was one Martial a Centurion of the Emperor's Life-guard that always attended him his Brother had been put to death by the Emperor upon an Information against him without any Conviction The Emperor had also revil'd Martial himself calling him Cowardly Rascal and Macrinus his Tool So Macrinus sent for him being in great Affliction as well for his Brother's Death as his own ill Treatment not doubting but he would be fit for his Purpose because he was under great Obligations to him and had always been very ready to serve him He imparted to him his Design of taking off Antonine and desir'd him to give the Blow as soon as a favourable Opportunity should offer it self Which was no sooner propos'd than undertaken by Martial Macrinus's Promises his Brother's Murder and his own Resentments all conspiring to push him forward to the Attempt It fell out that soon after this Assassination was projected the Emperor being then at Carrae a City of Mesopotamia resolv'd to visit the Temple of the Moon which is held in extraordinary esteem by the Natives This Temple stands at a great distance from the City so the Emperor only took a few Horsemen with him that he might not harrass his whole Army designing to return as soon as he had sacrific'd to the Deity of the Place In the middle of the Journey he had a Motion to Stool and order'd all his Retinue to withdraw and went aside to ease Nature attended only by one Servant all the rest retiring and standing at a great distance out of respect Martial that warily observ'd all his Motions seeing him alone ran to him in great haste as if he had beckon'd to him to hear or see somwhat and watching his Opportunity when he stood with his Back to him and was busied in pulling down his Breeches stabb'd him with a Ponyard which he had secretly about him of which he instantly died Thus Antonine receiv'd the fatal Stroke when he was the least aware of it none of his Guards being near enough to defend him Martial as soon as the Business was done leap'd upon his Horse and attempted to make his Escape but the German Horsemen whom the Emperor held in great Esteem and had appointed to be of his Guard being the nearest his Person and the first that discover'd what was done instantly pursu'd him and levelling at him with their Javelins struck him dead The rest of the Soldiers as soon as they heard of it ran together in great Disorder nor was any Man's Sorrow more remarkable upon this Occasion than Macrinus's no Man seem'd more affected or shed more Tears over the dead Body The Disaster extremely afflicted the whole Army they consider'd in him the Loss of a Companion and Fellow-Soldier more than that of a Prince But no Suspicion was entertain'd of Macrinus no Man doubting but Martial was led by a private Resentment to the Commission of this Murder and so every Man return'd to his own Tent. Macrinus burnt the Body and depositing the Ashes in an Urn sent them to his Mother in Antioch to be buried These Misfortunes of the Children were laid so to Heart by the Mother that she offer'd Violence to her self but whether voluntarily or by compulsion remains uncertain Thus fell Antonine and his Mother Julia after they had liv'd as is before related He reign'd Six Years after the Death of his Father and Brother After the Death of Antonine the Army was in great irresolution and uncertainty what to do So there was an Inter-regnum for two Days which were spent in Debates and Deliberations about a Successor They had receiv'd Advice that Artabanus was advancing against them with a mighty Force being resolv'd to pursue his Revenge and to sacrifice them to the Ghosts of his Subjects whom they had treacherously murder'd in a Time of Peace and Festival Solemnity The Choice fell upon Audentius who was reckon'd upon as a Man of great Courage and Experience in the Art of War but he excus'd himself alledging his Incapacity for so important a Charge by reason of his great Age. Then they chose Macrinus This Election was very much influenc'd by the Tribunes in favour of Macrinus who were after his Death look'd upon as his Complices and privy to his Designs against Antonine as will appear in the Sequel of this History So Macrinus succeeded the Army in this Election being determin'd rather by the Necessity of the Conjuncture than by any Esteem or Confidence they had in the Person elected While these Things were in agitation Artabanus approach'd with a great Army compos'd of a great Force of Cavalry and Archers and Cuirassiers that rode upon Camels and fought with long Spears Whereupon Macrinus call'd his Soldiers together and harangu'd them to the following Effect MACRINUS his SPEECH to the ARMY I Don't wonder Gentlemen that you are all so deeply afflicted with the Loss of such a Prince or rather of a Fellow-Soldier But it is the Part of a Wise Man to bear all the Traverses of Fortune with Steadiness and Moderation His Memory shall for ever be preserv'd in our Breasts and handed down to Posterity with the Immortal Glory of his Great and Noble Atchievements nor shall we ever forget his singular Love of you which he testified in so unusual a Condescension even by stooping to the common Duties of the meanest Soldier But now that we have paid the Honours due to his Memory and discharg'd all Debts of that Nature it concerns us to consult our own Welfare and Security Artabanus is advanc'd against us with the whole Power of the East and seems to have just Grounds of Quarrel against us We were the Aggressors we infring'd the Treaty and made War upon him in the profoundest Tranquillity And now Gentlemen the whole Roman Empire relies upon your Courage and Fidelity The Point in dispute is not about Rivers or Boundaries Our whole Fortunes lie at Stake A mighty Potentate comes against us to execute Revenge for the Murther of his Children and Relations who he says were unjustly massacred and in manifest violation of the most solemn Leagues My Advice is that you stand to your Arms and be careful to keep your Ranks according to the Roman Discipline The Barbarians are an unform'd irregular Multitude their very Numbers will be an hindrance to them whilst your Order and Military Skill will not only preserve you from Danger but give you great Advantages over the Enemy Take Heart therefore and behave your selves as Romans ought to do and you have done hitherto If you vanquish you will not only reap the Glory which this Action deserves but this will be the most effectual Method of convincing Rome and the World that your former Victory over them was not gain'd by Treachery and Surprize but by true Valour and Force of Arms. After he had spoke the Soldiers seeing the Necessity of the present Juncture of Affairs rang'd themselves in Battel-array and stood to their Arms. As soon as the Sun rose
us For all our Advices from Rome agree that even those Soldiers that advanc'd Julian to the Empire are not firm to his Interests in regard he has not perform'd the Conditions of his Advancement I desire you therefore to declare your selves upon this Subject No sooner had he spoke these Words but the whole Army and People that were there assembled in the height of their Zeal proclaim'd him Emperor and immediately put Purple Robes upon him with the other Ornaments of Majesty after which they conducted him to the Temples of Antioch and from thence to his House carrying Fire before him all the way with great formality His House they did not look upon any longer as Private but adorn'd it on the Out-side with all the Marks and Characters of Imperial Majesty Niger was much delighted with the Zeal and Affection which the People both at Rome and Antioch testified for him and began to think himself secure of the Empire After the Report thereof was spread abroad all the Nations bordering upon Europe came in to tender him their Homage and Service and Embassies were sent from all Sides to Antioch as to a Just and Lawful Emperor The Nations also that inhabit beyond Tygris and Euphrates dispatch'd their Envoys to him to make the Congratulations usual upon the Occasion and to promise him their Succour and Assistance in case his Affairs should require it He rewarded them all very splendidly and thank'd them for the Zeal and Affection which they had discover'd for him affirming That as his Affairs then stood he had no need of their Succour forasmuch as the Empire was assur'd to him and added withall That he would take especial care that his Reign should not be defil'd with Blood This Security made him grow remiss and negligent insomuch that he entertain'd the People of Antioch with Shows and Publick Games and resign'd himself wholly to Ease and Pleasure not marching directly to Rome as it would have behov'd him in the first place to have done nor certifying the Illyrian Army of what had been transacted here whereas it ought to have been his principal Effort to gain so considerable a Party over to his Interest But he suppos'd that they would not dissent to what the Roman People and the Eastern Army had so unanimously approv'd Whilst he was lift up in this manner by groundless Hopes and false Estimates of Things the Fame of what had hapned reach'd Pannonia and Illyria and the Armies that lay encamp'd upon the Ister and the Rhine to restrain the Inroads of the Barbarians and to cover the Frontiers of the Roman Empire Severus was at this time General of the Pannonian Forces for they were all under one Commander He was by Nation an African a hot and violent Spirit that had been inur'd to Toils and Hardships and was indefatigable in Labour quick too at inventing and ready in executing what he had contriv'd Upon Intelligence that the Empire lay expos'd to any Person that had Courage to seize upon it he contemn'd the Pretenders Julian and Niger the one because he had neither Power nor Strength to effect any thing the other because he did not make use of what he had His Confidence was also heighten'd by Dreams Oracles and Predictions which are then the most believ'd when they are made good by the Event Most of these he has recorded in the History of his Life and preserv'd in Statuary Representations The last being that which made the strongest Impressions upon him and gave him the greatest Assurances ought not to be pass'd over in silence When the News came to Severus that Pertinax was elected Emperor after he had sacrific'd and taken the Oaths of Allegiance to him he return'd home and fell asleep and was presented with this Visionary Scene He saw a stately Horse adorn'd with Imperial Accoutrements bearing Pertinax on his Back through the City along the Sacred Way but when he came to the Entrance of the Forum where the Assemblies of the People were held whilst the Government continued under the form of a Popular State he began to flounce and caper till he had thrown him to the Ground and immediately making his Submission to Severus receiv'd him upon his Back and carried him very quietly into the middle of the Forum where he stood aloft and commanded the Eyes and Admiration of the Multitude This Vision is yet to be seen in the very same place represented in a large Statue of Brass Severus having his Hope 's rais'd to this Pitch and flattering himself into an Opinion that the Gods had made choice of him to govern the Empire resolv'd to try the Inclinations of the Soldiers and to this end call'd to him certain Tribunes and other Officers of principal Note with these he enter'd into Discourses concerning the present State of the Roman Empire and represented to them how the Sovereign Power was prostituted to all Persons that durst usurp it and that none appeared worthy or able to execute so high and important a Trust He would also take occasion to inveigh against the Praetorian Soldiers for the having violated their Military Oath by spilling the Blood of their Emperour adding That so heinous a Crime shou'd be aton'd for and that Pertinax's Death ought to be reveng'd He knew very well they honour'd his Memory in regard of the many Victories they had obtain'd under his Command against the Germans in the Reign of Marcus and when he was Governour of Illyria he had given many eminent Proofs of his Bravery and Conduct in several Engagements and had practis'd an uniform Gentleness Humanity and Justice towards his Subjects in the whole Tenor of his Publick Actions in that Station for which Reasons they had a peculiar Veneration for his Memory and resented very highly that inhuman Butchery committed upon his Person In short he made so good use of this Occasion that he easily led and manag'd them as he pleas'd pretending still to move on a far different Spring from what he did that the Empire was what he neither thought of â—or affected and that the utmost of his Ambition was to revenge the Death of so great a Prince These artificial Colours easily impos'd on the People for the Natives of this Country as they are Tall of Stature of a strong Make of Body and fit for Service and Action so they are generally very Stupid and slow of Apprehension which is the reason that they very rarely suspect any thing of Collusion or Intrigue in any thing you either say or do So when Severus declar'd that his Intention was only to do Justice on the Murtherers of Pertinax they all so unanimously espous'd his Interest that they instantly proclaim'd him Emperor and put the Sovereign Power into his Hands Having thus discover'd the Sentiments of the Pannonian Soldiers he immediately made his Court to the Neighbouring Nations and to the Praefects of the Northern Provinces whom he easily allur'd by fair Promises for noâ—Man in the World
when the Roman Army and People should be reduc'd to Extremity for want of Sustenance so seasonable and surprizing a Relief might win and endear them to him for ever He built also a famous Place of Exercise and maintain'd a Publick Bath at his own Charge thinking by these Popular Arts to please and cajole the Multitude But they hated him upon an old Score for his insatiable Covetousness and now they look'd upon him as the Author of their late Calamities which inflam'd them to that degree that they openly in the Theatre vented their Spleen against him in Satyrical Touches and Reflections upon his Behaviour till at last the whole Mobb went to the Emperor's Palace with full Cry against him nor could any thing appease their Clamours besides the delivering up this Minister to them While the People were in this Ferment and the Court was fill'd with Noise and Tumult the Emperor lay in the inmost Rooms dissolv'd in Pleasure and as Matters were manag'd by Cleander utterly ignorant of the present Posture of Things When upon a sudden when no Man expected it the Horse-Guards issued out upon them by Cleander's Order and bore down and trampled under Foot the defenceless Multitude for being without Horses and unarm'd they were unable to sustain the Impression but betook themselves immediately to their Heels and fled back to the City Great Numbers were slain upon the Spot not only such as fell by the Hands of the Soldiers or were trod to death by the Horses but a great many that were press'd to Death by the Crowd in the Hurry of the Action They pursu'd them to the Gates of the City without Resistance and made a very great Slaughter Those that were left in the City being advertiz'd of the Misfortune of their Friends planted themselves upon the Tops of their Houses and threw down Stones and Tiles upon the Horse-men and in a Moment the Scales were turn'd for here was no engaging near at Hand but the whole Multitude securely and advantageously posted made a Battery upon them from above till at last being cruelly gall'd and wounded they were forc'd to quit their Ground and retire with Precipitation A great many were struck down dead with Stones that were plaid upon them continually with great Vigour which afterwards rolling down into the Streets extremely annoy'd the Horses and frequently occasion'd the Overthrowing both of Horse and Man There were also some Foot-Soldiers quarter'd in the Town that out of a private Pique to the Horse-men fell in with and reinforc'd the Mobb While all things were thus embroil'd by Civil Fury Commodus was kept in ignorance of all that hapned nor durst any Man acquaint him for fear of Cleander till Fadilla his eldest Sister who had free Access to him upon all Occasions ran to him in great haste with her Hair dishervell'd flung her self upon the Ground and making indeed a very deplorable Figure spoke to him in these Words deliver'd with all the Concern and Passion imaginable FADILLA'S SPEECH MY Lord while you enjoy your Ease and know nothing how Affairs are manag'd your Sacred Person is brought into imminent Danger We that are of your Blood and Family are in danger of being extirpated and ruin'd with the whole Roman People in general and a great Part of the Army What we could not expect from Barbarians we suffer from your own Ministers Those to whom you have been the greatest Friend are become your most inveterate Enemies Cleander endeavours to exasperate the Army and Populace against you by the first of which he is belov'd and supported as much as he is hated and oppos'd by the other They are both in Arms combating with great Fury and Outrage and filling the Streets of Rome with Blood and Slaughter Whoever is vanquish'd 't is we and the Community must suffer unless you instantly execute Justice on this wicked Minister who has been the Cause of this Publick Disorder and if he be not provented will certainly occasion some notable Disaster to the Imperial Family After she had spoke she rent her Clothes and this Boldness of the Princess inspir'd others with Courage to come in and confirm what she had said Which gave the Emperor such terrible Apprehensions that he thought the Storm did not menace him from afar but was that Moment breaking over his Head So immediately he summons Cleander to appear before him who knew nothing certainly of this Discovery beyond Conjecture and Suspicion and after he was come commanded him instantly to be seiz'd and his Head struck off was afterwards fix'd on a Spear and expos'd to publick View to the unspeakable Satisfaction of the People Thus this Storm was blown over the Civil Fury was asswag'd and all Sides laid down their Arms. The Soldiers saw their Leader slain and began to apprehend the Emperor's Displeasure for they perceiv'd now that he had been abus'd in the whole Course of this Affair and that Cleander had acted without his Authority or Commission The Clamors of the People were appeas'd they sat down contentedly under their Miseries after they had been reveng'd upon the Author of them But Cleander's Calamity involv'd all his Dependents and his two Sons they were all butcher'd without Mercy and their dead Bodies dragg'd about the City after which Indignities they were thrown into the Common Sewers This was the Period of Cleander's Greatness and of all those that were supported by his Interest And I am apt to believe Nature design'd him for a remarkable Instance of the Mutability of our Condition and has shew'd in him how Men may be lift up from the most abject State to the very utmost Pitches of Humane Greatness and how easily they may be tumbled down again from this Elevation by a single Turn or Double of a capricious and inconstant Fortune And now Commodus tho' he was violently afrai of an Insurrection of the People yet he was prevail'd upon by his Friends to return to the City where he was receiv'd by a great Appearance of People and loud Acclamations of Joy and then lodg'd himself in the Imperial Palace But this Series of Dangers he had encounter'd had this bad Effect that it created in him a Jealousie and Distrust of all Men which betray'd him to a merciless Disposition of Mind and made him inclinable to hearken to all manner of Calumnies and Accusations tho never so false He would not let any Man have the least Share in his Favour that had the Reputation of Wisdom or Vertue As for himself he departed from every Thing that was Honourable and Good suffer'd his Animal Nature to get the Ascendent over his Reason which was sensibly impair'd by his immoderate indulging Sensual Pleasure In conclusion he banish'd all Men his Court that had the Fame of being moderately Learned or Vertuous under the notion of being Plotters and Conspirators suffer'd himself to be led and manag'd by a Set of Rascals and Buffoons gave himself over to Chariot-driving and Combating with Wild
enjoy Repose and Quiet which they had been so long depriv'd of by a Tyrannical Administration and after long Deliberation about a Person none was found so fit a Man or so worthy of the Empire as Pertinax This Pertinax was by Nation an Italian much renown'd for his successful Atchievements in Time of War and his prudent Ministry in Time of Peace He had signaliz'd himself in his Expeditions against the Germans and the Eastern Nations over whom he had obtain'd great Victories and he was the only Person surviving of those grave and wise Men whom Marcus honour'd with his Friendship and Confidence The Reason why he was spar'd is uncertain Whether Commodus rever'd him for the Dignity and Gravity of his Deportment or he had no Regards of Interest to move him to cut him off For this also is part of his Panegyrick that though he had run through the greatest Charges and Employments of any yet he had made the smallest Improvement of his own Fortune To him Laetus and Electus with some others of the Conspirators came at Midnight when all Men were asleep and finding his Gates lock'd awaken'd the Porter who as soon as he descry'd the Soldiers and Laetus Captain of the Guard among them in great consternation he runs back to acquaint his Master Pertinax commanded him to conduct them to him without any greater Emotion than the saying That now what he had so long expected was come to pass And he maintain'd all the Time such a Sedateness and Constancy of Mind that he did not so much as move himself from the Bed or alter the Air of his Face And when Laetus and Electus made their Approach tho' he concluded they came to kill him yet he never chang'd Colour but spoke to them with a becoming Boldness and Gravity of Countenance I 've expected says he a long time that this Period should be put to my Days being the only Person remaining of the Friends of the deceas'd Emperor and I must confess I have wonder'd why Commodus has suspended the Blow so long And as for you Gentlemen what do you stay of Why don't you execute your Warrant and dispatch me out of this wretched State of Anxiety and Misery Laetus reply'd Pray Sir forbear speaking Things so unworthy your Character and the former Course of your Life We come not hither to be your Executioners but to compleat the Preservation and Deliverance of us your self and the Roman People from Tyranny and Slavery The Tyrant is slain and has receiv'd the Chastisement due to his Extravagance and Folly We have prevented him and he has suffer'd that from our Hands which he design'd we should undergo by his And now we come to offer the Empire to you the Leading Man in the Senate as well in regard of your Authority and Age as of the constant Moderation and Sobriety of your Manners We know also that none maintains so great a Share as you in the Vogue and Affections of the People and for that Reason assure our selves that by this Action of ours we shall not only provide for our own Safety but merit Esteem and Applause from every true Roman Pertinax answer'd Pray Gentlemen don't banter an old Man at this rate I am not sunk into such Meanness and Abjectness of Spirit as that you should thus abuse me before you kill me Nay then said Electus if you won't take our Word pray read this Book you know and have been accustom'd to the Emperor's Hand and you 'll perceive how great a Danger we have escap'd and that what we say now is not to ensnare but to inform you of the true State of Things And now Pertinax began to overcome his Incredulity and to believe what they said and understanding the whole Matter told them he was intirely at their Disposal and would pursue such Measures as they should direct And they thought it the most advisable in the first place to go to the Army and sound the Inclinations of the Soldiers tho' Laetus assur'd them he could influence them to do what he pleas'd in regard he was their Commander and upon that Score might pretend to a more than ordinary Authority over them So they all went immediately to the Army And now the Night was far spent and the Day for the Celebration of the Festival approach'd But all Things were adjusted before Morning and certain Men were order'd to spread abroad the Report that Commodus was dead and that Pertinax was to succeed him and was gone to the Army in order to his Election After this News was publickly known the People were visibly transported into strange Emotions and Ecstasies A great many ran about the Streets and handed to their Friends the welcome Tydings especially to those of the most considerable Fortune or Quality for they had the greatest Reason to rejoyce upon this Occasion as being deliver'd from the most imminent Danger Then they ran to the Temples and Altars to render Thanks to the Immortal Gods for this signal Deliverance some crying aloud The Gladiator others The Tyrant is dead And some there were that broke out into far more bitter Reproaches all which during the late Tyranny were stifled none daring even to whisper those Things which now they proclaim'd with great freedom and liberty After this great Numbers of the People went in a tumultuary manner to the Army for fear the Soldiers should oppose the Promotion of Pertinax for he was a Man famous for Temper and Moderation and therefore they fansied might not be very agreeable to the Soldiers who had minister'd to the Lusts of Tyrants and under their Shelter and Countenance had committed the greatest Violences and Rapines The purpose therefore of their coming was to force them to a Compliance in case they should endeavour any Opposition After they were assembled in the Camp Laetus and Electus introduc'd Pertinax and presented him to them and having call'd the Soldiers together Laetus made this Harangue LAETUS his SPEECH I Am to acquaint you Gentlemen That Commodus your Emperor is dead of an Apoplexy occasion'd by his own Intemperance for he despis'd the wholesom and sober Advices which we gave him and living on at the Rate which you very well know was at last perfectly choak'd up with excessive Eating This is Gentlemen the Account of his Death Indeed every Man has not the same Fate the Causes of Death are various almost as the Casualties of Life and tho' we must all die yet we tread different Paths to that Common End In his Room we and the Roman People propose to you a Man that has the Recommendations of Age Sobriety great Military Experience As to the last of these I dare appeal to the Testimony of all those that have been any considerable Time in the Army and assure my self they can't but speak honourably of his Conduct in all his Expeditions Nor have the rest of you less admir'd his Prudence and Moderation in the whole Course of his Ministry at home
But when Augustus became Emperor he disarm'd them and put an End to their Toils and committed the Guard and Defence of the Empire to Mercenary Forces which he maintain'd in the nature of a Standing Army to be a Wall and Barrier to his Dominions which were also naturally fortify'd by great Rivers deep Ditches craggy Mountains vast and unpassable Desarts For these Reasons the Approach of Severus with so formidable an Army being a thing so unusual put the People into a terrible Confusion for they were unable to oppose or give him any Diversion and therefore they went out to meet him with Branches of Laurel and receiv'd him with open Gates he stay'd no longer with them than till he had sacrific'd and harangu'd the People and then proceeded on his March to Rome Julian was in great Consternation upon the Intelligence which he receiv'd of the Progress of Severus and of the Strength and Number of the Illyrian Army he knew that he was universally hated by the People and could repose no great Confidence in the Soldiers with whom he had apparently broken his Promise however he amassed what Money he could part whereof was his own part he borrow'd of his Friends besides what he had got by pillaging Temples and other Publick Places and distributed it among the Soldiers to retrieve his Credit and Interest with them but they though they receiv'd very considerable Summs thought themselves under no Obligations to him looking upon them not as free Gifts but as payments of just Debts Those that favour'd Julian advised him to draw out his Army and block up the Streights of the Alps. These Alps are vastly high Mountains the like to which are none in these Parts bounding Italy like a Wall Nature having added to those other Bounties which she has heaped upon this Country that of an impregnable Fortification extending from the Northern to the Southern Seas but Julian durst not leave the City but entreated the Soldiers to betake themselves to their Arms and Military Exercises whilst he provided Ammunition and put all things in readiness to give Severus Battle in the City The Elephants which were kept for State and Parade he endeavoured to manage and make fit for Service supposing that the Illyrian Men and Horses wou'd be terrify'd by the monstrous Size and uncouth Shape of these Beasts the like to which they had never seen and all the City was busied in making Arms and Engines of War While Julian's Soldiers were thus imployed in making themselves ready for the Battle the News came that Severus was upon them for he had detach'd a great part of his Army with orders to convey themselves into the City secretly in small unobserv'd Parties which they did at Night entring by different Ways and concealing their Arms under the Habit of Country Peasants and now the Enemy was in the Heart of the City before Julian was aware or knew any thing of the Matter Whereupon the People fearing the Power of Severus immediately fell in with that Faction and declar'd for him vilifying and reproaching Niger and Julian the first for his Lazyness and the latter for his Cowardice and extolling in the mean time Severus to the Skies who was then advancing towards the City Julian at this time being irresolute and uncertain what Counsels to pursue call'd a Senate and sent Letters to Severus wherein he made Overtures of a Treaty to him and offered him a Partnership of the Empire The Senate readily concurred with him in this Proposal but when they saw him reduc'd to this height of Despair made a general Defection to Severus and within two or three Days after when the Report of his Arrival was confirmed disowned his Authority and were conven'd by Order of the Consuls to whom the Administration of Affairs is committed while the Supreme Power is under Contest Being thus assembled they enter'd into Debate about the Measures to be taken in this Conjuncture Julian still remaining in the Imperial Palace bewailing the present Catastrophe of his Fortune and requesting that he might renounce his Claim to the Empire and render up his Power and Authority to Severus But when the Senate understood that he was in this Consternation and that his Guards had all deserted him for fear of Severus they determin'd to put him to Death and to declare Severus sole Emperor and instantly order'd an Embassy to Severus compos'd of the Principal Magistrates and such as were of the greatest Consideration in the Senate to make a Tender of the Imperial Honours to him and at the same time commission'd a certain Tribune to dispatch Julian that miserable Wretch that by his Money had purchas'd his Ruin He found him forsaken and abandon'd by all Men and executed his Warrant upon him his Deportment in this last Scene arguing the same Meanness of Spirit which he had discovered in the whole Course of his former Life After Severus was inform'd of the Proceedings of the Senate and of the Death of Julian he began to have greater Matters in view and made use of this Stratagem to get all those into his Power that were concern'd in the Murder of Pertinax He sent Letters to the Tribunes and other Principal Officers importing that they should perswade the Praetorian Soldiers to a Submission to all his Commands and promis'd them great Rewards provided they should effect what he had given them in Charge Afterwards he put out an Edict commanding the Soldiers to leave their Arms in the Camp and to march out attir'd as they were wont to be when they attended the Emperor at a Sacrifice or Festival and to take the Oaths of Fidelity to him as if they were to have been continu'd in the Post they were then in They easily believ'd all this and were prevail'd upon by their Officers to leave their Arms according to the Tenor of the Edict and march'd out with Branches of Laurel in the Habits which they appear in only at Publick Solemnities After they were arriv'd at Severus's Camp he commanded them to assemble in the Field as if he had design'd only some Civilities to them upon the Interview They obey'd and as soon as they saw him ascend the Bench of State they all broke out into Acclamations of Joy and that very Moment the Signal being given were all made Prisoners For Severus had order'd his Soldiers as soon as their Eyes were fix'd upon him and their Minds were in suspence and amuzement to surround them in Martial manner but not to wound or strike any of them but only to keep them hemm'd in and mount their Spears and present their Javelins to them that being few and without Arms they might not attempt any Opposition for fear of being wounded When they were thus encompass'd in a loud Voice and full of Wrath and Anger he spoke to them as follows SEVERUS his SPEECH GEntlemen I suppose you find by Experience that we are superior to you as well in Conduct as in the Strength and Number of
Command and in truth with the whole Conduct of the War he march'd also to Cyzicum with his whole Army compos'd of his own Levies and the Soldiers which Niger had sent him When they were come together after divers sharp Engagements Severus obtain'd an intire Victory Niger's Army being routed and put to Flight By this Success the Illyrians were flush'd and took Courage but the Hopes of Niger's Army began sensibly to sink and abate But some say Niger was betray'd by Aemilian from the beginning and assign two Reasons for this his Treachery The first That Niger was malign'd by Aemilian upon his Promotion to the Empire in regard he had been his Successor in the Government of Syria who was now to be his Lord and Sovereign Others say he was mov'd to it by the Prayers of his Children beseeching him by Letters to have regard to their Safety These Children were arrested in Rome and then held in Custody by Severus which was a very useful Project and a piece of Policy that had been practis'd by Commodus who us'd always to retain the Children of such Men as were sent to govern in distant Provinces as Hostages for their Father's Loyalty Severus knew this very well and as soon as he was proclaim'd Emperor while Julian was yet alive he sent certain Persons to steal his Children out of Rome to prevent their falling into other Hands and as soon as he enter'd Rome seiz'd upon all the Children of such Men as had Commands or were in Authority in the East or in Asia and at that time detain'd them in Custody hoping that the Ties of Nature would cancel those of Loyalty and that their Tenderness to their Issue would make them Traitors to their Prince or in case they should persist in the Interests they had espous'd he might have it in his Power to punish the Obstinacy of the Fathers by his Cruelty to their Children After the Defeat at Cyzicum Niger's Soldiers fled in great haste some to the Mountains of Armenia others through Asia and Galatia to the Mountain Taurus to get within the Fortifications Severus's Army march'd through the Territory of Cyzicum into Bithynia and the adjacent Countries After the Report of Severus's Victory was spread abroad presently in these Parts Feuds and intestine Divisions broke out in divers Cities not so much out of Hatred or Affection to either of the Parties engag'd in the War as out of a Spirit of Envy Animosity and Contention then very powerful amongst them This was the old Distemper of the Greeks who were always torn into jarring Factions and still levelling at that Head that had arriv'd to any uncommon Eminency amongst them and by this Means they utterly unhing'd and destroy'd the Graecian Government And being thus inveterate and imbitter'd one against the other they first lost their Liberty to the Macedonians and afterwards became Vassals to the Romans This Disease of Strife and Envy hath already seiz'd some of our most flourishing Cities After the Battel of Cyzicum the Nicomedians revolted to Severus and sent an Embassie to him to let him know that they were ready to receive his Soldiers and afford him what Assistance they could The Niceans out of an implacable Enmity to the Nicomedians adher'd stiffly to the contrary Side and receiv'd Niger's Soldiers as well such as fled thither as those that were sent for the Defence of Bithynia And soon after these Soldiers sallying out of both these Cities as if they had issu'd out of Regular Camps began a fierce Engagement which was maintain'd on both Sides with great Vigour and Obstinacy but at last Severus had manifestly the better and such Soldiers of Niger as surviv'd the Battel fled with great precipitation to the Streights of the Taurus contenting themselves to be upon the Defensive and to guard the Fortification And Niger leaving such a Garrison as he thought sufficient for the defence of the Place went to Antioch to raise Recruits of Men and Supplies of Money Severus's army marching through Bithynia and Galatia came into Cappadocia and sitting down before the Fortification began to assail it Here he struggl'd with great Difficulties the Way being narrow and rugged and besides he was incommoded in his Ascent by Stones which were thrown down upon him and by the gallant Resistance which the Defendents made from the Ramparts for upon that Advantage of Ground a few Men might easily repulse the Attacks of whole Battalions the Way being narrow and the one Side defended by a high Mountain and the other full of Water continually rolling from a vast Precipice Besides Niger had block'd up all the Avenues and obstructed the Approaches of his Army on all Sides This was the Posture of Affairs in Cappadocia when the Cities of Tyre and Laodicea the first in Phoenicia the latter in Syria fell desperately at variance with the People of Antioch and the Berythians being urg'd forward by an inveterate Rancour and Envy insomuch that the two former upon a settled Aversion to the latter understanding that Niger was fled defac'd all the Marks of Publick Honour that had been done him and declar'd for Severus Niger who was then in Antioch being advertis'd of this Procedure tho' at other Times a Man of incomparable Temper and Mildness was highly exasperated and sent immediately his Moorish Darters with a Band of Archers to the two Cities before-mention'd with peremptory Orders to put all to the Sword and to sack and burn the Towns These Moors are naturally cruel and inur'd by frequent Use to despise the Encounters of Death and Danger and now falling upon the Laodiceans before they apprehended any such Matter made an entire Destruction of the City and People and marching from thence to Tyre burnt and plunder'd the Town and made a great Slaughter of the Inhabitants While these Things were doing in Syria and Niger was raising an Army Severus had invested and was making his Attacks upon the Fortification his Soldiers being very much disheartned and despairing of Success in regard the Fortification was not only very Strong and almost impregnable of it self but was also defended by a high Precipice The Besieged in the mean time thinking themselves secure and out of danger When suddenly in the Night there fell a prodigious Quantity of Rain and Snow for the Winters in Cappadocia are very severe especially upon the Taurus the Consequence whereof was a sudden Torrent of Water which broke out with great Rage and Fury which was encreas'd by the Fortifications that check'd its Course and made it still more violent and outragious till at last Nature grew too powerful for Art and the Cement being dissolv'd the Walls were unable any longer to resist the Shocks of the raging Element which easily forc'd it self a Passage making a wide Breach for the Enemy to enter at which was the more easily done because the Fortification was Irregular and thrown together without Care or Contrivance As soon as the Besieg'd saw this fearing lest they should
order'd to direct their March through the Enemies Country where Tygris and Euphrates meet and are swallow'd up in vast Pools and Lakes which gives occasion to an Opinion obtaining in the World That 't is unknown where those Rivers discharge themselves The Third and strongest of the Three he undertook to lead in Person against the Enemy and took the middle Road. By this means he thought to amuse the Enemy and surprize them before they were aware of or had provided against any such Attempt He thought too the Persians receiving so many powerful Diversions from different Quarters would be weaker and more irregular than if they advanc'd in an entire Body For the Barbarians have no Stipendiary Force or Standing Army that is kept in constant Pay and practis'd in the Art of War but all their Men and if the Occasion 's more extraordinary the Women too upon the King 's signifying his Pleasure to them repair to a general Rendezvous After the War they return home receive no Pay but content themselves with a Share in the Spoil of the Countries they invade They use Bows and Horses not only in Time of War as the Romans do but are bred up to it from their Childhood and live by Hunting and very seldom ungird their Quivers or alight from their Horses but make constant use of them either against their Enemies or the Wild Beasts of the Country Alexander's Measures seeming now so wisely laid as to promise almost certain Success Fortune interpos'd to baffle Humane Policies The Army that was order'd to march through Armenia pass'd with great difficulty the steep and rocky Mountains of the Country tho' they were favour'd by the Season of the Year and made an Inroad into Media where they burnt divers Villages and laid waste the Country whereof Artaxerxes being advertis'd advanc'd against them with all his Strength but could not drive them out of the Country which being rough and mountainous afforded firm Footing and easie Passage to the Infantry but gave great Inconveniences to the Barbarians Horse About this time an Express arriv'd at Artaxerxes's Camp with Advice that another Roman Army had invaded Parthia towards the East This gave him great Jealousie that as soon as they had ravag'd Parthia which they might easily do they would make an Impression into Persia Therefore leaving a Force sufficient as he thought to cover Media he hastned with the gross of his Army to the Eastward The Romans finding no Opposition and no Enemy appearing were not so careful in their March as they might have been they suppos'd that Alexander had fallen upon the Barbarians with his Army which was the strongest and most numerous of the Three and therefore thought there was no Occasion for hasty Marches and look'd upon themselves as out of danger not doubting but all the Armies were advancing to the general Rendezvous where by Concert they were to re unite and bring all the Booty and Prisoners they had taken in this Expedition But Alexander disappointed them and neither came in Person as 't was concerted nor sent the Army 'T is uncertain whether his own natural Cowardice made him so unwilling to venture his Life in Defence of the Empire or he was over-rul'd in this Affair by Mammaea The Timorousness of a Woman and the Fondness of a Mother might influence her to do it and 't is well known she always endeavour'd to repress all generous Impulses in her Son and still perswaded him rather to let others hazard themselves for him than to expose his Sacred Person to the Chance of War However it was it occasion'd the total Overthrow of the Roman Army that had enter'd the Enemies Country For Artaxerxes with the whole Power of his Kingdom fell upon them by Surprize and surrounded them and galling them with Arrows from all Quarters obtain'd an entire Victory For he over-power'd them with his Numbers it was all they could do to cover the naked Parts of their Bodies against the Enemies Arrows So they contented themselves to be upon the defensive and rather to preserve themselves than annoy the Enemy But after they had defended themselves for a short space by joining their Targets together being attack'd on all Sides like a beleaguer'd Town at last after a gallant Resistance they were all cut to Pieces This was a fatal Stroke to the Romans perhaps scarce parallell'd in Story a gallant Army not inferior to any of the most celebrated in former Ages for Fidelity and Courage cut off entirely and as it were at one Blow But the fortunate Event of so considerable an Enterprize animated the Barbarians to undertake greater The News of this Overthrow was brought to the Emperor when he was very ill either through some Disease of Mind or Indisposition of Body occasion'd by the Climate to which he was not accustom'd It gave him great Mortification and exasperated the whole Army against him insomuch that they declar'd openly that his Personal Miscarriage in not coming up with his Army pursuant to the Determination of the Council had drawn this Calamity upon them But Alexander finding he could not any longer struggle with his Malady which encreas'd upon him in that sultry Climate and the greatest part of his Army being sick especially the Illyrians who dropp'd away in great Numbers in regard they feed plentifully and are us'd to a colder foggy Air resolv'd to march back to Antioch and Orders were sent to the Army in Media to return But the greatest part perish'd in re-passing the Mountains or were frozen to death by the Rigour of the Climate Alexander led back the Remnant of his Army to Antioch for he also had lost great Numbers of his Men. The Success of this Expedition bred great Discontents among the Soldiers and sunk the Emperor's Reputation extremely in the Opinion of the World He was baffled in all his Designs and return'd home ingloriously after he had lost the best part of three Armies by Cold Sickness or the Sword After he arriv'd at Antioch the change of Air soon restor'd his Health and the cool Springs frequent in this City refresh'd him after the parching Heats of Mesopotamia Here he gave a magnificent Largess to the Soldiers to buoy up their Spirits under their present Affliction For this he esteem'd the only Specifick to re-inflame their dying Zeal and Affection for his Interests After this he apply'd himself to the making new Levies as if he intended a second Expedition against the Persians in case they should give him any Disturbance But News came that Artaxerxes had disbanded his Army and commanded the Soldiers to repair to their respective Homes And tho' in the Issue of the War the Persians seem'd to have the Advantage yet their Forces were very much diminish'd by several Rencounters in Parthia and of those Soldiers that surviv'd many were wounded and others extremely harrass'd and broken For the Romans behav'd themselves very bravely and made often great Slaughters of the Enemy and had vanquish'd
he had reign'd Fourteen Years is declar'd in the former Book Maximine succeeded him whereupon great Changes ensu'd He exercis'd great Severities towards his Subjects endeavouring by this Means to render himself Formidable So the Government began to be influenc'd by new Principles and from Mild and Gentle became Cruel and Tyrannical He knew he was generally distasteful to the People in regard he was the first that from the obscurest Condition had ascended to the highest of Dignities He was Barbarous as well in Manners as Extraction His Nature was Cruel agreeing with the Thracian Genius So he pursu'd violent Measures thinking thereby most effectually to establish his Empire He was afraid that the Senate and People of Rome would despise him that they would look back upon the Meanness of his Birth and not consider him in his present Exaltation It was commonly known and talk'd of that he had been a Shepherd in Thrace and being a tall brawny Youth was listed a Soldier to serve among his Country-men and from thence was conducted by the Hand of Fortune to the Roman Empire He remov'd all Alexander's Ministers and Counsellors that were appointed by the Senate Some he sent to Rome others he displac'd for Malversation in their Offices His Design herein was that there might be no Person in the Army of Nobler Extraction than himself that being as it were a strong Fortress and having none about him to whom he ow'd the least Deference he might give himself over to a Tyrannical Administration He turn'd out all the Servants that belong'd to the Court in the late Reign and put most of them to death pretending Apprehensions of a Conspiracy form'd against him by them for which he had little Ground beside their Sorrow for the Death of the late Emperor About this time an Accident hapned which serv'd to encrease his Rage and made him more forward to drive Things to Extremities A Discovery was made of a Combination form'd against him by the whole Senate together with divers Centurions Magnus a Nobleman of Rome of Consular Dignity was accus'd for endeavouring to raise a Rebellion and practising with the Soldiers to make him Emperor The Plot was laid thus Maximine had built a Bridge over which he design'd to pass his Army against the Germans For he had a mind to signalize the Beginning of his Reign by some memorable Action well understanding that his podigious Stature and Strength of Body together with his Military Skill and Experience had chiefly recommended him to the Soldiers in the late Election and therefore he was willing to establish his Reputation and confirm the Opinion the Army had conceiv'd of him by some Exploit answerable to it and by the same it would be apparent to the World that Alexander's Fear and Slackness in pushing on the War was not blam'd without just Reason He was very diligent in exercising his Soldiers appear'd often in his Army and exhorted his Men with great vehemence to behave themselves valiantly But when the Bridge was finish'd and he design'd to pass over his Army and advance against the Germans Information was made that Magnus had corrupted some of his Soldiers not many in number but chosen Men especially those who were appointed to guard the Bridge which he had perswaded them to break down as soon as Maximine was got to the other Side and so he should have been betray'd into the Hands of his Enemies all possibility of re-passing being cut off by reason of the Depth and Broadness of the River there being no Transport Vessels on the other Side This is the Substaâ—â—â— of what was discover'd Whether it was true or was only a Forgery of Maximine's is uncertain I can't say any thing positively because it was never inquir'd into for none of the Conspirators were brought to Trial or allow'd to make their Defence but all that were suspected were instantly apprehended and executed without Mercy Soon after the Osrhoene Archers revolted The Death of Alexander touch'd them sensibly so meeting accidentally with Quartinus a Consular Man who had been deeply in the late Emperor's Interests and was discarded by Maximine they constrain'd him to Head them which he did with great reluctancy Then they carry'd Fire before him in State and put upon him the Imperial Robes Ornaments which afterwards prov'd fatal to him and advanc'd him to the Empire which was an Honour he was very far from aspiring to But soon after he was assassinated in his Tent when he was asleep by an intimate Acquaintance and one whom he esteem'd his Friend His Name was Macedon he was Commander in Chief of the Osrhoeni and 't was by his Instigation that they revolted There was no Ground of Distaste nor so much as a Misunderstanding between them to stir him up to the commission of this Barbarity on one whom he had compell'd to take upon him the Empire but he thought the Merit of this Action would entitle him to a great Share of the Emperor's Favour So he cut off Quartinus his Head and presented it to Maximine Maximine approv'd the Treachery better than he lik'd the Traitor hereby he had one Enemy less than he had before But he order'd Macedon to be put to death amidst his high Expectances for so signal a Piece of Service as an Arch-Rebel to his Prince and a Traitor to his Friend whom by his pernicious Counsel he had misled These Things exasperated Maximine and serv'd to encrease the standing Cruelty of his Nature His Aspect was very terrible and his Body so vastly big that none of the Greek or Barbarous Champions were comparable to him His Affairs being thus order'd he boldly led all his Forces over the Bridge and carry'd the War into Germany His Army was very numerous he had with him almost the whole Power of the Roman Empire together with great Numbers of Moorish Darters and Osrhoene and Armenian Archers whereof the former are subject to the Romans the latter are their Confederates He had also a great Force of Parthians consisting of Deserters and such as fought meerly for Pay together with Prisoners of War that were then in the Roman Service This Army was rais'd by Alexander and was considerably reinforc'd and disciplin'd by Maximine The Darters and Archers are the most serviceable against the Germans they fall upon them by surprize and retreat again with wonderful expedition Maximine met with no Opposition for a long time The Germans were fled So he ravag'd the Country without controul tho' it was then the middle of Harvest The Villages he burnt and gave them up to the Plunder of his Army All their Cities and Buildings are soon consum'd with Fire for they very rarely use Brick or Stone but their Houses are a sort of Sheds made only of Boards fitted and fastned together Thus Maximine for a long time spoil'd and wasted the Country giving all the Cattel that was taken among his Soldiers But still no Enemy appear'd for the Germans had retir'd out of the
plain open Country into the Fastnesses of the Woods and Fens to the end they might decoy the Romans thither where they might fall upon them among thick Woods which would shelter them from the Enemies Darts and Arrows and render them unserviceable and where too the Deepness of the Bogs would be dangerous to them in regard they were unacquainted with the Country whereas they had the Advantage of knowing which of them were passable and which not and run into them every Day up to the Knees The Germans also are excellent Swimmers having no Baths beside the common Rivers Notwithstanding these Disadvantages the Romans gave them Battel The Emperor with extraordinary Gallantry made the Onset in Person for the Germans had retreated into a deep Morass whither the Romans were afraid to pursue them so Maximine set Spurs to his Horse and plung'd in up to the Belly making havock of all that pretended to oppose him This Bravery of the General had its due influence on the Soldiers they were asham'd to betray their Emperor that hazarded himself so generously for them So they all readily follow'd him The Number of the Slain was very great on both Sides but the Romans had the better the German Army being almost entirely cut off Maximine acquitted himself very valiantly insomuch that the whole Morass fill'd up with dead Bodies and discolour'd all with Blood seem'd to afford a just Representation of an Engagement at Sea Maximine took care not only to send Accounts of this Engagement and his own Behaviour in it to the Roman Senate and People but caus'd it to be represented in a large Pageant and hung up before the Senate-house to the end the Peoples Eyes as well as their Ears might be duly affected with the Greatness of his Exploits This Pageant was afterwards taken down by an Order of the Senate which abolish'd all his Publick Honours He had several other Rencounters with the Germans wherein his Personal Deportment always deserv'd great Commendations but the Summer being far advanc'd he return'd into Pannonia with many Prisoners and a rich Booty He Winter'd in Sirmium which is the greatest City in those Parts and prepar'd there for a second Expedition in the Spring and he was often heard to threaten and he seem'd to be in earnest that he would utterly destroy and subdue all the Barbarous Nations of Germany as far as the Ocean Thus much for his Military Vertues And he had certainly been a Glorious Prince had not his Cruelty at home cast a Blemish upon his Atchievements abroad For what signified the Slaughter of Enemies abroad if greater was made of the Subjects at home What did all the Booty and Prisoners of War avail if the Subject was despoil'd of all he had by Injury and Oppression Common Informers were not only licens'd but countenanc'd and encourag'd by the Government to circumvent honest Men and if Occasion requir'd to rake into secret Crimes that had been committed in former Reigns and had lain undiscover'd till these Times And so partial were the Courts of Justice that if any Man was impeach'd by a Court-Sycophant he was certainly found guilty and his Estates declar'd forfeit by which Means it often hapned that he that reliev'd his Neighbour to day was constrain'd himself to ask Relief the Day following Thus were the Subjects squeez'd under a griping Tyrant that still acted under a Pretext of supplying himself with Money to distribute among the Soldiers His Ears were open to all sorts of Calumnies against whomsoever vented without any respect to Age or Quality Several Men of eminent Condition that were intrusted with the Government of Provinces and the Command of Armies after Consular and Triumphal Honours were suddenly arrested upon slight Accusations and by Order of the Emperor thrust into a Coach and constrain'd to travel Night and Day without any Attendants from the East or West or perhaps from the South into Pannonia where the Emperor at that time held his Residence Upon their arrival they were disgrac'd and degraded and then either put to death or banish'd While these Storms fell only upon single Persons and bounded themselves within private Families the Publick did not seem much concern'd The Fall of Great Men is not only little regarded by the Multitude but some Persons that envy the Happiness of those that are above them by a particular Malignity of Nature rejoice at their Misfortunes Thus the Tyrant reduc'd several Noble Families from great Wealth to extreme Poverty And yet all this was too little for him his Appetite was still craving so he began his Rapines upon the Publick and seiz'd at once all the Treasure of the City to whatsoever Uses design'd whether it was to be distributed among the People or was to furnish the Publick Granaries or was to defray the Expence of Games and Shews exhibited at the Cities Charge Then he commanded all the Ornaments of Churches and the other Publick Buildings all the Statues of Gods and Images of Heroes and in short whatever might be converted into Coin to be melted down These Things gave general Discontent and afforded Matter of an universal Grief The City without any War or Foreign Hostility appear'd like a Town besieg'd insomuch that there arose some generous Patriots who resolv'd to stem these Oppressions and to guard the Temples and rather to be sacrific'd upon the Altars than behold the Ruine and Desolation of their Country The ill Humour of the People both in the City and Provinces began to appear more manifestly than ever The Soldiers themselves could not approve what he did being often reproach'd by their Friends as the Instruments of all his illegal Proceedings So he drew as well he might a popular Odium upon himself But no Man dar'd as yet to do any thing they only pray'd to and invok'd the injur'd Gods until he had reign'd Three Years compleatly at which time the Africans upon a slight Occasion such are the Slips of Tyrants took up Arms and rebell'd The Occasion was this The Procurator of Carthage was very rigid and cruel in his Government Prosecutions were carry'd very violently against the Subject and he extorted great Sums of Money from them and all this was done to the end he might merit Maximine's Approbation who always made choice of such Tools as he knew were the fittest for his own Purposes The Officers of the Exchequer tho' they were really honest Men which very rarely happens considering the insatiate Avarice of the Emperor follow'd the Example of the other Ministers tho' much against their will well knowing the great Hazard they were to run if they did not This Procurator among his other Oppressions proceeded with great violence against certain young Men of rich and noble Families and obtain'd Judgment to be pronounc'd against them intending to squeeze great Sums of Money from them and to deprive them of the Estates and Inheritances of their Ancestors These things highly exasperated the young Nobles however they promis'd to pay
the Money only they desir'd him to respite the Payment for Three Days In which time they form'd an Association and drew into it all those who had been oppress'd by the Government already or had reason to apprehend the like Usage and prevail'd with the Boors and Peasants to come down in the Night with Clubs and Axes which they did accordingly entring the City before the Morning and hiding their Arms under their Clothes which were such as they could be furnish'd with upon so sudden an Insurrection Their Number was very great for Africk is very populous and great Numbers of Peasants are employ'd in cultivating the Land In the Morning the young Nobles commanded these Boors to follow them in a Body as part of the Mob but charg'd them strictly not to discover their Arms till they were assaulted by the Soldiers or People for what they were about to do Then they went to the Procurator and made as if they would have treated with him about the Payment of the Money afore-mention'd but then they suddenly fell upon him and kill'd him before he was aware of any such Design at which the Soldiers began to draw their Swords as if they would have reveng'd his Death But they were soon dispers'd by the Boors that came on very resolutely with their Clubs and Axes After this Fact so openly and so audaciously committed the Youths grew desperate and having succeeded so well in their first Enterprize thought the only way to be safe was to attempt greater and therefore resolv'd to make the Governor of the Province embarque in the Adventure and then perswaded the People to a general Revolt which had been long wish'd for by all Men by reason of the general Hatred of Maximine tho' their Fears had hinder'd the putting of it in practice So they led the Mob at Noon-day to the Proconsul's House his Name was Gordian he was Eighty Years of age when he was made Proconsul and had run through great Employments and superintended divers Provinces for which Reasons they thought he would not dislike the Proposal they were about to make to him The Empire would come now very seasonably to crown his other Dignities They thought also the Senate and People of Rome would be satisfied with their Choice in regard he was not only sprung from Illustious Ancestors but had advanc'd as it were gradually through inferior Trusts and Honours to this Supreme Dignity This Business hapned at a Time when Gordian liv'd at his private House in the enjoyment of a Retreat from the Fatigues and Ceremonies of his Publick Character The Youths who headed the Mob as soon as they came to the House seiz'd the Porters and rush'd violently into the House with their Swords drawn where they found Gordian reposing himself upon a Couch and instantly put Robes of Purple upon him and declar'd him Emperor with the usual Solemnity So surprizing an Accident infinitely amaz'd him he presently thought 't was some Design against his Life So he flung himself from his Couch upon the Ground and besought them to spare an old Man who had done them no Injury and advis'd them to be cautious how they violated their Faith and Loyalty to their Prince And when they importun'd him and held up their naked Swords so great was his present Fright and so utterly ignorant was he of the whole Matter that he could not apprehend what they meant nor divine the Reasons of the Tumult So one of the Youths that was sprung from a nobler Stock than the rest and was the most powerful Orator among them commanded Silence and laying his Hand upon his Sword deliver'd himself to him in the following Words SIR You must take your Choice of two Dangers the one present and certain the other future and contingent We leave it to your Discretion whether you 'll be sav'd with us and lay hold on this favourable Conjuncture to which we have all trusted or be instantly murder'd by those Hands that make you this Tender of Safety If you chuse the former you have many and rational Grounds of Incouragement Maximine is universally hated and by taking him off you 'll rescue us from the cruel Administration of a Barbarous Tyrant and will encrease the Lustre of your former Actions by a considerable Accession of Glory the just Reward of so generous an Undertaking You will receive also eminent Acknowledgments for the same and immortal Honours from the Roman Senate and People But if you refuse to concur with us we will cut you in Pieces this Day and sacrifice our selves if need be in the Quarrel We have done that which we can't imagine will ever be pardon'd We have murder'd the Procurator that Tool of Villainy and he has receiv'd that Reward from our Hands which his Cruelty has long cry'd aloud for In short Sir if you 'll engage in this Enterprize and run the Risque that it may expose us to we will set you upon the Imperial Throne and so far shall this Action of ours be from being condemn'd that the whole World shall applaud it In the middle of this Harangue the Mob grew impatient and with the Concurrence of the Citizens who were all drawn hither by the News of this Days Action proclaim'd Gordian Emperor He excus'd himself at first and pretended his great Age had render'd him unable to execute so important a Trust yet he accepted it with all his Heart for he was naturally very desirous of Glory and of the two Dangers was willing to chuse that which only threatned him at a distance Nay he was content even to die so he might fall with the Scepter in his Hands and signalize the last Scenes of his Life Then follow'd a formidable Rising all Africk was in Arms and Maximine's Images were demolish'd and Gordian's set up in all the Towns and Cities They also honour'd him with the Surname of Africanus the Southern Lybians being call'd Afri or Africani by the Romans While these Things were doing Gordian was at Thystrum where he staid two or three Days after he had taken upon him the Habit and Character of Emperor Then he march'd to Carthage a rich and populous City where he might in all Points maintain a Port and Grandeur equal to the Emperors in Rome This City for Largeness Wealth and Number of Inhabitants disputes the Precedence with Alexandria of Aegypt and is inferior only to Rome There follow'd him all the Pageantry of a Crown The Soldiers and tallest of the Citizens went after him in imitation of the Emperor's Life-guard Rods of Laurel also and Fire Marks of Honour distinguishing Princes from Private Persons were born before him in State insomuch that Carthage for a short time represented the Imperial City of Rome Gordian sent Letters to the Chief Men in Rome and to the most eminent of the Senators the greatest part whereof were engag'd to him by Friendships and Alliances He publish'd also Declarations directed to the Senate and People of Rome setting forth
that fled such only escaped as got into Carthage and put themselves into a Concealment in that large and populous City but their Number was but small As for the rest while every Man press'd forward and endeavour'd to enter the Town they stopp'd and hinder'd one another and were all cut in Pieces by the Soldiers that pursu'd them before the Faces of their Wives and Children who express'd all the Degrees of Grief that such a Tragedy might justly occasion Others report that as soon as Gordian who by reason of his Age staid at home receiv'd an Account of the unfortunate Issue of this Engagement and that Capellian had enter'd Carthage considering his Condition as desperate he withdrew into his Bed-chamber alone as if he would lie down upon his Couch and there strangled himself in his Girdle This was the End of Gordian who after a long Course of prosperous Fortune dy'd in an imaginary Empire Capellian immediately after his Entrance into the City put to death all the Men of principal Consideration that surviv'd the Battel and seiz'd into his Hands all the Treasure both Publick and Private not sparing even the Temples He dealt also in the like manner with the other Cities that had demolish'd Maximine's Statues putting to death the leading Men and banishing the rest giving up all the Country to the Plunder and Ravage of his Soldiers This he did under pretext of punishing them for their Defection from Maximine tho' in truth his Design was to ingratiate with the Soldiers that if any thing should happen to Maximine he might have at his beck a Force sufficient to establish him upon his Throne This was the State of Affairs in Africk Upon the News of Gordian's Death the Senate and People of Rome were in great Consternation He was the Man they chiefly relied upon and they knew very well that Maximine would never forgive them He always hated them in his Heart and now he had just Reason to proceed against them as his profess'd Enemies So a Consult was resolv'd upon wherein they were to debate about the Measures to be taken in this hazardous Conjuncture The Result was That there should be a general Insurrection that two Emperors should be chosen in whose Hands the Supreme Power should be lodg'd that their Constitution might not a second time be endanger'd by Tyranny The Assembly was not held in the Senate-House but in the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus to which the Romans pay singular Veneration as if nothing was to be done but in the Presence and with the Approbation and Concurrence of the God Then some of the eldest and most Noble of the Senators were made choice of to be propos'd to the Assembly after which they proceeded to vote and the Majority being found for Maximus and Balbinus they were declar'd Emperors Maximus had commanded several Armies had been Praefect of the City and acquitted himself very honourably in that Trust by which means he establish'd the Character of a Good Man and a Prudent Governor Albinus was of a Noble Family and had been twice Consul He had govern'd divers Provinces without Blame or Censure and in his Conversation was an open plain-dealing Man After their Election they were proclaim'd and invested in the Imperial Dignity by Decree of the Senate While these Things were transacting in the Capitol the People came to understand what was in agitation either by some Rumours that were spread abroad or by some Intimation which they receiv'd from Gordian's Party So they went up in a tumultuary manner with Stones and Clubs to the Gates and possess'd all the Avenues to the Capitol with a numerous Mob and endeavour'd to oppose the Proceedings of the Senate They excepted chiefly against Maximus as being too severe and rigid for them He had been very active in executing the Laws upon bad Men so they were apprehensive of his Government and declar'd their Dislike of him aloud with their Clamours mixing Menaces to kill them both as soon as they came out They demanded a Prince of the Race of Gordian that the Empire might remain in that Name and Line Maximus and Balbinus with a Guard compos'd of the City-Troops and some Gentlemen of Rome attempted to force their Way out of the Capitol but were beat back with Stones and Clubs till at last somebody found a Way to impose upon the People There was a young Lad Son to Gordian's Daughter who was call'd after his Grandfather Him they order'd to be brought to them and sent certain Persons to fetch him who found him at home and at play and setting him upon their Shoulders carried him through the middle of the Mob shewing him to the People as they went along and crying aloud Behold Gordian 's Grandson and calling him often by his Name The People all the time express'd their Affections to him in Shouts of Joy and as a farther Token thereof scatter'd Flowers upon him as he pass'd through them The Senate declar'd him Caesar in regard the Tenderness of his Age made him unfit to have the Regency in his Hands and the Mob being appeas'd the Emperors Elect were suffer'd to go quietly to their Palace About this time an Accident hapned of very fatal Consequence to the City of Rome occasion'd by the Rashness of two Senators The Senate met to consider of the State of the Empire and some of Maximine's Soldiers that by reason of their Age were excus'd from any further Service in the Wars and were left in the Camp being desirous to inform themselves of the Matters then under Debate came without their Arms to the Door of the Senate and mixing with the other Crowd staid there to listen and two or three at the most that were more curious than the rest press'd in till they were got beyond the Altar of Victory Whereupon Gallicanus a Carthaginian who had lately been Consul and was then Senator of Rome together with Moecenas who had been Praetor making up to them stabb'd them to the Heart with Ponyards which they carried privately about them before they could pluck their Hands from under their Cloaks so sudden was the Assault and so little were they aware of it For about that time all the Senators wore Swords and had worn them ever since the late Tumult either publickly or privately for the Defence of themselves against any Attempt which might be made upon them by their Enemies The Soldiers that were stabb'd fell down dead before the Altar and the rest were so terrified with the Misfortune that befel their Friends and so apprehensive of the Rage of the People especially at a time when they were without their Arms that they betook themselves instantly to their Heels Gallicanus rush'd out of the Senate into the middle of the Crowd and held up his Hand and Sword all cover'd with Blood so as all the People might see it and then exhorted them to pursue and put to the Sword all Maximine ' s Creatures and Adherents as Enemies and
Houses were shut and all the People without excepting even Women and Children mounted the Towers and Bastions to fight against the Common Enemy There was no Age of Life so utterly useless and disabled for Service but on this Occasion was actually in Arms for the Defence of their Country The Suburbs and whatever Houses were without the Gates of the City were demolish'd by Maximine and the Timber converted into Battering Engines with which he essay'd to make a Breach in the Wall at which his Army might enter being resolv'd to plunder the City and lay it level with the Ground and to leave the Country around waste and desolate He thought it would not be for his Glory and Reputation to proceed on his March to Rome before the destroy'd from its Foundations the first City in Italy that oppos'd his Arms So he rode through his Army with his Son whom he had made Caesar mixing Entreaties with Promises to raise and excite the Courage of his Soldiers But the Aquileians tumbled Stones down upon them and fill'd Barrels with long Handles fix'd to them with Pitch Sulphur and other Bituminous Matter and when the Enemy approach'd the Walls showr'd down upon them Streams of scalding Pitch which with the other combustible Matter lighting upon the naked Parts of the Soldiers Bodies spread it self all over them insomuch that they instantly fell to stripping themselves Off went their Coats of Mail and all their other Armour and happy he that could get rid of them for the Iron was glowing hot and the Leather parch'd and shrivel'd with the Fire There you might see their Arms lying on the Ground like Spoils taken from them not by Force but Stratagem The best part of the Army had their Eyes burnt out and their Hands Faces and all the other naked Parts of their Bodies miserably scorch'd Moreover they cover'd Firebrands with Pitch and Rozin and sharpned them at the Ends like Arrows which being lighted and darted into the Engines so as to stick fast easily set them on fire At the first Fortune held the Scales pretty equal but after a while Maximine's Soldiers meeting with warmer Entertainment than they expected grew weary and disheartned Those who they thought could not withstand the first Shocks of their Assault made a stout and resolute Resistance On the other Hand the Aquileians receiv'd new Accessions of Courage and Vigour and by frequent Rencounters arriv'd to a tolerable Skill and Address in Military Matters and made so slight of the Enemy that they could not forbear drolling upon them not sparing even Maximine or his Son but reproaching and reviling them as they rid near the Walls and treating them with the last Degree of Scorn and Contempt This highly incens'd Maximine so being unable to pour out his Revenge upon his Enemy he was resolv'd his own Officers should feel the weight of his Hand So he put most of them to death pretending they had not push'd on the Siege so vigorously as they ought to have done which Cruelty only render'd him more odious to the Army and more contemptible to the Enemy It hapned that the Aquileians had store of all Sorts of Provisions great Care being taken that the Town should be well furnish'd with all Things requisite for the Support of Man or Beast Whereas the Army was forc'd to struggle with a Dearth and Scarcity of all Things for they had destroy'd all the Fruit-trees and ravag'd the Country around They had some Tents indeed pitch'd in haste in which part of the Army lay the rest lay scatter'd in the open Fields expos'd to all the Inclemencies of the Weather No Provision or Forage could be brought into the Camp for the Romans had block'd up all the Ways into Italy and to strengthen the Blockade had built there Walls and Gates Consular Men and Persons of the greatest Consideration and Worth in all Italy were appointed to guard the Coasts and Harbours and to hinder the passing of any Vessels by Water to the end that Maximine might have no Intelligence of what was done in Rome All the High-ways and Roads were diligently watch'd and no Man suffer'd to pass by which means it fell out that the Army which pretended to be the Besieger was it self besieg'd For neither could they make themselves Masters of the Town nor if they rais'd the Siege could they go on to Rome for want of Transport-Vessels and Carriages all which were seiz'd upon before and secur'd There seem'd also some Ground and Colour for the Rumour that was handed about viz That the Romans were in Arms that all Italy and Illyria as also the Southern and Eastern Barbarians were engag'd with them that they had concerted to raise a Army out of a general Hatred and Disaffection to Maximine insomuch that Maximine's Soldiers began now to despair They labour'd under a Want of all Things even of Water those poor Supplies which they had being out of the River that ran by the Town the Water whereof was tainted by the Blood and dead Bodies which were thrown into it by the Aquileians for want of a Convenience for burying them within the Walls together with such as died in the Army by Sword Sickness or Famine of all which this River was the common Receptacle The Army being thus reduc'd to the utmost Degree of Despair and Wretchedness when Maximine was reposing himself in his Pavilion there being a Cessation of Arms for that Day and most of the Soldiers were in their Tents or retir'd to their respective Posts the Soldiers that belong'd to the Camp in Rome under Mount Alba and had their Wives and Children there fell upon a sudden Resolve which was to assassinate the Emperor that so they might deliver themselves from the Fatigues of a long and almost endless Siege and that they might not contribute to the Desolation of Italy to gratifie a Tyrant so universally hated and abhorr'd So taking Courage they march'd at High-Noon to the Emperor's Pavilion having made his Guards Accomplices in the Design and after they had torn his Pourtraict out of the Ensigns they assaulted and slew both him and his Son as he was coming out of his Tent to speak to them The Captain of the Life-guard was sacrific'd at the same time together with all the Favourites of the Tyrant Their Carcases were thrown out to be spurn'd at and trampled upon and afterwards to be torn in Pieces by Dogs and Birds of Prey Only the Heads of the two Emperors were cut off and sent to Rome Thus fell Maximine and his Son receiving the just Rewards of a Cruel and Tyrannical Administration As soon as the Emperor's Assassination was made publick the Army was in great Astonishment The News was not equally agreeable to all The Thracians and Pannonians who had been the chief Instruments of his Advancement were the most deeply afflicted but in regard the Loss could not be repair'd they were resolv'd to be as easie under it as they could and to partake at
naturally desirous of Revolutions and Changes This was a long Reign and they grew weary of it they could not expect to get any thing under the present Government in regard the Emperor was not so sollicitous to procure their Favour as he was in the first Years of his Reign and they might reasonably hope for greater Honours and Advantages under a Prince that was advanc'd to the Throne solely by their Interest having no Grounds himself to expect such Promotion These Motives put together made them resolve the Death of Alexander and the Advancement of Maximine who was their Fellow-Soldier and Companion and was the fittest Man that could be pitch'd upon to prosecute the War against the Germans by reason of his Personal Valour and Military Experience In pursuance of these Resolutions they assembled in the Field arm'd and Maximine at the Head of them making as if he would only direct them in their ordinary Exercises Some say he was privy to their Designs and others affirm the contrary However that was they proclaim'd him Emperor and invested him with the Imperial Robes He at first declin'd and rejected the Purple but when the Soldiers drew their Swords and threatned to kill him if he did not comply he chose rather to run a future Hazard than expose himself to a present Danger and so accepted the Honour and declar'd that he had had frequent Intimations by Dreams and Oracles That he should one Day sit at the Helm of the Empire He protested also to them That his Compliance in this Particular was much against his Will but he could not resist their Importunity And advis'd them seeing they would needs have it so instantly to stand to their Arms and establish what they had done by surprizing Alexander before the News of what had hapned had reach'd his Ears and putting his Guards and Soldiers in Consternation by which Means they might either be perswaded to join with them in pushing on the Revolution or they might easily be forc'd to a Submission being unprovided of all Things for making a Resistance Maximine was very careful to cherish that Affection which they had express'd for him by doubling their Allowance of Corn by promising large Donatives and granting a general Pardon of all Crimes of what Nature soever After which he led on his Men to the Emperor's Pavilion which was not far off This sudden and surprizing Turn of Affairs extremely alarm'd Alexander insomuch that he abandon'd his Tent and flew out like a Mad-man crying and trembling and upbraiding Maximine with Perfidiousness and Ingratitude He ran out into a long Enumeration of the Favours he had conferr'd upon him and reprov'd his Adherents for rashly engaging in traiterous Designs contrary to the Duty of their Allegiance Nevertheless he promis'd to grant all their Demands and redress all their Grievances provided they would lay down their Arms. The Soldiers that were about him encourag'd him in this Exigency by their chearful Acclamations and promis'd to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes But as soon as that Night was over and the News came in the Morning that Maximine was advancing against them and a Cloud of Dust was descry'd afar off and a Noise as it were of a great Multitude was heard Alexander came out again into the Field and call'd his Soldiers together and exhorted them to be firm to him to protect their Prince who had been brought up among them and had govern'd for Fourteen Years with so much Gentleness and Equity that not one Subject had so much as Cause of Complaint given him So all Men seeming mov'd with Compassion he bid them stand to their Arms and put themselves in posture to receive the Enemy Which they promis'd to do but fell away by degrees and deserted him Some there were that imputed this Defection to the Practices of the Captain of the Praetorian Band and of some of the Emperor's Confidents and would have impeach'd them of that Fact Others laid the Blame on his Mother whose covetous Temper and extreme Parsimony in giving out Munificences to the Soldiers had render'd her Son odious They staid for some time debating the Point to and fro till Maximine came in sight and bid them abandon a wretched Woman and that easie dis-spirited Boy who could truckle so tamely to a Mothers Tyranny and join themselves to a Man of Courage and Conduct who had been their Companion in Arms and was an old and experienc'd Captain Hereupon they all revolted from Alexander and unanimously proclaim'd Maximine Emperor Alexander in great Fear and Distraction made a shift to return to his Tent tho' with great difficulty and embracing his Mother he bewail'd his Misfortune and as some say accus'd her as the procuring Cause of it expecting every Moment the Messenger of Death Maximine as soon as he was proclaim'd Emperor by the Army order'd a Tribune and certain Centurions to dispatch Alexander and his Mother and all such as pretended to make any Opposition They forthwith executed their Warrant rushing into the Emperor's Tent and killing him and his Mother and all those that seem'd to be honour'd and esteem'd by him except such as fled and absconded for the present all which were afterwards apprehended by Maximine and put to death This was the End of Alexander and his Mother after he had reign'd Fourteen Years without spilling any Blood or giving the Subject any just Ground of Complaint He abhorr'd all cruel and tyrannical Methods and never put any Man to death without Legal Process He was naturally inclin'd to Gentleness and Beneficence and the whole Tenor of his Government had been without Reproach or Blemish had not the sordid Avarice of his Mother thrown some Scandal upon it AN EPITOME OF THE Seventh Book MAximine a Thracian of prodigious Size and most bloody in his Nature opens his Reign with great Cruelties being mov'd to it by the Conscience of his own mean Birth and exasperated by a Combination of the Tribunes against him and by the Defection of the Soldiers He attacks the Germans within their Woods and Morasses defeats and puts them to flight He is cruel to his Enemies but infinitely more tyrannical to his own Subjects whose Estates he makes no scruple to seize without any Colour or Pretence of Right He is universally hated A Commotion is rais'd in Africk where the Procurator is kill'd and Gordian Proconsul of Africk is chosen Emperor and having us'd Means to dispatch Vitalian Captain of the Praetorian Band in Rome his Election is ratified by the Senate Soon after Cappellian marches against him and quells the Commotion and he is slain in Africk together with his Son Maximine leaves Pannonia and takes his march towards Rome with his whole Army Maximus and Balbinus are elected Emperors and Gordian's Nephew created Caesar A Civil War breaks out in Rome between the Populace and the Praetorian Soldiers of which Gallicanus was the Author The Seventh Book THe Account of Alexander's Life and Death after