto thy woordes or faith vnto thy fained workes but as by thy guileful diligence in their seruice and presuming attempts in their affaires thou didst
commaund their housholdes and gathered the fruites of their goodes I haue heard thee many times boast thy selfe that thou wast borne in the house of Marcus Aurelius nourished with Antoninus Pius and didst dwell in house with Commodus Pertinax Iulianus and Seuerus Princes very glorious which if thou hadst remembred thou wouldest neuer haue committed a deede so vile for there may not be in the whole worlde a deede more vnseeming then for him that was bred in the palace of kings to committ treason against a person of such maiestie If it shall hap the Gods to permitt and my sorrowfull destinies so to direct that in this enterprise I lose both honour and life I can saye vnto thee Mesia that which historiographers who shall write of thee and mee with trueth may saye that the Empire came vnto mee by election but to thine through treason If thou hadst beene a woman of honestie or honour thou wouldst not so openly haue defamed thy daughter Semiamira whome thou chargest to haue accompanied Bassianus and of her bodie this boye Heliogabalus to haue sproung for whome nowe thou procurest the Empire because in the houses of blushing faces generous and noble heartes they more esteeme an ounce of honour then all the wealth and estate of this life Oh Mesia howe greate an errour hast thou made in this thine enterprise onely to reuenge thy rauenous heart and to make thy nephue an Emperour namely thou hast raised a slaunder vppon Bassianus defamed the royal palace of incest dishonoured thine vnchast daughter Semiamira blemished the Empresse Iulia of vnhonest consent not stained but imbrued thine owne fame with the filthie couerture of incestuous adulterie And since Bassianus Iulia Semiamira and Seuerus haue ended their dayes wherefore wilt thou oh traytresse Mesia dishonour so many that be dead to honour but one that is aliue Nowe I knowe oh Mesia howe tedious and perilous it is for quiet men to deale with mutinous women and passioned as thou art who hauing no yron to hurte our fleshe yet committest deedes to defame vs and speakest woordes to torment vs Of this treason which thou hast committed against me I doubt not to be reuenged and my heart throughly satisfied for so greate an offence is treason that if it be in men to offende therein the Gods haue onely charge to reuenge the same It is giuē me also to vnderstand that this thy nephue was a priest in the temple of the God Heliogabalus in which matter I do not entermedle and say little since in this iniurie ye haue not committed offence vnto men but vnto the gods but ioyntly therewith I dare saye vnto thee that since thou hast drawen him foorth of the temple where he was consecrated vnto the Gods thou shalt neuer enioy good dayes of him for that of thy parte to haue done seruice vnto the Goddes of Princes thou shouldest haue made priestes and not of priests Princes The Gods demaund nothing which we haue but if by chaunce wee offer any thing vnto them they like it not that wee should returne to take it awaye for which cause I say vnto thee and from hencefoorth do prophecie O Mesia that for so muche as thou hast drawne foorth thy nephue from the holy temple he shall lose the Empire and thou thy money The confidence which thou committedst vnto the men of warre by diuiding amongest them so greate quantitie of golde and siluer I hope in the immortall Gods shall all conclude in smoke for it is an auncient custome among the Romane hostes not to giue the Empire to the person of moste merite but vnto him that payeth best The matter that moste grieueth mee O Mesia in this traiterous enterprise is to thinke that I being a man and a Romane prince must deale fight and contende with a woman because there may not bee in this whole worlde an equall despight then for a man to arme him selfe against a woman whose weapons are but woordes But the conclusion shal be since thou wast borne in the palace of the good Marcus Aurelius and Heliogabalus being thy nephue if thou wilt be remoued from this follye and reduce thy selfe into my subiection and obedience I will relieue thee of this exile and to thy nephue Heliogabalus will I giue a Consulship and if not wee are come vnto the time that men must doe what they may and the Gods as they please CHAP. V. Of a letter written by the great matrone Mesia vnto the tyrant Macrinus When Mesia receiued the letter from the tyrant Macrinus her nephue Heliogabalus al the principall captaines of the armies beeing present who of set purpose did beholde her countenance all the time that shée read the same which matter was both merueilous and to be noted in consideration of such a letter so furnished with malice and fraught with despite she neither chaunged countenance or saide one worde after the reading of the same Aboue all men or women of her dayes in two pointes this famous matrone Mesia excelled which is to wéete for great solicitude in affaires and souereigne patience in trauells and so it came to passe she ofte vsed to say that shée neuer loste matter by negligence or euer aunsweared anie man as one passioned Heliogabalus and all that were present did not a litle request the renouned matrone Mesia to reade that letter vnto them or tell what it conteined which she vtterly refused saying vnto them that it were a facte verie euill presently to reade it and a déede much woorsse if after in time and place shée did not shewe it This beeing done and Mesia withdrawne shée aunswered to Macrinus his letter after this manner Mesia Phoenicia vnto Ancius Macrinus his person health and consolation in the Gods. In this the fronte of my letter I do not cursse or banne thee as thou didst me in the beginning of thine for wee that be persons bred and trayned in princes courtes do not a little presume to be praised for our good nourture and to escape to be noted malicious Vrbanitie beneuolence and good manners ought not to be loste for anie vnkindnesse or forgotten for any occasion for that amongst persons noble shamfaste although they doe them iniuries yet they endure not to speake vile wordes Thou shouldest haue remembred Macrinus that I was a woman to whōe thou didst write and thou a man that didst take the same in hande and that if thou hadst founde thy selfe offended or dishonoured by me thou shouldest haue reuenged thy selfe with thy lance as a noble person and not with thy penne as a cowarde The armour and defence of women is the toung but men defend them selues with their swordes or weapons wherfore my Lorde Seuerus did vse to say that it were a great wante in a man to reuenge his cause with woordes and too muche lightnesse in a woman to defende her griefe with weapons But the case shal be thus that since thou takest my office which is to speake I will
Alexander The case was thus that Maximius being in the fields teaching certaine yonge men to play at weapons the confederate traytours came vnto him and taking Maximius amongest them apparelled him with the robe and ensigne of the Empire who being ignoraunt of their intent and supposing it to be done in ieast vsed some resistance But when Maximius perceiued his promotion to be no matter of iest he determined to kill the true Emperour in earnest wherof Alexander all carelesse in his tente being aduertised began to chaunge countenance as one sore abashed and his mother also to fall a wéeping The generous and valiant gentlemen that Alexander had with him hee did request and persuade to resist the traitour Maximius and as good vassals frends in this case to liue and die with him which they all promised but afterwards obserued not The next day early in the morning it was said vnto Alexander that Maximius came accompanied with all the armie whereuppon Alexander demaunding armour to issue forth to fight there was not one mā found that would follow for that all his men of warre were returned to Maximius and the most of his seruauntes that night were fled When Maximius came within the viewe of the imperiall tent where Alexander remayned he stoode still and commaunded certaine Capitaines to goe to Alexander not to take but to kill him that by no meanes they should giue him space or place to do any déed or stay to heare any of his words for that many times delayes in like cases bring to passe that hee that should haue died doth kill him that should haue liued When Maximius his Captaines came vnto Alexanders tente he was blaming his mother saying that by her auarice and couetousnes hée lost both life and honour but his complaintes and her lamentations extended to smal purpose for that ioyntly they slue the sonne and mangled the mother all to péeces Herodianus in his Romane histories sayth that this chaunce and death happened vnto Alexander but other Historiographers no lesse graue and true although they say that hee died in Germanie yet say not that he was subdued in Asia moreouer the occasion of his death they report after another maner because Herodianus knewe not otherwise to excuse the treason committed by Maximius but to say for that Alexander had béene ouercome he was odious vnto all the armie CHAP. X. ¶ Of a solemne Oration made by Alexander vnto his men of warre WHen Alexander departed from Rome to goe into the warres of Asia hée had great regard vnto his men of warre as well for their safetie as also for robbing such countries as they were to passe for as naturall is it for men of warre to rob their neighbours as to kill enimies When hée did eate he had alwayes his tente open to the end all men of his host should both sée and knowe that the meate which he did eate had more taste of the sharpnesse of the warres then of the delicatenesse of Rome Nightly hee did visite the circuite of his campe and at all times would giue them false alarmes to yéeld them aptnesse vnto armour and readinesse to repaire vnto their ensignes If any person did wander from his standard either to rob or but so much as to walke the qualitie of the person considered hee receiued punishment more or lesse If any were a brabler with his hoste froward with his companions disobedient vnto his officers tooke any thing by violence or was foule mouthed hee would say these woords vnto him wouldest thou that as thou doest they should doe or as thou sayest they should say vnto thee Knowest thou not the prouerbe of the Christians Quod tibi nō vis alteri ne feceris that is what thou wilt not to thy selfe do not to another Alexander said that he heard this Prouerbe spoken and he wist not whether of the Iewes or Christians whiche in his heart tooke such déepe impression that he did not onely speake and repeate but also many times wrote the same vnto his gouernours and further caused them to be drawen vppon his ensignes and grauen vpon all his workes Alexander being resident in the territories of Antioche was informed that a certaine Capitaine had abused an auncient woman both in woord and déede and both being called into his presence and the matter heard he commaunded the Capitaine to be depriued of his roome and office and of the liberties which hee had receiued in Rome and further that hee should be slaue vnto the old woman furthermore hee commaunded that in Carpentars craft he should perfourme his seruice mainteine his old dame Hee vsed so great seueritie and hardnesse with his men of warre that many times hee dispatched them by whole bandes for that he might not endure their ciuil dissentions or robberies and scandals amongest neighbours All Romane princes had feare of their armies except Alexander and the cause why as he said hee feared them not was for that he payed them very well and remoued all occasion of reprehension from his owne person and life for in the ende none hath true libertie to chastice but the man that is of a sincere life The armie remayning in Antioche he was aduertised that they gaue themselues vnto women haunted hoate houses and spente and lost much time in vaine playes and idlenesse whereuppon hee commaunded all the Capitaines Tribunes and Centurions to be taken and with yrons to be cast into prison vppon which cause there grew amongest them no small scandal in so much that openly they durst say vnto Alexander if on that present day hee did not let them lose the nexte day following they would depart vnto the enimies Alexander being aduertised what his men of warre had said what they ment to do commaunded them all to appeare before his presēce both such as were in bonds as those that were at libertie saying vnto them these words Alexander his Oration made to his men of warre at his commaundement before him summoned and assembled Brothers friends and my companions that which now I haue to say vnto you is more for the loue whiche I beare you then feare which I haue of you because princes that haue feare to execute iustice either it is for that they are vniust or because their subiectes should dissemble their owne proper vices Howe would ye that I should suffer you being as ye are noble Romaines whom cruell tyrantes would not endure as their subiectes There is none so euil althoughe hee endeuour not to be vertuous that of the good holdeth not good opinion wherof followeth that it is much more euill for the common wealthe the prince being vertuous to suffer persons vicious then him that is vicious to permit no vice in his common wealth The prince that consenteth vnto vices and dissembleth with vicious persons is not to be named a pitifull father but a peruersse and a cruell tyraunte for that notwithstanding at the present hee doeth not chastice them yet
in processe the one shall destroy the other One vicious with another that is vicious may neuer long continue in friendship for presently vpon the decay of vice at the instant their friendship faileth Being as I am your prince according to iustice and your brother in loue how would ye that I should suffer you to rauish women play your wages away at dice spoile orchardes with other such like vile heynous deeds Admitting that now I would passe and dissemble the same yet doubtlesse your selues before others would blame condemne the same because this tribute the good haue ouer the euill that if they bee greeued with the chastisement giuen vnto the euill in the end they shall some day praise him that did iustice Vnderstand ye not that ye are gentlemen of Rome and that on the day in which any man taketh the name of a Romane hee bindeth himselfe to bee vertuous Because this name of Romanes was not so much magnified of our predecessours by killing enimies in Asia as by weeding vices out of oure common wealthes Wee call the Persians Barbarians because they haue taken that which was ours and doubt ye that of Romanes they shall not intitle vs tyrantes that haue spoyled others I am named Alexander and would imitate Alexander the great of whome and of his father king Philip it is said that when they brought foorth their armies to fighte they seemed more a Senate in the common wealth then men of warre If they had done what ye nowe haue done neuer might those princes haue obteined so great victories of their enimies either writers so largely to haue registred their noble and glorious deedes either might I haue praysed them with so good wordes whereof foloweth that the chiefest effecte to ouerthrowe enimies is to holde armies verie well disciplined Princes vse to lose manie victories not for want of iustified war but because their men of warre are wicked and admittinge that some times euill men do conquere yet in the end they shal be vanquished or else of the gods cruelly chasticed Let them be certeine that are either present or absent if anie one will be euill either let him returne vnto his house or else we shal chasten him if he remaine vnder our standard because it is not iuste that wee comminge to recouer that whiche is vsurped from the common wealth by bearinge with your woorkes shoulde defame our mother Rome If we suffer so manie trauels aduenture our selues in so manie perills and consume our treasures it is not for wante of oyle wheate wine plate or golde but to magnifie the renowme of the Romaine Empire and since it is so howe is it possible for the Gods to permitt that by the handes of infamous persons we should obteine honour or renoune Numa Pompilius Quintus Cincinnatus Marcus Marcellus Paulus Emilius Quintus Fabius Cneus Fabricius and Scipio Africanus brought to passe with the Gods that the Romaine empire was accepted and that through the worlde the name of Rome was reuerēced we read not in histories that these glorious and noble men in their persons were tyrants and muche lesse woulde consente their armies to be vicious Beleeue me friends and companions Princes that will mainteine the fame of good Princes and not recouer the reproche of tyrantes ought to haue as greate care to preserue their armies from vice as to auoyde the treason of enimies for that men do incurre greater daunger by secrete vices then by open enimies That whiche ye haue done is either good or euill and if robbinge of fieldes raysinge of mutinies and forceing of women be good then by this accompt to honour temples defende orphans sacrifice vnto the Gods and to vse iustice with all people is wicked since the lawes whiche condemne the one allowe the other whiche of all you is neither to be beleued either so muche as once to be thought for not withstandinge of euill we can say but euil yet is it muche worse to defende then do it If these insolencies whiche I haue rehearsed and you haue committed ye holde for euill why conceiue ye not the chasticemente giuen for the same to be good If vertue and rewarde be cousines who wil denie that the trespasse the punishment are brethren He that ordeyned the conquerour to triumph hath he not appointed the theefe to be hanged Will ye be paide before hande for seruice vnperfourmed and will ye neither pay or restore that whiche ye haue purloyned Notwithstanding Princes haue greate libertie in the cōmon wealth yet are they not exempted or free frō iustice and will men of warre only be priuileged The wordes whiche ye haue vttered and the threatninges which ye haue thundered neither do I take them as iniuries or yeald my self to anie grieuous agonie for in killinge me ye shall kill but one yet in the ende there shall not wante in the Empire one to succeede mee and also to chastice you That whiche I presently requeste and commaund you is to amende that whiche is past presentely to imbrace quietnesse and to be aduised in time to come whiche if ye refuse I shall be forced to vse rigour because I am not to supporte mine Empire by relieuing vicious souldiours but in maintenance of all men by iustice These and such wordes beeing saide they became al milde and pacified and further all armour beeing laide a parte in token of obedience and their heades caste downe in signe of sorrowe euerie man departed vnto his charge Hereby the greate authoritie of Alexander in his commaundements is to bee gathered and the force whiche he had in his persuadinge speache to be pondered The bande and capteineship which he dismissed after xxx dayes he did bothe pardon and admitte them because hee sawe in them greate repentaunce for that which was past and readie mindes to serue him in time to come and so it came to passe that afterwardes in battell they proued men most notable and such in déede as to whome greatest glorie was giuen CHAP. XI ¶ Of the victorie that Alexander obteined against the Persians and of his triumph as some writers do report WHen Alexander departed from Rome because of the warres in Asia a great part of Summer was past for which cause it was necessarie for him to Winter in Antioche admitting the delay increaseth cost yet was it profitable for perfourmance of his warlike attempts for that in mene time he reformed his armies prouided victuals repayred high wayes recouered manie daungerous passages and also remoued from his enimie manie confederates When summer began Alexander marched with his armie after whose entrance into the lande of Persia he perfourmed al exploites accustomed in suche a iourney which is to wéete brake bridges ouerthrewe fortes burned houses sacked townes spoyled fieldes killed men and did captiuate women whereof we haue not to meruell for that notwithstandinge warre be iustified and all thinges iuste therein demaunded yet alwayes the déedes thereof be moste vniuste Certeine dayes beeing past wherin
were trauersed diuers daungerous skirmishes and no lesse perilous incounters by the consente of Alexander and Artaxerxes they committed both their fortunes vnto the merite of a battell the Persians being ouerthrowen and the Romains remaining conquerours wherein if Artaxerxes had staide his hardinesse and commended the matter vnto policie placeing his power in his fortes and moste stronge places if he had suffered the Romaines by tracte of time to consume thēselues according to the custome of greate armies in straunge countries he might haue preserued both his countrie and honour Great riches were recouered in that battell and infinite the captiues whiche then were taken and as the Persians holde it for a moste greate iniurie to serue any straunge nation so Artaxerxes notwithstandinge hee was poore and ouercome gathered together greate summes of money and redéemed all captiues in suche wise that in Persia there remained no money either anie captiues came vnto Rome Alexander recouered in those warres the renoume of valiant magnanime and not couetous and he was iustely intituled valiaunt for his doughtinesse in fighting magnanime for his magnificent liberalitie and not couetous for the small share that he reserued vnto him selfe The affaires of Persia beeing dispatched Alexander returned vnto Rome entering the same with greate triumph and glorie for that conformable vnto the people and nation which they had subdued was the riches that was brought vnto the treasurie And after being mounted vpon the Capitol he saide vnto the Senate after this manner A shorte Oration made to the Senate Fathers Conscript for that I come tyred with so long a iourney and you no lesse wearied in receiuing mee it were no reason to make long speache muche lesse to inuent newe eloquence because there is nothing so eloquently spoken but if it bee saide out of time or place seemeth tedious vnto the audience He that shall speake or persuade others hath not only to consider what he saith but also to obserue time and respect the assemblie for the Sea at one time doth permitt her selfe to be spurned and at another time not to bee touched By that which ye haue hearde as that which this day ye haue seene ye may vnderstand howe daungerous this warre hath beene and howe copious a victorie we haue obteined for as ye vnderstand Fathers conscript there is no great haruest without great tillage The case is thus that the Persians had in their fauour foure score thousand footemen sixe thousand horssemen seuen hundreth Elephants two thousand yron cartes and two thousand slaues that were young men the one halfe to beare victuals and the other halfe to mend high wayes On that day in which both the one the other came foorth into the fielde to fight no man woulde haue thought but that the whole world had bene come together and also the deade risen out of their graues Of foote men we slewe twentie thousande and did captiuate twentie thousande of horse men two thousande were killed and three thousande did yealde of Elephantes we bringe three hundred and three hundred we haue slaine the cartes the slaues and prisoners they haue redeemed by the weight of money in such wise that we haue taken their countries ouercome their persons and brought away their goods I returne safe sound the armie inriched king Artaxerxes defeated the name of Rome magnified and the confederates satisfied and with all these trauels though we come wearied yet are we not fatigated because victorie is so sweete a thing that it leadeth al trauells past into obliuion Alexander hauing saide these wordes the Senate exclaimed with loude voices The immortal Gods saue thee Alexander the Gods make thy fame immortall since this day thou haste honoured Rome with euerlastinge fame Thou hast ouercome the Persians visited the Parthians subdued kinges inriched the armies and placed vs in great honour for which cause not vnworthily we intitle thee Pater Patriae father of our countrie Tribune of the people most highe Bishoppe first Consul only Emperour of the worlde These such other exclamations manifested by the Senate at the issue of the Capitol gate Alexander saide vnto all persons that there did attend him Fathers sonnes brothers and companions vnto the fathers of the Senate we haue giuen accompt of all that we haue done and will giue you a reason as apperteineth of al that we haue saide For this day the triumph paste sufficeth to morowe we wil visite the temples the nexte daye we will offer greate sacrifices the fourth day wee will giue libertie vnto prisoners the fifte day we will diuide rewardes amongst the poore widowes and orphans the sixte day we wil begin the Persike Circen playes for cōsidering the greatnesse of our victorie we wil first accomplishe with the Gods by whom we haue obteined the same and then with men which gaue vs their assistance When Alexander came from the Capitol hee mounted on horse backe to ride vnto his palace whome at that instante certeine auncient gentlemen of Rome did take beare vpon their shoulders the people gathered together exclaminge with lowde voyces in this manner Blessed is Mamea thy mother blessed art thou Alexander her sonne blessed is Rome that bred thee blessed is the armie that elected thee and blessed is the Senate that did consecrate thee for in thee is conteyned the felicitie of Octauius the bountie of Traiane Thou hast lead with thee into the warres our husbands our sonnes and our friendes whome thou bringest backe with thee all sounde all riche and likewise all contēted wherfore we say vnto thee that if this day we place thee vpon our shoulders for euer more we will lay vp thy memorie in our entrayles In these exclamations the people continued before and behinde for the space of fower houres extremly pestering all passage vntill the chariote triumphant with foure Elephants made the wayes open All that which he saide vnto the people he commaunded presently to be accomplished At the ende of these feastes he did institute a temple of Virgines who were named Maneaes in reuerence of his mother Manea At the same time he receiued newes that at Tanger a citie of Africa Furius Celsus had obteined victorie and Iunius Palinatus likewise in Armenia triumphed ouer the enimies as also Varius Macrinus in Illyria had made a conquest of certeine countries and the currers which brought the newes presented him also with thrée tables of Lawrell The feastes and triumphes being finished he woulde be informed of the officers of the common wealth that is to say how in his absence they had vsed the people and howe they had administred iustice and suche as had not done well he remoued and those that had done well he rewarded giuinge vnto some more honourable offices and to others heritages and money Manie times Alexander woulde say that they deserued as greate glorie that in time of warre did well gouerne the common wealth as they whiche in the warres obteined victorie CHAP. XII Of
wherein the Romane Princes alwayes vsed greate measure and consideration for that curtesie costeth little and profiteth much The money which Macrinus receiued of his rents or were presented him from the cities he consumed them all in vices and on the other parte he woulde neither paye what he owed or succour his men of warre in suche wise that the people stoode in despaire and the armies for want of paye no lesse despighted The Romanes were afflicted with no small griefe to beholde the tyraunt Macrinus in all his déedes and attempts and to sée howe the Asians despised him for they frankely saide that he did not inherite but they did electe him Emperour and their fact to be imputed with greater indignitie that had chosen a person of so great vnworthinesse In his apparell in his diet and in all his manners and fashions Macrinus would néedes imitate not the Romanes but the Asians which the Romanes receiued with great griefe and the Asians with no lesse ignominie for that so euil a person would néedes resemble thē For so muche as there were no warres in Asia or in all the East either by Sea or lande the Romane armies would haue returned to Rome but Macrinus would not consent doubting as they were discontented that they should ioyne with the Senate and determine to depose him from the Empire Macrinus was muche blamed for that he stayed to go to Rome and much more for want of pay vnto his men of warre for that many times more hurt redoundeth to Princes by holding their armies discontented then to encounter their armed enimies In very short space Macrinus had recouered mortall hatred of his armies of the one parte to be so absolute a tyraunt and on the other parte to be in vice so dissolute and also so much puffed vp with pride for that he séemed to extoll himselfe by commaunding and loathed and despighted with suites of his subiectes Macrinus was a man of a lowe stature quarellous ambitious and also couetous but ioyntly herewith he was valiant in the field and yet woulde séeke great meanes to liue in peace notwithstāding all these conditions both good and euil they woulde neuer haue taken away his life and Empire if he had not béene nummed with the vices of Asia CHAP. III. ¶ Howe the great matrone Mesia bought the Empire for her nephue Heliogabalus IN the time that Macrinus was resident in Antioche the Romane hosts were in defence of the prouince of Phoenicia because in that yere that coūtrie did abound in grain for bread and the people also were not fatigate or spent with warres Wée haue said how in that countrie there was a temple dedicated vnto the God Heliogabalus which in buildings was verie magnificent and of priests much populated Many Romane captaines went many times to visite that temple some to sée some to pray and some to offer sacrifices for that naturally the Romanes presumed to be great worshipers of their gods and to hold their tēples in singular reuerēce Ther was in those daies in those temples two young priestes first cousins one of whiche was named Heliogabalus and the other Alexius these yong men in their vestments which they did weare and in their life which they did leade were iudged to bée priestes one the other part they well séemed by their grauitie to bée the sonnes of princes The matrone Mesia was so discreet secret and aduised that the children being of the age of fiftéene yeres neither them selues or any other for them did either knowe or suspect who were their fathers either who their grandmother but that shée sayd vnto all men that those children were orphans and sonnes vnto her auncient seruaunts When Macrinus did tyrannize the empire amongst other errors which hee committed hée banished the famous matrone Mesia from the courte not for that hee did so much as suspect her of any euill but béeing therunto vrged by his vile inclination for that all princes his predecessors estéemed her as a mother and honored her as a ladie of great souereigntie In the courte of eight emperours by the space of 53. yeres the great matrone Mesia had béene resident with all which shée vttered of her selfe so great valure and yealded such estimation of her person and also of them recouered so great gaine that when Macrinus did reiect her from the court she had more riches in her exile thē Macrinus might finde in the whole empire The matrone Mesia departed vnto Phoenicia where her two nephues remained namely Heliogabalus and Alexius and as there remained manie Romane gentlemen euill payed and worse pleased so they ioyned with Mesia and Mesia with them to talke and murmur howe Macrinus had slaine by treason his lorde the Emperour Bassianus and made hauock of the Empire common wealth whiche matter was moued amongst persons that had desired to remoue this mischief and on the tyrante also to take vengeance The matrone Mesia receiued excéeding ioy to heare with her owne eares and see with her eyes howe all the armie was bente against the tyrant Macrinus and their greatest care was to finde a man sufficient and of merite meete for the Empire because the Romanes stoode with him in great and cruel hatred for want of pay and the matrone Mesia no lesse grieued with her exile The matrone Mesia beholding her selfe in so good apt assembly to make her nephue Heliogabalus Romane Emperour called in great secrecie sixe Romane captaines of the chiefest of the armie all which were of great authoritie and no lesse grauitie Vnto these sixe captaines Mesia sayd in secrete howe her nephue Heliogabalus was sonne vnto the Emperour Bassianus and Semiamira her daughter and that shée had helde him hidden in Asia for doubt of the Empresse Iulia who had she knowne it would haue slaine the childe and banished the mother Mesia was not only satisfied to say certifie these vi captaines that the Emperour Bassianus most truely was father vnto that younge man and nephue vnto her selfe but ioyntly therewith she brought them into her chamber and discouered vnto them an huge masse of golde siluer whiche she promised and sware vpon the altars of the temple to distribute totally vpon the armie if they woulde giue the Romaine Empire vnto her nephue Vnto these sixe captaines to whome the matrone Mesia had committed this secreate and discouered this treasure shee both promised and sware to bringe to passe with her nephue Heliogabalus that he shoulde giue them the moste honourable offices in all the Empire if in case they shoulde vse the meane to make him Emperour in so muche that if other men were payed and recompenced they shoulde remaine both remunerated and honoured Greate wisdome was vsed by the matrone Mesia in this matter of so greate importance especially in the choyce of so honourable captaines whose credite was sufficient to frame the whole armie to perfourme the same Of this example princes and greate potentates may collecte that in anie affaires there is