by the Persian legions proclaimed in Verona by the Roman souldiers and had the voices of the Senate to confirm him He was noble by birth an experienced wise and valiant Prince and might have been reckoned among the best had he not with an heathenish rage persecuted the Christians being Author of the seventh persecution He put more Christians to death in a year and an half than Trajan whose name he had and whom he would have been thought to resemble in 20. Tristan The Novatians would not communicate with them who had denyed the faith in the persecution of Decius and afterwards repenting turned to the same faith again Nicephorus Callistus l. 12. c. 28. The fear of his persecution gave the original to a Monkish life He was victorious against the Gothes and joyning a fresh battail with them was overthrown by the treason of Gallus his General saith Pomponius Laetus His son was mortally wounded by an arrow he leaping into a whirl pool was never seen after Tristan thinketh this misfortune befell Decius for a punishment of his persecutions Vopiscus in the life of Aurelian and Pomponius Laetus compare Decius and his son with the Decii Mures who devoted themselves to destruction in a dangerous fight for the safety of their Country which depended thereupon But the comparison doth not agree saith Tristan For the 2 ancient Decii rendred the Romans victorious by their death whereas these by theirs made them slaves to the Barbarians and lost many of their Provinces Besides that Decius the Father was drowned and swallowed up in his flight which hath no resemblance with the end of the Decii of the ancient Commonwealth He dyed at the age of 50 having reigned 2 years Choyce Observations OF TREBONIANUS GALLUS And his Son VOLUSIANUS GALLVS appearing much grieved for Decius his death was not suspected which facilitated his attaining of the Empire He caused Virtus Augustorum to be stamped upon his and his sons medails as if he had got the Empire by valour and not by deceit Under these two Emperours arose a plague in Ethiopia which spred it self by degrees in all the Provinces of the Roman Empire and lasted 15 years together without intermission and so great was the mortality that in Alexandria as Dionisius himself at that time the Bishop of that Sea reports there was not one house of the City free and the remainder of the inhabitants equalled not the number of old men in former times By means whereof St. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage who lived in that age took occasion to write that excellent Treatise de Mortalitate And Lipsius his censure of this pestilence is Non alia unquam major lues mihi lecta spatio temporum sive terrarum Aemilianus his General having overcome the Gothes grew so proud thereupon that he aspired to the Empire which he purchased by the good will of the souldiers who slew Gallus and his Son in battail Dexippus who lived in those times saith he governed but 18 months Choyce Observations OF AEMILIANUS HE was an African of obscure parentage and arose to be a General from a common souldier His election was at first contradicted by the Italian band who sought to make Valerian Emperour to which the Senate inclined because of Valerians renown Aemilians Army hearing of the election of Valerian tumultuously murdered their own creature who reigned almost 4. months Some reckon him among Usurpers but his title is allowed by Eutropius Of 30 Emperours who reigned since Octavius Augustus time untill Valerian 6 of them escaped not the hands of murtherers Lloids consent of time Choyce Observations OF VALERIANUS HE was nobly descended and of such esteem among the Romans that being a private man and absent they chose him for their Censor an office of great dignity ever conferred upon the best saith Trebellius Pollio who wrote his life At the beginning of his reign he was gracious to the Christians above any of his Predecessors but after being perverted by an Egyptian magician and Macrianus he was author of the 8 persecution He was very cruel pulled out the eyes of young children thereby consulting of future Events In his reign there suffred 300 Martyrs together at Carthage whom the Governour of the City commanded either to throw frankincense into the fire set before them in honour of Iupiter or else to cast themselves head-long into a Brick kiln hard by which they did chusing rather to embrace fire than resist light Prudentius in Peristeph When he warred in Mesopotamia he was taken prisoner by Sapor King of Persia through the treachery of Macrianus and used like a slave as long as he lived Sapor setting his foot upon his neck whensoever he mounted on horse-back to the utmost vilifying of Majesty and the regret of divers interceeding Princes It was the most signal affront which the Romans hitherto ever received in the person of their Emperours Tristan At last saith Eusebius by Sapors command his eyes were pulled out wherewith he dyed Agathias saith he was flayed alive and rubbed all over with salt a calamity which may challenge tears of blood He lived along but disgracefull age was 76 years old before he was taken prisoner after his captivity he lived 7 years in reproches and then died a violent death A man of a poor mind and not valiant notwithstanding lifted up in his own and the opinion of men but falling short in the performance Sr. Fr. Bacon Infaelicissimus Principum a filio Gallieno in Deos relatus est quasi Deum facere posset quem liberum facere aut nequiverat aut neglexerat Cluverus Gallienus tam claro Dei judicio territus miseroque collegae permotus exemplo pacem Ecclesiae trepidâ satisfactione restituit saith Orosius Choyce Observations GALLIENUS WHen Valerian his Father was taken prisoner he was made Emperour He was expert in Oratory Poetry and all other arts but was defective in other qualifications which are requisite in an Emperour At first he acted like a valiant Captain overcame and slew Ingenuâ—s who usurped the Empire as also Trebellianus overcame 300000 Gothes Almans having but 10000 on his side saith Zonaras but after he gave himself so much to sensuality that when the World was infected with Warres he continued for the most part in Rome among whores compassed with Roses and Flowers seeking new delights often bathing himself studying how he might keep Figs and other fruits green all the year having ordinarily at his table most exquisite and delicate meats and of great cost Trebellius Pollio in Gallieno c. 16. He commanded one who had sold counterfeit jewels to his Wife to be cast to a Lion but the den being opened nothing came forth but a Capon at which when the people wondered he bade the Cryer proclaim Imposturam fecit passus est being content to have the impostor more frighted than hurt Id. ib. c. 12. Videsis Christiani Matthiae Theatrum Historicum Theoretico-practicum p. 263. When a shooting
and such persons also were of the Romans called Neroes as excelled others in the most egregious Fortitude and Noble Vertues Afterward when this Tyrant Nero who descended of the Claudii which were Sabines had degenerated from all the Heroicall vertues of his Ancestors and became so bloody and cruell hee gave occasion to posterity to change that proper name into a name Appellative so that they called them that were cruell Nerones and those that were more cruell Neroniores When Domitius his friends by way of gratulation wished him joy of his Son new born he said That of himself and Agrippina there could nothing come into the world but accursed detestable and to the hurt of the weal Publick Of stature he was indifferent within a little of 6. foot his body full of speckles and freckles and foul of skin besides The haire of his head somewhat yellow his countenance and visage rather faire then lovely and well-favoured His eyes gray and dimme his neck full and fat his body bearing out and his legges slender and small He began his reigne with a glorious shew of piety and kindnesse Those Tributes and Taxes which were any thing heavy he either quite abolished or abated Whensoever he was put in mind to subscribe and set his hand to a warrant for the execution of any person condemned to dye he would say Quà m vellem nescïre literas O that I knew not one letter of the book Seneca his Tutor did much extoll that speech of his as if it had proceeded from a pitifull heart He was framed by Nature and practised by custome saith Tacitus to cloake hatred with flattering speeches Many times he saluted all the degrees of the City one after another by rote and without book When the Senate upon a time gave him thankes he answered Cùm meruero do so when I shall deserve His quinquennium or first five yeares were such that Trajan himself is said to have admired using this speech Procul differre cunctos Principes Neronïs quinquennio But it is thought that it was rather the reigne of his Governours Seneca and Burrhus then properly his He delighted exceedingly in Musick and would shew his skill upon the open stage often using the Greek Proverb That hidden Musick was nought worth All the while he was singing it was not lawfull for any person to depart out of the Theatre were the cause never so necessary It is reported that some great-bellied woman falling into travail were delivered upon the very Scaffolds yea and many men besides weary of tedious hearing and praysing him when the Town gates were shut either by stealth lept down from the Walles or counterfeiting themselves dead were carried forth as Coâ—ses to be buried But how timorously with what thought and anguish of mind with what emulation of his concurrents and fear of the Umpires he strove for Mastery it is almost incredible He never durst once spit and reach up flegm and he wiped away the very sweat of his forehead with his arm onely There was a boy named Sporus whose genitories he cut off and assayed thereby to transform him into the nature of a woman then he caused him to be brought unto him as a Bride without a dowry in a fine yellow vaile after the solemn manner of Marriage not without a goodly traine attending upon him whom he maintained as a wise whereupon one brake this witty jest That it would have been happy for the world if Domitius his Father had wedded sâ—ch a wife He said jestingly of Claudius That he left morari inter homines with a long syllable meaning that he spent his dayes foolishly Epulas à medio die ad mediam noctem protrahebat He held out his Feasts from noon-day till mid-night He was very profuse and prodigall in expences he never put on the same Garment twice when he played at hazard he ventered no lesse then 3125. pounds at a cast upon every point or prick of the chance He fished with a golden Net drawn and knit with cords twisted of purple and crimson silk in grain When he made any journey he never had under 1000 Caroches in his train his Mules were shod with silver but in no one thing was he more wastful then in building His house was so large that it contained three Galleries of a mile a piece in length and a standing Poole like unto a Sea and the same inclosed round about with buildings in form of Cities It was laid all over with gold garnished with precious stones and mother of pearl He said He now at length began to live like a man and himself named it Domum auream a golden house His Mother Agrippina being with Child with him went to consult with the Chaldeans or South-sayers about her Son they answered her That he should reigne but kill his Mother but she being very ambitious slighted that saying Occidat modò imperet Let him kill mee so he may be King This was accomplished afterwards for he caused his Mother to be murdered and not onely so but which was more horrible he took an axact view of her dead body and beheld it Crowner-like saying He did not think he had had so faire a Mother His Father he poisoned he slew his Brother Germanicus and his Sister Antonia and both his wives Poppaea and Octavia his Aunt Domitia his son in law Rufinus and his Instructers Seneca and Lucan There was no kind of affinity and consanguinity were it never so near but it felt the weight of his deadly hands The first persecution was under him in the 13. year of his reigne Tertullian calls him Dedicator damnationis nostrae i. e. the first that made a Law to condemne Christians to death Tertullian Eusebius Lactantius and others say that he put Peter and Paul to death Paulus à Nerone saith Eusebius Romae capite truncatus Petrus palo assixus scribuntur Historiae huic fidem facit quod illic coemiteria habentur in quibus Petri Pauli nun cupatio ad hunc usque diem obtinet Chrys. and Theophyl upon the fourth Chapter of the second to Timothy alledge this to be the cause wherefore he put Paul to death because Paul had converted to the Christian Faith Nero's Butler whom he made great account of thereupon he commanded him to be beheaded others say it was because he converted one of Nero his Concubines which afterward refused to company with him but we need assigne no other cause of Nero's rage against the Apostle then that which Eusebius and Jerome both do touch the cruelty of that bloody Tyrant joyned with a wicked detestation of the Christian Faith His cruelty is by Paul compared to the mouth of a Lion 2 Tim. 4. 17. but here then ariseth an objection how Paul should suffer under him when he saith there that he was delivered Therefore Paul
Vict. Choyce Observations OF SALVIVS OTHO TAcitus and Suetonius observe that his Father was so like unto Tiberius that most men held him to be his own Son Tam non absimilis facie Tiberio principi fuit ut plerique procreatum ex eo crederent He was of a mean and low stature he had feeble feet and crooked shankes He wore by reason of his thinne hair a perruck or counterfeit cap of false hair so fitted and fastened to his head that any man would have taken it for his own He was wont to shave and besmear his face every day all over with soaked bread this bread was made of Bean and Rice flower of the finest Wheat also a Depilatory to keep hair from growing especially being wet and soaked in some juyce or liquor appropriate thereto as the blood of Bats Froggs or the Tunie-fish to this effeminacy of Otho alludeth the Satyricall Poet in this Verse Et pressum in faciem digitis extendere panem Which devise he took to at first when the down began to bud forth because he would never have a beard He was of a noble house saith Plutarch but ever given to sensuality and pleasure from his Cradle insomuch as his Father swinged him and soundly for it He used night-walking and as he met any one either feeble or cupshotten hee would catch hold of him lay him upon a Souldiers Gabardine and so tosse and hoist him up in the Aire Pueritiam in curiose adolescentiam petulanter egerat He spent his tender yeares without regard of his honour his youth afterwards in all dissolute disorder He repaired often to his Glasse to see his face that he might keep it clean He was one of Nero's chief Minions and Favourites such was the congruence of their humours and dispositions Gratus Neroni aemulatione luxus He was in grace with Nero through emulation of vice Neroni criminosè familiaris He was sinfully familiar with Nero. He was privie and party to all his Counsels and secret designes to avert all manner of suspicion that very day which Nero had appointed for the murthering of his Mother he entertained them both at supper with most exquisite Dainties and the kindest welcome that might be He subscribed Nero's name unto his Letters Patents till the Noble men of Rome misliked it Frustrà moritur Nero si Otho vivit He strove by gifts and all other meanes to oblige the Souldiers unto him before he was Emperour and to winne their hearts by fair promises he protested before them all assembled together that himself would have and hold no more then just that which they would leave for him One calleth him the Roman Absalom Cui uni apud Militem fides dum ipse non nisi Militibus credit The Souldiers onely trusted him because he trusted none else All of them together put up a petition to him and besought him to command their persons whilest they had one drop of blood left in their bodies to do him service But amongst others there was a poor Souldier drawing out his sword said unto him Know O Caesar that all my Companions are determined to dye in this sort for thee and so slew himself Rebus prosperis â—â—certus inter adversa melior A man in prosperity uncertainly carried and governing himself in adversity Duo omnium mortalium impudicitiâ ignaviâ luxuriâ— deterrimi velut ad perdendum Imperium fataliter electi saith Tacitus of Otho and Vitellius Two of all mortall men the most detestable creatures in slothfulnesse incontinency and wastfull life fatally elected to ruine the Empire But though in the first Book of Tacitus his History they are both compared as like in opposition to a good Prince yet in his second book they are opposed the one to the other as unlike with notes of distinction Vitellii ignavae voluptates Othonis flagrantissimae libidines Vitellius ventre gulâ sibi ipsi hostis Otho luxiâ— saevitiâ audaciâ Reipublicae exitiosior ducebatur of the one side an ill mind in a man of nothing and of the other an ill mind joyned with courage and edge The drowsie Pleasures of Vitellius were feared lesse then the burning lusts of Otho Vitellius in excesse of Belly-chear was an enemy to himself Otho in riot cruelty audaciousnesse reputed more dangerous to the state It was hard to judge which of them two was most licentiously given most effeminate least skilfull poorer or most indebted before he was Emperour Magna misera civitas eodem anno Othonem Vitelliumque passa A great and miserable City which in the same year supported an Otho and a Vitellius We may learn by Otho saith Sir Henry Savil that the fortune of a rash man is Torreâ—ti similis which ariseth at an instant and falls in a moment Alii diutius Imperium tenuerunt nemo tam fortiter reliquerit it was his own speech Others have kept the Empire longer none hath ever so valiantly left it Plura de extremis loqui pars ignaviae est He thought it a part of dastardy to speak too much of death When he saw his side the weaker and going to the walls he counselled his Souldiers to provide for their safety by hying them to the winner He slew himself with his own hands but slept so soundly the night before that the Groomes of his Chamber heard him snort Many of his Souldiers who were present about him when with plentifull teares they had kissed his hands and feet as hee lay dead and commended him withall for a most valiant man and the onely Emperour that ever was presently in the place and not farre from the funerall fire killed themselves Many of them also who were absent hearing of the newes of his end for very grief of heart ran with their weapons one at another to death Most men who in his life-time cursed and detested him when hee was dead highly praised him so as it was a common and rife speech that Galba was by him slain not so much for that he affected to be Soveraigne Ruler as because he desired to recover the state of the Republick and the freedome that was lost His saying was Melius est unum pro multis quam pro uno multos mori An excellent and worthy speech of an Emperour preferring the Publick good before his own private Sic imperium quod maximo scelere invaserat maxima virtute deposuit as Xiphilinus noteth out of Dion He dyed but 37. yeares old saith Plutarch 38. say Eutropius and Suetonius and was Emperour but three moneths Plutarch three moneths and five dayes Tertullian four moneths Aurelius Victor He dyed in the 59. day of his Empire saith Eutropius 95. saith Suetonius Choyce Observations OF AVLVS VITELLIVS HE was beyond measure tall he
served up to the Board viands dressed the day before and those half eaten saying That the side of a wild Boar had in it the same of the whole One there was who called him Dominus that is Sir but he gave him warning not to name him any more by way of contumely Another chanced to say His sacred business and a third again That he went into the Senate Auctore se that is by his warrant or authority He caused them both to change those words and for auctore to say suasore that is By his advise and counsell and in stead of sacred to put in laborious and painfull Quotidiana oscula prohibuit edicto item strenarum commercium He forbad expresly by Edict the usuall and daily kisses commonly given and taken likewise the entercourse of New-yeares gifts to and fro Suetonius writeth of him that he did Iura omnibus ferè asylis adimere Take away the priviledge of almost all their Sanctuaries because he observed the licentious abuse of them At length he discovered those vices which with much adoe for a long time he had cloaked and concealed He was very cruell covetous and libidinous He spent with Flaccus Pomponius and L. Piso a whole night and two dayes ouâ—right in nothing else but eating and drinking giving the Province of Syria into the Government of the first and conferring the Provostship of Rome on the other professing even in all his Letters that they were Jucundissimi omnium horarum Amici his most pleasant Companions and friends at all Assaies Propter nimiam vini aviditatem for his excessive love of wine and hot waters or because he loved to drink wine hot which is delicate he was for Tiberius named Biberius for Claudius Caldius for Nero Mero One gives this reason of his drunkennesse because his Nurse that gave him suck would drink exceedingly her self and nourished him with sops soaked in wine A Lombard for drinking in his presence three Gallons of wine at one drâ—ught and before he took his breath again was dubbed Knight by him and sirnamed Tricongius The three-Gallon Knight He erected a new Office à voluptatibus for the devising of new pleasures wherein he placed Priscus a Gentleman of Rome and one who had been Censor He advanced Sejanus to the highest place of Authority not so much for any good will as to be his instrument for the accomplishing his wicked purposes He put to death a Souldier one of his own Guard for stealing a Peacock out of a Garden Theodorus Gadareus his Master observing his bloody disposition called him Lutum sanguine maceratum A lump of clay soaked in blood these verses were cast out of him Fastidit vinum quia jam suit iste cruorem â—am bibit hunc avidè quà m bibit antè merum He loatâ—eth wine and now he aftâ—r blood doth thirst Drinkes this as greedily as wine he drank at first He thought simple death so light a punishment that when he heard that Carnulâ—us one of the Prisoners had laid violent hands on himself he cryed out Carnulius me evasâ—t Carnulius hath escaped my hands His saying was Oderint dum probent Let them hate me so long as they suffer my proceedings to passe Nullus à poena hominum cessavit dies ne religiosus quidem ac sacer There passed not a day over his head no not so much as any festivall and Religious Holy day without execution and punishment of some many were accused and condemned together with their Children and Wives Straight commandment was given that â—he near kinsfolkes of such persons as were condemned to dye should not mourn and lament for them No Informer and Promoter was discredited but his Prefentment taken and every crime and trespasse was accounted capitall He said to one that requested death rather than long imprisonment Nondum tecum redii in gratiam Thou art not yet reconciled to me that I should shew thee such favour Because Virgins by a received custome were not to be strangled he caused the Hangman first to defloure a Virgin and then to strangle her Among other kinds of torment he devised that when men had drunk largely of strong wine their privy parts should be fast bound with Lute-strings that so for want of means to avoid their Urine they might indure intollerable pain Faelicem Priamum vocabat quod superstes omnium suorum extitisset He called Priamus happy in that he over-lived all his Sons and Daughters He feared Thunder exceedingly and when the air or weather was any thing troubled he ever carried a Chaplet or wreath of Lawrell about his neck because that as Pliny reporteth is never blasted with Lightning He loved liberall Sciences most affectionately he would do things better of a sudden ex tempore then upon study and premeditation Repentinis responsionibus aut consiliis melior quà m meditatis He was much addicted to Astrologicall predictions and such curious Arts so that the greater part of those things which he executed in all his life time was ordered thereby he gave the more credit to Divination because in certain things he had found the conjectures correspondent to truth He seeing Galba one day coming towards him spake thus of him to certain of his familiars Behold the man that shall be one day honoured with the Roman Empire He made a Law called Lex Papia by which he forbad sucl men as were past sixty or women past fifty to marry as thinking them iâ—sufficient for generation to which Lactantiâ—s seemes to allude thus jesting at the Heathen touching their great god Jupiter How cometh it to passe that in your Poets salacious Jupiter begets no more children is he past sixty and restrained by the Papian Law Many of the Roman Caesars have been transported with self-admiration they have shared the Months of the year among them April must be Neroneus May Claudius Domitian will have October November is for Tiberius by the same token that when it was tendered to him he askt the Senatewittily as Xiphiline reports it What they would do when they should have more then twelve Caesars It is called the Sea of Tiberias Iohn 6. â— from a City on the bank of it of that name built by Herod in honour of Tiberius Caesar as Josephus writeth in the 18. Book of his Jewish Antiquities Livie and Ovid dyed in the fourth year of Tiberius Pilate by Letters signified unto him the Miracles of our Saviour Christ his Resurrection and that he was supposed of many to be God The Romans had a Law forbidding any Emperour to consecrate or set up any god which was not first approved by the Senate for Tiberius Caesar hearing of Christs fame by vertue of that Law moved the Senate to promulgate and relate Christ among the number of their gods who rejected him because he would be God alone or because contrary to the Law of
the Romans he was consecrated for God before the Senate of Rome had so declared and approved him whose folly Tertullian thus scoffeth Apud vos de humano arbitrio divinitas pensitatur nisi homini Deus placuerit non erit Deus homo jam Deo propitius esse debet That God should be God if man would let him Josephus a Jew and an enemy to Christ in his 8. Book of Antiquities c. 4. speakes the same things of Christ that Matthew doth that he was a most worthy man if it be lawfull to call him a man said he that he wrought many Miracles and that he rose from the dead Tacitus and Suetonins speak of his Miracles Tacitus l. 15. Annal. c. 10. affirmes that he was Crucified under Pilate in the time of Tiberius and that Tiberius would have put him in the number of his gods Plutarch De interitu Orac. reports that under the Reigne of Tiberius all the Oracles of the world ceased of which the Poets bear witnesse cessant oracula Delphis Iuv. Sat. 6. Plutarch also in the same book reports that in the later yeares of the reigne of Tiberius a strange voice and exceeding horrible clamours with hideous cries screetches and howlings were heard by many in the Grecian Sea complaining that the great god Pau was now departed And this was brought before the Emperour who marvelled greatly thereat and could not by all his Diviners and Soothsayers whom he called to that consultation be able to gather out any reasonable meaning of this wonderfull accident but Christians may perswade themselves that by the death of their great god Pan which signifies all was imported the utter overthrow of all wicked spirits John 12. 31. Our Lord was Crucified in the 15. year of his reigne say Tertullian and Lactantius But Luke the Evangelist 3. c. 1. v. maketh his Baptisme to fall in the 15. year of Tiberius his reigne So then his Passion must be in the 18. or 19. for three yeares he preached salvation Jerome and Eusebius The fear of losing his Office under Tiberius Caesar whose Deputy he was over the Province of Judaea made Pilate condemn Christ John 19. 12. 13. but not long after he lost his Deputy-ship and Caesars favour and fled to Vienna where living in banishment he killed himself Euseb. Hist. l. 2. c. 7. Matth. 22. 21. Our Saviour saith Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars The money declared the subjection of their Nation as if he should have said If you think it absurd to pay Tribute be not subject to the Roman Empire but the money declareth that Caesar reigneth over you and your own secret allowance declareth that the liberty which you pretend is lost and taken away Ierome on the place doth well observe that the name of Caesar is not proper but Appellative because from the first Emperour Iulius Caesar all the rest were so called Yet saith Gerhard in his Harmony Christ properly understands Tiberius who then ruled whose Image the money did bear to that wicked Emperour Tribute was due so that charge 1 Tim. 2. 2. was given by Paul even then when Caesar was a persecutor of the Christian Religion Austin tells us He that gave Soveraignty to Augustus gave it also to Nero he that gave it to the Vespatians Father and Son sweetest Emperours gave it also to Domitian that bloody monster De civit Dei l. 5. c. 21. Tiberius approved of the Christians Opinions and threatned Death to them which accused them This came to passe saith Eusebius by Divine providence that the Doctrine of the Gospel having no rubbe at the first might run over the whole world Dion writes that â—a Phoenix was seen before the last year of Tiberius which bird is an Embleme of the Resurrection and signifieth that at that time Christ rose from the dead and that the Gospel was then spread abroad which affirmeth that the Dead shall rise again Charion Chron. He dyed in the 78. year of his age say Suetonius Tacitus and Aurel. Vict. 83. saith Eutropius It was thought he was poysoned He raigned 23. yeares say Eutropius Suetonius Orosius 24. saith Aurel. Vict. 22. yeares 7. moneths and 20. dayes Tertull. 22. yeares Clem. Alexand. 22. yeares 7. moneths and so many dayes saith Dion 22. yeares and six moneths Ioseâ—hus He raigned 22. yeares and 7. moneths but the reason of the different computation why some give unto him but 22. years some 24. some but 23. is because some count onely the full yeares some the moneths of his first and last year for whole yeares some put the odde moneths together and make one year of them He raigned after our Saviours Passion 4. years 11. moneths and 18. dayes The people joyed so much at his death that running up and down at the first tidings thereof some cryed out in this note Tiberium in Tiberim Let Tiberius be cast into Tiber some offered sacrifices when they heard of it and one meeting with his Master in some publick place told him in the Hebrew Tongue The Lion was dead Choyce Observations OF CAIVS CALIGVLA SOme say this name of Caligula was given him for a certain kind of shooe called Caliga used among men of warre and worn by him or he got it by occasion of a merry word taken up in the Camp because he was brought up there in the habit of an ordinary and common souldier among the rest Cajus cognomen Caligae cui castra dederunt Ausonius He carried himself well before he was Emperour so that it was said of him Nec servum meliorem ullum nec deteriorem Dominum fuisse There was never a better servant and a worse Master He was very tali of stature pale and wan-coloured of body somewhat grosse and unfashionable his eyes sunk in his head and his Temples were hollow his fore-head was broad the hair of his head grew thin in all parts else he was hairy and shagged and therefore it was a capitall offence either to look upon him as he passed by from an higher place or once but to name a Goat upon any occasion whatsoever His face and visage being naturally stern and grim he made of purpose more crabbed and hideous composing and dressing it in a looking-glasse all manner of waies to seem more terrible and to strike greater fear Being clad oftentimes with a cloake of needle-work and embroidered with divers colours and the same set out with precious stones in a coat also with long sleeves and wearing bracelets withall he would come abroad into the City On a time esteeming it a thing correspondent to his greatnesse who was Emperor to exact that superiority on the Sea which was answerable to his Soveraignty on the Land being to crosse the Sea between Puteoli a City in Campania and Misenum another maritime town he caused a Bridge to be built betwixt one Cape of the Sea unto another for the space of three miles and more
himself through with his own sword and was a horrible spectacle to all beholders He dyed in the 32. year of his age saith Suetonius and 14. year of his reigne say Tacitus Clem. Alexand. Eusebius and Eutropius the very day of the year on which he had murdered his wife Octavia and by his death brought so great joy unto the people generally that the Commons wore caps to testifie their freedom recovered and ran sporting up and down throughout the City Some say that Nero is yet alive saith Baronius out of Sueton and Severus although he did thrust himself through with a sword yet some think that his wounds were healed and that he survived according to that in the Rev. 13. 3. and that he shall be Antichrist but Bellarmine himself saith It is a presumptuous folly to say that Nero shall be revived and received as Antichrist and Suarez calls it Anilem fabulam a foolish Fable Choyce Observations OF SULPITIUS GALBA SOme think his name Galba came by occasion of a Town in Spain which after it had been a long time in vain assaulted he at length set on fire with burning brands besmeared all over with Galbanum others because in a long sicknesse which he had he used continually Galbeum i. e. remedies lapped in wooll some again because he seemed very fat and such a one the French doth name Galba or contrariwise because he was slender as certain little wormes are called Galbae He succeeded Nero and his age being much despised there was great licentiousnesse and confusion whereupon a Senatour said in full Senate It were better to live where nothing is lawfull then where all things are lawfull He was of full stature his head bald his eyes gray and his nose hooked his hands and feet by reason of the Gout exceeding crooked in so much as he was not able to abide shooes on the one or to hold his Bookes with the other There was an excrescence or bunch of flesh in the right side of his body and it hung downward so much as it could hardly be tyed up with a truss or swathing band yet hee had a good wit though a deformed body like a good instrument in a bad case Being with generall applause and great good liking placed in state he behaved himself under expectation and though in most points he shewed himself a vertuous Prince yet his good Acts were not so memorable as those were odious and displeasant wherein he did amisse He obtained the Empire with greater favour and authority then he mannaged it when he was therein so that he overcame Nero by his good name and the good opinion men had of him and not through his own force and power Major privato visus dum privatus fuit omnium consensu capax Imperii nisi imperâsset He seemed more then a private man whilest he was private and by all mens opinions capable of the Empire had he never been Emperour Spem frustrate senex privatus sceptra mereri Visus es Imperio proditus inferior Fama tibi melior juveni sed justior ordo est Complacuisse dehinc displicuisse prius He lived in honourable fame and estimation in the reigne of five Emperours Alieno Imperio faelicior quà m suo He was in greater prosperity and lived more happily under the Empire of others then in his own His house was of ancient Nobility and great wealth He neither neglected his fame nor yet was ambitiously carefull of it of other mens money he was not greedy sparing of his own of the common a Niggard As he sacrificed within a publick Temple a Boy among other Ministers holding the Censer suddenly had all the haire of his head turned gray Some made this Interpretation of it that thereby was signified a change in the State and that an old man should succeed a young even himselfe in Nero's stead He was of a middle temperature neither to be admired nor contemned Magis extra vitia quà m cum virtutibus rather void of ill parts then furnished with good In the Palace Julius Atticus one of the Bill-men met him holding out a bloody sword in his hand with which he cryed aloud he had slain Otho My friend quoth Galba who bad thee A man of rare vertue saith Tacitus to keep in awe a licentious Souldier whom neither threats could terrifie nor flattering speech corrupt and abuse thence it was a usuall speech through the Camp Disce Miles militare Galba est non Getulicus Learne Souldiers service valorous Galba is here and not Getulicus For eight yeares space before hee was Emperour hee governed a Province of Spain variably and with an uneven hand at first sharp severe violent afterward he grew to be slothfull carelesse idle Being intreated for a Gentleman condemned that he might not dye the death of ordinary Malefactors he commanded that the Gallowes should be dealbata whited or coloured for him Quasi solatio honore poenam levaturus as if the painted Gibbet might adde solace and honour to his Death When there was question made of an heifer before him whose it should be arguments and witnesses being brought on both sides he so decreed it that she should be led with her head covered to the place where she was wont to be watered and there being uncovered he judged her his to whom she went of her own accord Among the liberall Sciences he gave himself to the study of the Civil Law He cryed to his Souldiers Ego vester vos mei I am wholly devoted unto you and you are wholly devoted unto me His severity which was wont to be highly commended by the voice of the Souldiers was now displeasant to them who were generally weary of the ancient Discipline and so trained up by Nero 14. yeares that now they loved their Emperours no lesse for their vices then once they reverenced them for their vertue◠His hardnesse toward his Souldiers caused him to fall for a large Donative being promised to them in Galba's name and they requiring if not so much yet so much at least as they were wont to receive he wholly refused the suit adding withall Legi à se militem non emi That his manner had ever been to choose and not to buy his souldiers Vox pro Republica honesia ipsi anceps A saying no doubt fit for a great Prince in a more vertuous age not so in those seasons for him who suffered himself to be sold every houre and abused to all purposes He was killed by the wiles of Otho in the Market-place the Souldiers flying upon him and giving him many wounds he held out his Neck unto them and bade them strike hardily if it were to do their Country good He dyed in the 73. year of his age and seventh moneth of his Empire He reigned seven moneths and so many dayes Aurel.
had a red face occasioned by swilling in wine and a great fat paunch besides and somewhat limped upon one legge by a hurt formerly received He was stained with all manner of reprochable villanies he was familiar with Caius for his love to Chariot-running and with Claudius for his affection to Dice-play but he was in greater favour with Nero for his wicked conditions likewise for he attended and followed him as he did sing not by compulsion as many a good man but selling his honour to nourish his Riot and feed his belly to which he enthralled himself He found some supplications that were exhibited unto Otho by such as claimed reward for their good service in killing Galba and gave command that they should be sought out and executed every one A worthy and magnificent beginning such as might give good hope of an excellent Prince had hee not managed all matters else according to his own naturall disposition and the course of his former life rather then respecting the Majesty of an Emperour When hee came into the Fields where a Battel was fought and some of his train loathed and abhorred the putrified corruption of the dead bodies he stuck not to hearten and encourage them with this cursed speech Optimè olere occisum hostem meliùs civem That an enemy slain had a very good smell but a Citizen far better That was also a wicked speech of Charles the ninth of France at the Parisian massacre when beholding the dead carcasses he said that the smell of a dead enemy was good He banished from Rome and Italy all the judiciall Astrologers called Mathematicians because they had said that his reigne should not endure one year to an end If he could have forborn his riotous living or used any moderation therein covetousnesse was a crime in him not to be feared but he was shamefully given to his belly without all order or measure Epularum foeda inexplebilis libido saith Tacitus for which purpose there were daily brought out of Rome and Italy Irritamenta Gulae all provocations of Gluttony The high-waies from both the Seas sounded of nothing else but of Caterers and Purveyours the greatest men in the City were spent and consumed in providing of Cates for the banquets the Cities themselves were wasted The Souldiers grew worse and degenerated from labour and vertue partly by turning themselves to pleasures and partly through the contemptiblenesse of the commander He would eat four meales a day Breakfast Dinner Supper and Rere-banquet or after Supper being able to bear them all very well he used to vomit so ordinarily His manner was to send word that hee would break his fast with one friend dine with another and all in one day and every one of those refections when it stood them least cost 3235. l. sterling But the most notorious and memorable supper above all other was that which his brother made for a welcome at his first coming to Rome at which were served up at the Table before him two thousand severall Dishes of Fish the most dainty and choycest that could be had and seven thousand fowl Yet himself surpassed this sumptuous feast at the dedication of the platter which for its huge capacity he used to call the Target of Minerva In this he blended together the Livers of Guilt-heads the delicate braines of Pheasants and Peacocks the tongues of Phoenicopters the tender small guts of Sea-Lampries sent as far as from the Carpaâ—thian Sea and the straights of Spain by his Captaines over Gallies For the making of this charger there was a furnace built of purpose in the field Mucianus after the death of Vitellius alluding to this monstrous platter and ripping up his whole life upbraided the memoriall of him in these very termes calling his excesse that way Patinarum paludes Platters as broad as Pooles or Ponds Nunquam ita ad curas intentus ut voluptatis oblivisceretur He was never so intentively addicted to serious affaires that he would forget his Pastimes In his Traine all was disorderly and full of drunkennesse more like to Wakes and Feasts of Bacchus then to a Camp where Discipline should be He was forward enough to put to death any man he killed Noble men and his School-fellowes He delivered Blaesus over to the executioner to suffer death but straightwaies called him back again and when all that were by praised him for his Clemency he commanded the said party to be killed before his face saying withall Velle se pascere oculos that he would feed his eyes with seeing his death At the execution of another he caused two of his Sonnes to bear him company because they presumed to intreat for their Fathers sake A Gentleman of Rome being haled away to take his death he cryed aloud unto him Sir I have made you my heire then he compelled him to bring forth his writing Tables concerning his last Will and so soon as he read therein that a freed man of the Testators was nominated fellow-heir with him he commanded both Master and Man to be killed He was suspected also to have consented to his own Mothers death Impar curis gravioribus saith Tacitus of him he was unmeet to weild weighty affaires The Empire was conferred upon him by those which knew him not and yet never man found so constant good will of his Souldiers by vertuous meanes as he did with all his cowardly sloth Tanta torpedo invaserat animum ut si Principem eum fuisse caeteri non meminissent ipse oblivisceretur So great a sencelesnesse did possesse his mind that if other men had not remembred that he had been a Prince and therefore was not to look for security in a private estate he himself would quickly have forgotten it A contumelia quà m à laude propius fuerit posâ— Vitellium eligi It was more a disgrace then a praise to be chosen after Vitellius He used no other defences against the ruine which approched him but onely to keep out the memory and report of it with fortification of mirth and sottishnesse that so he might be delivered from the paines of preserving himself Praeterita instantia futura pari oblivione dimiserat mirum apud ipsum de bello silentium prohibiti per civitatem sermones c. Tacit. Hist. lib. 3. Ita formatae Principis aures ut aspera quae utilia nec quidquam nisi jucundum laesurum acciperet The Princes eares were so framed that he accounted all sharp that was wholsome and liked of nothing but that which was presently pleasant and afterwards hurtfull Amicitias dum magnitudine munerum non constantiá morum continere putat meruit magis quà m habuit He deserved rather then found faithfull friends because he sought them more by great gifts then vertuous behaviour At the last he was slain in
intended onely at the first Analecta some choyce and pithie observations of them if these therefore may benefit thee summam votorum attigi I have attained the end of my desires and so I rest Thy Well-wisher EDWARD LEIGH Choyce Observations OF COCCEIVS NERVA DOmitian thus made away Coccejus Nerva a prudent honourable and aged person was elected Emperour by the Senate his birth was noble and of Italy in the City Narnia and of the Province Vmbria ruling so well as he may be esteemed too good a Prince long to continue in so bad an age who reformed many enormities and remitted many grievous tributes and exactions also he recalled from banishment the Christians severally dispersed and suffered them to enjoy the freedom of their profession at which time Iohn the Evangelist returned from Pathmos wherein he had been confined unto Ephesus a City in Asia the lesse where after his return he lived 4. years The excellent temper of his Government is by a glance in Cornelius Tacitus touched to the life Postquam divus Nerva resolim insociabiles miscuisset imperium libertatem Dion writeth of him that he was so good a Prince that he once uttered this speech Nihil se fecisse quo minus possit deposito imperio privatus tutò vivere He remembreth not to have done any thing why he should not live securely and without fear of any body although he gave over the Empire His symbole was Mens bona regnum possidet He discharged the City of the new impositions which Vespasian and Domitian had laid upon them and commanded that goods unjustly taken should be restored to the owners He was very eloquent and a good Poet as Martial testifies of him Quanta quies placidi tanta est facundia Nervae See Martial's Epigramme of him lib. 11. epig. 6. Herodes Atticus found a great treasure in his house but fearing calumnies he wrote to Nerva and discovered it He wrote back again Vtere use it But he being not so secure wrote again At enim thesaurus privati hominis conditionem superat but the treasure exceedes the condition of a private man Nerva again nobly replied Ergo abutere Lips in Plin. Paneg. On a reverse of Nerva is found a team of horses let loose with this inscription Vehiculatione per Italiam remissa whereby we learn which no Historian remembers that the Roman Emperours commanded all the carriages of the countrey that Nerva remitted that burden and that the grievance was so heavy that coines were stamped in remembrance of this Emperours goodnesse that eased them of it See the coines in L. Hulsius and Speed's Chronicle Sextus Aurel. Victor writeth thus Quid Nerva prudentius aut moderatius quid Trajano divinius Quid praestantius Hadriano Having reigned onely one year four moneths and nine dayes de dyed of a passionate anger conceived against a Senatour in the year of Christ his Incarnation ninety nine the twenty seventh day of Ianuary and seventy sixth of his own age Choyce Observations OF ULPIVS TRAJANVS UNto Nerva succeeded Vlpius Trajanus into the Roman Empire in the 42. year of his age who was born near unto Sevil in the Territories of Spain of a Noble Family but was much more ennobled in himself for his Princely endowments which moved Nerva in his life time to adopt him into so high a Calling and the whole Senate after his death joyfully to confirm his Election and so often to honour him with the title of the most Excellent Prince in publik Dedications He raised the Roman Empire unto the very highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their command into the largest circuit that ever before or since hath been possessed He subdued Dacia made subject Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia conquered Assyria Persia and Babylon passed Tigris and stretched the confines of the Roman Empire unto the remotest Dominions of the Indies which never before that time had heard of the Roman name For his Person he was not very learned yet he was a great admirer of and Benefactor to Learning a Founder of Famous Libraries a perpetuall advancer of Learned men to Office and a familiar Converser with learned Professors Quem honorem dicendi Magistris quam dignationem sapientiae doctoribus habes ut sub te spiritum sanguinem patriam receperint studia quae priorum temporum immanitas exiliis puniebat Plin. Secund. Paneg. Of stature he was big of complexion swarthy thin of hair both head and beard he had a hooked nose broad shoulders long hands and a pleasant eye He stirred up the third Persecution wherein Ignatius and Simon the Son of Cleophas and many other worthy Saints of God received the Crown of Martyrdom in such cruell manner as that his other vertues are much clouded by that Taxation for mollification whereof he was intreated by Plinius secundus whose Epistles to that purpose are yet extant viz. the 97. of his tenth Book where he hath this passage to Trajan concerning them Affirmabant hanc fuisse summam vel culpae suae vel erroris quòd essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire carmenque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invicem seque Sacramento non in scelus aliquid obstringere sed ne furta ne latrocinia ne adulteria committerent ne fidem fallerent ne depositum appellati abnegarent c. to which Letter Trajan thus replyeth Conquirendi nnon sunt si deferantur arguantur puniendi sunt Whereupon Tertullian in his Apology hath this passage O Sententiam necessitate confusam negat inquirendos innocentes mandat puniendos ut nocentes parcit saevit dissimulat animadvertit Quid teip sum censur â circumvenis Si damnas cur non inquiris si non inquiris cur non absolvis He was affable and familiar even with his inferiours of such carriage toward his subjects as he himself would wish he said his Prince to use towards him if he had been a subject Aequus clemens patientissimus atque in amicos perfidelis saith Aurelius Victor of him He was a great observer of Iustice in so much that when he invested any Praetor in giving him the Sword he commanded him to use the same even against his own person if he violated Law or equity He erected many famous buildings whence Constantine the Great called him Parietariam Wall-flower because his name was upon so many walls Alexander Severus is rather to be commended who caused that precept of the Gospel to be engraved on the frontispiece of his palace Quod tibi fieri non vis alterinèseceris Dion reporteth this Apothegme of him Nullum se unquam virum bonum male habiturum nedum occisurum Dies ille triplici gaudio laetus saith Pliny in a Panegyrick to him qui principem abstulit pessimum dedit optimum meliorem optimo genuit In solo Plinio Trajanum habemus in Trajan◠imaginem omnium magnarum
himself at the tribunal of Minos before whom many accused him of unjustice but that the Sun who had alwayes in his life specially assisted him in all his enterprises excused him to the other Gods saying That he had been punished enough by his death according to the Delphick Oracle which saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iudicium si quis quae fecit perfer at aequū est Choyce Observations OF TACITUS And his Brother FLORIANUS UPon the death of Aurelian the Souldiers who would not have any of his assassinates to succeed sent to the Senate to chuse an Emperour the Senate refer the election to the Souldiers who they knew used not to be pleased with the Senates choice half a year passed in complements with a peaceable interregnum at last the Senate and Souldiers joyntly elect Tacitus He retired to his mannor in Campania where he was secret 2 moneths shunning that dignity which might prove his overthrow was often sollicited but with hearty thanks absolutely denied affirming his age made him unable to satisfy expectations at length necessity of state so requiring he accepted of their proffer at which all rejoyced but himself He was such an example of moderation to others that he permitted not his Empresse to wear jewels He honoured Tacitus the Historian whom he called his Father commanded his Works to be put in every Library through the Empire to be transcribed 10 times every year at publick cost Vopiscus in Tacito c. 10. When the Senate chose him Emperour they cryed out Quis meliùs quà m gravis imperat quis meliùs quà m literatus imperat When he objected his age they answered that Trajan Adrian and Antoninus were old when they came to the Empire whom they mentioned because they reigned well and fortunately omitting Vespasian Nerva Pertinax Macrinus and Decius who came older to the Empire but their reign was short especially that of the four last the three last also dyed a violent death Tristan When the Senate denyed him the Consulship which he sought for his brother Florianus he took it very well saying Scit Senatus quem Principem fecerit Vopiscus He gave the Souldiers all the mony he had in silver which was a great summe he having had more than 9 millions in gold for his patrimony His death was caused by grief occasined by factions infirmity of age helping to break his heart and his life when he had reigned 6 months Vopiscus His brother Florianus ambitiously strove to get the Empire as true heir though he knew Tacitus was engaged to the Senate that he would prefer worth before his relations in the designation of his Successour Being not able to withstand Probus who was chosen by the Army he was killed by the Souldiers say some but most write that by opening a vein he killed himself at Tarsus as Quintillus also did who was reduced to the same extremity Choyce Observations OF PROBUS VPon Tacitus his death the Army unanimously cryed out Let us have Probus for our Emperour and the Senate with applause confirmed the election The manner of his being chosen by the Souldiers was thus The Officers told them the requisites of one that should be elected that he should be Fortis Sanctus Verecundus Clemens Probus which when it was spoke to many companies on all sides they cryed out as it were by a divine instinct Probe Auguste Dii te servent Vopiscus in Probo c. 10. Valerian the Emperour called him Verè Probum saying in an epistle that if he had not had Probus for his name he deserved to have had it for his surname Id ib. c. 4. He was made tribune by Valerian in which office he served under Gallienus Claudius Aurelian and Tacitus His first service after he became Emperour was in France against the Germans who had conquered it wherein one battel he slew almost 400000 Germans 9 of whose Kings prostrated themselves at his feet he won also and repaired 70 of their Cities in lesse than 7 years The Egyptians electing Saturninus a wise and valiant Captain Emperour so sore against his will that he was like to be slain for gain-saying their desires Probus hasting towards them offered them pardon out of an unwillingnes to shed civil blood or to loose such a man as Saturninus but upon refusal of his clemency he engaged in a sharp battail wherein most of the revolters were overthrown and Saturninus slain in the assault of a besieged Castle to the grief of Probus who sought to save his life Vopiscus in Saturnino Bonosus who had charge of ships which the Germans burned in the mouth of the Rhine through his negligence if not treachery who fearing punishment for his fault rebelled against Probus but was overcome and through despair hung himself whereupon it was said Amphoram pendere non bominem That a barrell or tankard hung there and not a man because he was so given to drink Vopiscus in Bonoso There rebelled also against Probus Proculus as insatiate a vassal to Venus as Bonosus was to Bacchus so impudent that he did not onely cōmit filthinesse but boasted of it as appeareth by his Letter wherein he braggeth that having taken 100 Sarmatian Virgins he deprived 10 of that name in a night and all the rest within a fortnight inter fortes se haberi credens si criminum densitate coalescat saith Vopiscus in Proculo He honoured Aradion a most valiant man whom he overcame in wrestling with a tomb 200 foot broad remaining in Vopiscus his time which he caused the souldiers whom he never suffered to be idle to erect testifying the greatness of his respect by his largenes of his monument Vopiscus in Probo c. 9. Quo latior agri modus sepulchro assignabatur eo magis crescebat honos Casaubonus Being presented with a Horse taken in War which it was said could go an 100 mile in a day for 8 or 10 dayes together he said He was fitter for a cowardly than a valia◠souldier Id. Ibid. c. 8. Some say he was the last Emperour who triumphed after his Victory over the Germans and the Blemiae a people of Africk He commanded to be let loose at once 1000 estriches 1000 stags 1000 wild boars 1000 fallow dear beside wild goats wild sheep and other creatures which sed upon grasse as many as could be fed or found which he gave to the people to catch as they could the Circus being set all over with great trees which by the souldiers were taken up by the roots as they grew in the woods and planted there with green turf about them and fastned with beams and irons next day he let into the same place 100 maned Lyons which filled the air with roaring as if it had thundred 100 Lybian Leopards 100 Syrian 100 Lionesses and 300 beares Vopiscus in Probo c. 19. As Hanibal filled most parts of Africk with Olive-yards planted by his souldiers that they might not be idle to the indangering of the Common-wealth so Probus