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country_n	city_n	great_a	village_n	1,731	5	9.2720	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02294	A chronicle, conteyning the liues of tenne emperours of Rome Wherin are discouered, their beginnings, procéedings, and endings, worthie to be read, marked, and remembred. Wherein are also conteyned lawes of speciall profite and policie. ... Compiled by the most famous Syr Anthonie of Gueuara, Bishop of Mondonnedo, preacher, chronicler, and counsellour to the Emperour Charles the fift: and translated out of Spanish into English, by Edward Hellowes, Groome of her Maiesties Leashe. Hereunto is also annexed a table, recapitulating such particularities, as are in this booke mentioned.; Decada de los diez Cesares y emperadores Romanos. English	Guevara, Antonio de, Bp., d. 1545?; Hellowes, Edward.	1577 (1577)	STC 12426; ESTC S103534	315,538	500

yere in the whole land there was great scarsitie of bread wherby Traiane was constrained to shorten his iourney and to hasten his imbarkage in such manner that the pestilence draue him out of Africa and hūger out of Spaine Traiane departed Spaine with determination not to stay vntill his arriuall in Asia and there to take the way vnto the greater Armenia would neuer take land in any porte of Italie but passing like pylgrimes made no stay but onely to renue their victuals All those whiche trauelled with Traiane were astonied to sée him passe the portes of his kingdomes as if it had bene the lande of enimies Traiane had a capteine named Valerius Gracchus vnto whom the Emperour did beare speciall affection and did estéeme him as a kinsman vnto this man they say that Traiane sayd in great secrecie If I had found warres in Sicyl Africa or Spaine as I found in Datia whereby I might haue obteined some victorie I woulde not haue passed without landing in Italie but since it is thus come to passe I sweare by the immortall Gods to set no foote a land in Italie vntil I deserue to enter triumphing into Rome High verie high were these wordes worthy and right worthy to be written in the hearts of Princes to beholde this Prince that banished him selfe from the delightes of his own proper kingdomes to séeke fame in straunge landes With great determination Traiane did enterprise the voyage into Armenia wherin he entered making cruell war taking occasion of the king of Armenians which refused to confesse to haue receiued his kingdome from the Romaines but of the king of Parthians Traiane not satisfied to make war vpon the Armenians but also entered the landes and territories of the Parthians bicause in the most principall Prouince of Trapa he deteined his armie more then thrée monethes Parthurus king of Parthians a man of great yeares beholding the warres offered him by the enimie determined to present peace vnto Traiane who being demanded of his Parthians why he discouered so great feare within his owne kingdome he made answere If the wars were but armie against armie the Parthians woulde not feare the Romaines but we fight with the Emperor Traiane vnto whome the Gods haue giuen so great fortune that it farre exceedeth our great power Without consuming of many dayes or imploying of many armies the Parthians made peace with Traiane and the Armenians did yeald them selues as ouercome From Parthimisires king of Armenians the kingdome was remoued and both crowne and kingdome Traiane gaue with his owne handes vnto his sonne and this he did bycause king Parthimisires had sayd that of the Parthians and not of the Romaines he was crowned king in suche wise that the good Traiane in remouing the kingdome frō the father did execute iustice and in giuing it to the sonne gaue a shewe of his clemencie Traiane was not satisfied that the Parthians shoulde haue peace and become tributaries vnto the Romaines but that king Parthurus by the handes of Traiane must be crowned and so it came to passe that knéeling vpon his knées he receiued his crowne kissed his hande and consented to pay tribute Traiane did marche through all those Prouinces and kingdomes and vnto the kinges that did yeald obedience benignly he did intreate them and in their kingdomes did confirme them and vnto suche as did vse resistaunce vnto others he gaue their kingdomes and sent them prisoners vnto Rome Traiane helde for custome that in all principall cities of kingdomes or Prouinces that he had taken by force of armes he did commaunde to erect a most strong castle wherevnto his armies did repayre and a right sumptuous temple wherein to worshippe the Goddes of Rome As Traiane did passe and trauell visite and conquere all the thrée partes of the world that is to say Asia Africa and Europa in all which countries he did trauell to leaue of him selfe immortall fame the testimonie wherof maketh it credible that all the Romaine princes ioyntly haue not erected so many buildings as Traiane onely did performe Traiane did leade his armies verie well furnished ordered corrected and also in great subiection this procéeded that alwaies in his own person he did accōpany the same and helde them both paide and rewarded for as he did vse to say The hoast that of his owne proper Prince is not visited and paide is sildome or neuer in subiection When Traiane was in the warres in his féeding and apparel he did rather séeme a companion then an emperour of Rome for that sildome he went vnarmed and many were the dayes wherein he did eate standing Hauing a bodie somewhat drie and of great sinowes he was moste patient in tedious trauaile of warres that is to say in suffering hunger colde thirste wette snowe heate perils whiche he refused not as a cowarde but sought thē out as one of a valiant mind for that in all hazardes perils he neuer saide vnto his captaines go but let vs go do but let vs do fight but let vs fight He gaue in charge vnto his armies not to attempt to burne houses set fire in corne ouerthrowe milles or cut downe orchardes affirming that these thinges are to be obteined but not destroyed Whē Traiane would take any citie he did not imploye his force in any thing more then to depriue the enimies of their waters In the campes of his enimies he did cause to be sowen false newes that is to wite that if he had victuals to saye that he wanted that if he had money to saye it was spent that if he had muche people that they were gone that if he would shortly giue an assault to saye that he would departe and by this meanes he brought his enimies into negligence while in meane time he did fortifie his armies Traiane was of greate liberalitie vnto such as discouered the enimies secretes and ioyntly therewith of no lesse prouidence for the entering of spies within his campes When he helde warre with any citie or countrye he did not permitt his souldiers to spoile the borders thereof for he helde opinion that smal profit might rise to spoile the poore villages and greate hurte and offence vnto the armies by want of victuals Vnto a captaine that tooke a ploughman kilde his two Oxen at the ploughe Traiane commaunded to be banished with great ignominie and to giue the ploughman his horse his armour and all his wages that was due For no fault Traiane commaunded any man to be slaine in the warres but onely him that slept being of the watche or the captaine that ranne awaye out of the battel or did rauishe any woman Traiane was so pitifull that vsually he did pardon all negligences especially in the warres except two faultes which he did neuer remitt that is to say such as blasphemed the Gods and rauished women Traiane was verie diligent and careful in visiting his camps and to kéepe a reckoning of all his armies and this he did to the ende

memorie of king Eritreus which in old time reigned there The riuer Tygris in the discourse of his currant maketh an Ilande conteinining xxx miles in bredth and lx in length wherein reigned Athabilus a Prince both proude and warlike whome without armes Traiane brought vnder his Empire The ayre of those Seas being different in nature from other Seas and being then in the greatest heate of Summer Traiane in that nauigation passed much trauaile and perill and being persuaded by certeine to forsake the Sea and take the land aunswered the vicious go from hence to Rome to séeke delight and the vertuous come from Rome hither to séeke trauailes bycause our predecessours in exchaunge of great trauailes receiued great and glorious triumphes wherefore I will neuer cease fighting for feare either nauigation for perill or daunger At the mouth of those Seas there was a people named Sipassinos so called of certeine fieldes whiche they helde whether from manye partes they brought their heards to féede these Sipassinos were subiects to king Athabilus who vnderstanding of his submission vnto the Romaines ioyntly with great good will came foorth to receiue Traiane Passing along those Ilandes and all the cities along the Sea coasts on either side being subdued Traiane entred the Ocean Sea and therewith vnderstanding the wracke decaye of his shippes the darkenesse of the ayre his pylots to want experience vpon those coasts he arriued to land to renewe his nauie Traiane was informed that those Seas were of such condition that they endured not shippes made of straunge timber but of wood of the Indies for otherwise they did consume or at times drowne them The sorrowe of Traianes harte might not be expressed for that to passe into the great Indies he had no preparation because of the insufficiēcie of his own ships and want of timber of the Indies And when Traiane saw his voyage to be frustrate without remedie they saye that he saide with a great sigh Of all Princes past onely vnto Alexander I giue the preeminence for that he passed into the Indies but if fortune had not hindered mee him as others I woulde haue excelled for I had a wil not only to conquer all the Indies but therein to haue erected a nowe Rome All the time that Traiane stayed there he gaue him selfe particularly to vnderstand of the state of al thinges in the greate Indiaes that is to saye what Gods they worshipped what temples they helde what kinges they obeyed what dyet they vsed what garmentes they did weare howe they did fight in what cities they did inhabite wherein they were exercised and howe muche the greater things they did report so muche the more the sorrowe of his heart did augment From thence Traiane sēt certeine messengers vnto Rome with great riches for the treasurie Also a memoriall of all the prouinces kingdomes Ilandes nations and people that he had subdued and takē and brought vnder the Empire of Rome Great ioy was receiued in Rome vpon the manifestation of these newes no lesse wonderfull vnto the Romaines to read so many and so variable people to be ouercome by Traiane because it was affirmed amongest them in the Senate of Rome that none had séene them either as muche as to haue heard of them Presently they erected in Rome vnto Traiane an arche triumphant wherin was grauen the names of the kingdomes that Traiane had subdued and the principall prouinces that he had taken for if they shuld haue placed them all conformable vnto his memoriall they should want marble to be wrought and workemen to graue the same When Traiane might not passe into the great Indies he came vnto the house of Alexander the greate where as it was saide he died and there did buylde all that by antiquitie was decayed falne downe also did adde other newe buyldings thereunto offered riche sacrifices vnto the Gods in memorie reuerence of Alexander Traiane sayling on the Ocean Sea towardes the Indians the Tesiponts supposing that he should neuer returne into that prouince determined to rebel and therwith slewe all the Romaines that remained in garrison brought all their countrie in armes Against these other people that rebelled Traiane sent Maximinus and Lucius with an armie of greate power who fought most vnfortunatly for that the one fled the other died He that escaped was Lucius who to refourme all faultes past tooke the citie of Nisibin Edessa which he destroyed burnt with fire wherof Traiane was not a little offended because in the warres he would not any spoile to be made by fire Eritius Clarus Alexander Seuerus two Romaine Pretours made their entrie by Seleucia whiche they totally did sacke destroy being aduertised the Traiane was drowned at Sea they rebelled slewe the Romaine magistrates Traiane doubting the rebellion of the Parthians entred their countrie hauing intelligence of the death of Parthurus their king the alteration of their kingdom Traiane commaunded all the principals of Parthia to appeare before him who assēbled in the fields of Tesipont where Traiane being aduaunced did aduertise thē of his determination which if they did admitt consent vnto they might safely hold him for a pitifull father and otherwise they should finde him a most cruell enimie The Parthians ioyntly aunswered that their desire was much more to hold him as a father then an enimie and did yeld them selues both to beléeue and to obey him making their humble suite to giue them no king except he were a natiue of their kingdome for that a straunger should want both loue and obedience Presently Traiane tooke a crowne in his handes and set it vppon the heade of Persnapate declaring him to be their king and lorde of which prouision they helde them selues marueilously wel pleased for that he was not onely of their kingdome and well knowen vnto them but also bothe vertuous and warlike CHAP. XX. ¶ Howe Traiane comming from Asia to triumph in Rome was staide by death in Sicyl THE land of Parthians being stayed pacified Traiane was in disposition to go to Rome partly to rest and to cease from traueile and chiefely to triumph ouer so many nations and kingdomes but being aduertised of the rebellion of the Agarens and that the Romaine pretours were fledd presently Traiane departed vnto the lande of Agarens which is in Arabia hauing a citie as principall of their prouince very little but marueilous strong the destinie whereof was such that being sieged by infinite Princes was neuer taken or ouercome For defence of that citie the nature and situation of the countrie did not a litle helpe for that the assailants had neither wood or timber to aduaunce their engins either water or forage for reliefe of them selues or cattel the same vnto straungers not vsed thereunto did rather séeme to burne then to giue light Traiane commaunded an assault to be giuen vnto the citie the most valiant captaines being mounted vpon the wall at

yeares he was twice Consul once Gouernour of the citie and once Iudge in suche wise that his vertue was more beneficiall then others to be naturall of the countrie The father of Antoninus Pius was named Fuluius Aurelius a man vertuous and learned and no lesse then his grandfather Titus was twice Consul his grandmother of the mothers side was named Bobinia and the father of his mother whiche was Arrius Antoninus was no lesse estéemed in the Romaine Empire then was his other grādfather for he was Iudge two yeres Master of the horsse men one yeare Tribune of the people an other yeare and in the ende two times Consul This Arrius Antoninus was a great persecuter of Domitian a great friende of Nerua and verie priuate with Traiane whiche when he perceiued Nerua to accept the Empire being so olde he had greate compassion of him and sayde these wordes My friende Nerua I giue thee to vnderstande eyther it is some cursse from thy predecessours or some vengeaunce that the Goddes will take of thee since they permitte thee to take the Empire and at the time of most neede to haue counsell they depriue thee of thy sound and good iudgement The good olde Nerua did so sensibly féele these wordes spoken by his friende Antoninus that had it not béene by the great importunitie of Traiane he had presently renounced the Empire which if he had done as afterwards he did he had not erred bycause his age was too greate and his strength but weake Antoninus Pius had a father in lawe named Iulius Lupus which long time was a Senatour that desired not to beare office but with his patrimonie to liue in quietnesse Antoninus Pius married with the daughter of Annius Verus who was named Annia Faustina a woman of excelling beautie and this was mother vnto the famous Faustine wife vnto the great Emperour Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius and Faustine his wife had two sonnes which died in their youth and also two daughters of which the elder was married vnto the Consul Sillanus which also died in their youth The second daughter as the mother was named Faustine married vnto Marcus Aurelius in whome the succession of the Empire did remaine Antoninus Pius had but one sister named Iulia Fadilla whome he tenderly loued not onely for that he had no more but because they were twinnes and borne both at a birth Antoninus Pius was borne the xiii daye of October at a certeine place named Laurina which afterwardes he did nobilitate with stately buyldinges and indued with great priuileges and also did amplifie the boundes thereof which were but short and narrowe In the moste time of his infancie he was nourished with his fathers father and being more entred into yeres he continued with his other graund father by the mothers side and was so vertuous and so well inclined that he was pleasing vnto all men and beloued of all persons he attained to be knowen vnto all his grandfathers both of father and mother who all fixed their eyes vppon Antoninus as well to inuest him with learning as to endue him with riches and wealth for as he afterwards reported of them they vsed to saye that they fauoured him more for his vertue then for affinitie With his graundfathers he learned both tounges of Greeke and Latine he gaue him selfe more to Cosmographie then to any other science and did muche delight to talke with men of straunge nations to giue them to vnderstande that he did knowe all the particularities of their countries by science as they did by experience Being so intirely beloued of his graundfathers they helde him alwayes in company with Philosophers who of his owne natural condition delighted not but in the company of the vertuous whereof it procéeded that after he became so cruell an enimie vnto the wicked and so perfect a friend vnto good men The customes and companies that Princes do take in their youth they loue and followe afterwardes when they be men CHAP. II. ¶ Of the inclination proportion and naturall fashion of his bodie ANtoninus Pius was of an high stature slender and very streight his eyes somewhat outward black hayre thicke bearde white rare and gaptothed his face white merrie gladsome and faire in such wise that he did rather prouoke to be loued then feared Naturally he was of great health his téeth excepted which he lost before he came to age When a certeine cunning man made offer to be bound to place him téethe wherewith to speake and eate Antoninus made him aunswere Since neuer from my harte proceeded fained or double woords there shall neuer enter into my mouth counterfete teeth The want of his téeth made him to eat with paine and stutter in his spéeche Being touched with a Iester for his stammering Antoninus aunswered I recke not greatly to stumble in wordes so that I erre not and stand vp right in deedes In Rome there was a Senatour named Taurinus liberall in spéeche and not sober in diet who reprouing Antoninus for that his téeth failed him bothe to eate and speake aunswering saide I consent to that which thou saiest for that I if I woulde may not be a glutton but thou maist and wilt not leaue to be malicious Many Princes did excell Antoninus Pius in science but none did matche him in eloquence for that ordinarily he did talke in the Latine tounge did dispute in the Greeke He was naturally very well conditioned which had in him moste apparance for that alwayes his woords were without malice and his thoughtes without suspicion Although he were of complexion cholerike sanguine which giueth men occasion to be rashe and soudein it had no place in Antoninus Pius for that he was constant in aduersities and patient in iniuries When in his presence they saide any woordes that did grieue or offende him or brought him any sorrowfull newes in biting of his lipp in casting downe his eyes and laying one hand vpon another they vnderstood his great sorrow but ioyntly herewith he was neuer séene of any man soudeinly to chaunge countenaunce muche lesse to speake any cruell or iniurious woorde Before he was Emperour he was the welthiest man of all the Empire for that he did inherite from his foure graundfathers greate and ample patrimonies vnto whome he was sole inheritour He was giuen to gather conserue and augment his goodes riches and wealth but without all oppression to any person for that he liued onely of him selfe defrauding no man of his suite After he obteined the Empire when by chaunce any talke was moued of the couetousnesse of men and of the necessitie of Princes many times he woulde saye I giue thankes to the immortall Gods that since I haue beene Emperour I haue not taken any thing from any man either before that euer I was benighted with debt He had great affection to the woorkes of the fielde and therein had not onely the tooles and thinges necessarie for the purpose that is to saye buffes oxen cartes

in all his offices was founde to be verie wise verie iust seuere and no lesse sincere but after the good Emperour was dead he grewe negligent and also was noted with the blemishe of a nigarde and couetousnesse because from thenceforth he did rather imploye his forces to gather richesse then to gouerne the common wealth Of this notable example it may be inferred of that which euerye day we sée to chaunce which is that good Princes of euil men make good seruauntes and euil Princes of good men make euil seruauntes for that many times notwithstanding the seruaunt naturally be euil he doth endeuour and enforce him selfe to be good in respect of his maister which is good and so by the contrarie if the Prince be euil the seruaunt strayeth vnto euill although of his owne nature he be good Nowe Commodus being Emperour in Rome when Pertinax bribed and gathered money in Asia againste whome certeine people did rise and mutine exclaming that he helde them oppressed and robbed he was constrained thereby to retyre vnto Rome to escape their pretented practises to dispatche him of his life nothing displeasant vnto Commodus to the ende he might inherite his goods Pertinax being come to Rome and the tyraunt Perennius in those dayes gouerning the Empire and commaunding Commodus gaue him verie euill entertaynement and woorse conuersation not for that Pertinax had so deserued but the rather to giue him occasion to departe from Rome for that being as he was verie wise and of great iudgement valiant riche and also auncient he doubted to bée depriued by Pertinax from the fauour of Commodus Pertinax beholding the follies of Commodus the tyrannies of Perennius the losse and spoyle of the common wealth of Rome aduised to departe from thence and to goe vnto the countrie of Liguria separating him selfe to liue in a poore village where in times past his father had liued and kepte shoppe and buying that poore dwelling where his father had solde oyle fishe wine bread and other victualls buylt in the compasse thereof a stately buylding permitting the olde to remaine in the midest without any addition or diminishing thereof Pertinax excéedingly delighted to beholde that countrie wherein he had passed his life being but a childe and from whence he had departed so abiect and nowe returned with suche wealth and credite And being aduertised of the foale of the Asse whereon he had vsed to carrie wood to be aliue he bought it and did so vse féede it as it had béene some auncient seruaunt of great deseruing He there erected manye and solemne buyldinges bought great and many purchases gaue great summes of money vnto his kinred old friends and acquaintaunce and did so ioye to sée him selfe so riche where he had béene so poore and to obteine so great quietnesse after so muche trauaile that he saide and wrote vnto his friendes that if Princes had throughly tasted and knowen the rellishe of reposed rest of them selues and of their owne proper will they would abandon their Empires Pertinax being setled in quietnesse Commodus sent his commaundement that he shoulde departe into Britaine to execute the office of Pretor which he obeyed more for feare then of good will and presently began to reforme the armies whiche were in robberies verie absolute and of life no lesse dissolute And on a time a certeine mutinous legion made commotion not because they had contention amongest them selues but early to awake Pertinax to violate his life The matter fell out after this manner that Pertinax found him selfe in so great perill that all men thought he had béene slaine yet amongst the dead he escaped aliue notwithstanding cruelly wounded After these matters were pacified and Pertinax cured of his woundes hee so seriously chasticed that treason which they had conspired against him that he ministred matter to murmur at Rome and to bewaile in Britaine The Senate being aduertised what had passed betwixt the armie and Pertinax sent a suspense of and for his pretorian office and gaue him charge of prouision for victuals and munition whiche he woulde not accept but sued for his discharge to departe for that the armies helde him extreme and cruell and he of the armies had greate doubt and suspicion Pertinax being arriued at Rome founde that Perennius the tyraunt was nowe dead and Pertinax being a man of authoritie and grauitie a small time fell into the fauour of Commodus vnto whome he commended the prefecture or gouernement of the citie of Rome and succéeding Fussianus whoe vsed his office with great crueltie Pertinax obteined greate good liking of all the people who perfourmed his charge with no lesse mildnesse and pietie Commodus not contented that Pertinax had recouered so greate fauour in the common wealth and finding no occasion either to kill or banishe him aduised to discouer his euill will whiche he did beare him bothe in worde and déede that of him selfe he would séeke occasion to departe frō Rome who finding apt sure meanes to renounce his office retired vnto his owne proper house and countrie supposing neuer more to haue béene remoued from thence all the dayes of his life partely for that he perceiued howe Commodus sought occasions to take away his life and partly moued of olde age to repose the remnant of his dayes CHAP. III. ¶ What was saide and what he aunswered vnto those persons that offered him the Empire AFter that Martia Letus Electus and Narcissus had slaine the Emperour Commodus a greate parte of the night being passed and all persons in the palace being couched vnder the gouernement of profound sléepe Martia and her companions tooke the carkase of Commodus and wrapt it in an olde Seron wherein the slaues did beare out the ordure of the stable giuing them to vnderstande that it was a certeine vessel with a charge also to carrie it forth After the bodie was remoued out of the courte they laide it into a carre and conueyed it into a certeine village named Aristro where Commodus did vse to bathe and solace but on the next daye his death being published the Romanes pursued and although he were dead they cutt off his head and trailed his bodie throughout all the stréetes of Rome Martia Letus and Electus considering they had slaine Commodus and bestowed his carkase at their pleasure aduised amongest them selues to séeke out and to name an Emperour before daye shoulde come vppon them to the ende the Empire should haue an owner as also to haue defence vnder his protection and so it came to passe when the death of the one was manifested the election of the other was published the matter hapned after this manner Letus and Electus talkinge with them certeine of their especiall frindes departed streight vnto the house of Pertinax knocking at the gate to haue it opened with greate haste one of the sonnes of Pertinax beholding them to come armed at such an hour and with such hast was taken with so great feare that when he

lesse by the presence of Seuerus then by the absence of Albinius for according to the olde prouerbe the absent is neuer without blame nor the present without excuse When Seuerus sawe that he had wonne the hearts of his armies hee recouered newe hope to be reuenged of Albinius and to the purpose he made a generall muster of his men of warre and founde tenne thousande horsemen and xl thousand foote men all whiche he presently payde not onely that whiche he did owe them but also gaue them many and greate rewardes adding therevnto many faire promises The first iourney that Seuerus made was to besiege Bizantio for thither the captaines repaired that had escaped the mortall battaile of Pessenius Niger and in the ende tooke it not by force but by hunger and hauing the citie vnder his power he displaced the bulworkes made plaine the towers ouerthrewe the Theaters subuerted their bathes burnt their houses strangled the straungers the natiues he did captiuate finally he behaued him selfe not as a Romane prince but as a moste cruel tyrant With the riches that hee recouered in Bizantio and the aboundance whiche he robbed in other partes he commaunded the cities to be repaired that Pessenius souldiours had sackt and charged the fortes to be erected that they had throwne downe and leauing officers necessarie for gouernement and men of warre to defende those countries he departed with greate celeritie vnto greate Britaine with a determined intente to make furious warres against Albinius His desire was so disordinate to encounter with Albinius that he traueled night and day thicke and thinne foule and faire and that wherefore they most blamed him was that he neither obserued the solemne festiuall dayes or had compassion of the tyred Traueling on those wayes when it snowed manie times hee was bare headed and in the mire hee woulde trauell one foote when it rained hee woulde marche in his doublet and hose and wanting victualles he woulde eate bareley bread and as he after reported to be reuenged of his enimie he thought it all well imployed Hee sent before him valiant captaines and men very light of greate swiftnesse to cleare the wayes vpon the highte of the mountaines and to defende the most perilous places chiefly when he passed the Alpes of Italie doubting that Albinius might haue in that place some hidden ambushe Nowe when Seuerus sawe him selfe and all his armies in Gallia Transalpina and that in so longe a iourney hee had incountered with no stumbling blocke if vntill that time he went with hope from thence foorth he marched in certeintie to obtaine victorie for the feare whiche he had was that his armie trauelinge both weary and spent Albinius at the souden might discouer to giue him battell In al this time Albinius remained in the Isle of Britane which nowe is Englande but presently after hee vnderstoode that Seuerus had passed the Alpes he brought foorth all his armie out of the Isle sente them into Fraunce rather to defende the frontiers then without any commaundement to make warre because Seuerus was so souden in his arriuall the he was then in Fraunce whē they belieued him not to be departed from Italie With great speede Albinius did write vnto the cities adioyning requesting their helpe for money and commaunding them to be stronge and valiant in his seruice of whom manie disobeyed and other rebelled against him notwithstanding they all confessed that they rather did it for feare of the potencie of Seuerus then for the hatred whiche they did beare vnto Albinius But in the ende the two armies beeing ioyned and all the cities diuided into parcialities euery day betwixt them there was incounters and daily meetings to skirmishe and for the moste parte the souldiours of Seuerus departed with broken heades and Albinius his bandes returned victorious They trauersed on a certaine day so furious a skirmish that it was necessarie Seuerus shoulde come foorth armed vnto the same and as hee was not able to make his souldiours to retire neither constraine his enimies to flie thinking to enter to haue parted the fray hee was vrged to fight in his owne person in whiche fight he receiued so greate a blowe with a plummette of leade that hee was feld downe to the grounde and lay for deade so longe space that many did kisse the handes of his sonne Geta as Emperour After Seuerus had escaped that daunger and was cured of his wounde in greate secrecie he called into his presence certaine Sorcerers and Inchanters that hee brought with him both requesting threatening and promising them manie thinges if they woulde tell him the ende of those warres for if hee shoulde be conquerour hee woulde prosecute the same and if hee shoulde be ouercome he woulde returne into Italie The Sorcerers and Inchaunters answered that his armie should receiue greate hurte but in the ende his enimie Albinius shoulde be ouercome and that hee shoulde not obtaine in this case that which he desired that is to say to kill Albinius with his owne handes but that hee shoulde sée him deade before his eyes The tenth of March Seuerus receiued this answere of his Inchanters and presently on the next day he tooke muster of all his men commaundinge them to shooe their horse and amend their armour and the third day hee gaue battell vnto Albinius neare to a citie named Lugduno whiche nowe in Fraunce is called Lions Sonarona whiche on bothe sides was so extremely contended that a greate parte of the day it might not be knowne vnto whome the victorie would incline When al the day was passed and darke within night the one army fighting with the other in the ende Albinius was ouercome This battaile was so bloudie that of so greate a number of people as both the hoastes did conteine there escaped not a man that was not slaine in the fielde or returned vnto his tente vnwounded Albinius remained to keepe the citie and sent his capteines to giue battaile who beeing beaten out of the fielde the Seuerians entred into the citie spoyling goodes burning houses and slaying people Seuerus had a captaine named Letus whiche was the cause of the conquest of that battell for that Seuerus his souldiours beeing in a manner ouercome and Seuerus ready and prest to flie he relieued the battell with a fresh bande of souldiours Letus of skill and industrie woulde not fight that day vntil he sawe Seuerus fledde and also fall from his horse thinking that if Seuerus shoulde die or be slaine and hee ouercomminge and conquering the battell to aduaunce him selfe with the Romaine Empire Seuerus was not ignorant of the good seruice whiche his captaine had done him at that instant either did he hide the intente wherewith he perfourmed the same for whiche cause the warres beeing finished he commaunded his heade to be cut off not for that whiche hee did but for that which he woulde haue done When the Seuerians destroyed the citie of Lugduno amongst the reste they slewe the

Seuerus considering the citie of Athras to be inexpugnable the people therein inuincible and his campe also weakened through greate sickenesse aduised to rayse his siege before his armie were vtterly lost which he did not without greate griefe and no lesse despight being as he was giuen vnto so many triumphes and victories he thought him self vāquished since he might not ouercome but fortune that naturally discouereth her self to be variable the victorie which shée denied Seuerus in fighting shée in his flight gaue afterwardes more largely The case was thus that sailing on the Sea with all his armie it was his chaunce to encounter with a tempest and being forced to followe the disposition of the weather and not as his heart desired they brought him to riuers of the kingdome of Parthia not thrée leagues distant from the greate citie of Tesiphont where the king was further entred into feasting then compassed with armour Seuerus entred into the fielde of Tesiphont committing so greate spoiles and robberies that he put the people into greate feare which as Seuerus did take at the soudeine and vnwares and being amazed neither able to saye or aunswere if they were demaunded for that to flye they had no time and to resist they had no force that whiche was woorst of all to make agréement it was not in their handes neither might they endure to submitt themselues vnto the Romans Seuerus arriuing at Tesiphont did subuert it vnto the ground slewe al that made resistance and did captiuate man woman and childe he tooke al the treasure and riches bothe of the citie and royall palace finally all the countrie treasure goods and persons came to the handes of Seuerus except the king Arthabanus who escaped on horsebacke Seuerus led with him certeine skilfull painters which as he went traueiling they went drawing and painting all cities castels riuers mountaines nations kingdomes and prouinces by throughe which he passed and all the battels and victories whiche he had made and obteined Seuerus sent a greate Ambassage vnto the Senate and people of Rome with whome he sent many captiues much riches and the tables wherin his victories were set out at large the Romains gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods and also greate praises vnto Seuerus although moste true that all men were pleased with the victories but would not that they shoulde haue béene obteined by Seuerus Departing from the kingdome of Parthia he diuided amongest his armies all that he had taken from the Parthians and for himselfe reserued nothing but that which he sent vnto the Senat and a ring of Vnicorne a white parat or popingay and a gréen horse the which thinges he toke not for their value but forthe straungnes of their colours Seuerus came through the kingdome of Palestina and gaue them many lawes conformable vnto the lawes of the Romanes commaunding vppon paine of death that none should name himselfe a Iew either call himselfe a Christian or obserue the lawe of Christians From Palestina he came through Assyria vnto the citie of Alexandria where also he placed new customes and also made newe lawes which he caused them to write and obserue howbeit they endured but the life of Seuerus for after his death they did not onely breake them but also burnt the tables wherin they were writen CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of Seuerus his sonnes and of their euill inclination THe kinges that were enimies being ouercome new cōfederation made with old friends and all the prouinces of Asia reformed he came vnto Rome and as the Romans had prepared the Parthicke triumph he might not enter triumphing for that he came so weake of a quartane and so lame of the goute that he might neither indure the chariott or suffer the intertainement of the people It had chaunced to none of the Romane Empire as it fortuned vnto Seuerus that is to say that had slaine so many princes obteyned so many victories and yet neuer entered triumphing into Rome which was not for his demerits or repugnancie of the Romanes but for his thrée first victories he might not triumphe because they were Romane princes and to his other victories of Asia his disease gaue impediment Seuerus had two legitimate sonnes the elder was named Bassianus the other Geta who notwithstanding they were brothers in bloud yet were they much different in conditions which infirmitie was not onely manifested in their infancie for that in their childish playes they could neuer agrée either in weightie affaires yeld one consent It was much noted amongest the Romanes that the two bretherne being but children might neuer agrée in their childishe playes and deuises that is to say in making houses of clay running at base driuing topps meating strawes trilling the bowle striking the drumme and other such like childishe trifles That the one delighted the other lothed that which the elder affirmed the younger denied and if it happened their tutours to commaund them to play together if the one did winne and the other loose they tare their haire scratched their faces whirled stones strucke with their fistes in such wise that as from their téeth and face they drue bloud and rent off their lockes so they séemed rather to kill eche other as enimies then to iest as brethren It was no small griefe vnto Seuerus when hée vnderstoode of the euil condition of his sonnes and that alwayes they were diuided amongest themselues who trauelled by al meanes possible to bring them to conformitie which he might neuer by any meanes bring to passe althoughe he requested either would they obey although hée commaunded for his sonnes were so wilfull that they ceased not to execute their owne wills notwithstanding their fathers gentle sute or his extréeme commaundement Seuerus also had a brother named Geta a person of great bolonesse and warrlike who in all warres followed Seuerus and if Seuerus had hautie thoughtes truly Geta his thoughtes were not humble for hée helde it for most certaine that vnto him Seuerus should leaue the Empire Besides that Geta was valiaunt and warrlike so was he also guilefull and diligent that is to say in seruing Seuerus contenting the Senate and pleasing the people The hatred and brabbling that passed betwixte Bassianus and Geta his cousins vsually hée reported it vnto all men in such wyse that Geta supposed to obteine by guile the Empire that Seuerus had gotten with armes Seuerus well vnderstoode howe Geta wente thus anglinge for the Empire and therein to take awaye all occasions in the fourth yeare of his Empire going against Albinius at that time in the citie of Millaine before hée passed the Alpes hee created his elder sonne Caesar and his younger Consul whereuppon a certaine Capitaine said vnto Seuerus it well séemeth Seuerus thou remembrest not the displeasures that Bassianus and Geta thy sonnes haue done thée either the seruice which thy brother Geta hath performed on thy behalfe To this Seuerus aunsweared it well appeareth that thou speakest by hearesaye rather then by anye

were trauersed diuers daungerous skirmishes and no lesse perilous incounters by the consente of Alexander and Artaxerxes they committed both their fortunes vnto the merite of a battell the Persians being ouerthrowen and the Romains remaining conquerours wherein if Artaxerxes had staide his hardinesse and commended the matter vnto policie placeing his power in his fortes and moste stronge places if he had suffered the Romaines by tracte of time to consume thēselues according to the custome of greate armies in straunge countries he might haue preserued both his countrie and honour Great riches were recouered in that battell and infinite the captiues whiche then were taken and as the Persians holde it for a moste greate iniurie to serue any straunge nation so Artaxerxes notwithstandinge hee was poore and ouercome gathered together greate summes of money and redéemed all captiues in suche wise that in Persia there remained no money either anie captiues came vnto Rome Alexander recouered in those warres the renoume of valiant magnanime and not couetous and he was iustely intituled valiaunt for his doughtinesse in fighting magnanime for his magnificent liberalitie and not couetous for the small share that he reserued vnto him selfe The affaires of Persia beeing dispatched Alexander returned vnto Rome entering the same with greate triumph and glorie for that conformable vnto the people and nation which they had subdued was the riches that was brought vnto the treasurie And after being mounted vpon the Capitol he saide vnto the Senate after this manner A shorte Oration made to the Senate Fathers Conscript for that I come tyred with so long a iourney and you no lesse wearied in receiuing mee it were no reason to make long speache muche lesse to inuent newe eloquence because there is nothing so eloquently spoken but if it bee saide out of time or place seemeth tedious vnto the audience He that shall speake or persuade others hath not only to consider what he saith but also to obserue time and respect the assemblie for the Sea at one time doth permitt her selfe to be spurned and at another time not to bee touched By that which ye haue hearde as that which this day ye haue seene ye may vnderstand howe daungerous this warre hath beene and howe copious a victorie we haue obteined for as ye vnderstand Fathers conscript there is no great haruest without great tillage The case is thus that the Persians had in their fauour foure score thousand footemen sixe thousand horssemen seuen hundreth Elephants two thousand yron cartes and two thousand slaues that were young men the one halfe to beare victuals and the other halfe to mend high wayes On that day in which both the one the other came foorth into the fielde to fight no man woulde haue thought but that the whole world had bene come together and also the deade risen out of their graues Of foote men we slewe twentie thousande and did captiuate twentie thousande of horse men two thousande were killed and three thousande did yealde of Elephantes we bringe three hundred and three hundred we haue slaine the cartes the slaues and prisoners they haue redeemed by the weight of money in such wise that we haue taken their countries ouercome their persons and brought away their goods I returne safe sound the armie inriched king Artaxerxes defeated the name of Rome magnified and the confederates satisfied and with all these trauels though we come wearied yet are we not fatigated because victorie is so sweete a thing that it leadeth al trauells past into obliuion Alexander hauing saide these wordes the Senate exclaimed with loude voices The immortal Gods saue thee Alexander the Gods make thy fame immortall since this day thou haste honoured Rome with euerlastinge fame Thou hast ouercome the Persians visited the Parthians subdued kinges inriched the armies and placed vs in great honour for which cause not vnworthily we intitle thee Pater Patriae father of our countrie Tribune of the people most highe Bishoppe first Consul only Emperour of the worlde These such other exclamations manifested by the Senate at the issue of the Capitol gate Alexander saide vnto all persons that there did attend him Fathers sonnes brothers and companions vnto the fathers of the Senate we haue giuen accompt of all that we haue done and will giue you a reason as apperteineth of al that we haue saide For this day the triumph paste sufficeth to morowe we wil visite the temples the nexte daye we will offer greate sacrifices the fourth day wee will giue libertie vnto prisoners the fifte day we will diuide rewardes amongst the poore widowes and orphans the sixte day we wil begin the Persike Circen playes for cōsidering the greatnesse of our victorie we wil first accomplishe with the Gods by whom we haue obteined the same and then with men which gaue vs their assistance When Alexander came from the Capitol hee mounted on horse backe to ride vnto his palace whome at that instante certeine auncient gentlemen of Rome did take beare vpon their shoulders the people gathered together exclaminge with lowde voyces in this manner Blessed is Mamea thy mother blessed art thou Alexander her sonne blessed is Rome that bred thee blessed is the armie that elected thee and blessed is the Senate that did consecrate thee for in thee is conteyned the felicitie of Octauius the bountie of Traiane Thou hast lead with thee into the warres our husbands our sonnes and our friendes whome thou bringest backe with thee all sounde all riche and likewise all contēted wherfore we say vnto thee that if this day we place thee vpon our shoulders for euer more we will lay vp thy memorie in our entrayles In these exclamations the people continued before and behinde for the space of fower houres extremly pestering all passage vntill the chariote triumphant with foure Elephants made the wayes open All that which he saide vnto the people he commaunded presently to be accomplished At the ende of these feastes he did institute a temple of Virgines who were named Maneaes in reuerence of his mother Manea At the same time he receiued newes that at Tanger a citie of Africa Furius Celsus had obteined victorie and Iunius Palinatus likewise in Armenia triumphed ouer the enimies as also Varius Macrinus in Illyria had made a conquest of certeine countries and the currers which brought the newes presented him also with thrée tables of Lawrell The feastes and triumphes being finished he woulde be informed of the officers of the common wealth that is to say how in his absence they had vsed the people and howe they had administred iustice and suche as had not done well he remoued and those that had done well he rewarded giuinge vnto some more honourable offices and to others heritages and money Manie times Alexander woulde say that they deserued as greate glorie that in time of warre did well gouerne the common wealth as they whiche in the warres obteined victorie CHAP. XII Of

commaundements of commissions of his successour woulde they obey aduouchinge it to bee blasphemie in the place of so vertuous a Prince to yelde obedience vnto a traytour so detestable FINIS Errours escaped Page 136 Page 143 Page 335 Page 366 Page 431 Faultes Chap. ii Faultes Chap. xi Faultes Chap. iiii Faultes Chap. xii Faultes Othe Faultes Manea Correction Chap. vii Correction Chap. x. Correction Chap. iii. Correction Chap. x. Correction Other Correction Mamea and so it must be read wheresoeuer it is found ¶ A generall Table conteyning the titles or arguments of euery Chapter throughout the bodie of this whole booke ⸫ The life of the Emperour Traiane Pag. 13. Chap. 1 OF foure renoumed cities that perished and were subuerted in Spaine 2 Of the countrie and birth of the Emperour Traiane 3 Howe Traiane passed out of Spaine being a young man to goe into Italie 4 Of the friendship and parentage that Traiane had with the Emperour Nerua 5 Howe Nerua was made Emperour and adopted Traiane his sonne 6 Of the lawes that Traiane made to the profite of the common wealth 7 Of the noble and notable vertues that were in Traiane 8 Of the proude and stately buyldinges which Traiane made 9 Of some vices whereof Traiane was noted 10 Of the first warres that Traiane had against the Datians 11 Howe Traiane triumphed ouer the Datians and refourmed his common wealth 12 Of the second warres that Traiane had against the Datians 13 Of the great buyldings that Traiane made in the kingdome of Datia 14 Of the second entring of Rome by the Emperour Traiane and the notable thinges which he did in the same 15 What Traiane did in Sicyl in Africa and in Spaine 16 Howe Traiane did passe out of Spaine into Asia and the manner that he vsed in the warres 17 Of the honourable titles that the Romanes sent vnto Traiane and of the earthquake in Antioche 18 Howe Traiane subdued Assyria and what he did in Babylon 19 Howe Traiane after great trauell to passe into the Indiaes was constreined to retyre 20 Howe Traiane comming from Asia to triumph in Rome was staide by death in Sicyl The life of the Emperour Adrian Pag. 71. Chap. 1 Of the lineage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred nourished 2 Of some euil inclinations that possessed had power in Adrian 3 Of the friendes and enimies which Adrian had 4 Of the loue that the Emperour Traiane had vnto Adrian 5 Of the care and solicitude of Adrian to obteine the Empire 6 Howe at Traianes death Adrian was declared Emperour 7 Of his entraunce into Rome 8 Of the good conditions and inclinations of Adrian 9 Of the manner which Adrian vsed with the men of warre 10 Of the actes that Adrian did in Englande Fraunce and Spaine 11 Howe Adrian did passe into Asia and of the things that chaunced there 12 Of the great liberalitie that Adrian vsed and some cruelties that he committed 13 Of the lawes that Adrian made 14 Of some of his gratious and pythie sentences 15 Of the thinges that he did worthie praise and some other thinges worthie dispraise 16 Whome Adrian did adopt to succeede him in his Empire 17 Howe and where the Emperour Adrian died The life of the Emperour Antoninus Pius Pag. 118. Chap. 1 Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius 2 Of the inclination proportion and naturall fashion of his bodie 3 Of the woorkes of pietie which he did and the cause why hee was intituled Antoninus Pius 4 Of the woordes that Adrian saide vnto the Senate when he did adopt Antoninus Pius 5 Of the offices that Antoninus helde before he was Emperour 6 Howe he held all Prouinces in peace not by armes but with letters 7 How he did visite the officers of his cōmon wealth and the reformation of his house 8 Of certeine notable buyldings erected by Antoninus 9 Of certeine lawes which the Emperour Antoninus Pius made 10 Of the prodigious and monsterous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus Pius 11 Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes 12 Of the succession of the Empire and the occasion of his death The life of the Emperour Commodus Pag. 149. Chap. 1 Of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus 2 Of the honourable titles giuen to the Emperour Commodus in time of his youth 3 Howe Commodus did inherite the Empire of his father Marcus Aurelius and of a certeine speach which he vsed vnto the Senate 4 Of a certeine famous and notable speache vsed by one of his Tutours for that he would leaue the warre of Panonia vnfinished 5 Howe Commodus left the warres of Panonia to go to Rome 6 Howe Commodus was cruell and of the cruelties which he vsed 7 Of a certeine conspiracie attempted against Commodus and of Perennius his moste fauoured Counsellour 8 Of a conspiracie that Perennius wrought against the Emperour Commodus 9 Of the tyrant Maternus and of his treason against Commodus 10 Of the inexpected death of Cleander a fauoured and moste priuate seruaunt vnto Commodus 11 The reporte of a fyer which descended from Heauen and burned in Rome the Temple of Peace 12 Of many cruelties and not a fewe phantasticall practises of Commodus 13 A discourse of the prouinces that rebelled in his reigne and the prodigies of his death 14 Howe Commodus was slaine by the deuise and counsell of his Courtesane Martia The life of the Emperour Pertinax Pag. 240. Chap. 1 Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Pertinax 2 Of the variable fortune that Pertinax did passe before he obteined the Empire 3 VVhat was saide and what he aunswered vnto those persons that offered him the Empire 4 A certeine notable speache vttered by Letus vnto the armie in the fauour of Pertinax 5 Of an Oration made by Pertinax in the Senate immediately after he was elected Emperour 6 Of manie thinges whiche he did after he was Emperour 7 Of many thinges whiche he did ordeine refourme in the common wealth 8 Of certeine vices wherewith he was infected and of the prodigies of his death 9 Of the occasion that the Pretorians tooke to murther him 10 Of a notable speache that the Emperour Pertinax vsed when his souldiours came to kill him The life of the Emperour Iulianus Pag. 246. Chap. 1 Of the life lineage and countrie of the Emperour Iulianus 2 Howe the Empire of Rome was set to sale and also soulde by proclamation 3 Of the greate and mortall hatred whiche the Romaines did beare vnto Iulianus for buying the Empire 4 Of twoe Romaine Capteines named Seuerus and Pessenius that rebelled against the Emperour Iulianus 5 Howe by the commaundemente of the Senate the Emperour Iulianus was slaine The life of the Emperour Seuerus Pag. 266. Chap. 1 Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus 2 Of the offices which Seuerus helde in the Empire before he was Emperour 3 Howe the