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
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
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
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
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
being moste true according to sensualitie he shoulde haue procured and not haue giuen any impediment to haue finished his life since vnto him bothe house goods and estate shoulde succéede The Senatours many other magistrates of Rome did attempt to adnihilate the lawes and monumentes of Adrian whiche Antoninus did most stiffely denye withstand and repulse and in the ende not onely did cause all his actes to be ratified confirmed and allowed but also did frame and bring to passe with the Senate that Adrian should be accompted amongest the Gods. He built in the honour of Adrian a moste solemne temple in a certeine place named Pusoll and did furnishe the same with Priestes to serue him and endued them with rents to find them and were commonly named Adrians priests In the honour of Adrian he did institute certeine playes intituled Lustra to be played euery fifth yere for the maintenaunce whereof he gaue great rentes Before Adrian died he had made for him selfe a sumptuous sepulchre neare vnto the riuer Tiber whether Antoninus brought him to be buried and brought to passe with the Senatours and the people of Rome to receiue him with no lesse honour then if he had béene a liue No Prince had reigned in the Empire that had not béene noted either cruell or of small pietie Antoninus Pius excepted whoe with his tounge neuer commaunded man to be slaine either woulde euer firme sentence of death or euer woulde beholde any man executed because so greate was his clemencie that he might not beholde the sheading of bloud CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the woordes that Adrian saide vnto the Senate when he did adopt Antoninus Pius AFter that the Emperour Adrian was recouered of a certeine great surfet it hapned afterwards as he sate at his dinner he was taken with an incessant cough whereof followed a bléeding at the nose in suche abundance and with such continuance that both him selfe and others thought first to haue seene him dead yer the bloud woulde haue ceassed to runne Adrian perceiuing the greater that his fluxe of bloud did increase so muche the more his life did shorten desiring like a good Prince to prouide for the weale of his subiectes comaunded all the Senatours Consuls and all other the notable officers of Rome to come before him vnto whome he briefely saide certeine woordes right worthie to be committed vnto memorie as followeth His Oration to the assemblie Fathers conscript you see with greate certeintie howe soudeinly and vnawares death hath assailed mee and by howe small occasion I lose my life Let mee be an example vnto you and all men and holde it for most certeine that that parte of life is most times in peril where of certeintie of life we had setled most affiance Nature hath not graunted me to haue children of mine owne but therefore I giue great thankes vnto the immortall Gods because in deliuering mee from children they haue discharged mee of greate and many cares There goeth muche difference betwixt the ingendering or the electing of a sonne for the one proceedeth of necessitie the other is elect at large will and libertie The sonnes that nature giueth vs are many times lame filthie and also foolishe but such as wee adopt wee elect them able sound and discrete for that no man is so imprudent which at the time of election chooseth not the best In time past I elected Lucius sufficiently knowen vnto you but the destinies were so contrary vnto him that before he had power to commaunde in the state of Rome he was buried in his sepulture but now we haue elected Antoninus for your emperour whoe wee promise you shall proue milde benigne quiet and mercifull for that clemencie is as naturall vnto him as it is vnto the Sunne to giue light by daye He receiueth the Empire in a competent age to the ende ye feare not by his too muche youth to committ some rashe deede either by too muche olde age negligently to gouerne the common wealth He hath beene bred and nourished in our own countrie and therefore will obserue the customes thereof Also his life hath been trained vnder our own lawes a sufficient occasion to auoide all searche of vnnecessarie lawes of straunge countries and this you haue to regarde not as a matter of small importance because there is not any thing that more doeth offende the common wealth then to infecte the same with straunge and vnused customes He knoweth what thing it is to go on warrefare to gouerne armies to suffer both passions and motions of people to vse clemencie with some and to correct others in suche wise that in him is conteined greate sufficience for the gouernement of the common wealth since in all thinges he hath experience Ye knowe him and he knoweth you ye haue dealt with him and he hath dealt with you I hold of him such opinion that he will neither despise you either forget you in such manner that his obedience shal be vnto mee as vnto a father and shal deale with you in loue like a brother And I woulde that all you which be here present as also all other persons in Rome that vpon such condition I transferre the Empire that after his dayes he leaue the same vnto Marcus Aurelius his sonne in lawe and my seruaunt and from henceforth I sweare and protest that these two elections shal be acceptable vnto the Gods and profitable vnto men In credite life and science Marcus Aurelius doth exceede Antoninus but that hitherto Antoninus hath had more experience for which cause vnto him the rather we haue commended the Empire because for the generall gouernement of any estate or common wealth one yeare of experience is more worth then ten yeres of science I haue beene weake carelesse and negligent in many thinges of the common wealth partely inforced therunto by the greatnesse of mine enimies but for the recompence thereof I do leaue two suche Princes one after the other to gouerne the Empire which for their singularitie in science and vertue shall excell all that be past and I doubt in equalitie not to be matched with any their successours These wordes being saide by Adrian he drewe a ring from his finger and put the same vppon the fingar of Antoninus Pius and after that houre he was holden serued and obeyed as Romaine Emperour notwithstandinge that Adrian liued some time after Perfect was the election of the Emperour Nerua in the good Traiane and no lesse of Traiane in the adoption of Adrian and moste iust of Adrian in the election of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius which fiue Emperours were such and so good one after the other which séemed a Prognostication that the felicitie of Romaine Emperours should in them take an ende CHAP. V. ¶ Of the offices that Antoninus helde before he was Emperour BEfore Antoninus Pius came vnto the height of the Empire he did oft put foorth his money to vsurie but all the gaines of that trade he spent in succouring
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
banished and prouided also Galba Rufus for his Chamberlaine whom after foure houres he discharged of his office and sent him in exile and when Niger Rufus complained of their griefes Commodus aunsweared hée did not banishe them for that which they had done but for that which they might doe He created Prefect Marcus Dulius a man most certaine right generous and auncient whome after thrée dayes hée remoued from his office and comaunded him vntill his death in his house to be prisoner the occasion whereof was for that as hée affirmed Marcus was very old and spente and therefore it were no reason he should be troubled of any person and also that if any man should request any thing hée mighte aunsweare him that hée was a prisoner and might not go out of his doores to doe him pleasure He gaue the Senate to vnderstand that hée would go into Africa and had necessitie for his nauie by sea his army by land of a great summe of monie although the Senate did suspect it but a collusion they durst not but open the treasurie and diuide with him the treasure for otherwise he would both make hauoche of their liues and treasure In April the Senate gaue foorth their monie and when Commodus was in possession thereof he bruted his departing vnto Campania to take men of warre where hée remayned ail that Summer and also parte of the next winter eating drinking fishing hunting playing wrastling running leaping dauncing swimming and such other vanities All the Senate was much ashamed and all the Romanes not a litle touched after they vnderstood the monie which was giuen out for the warres of Africa to be so vitiously consumed by Commodus in Campania After his returne to Rome Commodus was aduertised that Motilenus Prefect for that yeare had murmured more at him then any other person and for very griefe and despight did wéepe to sée their monie prouided for the warres spent in so wicked vses Commodus confected certaine figgs and inuited Motilenus to dinner who being fed with figs died the third day following One day he clad himself as a priest right pontifically and placed himselfe aloft on a choche of 4. furious horses the Romanes supposing he would offer sacrifices at the temple he mounted certeine rockie cliftes mountaines and there against all reason ran his charriot where his horses happened to be all to torne his chariot rent all to péeces and hée brake his head and wrenched his foote finally he made a narrow misse in repayment of his follie that day to haue lost his life On a day he went to the Senate and said that hee would not haue Rome named Rome but Cōmodiana and the Senate aunswered they were both pleased to call Rome Cōmodiana and the Senate Cōmodiano That which the Senators supposed to be demaunded in iest also consenting in iest Commodus did accept in earnest from thenceforth the letters which were written the prouisions which were made the seals therto ioyned in al such instruments Rome was intituled Cōmodiana the Senate Cōmodiano and if by negligēce any man happened to be obliuious therof to vse the name of Rome presently he was banished from thence to séeke Rome for that was not but Cōmodiana The priests of the Goddesse Isis were commanded to come into his presence and said vnto them that shée had reuealed vnto him that their heads should be shauen and that hée was commaunded as high priest to performe the same and with a blunte knife hée cutt their nailes and blunting his knife vppon stones would drie shaue their heades in such wyse that as their haire was drie and his knife blunt it might more truely be said that hée did rather fley them then trimme or dresse them Such as garded the temple of the Goddesse Bellona hée caused their right armes to be thrust out of ioynte alledging that since they painted the Goddesse with a broken arme her priestes ought not to haue their armes whole and sound The Romanes painted their Goddesse Isis with naked brestes and Commodus on a day visiting that temple and beholding the image of Isis painted with brestes discouered hée caused the brestes of the priests to be scrat with combs of yron in his presence affirming that it were vniuste for their Goddesse to haue naked brestes and they to hold their entrailes hidden Commodus commaunded all men to call him Hercules which to the end hée would resemble hée made a coate of Lions skinnes and tooke in hand an huge clubb wherwith hée wente day and night killing men breaking doores and ouerthrowing pillers with such other vanities in so much that a fierce cruell Lion would not haue done so great hurtes as Commodus committed as a Lion but counterfect With many other vaine and wicked déedes vnworthie to be written CHAP. XIII ¶ A discourse of the prouinces that rebelled in his reigne and the prodigies of his death THere rebelled against the Romane Empire in the reigne of Commodus the Mauritanes the Datians the Sarmatians and the Germaines all which were onely come by the Romane capiteines for that Commodus did rather imploy his valiauntnesse in vices then in resisting enimies Hée was not onely in his woordes and workes vaine and friuolous but also in his letters which hée wrote for the Empire for that many times being aduertised frō countries and prouinces of causes of great importance he would answeare them with matters of vanitie and sometimes would sende an whole shéete of paper sealed and firmed conteyning onely one Latine woord that is to say Vale. Notwithstanding the dayes of his reigne were the most vnfortunate dayes yet would hee néedes commaund them to be termed the golden world Most heynous offences hée would pardon for monie if any person being absent were condemned to die hée would finde out some other of his age and name to be executed for his offence affirming that since he did resemble him in age and name hée should not varie in the maner of his death in such wise that this tyrant did kill innocents for the wicked and let offenders escape for monie If any man had an enimie of whom he would take vengeaunce hée néeded no other meane to performe the same but to bargaine with Commodus for a summe of monie which being agréed he neuer wanted occasion to rid him of his life At all the vile and filthie déeds which Commodus committed he was not gréeued but delighted in the publication thereof in so much that he was not onely euil but also boasted himselfe to be euill for that he entred so great follie or madnes that all thinges which hée either did or said whether allowed or misliked of himselfe or all other men expressely hee commaunded them to be written in the registre Capitoline On a certeine time he determined to burne the whole citie of Rome and being prest to giue fire to many parts Letus a Consul came vnto him and said vnto him so many things and put him
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