giue vnto the multitude to murmur He many times came foorth vnto the fielde of Mars and there he caused the whole armie to exercise feates of war rewarding such as were industrious and reprehendinge such as were dull and hartelesse There were many Romaines and others in the confines of Italie whiche did owe great summes of money not onely vnto the fiscall but also vnto the treasurie among whome some in times past had béene his friendes and others that were in great necessitie he cōmaunded both the one the other to bee deliuered of the fiscall since it was due vnto him selfe and made payement of their whole debt that was due vnto the treasurie Amongest other vertues the Emperour Pertinax of twaine was muche noted and praised whiche is to wéete of clemencie and gratefulnesse for that he was pitifull vnto the afflicted and thankfull vnto his friendes Pertinax had a sonne whome after he was Emperour he would not permit to come to the court either as much as vnto Rome but that he helde him in his countrey following his owne affaires and the profite of his owne house whereuppon the Consul Fuluius Turbone saide vnto Pertinax that he séemed rather the sonne of a labourer then of an Emperour he lift vp his eyes to heauen and with a greate sigh saide My mother Rome hath cause to be contented that I offer and put my life in perill for her cause without venturing my sonne and house in like daunger Most surely the saying was lamentable and the more it is considered the more profounde it is whereby it appeareth that he helde him self for moste vnfortunate to be established in the Empire and that he left his sonne in greatest felicitie to be depriued of the Empire Although Pertinax were olde and graue and was placed in the height of the Empire he alwayes vsed greate vrbanitie towardes all men in suche wise that no man did him reuerence vnto whome he did not vtter some courtesie according to the qualitie of the person Fiftie seruauntes in Rome in one night and in one houre slewe their maisters for whome the Emperour caused so diligent searche that onely fiue escaped and the paine that he commaunded they should suffer was to carrie the dead bodies bounde fast backe to backe in suche wise that the stenche of the dead did finishe the wretched life of the liuing In the schoole where Pertinax studied a certeine Romaine named Valerius was there also a student and being alwayes in companie and of age not much vnlike and continuing in greate friendship did many times eate with Pertinax which during their repast were neuer hearde to talke but of science knighthood repayring of Rome or else the reformation of the common wealth It did well appeare in Pertinax that he tooke the Empire against his will for truely neither in his dyet either in his apparell either in his gesture or spéeche either in any other thing did he behaue him selfe as an Emperour in suche wise that he presumed not to represent what he was but what he had béene He saide manie times that in this worlde he neuer made the like faulte as when he accepted the Empire and many times made motion to leaue the same and to returne vnto his house but that he did recomfort him selfe with this saying that for as muche as he was of so greate age he might not liue longe but be deliuered of his tedious life CHAP. VIII ¶ Of certeine vices wherewith he was infected and of the prodigies of his death AS the Emperour Pertinax was olde so was he charged with the infirmities of olde age that is to saye with auarice because in gathering and kéeping of money he was verie diligent and in giuing or spending verie dull and vnwilling Also he was noted to be a man verie flexible in his affaires that is to saye he was not stiffe either greatly did vse therein any contradiction but that which one did counsell him another might easily persuade the contrarye the cause whereof was his good naturall inclination whiche coulde not without griefe beholde any man that was in sorrowe Also Pertinax was noted that he neuer denied any thing that was demaunded although many his promises were neuer perfourmed for at moste times he promised to giue that which was impossible to be accomplished And because the maiestie and greatenesse of Princes doth consist to haue and possesse whereof to giue they ought much to be aduertised in consideration what is craued of them and what they promise for hauing to do as they haue with so manie and to furnishe so infinite necessities they ought if their subiectes be vnshamefast in crauing to be graue in promising Ioyntly with this Princes ought to be aduertised that where they haue once gaged their royall worde all things set aparte they ought to perfourme the same Pertinax was twise married his seconde marriage was with the daughter of Vulpitianus whome he made prefecte when he was made Emperour As concerning the vnchastitie of his wife also Pertinax was noted whiche is to wéete of negligence in gouerning and remisse in reprehending her for that truely shée was both young and faire absolute and dissolute and reported in Rome to be more enamoured with a young Musician then with Pertinax her olde husbande Also Pertinax was much noted to haue vsed vnlawfull loue with Cornificia his néere kinswoman whome he had nourished from her childhood for shée was committed by her father vnto his protection this matter was no lesse scandalous then foule and no lesse foule then scandalous for that suche like and so great euill was not conuenient to a man of so greate age either permissible in a Prince of so great grauitie Some prodigious and straunge signes appeared before his death especially on a time offering certeine sacrafices vnto the Goddes Penates that when the coales were moste kindled and on fire soudeinly they were séene all dead and quenched whiche did signifie that in the greatest certeintie of his life soudeinly death should assaile him Not sixe dayes before he was slaine as in the temple of Iupiter he was offering great sacrifices with his own handes he offered a Pecocke wherein he found no hearte when it was opened and soudeinely the head vanished when the throate was cutt Eight dayes before he was slaine a Starre ioyned with the Sunne and did shine at noone dayes as if it had béene midnight Thrée dayes before he was slaine Pertinax dreamed that he fell into a fishepond and that there was a man with an huge knife to kill him and woulde haue fled and could not Iulianus whiche after succéeded Pertinax in the Empire hauing a Nephewe newe married vnto his Néece and hauing repaired vnto Pertinax to visite him Pertinax saide vnto the young married man be good and I shall holde and esteeme thee as my sonne serue thy vncle Iulianus as a father because he is my fellowe in office and successour They had béene ioyntly Consuls and afterwardes Iulianus in the
thinges whiche he did in Rome and howe the tyrant Maximius did kill him in Britaine AFter that Alexander had subdued and triumphed ouer the Persians certeine dayes he was deteined in the gouernement and refourmation of the cōmon wealth because the longe absence of princes breedeth wante of iustice amongst the multitude Of all the riches that he brought from the warres of Asia he did take for him selfe but one horse one chariot foure Elephantes one sworde one cuppe of Ius and a paper of poinctes which belonged vnto kinge Artaxerxes for as he saide The pray of princes ought to be imployed on princes The defence of the most daungerous frontiers he commended not but vnto men that had great wealth in the same which if he had not he gaue it them in such wise that to conserue his fidelitie which he did owe to saue his goods which he possessed he should be forced to defende his countrie or dye in the enterprise There was in Rome in those dayes a Mathematiciā named Thrasibulus of whō Alexander demaunded what death he should dye who aunswered thou shalt dye in a straunge countrie not in thine olde age but by the swoorde of a Barbarian whereat Alexander was nothing altered but rather with excéeding ioy imbracing Thrasibulus said A certeine speach of Alexander against the terrour of death If the Gods did graunt vnto other princes to liue perpetually and commaund mee onely to dye I confesse I should dolefully feele the deede of death but our life being as it is so shorte and death so necessarie I had rather dye in the field by the handes of mine enimies then in my chamber compassed with Physicians Vnto the greatnesse of Princes it appertaineth not onely to lead a good life but also elect an honourable death and to this ende I say vnto thee Thrasibulus that all the felicitie of a Prince consisteth in well gouerning the common wealth and also to imploye his life for the same What fame or glorie what ease or quietnesse doth followe the life of that Prince which dieth in his olde yeres and sickely in which age for the most parte olde men be euil serued of their subiectes and contemned of straungers He that conceiueth it to bee good for the priest to dye in the temple conceiueth no lesse of the Prince that dyeth in the field for that the office of the one is to praye of the other to fight I haue seene many dye here in Rome after the manner which the common people do thinke the best kinde of death that is to saye laden with yeares laide in their beddes accompanied with sonnes honoured of parents compassed with sonnes in lawe visited of Physicians and serued of nephues at whose death I beare no enuie since I knewe of them that before their bodies were tasted of woormes their hearts were vnbowelled with griefe thought Thrasibulus thou doest well knowe that Alexander Darius Hector Pompeyus Gayus Tullius Seneca and Demosthenes were men in their persons verie glorious in doctrines verie wise and in their deedes no lesse heroycall and yet all these with many others dyed not accōpanied with their friends but by the handes of their enimies neither were they blemished with so vntimely a death since of them nothing was lesse esteemed but rather by their cruell deaths they aduaunced their fames No other thing is diuers in death but onely the manner of the same sithence death in the ende is alwayes but one thinge for we should not be afflicted with the manner of our death but what thinges we should repaire to the amēdement of our life Admitting that these cōsiderations apperteine more vnto Philosophers then vnto the simple yet I saye both to thee and other that as it was not in our handes to be borne so shal not the manner of our death consist in our selues but that houre being arriued there and then shall euery man finde for him selfe what fortune hath prouided All these thinges Alexander saide vnto Thrasibulus in secrete and afterwards openly in the hearing of all men Not manie dayes after these thinges passed Alexander departed vnto the warres of Germanie which were not prosecuted in Germanie but in Gallia transalpina for because the French men were subiect vnto the Romains the Germaines did inuade them Alexander beeing in the greatest heate of these warres certeine mutinous souldiours and olde seruantes of Heliogabalus did create a capteine named Maximius Emperour béecause the Emperour Alexander woulde not consente but vtterly detested their horrible and vicious actes Alexander remaining in the lesser Britaine in a place named Cilicia Maximius his trayterous adherentes determined to kill him their Lorde and Emperour before it might be manifested through the armies for that notwithstanding diuers of them did doubt his seueritie yet on the other parte all persons did loue his iustice Alexander reposinge at after noone the traytours agreed with a iester to murther him in his tente who beeing entred fel into such dismay that he not only gaue ouer his determined attempt vnperfourmed but also fledde with no small doubt and feare affrighted But beeing afterwardes retyred vnto Maximius and his companions persuaded them presently to kill Alexander beeing at that time on his bedde solitarie and vnaccompanied for that other wise he woulde discouer their whole intente which he saide because it was A lawe Martiall that anie which shoulde aduenture to enter the tente of the prince without licence shoulde pay no lesse then the losse of his life Maximius and his complices consideringe what the iester had saide presently determined to murther their Lorde and Emperour Alexander and so ioyntly and furiously entringe his tente slewe both him his mother and all persons that made resistance or ouerthwarted them with anie displeasaunt speache Alexander died one the twelfth of Iune after thirteene yeres nine dayes of his Empire were expired he liued twentie nine yeres three moneths and seuen dayes and was a Prince in Rome moste loued in his life and most bewayled at his death The enimies of Alexander did note him that he despised in him selfe to be natiue in Assyria that he loued gold inuented newe tributes was seuere with souldiours did what he could to resemble Alexander Magnus and that he was somewhate suspicious But the thing wherefore Alexander was most blamed and iustly deserued to bee noted was that being a man and of greate experience in the gouernement of the Empire he continued subiect vnto his mother as when he was a childe and in this case it was sufficient that he had reuerenced and honoured her as a mother and on the other parte to haue considered that her counsell in the ende was but of a woman Alexander was so vniuersally beloued of all nations of the Empire that it chaunced at his death which neuer was read to haue chaunced at the death of any Prince of the worlde that is to saye that they were all slaine which brought the newes of his death neither the
made answere I confesse vnto thee Marius Fabritius that thy good face was knowne in Rome before thy euill life but thou canst not denie that in Rome they did not knowe mine honest life before my euill face At the first when Traiane came to Rome Titus sonne to Vespasian the Emperour placed him Pretour of ten legions and sent him to the frontiers of Illyria where he remained all the life of Titus The Romaine legions did not a little murmur to haue Traiane for their capteine affirming that in age he was a childe in nation a straunger but after when they found him so valiant in fighting so wise in gouernment they loued him as a father obeyed him as a captein And as in winter Traiane wāted victuals for that he had taken truce with the Barbarians a certaine gentleman sayd vnto him it is not conuenient thou shouldest be so sad or that we shoulde suffer so great penurie take in good part that by dissimulation we break the truce by which meane we shal prouide for our selues and our cattel The good Traiane answered I am not only grieued with that thou speakest but also despited with that thou presumest to say for those matters which we set downe by promise we haue not so great cause to obserue our fidelitie made vnto men as for that we haue sworne by the immortal Gods. And the Emperour Titus being dead his brother Domitian did succéede him in the Empire which whē Traiane vnderstood presently he left the charge of frontier capteinship of Illyria The emperour Domitian was not a little grieued the whole armie as also all the Senate the Traiane had forsakē the frontiers of Illyria for that in matters of warre he had great experience no lesse fortune The Romaines did vse great vigilancie in séeking and conseruing fortunate capteines with whom they did dissemble suffer more defections then with al other persons and this they did bicause there be many capteines that if they be expert in armes they be moste vnfortunate in the execution thereof Traiane remaining in Rome without all disposition to take charge of an armie the emperour Domitian sayd vnto him tell me Traiane it it doutful that my empire is lesse then that which my father Vespasian helde or that I am more ingrate then my brother Titus was that for them thou shouldest euerie day aduenture thy life and for my seruice thou dainest to take a launce in hande Traiane did answere him I confesse that thy power is as great as thy fathers and thy knowledge no lesse then thy brothers but ioyntly with this thou arte verie souden in thy commaundements and very swift in the execution thereof and it may be that hauing charge of thy armies I might be commaunded to doe some thing the accomplishment whereof might stand muche against all bountie and not perfourming the same I should breake the oth of fidelitie that I haue made vnto thée CHAP. IIII. Of the friendship and parentage that Traiane had with the Emperour Nerua IN those dayes there was a certaine Consul named Nerua Coceius banished out of Rome by the Emperour Domitian a man in yeares very auncient and in all that he eyther sayde or did of great credite As Traiane was at that time in the disgrace of the Emperour Domitian frō Rome he departed vnto Nola a certain place where Nerua was in Campania bycause It is a thing very common vnto a man afflicted to seeke the companie of an other in like trouble These two right excellent men whiche is to say Nerua and Traiane remained there long time in Campania poore banished persecuted out of fauour abyding the time when Domitian shuld send to kill thē or when they should heare that he were dead bicause if they desired his death no lesse did he séeke occasiō to take away their liues Traiane for that he was young helde Nerua who was olde in great veneration and Nerua did beare so great affectiō vnto Traiane that he did loue him vse him as his sonne for that Traiane besides his sufficiēcie ablenesse for all causes was in his conuersation most amorous Nerua and Traiane remaining in that banishment found themselues of neare kinred and affinitie that is to say of one countrie which was Spaine of one place which was Italica and that the one discended of the Coceians and the other of the Vlpians two famous and auncient linages of whome we haue aboue made mention When Traiaane passed into Italie he found no other parētage but Nerua and Vlpius Ricinius his vnckle which was two times Consul in Rome Some say that this Vlpius Ricinius was father vnto Traiane but the truth is that he was but his vnckle for Plutarche in an Epistle that he writeth vnto Traiane sayth The good newes in Rome being knowne howe thou hast ouercome king Decebal which did tyrannize this lande so great was the ioy which the people did receiue that as thy fathers bones be in Spaine they had bene here in Italie they would do no lesse honour vnto them in the sepulchre then they shall yealde vnto thee on that day when thou shalt enter triumphing into Rome And for that Nerua was so auncient and so honourable and Traiane so valiaunt and so wel liked many Romaines did come and goe betwéene Rome and Campania to sée them and this was done more secretely then publikely bycause the Emperour Domitian was verie suspicious being most true Verie fewe dare serue or followe such as princes do hate Amongest all other that went frō Rome vnto Campania to sée these two knights was the great Philosopher Plutarche who with Traiane and Traiane with him did plante so perfect and sounde friendship that onely death was able to giue ende to the same And as Plutarche sawe suche abilitie and will in Traiane to learne ioyntly with this there was no wars wherein to be exercised he was so drunken with learning that he did abhorre armes vppon which occasion Nerua saide in iest By my counsel thou shalt leaue bookes and returne to armes since thou haste better handes to fight then a tong to dispute for that it is not iust thou shouldest cease to be singular amongest capteines to be indifferent among Philosophers Traiane remayning there in Campania did marrie with Plotina which was his onely wife and is sayde only for that before nor after did euer marrie other the which vertue vntil his time was found in no Romaine prince for that by growing olde or misliking of the one presently they did take another And as on a day certaine Romaines practised by secrete deuice to kil the Emperour Domitian and in great secrecie gaue part therof vnto Traiane did answere I do well sée that Domitian deserued not to be elected Emperour much lesse deserueth to be sustained in the same yet neuer the more shal I consent vnto his death for that I will rather suffer a tyraunt then recouer the renowne of a traitour Many Romaines
on a time murmuring of the insolencies of the Emperour Domitian Traiane sayde vnto them The intention wherwith Domitian hath intreated me the Gods haue to iudge for of his works which he hath done I may not complaine since he hath bene the occasion that I haue recouered Nerua for my father Plutarche for my maister Plotina for my wife and aboue al the rest he brought me acquainted with aduerse Fortune for that afore I presumed of nothing but to commaund but now only to serue A yeare before Domitian died or to say better before they had slaine him he went to the wars in Germanie and in that yeare Traiane was elected Consul in the Senate of Rome It was no smal griefe vnto Traiane to accept that Consulship not for that he liked not to be lincked with the friendship of honour but for the griefe whiche he felt to leaue the companie of Nerua CHAP. V. Howe Nerua was made Emperour and adopted Traiane his sonne THe Romains not able to indure the iniuries and tyrannies of Domitian determined to kil him the which out of hande they did perfourme the xiiii of October in the fourtie fifte yeare of his age when he had reigned xv yeares In many a day the Romaine people had nor receiued so ioyful newes as the newes of the death of Domitian in such maner that they gaue rich rewards vnto currers postes that brought the same and made great ioy in the countries where they passed for that they did as muche desire his death as they did abhorre his life Petronius capteine of the guard and Partenius his chamberleine were the men that practised the death and also violated the life of Domitian and they them selues gaue order that Nerua presently should be elected Emperour The Romaines did so extremely hate Domitian that not contented to sée him deade to hale his bodie péecemeale trayling through the streates of Rome al his pictures and counterfets they did spoyle and take away all his arches and titles they did raze out all his edifices whiche he had built they ouerthrewe all writings which he had firmed they burnt and all that were named Domitians were banished in suche wise that they could neyther indure to sée him aliue neither heare him named after his death The day after the death of Domitian Nerua Coceius was declared Emperour and of his election all the Romaine people were much pleased the one cause for that he was so vertuous and the other bicause he was an enimie vnto Domitian Presently that Nerua was elected Emperour presently he sent Traiane as Pretour into Germanie to the end he should take into his power the legions and gouernement of that prouince on the one parte for that Traiane was liked and muche desired of all the men of warre and the other for that Calphurinus capteine vnto Domitian was holden somewhat suspected Amongest other euill conditions wherewith the Emperour Domitian was possessed was that all thinges which séemed vnto him good riche or faire he dyd much praise it and therof they had to consider for most certaine that all whiche he praised fréely they had to present the same for if otherwise incontinently he tooke it by force Of these like things Nerua found in his palace much goods of other mens whiche by publike proclamation were all restored vnto the owners In suche wise that this good prince wold not only not take frō other men but also make restitution of that which by his predecessours had bin robbed When Nerua was elected Emperour he was excéeding olde and of infirmities much persecuted for in him there was nothing sound but his toung wherewith he did talke and his good iudgement wherewith he did gouerne The Romaines beholding Nerua so olde and sickly complayning that he coulde not sléepe and that for weaknesse of stomach he durst eate but of verie fewe things they helde it for most certaine that his life was verie short and with this motion they beganne to holde him in smal estimation Considered by Nerua that he had not long to liue and that the Romaines did not estéeme him he remembred to adopt Traiane as his sonne and to accept him for companion in the Empire and so it came to passe that presently he sent him the imperiall ensigne which was a certaine manner of cape with a hoode and with the same he wrote him a letter wherein were written no other wordes but these Phoebe tuis telis lachrimas vlciscere nostras As if he shuld say Noble Traiane thou shalt haue charge with thy venturous armes to reuenge my sorrowfull teares For the disobedience which the Romaines committed against his commaundements and the want of reuerence they helde of his person Nerua of Traiane craued that reuengement bycause it is a thing much vsed amongest men persecuted afflicted that the iniuries which they may not reuenge with their handes they bewaile with their eyes In the time that this did passe Traiane was in Almane in the citie of Agrippina which nowe is called Coleine and the night before that he receiued the imperiall ensigne and the letter from the Emperour Nerua he dreamed that he was inuested with a purple garment and a ring put on his right hand and crowned with a certaine crowne Only thrée monethes and fiue dayes did passe after Traiane was elected Emperour vnto the death of Nerua who dyed in the age an hundred tenne yeares ten monethes and tenne dayes THE VI. CHAP. Of the lawes that Traiane made to the profite of the common wealth AT the instant in which Traiane vnderstoode that the Emperour Nerua was deade he departed vnto Rome where at his comming he did celebrate the obsequies of his Lorde and friend Nerua and they were suche and so riche that it séemed rather feastes for the liuing then honours for the dead bycause there was nothing in them that moued sadnesse but to sée Traiane goe verie sad The first thing that Traiane sayd promised sware in the Senate was that no man that was good and peaceable by his cōmaundement or consent should be put to death which he obserued al the daies of his Empire After this he cōmanded Emilia to be sent for which was captaine of the Pretorian armies whom he commaunded to be discharged of his office and to be banished the Empire the one cause for that he had disobeyed the emperour Nerua and the other cause for that he had imbezeled the payes of the men of warre He commaunded publike proclamation to be made that all men that had iust cause to complaine of the Consuls of the Senatours of the Iudges or other officers of Rome that they shoulde come foorth and declare for that he wished satisfaction vnto the one and correction vnto the other Personally Traiane did visite all offices of Rome which is to vnderstande where they solde breade where they weighed flesh where they measured wine where the merchaunts dwelt where straungers did lodge and so of al other offices among
which were both coloured and couered with his large and bountifull giftes Great were the rewardes that he gaue vnto Epiteus and Eliodorus philosophers but much more was his liberalitie towardes Phauorinus bycause he both gaue him great goodes and honour in the common wealth His custome was when he sent for any to serue him in the warres to giue him al things necessarie for the same that is to say armour to fight money to spend Adrian being aduertised of a noble gentleman of Numidia named Malacon a man both valiant warlike who refusing to receiue the vsuall rewarde that Adrian gaue vnto suche as did accompanie him in warres sayde vnto him It is more reason that I should preuent thée in doing mine office then thou shouldest precede mée in doing thy dutie which is to say that before thou beginne to fight I shoulde beginne to gratifie thée for in the end it is much more that thou doest for me in aduenturing thy life then I in rewarding thée with my goods Many times Adrian would boast him selfe that he coulde neuer remember that he had eaten alone but alwayes did eate in the companie of Philosophers that disputed in Philosophie eyther else of capteines that did talke and conferre in matters of warre He was neate in his apparell curious and delicate in his diet Examining the order of the diet of his housholde and finding the prouision prouided for the honour thereof to be imbeziled and purloyned by officers he commaunded them to be whipt and turned out of his gates for notwithstanding he had a noble mynde to giue a Prouince for a reward he had not patience to suffer or endure the deceit or stealth of a pennie Adrian was a man both seuere gladsome graue courteous pleasant suffering rashe patient furious a sauer liberall a dissembler pitifull cruell finally he was variable in his vices and inconstant in vertues bycause he did not long absteine from euill eyther long continue in doing good Adrian vnto his friendes was bothe gratefull and vnkinde that is to say he gaue them much goods and did not much estéeme their honour Great inconuenience did followe the Emperour Adrian for his infidelitie and want of faith vnto his friendes which did most clearely shewe it selfe in Tatianus Nietus Seuerus and Septitius whom at one time he helde for friends after did persecute them as enimies Eudemius a noble Gentleman of Rome he was so great a frend with Adrian that he offered sacrifices vnto the gods to giue him the Empire and after Adrian did beare him so great hatred that he did persecute him not onely to cast him out of Rome but also vntill he had brought him to extreme pouertie Polenus and Marcellus were of Adrian so euil handled and persecuted that they chose rather to dye with their owne handes then to liue vnder his gouernement Eliodorus a most famous man in letters both Gréeke and Latine was not onely of Adrian persecuted but also put to death and torne in pieces whose death was much be wailed for that he was profitable vnto the whole comon wealth Oluidius Quadratus Catalius Turbon auncient Consuls were by Adrian persecuted although not put to death bycause euery one séeking to saue his life were banished Rome and all Italie The noble Consul Seuerianus husbande vnto Sabina sister vnto Adrian of the age of a hundred and ninetie yeares was constrained to dye for no more but for that he had reported to haue liued the death of thirtene Emperours that if Adrian should dye first it should make vp the number of xiiij the which when Adrian vnderstoode he rather determined to take him from amongest the liuing then he should reckon him amongst the deade In all things Adrian was very wel learned that is to say reading writing singing painting fighting hunting playing and disputing but that he had therewith a tache or a fault which was that if he knewe muche he presumed much wherein he was noted of all men bycause he scorned all men After he entered into Aegypt he gaue him selfe vnto Astrologie and held for custome yearely to write out of that science of al things that should happen that yeare which also he did in the yeare that he dyed but obteined not the knowledge thereof Adrian in one thing did séeme to excell in that he neuer desired the knowledge of any facultie art or science but that he procured to be singular He ouercame many warres with armes but he did appease and cut off many more with giftes bicause vnto diuers peoples cities and townes he gaue libertie and priuileges and to his Lords and viceroyes he gaue great rewardes Although in some particular things touching both friendes and enimies he shewed him selfe both affectionate and also passionate vniuersally as touching the weale of the common welth Adrian was alwayes friend in ministring iustice When there happened any graue matters at the souden he wold furiously be altered but at the time of iudgement and determinatiō seriously he did both consider examine them He did sildome determine matters without counsel and to this end chiefly vsed the aduice of Siluius and Neratius the most learned of that age and approued by the Senate Naturally he was of an vnquiet heart and of condition intermedling It did happen vnto him many times in reading of histories when he found of any place or coūtrie that was possessed of any extremitie or singularitie that he could not come to the viewe thereof with extreme desire he did many times growe both sicke and sorrowfull Notwithstanding he was large and of great magnanimitie with Philosophers with countries with men of warre and with his friends much more was his magnificence to the ministers of iustice and being demaunded of Fauorinus why he was so boūtiful vnto them answered I make the ministers of iustice riche bycause by robberie of iustice they shall not make other men poore CHAP. XIII Of the lawes that Adrian made MAny and right necessarie lawes were made by Adrian whiche were approued by the Senate and receiued of the common wealth and long time obserued He did ordeine that if any man would remoue from one citie to an other that at his owne libertie he might sell his house but not to aduenture to pull it downe eyther to sel or make profite of the stuffe therof bycause the authoritie of a common wealth is impayred when the buildings be ruinated He did also ordeine that when any man was condemned to dye for offences of great enormitie and his goodes confiscate that his children shoulde inioy the tenth part of those goodes in suche wise that for that whiche was taken from them they had to bewaile the offence of their fathers and for that which was giuen them they shoulde féele and also commende the clemencie of the Prince Also there were certaine cases forbidden in whiche if any man did fall or incurre he was accused as if he had committed great treason againste the estate Royall
banished and prouided also Galba Rufus for his Chamberlaine whom after foure houres he discharged of his office and sent him in exile and when Niger Rufus complained of their griefes Commodus aunsweared hée did not banishe them for that which they had done but for that which they might doe He created Prefect Marcus Dulius a man most certaine right generous and auncient whome after thrée dayes hée remoued from his office and comaunded him vntill his death in his house to be prisoner the occasion whereof was for that as hée affirmed Marcus was very old and spente and therefore it were no reason he should be troubled of any person and also that if any man should request any thing hée mighte aunsweare him that hée was a prisoner and might not go out of his doores to doe him pleasure He gaue the Senate to vnderstand that hée would go into Africa and had necessitie for his nauie by sea his army by land of a great summe of monie although the Senate did suspect it but a collusion they durst not but open the treasurie and diuide with him the treasure for otherwise he would both make hauoche of their liues and treasure In April the Senate gaue foorth their monie and when Commodus was in possession thereof he bruted his departing vnto Campania to take men of warre where hée remayned ail that Summer and also parte of the next winter eating drinking fishing hunting playing wrastling running leaping dauncing swimming and such other vanities All the Senate was much ashamed and all the Romanes not a litle touched after they vnderstood the monie which was giuen out for the warres of Africa to be so vitiously consumed by Commodus in Campania After his returne to Rome Commodus was aduertised that Motilenus Prefect for that yeare had murmured more at him then any other person and for very griefe and despight did wéepe to sée their monie prouided for the warres spent in so wicked vses Commodus confected certaine figgs and inuited Motilenus to dinner who being fed with figs died the third day following One day he clad himself as a priest right pontifically and placed himselfe aloft on a choche of 4. furious horses the Romanes supposing he would offer sacrifices at the temple he mounted certeine rockie cliftes mountaines and there against all reason ran his charriot where his horses happened to be all to torne his chariot rent all to péeces and hée brake his head and wrenched his foote finally he made a narrow misse in repayment of his follie that day to haue lost his life On a day he went to the Senate and said that hee would not haue Rome named Rome but Cōmodiana and the Senate aunswered they were both pleased to call Rome Cōmodiana and the Senate Cōmodiano That which the Senators supposed to be demaunded in iest also consenting in iest Commodus did accept in earnest from thenceforth the letters which were written the prouisions which were made the seals therto ioyned in al such instruments Rome was intituled Cōmodiana the Senate Cōmodiano and if by negligēce any man happened to be obliuious therof to vse the name of Rome presently he was banished from thence to séeke Rome for that was not but Cōmodiana The priests of the Goddesse Isis were commanded to come into his presence and said vnto them that shée had reuealed vnto him that their heads should be shauen and that hée was commaunded as high priest to performe the same and with a blunte knife hée cutt their nailes and blunting his knife vppon stones would drie shaue their heades in such wyse that as their haire was drie and his knife blunt it might more truely be said that hée did rather fley them then trimme or dresse them Such as garded the temple of the Goddesse Bellona hée caused their right armes to be thrust out of ioynte alledging that since they painted the Goddesse with a broken arme her priestes ought not to haue their armes whole and sound The Romanes painted their Goddesse Isis with naked brestes and Commodus on a day visiting that temple and beholding the image of Isis painted with brestes discouered hée caused the brestes of the priests to be scrat with combs of yron in his presence affirming that it were vniuste for their Goddesse to haue naked brestes and they to hold their entrailes hidden Commodus commaunded all men to call him Hercules which to the end hée would resemble hée made a coate of Lions skinnes and tooke in hand an huge clubb wherwith hée wente day and night killing men breaking doores and ouerthrowing pillers with such other vanities in so much that a fierce cruell Lion would not haue done so great hurtes as Commodus committed as a Lion but counterfect With many other vaine and wicked déedes vnworthie to be written CHAP. XIII ¶ A discourse of the prouinces that rebelled in his reigne and the prodigies of his death THere rebelled against the Romane Empire in the reigne of Commodus the Mauritanes the Datians the Sarmatians and the Germaines all which were onely come by the Romane capiteines for that Commodus did rather imploy his valiauntnesse in vices then in resisting enimies Hée was not onely in his woordes and workes vaine and friuolous but also in his letters which hée wrote for the Empire for that many times being aduertised frō countries and prouinces of causes of great importance he would answeare them with matters of vanitie and sometimes would sende an whole shéete of paper sealed and firmed conteyning onely one Latine woord that is to say Vale. Notwithstanding the dayes of his reigne were the most vnfortunate dayes yet would hee néedes commaund them to be termed the golden world Most heynous offences hée would pardon for monie if any person being absent were condemned to die hée would finde out some other of his age and name to be executed for his offence affirming that since he did resemble him in age and name hée should not varie in the maner of his death in such wise that this tyrant did kill innocents for the wicked and let offenders escape for monie If any man had an enimie of whom he would take vengeaunce hée néeded no other meane to performe the same but to bargaine with Commodus for a summe of monie which being agréed he neuer wanted occasion to rid him of his life At all the vile and filthie déeds which Commodus committed he was not gréeued but delighted in the publication thereof in so much that he was not onely euil but also boasted himselfe to be euill for that he entred so great follie or madnes that all thinges which hée either did or said whether allowed or misliked of himselfe or all other men expressely hee commaunded them to be written in the registre Capitoline On a certeine time he determined to burne the whole citie of Rome and being prest to giue fire to many parts Letus a Consul came vnto him and said vnto him so many things and put him
in suche wise that bothe should haue béene intituled Emperours of Rome and ioyntly therewith sware and affirmed that he did it not to remedie the necessitie wherein he stoode but for greate good wil which he did beare him who aunswered this which thou sayest Iulianus be thou assured that I will neither do it either do I loue but yrketh mée to heare it because to gouerne the Empire I am blinde to traueile I am weake and to inioye it am become olde and much more respecting the age which I possesse and the trauels which I haue passed I am more apte to make peace with the Gods then to take warres in hande against men All the men of warre that were in Etruria did passe vnto the seruice of Seuerus whome he would not by any meanes receiue vntil they had sworne to be innocent of the death of Pertinax Seuerus at the breake of the day discouered him selfe with all his armies two leagues from Rome whiche being knowen vnto the Senate ioyntly they agréed to determine two thinges whiche is to wéete to remoue Iulianus from the Empire and to depriue him of his life and in his place to elect Seuerus Emperour Then one of the Senatours came foorth from the Senate and published with open voice vnto the people that they should hold it for certeine that by the authoritie of the sacred Senat Iulianus was depriued of the Empire and in his stéede Seuerus elected Emperour Great was the ioy that the people receiued when they heard Iulianus to be depriued of the Empire and presently at the instant who best might made most hast to receiue the newe Emperour and none passed by Iulianus house that threw not stones at the windowes and spat not vppon the walles At the houre that the Senate went forth to receiue Seuerus they sent a Gentleman to kill Iulianus who expressing the sorrowful ambassage which he brought with many teares Iulianus requested that he might not be slaine before hee had séene Seuerus but the gentleman durst do no lesse then to cut off his head because the Senate stayed at the porte Salaria and had sworne not to procéede to receiue Seuerus vntill they were certeinly aduertised that Iulianus was slaine The vnfortunate Emperour Iulianus being dead his wife Malia and his daughter Escutilia tooke the body buried him in a Sepulcher of his great graundfather on the right hand of the way of Lauinia Iulianus was noted to be a glutton a gamster couetous and ambitious and on the other part he was pitifull amorous eloquent graue and subtile He liued 56. yeares and 4. monethes be reigned 11. monethes and 5. dayes After his death they did neither giue his body honourable funeralls or contemned his Sepulcher This was the end of Iulianus who being old honourable rich would for the exchaunge of the Empire giue his goods aduenture his fame and loose his life R.v. The life of the Emperour Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus THE auncient linage of the Emperour Seuerus was of Africa his grandfather was named Fuluius Pius and his grandmother Agrippa which came and died in Lepe an auncient citie in Mauritania was destroyed in the warres of Iugurtha Massimila his father was named Geta and his mother Fuluia Pia a people neither renowmed in armes or glorious in bloud either indued with riches Seuerus was borne in Etrutio Clarus and Seuerus being Consuls the 4. day of April and as his mother reported she had with him a difficult childbirth very tedious to nourse In his first infancie he chiefly delighted to play with other children his fellowes the play of Iudges and when his lot fell to be Iudge as sharpely did he chastice their trifling faultes as he did afterwards chastice their errours in earnest Hee learned the Gréeke and latine tongues with such singular perfection and was so prompt to speake write read dispute in the said tongues as if hee had béene borne in those countries and learned no other languages At the age of xviij yeres he was a publique aduocate and defended causes in lawe in such wise that if he had followed Science as hée did Warres hée had béene no lesse renowmed in science and letters then he was famous in armes He was not full xx yeares of age when he first entered Rome in which dayes there reigned the right happie Marcus Aurelius and by intercession of his kinseman Septimius Seuerus hée had the office to register daily such as either died or were borne in Rome which office although it were not profitable yet was it an occasion of great acquaintance to be throughly knowen because nightly he wēt to Court to report who was borne or had died that day The first night that he entred Rome by chance his host wher he lodged was reading the life of the Emperour Adrian wherin was relation of the great perils which he passed before he might atteine the Empire Seuerus said vnto his host in iest In trauels perills I imitate Adrian I hope also that I shall succede him in the Empire By chance as the Emperour M. Aurelius made a general sumptuous supper vnto many noble Romans Seuerus was amongest them at the time that he shuld haue taken his seat at the table without regard he placed him in the Emperours chaire and when others derided him for his negligence folly which he had comitted Seuerus aunswered Peace gibe not it is possible my destinies may be such that as I nowe sitt in the imperiall chaire in iest so one day I may sit therin in earnest Seuerus dreamed on a night that he suckt the teats of the wolfe that noursed Remus and Romulus which dreame he alwayes held for a great good signe of his future Empire In the time of his youth he was both absolute and dissolute especially in womens matters other vanities for which causes hee was many times taken banished shamed In the offices of warre he was placed in them all especially the office of Questor which he held long time and it is said of him that hauing by that office charge of monie he was diligēt in recouering faithful in diuiding parting therof In the moneth of Ianuary in the 5. yeare of the Empire of M. Aurelius it chaunced him to be Proconsul of Betica which now in Spaine is named the kingdome of Andoloizia where he remained the space of a yeare a halfe in which gouernment he was no lesse loued then feared and feared then loued Seuerus being Proconsul in Betica receiued newes of his fathers death in Africa wherupon he presently passed into Africa partly to execute the obsequies and to giue his father an honourable Sepulcher and partly to take order for a sister that was left vnto him and goods whiche he did inherite The Consul that then was
an instant some were slaine and some ouerthrowen Traiane disguised and in disposition to viewe the citie was of the enimies both knowen wounded and his Squire slaine The Agarens beeing demaunded if at that instant they had notice of the Emperours person they aunswered that his grauitie and the maiestie of his presence did discouer his estate Traiane being at that siege there arose terrible lightening and thunder which in that countrie was neuer séene and besides there descended vppon the Romaine campe flies so many importune that both their meate and drinke and their owne persons were continually couered with the same Traiane considering the citie to be impregnable did retire his armie They saye that he saide at his retraite Since the Agarens with mine armies either my wordes be neither subdued or persuaded the destinies haue reserued this triumph for some other Prince in the world to come In the prouince of Cyrene Traiane had a greate armie both of Greekes as of Romaines and the pretor of those armies was a certeine Romaine named Andreas against whome the Iewes of those partes did rebell and slewe both captaine Greekes and Romaines The Iewes were not onely contented to haue slaine the Romaines but also brought the dead bodies vnto the shambles and there did quarter cut in péeces and solde by weight with no lesse appetite did eate that humaine fleshe then if it had béene hennes and fesants Adding crueltie vppon crueltie they brought forth certeine Romaines whiche they had in prison and did wage one with another a denéere or a point to strike off the head of a Romaine at a blowe Another thing not more vile then horrible the Iewes committed vppon those miserable Romaines that is they fleyed them quicke and tanned their skinnes for leather and further with greatest disgrace did cut off their most shamefast partes and plaide and tost them as a ball in the market place As the Iewes left no Romaine vnslaine so left they no crueltie or kind of death that they did not experiment and in this matter we haue no lesse to marueile at the hearts of the one to execute then of the patience of the other to suffer That which was don by the Iewes of Cyrene was executed by the Iewes of Aegypt and of the Ilands of Cypres who slewe all the Romaines within their common wealthes which slaughter was no lesse then 500000 Greekes and Romaines When these sorrowfull newes came vnto Traiane he was very sicke but notwithstanding prouided what was conuenient for so desperate a case and presently sent Lucius into Cyrene Marcus into Cypres and Seuerus into Aegypt who committed so great spoiles among the people and executed so cruell iustice vppon the inhabitants that if the dead had béene liuing they would haue yelded them selues for sufficiently reuenged Elius Adrianus was captaine vnto Traiane for the guarde of Syria and hearing what had passed in this matter soudeinly he descended into Iurie and did execute therein a greate slaughter and they of Cypres receiuing warning by this great treason did ordeine that no Iewe shoulde dare to inhabite or passe into that kingdome and that if tempest shoulde bring them by chaunce into that Ilande to haue no redemption therof but by the losse of their heades Traiane naturally was alwayes of greate health but in the traueile of so many prouinces following of so many warres sayling vpon so many Seas and enduring so many woundes the griefe or disease of the piles did not a little vexe him But the case was thus that from the daye that Traiane might not passe into the Indies they neuer sawe health in his person or ioy in his face Through the cause or disease of the piles at chaunge of weather Traiane had a fluxe of bloude which for his health was very profitable Either by the colde which he had passed or angers which in him selfe he suffered or greate age wherewith he was laden there increased vnto the good Prince a Pasma or numnesse of his arme and his purgation by fluxe of bloud was stopped Ioyning vnto the citie of Seleuca there were certeine famous bathes whereunto sicke people of all partes did concurre whether Traiane did cause him selfe to be remoued to make proofe for recouerie of his health And as experience did after declare those bathes did not profite but hinder for being weake consumed and spent although he had force to bathe he had no strength to sweate Nowe when Traiane sawe him selfe without hope of life he wrote a letter vnto the Senate of Rome commending the state of his house vnto Lucius and the affaires of the warres vnto Elius Adrianus He dyed in the citie of Seleuca which is in the prouince of Sicyl which from thence foorth was named Traginopolis in the age of 63. yeres and in the reigne of his Empire 21. yeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes ¶ The life of the Emperour Adrian Compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo Preacher Chronicler and Counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift ⸫ CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred and nourished THE greate Emperour Traiane being dead Adrian succéeded in the Empire who was seruaunt friend and cousin of the saide Traiane The beginning and linage of Adrian by the fathers side was of Italie borne in a citie named Hadra and of the mothers side a Spaniard borne at Cades whiche nowe is named Calize a citie of Andoloizia His fathers name was Elius Adrianus maried vnto a woman of Spaine named Domitia Paulina a woman sufficient wise and faire borne in the citie of Calize shée was néece vnto the Emperour Traiane his sisters daughter whome he did much loue for that of a childe shée was bred in his house Adrian had a sister named Paulina who was married vnto a Consul named Seuerinus and the graundfather of Adrianus was named Marillinus of the linage of the Priscans which linage did not a little florishe in the time of the Scipions Adrian was borne in Rome the 9. daye of Februarie in the consulship of Vespasianus septimus and Titus quintus in the yere of the foundation of Rome 488. Adrian had an high bodie of perfecte proportion except his necke which was somewhat stouping his nose somewhat hawked his face swart his eyes more grey then blacke his bearde blacke and thicke his handes more of sinewes then of fleshe his head great and round and a broade forehead a great signe as he had of greate memorie When his father dyed he was but of ten yeres who left him for tutors Vlpius Traianus and Celius Tatianus the one béeing his vnckle and the other his friend effectually requestinge to traine and instruct that childe in wisedome and valiantnesse for that he had no lesse abilitie for the one then for the other At the age of tenne yeres Adrian studied Grammar and after his fathers death his tutours set him to learne the Greeke tongue wherein he was so
and rulers of the people should not aduenture to spende the goods of the common wealth in matters eyther vnprofitable or superfluous but to the defence of enimies or repayring of fortifications eyther else for prouision of the common wealth in time of deare yeares There was in Rome certaine stipendarie interpreters of all languages to manifest the meaning of straunge ambassadours whose fée and office Antoninus commanded to be forbidden and taken away affirming it to be verie conuenient vnto the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome that al nations and kingdomes should learne to speake their speache and that it were abasement for them to learne any straunge toung Also he did ordeine that al the old impotent blind people in Rome should be susteined at the charges of the common wealth but such as were younger and more able shoulde be constrained eyther to boult meale at the bakers or to blowe the bellowes at the smythes By chaunce on a certaine day he founde an olde seruitour whiche he had knowne long in the warres rubbing and clawing him selfe against the pillers of the Churche Adrian demaunding why he did so rubbe him selfe and weare out his clothes the olde man made answere I haue no garments to clothe my selfe neyther any man giueth me to eate yet if it may please thée Adrian I haue founde meane to rub my selfe Adrian tooke great compassion of that whiche he did sée but much more of that which he heard and presently he commaunded goods to be giuen him and slaues to serue him And as enuie is naturall vnto the poore as pryde is common among the riche The next day other two poore men came before Adrian rubbing them selues amongst the pillers in hope to receiue the like liberalitie whom he willed to be called vnto him commaunding the one to scratch the other and by turne to ease each other of his itch Vnto king Pharasmaco of the Parthians Adrian gaue great giftes that is to say fiftie Eliphants armed with their towers and thrée hundred men of Hiberin in the countrie of Spaine which were of his guard CHAP. XI Of the prodigious and monstruous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus MAny trauels and hard aduentures followed the Emperour Antoninus while he liued and also in all his kingdomes in the time of his reigne bicause Fortune is so variable that she neuer stayeth her wheele or euer ceaseth to be turning thereof In the second yeare of his reigne hunger was so great so sharpe and so generall throughout all Italie that thereof there dyed no lesse then if it had bene of a fierce pestilence There was in Asia so cruell and so generall an earthquake that many houses and buildings were subuerted many people slayne and not a fewe cities disinhabited for the repayring of which great hurtes he sent not onely money from the common wealth of Rome but also plentifully sent his treasure out of his owne coffers In the moneth of Ianuarie there was in Rome so furious a fire that it burnt ten thousand houses wherein there perished of men women and children more then tenne thousande In the same yeare was burnt the stately place of Carthage the one halfe of Antioche and in a manner the whole citie of Narbona In the moneth of August there was at Rome great floudes and besides losse of their corne both reapt and vnreapt The riuer Tyber did so swell and ouerflowe that one dayes losse was not repayred in thrée yeares On the fourth of the monethe of Maie there appeared a starre ouer Rome conteyning the quantitie of the whéele of a myll which threw out sparkes so thicke and so continuall that it séemed rather the fire of a forge then the shining of a starre In the sixt yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in Rome was borne a childe with two heades the one like a man the other like a dogge but the straungenesse of the matter did more excéede in that with one head he did cry and barke as a whelpe and with the other did wéepe as a childe In the citie of Capua a woman was brought a bed and deliuered of fiue sonnes At that time was séene in Arabia a great and a most huge serpent which being séene of many persons vpon the height of a rocke did eate halfe his owne tayle in which yeare there was throughout all Arabia maruellous greate pestilence In the ninthe yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in the citie of Mesia barley was séene to growe in the heads of their trées in such wise that no trée bare fruite that yeare but eares of of barley In the same yeare there happened in the kingdome of Artenitos in a citie named Triponia foure wilde and vnknowne Lions to lye downe in the market place which became so tame that they made them packehorsse to the mountaines for wood and boyes became horssemen vppon their backes In the kingdome of Mauritania a childe was borne which had the heade turned backwards which liued and was bred vp and also suche as would eyther sée or speake with him most conueniently did place them selues at his backe which notwithstanding coulde both sée speake and go but with his hands might not féede him selfe There died in Rome a Senatour named Rufus a man of great wealth and credite whiche after his death did many times come to the Senate sitting in his wonted place and clad with garments after his olde fashion but was neuer hearde speake one worde and this vision continued in the Senate full two yeares CHAP. XI Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes IT chaunced vnto no Romaine prince as it did vnto Antoninus which alwayes remaining within the bounds of Italie and commonly within Rome was so beloued feared and serued of all straunge kings and kingdomes as if personally he visited had conquered thē In the fourth yeare of his empire king Pharasmaco came to Rome but onely to sée Antoninus and brought and presented vnto him so muche and so maruellous thinges that the eyes of men were not satisfied in beholding eyther their hearts in wishing them The king of Parthians had taken awaye much landes from the king of Armenia who sent to complaine vnto the Romaines as vnto their friends alies and confederates for whome the Emperour Antoninus did write his letters vnto the king of Parthians to cease to do wrong and also to make restitution vnto the Armenians whose letters being receiued and read was presently obeied and perfourmed King Abogarus one of the mightiest and most notable kinges of the Orient the Emperour Antoninus did force to come to Rome bycause that owing a great summe of money vnto one of his vassals he would not come to account The good Emperour Traiane had constrained the Parthians to receiue their seate and royall crowne at the handes of the Romaines which subiection the Parthians both denyed and refused but Antoninus not only by letters but also by apparant threatnings did force them to yealde
possessedst in thy daughters which thou nourishedst in thy sonnes which thou begattedst CHAP. IIII. ¶ A certeine notable speach vttered by Letus vnto the armie in the fauour of Pertinax AFter that Pertinax had bewayled the death of Commodus not for his owne condition but for that he had béene the sonne of the good Marcus Aurelius hée said vnto Letus Electus that he would not by any meane receiue the Empire if the Senate did not commaund it and the armie consent vnto it because to hold the Empire safe and established and not to enter the same as a tyrant vnto the Senate it apperteyned to vse their election and the armie their confirmation Letus made offer to finishe all that which Pertinax demaunded that is to say the Senate should elect and choose him the armie confirme and allow their election and the hope that he had to obteine the same was that hée had amongest them many friends and kinsefolke and the ioy that all would receiue vppon the newes of his death Letus departing to talke with the Capteines and leaders of the armie made vnto them a compendious speach after this manner His Oration to the assemblie THAT which now I meane to say right excellent Princes and my martial companions will be verie straunge vnto your hearing although not farre distant from your desires because of many things whiche we desire the least and fewest parts thereof we do obteine Neither are the Gods so liberall to giue vs al that we desire either so niggard to denie vs all that we craue and this they do because we shal acknowledge them to be good for that which they giue vs and cōfesse our selues to be euill for that which they denie vs The good and vertuous be not onely knowen in the good woorkes which they doe but also in their good desires which they haue because the euill and wicked if they durst would neuer cease to commit mischiefe and the vertuous if they might would neuer growe cold in doing vertuous acts The Gods neuer ioyntly accomplished the desires of so many as this day they haue accomplished all your desires for being as you are noble generous valiaunt true and no counterfect Romanes it is not to be thought that ye should wish or desire but the libertie of our mother Rome and the reformation of our auncient common wealthe Ye haue all seene what the Emperour Commodus hath beene whiche is to witt howe large in commaundement howe cruell in killing howe carelesse in gouernment how filthie of life through which cause we not onely held our houses as consumed lost and our persons in perill but also were defamed throughout all straunge nations The Prince that is ouer youthly foolish absolute or dissolute looseth his people and defameth his kingdome Since ye haue seene the euils and cruelties which hee hath done I would haue you see heare vnderstād what he mēt to doe for as it seemeth by this memoriall written with his owne hand hee had a will to haue slaine all persons within the Empire and if hee might haue brought it to passe it is credible he would haue cut the throtes of so many as be in this world It was neuer seene or heard off in this world of any tyraunte that hath beene of the maner and condition of Commodus for that naturally he delighted in losse of friends and did glorie to haue enimies Commodus your Emperour is now dead if I be not deceiued I suppose he dieth with conformitie of the whole Empire because there is nothing more certaine then that hee which liueth to the preiudice of all men should die to the conformitie of all men In as much as the Gods haue taken in good part to deliuer vs from the seruitude of this tyrant it is necessary that another Emperour be prouided and chosen and this election may indure no delay but must be dispatched at this instāt because otherwise as the great dignitie of the empire is a thing that many desire few deserue so it might happen that at the time wee would bestowe the same vppon some vertuous man it might be vsurped by some straunge tyrant If vnto euery man that is here present we should haue due respect according to their deseruing I sweare by the immortall Gods wee should want Empires and not Emperours but considering the Empire is but one is not to be giuen but vnto one in the end none shall obteine the same but he vnto whome the Gods shall assigne and the destinies permit The prince that ye haue to electe ought in my iudgement to be natiue of your countrie because the prince that is not natiue but a straunger he shall rather first finishe his dayes then attaine to the loue of his common wealth Ye haue also to elect chuse an Emperour that possesseth age grauitie for that it furthereth not a little the profit and reputation of the common wealth to haue a beard on the face hoarie haires on the head Also it is right necessarie in the Emperour which ye shal elect that he be no foole either a coward but that he be wise pregnant noble minded of experience because in naturall science and long experience the good gouernement of the whole common wealth doth consist Manifesting my minde more clearely I say againe vnto that which I haue said that if my opinion might be taken in this case we ought to determine and fixe our eyes vppon Publius Pertinax in whome concurre all the conditions aforesaid that is to say naturalitie age grauitie science and experience that this is most true there needeth no greater testimonie for the credite thereof then that Commodus held him for his enimie It is not to be thought that the Gods in vaine haue conserued the life of Pertinax vntil this day Commodus procuring by a thousand meanes to put him to death as it is most true that of al the old seruaunts of his father by him slaine onely Pertinax is reserued aliue As wee haue all wel knowen that be here present that Pertinax hath been the man most afflicted banished enuied toyled and persecuted of al the men that now are aliue in this world and surely it is a great argument to thinke that for him for no other the Empire hath beene reserued because the Gods do neuer preserue the life of any man amongest so many perils but afterwards greatly they aduaunce him Wee ought all to hold it for great good hap and greatly to gratifie the gods in respecte of such and so many as haue bin slaine in our common wealth that we finde such a prince for our mother Rome whom they shal not aduenture to contemne because of his grauitie neither be daūted with feare for that he is noble minded either noted of simplicitie in as much as hee is sapient neither accused of vice for that he is vertuous either reproued of feeblenes because he is reposed finally no man may deceiue
him in words in so much as he hath experience of all thinges O most excellent princes and my commilitants I will say no more vnto you but that if ye may persuade your selues to the election of Pertinax ye shall not onely yeeld a good Emperour vnto your Common wealth but also euerie man shall obteine in him a father for his familie for as he hath bin a leader vnto vs all so he cānot deale with vs but as with his children All the time that Letus was reasoning these matters vnto the armie they stoode all astonied and rapt partly in hearing the memoriall conteyning the treason that Commodus had ordeyned partly for the newes of his death and also in considering how aptly eloquently Letus had vsed his speach in opening the matter Presently at the instant that Letus had finished his talke the whole armie began to say exclame Viuat viuat Pertinax Augustus whiche is to say Long many yeares may Pertinax liue our Romane Emperour All the principal of the armie departed to visite Pertinax at his owne house found him not but in the temple of victorie and taking him vppon their shoulders they carried him about all Rome and as it was then as yet not throughly day the townesmen were abashed to heare such newes because not knowing that Commodus was dead they heard that Pertinax was proclaimed Emperour The Romanes afterwardes did sweare and affirme that in long time past there was euer any newes diuulgate in Rome that generally gaue so great ioy vnto all persons partly for the newes of Cōmodus death as also for that the good old Pertinax was made Emperour CHAP. V. ¶ Of an Oration made by Pertinax in the Senate immediatly after he was elected Emperour VEry great was the ioy that was manifested throughout all Rome because they had obteyned Pertinax for their Lord and no lesse was the heauinesse that Pertinax discouered to behold himselfe an Emperour for he said that this name or title of imperie or regiment was the thing that euery man desired for himself and in others did most abhorre No signe of an Emperour would Pertinax cōsent to accompanie him vntil he and the Senatours had séene conferred and saluted ech other and all ioyntly being mounted vpon the height of the Capitol where the imperial cloth of estate was placed Pertinax would by no meane sit downe in that imperial seat but tooke the Consul Glabriō by the arme and by strong hand would haue set him in the same seriously affirming that it apperteined much better vnto his deseruing Glabrion was a Romane in age very auncient in cōdition very mild in gouernment very wise in life of great sinceritie in bloud much estéemed for that he was descended by the right line of king Aeneas sonne vnto Anchises and sonne in lawe vnto king Priamus and father to Aschanius When Glabrion perceiued Pertinax to persist with so great instance to inuest him with the Empire he said vnto him in the presence of the whole Senate the humble humilitie which thou shewest Pertinax in the want of merit of the Empire the same maketh thée of deseruing sufficient of the Empire vnto which election all wée of the Senate do consent not moued thereunto by the election of the armie but to sée thée make so smal accompt of thy selfe in such wise that this thy refusal yeldeth thy merit sufficient A great while was the whole Senat persuading Pertinax to condescend to their request which is to wit to accept the Empire but his repugnance was so great that in a manner by force they placed him in the chayre and that which is more the whole Senate perceiued that he did nothing feynedly for it was lamentable to heare the lamentation which hee made and to sée the abundance of teares which he shed But afterwards when hée was placed in the imperial chaire Pertinax spake vnto the Senate after this maner His Oration to the Senate THAT which I will now speake vnto you fathers conscript the God Iupiter in whose house now we stand be my witnes I wil not therin deceiue you for this place being consecrate vnto the gods as it is it should be great sacrilege for men to aduenture to lye therein For all weaknesse which men commit they may haue excuse except it be for lying because vnto other vices humane weakenes doth inuite or intice vs but to lye we are not moued but with our owne proper malice Fathers conscript ye see how Commodus your Emperour is dead and the destinies haue brought to passe that I succeede him in the Empire perchance for as much as he did wishe mee euill and his workes of my part not very well liked it may be thought of you that the manner of his death was first notified vnto mee and his life cut off by my deuice wherein throughly to satisfie you I sweare and protest by the immortall gods that of this fault I am not guiltie because I was so innocent thereof that when they said that Commodus was dead at that instant I thought he had sent to haue slaine mee Notwithstanding that both he and we shal all die I would not that so straunge a death should haue finished his dayes not because Commodus did not deserue the same but for the great bond which our mother Rome doth owe vnto his father Marcus Aurelius for it many times happeneth that the errours of the children be recompenced with the merittes of their fathers I was seruant and aduaunced of the good Marcus Aurelius which is the greatest weale that the destinies might haue giuen me in this world I say it is to this end because it should be great griefe vnto me if in my presence any thing should be said either in my absence any thing should be done against his sonne Commodus although he be now dead for that in my heart I finde my selfe much more bound to acknowledge the great goodnes which I receiued of my Lord Marcus Aurelius then to reueng the iniuries that I suffered of his sonne Commodus Beleue mee fathers cōscript that if ye shall do cōtrary vnto this which I haue said it may be that obseruing time wherin I shall find my selfe it shal be necessarie to dissemble it but I may not cease greatly to feele it The prouidence of the gods is farre different from the deuices of men that which moueth me to this speach is that when I was a yong man I much desired the Empire and might not atteine it and now that I am old and do abhorre it they force mee to take it in such wise they giue vs that which we hate and denie vs that which we seeke or craue When I began to hold offices in the common wealth I thought it most certeine that it was no humaine matter but a diuine dignitie to be a Romane Emperour but after I tasted of the trauells of commaundements and of authoritie and vnderstoode the peril to reigne I did
death of the Emperour Pertinax that was old honourable to refourme the Senate of such as dare amongest them to aduenture to giue euil counsel for that I conceiue to serue my common wealth no lesse in clensing vices then defending enimies That which Seuerus saide vnto the Ambassadours of Capua in secrete presently they discouered openly which being vnderstood in Rome the Senatours receiued thereof greate sorrowe and the people greate pleasure because the one did hope to attaine libertie and the other did feare chasticement Iulianus gathered all his men of warre to the vttermost of his power and sent them against Seuerus vnder the conduction of Tullius Crispinus the which after he was aduertised that Seuerus had taken Rauenna and all the countrie adioyning returned vnto Rome which feminine acte gaue dismaye vnto Iulianus and courage vnto Seuerus Iulianus also commaunded a muster to be made in the field of Mars of all the Pretorian armies and he him selfe came to take a view and an accompt of them conferring such as came vnto the muster with the names that were written and receiued money at the paye of thrée partes there appeared not one whereof Iulianus collected that Seuerus came not onely with confidence of such as he lead with him but also of them which remained in Rome Greate pleasure was it vnto the popular sorte to beholde howe Iulianus was forsaken of his capteines and not attended on of his Pretorians because euery daye their hatred did increase against him and their loue with Seuerus Notwithstanding Iulianus procured munition victuals repaired the walles made trenches aduaunced engins and sent scoutes into the fieldes all which deuises smally profited the sorrowfull Emperour Iulianus for if he helde the walles of Rome his enimies possessed the heartes of the Romaines Iulianus suspecting that Letus and Martianus being two Consuls and men of greate reputation should practise with Seuerus commaunded them to be slaine without accusation or iudgement CHAP. V. ¶ Howe by the commaundement of the Senate the Emperour Iulianus was slaine VNtill Iulianus had slaine the afore named noble Consuls the Romaines reputed him onely couetous and ambitious but from thencefoorth they published him to be couetous ambitious suspicious and cruell for it was a lawe amongest them much vsed to take away the life of no citizen of Rome before he were heard to saye for him selfe After that Iulianus perceiued the Senate to growe sorrowfull and the people escandalized for the death of Letus and Martianus he came to greate repentance although to small purpose for it was past his handes to giue life vnto the dead either to reconcile him selfe into the grace and fauour of the liuing Princes and ministers of iustice ought to be very muche considered and no lesse aduised in crediting their suspicions and to auoide either choler or rashenesse in their executions to the ende that after it happen not that for the deedes of one daye they haue to remedie and also to bewaile all the dayes of their life With greate instance Iulianus requested the Senate that they with the Priestes and vestall virgins would méete Seuerus and his armie with procession to sée if they might pacifie with prayers whome they might not resist with armes This suite the Consul Faustius resisted saying that it were not conuenient that the sacred Senate either the Priestes of the temples or the holie vestall virgins should intend matters of warre for the office of such was to solicite the Gods to giue vs peace and further the Consul Faustius saide he that possesseth an Empire and knoweth not to defend an Empire containeth the indignitie of an Empire This answere was no lesse displeasant vnto Iulianus then pleasant vnto the Senatours whereby he obteined not that which he desired and they grewe vnbridled to speake at large Iulianus not contented with that which was done but called in secret certeine his capteines and friendes whome he commaunded soudeinly to enter armed into the Senate and to saye vnto the Senatours that of two thinges they had to make choyce that is to say to lose their liues or else to obey his commaundementes Amongest the other capteines there was one named Crispinus which saide vnto Iulianus he is to be thought no small enimie of thine that gaue this counsell because if thou be well aduised for thy loue the Senate haue declared them selues to be an enimie to Seuerus and nowe if thou attempt to kil them they will aunswere that they will obey thée and on the other parte they will declare Seuerus to be a friende vnto the people and thou an enimie vnto Seuerus and further the Gods neuer permitte that thou shouldest giue foorth any such commaundement or that I should perfourme it for if he be euil that giueth euil counsell more vile is he that executeth the same Iulianus chaunging his conceite practised with the Senate that he woulde yelde vp the Empire vnto whome it might please them which they liked verie well but durst not at that present to debate therein for Seuerus at that time was so neare vnto Rome that it was rather in his handes to take the Empire then to receiue it at the handes of the Senate Iulianus forgate not to sende his Capteine Crispinus against Seuerus against whome Seuerus sent another capteine named Iulius Lucius who ouercame in the battaile and slewe Crispinus When Iulianus considered howe his enimies preuailed and his friendes did forsake him he purposed to take the aduise of Witches inchaunters and soothesayers to vnderstand his destinies and the Fortune of Seuerus and the case was thus that after he assembled many Sorcerers and Magicians in his owne house he made them practise many sorceries and inchauntments and to sing and praye many filthie terrible and fowle thinges And as they after reported which were present he him selfe chaunged countenaunce and with staring hayres discouered him self to be in great terrour Iulianus came vnto the Senatours crauing their aduise howe he should prouide and behaue him selfe for that Seuerus approched and fauoured of Fortune who had him in contempt None of the Senatours aunswered one worde but the Cōsul Geminus which said neither art thou worthie of counsell or deseruest remedie since thou hast forsaken the Senators which should haue giuē thee counsell and wentest vnto Sorcerers who could not but deceiue for that in such a case being inuironed with sinister fortune it had beene more sounde and sure counsell to haue gone vnto the priestes to haue pacified the Gods with their sacrifices then vnto sorcerers which by witchcrafts should leade thee into their indignation Iulianus sent vnto Capua all his guarde the swoorde players of Rome whose capteines were Lelius Titianus and Claudianus Pompeyanus which he did to the ende Seuerus shoulde thinke that since he had courage to sende to offende him he should haue no lesse to abide him The father in lawe of Iulianus was named Aratmensis whome Iulianus persuaded and requested to take halfe the Empire
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
but that which was more odious vppon wagers would kill a whole kinred vntil they left no persone in whome any remembrance might remaine Many noble persons were determined to haue slaine Bassianus in the beginning of his Empire which they left not vndone for his deseruing either for want of will but for doubt that after his death many should rise with the Empire for presently they thought it lesse euill to suffer one then to resist many Now when Bassianus sawe himselfe rich in treasure of the temples and obeyed of the Pretorians he determined to mount aloft vpon the high Capitol and there to speake vnto the Senat partly to giue accompt of that which was done and partly to giue them to vnderstād what he would doe Being placed in the middest of the Senate and set in the imperiall chaire and euery man vsing silence he said after this manner CHAP. VI. ¶ Of a certaine speach vsed of Bassianus vnto the Senate excusing himselfe of the death of his brother Geta. ALthough in age I am but younge and in mine attemptes reputed as rash yet I cease not to confesse that I am in great hatred with the people and that my death should as much content them as now my life is displeasant vnto them And as princes are in the view of all persons so are all their works iudged of al men and from thence it procedeth that their iust attempts are praised of many but their errours condemned of all They that presume to iudge the woorkes of princes are not alwayes so iuste that they iudge continually conformable vnto iustice for as many times they praise the prince with lies so it may happen that they accuse them with malice One of the extremest trauels that princes haue is that such as throng in themselues to talke of our liues and to examine our deeds and actes they talke not as we liue but as we vse and deale with them for if we honour magnifie them they report we be no princes but gods but if we chastise and bring them downe they say wee be no men but furies Many times princes do chastise many not because we delight to punish but that it so agreeth with the imperiall authoritie so to be done for as with rewardes and pardons wee magnifie our pierie clemencie so it is cōuenient that with rigorous chastisements wee make our iustice to bee esteemed Many presume to iudge the vices of princes which if they were princes would not onely commit thinges worthie of iudgement but also iustly to be depriued of the Empire for the knowledge of good gouernement is not a thing that men obtaine of themselues but a gift which the Gods do giue vnto whome they please There is no prince so absolute or dissolute that at the least in his gouernment desireth not to be iust but what shall wee doe that haue no more power but to wish to do well and the gods onely to giue grace to gouerne well But comming to the case now chaunced for which the whole multitude with me be escādalized I sweare by the immortall gods that if the truth as it was were manifested I should be found without blame but I am of the one part so vnfortunate and of th other part the multitude is so variable that it many times happeneth that of my manifest actes they say nothing and of that which neuer passed my thought they accuse me O ye iust gods vnto you all I appeale as witnesses who first would haue kild the other either whether my brother Geta would haue slaine mee or I would haue slaine him for ye well vnderstand that being reposed on my bed he entered vpon me with a naked sword with which hee would haue drawne forth my soule if by chaunce I had not found one at my beds head If hee was the beginner of that quarrel and that fortune would fauour me at that instant wherefore being vtterly without any fault should I be blamed of all persons in Rome What greater testimonie would ye of my innocencie but respecting that hee being the person that offended and I the man that defended my selfe the gods haue brought vppon him that which hee ment to perfourme on mee neither in any good iudgement may it be conteined that if by malice or enuie I would haue slaine my brother that I should execute the same by stealth and within the sacred palace for that in so enorme a case I deserued not so much chastisement for the deede as to committe the same in the place where that was done I will not denie that vnto my brother I was not bound to honour him loue him succour him and to deale well with him but I will not confesse that I was bound for all treasons and iniuries to suffer him for as it is honourable for great princes to dissemble pardō iniuries that are done to them by their inferiours so necessarie is it for them to reuenge the discourtesies and displeasures done vnto them by their betters or equals It is notorious vnto al men that in times past many princes of the Romaine Empire had brethren with whom they might not endure but that many of them were slaine ▪ or at the least driuen out of the Empire for in fine there is none of so great temperaunce that in case of commaundement would haue a companion no not his brother Consider the behauiour of Remus and Romulus Tiberius and Germanicus Titus and Domitian Marcus and Lucius others infinite that were brethren amongest whome vppon the point of commaundement and gouernement there arose so great displeasures and vnkindnes not as though they had beene natural brethren but as most cruel enimies O fathers conscript and friends giue thanks vnto the Gods that haue preserued your prince safe soūd for that with out cause they would not haue giuen him his death and conserued my life for the workes of our gods are so profound secreate and vnknowne that althoughe wee see what they doe yet wee see not the end why they do it Amongest all the gods onely Iupiter is he that hath dominion and so amongest al men the god Iupiter would not but that onely one should possesse the Empire for it were no lesse monstruous to gouerne the Empire by two persons then one body to haue two heads If for all the Heauens one God be sufficient and for all Bees but one king and all members be gouerned with one heart all birds haue but one guide I demaund of you my friends to gouerne the common wealth of Rome if one man be not sufficient As we haue read in bookes of our forefathers and as we haue seene in our dayes there is nothing more conuenient vnto the Romane Empire as to be gouerned by one only person for that we haue seene more warres raised vppon which prince should commaund then for any disobedience of subiects Howe fierce warres were raised betwixt Silla Marius Caesar and Pompeie Augustus and Marcus
bred manie wilde beastes he woulde remaine in the thickest thereof for that he was more giuen to chase in mountaines then to hawke in fieldes The captaines of Bassianus armie were two Romanes named Audentius and Macrinus Audentius was a rustical person as concerning maters of the cōmon wealth but verie expert valiaunt in warrelike affaires Macrinus contrarywise in gouerning the common wealth was wise and skilfull but in martiall affaires somewhat negligent and not ouer fortunate Bassianus did like very well of Audentius and no lesse euill of Macrinus and did not only wishe but also said of him much euill murmuring that hée was negligent a coward vitious an epicure a glutton that did eate much and drincke not a litle and that at his comming to Rome he would remoue him from all charge in matters of warre Macrinus was a man very wel learned and in his speach no lesse reformed and in all thinges that they said vnto him touching that which Bassianus should speake of him he aunswered that whatsoeuer his good lord had said of him was spoken of great affection not to the end to defame him as an enimie but to correcte him as a sonne Although Macrinus vsed this speach openly yet he had other matter in his hart secretly as afterwards in the successe of affaires it manifestly appeared for at such time as Bassianus would haue remoued Macrinus from his honour and estate Macrinus dispatched him of his life The case was thus that Bassianus being inclined of his owne proper nature to knowe secretes not onely of men but also of Gods and diuels alwayes fearing himselfe that by practise of some treason they would take away his life hée was neuer void of the conuersation of Sorcerers sothsayers and inchanters to aduertise him how long hee should liue and what death hee should die Not satisfied with such Magicians sothsayers sorcerers and inchaunters as did attend on his person in the warres hee would send vnto the Prefect of Rome named Maternianus to whome Bassianus committed the credite of his secretes writinge a letter vnto him with his owne proper hande commaunding him with great diligence and secrecie to assemble Magicians Sorcerers Sothsayers Inchaunters and Astrologians to know of them not onely how long he should liue and how he should die but also to demaund of them if there were any person within the Empire that desired or procured to be Emperour Maternianus performed all that which his Lord Bassianus had written vnto him whether it were any magician or sothsayer that said it either any enimie of Macrinus finding opportunitie for his purpose Maternianus did write and aduertise Bassianus that he had assembled all the sorcerers inchanters diuiners magicians sothesayers astrologians and augurs and that the resolution of their counsell was that if hee would enioy the Empire it were conuenient that Macrinus were slaine At the instant when the post returned with his letters from Rome Bassianus was placed in his coche to go foorth on hunting not remēbring what he had written either presuming what might be writtē said vnto Macrinus that he should open and read them all and if that he found therin matter of great importance to consult therin and al other smal matters that he himselfe should prouide aunswere and dispatch Macrinus reading these letters as wel such as were written vnto Bassianus as vnto himself came also to read the letter of Maternianus wherin he aduertised Bassianus of the aunswere which the magicians had giuen him which is to say that presently it were conuenient that Macrinus should be put to death whereof he was not a litle abashed holding it for great good hap that this secrete had chaunced into his onely handes before any other person for at the instant that Bassianus might haue read this letter he would haue cōmaunded Macrinus his head to flée from his shoulders Macrinus doubting that Maternianus might returne to write of the former matter vnto Bassianus and that were it but for cōcealing that letter hee would shorten him by the shoulders aduised to practise the death of Bassianus before he should experiment the same on him Amongest them that garded the person of Bassianus there was one Martianus who accordingly had a brother also of his guard him for a small displeasure Bassianus commaunded to be slaine and with Martianus vsed woords of great despite in such maner that Martianus with those woords remayned disgraced of his brothers death gréeued and afflicted After Macrinus vnderstoode this passion to reigne in Martianus against Bassianus hee first entered with him in familiaritie and gaue him siluer and gold receiued him into his friendship and euery day lead him into remembrance of the vniust death of his brother to the ende hee should not growe cold but hote in hatred against Bassianus Now when Macrinus felt that by his benefits he had recouered Martianus for his faithful friēd and brought him into great disdaine and mortall hatred of Bassianus he grew to cōposition to depriue him of his life for which déede his reward should be great whereof Martianus did take great delighte and bound himselfe to performe the same partly to reuenge the death of his brother as also to condescend vnto the request of his friend Macrinus Bassianus being resident in Careuca a citie of Mesopotamia came foorth to visite a temple of the Goddesse Luna two miles distant from the citie and being constrayned vppon the way to vnburden his bellie hee entered the thickest of the couert accompanied but with one seruaunt and Martianus that attended but opportunitie to accōplish his promise entered vppon Bassianus being withdrawen into the thickest of the shrubs prosecuting his necessitie al alone Martianus strake him with a launce downe flat vppon the ground which wound was so mortall that without more woordes or strength to moue where the launce went in the life came out After that Martianus had slaine Bassianus he toke his horse and fled but as the imperiall guard was at hand within a leage he was ouertaken and slaine with launces in such wise that after hee had taken reuengmēt of his enimie he enioyed his life but one hour This was the end of the vnhappie Emperour Bassianus whose life did merite a slaunderous death for that it was not vnreasonable that he which had kild so many friends by treason should be slaine with enimies CHAP. XIIII ¶ How Macrinus excusing himselfe of the death of Bassianus did aduaunce himselfe with the Empire ON the selfe same day that Antoninus Bassianus was borne which was the eight of April he was slaine xliiij yeares of his age being accomplished and vj yeares of his Empire and reigne expired The first man that came vnto him after he was slaine was Macrinus who bewailed his death with so great dissimutation as if he had not béene the mā that procured so vile a déede Macrinus was right fortunate that Martianus was slaine when hee was taken for all men thought and also said that Martianus had