oftentymes layenge asyde the Romayne apparaile he put on the Germaien garmeÌ„tes and was sondry tymes seene in theyr Cassockes enbrowdred with golde He ware besydes on his head a yelowe bushe of here rounded after the Germanyen sorte Wherwith the barbarous people beyng ioyouse loued him excedingly The Romayne Souldiors also reioysed therat bicause he gaue vnto them sundry bountiefull gyftes Hym selfe exercysed all the offices of a priuate Souldiour For if there were any trenche to dygge hym selfe fyrste dygged anye brydge to be made ouer a ryuer any bulwarke to be buylded or anye other handye worke or labour to be taken in hande hym selfe fyrste enterprysed the same conteÌ„ted alwaye with thynne fare in cuppes and dysshes of woode eating continually course bredde For he accustomed to feade him selfe with a Cake of Rye the whiche he grounde and baked vppon the coles wyth hys owne handes Fynally he reiected all wanton pleasures and vsed symple thinges appertayninge vnto the pooreste common Souldior Besydes that he had rather be called Companion then Prince And vsed to trauayle moste commonlye on hys feete as the Souldyors dyd seldome ryding on horse or in chariote and alway bering his owne harneisse Yea many times he bare on his owne shoulders the StaÌ„derdes that were heuyly laden with pictures of golde and scarcely light ynoughe for the strongest Souldior For thiese and oher semblable thinges did hys army loue hym as a warrelyke personage and maruayle at hym as a valyauÌ„t Capitaine For it seamed a miracle vnto them that a man of so lytle stature was able to endure so greate labors When he had establyshed some Souldiors at Danowe and passed into Thrace which boundeth vpon the Macedonyâ—â—s furthwith he became an other Alexander For he â—newed the memorie of the same kynge by all the meâ—â—es he coulde deuyse commaundyng his ymages to â—e erected in euery towne and replenysshinge Româ— selfe the Capitole and all the Temples with the statues of Alexander We then sawe many ymages foolyshly wroughte that bare in one body two faces of Alexander and Antonyne who wente abroade in the Macedonyen apparayle wearing a diademe on his heade and slippers on his feate He named a chosen company of yonge men the Macedonien Phalanx commaundinge his Capitaines to take vnto them the names of AlexaÌ„ders Chieftaines And the yonge meÌ„ which he had sent for out of Sparta he called y e Laconike Pitanyte CeÌ„turie WheÌ„ he had ended thiese thinges ordered euery Cytie as he might he made a veâ—age vnto Pergamê° a Citie of Asia y t he might vse some of Aesâ—ulapius Phisicke And wheÌ„ he was ther arriueâ— after he had reâ—eated hiÌ„ self w t sufficieÌ„t sleape he remoued to Troye visited all the olde monumentes of the Citie wente vnto Achilles Toumbe And hauyng sumptuously decked the same w t flowres GarlaÌ„des he began of newe to counterfayte Achylles But as he wysshed for some one lyke vnto Patroclus his dearest lybertine named Festus whiles he soiorned at Troye deceassed dispatched as some thought w t poisoÌ„ y t he mighâ—â—e buried as Patroclus was but as other affirme extinct w t sicknes His body did Antonine coÌ„mauÌ„de to be brought fourthe y e place wher it shuld be burned to be piled with much woode And putting the corpse into y e middes therof sacrificiÌ„g diuerse kindes of beastes he threw fire into it holding a glasse in his hande dranke of the wyne therein makynge peticion vnto the wyndes And beinge somwhat balde wheÌ„ he sought for heare to laye into the fyre it became a sporte vnto all that were present yet at the last he notted of those heares he had Chiefely amonges al valiaunt men he praised Sylla the Romain and Hannyball the Aphricane whose Image he also erected After he was departed from Troye he passed ouer all Asye Bythynye and the other adiacent countreyes And hauinge set order in hys effaires euerye where he weÌ„t vnto Antyoche where he was receyued verye honorably and taryed a litle while From thence he remoued to Alexandry clokynge this voyage with pretence of desyre to see the Citie buylded by Alexander and to consulte with the God of that countrey whome the inhabitauntes do greatly worship Faining these two causes he coÌ„maunded first aulters for sacrifice to be erected with all kinde of funeral celebration to the honour of their God and the memorie of Alexander When this was declared vnto the Alexandryen multitude beinge naturally chaungeable with euerye trifle they al together as it were men distracte of theyr wyttes reioysed at the prynces wyll and beneuolence And prepared them selues to receaue hym more honorably then euer they dyd any other Emperoure For all kynde of musicall instrumentes mette him in his passage making a wonderfull melodious sowne Besides that al the gates and stretes being replenished with the flauour of spices and perfumes they welcomed hym with bonefyres strowing of floures in hys waye After his entrie into the Citye he fyrste visyted the Temples when he had there offred manye sacrifices and heaped the aulters wich frankensence he went vnto the Tombe of Alexander wher he put of his owne robe of purple hys rynges adorned with precious stones his gyrdle all his other goodly ornamentes and layed the same vpon the Tombe The AlexaÌ„driens beholding al these thinges reioysed wonderfullye and made fest bothe nyght and daye throughout the Citie beynge ignoraunte what was hydde in the Emperours cancarde stomacke For theise thinges did he thrughe subtyltye to thenient he might slea all the multitude togithers The cause of his priuey indignacioÌ„ and grudge was this It was reported vnto hym at Rome that whyles hys father lyued and after his death the AlexandrieÌ„s had blustred out many opprobriouse wordes against him For in deade thei are of nature talkatyue people fashyoned to mocke and scorne all others babelynge against euery noble man and chyefly wyth quyppes and tauntes as them selfes thinke plesaunt swete but those by whoÌ„ thei are spoken accompte theim verie odious bitter For of suche scoffes those wherw t vyce is reproued doo soonest styrre anger Wherfore when they had spoken many thinges agaynste Antonyne not kepyng in sylence the murder of hys Brother commonly callynge his Mother Iocasta scorning him because that beynge of so lytle stature he woulde seame to counterfayte Alexander and Achilles whyche were moste valiaunte and mighty Capitaynes thei so encensed hym beynge alreadye of hys owne nature yrous and bloodthirstye that he fullye determined their death and destructioÌ„ When he had therefore fynished this laste rehersed solempnitie and feaste seyng so great a multitude of the next nacions resorting vnto the Cytie he commaunded by proclamacion that all the Alexandrien youthe shuld assemble into a certayne fyelde without the walles promysynge that as he had of the Macedonyen and Spartayne yonge men euen so wold he of them constitute a square battell called
¶ The History of Herodian a Greeke Authour treating of the Romayne Emperors after Marcus translated oute of Greeke into Latin by Angelus Politianus and out of Latin into Englyshe by Nicholas Smyth Whereunto are annexed the Argumentes of euery Booke at the begynnyng thereof with Annotacions for the better vnderstandynge of the same Historye ¶ Cum gratia priuilegio regali ad imprimendum solum VVILLIAM Coplande ⧠To the ryghte honorable Lorde Wyllyam Earle of Penbroke c. Lorde President of the Kyng and Queenes Maiesties Counsayle in the Marches of Wales and one of theyr Maiesties most honorable preuie Counsaile his humble Oratour Nycholas Smyth wysheth all thynges prosperous AMongest all those that haue by theyr wrytynge beautifyed the Greke Latyn tonge none are supposed right honorable vertuous Lord so much to haue profited mortall affaires as Historiographers who haue faythfully reduced into writyng the actes deades of such as in fame either good or euyll haue passed thys transitorye lyfe They haue put before our eyes the lyues maners and doinges of all sortes of men w t theyr counselles fortunes and aduentures the whiche theyr posteritie maye as in a paynted Table beholde and therby learne to profyte aswell the Common wealthe as their owne priuate estate Chieflye through the manyfold examples bothe good and euyll conteyned in Histories all sortes of people may attayne by them to more knowledge in shorte space then otherwyse they might in al theyr liues if y e same were much lōger then the commō age of man For profe wherof we haue the memorie of Lucius Lucullus the noble Romaine who as Cicero wryteth at his departure frō Rome against the great kyng Mythridates beyng vtterly vnskylfull in warfare whyles he sayled on the Sea so trauayled in conferring wyth learned men and reading of Histories that when he arriued in Asie he was so excellente in warlyke knowledge that by the confession of Mythridates he deserued preferment aboue all the Chieuetaynes in warre that were before his tyme. Alexander Seuerus also Emperour of Rome when so euer he made preparation to warre accustomed to consulte w t such as were expert in Histories And good cause why For yf Vse as sayeth Afranius hath engendred wysedome and Memorye as the Moother hath brought her into lyghte Who oughte to be more sage and discrete then they whiche reteyne in memorie the deades maners not only of one age or Citie but of al ages nacions Thys much considerynge ryght excellent Lorde and enduced by the prudente wordes of Salust in hys Preface to Catilines wonderfull Coniuration wherby he exhorteth man yf he entende to be reputed worthyer then other mortall Creatures so to employe hys whole labour and studye that he ouerslyp not hys lyfe in slouthful silence as sauage and brute beastes whom Nature hath fourmed prone subiect to y e filthie lustes of the bealy I haue enterprysed to trāslate out of Latyn this presente Historie of Herodian a Greke Authour treating of the Romayn Emperours betwene Marcus the Philosopher and Gordianus the yonger not before I thynke brought into oure Englyshe tonge And haue presumed to dedicat y e same vnto your good Lordshyp whome not onely fame but also experience doeth apparaūtly proue to be the perfect Patrone of knyghtlye prowes and vertue Humbly besechyng your good Lordshyp of your accustomed clemencie so to accepte thys my symple gift beyng the Croppe of my barreyne Haruest as may embolden other ioyfullye to embrace it and encourage me to employe my poore labour further hereafter And so I remayne a continuall Intercessor to almyghtye God for the prosperous estate of youre Lordshyppe wyth contynuall encrease of vertue and honour ¶ THE PROHEME OF the historie of Herodian treating of the Romayne Emperours after Marcus THey whiche haue delyuered vnto theyr posteritie auncient tradicions and endeuored to renewe by writyng the olde memorye of hystories They I saye earnestly affecting the renowne of erudicion and learning and busyly studyeng to preserue theyr names from thiniurie of obliuion did employ moche lesse laboure in searching oute the truthe then in trimmynge the style of their Histories Knowinge precisely that althoughe they falsefyed any thing longe before theyr time passed the same coulde not be reprehendid and yet neuertheles them selfes shold through the pleasaunt eloquence of their finely penned talke obtayne very muche commoditie of their paynefull trauayle Other some beyng moued with perticuler enmityes and hatred of Tyrauntes or elles fallen into vnmeasurable flaterye with praysyng of Princes Cyties priuate persons dyd through skylfull knowledge of wryting blase and extoll farre aboue truthe thinges that by them selues were symple of no estimacion But I in contrarie wyse haue enterprysed to wryte an historye not receyued of others vnknowen or elles wanting witnesses but at this present fixed and remaining in the memories of the Readers and collected with synguler trueth and diligence Trustyng that the knowledge of those thinges being many and great and not longe agone happened wyll not be vnpleasaunt to the posterite For yf a mā wyll well ponder al the ages synce the time of Augustus when the Romayne superioritie was commytted to the arbitrement of one man he shall not fynde in all those ii.c yeres so many almost perdy are reckened betwene Augustus and Marcus so diuers successions in thempire so variable chaunces and happes in the warres either Ciuyle or foreyn so manie nacions raised vp or so many of our owne and barbarous Cities destroyed besides earthquakes and plagues the liues also of Princes and Tiraunts so straunge and incredible that none or at the lest verie few like examples can be founde amongs our elders Of whiche princes some of longe tyme remayned in authoritie other some a shorte while enioyed the dominion yea many of them scarcelie entered into honour and being onlie named Emperours lost thempire the verie same daye they tooke it vpon them And when by the space of .lx. yeres the Citie of Rome had sustained more gouernours then for the time sufficed it came to passe that many straunge thinges and worthy admiracion chaunced For the Princes somewhat striken in age as men expert in sundry affayres did prudently gouerne themselues and their charge On thother side the yonge men ledinge their liues in voluptuousnes inuented and commaunded new thinges dayly wherbie it happened that the yonge princes beinge of vnlike age and licence did also folow vnlike studie maners How these thinges were done in obseruinge a iust order of the trew tyme and prynces we will now declare ¶ The contentes of the fyrste booke THe Authour beginneth his historye at the ende of Marcus Antoninus reigne who was successor vnto Aurelius Antoninus surnamed Pius And it behoueth to know that after y e opiniō of Eusebius in his tables Marcus Antoninus was the .xiiii. Emperour of Rome But after the opinion of other Historiographers he was the .xvii. The fyrst was Iulius Cesar The seconde Octauius Cesar Augustus The
wyth contynual colde cloudes Wylt thou neuer O Emperour sayde they leaue drynkynge of water digged congeled togyther as yse Shal other meÌ„ enioye the clere well springes the pleasaunt colde of the runnynge ryuers and the holsome ayre of Italye By these allurynges to wantonnesse they easely enflammed the yonge mans mynde wyth vehemente desyre of those plesures Wherfore furthwyth hauynge called hys frendes togyther he dyssymuled not that he was verye desyrous of hys natyue countrey But yet fearynge to declare the very cause of hys sodeyn alteracyon of mynde he fayned that he stoode in greate doubte leaste any ryche manne of the nobylytie woulde take possessyon of the Imperyall Palayce And thereupon gatherynge vntoo hym a greate power of meÌ„ would as oute of y e strongest fortresse chalenge vntoo hym selfe the princypall domynyon of all theÌ„pyre For sayd he amonges the people may easely be leuied a mighty approued coÌ„pany of yonge men Whiles he thiese causes moued all the rest hauing their eyes caste vpon the earth with styll and sorowfull countenaunce Pompeianus who in age was the moost auncient and had maried CoÌ„modus eldest syster arose vp and sayed It is no meruayle o Sonne and soueraigne that you are holden wyth desyre of your countrey for the very same desyre of seyng oure housholdes dothe vrge and sturre vs also But we represse that affection for that thaffaires we haue here in hande requyre the fyrste parte and lyeth vs more vpon to dispatche As for the pleasures of the Citye you shall longer enioye hereafter And Rome is contynually where the Emperour soiourneth Nowe to gyue ouer the warre lately begonne besydes that it is shamefull it is also very peryllous for thereby we minister occasion of audacitee vnto the Barbarouse people who wyll thinke that we are not departed for cause of recreacioÌ„ but that we are fledde being daunted with feare And vnto your selfe howe gloriouse wyll it be after ye haue vanquished all your enemies and enlarged the boundes of your Empyre vnto the ocean to retourne to Rome wyth tryumphe and therin to haue ledde bounde as captyues the barbarouse kynges and Lordes for truly after this sorte in the former worldes did the Romaynes were noble and famouse There is no cause why you shoulde feare that your affayres in the city are in any hasarde For euery principall senatour is here present wyth you and the hole army doth before your eyes defende your Empire yea and all your chiefest Treasoure is with vs also The memorie besides of your father hath establysshed a stedfast and perfecte beneuolence towardes you with all estates When Pompeianus perswading hym to the better had thus muche spoken he did somewhat at that present represse the wyll and endeuour of the younge Emperour who fearyng the olde mans sayinges hauing nothing wherwith he myght well replye dismyssed the counsayle promisyng that he would more diligently at leysure debate with hym selfe those thinges Yet afterwarde hys seruauntes and parasites callynge more instantely vpon hym he made no further relacion vnto hys Counsailours But hauyng sent his letters vnto Rome and appointed whom he thought meete to defende the bankes of Hister and restreigne the attemptes of the Barbariens he caused furthwith his remouing to be proclaymed Thei that were lefte behynde diligently executed the offices appoynted them and wythin a lytle space broughte many in subiection And some they ioyned by great gyftes in frendeshyp vnto them The whiche was not verye harde to doo For the Barbarouse people beyng naturally gready of money and despysers of all daungers do eyther gette their liuing wyth inuasions and pylleng of their neyghbours or elles for an appoynted salarie sell their peace The which thing Commodus perceyuyng that he might with money wherof he had innumerable abundauÌ„ce purchase hym selfe securitee and quiet he denyed nothing vnto the demaunders Now assone as the fame of hys setting forwarde was spredde in the armye sodeynly a greate sturre was amonges all the Souldyours euery man desyring to returne vnto Rome and affecting the pleasures of the citye to leue theyr enemyes countrey And when it was blowen abroade by reporte of purseuauntes and postes that the Emperour was retourning to the Citye an incredible ioye wandered amonges the common people euery man conceuing in hym selfe a singuler hope of theÌ„perours presence and trusting assuredly that he would folowe his fathers steppes Hym selfe making speade in hys iourney and passynge wyth a certayne feruencie of youthe in his charyot throughe the myddes of all theÌ„ cities was receiued with princely reuerence and ioyfull assemblies of the people welcomed as one most acceptable and wyshed for vnto them And when he approched nygh vnto Rome the hole Senate and the Romayne commons eche of them coueiting to preuent other crowned wyth lawrell and caryeng all â—ynde of flowers that the presente season of the yere â—yd minister met as farre as they coulde from the citye their prince notable in the floure of youth and nobilitie of byrthe For truely they loued him with most feruent affection beyng borne and brought vp amonges them and then possessynge in the thirde degree thempyer and regimente of Rome For of his fathers syde he issued from the chiefest of the Senatours And hys Mother Faustina a Princes wyfe the doughter of Antoninus Pius niece by her mother vnto Hadrian dyd referre the Pedegrue of her kynred vnto Traian her grete graundefather Of this parentage was Commodus descended vnto whome besydes the flowre of his age was giuen also an excelleÌ„cie of bewtie a congruent stature of body an amiable and manly countenaunce pleasauÌ„t and shining beames in hys eyes and a yelow and curled heare whiche when he came into the Sonne dyd so glyster that manye deamed the same as he passed by them to be sprinkeled ouer wyth golden duste Many also estemed it a token of diuinyte coniecturing that the rayes about the top of his heade were by generacion and nature gyuen vnto hym The softe heares besydes sprange oute of hys cheekes and couered them as it were with flowers They receyued therfore this such an Emperour wyth ioyfull showtes and strawing of Garlandes and flowers in the way as he passed After he was enteryd into the Citie visyted and saluted the Temples fyrste of Iupiter and then of the other Goddes and gyuen thankes to the hole Senate and the Pretorian Souldiours for their fidelite obserued towards hym he went into thimperiall palayce For a fewe yeres after this he did honourably entrete his fathers frendes and vsed their counsaile in all his affayres Those yeres expired he coÌ„mytted the charge of the hole Empyre vnto other coÌ„stituted Capitaine of his garde an Italyan named Perennes a man verie experte and skylfull in warfare The same abusyng the age of the yonge Emperour permytted hym to be corrupted w t sensuall lustes and ruffyans And takynge vpon hym selfe all charge and labour ruled the hole Empyre There was in the man an insatiable thyrste
enstructers for that they wente about to reconcyle theym leauynge throughe hys crueltye none a lyue that was eyther in dygnyty or had reuerenced hys father The Chyuetaynes of tharmye he entyced to perswade the Souldyours to proclayme hym onely Emperoure ymagynynge daylye manyfolde myschyefes agaynste hys brother But he could not wyn the Souldyours good wylles or assent therunto For they remembred that Seuerus brought eyther of them vp from theyr infancie wyth equall diligence them selues had euer shewed lyke honoure obedyence to them both Wherfore Antonine perceiuynge that he coulde not speade of hys purpose wyth tharmye hauynge taken truce wyth the Brytons graunted them peace and receiued theyr hostages he remoued wyth great spede towardes hys Moother Brother WheÌ„ the two Brethren met togither theyr Moother laboured to bryng them to agrement wherin also many of the moste prudente and sage of Seuerus frendes and Counsailors earnestly trauailed Antonyne thereby seyng all men repyned hys sensualytie was enduced rather of force then good wyll to counterfaite loue After whych done the two Brethren gouernynge thempyre wyth equall honoure and Soueraignitye launched oute of Brytayne and sayled wyth the Relyques of theyr father towardes Rome For when they had burned the bodye they caried the asshes intermedled wyth certayne pleasaunt odours in a boxe of Alabastre to Rome that it might be there enteared enclosed amonges the sacred monumentes of other Prynces Them selues ledde thus theyr armye as Conqueroures of Brytayne and passed ouer Thocean vnto the next coaste of Fraunce After what sorte therefore Seuerus deceased and howe hys Sonnes tooke vppon theym thempyre it is in thye presente booke at lengthe declared ¶ The ende of the thyrde booke of Herodyan ¶ The Argumente of the fourthe Booke of Herodian THe fourthe Booke speaketh of the pompe that was at the Cononizacion of Seuerus The discorde and debate of the two two Bretherne and the deathe of Geta slaine by his own Brother Anthonyne who remayned after sole Emperour and was very cruel and vncoÌ„stauÌ„t After that of the TreasoÌ„ done by hym to the Alexandriens and the cause therof Of an other Treason done vnto Artabanus the King of Parthia And howe Anthonyne hym selfe was slayne by Martialis one of hys Garde and howe Macrinus was made Emperour who sustayned and helde on the warre with Artabanus and fynallye made peace and concorde with hym ¶ The fourthe booke of Thistorie of Herodian THe Actes of Seuerus by y e space of .xviii. yeres are in the former booke sufficiently shewed After whose deathe the yonge Emperours his Sonnes w t their Moother retourned hastly towardes Rome vsyng in their iorney continuall rancor and debate For thei neuer lodged in one Iune or vsed one table suspecting daily all theyr mete and drynke leste eyther of them preuenting other should couertly in their seruices worke hys feate wyth poyson And for that cause thei made the speadier remouinges thinking to liue more safely within the Citie where thei purposed to deuyde themperial palaice betwene them or elles as thei bothe chieflye wyshed to lye a sunder in other the largest beautyfullest houses of the Citye When thei were entered into Rome all the people crowned wyth Lawrell receyued and the Senate welcommed them Formoste rode themperours themselfes clothed in Imperiall purple And nexte them folowed the Consulles beringe the vessell wyth Seuerus reliques Which vessell the people after they hadde saluted the newe Emperours dyd reuerentlye worshyp Themperours Consulles beynge thus accoÌ„panied wyth pryncely pompe caryed the same into the Temple where the diuyne monumentes of Marcus and other Emperours are seen After they had fynyshed the solempne sacrifyce and according to the aunciente vsage celebrated the funerall Cerimonyes bothe the Bretherne departed into thimperiall palaice which thei deuided betwene theÌ„ closed vp all backe doores and priuey posternes and mette togither onely at the vtter gates They chose besydes eyther vnto hym selfe a sundrye Garde and neuer came togithers vnles it were some tyme for a lytle whyle to be seen of the people Neuerthelesse first of all thei accoÌ„plished the due funeralles of their Father For the Romaines accustome to coÌ„secrate with Immortalityee suche Emperours as at their death leue eyther ChildreÌ„ or Successours in thempyre behinde them And those whiche are endowed with that honour thei Canonize amonges the Goddes There is throughout the Citye a certayne dolefull lamentacion mixed with feastfull ioye And thei vse to enterre the dead Corpse very sumptuousely after the coÌ„mon sorte of men But then thei haue an Image made as lyke the deade Emperour as maye be The same within the porche of the Imperiall palayce thei laye in a great highe bedde of Iuorie couered ouer with cloth of golde And truely the same Image loketh very pale lyke vnto a diseased pacient About the bedde on eyther syde a great parte of the daye do certayne persons syt That is to weete on the left syde the Senate clothed in blacke garmentes And on the ryghte syde many Matrones whome either their husbaÌ„des or parentes dignitees do bewtify None of thiese are seene to were any owches or chaynes of golde But beyng cladde w t thinne white vesture thei shewe the countenaunce of mourners And thus doo thei continewe the space of .vii. dayes dureng the which euery daye themperours Phisicians â—oo repayre vnto the Bedde And as thoughe thei hadde felte the pacientes pulces declare that he waxeth more sicke then before Finally when it semeth that he is deceassed Certane of the moste noble and worthy yonge meÌ„ of thorders of knightes Senatours doo take vp the bedde on their shoulders and cary it throughe the strete called Sacra via vnto tholde market place where the Romaine magistrates are accustomed to reÌ„der vp their offices Ther on both sides are certaine stages made with steppes vpoÌ„ the which on thone side is a quere of boyes beyng noble mens Sonnes and on thother syde are many bewtyfull women singing Himpnes and balades in prayse of the dead Emperour measured with diuerses lameÌ„table verses When those are fynyshed the yonge men do take vp the bedde againe and bere it out of the citie into the fielde called Campus Martius In the broadest parte whereof there is erected a towre foure square w t sides of equal height builded of great timber lyke vnto a Tabernacle The same within furth is filled with drye chippers Rodes And on the vtter syde haÌ„ged with Arras clothes of golde and decked with ymages of Iuorie and sundry painted pictures Within it also is an other lesse Towre but lyke in forme with doores and portalles opened And ouer y t the .iii. fourthe w t manye other roumes ascending continually vntil thei reiche vnto the highest which is lesse then all the other A man may coÌ„pare this building vnto Towres whiche are set in haueÌ„s with fyre on the Toppes to directe shippes which sayle by nyght on the seas into their perfecte portes and sure stacions The same are
decreed all honours of victorie vnto hym After this Antonine soiourned in Mesapotamie gyuing hym selfe to Carting and hunting of wylde bestes There were two generall Capitaines of his armie Audentius Macrinus of the whiche the one was aged rude bluntyshe but yet experte in warfare And the other alway exercysed in matters of the lawe and therin exactly learned This man the Prince vsed to taunte checke openly as a man nothyng valiaunte or apt to warre For hearing that he fedde very delycately and reiected those symple and warlycke meates whyche Antonyne vsed and that he ware a gowne and other decente apparayle lyke vnto a Cytizen he reproued hym as a womanly person threatnynge oftentymes to kyll hym Macrynus beyng therof impacient was sturred with meruaylouse anger Thereunto happened this chaunce it was perdie expedieÌ„t that Antonine should ones fynyshe hys lyfe For beynge of hys owne nature ouer curiouse he studyed not onely to knowe the priuey affayres of men but also to serche oute the secretes of the Goddes and Dyuels And throughe continual feare of Treason consulted with many oracles and retayned aboute him diuerse Magiciens Astrologiens and Sothsayers omytting no creature whiche professed those fantasies and yllusions But suspecting them also as lyers and Prophetes of flattery he accustomed to wryte vnto one Maternianus in the Citie vnto whome he had committed the charge of all hys affayres and hym amoÌ„ges all his Frindes he had chosen for the trustieste pertaker of all his secrete counselles willing him to sende for the beste Magiciens from all partes and coÌ„sulte with them of thende of his lyfe and whether any man wente aboute by treason to obtayne thempyre Maternianus hauing accoÌ„plysshed his Princes commaundemente whether the Magiciens tolde hym so or elles bycause he hated Macrinus wrote agayne vnto Antonyne that Macrinus conspyred Treason against him and that it was expedyente to rydde hym oute of the waye And theise letters sealed with other as the vsage was he delyuered to Pursenauntes who were ignoraunt of that they hadde in hande The same hauynge ended their iorney with accustomed celeritie came vnto Antonyne when he prepared hym selfe to Carteng and was alredy asceÌ„ded his Chariot Then deliuered thei vnto him thole Packquet of Lettres amonges the which were thei also that touched Macrinus But Antonyne beyng at that tyme fully bente to Carting coÌ„maunded Macrinus that he should open and peruse the Letters and yf there were any matter of importaunce in theÌ„ conteined make relacion therof vnto hym agayn Yf not he should execute his owne office of Pretorship For so at other tymes he was accustomed to commaunde hym in semblable causes Hym selfe then departed towardes hys pastyme And Macrinus hauing vnsealed seuerally perused the Letters happened on the same that mocioned his destruction Then vnderstanding the greate mischief that henge ouer hys heade knowing also Antonynes wrathe and outragiouse cruelty specially when he shoulde haue suche occasion he kepte backe the same Lettre and of the reste declared the contentes vnto Themperour But yet fearing leste Maternianus woulde eftsones certefye the Emperour of the same matter he determined to commyt somme acte fourthwyth rather than in delayeng tyme him self should perish And therfore thus coÌ„cluded Ther was a certain CeÌ„turioÌ„ named Martialis one of Antonines priuey chaÌ„ber accustomed alwaies to be next attendauÌ„t on his persone Whose brother Antonine had put to death vpoÌ„ simple accusacioÌ„ w tout leful iudgement vsed of tentymes to checke Martialis himself callinge hym cowarde coÌ„federate of Macrinus This maÌ„s sorow for y e death of his brother Macrinê° throughly perceiuing knowing also how he was sufficieÌ„tly styrred to malice by his own reproches called y e same as one alredy bounde by his manifolde benefites vnto him And perswaded him y t as sone as he could finde oportunite he should slea Antonine Martialis beinge w t his promises allured throughe his owne grudge to the reuenge of hys brothers death already enflaÌ„med promised to accomplish his minde wheÌ„ time coÌ„uenieÌ„t should serue And truly it chaunsed shortely after For Antonine soiorning at Carre a Citie of Mesopotamie visited y e TeÌ„ple of Diana y t which being nigh vnto the Citie is there of the inhabitauÌ„tes hadde in great honour and reuerente Thither he went with a few horsemeÌ„ leuing the armie behinde him for after he had finyshed his sacrifyce he purposed to returne vnto y t Citie again And in the midde waye beinge accoÌ„panied w t one seruaunt hauing coÌ„mauÌ„ded the reste to staye aside he weÌ„t to do the requisites of nature Then Martialis which awaited euery conuenieÌ„t howre seyng the Emperour alone all other farre of made haste towardes him as though he were called for some businesse running vpon him vnwares as he was vntrussing his pointes stabbed him in w c a dagger which he of purpose secretly bare in hys sleaue And y e same sliding in betwene y e short ribbes gaue vnto Antonine being vnarmed a mortal deadeli wouÌ„de whereof he furth w t died That done Martialis lept vpoÌ„ his horse beaÌ„g to flee But y e GermanieÌ„ horseme whoÌ„ Antonine entierly loued had appointed for the garde of his person being then nearer y e place then y e reste seinge y e same murder pursued Martialis w t maine gallop slew him w t their dartes when the residue of the hoste heard therof thei ranne togethers furthwyth to the Emperours dead corps vpon the whiche Macrinus fyrste of all fell and fayned to lament it exceadynglye Thys chaunce was dolorouse vnto the Souldiours who accompted them selues berefte not onelye of theyr Soueraigne but also of theyr Companion in armes Neyther dyd they suspecte Macrinus for they supposed that Martialis had committed the murder for the reuenge of hys owne priuate iniuries Wherfore euery man departed to hys owne cabban And Macrinus hauynge burned the body of Antonyne sent the ashes vnto his Moother to burye She then soiorned at Antioche where anone after were it of her owne minde or by anye mans compulsion for the calamities of her children she slewe her selfe Thys eande of theyr lyues had Antonyne his mother Iulia after they had lyued as we before rehersed and he raigned syxe yeres alone withoute hys father and brother Antonyne being thus slayne the Souldyours vncertayne what they myght doo abode two dayes without a prynce consultynge whome they myght fyrste electe for Emperoure For they hearde that Artabanus was commynge agaynst them with a great and myghtye armye to reuenge the deathe of hys subiectes whiche were slayne in the tyme of peace Wherefore they chose fyrste for Emperoure Audentius a man experte in warfare and a polytyke Captayne But he excusynge him selfe through hys age refused thempire Then with one consent thei elected Macrinus through the persuasions of the Tribunes who as the suspition after rose were consentynge to the murder of Antonyne and pertakers
of Phenicia and Syria On the one side Antonines Souldiours fought more corageously through feare of greuous punishment if thei were vaÌ„quished On thother side tharmie of Macrinus fought faintly amonges whoÌ„ many reuolted vnto Antonine The which when Macrinus perceaued fearinge lest beinge forsakinge of his all men he should be taken prisoner suffer great reproche whiles his souldiors fought he threw away hys Cote armour other imperial ornameÌ„ts being accoÌ„panied with a few of his meanest souldiors he fled awai And hauing shauen his beard least he should be knoweÌ„ clad in a simple garmeÌ„t his head face coÌ„tinuallye couered he trauayled both night day preuenting w t celeritie the fame of his fortune For as yet hys men foughte w t great prowes as though Macrinê possessed stil theÌ„pire He so escaped as we before haue declared In the meane whyle the Souldyours on eyther side fought valiauntlye And of Macrinus syde the men at armes of hys garde named Pretorians sustayned alone the whole burnte For they were talle mighty men and chosen and approued warriours The reste of the multytude toke Antonynes parte But when they whiche a great whyle had foughten for Macrinus coulde neyther see Macrinus hym selfe nor the Imperiall Diademe and ornamentes beynge ignoraunte where he was become whether he were slaine or elles fledde they wyste not what counsayle to take And althoughe they purposed no longer to fight for hym whyche appeared or coulde be founde no where yet feared they to yeld them selues vnto theyr enemyes power as recreant and vanquished Subiectes Then Antonyne knowyng by the Captyues that Macrinus was fledde sent incontinently to aduertise them that they in vayne foughte for a timorous and fugitiue Coward promysynge them on his othe that he woulde forgyue and forget all that was by them done and vse theym from thenceforthe for the garde of hys personne The which they all creditynge ceassed furthwith from further fyghtynge Then Antonyne without delaye sent certayne after Macrinus who was longe before escaped And beynge founde in Chalcedon a Cytye of Bythinia verye sore sycke and worne throughe hys contynuall trauayll and hydden in a house of the Suburbes had hys head there smytten of It is thoughte that he mynded to go to Rome affyenge hym selfe in the beneuolence of the people But in saylynge towardes Europe in the narowe Sea of Propontis nygh vnto Bizantium a contrarious wynde draue hym backe as it were of purpose towardes the place where he should fynyshe hys lyfe Thus happened it that Macrinus escaped not by fleynge awaye the handes of his enemies receauing a vylanouse death and entending to late to goo to Rome when he shold in the beginning haue done the same and hauing at this his ende bothe his counsell and fortune cleane against him After this sorte was Macrinus slayne wyth hys Sonne Dyadumenus whome a lytle before he had assocyated vnto him in theÌ„pyre Now after thole army had pronouÌ„ced Anthonine for Emperour when him selfe had taken vppon hym the chiefe gouernaunce of thempyre and all the oriental affayres were sette in order as euery one most neaded by the discretion of his Graundmoother and other his frendes for that hym selfe was verye yonge of age and vnskilfull in matters of greate importaunce soiourning there but a shorte space he caused hys remouing to be proclaymed accordynge to the wyll of Moesa which chiefly coueted and made hast towardes Thimperyall Pallaice of Rome wherewith she so longe before hadde bene acquaynted When the Senate and people of Rome harde of thiese thinges euery man began to be sorowfull with the tidinges But thei muste of force and necessytye then alow it seynge he was chosen by the men of war And accusynge within them selues the necligent mynde and sensuall maners of Macrinus thei imputed thole defaulte of his ouerthrowe vnto hys owne slouthe and to none other man as causer thereof Anthonine beinge departed out of Siria wintred his army at Nicomedia the season of the yeare so constraining him Then he began to waxe insolent aboue measure celebratynge dailye the honour of his Countrey God with superfluouse and vndecent pompe daunses Hym selfe was cladde in wanton and luxuriouse apparel wouen wyth Purple and Golde decked with Ouches and Braceletes Chaynes and Kynges of Golde ware a Crowne like vnto a Chaplet adorned with Golde and preciouse stones The forme of hys habyte was as it were a meane betwene the Phenicien and Median Apparayle He despysed the Romaine garmeÌ„tes bicause thei were made of wolle the which was as he said vile of no estimacioÌ„ Neither wold he any webbe but suche as were of Sirian silke accustomiÌ„g to coÌ„ abrode w t y e sown of fleutes Tabors as though he shuld celebrate y e feast of Bacchus WheÌ„ Mocsa beheld these his dossolute maners she begaÌ„ w t huÌ„blepeticioÌ„ to persuade him to were y e Romayne apparaile least y t yf he entred into the Citie Senate house in y t strauÌ„ge Barbarouse vesture he should offeÌ„de the eyes of the beholders Which being vnaccustomed vnto suche waÌ„tonnes ceputed it more seamely for womeÌ„ then meÌ„ But he coÌ„tempning the olde womans wordes entending to trust no maÌ„ for he retained none about his person but suche as were agreable vnto his owne sensualitye and fullye mynding to vse the same apparayle continually determined being absent to make a profe with what countenaunce after what sorte the Senate and people of Rome would accepte his vsage Wherefore he sente to Rome his owne picture painted lyuely in a table with the linyamentes facyon of apparell wherein he was woÌ„t to sacrifice vnto his God And therw t the figure of his God also vnto whoÌ„ he was sacred commauÌ„ding them y t caried it to set it in y e middes of the Senate house in some high place ouer y e head of victory y t when y e Senatours were assembled thei shuld offre encense wyne He coÌ„mauÌ„ded also y t all y e Romayne Magistrates whiche vsed to execute publique Sacrifices shuld before all their Goddes whoÌ„ thei vsed to sacrifice vnto name honor his God Heleogabalus Whereby it happened that when he entred in to the Citie y e Romaynes beheld no newe or strauÌ„ge syghte for that thei daily before had seen his picture TheÌ„ after he had distributed amoÌ„ges y e people bouÌ„tifull giftes as al new Emperours are accustomed he set furth many suÌ„ptuouse shewes plaies And builded a large and gorgeouse TeÌ„ple for his God w tin the same many aulters vpon the whiche euery morning he sacrificed a C. Bulles a greate number of sheepe And heaping vpon the aulters all kindes of odoriferouse spices he vsed to powre down many Cuppes ful of y e best olde wines y t could be goteÌ„ So y t they ran down suÌ„dry streames of wine miÌ„gled w t bloud About y e aulters he caused many to dauÌ„se w t y e sowne
whâ— he shoulde make warre because the ParthiaÌ„s haâ— no mercenary Souldiours or appoynted armye Fâ—om the Atrenians were sent hym for ayde certayne â—hers by the Kynge Barsemius the whiche then â—eigned in that Realme The reste of his power he â—uied of the Sowldyours that were present and manâ— he gathered amonges the people especially of the Antiochiens who beyng through the lightnes of their age and the fauor of Niger sturred dyd more rashely then prudentlye proffer them selues Niger then stopped with a myghty municion and stronge wall the streites and brokeÌ„ places of the mountaine Taurus thinking that the same rockye and steape Hyll wolde be an assured stronge defence vnto the Oriente For Taurus riseng in great height betwene Cappadocia and Cilicia dothe deuyde the nacions enhabitynge the Septentrion and the Oriente He set also a GarrisoÌ„ in Bizantium which was the goodlyest Cite of all Thrace and at that tyme florishing with strengthe and rychesse For beyng sette in a narowe gulfe of the See Propontis it receaued tribute and fyshe from the water and possessynge on the other syde large and fruytfull fyeldes gate lucre by both these ElemeÌ„tes And therfore Niger thought it best to strengtheÌ„ this towne that the shippes might be prohibeted passage thoughe those streyghtes out of Europe into Asye This Citie was compassed with a stroÌ„ge and mighty wall builded of foure square stone of Miletum with so small and streight ioyntes that a man would not iudge it of many pieces but all of one continuall stone And yf a man behelde the ruyne at this present remainyng he would wonder eyther at the arte of them whyche fyrste buylded it or at the streÌ„gth of them whyche destroyed it After this sorte therefore dyd Niger order hys affayres wyth verye ware as he supposed and circumspecte counsell Seuerus on the other part made all the hast that myght be with his armye and prouisioÌ„ resting in no place And hearynge that Byzatium was fortifyed wyth a garrison of Souldiours and knowynge it also to be a verye stronge towne he tourned vnto Cyzicum When this was declared vnto Aemilianus he gouernour of Asye vnto whome Nyger had committed the charge and chiefe rule of the warre he remoued vnto Cyzicum also leadinge with hym all the Legions whyche eyther Nyger hadde sente or hymselfe muste red When it came to strokes after certaine skirmisshes egerly foughte the victorie fynally fell to Seuerus and all the hoste of Nyger was slayne and putte to slyghte Whereby the hartes of Orientall enhabytantes were abated and the Illyrians verye muche encoraged Many there were that thought Niger to be in the beginning oâ—â—he batayle betrayed by Aemilianus And for proufe of their opinion some of them sayde that he enuyed Niger disdaininge that he who a lytle before was hys successour in Syrie shold now not onely be hys superior but also hys Soueraygne and Emperour Other saye that hys chyldren whom Seuerus fyndynge in Rome helde hys custody perswaded him by letters to regarde their life and safety For this circumspecte Counsell dyd Seuerus put also in vre Yt was the vsage of Commodus to deteyne with him the children of those whiche had the charge to gouerne the prouinces as pledges of their faithful alleagiaunce and loyaltye And therefore Seuerus as soone as he was made Emperour whyles Iulyanus yet lyued sente certayne into the Citye to steale priuely hys chyldren leste they shoulde be in anye other mans custodye And as sone also as he entred in to Rome he caused to be apprehended all the childreÌ„ of the Capitaynes and of all other which bare any commen offyce in all the Oryente and Asye to the ende that by those Hostages he myghte cause the Chiuetains of Nyger for the sauegarde of their children to betraie theyr master or elles yf thei remayned faithful it myghte lye in hys power to auenge hys anger against them in sleynge of theyr children Nowe Nygers Souldyors beynge dyscomfyted at Cyzycum fledde euerye manne as faste as he coulde some escapynge by the Mountaynes of Armenye and some couetynge to passe Tawrus into Asye Gallatye that they myghte put them â—â—lues in places of municion Then marched the Armye of Seuerus by the plaines of Cizicum into Bythinia the nexte region But whan the fame was spredde that Seuerus hadde the vyctorie a sodeyne sediâ—ioÌ„ inuaded the Cyties there aboute not so moche throughe anye hatred or amytye they bare vnto the â—mperors as throughe mortall contencion amongâ—â— them selues The same was an olde accustomed vice of y e GreciaÌ„s who whyles they were at dyscencion wythin them selues and endeuoured to destroy euery man that excelled in dignitye had nowe consumed all Grece And being within theÌ„ selues worne and wasted were first made Captyues and slaues vnto the Macedons and after the bondemen and drudges of the Romaynes That pestiferouse calamitie of debate and discencion vexed notable and florishing Cyties in our tyme. For immediatlye after the battayle at Cizicum in Bythinia the Nicomedians reuolted vnto Seuerus seÌ„ding hym Ambassadours to promyse hym they woulde receaue his armye and submytte them selues vnto hys gouernaunce On the other syde the Nycians stirred with rancor and hatred of them fauoured Nyger entertayning hys Souldiors as well those whiche were escaped from the fyelde as them whiche he had sent to defeÌ„de Bythinia Out of these Cities the Sowldiers as oute of their Campes encountred and skyrmished togythers and after a greate battayle foughten Seuerus obtayned the vpper hande The Souldiors of Nyger beynge from thence also dryueÌ„ fledde vnto the streaytes of Taurus and defended the enclosed municions But Nyger leauing there as greate a Garryson as he thoughte nedefull went him selfe vnto Antioche to leuye an other hooste of men and more money In this whyle the Armye of Seuerus departed oute of Bythinia and Galatie entred into Cappadotia and beganne to assaulte the Bulwarkes and municions there Where they were wyth many sorowes and labours afflicted the waye beyng verye narowe and sharpe and they which stode aboue throwing stones and moste fyersly fyghtinge and by that meanes fewe kepyng backe a greate number For the passage is wonderfull strayte whereof the one syde is fortifyfyed wyth a huge and hyghe Rocke and the other is full of waters falling verye swyftely downe from the steape hylles And Nyger had besydes strengthened it with a mighty and stronge wall that therby hys enemy myghte on euery syde be forbydden entry ¶ In the meane tymâ— whyles these thynges were in doyng in Cappadociâ— the sedicion of certayne Cytyes began to styrre with like dyscord That is to wete the Cytye of Laodicia in Syrya abhorring the Antiochiens and the Citie of Tyre in Phenicia detesting the Berinthians Thâ— whych twoo Cytyes hearyng of Nygers discoÌ„fyturâ— toke downe all his honours Images made ioyfuâ— acclamacions vnto Seuerus wherof when Niger â—yng busye at Antyoche was certified albeit he werâ— at other tymes of a meeke
nature and gentle dyspoâ—â—cyon yet beyng iustly moued with their vntruth anâ— reuolte he sent vnto bothe the Cities all the Mauritâ—â—yan Slyngers that were in hys seruyce and wyth â—hem a companye of archers whome he coÌ„maunded to slea euery one they encountred and to destroy and burne the Cytyes selues And truely the Moores being a nacyon naturally fierce and cruell couetyng slâ—ughter sturdy in enterprises and lyke meÌ„ desperate despising all daunger of death dyd sodeynly oppresse tâ—e Laodicians and hauynge tormented the people â—here wyth all kynde of crueltye and ransaked the Cytie departed from thence vnto Tyre The which after they had despoiled euery man of his substaunâ—e and coÌ„mytted muche murdre they wholly burned and rased to the earth Whyles these cruell actes wâ—re thus executed in Syria and whyles Niger was busied in waging and mustering an other armie Sâ—uerus Souldiours besyeged the munycyon of the mountayne Taurus beyng very pensyfe and wythouâ— hope of vyctorye for that it was by it selfe myghtye â—nd inpreygnable and dfended also wyth the steape hygh hyll But when they were nowe wearyed and theyr enemyes restynge in safetye sodeynly loo in the nyghte powred downe vehemente shoures whyche fylled all places with snow and rayne as commonâ—e in Cappadocia the winter is very roughe and tempâ—stuous chiefly at the mouÌ„tayne Taurus Wherby â— sodayn brooke brast furth wyth a meruaylous troublesome streame and beyng letted from hys ryghte course for the munityon stopped hys passage it waxed more huge violent so that when the wall nature ouercomminge arte could not sustayne so myghtye a brunte the ioyntes beynge by lytle and lytle loused and the foundacyons from their places remoued y e streame made to it selfe open way When the garryson whyche garded the entrye ones that perceyued dreadyng least they should be by their enemyes enclosed no staye or defence to the contrarye remayning assoone as the water were asswaged they forsoke theyr stacions and made shifte for theym selues by flyght Then the Seuerian Souldyours reioysed and hartened them selues as thoughe thymmortall Goddes guyded them And knowing that the place was of theyr enemyes abandoned they easelye wythoute resistence passed ouer Taurus and entred into Cilicia Nyger hearynge hereof hauinge leuyed an huge armye but yet not skylfull of warlike trauayle made greate hast towardes them by long iourneyes a wonderfull multytude of men and almost al the youthe of Antyoche folowing him as their generall gouernoure and pryncypall Capytayne wyth muche myrthe but nothyng comparable vnto the Illyrian Souldidurs eyther in prowesse or knowledge of warfare In this araye they ariued nyghe vnto a place named Sinus Issicus in a mightye and large playne the whyche beyng on euerye syde enuyorned wyth hyghe mountaynes in fourme lyke a Theatre hadde a steepe banke extendynge farre alonge by the Sea as it were a fyelde fasshyoned by nature conuenyente to darreigne batayle in Yea the report is that in the same place at a cruell and very bloudy batayle Darius was by Alexander vanquisshed and taken thenhabitauÌ„tes of the Septentrion then preuaylyng against the nacions of thorient There remaineth at this day as a token witnes of the same victorye the Citie of Alexandria situate vpon an high hyl therby and a brasen Image of Alexander by whome the Citie is so named It chauÌ„ced besides that not onely the metynge of Seuerus and Nigers armyes in that place but theyr fortune was also lyke For they remayned on bothe sydeâ— aboute euenynge tyde readye to the batayle And thâ— passed ouer the nyght in hope and feare wythout reâ—te or sleape And at the Sonne rysynge the Capytaynes on eyther syde hauynge encouraged theyr Soulâ—yours ran togither with an in credible stoutenes as thoughe in that fynall batayle they woulde ende the â—este of theyr hope and feare fortune at that seasoÌ„ arbytratyng who should be Emperour of Rome When they had of longe space fyersely foughten there was so greate slaughter commytted that the ryuers flowing alonge by the plaine did run into the Sea with greater aboundaunce of bloud theÌ„ of water Finally the Oryentalles were ouerthroweÌ„ and discomfited the Illirians pursued them at their backes so nyghe that many of them beyng wounded were drenched in the Sea The other fledde into the high hilles nighe at hande where they were by y e pursuers slaine and with them a great numbre of rurall people who came togither out of the nexte Cityes add Vyllages to beholde the batayle from aboue as from a sure holde and stronge Fortresse But Nyger hym selfe escaped from the fyelde vpon a swyft Courser vnto Antyoche from whence also despayrynge of all good successe and seynge the people amased and runnynge to and fro lamentynge wyth howlynges and teares the deathe of theyr bretherne and chylderne he furthwyth fledde And beyng hydden in a certayn village of the same Region was there fouÌ„d by the horsemen and beheaded This ende of life had Niger receiuing worthy reward for his delayes and protracting of time A maÌ„ as they say in other thynges very moderate vpright After Niger was slain Seuerus incoÌ„tinently did put to death all his frendes which either of their own free willes or by coÌ„straint had fauored him onely he pardoned the Souldiours who through feare of Seuerus wrath were fled ouer Tigre vnto the Barbaâ—iens And in dede to theÌ„ was a great multitude escapâ—d Wherby it came to passe y t the barbarous nacions â—roÌ„ thence forwarde waxed more valiauÌ„t stronge in fight against y e Romaines beyng onely expert before to shote wyth the bowe froÌ„ theyr horses not apparayled in harnesse or bolde to fyghte wyth speare and sworde but couered wyth lyghte and longe garmentes they did most commonlye throwe theyr dartes and shoote theyr arrowes in fleyng awaye But after that many of the Romayne Souldyours and Artyfycers came to enhabyte and leade theyr lyues in those Regyons the barbarous people learned not onelye to weare armure but also to forge and make the same When Seuerus had fynysshed hys affayres in the Oryente according to his owne mynd he toke an ardente desyre to make warre vpon the Atrenyan kynge to conquere the Realme of Parthia bothe the whyche Nyger had before assocyated vnto hym But yet deferrynge those warres vntyll an other tyme he begaÌ„ to inuent by what meanes he myght assuredly establysh the Romayne Empyre to hym selfe and hys chyldren For Nyger being dispatched there remained no more sauing onely Albynus who he reckened woulde do lytle after his mynde or stande hym in small steade the rumour beyng alreadye spredde that he vsurped the dignytye name of Cesar ouer arrogantlye and that manye of the Senators had wrytten pryuelye vnto hym encouragyng hym to retourne to Rome whyles Seuerus were absente and busyed in the Oryent for all the nobylytye wysshed Albinus Emperour because he was descended of noble and famouse lygnage him selfe beyng a yonge man of great towardnes and gentle disposycyon All
Phalaux in the honoure and remembraunce of Alexander When thei were so assembled he commaunded them to seperate themselfes in bandes a greate space one from an other that he mighte electe oute of them the apteste ages statures and personages for the warres The yonge men creditynge the same and perswaded wyth a coloure of truthe thrughe the greate honoure he had before shewed towardes theyr deade Prince resorted thither in many cōpanyes bringinge with them their Parētes and Bretherne with ioyouse acclamaciōs shoutes Then Antonine went about eche companye vewing them and praisinge this and that in euerye one as he liked vntil his whole host had compassed them vnwares and loking for no such thinge And when he perceaued them al to be enclosed with his armie entangled as it were with nettes him self came furth with his garde and gaue a watche word vnto the Souldiours who furthwith ran vpon the people and slewe with meruaylous slaughter the naked and vnarmed youth al other that wer present Of the Souldiors some were occupied in murdering onely other some buried the deade corpses in huge pyttes coueringe them with earth againe raysed a meruaylous highe hil Many were drawen half dead into y e pittes many were buryed quicke There perished besides very many of the Souldiours them selfes For they which had any breth remaining and not fully lost theyr natural strength clipping the Souldiors which ranne vpon them drewe the same also into the pittes wyth them And there was so great a murdre committed that with streames of bloud which ranne alonge the playnes not onely the mouthe of Nylus but also the Sea by the Citie became red of colour Thys eanded Antonyne affecting the Parthyane surname and renowme of Thoriental conquest although the people were nowe in perfecte peace inuented this crafte He wrate letters vnto Artabanus king of Parthia and sent vnto him Ambassadors with sundrie sumptuous giftes In those letters he wrate that he wold take to wife the kinges doughter for y t him self was a prince and a princes sonne And therfore it besemed not hys estate to become son in law of any priuate or meane persone but rather to mary a Queene or the doughter of a great and puisaunt king He alledged that the Empires of Rome and Parthia being the .ii. mightiest of the world ▪ shoulde by this affinitie ioyne togethers and no ryuer disseuerynge them be of so great strength that it were impossible for any forreyne power to vaynquishe them For quod he all the Barbarous nations whiche are nowe subiecte vnto both these Empires wyll easely continewe in subiection when euerye of them shall haue theyr owne rulers and gouernours The Romaynes he affyrmed had an armye of fote men the whyche wyth speares and in playne battayle excelled all other And the Parthians had a greate power of horsemen and experte archers Wherefore these thynges ioyned togethers and agreinge in one they shoulde he sayde easely retayne vnder one Scepter and Diademe the Empire of the whole worlde The pleasaunte spyces and fyne clothe also whiche came from them to the Romaynes and the goodly metall and all curious wroughte thynges which were transported from the Romains to them agayne shoulde not after thys mary age be seldome caried as it was wont by marchauntes but thuse therof shoulde be in common to them without let or interruption in one land and vnder one gouernour After the Parthian kinge had receaued these letters he fyrst denied the request saying that a barbarous matrimony became not a Romain For what cōcord quod he woulde be betwene them which vsed not one language nor one kind of liuing appayrel There were he sayde at Rome manye Senatours doughters amonges whome the Emperoure might chose hym a wyfe as there were in hys dominion certayne called Arsacide Neyther was there anye cause he thoughte why anye of them shoulde be alyenated from theyr natiue countrey With thys aunswere he repulsed the Emperours suyte But Antonyne neuer lefte of sendynge manye gyftes and promysynge by othes hys perfecte loue towardes hys doughter vntyll the Barbarous prynce beleuynge hys wordes promysed to geue hym hys doughter to wyfe When the fame of thys was spredde all the Barbarous people prepared themselues to receaue the Romayne Emperoure reioysynge wyth a certayne hope of contynuall peace thereafter Then Antonine hauing passed without let or staye of anye man the Riuers entred into the Parthian Region and rode thrughe the same as hys owne And in hys waye all the people celebrated sacryfices burning encense vpō the decked Aultares wherwith he fayned hym selfe to be greatly pleased After a lōge iorney he approched at the laste nyghe the Palaice of Artabanus Who met wyth him in a certaine plaine before the Cytye to receaue hym as a newe Brydegrome and hys Sonne in lawe And a greate multytude of the Barbarouse people crowned wyth theyr countrey floures and apparayled in garmentes adorned wyth golde and varyable colours celebrated the same as a feaste and solempnytye daunsynge togithers by the sounde of Pypes and Tabors For in those instrumentes they are aboue measure delyted especially when thei are ones wel tyipled with wine But when all the multytude were assembled togythers and hauing lefte their horses behinde and laide asyde their bowes and arrowes applyed them selfes to banquetynge and gatheringe togither in a rude plumpe stode withoute order whyles thei suspected no harme but euery mā thrusting forwardes to see the newe maryed man Sodeynly Antonyne wyth a preuy sygne commaunded all hys men to slea and destroy the Barbarouse people They beyng astonyed with that sodeyne chaunce turned theyr backes and fledde from the Romaynes whyche pursued and slewe them Artabanus hym selfe beynge socoured and set vpon a horse by some of hys Garde dyd wyth greate dyfficultye escape But the residewe of y e Parthians were euery where ouerthrowen and murdered For thei neither had their horses which thei most vsed thei hadde perdie sente theim before to grasse neyther coulde thei flee for theyr wyde garmentes hangynge downe to theyr heales interrupted theyr runnynge Thei broughte not besydes theyr bowes and arowes with them for what neaded that at a weddynge Thus after a great murder done on the Parthiens and a greate bootye of men and beastes taken captyues and ledde awaye Antonyne departed And withoute any resystence burned the Townes and vyllages geauing lycence vnto his Souldiours to ransake and spoyle all that they woulde or could This mischief calamitie did the Parthiens vnwares receiue Then Anthonyne hauing vyseted the inwarde partes of Parthia and his Souldiours beyng weryed w t rapyne and murder retourned into Mesapotamye From thence he sygnified vnto the Senate people of Rome that he had subdued Thoriente and brought in subiection all the men of those Regiōs The Senate albeit thei before knewe perfectly the hole circumstaunce for Princes affayres can by no meanes contynew longe in hugger mugger yet throughe feare and flaterye