Injecit emovitque culpas Et veteres revocavit artes Our Saviour was born in the 42. year of his reigne say Epiphanius and Eusebius 41. say Tertullian and Irenaeus Receiving a challenge from Anthony he returned him this answer That if Anthony had a disposition to dye or were weary of life there were waies enough else to death besides that Thus the challenge was rejected and yet his Honour untainted Affectabat jocos salvo tamen Maâ—estatis pudorisque respectu He was very pleasant and had both an excellent dexterity in breaking of Jests and was very patient likewise in bearing of flouts Probrosis in se dictis arrisit He made himself merry with reprochful speeches touching himself therein manifesting his clemency and also his wisedome When he had by Proclamation promised a great sum of money to him that should bring in that famous Pirate Corocota and put him in his power He knowing the Emperors mild and pleasant vein took the boldnesse to come himself and told him that he was Corocota which came to submit himself and demanded the sum promised to him that should bring him in Augustus both pardoned him and gave him the money Dion Macrobius reporteth of him that when he heard that at the commandment of Herod all the children of Syria under two yeares old were slain and that in the stirre his own son was also slain Melius est inquit ille Herodis porcum esse quam puerum I had rather saith he be Herods swine then his son He commanded Herennius a dissolute young man to depart out of the Camp and when he submissively entreated him not to send him home alledging that he could not tell what to say to his Father he answered Dic me tibi displicuisse say that I displeased thee When Pacuvius did petere ab eo congiarium and said That it was commonly spoken among men that he had given him a great deal of money Sed tu inquit noli credere Galba who had a crooked back pleading before him and often saying Corrige in me si quid reprehendis If you find any fault in me correct it Augustus answered Ego te monere possum corrigere non possum I can but admonish thee I cannot correct thee Being entertained by one at a Banquet very meanly and sparingly after all was finished he departed and at his farewell onely whispered this in his ear Non putabam me tibi tam familiarem I did not think we had been so familiar When one tilled the place where his Father was buried he said Hoc verè est monumentum Patris colere He was cholerick by nature but his patience in bearing of bitter Jests deserved much to be commended A certain Countrey-man came to Rome who did much resemble him in outward feature insomuch that all mens eyes were cast upon him and Augustus hearing of it caused him to be brought before him asking him this question Whether his Mother had ever been at Rome the young man answered No but his Father had oftentimes He sitting between Virgil and Horace being asked by one what he did answered Sedeo inter suspiria lachrymas per suspiria intelligens Virgilium suspirabundum per lachrymas Horatium lippientem He hearing that a certain Gentleman of Rome who was deeply indebted did sleep most securely desired to buy the Bed whereupon he rested it seeming a matter of much marvel to him that one fallen into so deep arrerages could take his rest so well When a souldier bragged too much of a great scarre in his forehead he asked him if he did not get it when he looked back as he fled He wrote a Tragedie called Ajax which afterwards because it displeased him he blotted out with a spunge Therefore when Lucius a writer of Tragedies asked him what his Ajax did Caesar very wittily answered In spongiam incubuit alluding to the Argument of the Fable in which Ajax when he knew what things he had spoken and done in his madnesse lying upon his sword kild himself Besides the pretty allusion unto the fabulous History of Ajax Torrentius hath observed in the word Spongia a double signification viz. a Spunge called deletilis which writers had at hand either to wipe and wash out what misliked them or to blur and blot the same whereupon Martial saith of it Vtilis haec quoties scripta novare voles and also a Sword which addeth the better grace unto the conceit considering that Ajax fell upon his own sword Having conquered his enemy and returning home victorious amongst others that came to congratulate his happy conquest there was one holding a Crow which he had taught to say Ave Caesar Victor Imperator God save the Emperour and Conquerer He wondering to see the Bird so officious gave a great sum of money for him His fellow workman to whom none of that liberality came affirmed that he had at home another Crow for Caesar which he intreated he might bring being brought he expressed the words which he had learned Ave victor Imperator Antoni The Emperour being nothing provoked therewith thought it sufficient to bid him divide the donative with the other being saluted in like manner of a Parret he caused him to be bought This example allured a poor Cobler to try whether he could teach a Crow to use the like salutation but he being at great expences in vain was wont often to say Opera Impensa periit all my paines and charge is lost but at the last the Crow began to utter the same salutation which Augustus once hearing as he passed by he answered Satis domi salutatorum talium habâ—o I have such saluters enough at home The Crow remembred to adde that which he had heard his Master complaining say Opera impensa periit at which Caesar laughed and gave more for him then any of the rest that he had bought Quis expedivit Psittaco suum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corvos quis olim concavum salutare Picasque docuit verba nostra conari Magister artis ingenique largitor Venter negatas Artifex sequi voces He wrote a bitter Satyre against a Poet but he wiped his lips and replved not saying Periculosum est in eum scribere qui potest proscribere Suetonius writeth of him that he loved the expressions of the good will of his friends and especially such as appeared by some Legacy given at their death but yet whatsoever it was he would return it at one time or other to their children with advantage He wished three things to his Son the favour of Pompey the boldnesse of Alexander and his own fortune He was not without his vices being very impatient secretly envious and openly factious very desirous to rule and much given to dicing Though he was a man severe enough yet he did not know the exceeding wantonnesse of Iulia his own daughter and her open and audacious boldnesse but
Suetonius seemes to be of a contrary opinion for he saith That he was much ashamed of her and that once he thought to put her to death And when a freed woman of his named Phoebe one that was privy to Julia's lewdnesse knit her own neck in a halter and so ended her daies he gave it out That he wisht with all his heart he had been Phoeb'es Father Out of great indignation against his two Daughters and Posthumus Agrippa his Grand-child whereof the first two were infamous and the last otherwise unworthy he would say that they were not his seed but some impostume broken from him and he used this verse of them O utinam aut coelebs mansissem aut prole carerē He was almost peerelesse in his Government yet there are to be found so many misfortunes in his life that a man cannot easily discern whether he was more miserable or more happy Bonam mortem putabat celerem insperatam quae nulla aegritudine pulsaret fores So often as he heard of a man that had a quick passage with little sence of grief he wished for himself and his such Euthanasy such an easie death He being at the point to dye thus addressed himself called for his looking-glasse commanded to have his hair and beard combed Et malas labentes corrigi his riveled cheeks smoothed up then asking his friends if he had acted his part well Cum it a responderint vos omnes igitur inquit Plaudite Aulus Gellius mentioneth that he sent a letter unto his step-son to this effect Rejoyce with me my Son for I have past over that deadly year and enemy to old age threescore and three in which number the sevenths and ninths do concur He lived fifteen yeers after Christ was born and dyed in his 76. year He was beloved of his people for they erected a statue to Musas the Physitian who in a sicknesse recovered him and placed it by Aesculapius and the Senate much honoured him being dead by consecrating Temples to him at Rome and in other famous Cities and all the people much lamented his death using that speech Vtinam aut non nasceretur aut non moreretur would he had never been born or never dyed Paterculus said of the Roman Empire after Augustus death when there was such hope of enemies feare of friends expectation of trouble in all Tanta fuit unius viri Majestas ut nec bonis neque contra malos opus armis foret◠such was the Majesty of one man that his very presence tooke away all use of Armes Choyce Observations OF TIBERIUS CAESAR LIVIA his Mother whiles she went with child of him among many and sundry experiments which she made and signes that she observed and all to know whether she should bring forth a man-child or no took closely an Egge from under a Henne that was sitting and kept it warm sometime in her own otherwhiles in her womans hands by turns one after another so long untill there was hatched a Cock-chicken with a notable combe upon the head And when he was but a very babe Scribonius the Astrologer gave out and warranted great matters of him and namely that he should one day reigne as Monarch but yet without the Royall Ensignes for as yet the Soveraigne power of the Caesars was unknown He was of Personage tall corpulent big set and strong of stature above the ordinary broad between the shoulders and large breasted fair of complexion great goggle-eyed whereby he saw so clearly as is incredible to report He used both hands alike his joynts were so firm that with his finger he was able to boar through a green and sound table with a fillop also to break the head of a good big boy his speech was exceeding slow not without a certain wanton gesticulation and fumbling with his fingers He refused the Empire a long time putting on a most impudent and shamelesse mind and seeming to rebuke his friends encouraging him thereto as those who knew not what a monstrous and untamed beast an Empire was He also held the Senate in suspence by ambiguous answers and crafty delayes when they besought him to take it upon him yea and humbly debased themselves before his knees insomuch as some of them could endure him no longer and one among the rest in that tumult cryed out aloud Let him either doe it at once or else give over quite and another openly to his face upbraided him in these words Caeteri quod pollicentur tardè praestant tu quod praestas tardè polliceris Whereas other men be slack in doing and performing that which they have promised thou art slack in promising that which thou performest In the end as if he had been compelled and complaining withall that there was imposed upon his shoulders a miserable and burdensome servitude he took the Empire upon him The cause of this holding off and delay that he made was the fear of imminent dangers on every side in so much as he would often say Lupum se auribus tenere he held a Wolf by the ears Hee knowing excellently well how to conceal his own private passions made himself be known to be an excellent Doctor in the cunning Art of discovering other mens thoughts by which he may be said to set the roof over the Roman Monarchy Advertisements from Parnassus by Bocalini Century 2. Advertis 33. See more there He was very patient when any bad rumours or slanderous Libels were cast out either of himself or those about him and was wont to say how wisely I determine not In civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere That in a free State men ought to have both tongue and thought free He taxed the indiscretion of the Ilienses comforting him long after the death of his Son with this answer That he also was very sorry for them because they had lost that worthy Citizen Hector one dead many hundred years before He was mild and gracious at the first and seemed to be enclined to the good of the Common-wealth when the Presidents and Governours abroad gave him counsell to burthen the Provinces with heavie Tributes and Taxes he wrote back unto them Boni Pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere That it was the part of a good shepheard to shear his sheep and not to flea them He held it good policy not to change his Officers often lest new ones succeeding should oppresse the people too much whereas the old having meanes to enrich themselves would not so fleece them in the latter end as at the beginning making hast to do it lest they were removed before they could feather their nests well See Montagues Acts and Monum of the Church c. 5. p. 37. That by his own Example he might put forward the publick frugality he himself at his solemn and festivall suppers caused oftentimes to be
through his insatiable desire of blood would with his tongue suck and lick of the blood that stuck upon the sword or dagger Videtur Natura edidisse saith Seneca ut ostenderet quid summa vitia in summa fortuna possent Nature seemed to have brought him forth to shew what effects the greatest vices joyned with the greatest fortune could produce And it may justly be verified of his times what Senecca saith in another place Res humanas sub illo in eum statum decidisse ut inter misericordiae opera haberetur occidi Under him things were brought to that passe as it was reckoned amongst the workes of mercy to be slain De quo nescio an decuerit memoriae prodi nisi sorte quia juvat de Principibus nosse omnia ut improbi saltem famae metu talia declinent Concerning whom saith Aurel. Victor I know not whether it shall be meet to have recorded any thing but that peradventure it is expedient to know all things of Princes that wicked men at least with fear of the report may decline such things He was very expert in the Greek and vulgar Roman Tongues He was also of a fluent speech and if he had been to plead and declaime against one when he was angry once he had both words and sentences at will when he was about to make an Oration his manner was to threaten in these termes viz. That he would draw forth and let drive at his adversary the keen weapon and dart of his night-study by Candle-light He would have removed the writings of Virgi◠and Livie out of all Libraries he said Virgil was a man of no wit and very mean learning and taxed Livie of verbosity and negligence in penning his History He said Seneca's works were Arena sine calce Sand without Lime because he often spoke short Sentences having no connexion amongst themselves Nepotinis sumptibus omnium prodigorum ingenia superavit In riotous and wastfull expences he exceeded the wits and inventions of all the prodigall spend-thrifts that ever were inventing most monstrous kinds of meats and making sumptuous Feasts He would drink off most precious and costly Pearls dissolved in Vinegar Luxus fuit portentosi ut qui etiam panes deauratos habuerit He spent in one year two Millions and 700000. of Sestertiums He would set before his Guests loaves of Bread and other viands all of Gold saying commonly withall Aut frugi hominem esse oportere aut Caesarem That a man must either be frugall or else Caesar. He held the wills of great men as void and of no effect in case any person would come forth and say That they purposed and intended at their death to make Caesar their Heir he declared also by an Edict that he would receive New-yeares gifts and so he stood the first day of Ianuary in the entrie of his house ready to take what pieces of money soever came which the multitude of all sects and degrees with full hands and bosomes powred out before him nay he took such delight in handling of mony that oftentimes he would both walk bare-footed up and down yea and wallow also a good while with his whole body upon huge heapes of coyned pieces of gold spread here and there in a most large open place There were in his secret Cabinet found two Bookes bearing divers titles The one had for the inscription Gladius the Sword the other Pugio i. e. the Dagger or Rapier They contained both of them the markes and names of such as were appointed unto death There was found beside a big chest full of divers and sundry poisons which soon after being by Claudius drowned in the Sea infected and poisoned the same and many Fishes were killed therewith which the Tide cast into the next shores He set light by the gods and threatned the Aire if it rained upon his Game-players Quanta dementia fuit putavit aut sibi noceri ne a Iove quidem posse aut se nocere Iovi posse Senec. de Ira. lib. 1. cap. 16. How great madnesse was it to think that either Iupiter could not hurt him or that himself could hurt Jupiter Yet notwithstanding at the least thunder and lightning he used to wink close with both eyes to enwrap also and cover his whole head but if the same were greater and somewhat extraordinary he would start out of his Bed and hide himself under the Bed-sted Dion reporteth of two that when the Emperour was sick thinking to get much as a reward for their great love to the Emperour vowed that on condition he might live they themselves would dye to excuse him he recovering afterward took them at their word and put them to death least they should break their vow and prove perjured persons Having recalled one from exile which had been long banished he demanded of him What he was wont to do there Who made answer thus by way of flattery I prayed quoth he to the gods alwayes that Tiberius as now it is come to passe might perish and you become Emperour Hereupon Caligula thinking that those whom he had banished prayed likewise for his death sent about into the Islands to kill them every one Sueton. In taking the review of Goales and Prisoners therein as they were sorted to their offences he without once looking upon the title and cause of their imprisonment standing onely within a Gallery commanded that all in the midst à calvo ad calvunt that is from one bald pate to another should be led forth to execution Sueton. He was murthered at last himself who had put so many to death He lived 29. years saith Suetonius 39. Eutropius He reigned three years ten moneths and eight dayes say Suetonius and Eutropius four years say Clemens Tacitus and Sextus Aurel. four years ten moneths and eight dayes saith Beda three years nine moneths 28. dayes saith Dion three years eight moneths and thirteen dayes saith Tertullian three years six moneths Iosephus three years nine moneths 22. dayes saith Epiphanius but the whole time of his reigne was three yeares ten moneths and eight dayes They which give to him full four yeares count the odde moneths and dayes for a whole year Valerius Asiaticus who had been Consul came forth among the people who were in an uproar because of the rumours of the Emperours death supposing it a strange matter that no man knew who had slain the Emperour whilst every one enquired who it was that had done the deed O said he would it had been I that had done it His death concerned the security of the Lawes and the safety of all men and had he not been speedily cut off Our Nation saith Iosephus almost had been utterly exterminated His monies were all melted by the decree of the Senate as King Richard the thirds Cognizance the white Bore was torn from every signe that his Monument might perish Speed Choyce
was his prisoner twice he was set at liberty after his first imprisonment at Rome Phil. 1. 25. Philem. 22. Heb. 13. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 16. 17. The reason is thus alledged by Eusebius Neronem in principio Imperii mitiorem fuisse That Nero in the beginning of his Empire was more gentle and mild but afterward when Paul was taken again Nero then being become a most cruell Tyrant caused him to be put to death He dyed in the 14. year of Nero's reigne and the 37. year after the Passion of Christ. Seneca disswaded him from killing some with this speech licet saith he quà m plurimos occidas tamen non potes successorem tuum occidere Xiphiline Although thou killest very many yet thou canst not kill thy Successor The Tyrannous rage of this Emperour was so fierce against the Christians as Eusebius reporteth usque adeò ut videret repletas humanis corporibus civitates jacentes mortuos simul cum parvulis senes faeminarumque absque ulla sexus reverentia in publico rejecta starent cadavera i. e. Insomuch that a man might then see Cities lye full of mens bodies the old lying there with the young and the dead bodies of women cast out naked without all reverence of that Sex in the open streets In this persecution also James the greater and the lesse Philip Bartholomew Barnabas Mark suffered Christians were covered in wild beasts skins and torn in pieces with Dogs or fastned on crosses or burnt in fire and when the day failed they were burnt in the night to make them serve as torches to give light They put a pitched coat upon the Christians to make them burn the better called Tunica molesta a troublesome coat Sulpitius Severus observes this of Nero in the 3. book of his History that it was his own bad life which made him hate Christians for he still thought they censured him and could not but expect what they knew he deserved He caused Rome to be set on fire in twelve places together that he might the better conceive the flames of Troy singing unto it Homer's verses and being a pleasant Spectator thereof as at a Feu-de-joy Ad levandam sceleris atrocitatem saith Polyd. Virgil to avoyd the infamy thereof he laid the fault on the innocent and suborned some falsly to accuse the Christians as Authors of that fire whereupon hee put many of them to death but Tacitus will clear them who yet was their enemy Non perinde saith hee crimine incendii quà m odio humani generis convicti sunt Suetonius being no Christian calleth the Christians men of new and pernicious superstition Afflâ—cti suppliciis Christiani saith he genus hominum superstitionis novae malesicae Under Nero to do ill was not alwaies safe alwaies unsafe to do well He was so hatefull an adversary to all righteousnesse that Eusebius following the example and words of Tertullian affirmeth that if the Gospel had not been an excellent thing it had not been condemned by Nero. He was as Augustine witnesseth commonly reputed Antichrist He came into the world an Agrippa or born with his feet forward and turn'd the world upside down before he went out of it In him alone all the corruptions which had been ingendred in Rome from the birth of Rome till his own daies seemed drawn together into one impostume or boyl When one in common talk upon a time chanced to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When vitall breath is fled from me Let earth with fire mingled be Nay rather quoth hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whiles vitall spirit remaines in me He had a desire though it were foolish and inconsiderate of eternity and perpetuall fame and therefore abolishing the old names of many things and places he did put upon them new after his own He called the Moneth April Neroneus he meant also to have named Rome Neropolis Nero's City He pronounced an oration composed by Seneca It was observed that he was the first Emperour that needed another mans Eloquence for Julius Caesar was equall with the famous Orators and Augustus had a ready fluent and eloquent speech such as well became a Prince Tiberius had great skill in weighing his words yea Caligula's troubled mind hindered not his eloquence neither wanted Claudius elegancy when he had premeditated The study of Nero was Versification which Tacitus thinks he borrowed having no gift therein at all but Suetonius who often doth disagree with Tacitus though unnamed both proves he had and proves it well It was one of his exercises to translate Greek Tragedies into Latine who made true Tragedies in blood such as even the Greekes never feigned Nothing netled him more then when he was blamed by Vindex for an unskilfull Musician he said of himself a little before his death Qualis Artifex pereo What an excellent Artisan do I dye meaning of his skill in playing of Tragedies as indeed his whole life and death was all but one Tragedy Vespasian asked Apollonius what was Nero's overthrow he answered Nero could touch and tune the Harp well but in Government sometimes he uâ—ed to winde the pinnes too high and sometimes to let them down too low thereby intimating that he applyed Corrosives where gentle Lenitives would have served the turn and again he applyed Lenitives where Corrosives were needfull Additum nomine Neronis Donativum Militi congiarium plebi Tacit. 12. Annal. The Princes liberalities to the Souldiers were called Donativa which they bestowed upon some great victory or rather extraordinary occasion to the people or otherwise to his friends Congiaria doubtlesse because at the first certain measures called Congii of wine or oyl were bestowed and afterwards other things were given yet the ancient name remained Vindex first stirred the stone which rowling tumbled Nero out of his seat When it was told Iulius Vindex that Nero by publick Edict had prized his head at 10000. thousand Sesterces that is above four-score thousand pounds in our coine Well quoth he again and he that kils Nero and brings me his head shall have mine in exchange Qui Neronem interfecerit ad me caput ejus attulerit is meum accipiet caput in mercedis loco Xiphilin Nero consulting the Delphick or rather divellish Oracle he received this answer That he should take heed of the year 73. which he supposing to be meant of his own age rested secure being farre short of it but he was deluded by the ambiguous construction of those words and so fell into the hands of Galba a man indeed of those yeares At last the Senate proclaiming him a publick enemy unto Mankind condemned him to be drawn through the City and to be whipped to death which sentence when he heard of finding no man to strike him and exclaiming against them all What have I neither friend nor foe said he I have lived dishonourably let me dye shamefully and then he strake
personages of the Roman Empire not hearing them in their defence contrary to a Law which himself first made proving himself thereby truly to answer his name being as was said of him verè Pertinax verè Severus so that Silenus might well say in Iuliani Caesaribus I dare not speak against him I am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty 10. Antiochenus saith he was a great Souldier but his covetousnesse transported him beyond his valour He was more covetous and cruell then any of his Predecessors Tristan When he warred in Britain he commanded an universall slaughter of his enemies in these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let none escape your bloudy rage With terrour let all die Spare not the mother nor the babe Which in her womb doth lie Having taking Albinus prisoner he commanded him to be slain caused his body to be laid before his palace rode over him and at last cast his mangled corps the stench whereof could not be endured into the river Rhâ—sâ—e with the carkases of his wife and children Having compelled Nigers Captaines whose children he kept as pledges to betray Nigers affaires when he had attained his ends he slew them and their children He gained his sur-name Britannicus by building or at least repairing the Picts-wall between England and Scotland 132. miles in length against the incursions of the Scots and Picts At every miles end was a tower and pipes of brasse in the wall betwixt every tower conveied the least noise from garison to garison without interruption so newes of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders and occasionall provision made for resistance There were also resting places for the Areans who were appointed by the Ancients saith Amm. Marcellinus to serve for foot-posts to run as occurrents fell between the Officers and carry them word of the least stirring Since the wall is ruined and that way of dispatch taken away many inhabitants thereabout hold land by a tenure in Cornage as Lawyers speak being bound by blowing a horn to discover the irruption of the enemy Cambden's Britannia ubi videsis plura It is reported by Spartian that in his passage to York a little before his death a Black-Moor with a Cypresse garland on his head did meet Severus who bid him as unfortunate to be put out of his sight and saluted him thus Totum fuisti totum vicisti jam Deus esto victor At his entrance into the City he was by errour of a rusticall Sooth-fayer who guided him brought into the Temple of Bellona and black beasts being appointed for sacrifice did of themselves follow him to his palace Which things howsoever they fell our accidentally yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event While he lay sick of the gout at York the souldiers saluting his son Bassianus Emperour he arose and caused the principall of them to be brought before him and when they prostrate craved pardon he laying his hand on his head said Sentitisne tandem caput imperare non pedes Spartian c. 18. A little before his death he caused his urne to be brought before him and taking it into his hand said Thou shalt contain him whom the world could not Xiphiline He said to his Sons on his death-bed Agree among your selves enrich the souldiers and contemne all others Id. ibid. In relation to which union he bade them read in Salust Mycypsa's dying speech to his sons in which there is this expression Concordiâ res parvae cresâ—unt discordiâ magnae dilabuntur Spartian c. 21. By his pernicious advice to his sons to study onely the enriching of the souldiery he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the Roman power as the Greek Epigrammatist calls it For after Severus his raigne for 30 lawfull Emperours the Roman Empire saw in the space of 150 yeares more then an 100 Tyrants The discipline of the vertuous Emperours occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne As the tragicall ends of young Gordian of Alexander Severus of Posthumus Probus and Aurelian manifest Tristan He ended his life with these words Turbatam Rempublicam ubique accepi pacatam etiam Britannis relinquo senex pedibus aeger firmum Imperium antoninis meis relinquens si boni erunt imbecillum si mali Spartian c. 23. Before he dyed he was so pained in all his body but especially in his feet that not able to endure the torment he called for poyson which being denied he greedily glutted himself with grosse meates and not able to digest them dyed of a surfet Sex Aurel. Vict. The imprecation of Plautius Quintillus had the like effect upon Severus as that of Severianus had upon Hadrian Xiphilin Some say he dyed rather through grief for his son Caracalla's wickednesse then of any other malady He lived 65 yeares 9 moneths and 25 dayes and reigned 17 yeares 8 moneths and 3 dayes He was buried in a place near York which to this day is called Severs-hill It was said of him by the Senate that either he should not have been born or not have dyed having done so much mischief in pursuit of greatness and so much good when he was established Spartian c. 18. He married Martia and after her death Iulia Domna because he found by her nativity she should be matcht with a King though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore whom yet he bare with through excesse of affection though she was guilty of a conspiracy Spartian c. 3. and 18. He was deifyed after his death by the Senate After the death of Charles the 9 of France his image was laid in a rich bed in triumphant attire with the Crown upon his head and the collar of the order about his neck and 40 dayes at ordinary houres dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies as sewing water grace carving c. all the Cardinals Prelats Lords Gentlemen and Officers attending in far greater solemnity then if he had been alive Now this I confesse was a piece of flattery more then needed but not comparable to that of the Romans in making their Emperours Gods which they might well have conceived was neither in the power of the one to give nor of the other to receive Dr. Hakewill in his Apology In Severus his reigne the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for Adultery Id. ib. When Julia blamed the wife of Argentoâ—oxus a Northern Britain because her country people accompanied promiscously 10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 Women common among them she not ignorant of the Roman incontinency replied We accompany openly with the best but vile persons defile you secretly Xiphiline Dion writeth that in Severus his time it rained silver at Rome in Augustus his forum O pluviam salutarem supparem illi quâ Iupiter ad Danaen suam penetravit sed nimis hic infâ—equentem inquies Sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusâ
1. He transacted no weighty matter of judicature without the advice of no lesse then 50 most learned and wise men beside 20 Lawyers 18 whereof were Scholars of Papinian of whom Vlpian was chief Every mans opinion was heard and what they said was written a competent time being given each Counsellour to consider what they propounded that they might not speak unadvisedly in matters of importance Lamprid. c. 16. and 68. In Law and business of state intelligent learned and eloquent men were of his Councel in military affaires old Commanders who had behaved themselves valiantly in several battails and were expert in the situation of places pitching of fields and preparation of camps in each matters he advised with the best Historians asking them what the Emperours of Rome or Princes of forreign countries in former times did in like cases as were then in debate Id. c. 16. When he appointed Governours of Provinces he published their names exhorting and encouraging the people to bring in what exception they could against them and manifestly to prove the crime if there was cause of accusation provided if they did not sufficiently prove their charge and that their accusation proceeded from malice the accuser should forthwith be beheaded for said he Since Christians and Jews use this method in ordination of Priests it is most reasonable that the like course should be taken in the choice of Rectors of Provinces to whom are committed the lives and fortunes of those who are under them Id. c. 49. When certain Hucksters and Cookes pretended they had right to a place which was consecrated by the Christians and it was inquired what was his pleasure therein he answered It was better that God should be worshipped there after any sort then that the place should be put to vain uses Id. c. 49. Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall History l. 6. saith that there were many Christians in his family He wrote down so far as he could remember what he had given to any man and if he found any to whom he had either given nothing or that which was not equall to his merit he called them unto him saying What is the cause that thou askest nothing of me Wouldst thou have me to be in thy debt Ask something that thou mayest not complain of me for want of promotion Id. c. 46. When any one had exercised his office in the Common-wealth well at the end of his term when there was a Successour appointed he would say to him who departed out of his office Gratias tibi agit Respublica and would so reward him that being a private person he might according to his degree live the more honestly Id. c. 32. He allowed every Judge of a Province 20 pound weight in silver 6 silver pots 2 Mules 2 Mulets 2 Horses a Horse-keeper and a Muletour 2 Robes to sit in judgement one honourable garment to wear in his house one for his bath one cook and 100 crowns their employment being ended they were bound to restore the Mules Mulets Horses Muletours and Cooks but might retain the residue if they had discharged their office well otherwise they payed 4 times as much as they received Id. c. 42. He did let no day passe without exercising himself in learning and martial affaires Id. c. 3. Every day also he did some good to others in which saith Tristan he had an advantage of happinesse above Titus who could not expresse the like goodness above space of 2 yeares in which he reigned If necessity required he heard matters before day staying till it was late never seeming to be weary or troubled but had all the time the same countenance in all things appearing merry and pleasant Lampridius c. 29. He was so courteous that he visited the meanest of his sick friends desiring them to tell him their minds freely of every thing and hearing them attentively and when he had heard them throughly whatsoever he found amisse he carefully amended and when his mother Mammaea and his wife Memmia blamed him for his great civility saying it made his authority contemptible he answered but more secure and durable Id. c. 20. He repaired most of the Bridges which were built by Trajan leaving notwithstanding the name and honour thereof to Trajan Id. c. 26. His Souldiers marceed like Senatours to the Persian war the Country loving them as brethren and honouring the Emperour as a God Id. c. 50. When he dined or supped abroad he had ever with him Vlpian or other learned men that he might benefit himself by their discourse with which he said that he was both recreated and â—ed Id. c. 34. In all the time of his reign which lasted 14 yeares he suffered none to dye but those who were condemned by law a rare vertue and not practised by any since Marcus Aurelius and there had been nothing wanting to have rendred him a most excellent Prince had not his Mother who was a good woman but too miserable blasted his honour by her sordid demeanour Herodian l. 6. c. 9. He meeting with a Druid as he went into Germany she said to him Vadas nec victoriam speres nec militi tuo credas Lampridias c. 60. Thrasybulus his friend foretelling that he should die by the hand of a barbarian he rejoyced thinking that he should die a warlike death but he was mistaken in his interpretation dying not in war for the souldiers enraged with his discipline and his mother Mammaea's covetousness slew both near Mentz in Germany by the instigation of Maximus a muletour whom he had raised He lived 29 yeares 11 months and 7 dayes and reigned saith Lampride 13 years and 9 dayes S. Aur. Victor saith that when Alexander saw himself forsaken of his guard he cryed out upon her which gave him his life as the cause of his death adding that Mammaea had reduced her son to such an extremity by her sparing humour who if never so little was left at their overfrugal table reserved it till another time Verè Mammaeus à studio in matrem Mammaeam ex cujus arbitrio consilio multa administrat infeliciter cum proprio exitio Dietericus in breviario historico Iulian bringeth in Silenus thus deriding him O te hominem amentissimum nullius plane consilii qui ad tantum dignitatis fastigium elatus tuas res ex animi tui sententia non administrasti sed tuas pecunias matri commisisti neque tibi tn mentem venit longe satius utilius esse eas amicis impartiri quà m sibi recondere He is the more to be honoured and admired since being come of uncertain linage born far from Rome and in so barbarous a Country as Syria he so well governed the Roman Empire which before his time was extremely corrupted with detestable vices Dion was contemporary and Consul with Alexander with whom he endeth his history of which Bussieres in his Flosculi historici passeth this censure Tunc Dio Cassius principi charus fastis
had a red face occasioned by swilling in wine and a great fat paunch besides and somewhat limped upon one legge by a hurt formerly received He was stained with all manner of reprochable villanies he was familiar with Caius for his love to Chariot-running and with Claudius for his affection to Dice-play but he was in greater favour with Nero for his wicked conditions likewise for he attended and followed him as he did sing not by compulsion as many a good man but selling his honour to nourish his Riot and feed his belly to which he enthralled himself He found some supplications that were exhibited unto Otho by such as claimed reward for their good service in killing Galba and gave command that they should be sought out and executed every one A worthy and magnificent beginning such as might give good hope of an excellent Prince had hee not managed all matters else according to his own naturall disposition and the course of his former life rather then respecting the Majesty of an Emperour When hee came into the Fields where a Battel was fought and some of his train loathed and abhorred the putrified corruption of the dead bodies he stuck not to hearten and encourage them with this cursed speech Optimè olere occisum hostem meliùs civem That an enemy slain had a very good smell but a Citizen far better That was also a wicked speech of Charles the ninth of France at the Parisian massacre when beholding the dead carcasses he said that the smell of a dead enemy was good He banished from Rome and Italy all the judiciall Astrologers called Mathematicians because they had said that his reigne should not endure one year to an end If he could have forborn his riotous living or used any moderation therein covetousnesse was a crime in him not to be feared but he was shamefully given to his belly without all order or measure Epularum foeda inexplebilis libido saith Tacitus for which purpose there were daily brought out of Rome and Italy Irritamenta Gulae all provocations of Gluttony The high-waies from both the Seas sounded of nothing else but of Caterers and Purveyours the greatest men in the City were spent and consumed in providing of Cates for the banquets the Cities themselves were wasted The Souldiers grew worse and degenerated from labour and vertue partly by turning themselves to pleasures and partly through the contemptiblenesse of the commander He would eat four meales a day Breakfast Dinner Supper and Rere-banquet or after Supper being able to bear them all very well he used to vomit so ordinarily His manner was to send word that hee would break his fast with one friend dine with another and all in one day and every one of those refections when it stood them least cost 3235. l. sterling But the most notorious and memorable supper above all other was that which his brother made for a welcome at his first coming to Rome at which were served up at the Table before him two thousand severall Dishes of Fish the most dainty and choycest that could be had and seven thousand fowl Yet himself surpassed this sumptuous feast at the dedication of the platter which for its huge capacity he used to call the Target of Minerva In this he blended together the Livers of Guilt-heads the delicate braines of Pheasants and Peacocks the tongues of Phoenicopters the tender small guts of Sea-Lampries sent as far as from the Carpaâ—thian Sea and the straights of Spain by his Captaines over Gallies For the making of this charger there was a furnace built of purpose in the field Mucianus after the death of Vitellius alluding to this monstrous platter and ripping up his whole life upbraided the memoriall of him in these very termes calling his excesse that way Patinarum paludes Platters as broad as Pooles or Ponds Nunquam ita ad curas intentus ut voluptatis oblivisceretur He was never so intentively addicted to serious affaires that he would forget his Pastimes In his Traine all was disorderly and full of drunkennesse more like to Wakes and Feasts of Bacchus then to a Camp where Discipline should be He was forward enough to put to death any man he killed Noble men and his School-fellowes He delivered Blaesus over to the executioner to suffer death but straightwaies called him back again and when all that were by praised him for his Clemency he commanded the said party to be killed before his face saying withall Velle se pascere oculos that he would feed his eyes with seeing his death At the execution of another he caused two of his Sonnes to bear him company because they presumed to intreat for their Fathers sake A Gentleman of Rome being haled away to take his death he cryed aloud unto him Sir I have made you my heire then he compelled him to bring forth his writing Tables concerning his last Will and so soon as he read therein that a freed man of the Testators was nominated fellow-heir with him he commanded both Master and Man to be killed He was suspected also to have consented to his own Mothers death Impar curis gravioribus saith Tacitus of him he was unmeet to weild weighty affaires The Empire was conferred upon him by those which knew him not and yet never man found so constant good will of his Souldiers by vertuous meanes as he did with all his cowardly sloth Tanta torpedo invaserat animum ut si Principem eum fuisse caeteri non meminissent ipse oblivisceretur So great a sencelesnesse did possesse his mind that if other men had not remembred that he had been a Prince and therefore was not to look for security in a private estate he himself would quickly have forgotten it A contumelia quà m à laude propius fuerit posâ— Vitellium eligi It was more a disgrace then a praise to be chosen after Vitellius He used no other defences against the ruine which approched him but onely to keep out the memory and report of it with fortification of mirth and sottishnesse that so he might be delivered from the paines of preserving himself Praeterita instantia futura pari oblivione dimiserat mirum apud ipsum de bello silentium prohibiti per civitatem sermones c. Tacit. Hist. lib. 3. Ita formatae Principis aures ut aspera quae utilia nec quidquam nisi jucundum laesurum acciperet The Princes eares were so framed that he accounted all sharp that was wholsome and liked of nothing but that which was presently pleasant and afterwards hurtfull Amicitias dum magnitudine munerum non constantiá morum continere putat meruit magis quà m habuit He deserved rather then found faithfull friends because he sought them more by great gifts then vertuous behaviour At the last he was slain in
an ignominious manner having many scornfull indignities offered unto him both in deed and word they drew his head backward by the bush of the hair as condemned Malefactors are wont to be served and a swords point was set under his chin to the end he might shew his face and not hold it down while some pelted him with dung and dirty mire others called him with open mouth Incendiary or Firebrand because hee burnt the Capitol and Patmarium or Platter-Knight for his Gormandizing and great Platter and some of the common sort twitted him with the deformities of his body being all mangled with many small strokes he was killed in the end Numerosis ictibus confossus interiit He was slain in the 57. year of his age when he had reigned eight moneths and five dayes say Josephus and Eusebius eight moneths and ten dayes saith Tertullian Tacitus reporteth that in those few moneths wherein he reigned he had wasted nine hundred millions of Sesterces which amounteth to seven Millions thirty one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds sterling and Josephus thinketh if he had lived longer the whole Revenues of the Empire had not been sufficient to have maintained his Gluttony Choyce Observations OF FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS PRinceps obscurè quidem natus sed optimis comparandus privatâ vitâ illustris He was of a middle stature well set his limbes compact and strongly made vultu veluti nitentis he looked still as if he strained hard for a stool whereupon a Buffon brake a pretty jest on him for when Vespasian seemed to request him to say something of him as well as of others in the company Dicam inquit cum ventrem exonerare desieris I will let you alone saith he till you have done your businesse He was very pleasant and facetious himself for being advertised by Florus to pronounce Plaustra rather than plostra he saluted him the next morning by the name of Flaurus When the apparition of a Comet or blazing starre was thought to portend his death he replyed merrily that the bushy Stella crinita noted not him but the Parthian King Ipse enim comatus est ego vero calvus for he weareth bushy lockes but I am bald But he dyed a little while after and by his example saith Keckerman warned men to forbear jesting at Gods great workes and Prodigies An Oxe having cast off his yoke ran furiously into the room where he sate at Supper where affrighting his Attendants from him he straight prostrates himself before his feet as if he had been weary offering his neck to his clemency Suetonius When he came to the Empire the Exchequer was so impoverished that he protested in open Senate that he wanted to settle the Common-wealth 40. Millions of Sestertiums which protestation saith Sueton. seemed probable Quia male partis optimusus est He fought 30. Battels in Britain took 20. Townes and adjoyned the Isle of Wight to the obedience of the Roman Empire When a certain gallant youth smelling hot of sweet balmes and perfumes came unto him to give thanks for an office obtained at his hands after a strange countenance shewing his dislike of him he gave him also in words a most bitter check saying I would rather thou hadst stunk of Garlicke and so revoked his Letters Patents for the grant He never carried in his mind nor revenged displeasures done unto him He married the daughter of Vitellius his enemy into a most noble house gave unto her a rich Dowry withall and furniture accordingly He was made Totus ex clementia as the Historian tels us yet for all that Machinationes nefariorum assiduas expertus est He found daily treacheries attempted against him Iustis etiam suppliciis illachrymavit ingemuit He was so compassionate a Prince that he was wont to sigh and weep even for them that were condignly punished An innocent person was not punished but when he was absent not aware thereof or at leastwise unwilling thereto and deceived But he was severe towards Julius Sab inus who in times past said he was Caesar and taking up armes was at last conquered and brought to Rome His wife spake to Vespasian in his behalf pleading that he had two sons of her and supplicating to him for mercy to her husband and her self used these words Ego â— Caesar hos in monumentâ— peperi aluique ut plures tibi supplices esseâ—nus By which speech although she drew teares from him and those that were present yet she could not procure her Husbands pardon Dion The Souldiers elected him Emperour and requested him to preserve the Empire being in great danger to be lost Yet he though he had been alwaies carefull for the good of the Common-wealth refused to be Emperour deeming himself indeed to have deserved it but rather chusing to live a private life wherein was security then in the height of fortune and honour with perpetuall danger The Captains were most earnest because he refused it and the Souldiers flocked about him with drawn swords threatning his death except he would consent to live as he deserved yet he strove a long time to avert their determination being loth to be Emperour at last seeing he could not avoid it he accepted their offer He comforted his Souldiers with these and such like speeches I will expose my self to all dangers with you and go first to fight and come last from fight Ipse Vespasianus milites adire hortari boâ—â—os laude segnes exemplo incitare saepiùs quam coercere vitia magis amicorum quam virtutes dissimulans He would go in his own person and encourage the Souldiers inciting the good by praise the slow by example rather then correction he was more ready to conceal the Vices of his friends then the vertues It was a worthy report which Pliny gave of him if he flattered him not to whom being Emperour he wrote thus Nec quicquam in te mutavit fortunae amplitudo nisi â—â—prodesse tantundem posses velles Greatnesse and Majesty have changed nothing it you but this that your power to do good should be answerable to your will Solus omnium ante se Principum in meliuâ— mutatus est The onely Prince before his time which changed to the better for after him Titus his Son changed also the same way A vigilant Warriour and in all respects set avarice aside comparable to the Commanders of ancient times saith Tacitus Sola est in qua meritò culpetur pecuniae cupiditas The onely thing for which he might worthily be blamed was covetousnesse Prorsus si avaritia abesset antiquis ducibus par Tacitus He not onely called for arrerages due in Galba's time but raised new Tributes and laid upon the Provinces more grievous impositions doubling them in some places Negotiationes
that he promised more then he was able to perform his saying was Non oportet quenquam à sermone Principis tristem discedere No man ought to depart from the speech of a Prince sad and discontented Calling to mind one time as he sate at Supper that he had done nothing for any man that day he uttered this memorable and praise-worthy Apothegme Amici diem perdidi My Friends I have lost a day If he had not bestowed some benefit upon one or other he was wont to say saith Mollerus Hodie non imperavi quia nemini benefeci His rule and Government was mercifull he received no accusation against those who were reported to have spoken evil of him saying Ego cum nihil faciam dignum propter quod contumeliá afficiar mendacia nihil curo When I shall do nothing worthy of blame I care not for lyes He said he would rather dye himself then put others to death He proceeded no further against two Noblemen convicted for affecting and aspiring to the Empire then to admonish them to desist and give over saying that Sovereigne Power was the gift of Destiny and Divine Providence if they were Petitioners for any thing else he promised to give it unto them He would not endure to kill or sequester and confine his Brother Domitian though he never ceased to lay wait for his life but still made him partner with him in his Sovereigne Government and often with teares exhorted him to mutual love There fell out in his dayes some heavy accidents a fire in the City of Rome which lasted three dayes and three nights and a grievous Pestilence wherein there dyed ten thousand a day and Vesuvius a mountain in Campania flamed with great horrour Pliny the naturall Historian then Admiral of the Roman Navie desirous to discover the reason was suffocated with the smoke thereof as his Nephew witnesseth in an Epistle of his to Cornelius Tacitus Marcellinus observeth that the ashes thereof transported in the Aire obscured all Europe others say that they darkned the Sun He was a valiant Souldier going once to espy the enemy and not to fight notwithstanding that an infinite number of darts and arrowes were shot at him and he had no Armour at all yet received he not one wound but all past him as though upon purpose every one had strove to have mist him And he with his sword made way and cut many upon the face that opposed themselves against him and so they falling down he with his horse past over them The Jewes seeing Titus his valour exhorted one another to set upon him but whithersoever he turned the Jewes fled and would not abide by it In the last assault of Ierusalem he slew twelve enemies that defended the wall with just so many arrowes shot and won the City with great joy and favourable applause of all his Souldiers He being to see that executed which Christ foretold should happen to Ierusalem stretched forth his hands and called Heaven and Earth to witnesse in great bitternesse that he was not to blame that the Jewes perished in such sort but they themselves and would not by any meanes that fire should be set on the Temple Comparing the desolation of Jerusalem with the beauty and goodly buildings that were before it was destroyed he lamented and pitied the overthrow thereof saith Iosephus It is likely that he would have carried a milder hand upon the Iewes his Prisoners after his sacking the City of Ierusalem then to cast so many thousands of them to the Lions and other beasts to be devoured as he did on the Birth-day of his Brother Domitian but that the heavy curse of God which boyled against that Nation did urge his gentle and calm nature to bring them to destruction He did stamp in his Coin a Dolphin and an Anchor with this Impresse Sat cito si sat bene A Dolphin out-strips the ship that 's soon enough an anchor stayeth the ship that 's well enough A Dolphin and Anchor Soon enough if well enough It was said of him Abstinuit alieno ut si quis unquam If ever any man abstained from that which was not his own he was the man Though he was the Mirrour of men among the Heathen yet he was loth to depart out of this world for being carried in his Horse-litter and knowing that he must dye he looked upwards towards Heaven and complained very pitiously that his life should be taken from him who had not deserved to dye for he knew not he said of any sin that ever he cōmitted but only one Suetonius writes as if he had dyed of a natural death but Aurel. Vict. saith he was poysoned by his Brother Domitian Titus à Domitiano leporis marini vi peremptus Cael. Rhod. Lect. Antiq. l. 6. cap. 30. Morte praeventus est majore hominum damno quam suo He was cut short and prevented by death to the greater losse of Mankind then of himself saith Suetonius The Senate gave him more thankes being dead then ever they did living and present His death was much lamented so that they call'd him generally Delicias publicas and wept for him as if the world had been deprived of a perpetuall Protectour Tantus luctus eo mortuo publicus fuit ut omnes tanquam in propria doluerint orbitate He dyed in the 42. year of his age saith Suetonius 41. say Aurel. Vict. and Eutropius When he had reigned two yeares two moneths and twenty dayes say Suetonius Aurel. Vict. Carion eight moneths saith Eutropius Choyce Observations OF FLAVIVS DOMITIANVS HE was called Domitian from his Mother Domitilla as Titus his Brother was called Vespasian from his Father He was Associate to his Brother Titus in government during his life and after his death was his Successour Perceiving many of his Predecessours to be hated he asked one how he might so rule as not to be hated the Party answered Tu fac contra Do thou contrary to that they have done Yet he neither resembled his Father Vespasian nor his Brother Titus Neroni aut Caligulae aut Tiberio similior quam Patri vel Fratri suo He was tall of stature his countenance modest and given much to rednesse his eyes full and great but his sight very dim He was fair and of comely presence especially in his youth all his body was well shaped throughout excepting his feet the toes whereof were of the shortest afterwards he became disfigured and blemished with baldnesse with a fat grand panch and slender shankes In the beginning of his Empire his manner was to retire himself daily into a secret place for one houre and there to do nothing else but to catch flyes and with the sharp point of a bodkin prick thē through in so much as when one enquired whether any body were with Caesar within Crispus
intended onely at the first Analecta some choyce and pithie observations of them if these therefore may benefit thee summam votorum attigi I have attained the end of my desires and so I rest Thy Well-wisher EDWARD LEIGH Choyce Observations OF COCCEIVS NERVA DOmitian thus made away Coccejus Nerva a prudent honourable and aged person was elected Emperour by the Senate his birth was noble and of Italy in the City Narnia and of the Province Vmbria ruling so well as he may be esteemed too good a Prince long to continue in so bad an age who reformed many enormities and remitted many grievous tributes and exactions also he recalled from banishment the Christians severally dispersed and suffered them to enjoy the freedom of their profession at which time Iohn the Evangelist returned from Pathmos wherein he had been confined unto Ephesus a City in Asia the lesse where after his return he lived 4. years The excellent temper of his Government is by a glance in Cornelius Tacitus touched to the life Postquam divus Nerva resolim insociabiles miscuisset imperium libertatem Dion writeth of him that he was so good a Prince that he once uttered this speech Nihil se fecisse quo minus possit deposito imperio privatus tutò vivere He remembreth not to have done any thing why he should not live securely and without fear of any body although he gave over the Empire His symbole was Mens bona regnum possidet He discharged the City of the new impositions which Vespasian and Domitian had laid upon them and commanded that goods unjustly taken should be restored to the owners He was very eloquent and a good Poet as Martial testifies of him Quanta quies placidi tanta est facundia Nervae See Martial's Epigramme of him lib. 11. epig. 6. Herodes Atticus found a great treasure in his house but fearing calumnies he wrote to Nerva and discovered it He wrote back again Vtere use it But he being not so secure wrote again At enim thesaurus privati hominis conditionem superat but the treasure exceedes the condition of a private man Nerva again nobly replied Ergo abutere Lips in Plin. Paneg. On a reverse of Nerva is found a team of horses let loose with this inscription Vehiculatione per Italiam remissa whereby we learn which no Historian remembers that the Roman Emperours commanded all the carriages of the countrey that Nerva remitted that burden and that the grievance was so heavy that coines were stamped in remembrance of this Emperours goodnesse that eased them of it See the coines in L. Hulsius and Speed's Chronicle Sextus Aurel. Victor writeth thus Quid Nerva prudentius aut moderatius quid Trajano divinius Quid praestantius Hadriano Having reigned onely one year four moneths and nine dayes de dyed of a passionate anger conceived against a Senatour in the year of Christ his Incarnation ninety nine the twenty seventh day of Ianuary and seventy sixth of his own age Choyce Observations OF ULPIVS TRAJANVS UNto Nerva succeeded Vlpius Trajanus into the Roman Empire in the 42. year of his age who was born near unto Sevil in the Territories of Spain of a Noble Family but was much more ennobled in himself for his Princely endowments which moved Nerva in his life time to adopt him into so high a Calling and the whole Senate after his death joyfully to confirm his Election and so often to honour him with the title of the most Excellent Prince in publik Dedications He raised the Roman Empire unto the very highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their command into the largest circuit that ever before or since hath been possessed He subdued Dacia made subject Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia conquered Assyria Persia and Babylon passed Tigris and stretched the confines of the Roman Empire unto the remotest Dominions of the Indies which never before that time had heard of the Roman name For his Person he was not very learned yet he was a great admirer of and Benefactor to Learning a Founder of Famous Libraries a perpetuall advancer of Learned men to Office and a familiar Converser with learned Professors Quem honorem dicendi Magistris quam dignationem sapientiae doctoribus habes ut sub te spiritum sanguinem patriam receperint studia quae priorum temporum immanitas exiliis puniebat Plin. Secund. Paneg. Of stature he was big of complexion swarthy thin of hair both head and beard he had a hooked nose broad shoulders long hands and a pleasant eye He stirred up the third Persecution wherein Ignatius and Simon the Son of Cleophas and many other worthy Saints of God received the Crown of Martyrdom in such cruell manner as that his other vertues are much clouded by that Taxation for mollification whereof he was intreated by Plinius secundus whose Epistles to that purpose are yet extant viz. the 97. of his tenth Book where he hath this passage to Trajan concerning them Affirmabant hanc fuisse summam vel culpae suae vel erroris quòd essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire carmenque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invicem seque Sacramento non in scelus aliquid obstringere sed ne furta ne latrocinia ne adulteria committerent ne fidem fallerent ne depositum appellati abnegarent c. to which Letter Trajan thus replyeth Conquirendi nnon sunt si deferantur arguantur puniendi sunt Whereupon Tertullian in his Apology hath this passage O Sententiam necessitate confusam negat inquirendos innocentes mandat puniendos ut nocentes parcit saevit dissimulat animadvertit Quid teip sum censur â circumvenis Si damnas cur non inquiris si non inquiris cur non absolvis He was affable and familiar even with his inferiours of such carriage toward his subjects as he himself would wish he said his Prince to use towards him if he had been a subject Aequus clemens patientissimus atque in amicos perfidelis saith Aurelius Victor of him He was a great observer of Iustice in so much that when he invested any Praetor in giving him the Sword he commanded him to use the same even against his own person if he violated Law or equity He erected many famous buildings whence Constantine the Great called him Parietariam Wall-flower because his name was upon so many walls Alexander Severus is rather to be commended who caused that precept of the Gospel to be engraved on the frontispiece of his palace Quod tibi fieri non vis alterinèseceris Dion reporteth this Apothegme of him Nullum se unquam virum bonum male habiturum nedum occisurum Dies ille triplici gaudio laetus saith Pliny in a Panegyrick to him qui principem abstulit pessimum dedit optimum meliorem optimo genuit In solo Plinio Trajanum habemus in Trajan◠imaginem omnium magnarum
and which made him extremely ridiculous he put on also purple Amazonian robes embroydered with gold expressing in one and the same garb austerity and effeminateness this was his daily attire He commanded many Statues of himself made in likeness of Hercules to be erected throughout the City and one before the Senate-house in form of an archer ready to shoot that his very Images might strike a terror into the beholdèrs Herodian He ranged so far in a mad humour as that he purposed to forsake his palace and live in a fence-school and now being weary of the name of Hercules he assumed the name of a famous sword-player deceased On New-yeares day he determined in great solemnity to issue forth of a senceschool from which Marcia Laetus and Electus disswaded him but he incensed with them commanded them to depart and retiring into his bed-chamber to repose himself at noon as he was wont he wrote their names in a table-book dooming them to death that night Having done this he laid his table-book on the pailet not imagining that any would enter into his chamber But his darling Philo-Commodus being full of play went as he usually did into the bed-chamber while Commodus was bathing and taking the book to play with went forth and was met by Marcia who took the book from him lest he might spoil some weighty matter As soon as she perceived it was Commodus his own hand she greatly desired to read it But when she found the deadly contents she discovered to Electus and Laetus the danger they were in and they all resolved to purchase their own security by Commodus his death and concluded it most convenient to dispatch him by poyson which Marcia having given to him it cast him into a slumber out of which awaking he vomited extremely the conspirators fearing fulnesse might expell the poyson cause him to be strangled He lived 31. yeares 4. moneths and reigned 12. yeares 9. moneths and 14. dayes In him the Aelian together with the Aurelian family was extinguished as the Iulian in Nero. Tristan How joyfull his death was both to Senate and people their assemblies in the Temples to give thanks for their deliverance and their execrations pronounced against him at large reported by Lampridius do manifest He was called the enemy of God and men the very name of the Devil The Christians escaped persecution from him by the mediation of Marcia who favoured their doctrine Dion Of all Emperours until Constantine he was most favourable unto Christians whatsoever he was otherwise Mountague's Acts and Monuments of the Church c. 7. paragr 115. In respect of much persecution before those times were called Halcyonia sub Commodo Ecclesiae Lloid's consent of time p. 599. Commodus insequitur pugnis maculosus arenae Threicio princeps bella movens gladio Eliso tandem persolvens gutture poenas Criminibus fassus matris adulterium Ausonius Choyce Observations OF PERTINAX WAS so called either for his reluctance in accepting the Empire or rather for his pertinacious resolution in his youth to be a Woodmonger as his father was when he would have made him a Scholar Yet at last he was perswaded by his father to apply himself to learning in which he was such a proficient that he succeeded his Master Sulpitius Apollinaris in the teaching of Grammer But gaining little thereby he served in the camp with such proof of his valour that upon the death of Commodus he was chosen Emperour For the murther being done in the night Laetus went in all hast to Pertinax and saluted him with the unexpected name of Emperour but he thought Laetus was sent from Commodus to kill him till he was certified of Commodus his death by one of his servants whom he sent to view his carkase So different was the opinion of all men concerning Pertinax and Commodus that many hearing of Commodus his death thought the report was raised by himself to try mens inclinations wherefore many Governours of Provinces imprisoned those who related it not because they would not have had the news to be true but for that they thought it more dangerous to believe the death of Commodus then not to come in to Pertinax by whom every one was confident that they should be easily pardoned whereas with Commodus innocence gave no security Excerpta Petresci p. 728. Pertinax was forced to accept of the Empire by Laetus and Electus when he was above 60. yeares old yet admitted not any symbole of sovereignty and declined so envious a Title till compelled by the Senate Recusabat imperare quod erat bene imperaturi Plinius de Trajano panegyr 5. He chiefly reâ—used the Empire because he was to succeed a Tyrant who by his disorders had so impoverisht the State and rendred the souldiers so loose that he saw 't was impossible to avoid a publik odium by the use of a necessary remedy Tristan He would not let his wife receive the title of Empresse nor his son be called Caesar as the Senate had decreed lest he should be corrupted but deferred it till he might deserve it nor admitting him being a youth into the Court but causing him to lead a private life He permitted not his Name to be stamped on the peculiar goods of the Emperours saying That the propriety thereof belonged to the State in generall Herodian l. 2. c. 4. As Marcus Aurelius whom he imitated said to the Senate Nos usque adeo nihil habemus proprium ut etiam vestras aedes habitemus Xiphilinus in Marco Aurelio He enacted that all the wast ground in Italy and other countries though of the Princes demesne should be improved and freely given to them who would manure it to which purpose he granted to Husband-men 10. yeares immunity from all taxes and security from all further trouble during his reigne Herodian He banisht informers preserved the commoners from the injury of souldiers and released all Imposts exacted by Tyrants Id. He never could be induced to revenge an injury S. A. Victoris Epitome He was too negligent of his wife Flavia Titiana's chastity who openly loved a fidler he in the mean time being as ardently and infamously enamoured on his Concubine Cornificia Capitolinus c. 13. He was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a giver of good words because he was rather a Fawning than a kind Prince promising well but performing ill Such was his niggardliness that he would set before his guests a Sallad of Lettuce c. and part of a Tripe but if he at any time exceeded a leg or wing of a Hen. Capitolinus c. 12. Tristan parallelleth him with Vespasian His strict discipline and short donatives displeased the souldiers who conspired against him and elected Falco Emperour whom the Senate sentenced but Pertinax cryed out God forbid that during my reigne any Senatour be put to death though deservedly Xiphiline Laetus pretending to punish this sedition causeth the death of divers souldiers that the rest might mutiny which they did 200.
that he might deface the suspicion of assasinating his Son He imitated Marcus Aurelius in a slow pace and low voice and Nero in a cruell life Instead of Macrinus he was by his own servants called Macellinus as one would say Butcher quòd macelli specie domus ejus cruentaretur sanguine vernularum Because his house was like a shamble of murthered men Capitolinus in Macrino c. 13. He was named Mezentius because like him he joyned live bodies to dead He commanded 2. souldiers who had ravished their hostesses maid to be sewed up in the bellies of 2. great Oxen their heads onely left out that they might speak one to another He caused those souldiers who committed Adultery to be tyed to the women and burnt alive though his Wife Nonia Celsa was insatiable that way He shut live men in seiled walls where they dyed miserably Mothe le Vayer in his Opuscules p. 27. c. thinketh that one reason why Macrinus banished Lucius Priscillianus a valiant Captain into an Island where he dyed was because he had the boldnesse to encounter alone 4. such fierce beasts as a Bear a Leopard a Lyonesse and a Lyon though his cruell carriage under Caracalla who advanced him afforded sufficient pretence for his punishment as Dion informeth us l. 78. Macrinus said he was clement when he punished but one souldier in an hundred with capitall punishment for a mutiny when he thought they deserved to be decimated or at least one in 20. to suffer Having written to the Senate that he knew no body desired his death Fulvius Diogenianus cryed out Yes but we all do After he had concluded a peace with Artabanus the Parthian King he returned to Antioch in Syria and there spent his time in sensual pleasures being drenched so far therein that the Army began to dislike his government and to favour young Bassianus the son of Caracalla then present at Emesa a Citie in Phoenicia with Maesa his Grand-Mother by his Mothers side who there had built a Temple to the Sun and therein ordained him a Priest for which cause he was called Heliogabalus which in the Phoenician language is the Priest of the Sun To this temple resorted many of the Souldiers and seeing the beauty of the youth allured Maesa to bring him to their Camp where known to be the Son of Caracalla the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperour and maintained his right against Macrinus who after this revolt met young Heliogabalus in the confines between Phoenicia and Syria where he fought a bloudy battel but being put to flight hasted to Chalcedon fell sick and was with his Son Diadumenus put to death by the Souldiers because he contracted their pay and suppressed their luxury He lived 54. yeares reigned one year and 2. Moneths Principis hic custos sumptum pro Caesare ferrum Vertit in auctorem caede Macrinus iners Mox cum prole ruit Gravibus pulsare querelis Cesset persidiam quoe patitur meruit Ausonius Choyce Observations OF HELIOGABALUS THis Monster had more names and sur-names saith Tristan then Hydra had heads for whilest he was a private man he was called Varius Avitus Lupus Varius from his reputed Father Varius Marcellus Avitus Lupus from Julius Avitus Lupus his Grand-father by the mothers side after being presented to the Souldiers to obtain their favour he was named Bassianus by whom when he was received and proclaimed Emperour they gave him the name of Antoninus He was the last Emperour upon whom that name was conferred which because he dishonoured he was called Pseud-Antoninus He was named Assyrius saith Dion because he was often seen in publick clothed with a barbarous habit such as his Countrymen the Priests of Syria anciently called Assyria used to wear His debauchednesse made him to be sur-named the Roman Sardanapalus He had the sur-name of Heliogabalus given to him because he was Priest of Heliogabalus the peculiar god of the Emesenes so strange a Deity that Authors agree not about the writing or meaning of his name though it be most probable that it signifieth the Sun He was the spurious issue of Caracalla and Symia Syra which Sealiger rendreth Lunula Onychine He had 6 Wives in the short time of his reigne the first of which was Annia Faustina of Commodus his linage for the enjoyment of whom he caused Pomponius Bassus her husband to be put to death not permitting her to weep for him Divorcing her he married Cornelia Paula a most Illustrious Roman Lady that he might the sooner be a Father said he who was not able to be a man yet soon after onely because she had a spot in her body as he said he put her away and stripping her of all honours sequestred her to a private life After pretending he was in love he violently took out of Vesta her sacred Nunnery at Rome Julia Aquilia Severa a Vestal Virgin and married her which by the Heathens was held such a crime that the Num which had carnal knowledge of a man was buried alive writing to the Senate who were grieved at his sacrilegious act That she was a fit match for a Priest and impudently affirmed he did it That from himself a Priest and his Wife the chief Priestesse of Vesta there might be born issue worthy of the Gods Yet he quickly turned away this wife for to espouse another with 2 more whose names are unknown it being difficult to determine whether he be to be blamed more for his frequent and illegal marriages or his sudden and causelesse divorces And at last being possessed with a continuall inconstancy having changed 5 times in 4. yeares he returned to Aquilia Severa compare Dion l. 79. with Herod l. 5. c. 6. Nor did he thus play at fast and loose with humane matrimonies onely but now his God also wanted a wise Him he married first to Pallas after saying His God liked not so martial a wife to Vrania concluding it was fitter to match the Sun and Moon together making his God almost as fickle as himself Herodian l. 5. c. 6. He gave all the treasure in the Temple of Vrania to his God for a portion with her He commanded all the people of Rome and Italy to use all publick and private feasts for joy of the wedding He erected in the suburbs a magnificent Temple into which every year with great solemnity he brought his God whom he preferred before Iupiter and made an edic◠that the Romans should pray to the ne◠god Heliogabalus before all other gods who he said were servants of his God spoiling their Temples to enrich that of his nay would have had no other gods worshippe◠at Rome saith Lamprid. in Heliogab c. 3. Ne◠Romanas tautùm voluit extinguere religioues sed per orbem terrae unum studens ut Heliogabalu◠deus unus ubique coleretur Id. ibid. c. 6. He was a man for all women and a woman for all men Coëffeteau He so far differed from the manners o◠men that modesty
c. 7. Lamprid. c. 13. That he revenged himself on none who mocked him upon the reading of Macrinuâ— his letters against him at Rome Tristan imputeth to the prudent moderation of Maesa and Eutychianus by whose means chiefly he got the Empire whom yet he put to death with cruell ingratitude onely because he was advised by him to reform The Syrian Priests having foretold him that he should dye a violent death he build a rich and stately Tower whence he might throw himself down preparing also cords of crimson silk and gold to strangle himself with rich swords to thrust himself through keeping poyson in boxes of Emeralds and Jacynth that he might chuse a death according to his humour saying That however he dyed his death should be glorious in the eyes of men and such a one as none ever dyed But he failed of his hope though not of his desert for the Souldiers of his own guard whom he commanded to make away his Cousin-german and deface his statues for the love they bore to Alexander Severus killed Heliogabalus himself in a privy whither he fled to escape them His body was drawn by a Souldier through all the streets of Rome like the carkas of a dog with this military proclamation The whelp of untamed and ravening lust At last when the quantity of his body was greater then would enter into the stool of a privy wherein for the last funerall ceremony it should have been buried they drew it to Tiber binding it to an heavy weight so cast it into the River that it might neither float above water nor be buried he being the only Emperour who was ever so punished They did also thrust stakes through the fundament of some of his lewd companions that their death might be conformable to their life It is observable that notwithstanding he not onely permitted but also encouraged his subjects to live licentiously moreover was so liberal toward them that he fed them with most delicate and exquisite meates gave unto them abundance of mony and all the plate were it of gold or silver wherewith he was served to them who dined or supped with him made many other very sumptuous distributions to the people yet the Romans nevertheless abhorring in him their own vices or rather being satiated therewith slew him as is above mentioned in the 21 year of his age when he had reigned 3 years 9 months 4 dayes Choyce Observations OF ALEXANDER MAMMAEAE HE was named Alexander because he was born in the Temple of Alexander the Great and on that day that Alexander dyed he had a Foster-father called Philip and a nurse named Olympias in allusion to Alexander the Great 's Father and Mother Lampridius in Alexandro Severo c. 5. 13. who reckoneth 14. omens of his coming to the Empire He is called Alexander Mammaeae from his mother Mammaea more known then his Father Though he was strict in his discipline yet Lampridius erroneously affirmeth that he was named Severus for his severity to the Souldiers Tristan tom 2. p. 385. His mother Julia Mammaea daughter of Maesa was a Christian woman and did send for Origen to instruct her son in the grounds of the Christian religion He was the first who received at one time all ornaments and tokens of honour which he purchased by his honest life and vertuous manners whereby he obtained such favour of all men that when his Cousin-German Heliogabalus would have slain him he could not for the Souldiers and Senates resistance he proving himself worthy to be saved harmless by the Senate and Souldiers and to be elected Emperour by the votes of all good men when he was but 16. years old Lamprid. c. 2. He was then so modest that when the Senate and people would have given to him the sur-names of Antoninus and Magnus as principall titles of Honour he humbly refused them saying openly unto the Senate It pleaseth me not to assume what belongeth to others and I find my self overladen with your love for these high names of honour are too burdensome to me Whereupon saith Lamprid. c. 12. he gained more honour than if he had taken titles upon him and from that time he had the repute of a moderate and wise man Eruditionis gloriam famamque declinando eruditissimus habebatur saith Hierome of Nepotianus He went usually in the morning betime to his devotion into his closet where were set the images of Apollonius Christ Abraham and Orpheus Lamprid. c. 29. He did read much the life of Alexander the Great whom he imitated especially yet abhorred his drunkeness and cruelty toward his friends Id. c. 30. He would not hear Oratours or Poets speak any thing to his praise counting it folly but willingly heard Orations of the acts of other good Princes or of famous Romans and most gladly such as were made in praise of Alexander the Great Id. c. 35. He had the picture of Virgil and Tully with Achilles and other great persons in his lesser lararium Alexander the great among those he worshipped as Gods in his greater Id. ibid. c. 31. He was at first harsh after favourable to Christians thought to build a Temple to Christ but was diverted by Vlpian and others who having consulted their Heathen gods received this answer saith Lamprid. c. 43. that if that were suffered all men would be Christians and all other Temples desolate He delighted not in cloath of gold or silkes saying Government consisted in vertue and not in costly apparell Lamprid. c. 33. At his table he drunk not in cups of gold and kept not above 200. pound weight of silver vessels in his house Id. ibid. c. 34. He sold Jewels that were given to him counting it unfit for himself to possesse such things as he could neither give to his souldiers nor any man find profit in Wherefore when an Embassador had given to the Empresse 2. unions of wonderfull greatnesse he commanded them to be sold and when none could be found who would give as much as they were prized at lest any ill example should proceed from his wife if she wore that which no body could buy 〈◊〉 caused them to be hanged at the eares of the Image of Venus thereby declaring that such things either for the inestimable price were â—itter for gods then men or for the unprofitable beauty thereof served onely for persons of wanton dispositions whereof Venus was goddesse and patronesse He would not suffer any to come into his presence but such as were honest and of good report commanding that none should enter into his Palace but onely such who knew themselves to be free from vice causing it to be proclaimed that no person knowing himself to be a thief should presume to salute him upon pain of capitall punishment Lamprid. c. 18. He prohibited infamous women to salute his Wife or Mother Id. c. 25. He was strict in his own manners wherefore all noble men assayed to imitate him and
chastly measuring others dispositions by his own vicious inclination He maligning Constantines fame at last persecuted the Christians in the East where he reigned with Martinianus whom he before made Caesar at Byzantium and his son Licinius at Arles He was overthrown by Constantine in several battels loosing many thousands of men and was himself taken prisoner yet by meditation of his wife had his life spared and was confined within Nicomedia where for his treasons after he and his son who somewhat survived him were put to death He lived 70 years and reigned 15 Victor Licinius a Constantino morte mulctatur vel ut alii tradunt quum filiam suam Herinam eò quòd Christiana esset ab equis discerpi mandasset ipse adstans inspecturus equi morsu interfectus est Elenchus Numismatum in Bibliotheca Bodieejaâ—a Select and Choyce French Proverbs some of which were collected out of Gruterus de la Noue and other Authors divers observed by my self when I was in France Alphabetically disposed and englished and compared also sometimes with the Refranes or Spanish A. ALler où le Roy va à pied To go where the King goes a foot Aller sur la Hacquenâ—e des Cordeliers To go upon the Franciscans Hackney 1. to go a foot Aimer n'est pas sans amer Love is not without bitternesse Ainsi va le monde So the world goeth Amasser en saison despencer par raison font la bonne maison A seasonable gathering and a reasonable spending make a good house-keeping Amiens fut priuse en Renard repriuse en Lion Amiens was taken by the Fox retaken by the Lion Amour peut moult argent peut tout Love can do much silver can do all Amour toux fumée argent on ne peut cacher longuement Love the cough the smoak and money can not long be hidden by any A Pere à Maistre à Dieu tout puissant Nul ne peut rendre l'equivalent To Father Master and God Al-sufficient None can render equivalent A petit Mercier petit panier A little Pedler a little pack Apres disner de la moustarde After dinner mustard Apres la mort le Medecin After death the Doctor Apres la pluye vient le beau temps After rain comes fair weather A quoi pensez vous quand vous nepensiez rien A vous respondre quand vouy me demandez rien On what think you when you think on nothing To answer you when you ask me nothing Argent content porte medicine Ready money is a ready medicine A rude Chien faut dur lien A curst Dogge must be tyed short Attente tourmente Expectation torments Au jourdhuy marriè demain marri Married to day sad to morrow A un bon Entendeur ne faut que demy mot Half a word is enough to an understanding Hearer Autant de Pais autant de coustumes So many Countries so many customes B. BEau parler n'escorche pas la language Good speech flees not the tongue Beauté sans bonté est comme vin esventè Beauty without goodnesse is like wine that hath taken wind Belles filles se trovent au bourdeau les beaux hommes es mains du Bourreau The fairest woman in the Stâ—wes and the hansom'st man at the Gallowes Bon marché tire l'argent de la bourse Good cheap commodities are not able pick-purses Bon sang ne peut mentir Good blood cannot lye Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceniture dorée A good renown is better then a golden girdle Bonne Terre mauvais Chemin Bon Advocat mauvais Voisin Bonne Mule mauvaise beste Bonne Femme mauvaise teste Good Country and bad Way Good Lawyer and bad Neighbour Good Mule and a bad beast Good Woman and a bad head Borgne est Roy entre les aveugles He that hath one eye is a King among the blinde C. CEqu'on apprend au bers dure jusques au vers That which one learnes in youth will continue till old age Cela est la Philosophie de Quenoville It is the Philosophy of the Distaff C'est un mouton de Berri il est marqué sur le nez It is a Sheep of Berrie it is marked upon the nose C'est un bon harquebusier il vise aux talons frappe le nez It is a good Harquebusier it aims at the heels and hits the nose Chair du Mouton manger de Glouton Flesh of Mutton is meat for a Glutton Chascun a son tour Le devise du Mounsieur de Guise Every one hath his turn The devise of the Duke of Guise Chascun est Roy en sa maison Every one is King in his own house Commun n'est pas comme un The Publick is not as private Courte messe long disner Short Masse and long dinner D. D'Eau benite le moius suffis Of holy-water the lesse sufficeth De fol Juge brieve sentence From a foolish Judge a quick sentence De la pance vient la dance Dancing followes a full belly De mauvais payeur il faut prendre paille Of an ill pay-master take any thing Desjuner de chasseurs disner d'Advocats Souper de Marchands collation de Moines The Huntsmans break fast the Lawyers dinner The Merchants supper and the Monkes drinking De trois choses Dieu dous garde De Beuf salé sans Moutarde D'un Valet qui se regarde D'une Femme qui se farde From three things God keep us From powderd Beef without Mustard From a Servant which vieweth himself From a Woman which painteth Du cuir d'autruy large courroye A large-thong of anothers leather E. EN gouttes Medicin ne voit Goutte The Physician sees but littie in the Gout En Orenge il n' ya point d'Oranges In Orange there are no Oranges En Pont en Planche en Riviere Valet devant Maistre derriere On Bridge on Plank and on River The Servant before and Master after Entre deux selles le cul à terre Between two stooles the tail to the ground Entre la bouche le verre Le vin souvent tombe à terre Between the lip and the cup. The wine is often spilt Eschorhcer le Renard To flea the Fox Estre sur la bord de la fosse To be upon the brink of the pii Alterum pedem in cymba charonti habere F. FAire de Chasteaux en Espagne To build Castles in Spain We say to build Castles in the air Faire de son Medecin son heritier To make his Phisician his heir Faire grond cas de peu de chose To make great account of a little thing Femme argent vin on leur bien leur venin Women money and wine have their good and their evil Femme rit quand elle peut pleure quand elle veut A Woman laughes when she can and weeps when she