Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	father_n	soul_n	6,087	5	4.9755	4	false

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

commaunded two Fortunes of gold to be made for either of his sonnes one because it was the ensigne of the Empire to take away all occasion after his death for any of them by him selfe or for him selfe to be aduaunced with the Empire but equally to remaine in power and estate This was the ende of Seuerus whome his enimies might not kill with armes and yet with griefe and sorrowe was slaine by his sonnes Seuerus liued thrée score and fiftéene yeres and reigned two and twentie yeres his bones were burnt and the ashes carried to Rome Of this Emperour Seuerus the Senate determined that which of no other prince was determined namely Illum aut nasci non debuisse aut mori whiche is to saye It had beene good in respect of his cruelties which he did he had not beene borne and since that he was borne in consideration of the profite which he did in the common wealth it had beene good he had not died The life of the Emperour Bassianus sonne vnto Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Howe Bassianus and his brother Geta did inherite the Empire of their father Seuerus PResently after the death of the Emperour Seuerus in great Britaine his two sonnes Bassianus and Geta did succéed him in the Empire betwixt whome there was extreme discorde and cruell hatred for notwithstanding in bloude they were brothers yet in wil works they dealt as enimies As Bassianꝰ was elder brother and also more cauillous troublesome so he began secretely to practise and subborne the capteines of the armie to him onely to giue the Empire and to exclude Geta his younger brother from the inheritaunce and to drawe them vnto his purpose he spake swéete wordes blinded them with faire promises of greate hope and also gaue them riche Iewels Nothing might Bassianus attaine with the capteines of his armie for that euery one in particular and all in generall made him aunswer that since they were sonnes vnto their lord Seuerus and bothe brethren and ioyntly had sworne vnto them as their Lordes and Princes it were not iust they should be traytours in their promise vnto their father or shoulde make a breache of their othe that in the temples they had sworn vnto the Gods. After that Bassianus might not corrupt the armie with woordes déedes or giftes he tooke peace with the Britans to the ende presently to departe towardes Rome and his brother Geta being aduertised that Bassianus sought the Empire vnto him selfe which the father Seuerus had lefte vnto them both grewe into great hatred disdaine with his brother in such wise that from thenceforth the two brethren behaued them selues not only as vtter enimies but also the courte was diuided into bandes Bassianus Geta were brethren by the father but not by the mother for that Bassianus was his sonne by his first wife and Geta by Iulia whiche was the second wife Geta his mother and the auncient and honourable Romanes that were remaining after the death of Seuerus did not a little trauaile to confederate and set them at agréement but in the ende they were neither conuinced with the infinite beares of the mother either might be persuaded by the great requestes and instant intreatance of their friendes The affaires of Britaine being set in order the two brethren much without order departed towardes Rome carrying with them the reliques of their father Seuerus that is to say his bones made ashes which in all cities as they passed were receiued with as great reuerence as if Seuerus had béene aliue From the time that Bassianus Geta departed from Britaine vntil they entred Rome they neuer lodged in one lodging or fedde at one table or had conference vppon the waye but had of eache other great suspicion yea in meat and drinke to haue receiued poyson To go in so greate doubt and suspicion was cause of small staye vppon the waye although it were very long and before their comming vnto Rome either of them had sent their secreate messengers not onely to take vp the best lodginges in Rome but also to solicite and to winne the willes of the common wealth because they conceiued that they might not ioyntly be conserued in their seigniorie but that one must remaine with the Empire That day on which Bassianus and Geta his brother shoulde enter Rome all Rome came foorth to receiue them which was mixed with ioye and sorrowe sorrowe for the death and buriall of Seuerus and ioye for that his children were come aliue to reigne in his steade Entring into the citie the two brethren and newe Emperours went before appareled in purple on horssebacke after them came the Senatours all on foote who bare on their shoulders a chest of Unicorne wherein was placed the ashes of Seuerus such persons as attended the dead went wéeping and those that accompanied Bassianus Geta went singing Being entred into the citie and the day farre spent they went vnto the temple of the greate Emperour Marcus Aurelius where the two newe Princes fell on their knées to adore his sepulchre as a moste holie man and there bestowed the ashes of their father Seuerus Before Seuerus departed vnto the second warres of Britaine he had begon a most sumptuous sepulchre in the fielde of Mars amongest other ornaments that it had were seuen pillers polished verie high and stately wherein was grauen all his actes and victories but his life first was finished before his sepulture was ended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe in Rome they burie their Emperours and of greate ceremonies which there they vsed After that Bassianus and Geta his brother had reposed the body of their father Seuerus in the temple of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius presently they beganne to consecrate his body and to place his soule with the Gods accordinge to the custome of the Romans whiche ceremony was not done but vnto dead Emperours and the order thereof was thus Presently vpon the death of an Emperour the Senate did assemble to determine if hee deserued to be buried with the Godes either els after his burial to leaue him to obliuion as other men and if he had beene euill the Senate woulde be absent at his buriall and if he had bene good all clad in blacke woulde attend to consecrate his body And to do the same their firste attempt was to bury the body of the deade prince without any ceremonie and then made him an image of woode after the manner of a sicke and colourlesse man which they placed alofte vpon a scaffolde ouer the Courte gate and that image although it were of a sicke man yet did they clad it with garmentes of silcke and golde as though the counterfeite were aliue In the hight of that scaffolde or throne the Senate were set on the lefte hande and on the right hand all the matrones of Rome of whome none might he apareled richly either deckt with

Pertinax died the fifte daye of April Falconius Clarus being Consuls his head was throwne of his enimies into Tiber his bodie burieed by his friends and kinsfolkes in the sepulchre of his father in lawe at that present without anie funerall pomp because they slewe all persons that vttered sorrowe or griefe for his death The life of the Emperour Iulianus that bought the Empire compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. Of the life linage and countrie of the Emperour Iulianus THe Emperour Didiꝰ Iulianꝰ had to his great graundfather a Romaine named Salianus who was a learned lawyer twise Consul Pretour of the citie and died in the secōd yeare of the reigne and Empire of Nero and they say he died of pure sorrowe to sée the common wealth in the handes of so furious a tyrant as Nero. His graundfather was named Salbius Iulianus who gaue him selfe more to armes then to letters and went vnto the warres of Datia with Traiane and was captaine of the seconde Legion and longe time diuider of the victualls and in the ende dyed in his office that is to say in the warres against kinge Dacus His father was named Didius Petronius who neither gaue him selfe to science either folowed the warrs as his predecessours but was residente and liued alwayes in Rome folowing his affaires and holdinge offices in the common wealth hee was an assured friende vnto Antoninus Pius and dyed in the Empire of the good Marcus Aurelius His mother was named Clara Emilia a generous and noble Romaine a greate friende and kinswoman of Domitia Lucilla that was mother vnto Marcus Aurelius so did she intreate and fauour him as a sonne and he did obey her as a mother The first office that Didius Iulianus did beare in the common wealth was Decemviriato which is to wéete to be one of the x. visitours of the people and though he wanted age to vse it yet he wanted not fauour to obteine it because Domitia mother vnto Marcus Aurelius did craue this office for him in the Senate He was also Questor two yeares together which office he helde against the Romane lawes for that he was vnder the age of xxx yeares but as hee obtained the office of Decemviriato by the sute of the mother so did they graunte the other by the fauour of the sonne which is to wéete Marcus Aurelius And after that Didius Iulianus was past the age of thirtie yeares he neuer wanted offices in the common wealth for vntill that age the Romanes had rather that yongemen shoulde occupie them selues in learning then in commaunding and gouernement Iulianus was Edil Pretor and Censor diuerse times diuers yeares and at times muche distant but the office wherein he continued longest time was Romane Pretor because he had learning to gouerne and iustice to execute He was naturallie giuen to the warres and with this motion he went one time into Germanie where hee neither obtained fame either augmented his goods for that certeinely he was more handsome in gouernemente then hardie in fight He gouerned by the space of three yeares the prouince of Belgica whiche nowe is named Swetia in which gouernement he behaued him selfe so venturouslie that he obteined what he had lost in the warre which is to say much reputation in the common wealth and greate goodes for his house In the seconde yeare of the Empire of Marcus Aurelius the inhabitantes neere vnto the riuer Albo whiche is in the kingdome of Bohemia rebelled vnto which commotion Didius Iulianus repayred and as hee was humble of speache skilful and aduised in his affaires so in short space he reduced them vnto the seruice of the Romaine Empire When the Senate had intelligence what Iulianus had done in Bohemia the Emperoure thoughte him selfe therein verie well serued and the Senate no lesse contented chieflie for that so exactlie hee had perfourmed the same without requeste or commaundemente and in recompence of this so singular a seruice they sent him the Consulshippe without his requeste or anie other to solicite the same When the newes of Consulshipe came vnto Iulianus they saye that he saide I sweare by the immortall Godes that I neither solicited the Consulship either thought to haue obteined the same but here in it clearelie appeareth that the good dothe more solicite with his good woorkes then the euill with his manie guiles After he had accomplished the yeare of Consulshipe hee was sent vnto the lower Germanie as Pretor which countrie is nowe called Flanders where he remained two years frō thēce returned to Rome where he had charge of victuals which office amongst the Romaines was more profitable then honourable The Emperour Marcus Aurelius being deade his sonne Commodus reigning in the Empire Iulianus was accused for a traitour for that he and Siluius his cousen had conspired to haue slaine Commodus his accuser was a noble gentleman of Rome named Seuerus but for that he might not proue his accusation they cut off his heade and set Iulianus at libertie At one time Iulianus was in fauour with Commodus an other time in disgrace but after that he was accused of conspiracie he did allwayes beare him mortall hatred and when he vnderstoode this in Commodus both in worde and deede moste times he kéept his house and excused him selfe from the offices of the common wealth Iulianus was a lawyer and in letters moste learned of whome it is said that fewe did surpasse him in science and none was equall vnto him in eloquence for hee did neuer pleade anie cause in the Senate but he obteined the victorie He was prompt in speache sharpe in propounding and graue in determination of stature somewhat lowe of sanguine complexion and in his youth beganne to be horeheaded of whome in this case it may be saide that hee was a monster in nature for that he had neuer a white haire in his bearde either anie blacke haire in his heade His wife was named Malia Escantilia and had but one daughter named Didia Clara. In this also as in the other nature woulde be extreme because the mother was the moste foule woman that had bene seene in Rome and the daughter was the fairest dame that euer was séene in Italie As Iulianus had gouerned manie countries had the charge of victuales was chiefest aduocate in lawe in al Rome so he obteined the possession of manie iuells and the hoording vp of greate summes of money for whiche cause all the principall Romaines sought to be his sonnes in lawe partelie to marrie with the daughter that was so faire as also to inherite the goods that were so greate Iulianus was slender drie and towards his later dayes he was growne to be cholerik adust he neuer drank wine and therefore did eate muche and yet notwithstanding he was so curious and so costlie in his manner to drinke water that with lesse cost he might haue druncke wine Beinge nowe growne

his defence in such wise that although they wer of great disorder in their life yet they vsed great conformitie in agréement for the manner and fashion of their robberies One of the thinges wherein the malice of man moste readily doeth shewe it selfe is that to doe euill wee are soone agreed but to perfourme a good woorke wee consent with greate difficultie Commodus was well persuaded that the tyraunt Maternus was nowe deade imagining in his owne conceit that at the forsaking of his campe and renouncing of his armie of extreme desperation and horrour of him selfe he had desperately drowned or committed him selfe to the halter But Maternus in recompence of the losse of his potencie and negligence of his honour bent all his studie to deliuer Commodus from his life The Romaines helde a custome vppon the tenth day of Marche to celebrate the feast of the Goddesse Berecyntha on that day the Emperour and the Senate went vnto her temple to offer sacrifices which done and perfourmed generally all persons for the most part disguised them selues masking and feasting throughout the whole citie in suche manner their faces being couered the one was vnknowne vnto the other Maternus and other his fellowe théeues and friendes had agréed to weare secrete armour with face disguised that when the Emperour Commodus should most chiefly be addicted to viewe and beholde the playes and his guarde most carelesse of his person by a coūterfet braule amongst them selues to finde ready meane to cut off his life But notwithstanding Maternus had lost his welth power and honour he ceased not to continue proude hautie and disdainefull seeking to be serued and reuerenced not as a friende and poore companion but after the manner of a Prince and as one that were very rich Wherevpon certaine of his companions being not onely wéeryed but tyred to walke lurkingly in corners and not able to indure to be handled with so great seruitude and further fearing some day to be discouered they repayred vnto Commodus and with great secrecie manifesting the whole matter which is to wit that Maternus the tyrant was a liue and fully determined in those playes and feastes to kill him Incredible was the feare wherewith Commodus was touched when he hearde that Maternus the tyrant was aliue and no lesse was his ioy to consider the conspiracie to be detected and notwithstanding Commodus had intelligence thereof certaine dayes before the feast hée suspended the execution thereof vntill the day of the Goddesse Berecyntha to the end that nothing should be reuealed vnto Maternus of that which was discouered vnto Commodus The maner that Maternus deuised to murder Commodus the same did Commodus vse to take and kill Maternus that is to say the great day of the feast being come as Maternus and his band came masked and armed so Commodus brought forth his men armed and disguised and with a set quarell the traitour and tyraunt Maternus was slaine and his men cutt all to péeces The greatest feast of that feast was celebrate in strāgling hewing mangling drawing burning of the bodies of these miserable théeues because it is an euident lawe for tyrants that the hurtes robberies slaughters violences and burninges which they haue committed in many dayes they come to make repayment thereof in one houre CHAP. X. ¶ Of the inexpected death of Cleander a fauoured and most priuate seruant vnto Commodus AFter the death of the tyrant Maternus the Emperour Commodus passed his life in great doubt and feare imagining with himselfe that some day they would dispatch him either eating or sléeping for he did both knowe and also would say that they were fewe which prayed for his life but very many that sighed for his death Vntill Commodus died hée euer walked warely for hée doubled his guard to guard him by day and strongly shutt in his house by nighte in that which hée did eate in his lodging where he slept on the palfrey wheron he roade on the garments which hée did weare hée set great watche in such wise that hée paid it but only with his life that durst touch his garment Very séeldome he went to the Senate and much lesse did ride openly in the citie hée had not talke with strangers but by writing with his subiects he had no conference but by a person intermitted and that which was more maruell hée had many times such conceite not onely to refuse to write aunsweare heare causes or dispatch affayres but also in foure or fiue dayes would not speake onely one word In the xi yeare of his Empyre Maternus the tyraunt was slaine on the next yeare there followed a great pestilence and a generall hunger in which hunger and pestilence the third part of Italie was consumed Immediatly after the pestilence had entred Rome Commodus departed vnto the citie of Laurento where were planted many Laurel trées for which cause the citie was named Laurento where also the Emperour more remayned then in any other place the Physicians giuing him to vnderstand that to be vnder the shadowe therof was very proper and conuenient for defence of the pestilence Notwithstanding the scarsitie of bread and wine that was that yeare further a certaine occasion of great hūger happened in Rome which was as followeth When the good Marcus Aurelius triumphed ouer the Argonautes he brought amongest other captiues a younge man named Cleander who was openly solde in the market place in Rome and by chaunce bought by a clarke of the kitchin to swéepe make cleane the larder at courte This slaue Cleander became so handsome in swéeping seruing and pleasing his maister that not many yeares after he did not onely make him frée and marrie him with his daughter but also did aduance him to the office of Clarke of the kitchin in such maner that from the estate of a bondman hée indued him with the condition of a sonne Nowe when Clēander sawe himselfe frée married and in office in the Court he trauelled to obteine the good will of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius which he obteyned by carefulnesse in seruice and diligence in his office and vsed therin so great diligence and promptnesse that he was neuer noted either slacke in prouision or false in reckoning Marcus Aurelius being deade Commodus forgate not to remoue Cleander from the affayres of the kitchin and made him capitaine of his guard and Lord great Chamberlaine of his chamber Vnto none of as many as did serue accompany Commodus in his youth that hée was gratefull but vnto Cleander vnto whom it had bin much better neuer to haue risen to so great honour for thereof onely procéeded the losse of his life Althoughe the fauour of Cleander did rise in iest or of small causes he framed in fewe dayes to performe the same in earnest which was as followeth that as Commodus grew into disgrace was abhorred and had no care of the gouernement of the Empire Cleander did presse and in such maner did thronge to entermedle with affayres

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

sorrowfull Albinius who so slaine they brought vnto Seuerus commaunding to cutte off his heade and to dismember and mangle his bodie all to pieces whiche beeing done he riding vpon a rough horse all to trampled the body of Albinius whiche was hackt and hewed to mamocks All men that behelde Seuerus vse so greate inhumanitie with the body of Albinius wepte and all men that hearde the reporte thereof were escandalized and not without greate reason for The office of a prince of moste perfecte pietie is to pardon the liuinge and to bury the deade Seuerus treading and trampling the bodie of Albinius after the maner of a fierce Lion his horse grewe fearefull and gaue him so shrewde a fall against the grounde that he remained a great space astonnied and in dismay in such wise that he missed verie narrowly presently to haue paide with life so enorme an iniurie These matters being finished Seuerus dispatched his Purseuaunts into all partes with the newes of this victorie and the head of Albinius vnto Rome and his bodie as it was all to pieces troaden trampled and drawen he commaunded to be throwen into the riuer Rhodanus to the ende that as he had taken away his life so by no meanes any memorie should remaine of Albinius CHAP. XII ¶ Howe after the death of Albinius Seuerus returned to Rome and there slewe many SEuerus not satisfied with slaying his enimie Albinius treading his bodie vnder his horsse féete casting the pieces thereof into the riuer Rhodanus and sending his head vnto Rome to be set in the pillorie but commaunded serch to be made for the bodies of all the noble Romans which had béene slaine in the seruice of Albinius and for that he might not chastice them in time of their life he aduised to vituperate and defile them after their death causing their bodies to be drawen cut in pieces and burnte some throwen into riuers to the ende they should neuer more appeare and othersome vnto beastes to be deuoured In all cities that receiued obeyed or succoured Albinius or his souldiours Seuerus did greate hurte robbing their goods and punishing their persons Manie cities and people made their excuse saying they had not serued or followed Albinius for that they had a desire so to do but because they were not succoured of Seuerus and yet ceased not to chastice and robbe them Albinius had thrée sonnes a daughter and a wife generous in bloud and beautifull of face whose throte with his children he commaunded to be cutt and their bodies also to be cast into the riuer Rhodanus And as Albinius was of greate power in all the Empire of Europe and of him self verie gratious liberal valiant and noble minded so in a manner all the nobles of Spaine and Fraunce had followed his parte alike the throtes of all which Seuerus after the battaile cōmaunded to be cutt and though he slewe the fathers yet he did not therefore pardon the wife and children Albinius his wife and his children being slaine and execution done vpon all persons that followed his opinion Seuerus applyed all their goods and riches for his owne chamber which were so great and of such value that it was doubted whether any Emperour had euer attained vnto the like The prouinces of Spaine and Fraunce being ordered and two gouernours placed in greate Britaine Seuerus departed vnto Rome and led with him all his armie not for that in all Italie he had any enimie bent against him but to terrifie the common wealth of Rome Seuerus of his owne naturall inclination was so quarelous proude vnquiet bloudie and doubtfull that although he had peace yet he woulde goe alwayes after the fashion of a warriour Seuerus was receiued with greate ioye of the Romanes although most certeinly many of them stoode in greate feare for that they had wished that Albinius might haue preuailed whereof Seuerus had certeine intelligence whose condition was so harde that to giue a cruell chasticement a small occasion was sufficient After that he had visited the great temple of Iupiter he diuided amongst the capteines that followed in the warres many iewels and greate riches and further gaue them certeine liberties which is to wéete that they might wear rings of golde vpon their fingers and entertaine Courtisans within their houses It was no small griefe vnto the Romanes that Seuerus had giuen such liberties vnto his men of warre saying that from thenceforth for euer to weare ringes of golde they woulde spende their owne robbe others and to vse concubines in their houses would cause dissention amongest the people and also debilitate their persons In Rome there was a Consul named Claudius which had his picture placed in the Senate was praised before all the people with a publique Oration for his worthie actes done in Asia whereof Seuerus tooke greate despight because this Claudius was kinsman vnto Albinius Seuerus did not knowe how to be reuenged of the Senate but publiquely by proclamation commaunded vpon paine of death that al men should call Commodus a God for confirmation whereof he did not only place his picture in the Senate to the end they should reuerence him but also in the temples to be adored To commaund the Romanes to adore reuerence Commodus as one of the Gods being as he was the woorst of all men it was vnto them so grieuous to heare so harde to perfourme that they determined not to go to the church either to offer sacrifice vnto their Gods because no parte thereof should be allotted vnto the God Commodus Seuerus vppon a daye went vnto the Senate made there a long and truculent Oration wherin after he had spoken many threateninge malicious woords he commaunded certeine letters to be read which he found amongst Albinius writings made by many Consuls Senatours other gentlemen amongst the people vnto Albinius offering him their persons sending their goods that he should not be dismaid in those warrs for that in the common wealth he was much desired The reading of these letters being ended he commaunded them presently to be torne for the time did dissemble the matter or to say better did deferre the chastisemēt for that after wardes as well of such as were absent as of them that were present he tooke so great reuengement that as the stréets were bathed in bloud the fields filled with carcases the wayes scattered with quarters the pillories beset with heades they saide in Rome the Silla was reuiued Nero was not dead Seuerus made a memoriall of all the riche men valiant of power that were in all the Empire the greater parte whereof he charged to haue béene the seruauntes friends or fauourers of Iulianus of Niger or else of Albinius his mortall enimies for which cause of frée men he made them slaues of lordes seruauntes of riche poore and also of liuing dead men in such wise that he slewe many not for offences which they had committed but to rob them of their goods

conformably vnto iustice it had beene more reason ye should haue diuided your owne proper mother then the landes countries of others O immortal Gods vvhy haue ye taken away my Lord Seuerus vnto your selues and left me placed in so many daungers and trauels since ye haue giuen me two children why was not giuen me two heartes and if I craue two hearts it is but to loue them but two thousand hearts wil not suffice to endure their vnkindnesse O my children although no children of my counselles for that though ye be mine by birth yet are ye become straungers by disobedience I knowe not my childrē what to say more vnto you but since ye be twaine and my heart but one that ye pull it foorth open it in the middest and diuide it as ye haue diuided the Empire and yet by the vestall mother I sweare vnto you that if ye opened my heart and made search therein ye shoulde finde in the same the greatnesse of my loue but much more that I suffer and am tormented CHAP. V. ¶ Howe Bassianus to obteine the Empire vnto him selfe slewe his brother in his mothers armes JT was lamentable to heare the Empresse Iulia but much more to beholde her who séeing her children so extremely diuided and so farre from fraternitie at euery woorde which shée saide the Heauens did cleaue with sighes and the ground was watered with teares At the instant shée finished her talke shée rose from her chayre going to her sonnes ▪ with the right hande shée taketh Bassianus and Geta with the left imbraceing them with her selfe traueiling to cause them to imbrace and to be reconciled and ioyning all their thrée faces together with the aboundaunt teares of the mother the faces of her sonnes were all wett and bedewed Many Romanes that were present began to mourne in hearing what Iulia saide and afterwardes howe with her children shée did behaue her selfe no man replyed or spake more woordes in as much as all men did allowe that which the mother saide and improued the diuision of the Empire which the sonnes had made The heartes of these two Princes were so muche passioned and ioyntly therewith of nature so indurate that when the mother did talke vnto them it seemed not but that they were thinking of some other matter which had most perfect apparaunce because at that time they were neither moued with compassion of her teares either afterwardes did take any profite of her counsell The mother only profited not in her traueile to reconcile them but that from thenceforth th●y ceased not to discouer greter hatred that is to saye in that either of them sought to corrupt each others bloud promising greate wealth in Rome to be giuen vnto him that would confect his lordes meate with poyson When Bassianus perceiued that he might not by any meane dispatche his brother Geta with poyson and ioyntly therewith that the Romanes were somewhat inclined vnto him by affection determined on a daye when all persons were moste inclined to sléepe at after noone to go vnto the lodging of his mother Iulia with whome Geta remained and finding them at their rest he gaue Geta so many stabbes with a dagger that he was bereft of his life When Bassianus set vpon his brother Geta the mother to saue him cast her selfe vppon him notwithstanding he ceased not to wound him and kill him The case was thus that with one blowe he both wounded his brother and imbrewed the garment of the mother and finally the brother remained dead and the mothers garments defiled This done Bassianus goeth foorth through al the court exclaming with a loude voyce and with greate feare and trembling treason treason my brother Geta would haue slaine me by treason in my bed and if I had not leapt out at a windowe and the destinies beene fauourable vnto mee at that instant I had not escaped with life and not satisfied with that which was saide he commaunded his garde to conduct him out of the court and to garde and attende him vnto mount Celius where the Pretorian bands were lodged infourminge that in the palace there was no safetie for that his brother had attempted to murther him All men that heard the exclamation that Bassianus made did beléeue that all things had passed as he had said and the Esquiers of the bodie did accompanie and attende him vntil they had brought him amongest the Pretorians and entring the tent where they had their armour and pendons knéeling vppon his knées hee gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods that had preserued him vnto that place and also vnto his garde that had succoured him in time of so great néede To beholde Bassianus go at suche an houre with so greate an heate through the middest of Rome and that with so great furie all that beheld him were escandalized and did imagine amongest them selues that he had slaine his brother or done some vile déede vnto his mother in lawe Assoone as he sawe him selfe amongest the Pretorians he diuided amongest them two thousande fiue hundreth drachmes of golde according to the weight of Athens ▪ further promised to giue them yerely wheate to furnish their families besides their ordinarie wages The fame being divulgate throughout Rome and the trueth knowen of the great treason which Bassianus had committed Geta his friends ioyned to séeke him with a determined purpose extremely to haue reuēged Geta and as the matter was put to armes and came to hande gripes Geta his friendes being the fewer in number were soone ouercom which although they were subdued yet truely deserue no dispraise being but fewe in number séeing their Lorde dead and Bassianus in possession of the armie they wanted no hardinesse to fight no lesse courage to dye but what shall we saye but that if their quarell were iust their fortune was verie crosse Small aduantageth it that the minde be generous and the bodie warlike if he that taketh armes be vnfortunate for that one houre of happie fortune is more woorth then all policies of warre Greate was the compassion that all men conceiued of the cruell death of Geta and no lesse was the hate which they did beare vnto Bassianus not only to kill him vppon so greate assurance but also to murther him in a place of so great priuiledge that is to saye within the sacred palace imbraced within the breastes of his mother When Bassianus sawe that his brother Geta was dead all his alies and seruaunts ouercome that whatsoeuer he had attempted with temeritie succéeded with great prosperitie he went vnto the temples and tooke from thence all their treasure in such wise hee tooke away in one daye that which manie princes had giuen in many yeres A greate quantitie of those treasures Bassianus diuided amongest his Pretorians who seeing themselues riche in money and that their enimies were subdued went into Rome began to enter into the houses and killed all persons with whome they had vnkindnesse

Emperour go to Sea. CHAP. IX Of an horrible crueltie that Bassianus committed in Alexandria AFter that Bassianus had séene the greate Ilion and the moste parte of Asia and Bithynia he came vnto the citie of Antioche wher he was receiued with great ceremonie and all the time that he remained there no lesse feasted From Antioche he tooke his way into Alexandrie with greate desire to sée that famous citie which the greate Alexander had builte whereof the citizens beeing aduertised they made moste solemne costly preparation wherewith to receiue him which neuer had beene done to anie prince either Greeke or Romaine chiefly moued there vnto because it was saide that he was a friende vnto Alexander Manie leagues before Bassianus came vnto the citie they repaired the bridges amended the high wayes furnished all places with victuales made manie summer houses with boughes and scattered all the wayes with flowers and further all his traine did take all thinges at their owne pleasure without paymente of anie money But when he arriued in the citie generally the Alexandrines came foorth to receiue him in moste gorgeous apparell accompanied with instruments and manie kindes of musick Presently at his entrie into Alexandrie he went on foote vnto the temples where he offered verie greate sacrifices and burned therein great quantities of incense myrrhe aloes and suche other fumes This beeing done hee went to visite the sepulchre of the greate Alexander where he vsed an imperiall magnificence that is to wéete he put off a most rich robe wherewith he was clad he tooke from his cappe a brooch of greate price a curious collar from his necke from his breste a stone of value inestimable and from his fingers all his rings knéeling vpon the ground did offer the same vpon the sepulchre of the greate Alexander Incredible was the ioy that the Alexandrines conceiued to behold a liuing prince of Rome to haue a Greeke prince which was deade in so greate veneration in respect whereof they loued him with all their hartes and serued him with all their power All whiche thinges Bassianus performed not of intente to honour Alexander or to pleasure the Alexandrines but with more certintie to assure him selfe of them all and afterwardes ioyntlie to kill them all Manie dayes had past since Bassianus had borne greate hatred vnto the Alexandrines and the occasion of his vnkindnesse was because it was saide that they scorned him with words and also derided him in enterludes saying it was a scoffing matter for him to make cōparison with Alexander to name himselfe Achilles and to imitate Hercules Also Bassianus vnderstoode howe they had muche despised him for the death of his brother Geta laide their toungs vpon his owne mother notinge her vnchastitie which iniuries hee wanted not skill to dissemble manie dayes after to reuenge the same at an instant The case was thus the feasts beeing finished he commanded proclamation to be made that al the lustie young men either straungers or natiues of the countrie shoulde muster in a fielde to the ende he would see viewe and also arme them after the olde manner saying that frō thence foorth his will was that al his men of warre should fight not after the order of the Romanes but according to the fashion of the Greekes Greate glorie and also vaine glorie possessed the Alexandrines when they hearde these proclamations and he that might soonest came first into the fielde conceiuing that such as were the wordes of the crier such should be the workes of the Emperour All the youth of Alexandria remaining in the fielde Bassianus with all his armie in armour issued forth to beholde them and he commaunded to bring them selues into a square to the end that one by one shoulde passe before him of whome he woulde take his choyce and presently after giue them armour Nowe when the miserable Alexandrines stoode all as sheepe together vnarmed Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his soldiours to giue the charge as vpon enimies who in their slaughter made so great haste that within an houre those fieldes were all couered not with flowers but with dead bodies Greate was the hurte that Bassianus committed that day vpon the Alexandrines for that he lefte the widowes without sonnes graundfathers without nephues vnckles without cousines brethren without brethren and neighbours without friends in such wise that none remained that was not slaine or else tormented with the death of others The place where Bassianus committed this greate treason and so inhumaine crueltie was in a broade plaine fielde neare vnto the greate riuer Nilus and the number was so greate of them which were slaine that the bloude by streames ranne through those fieldes and stayned and died that riuer Nilus in such extreme manner that that so stately a riuer semed not to runne with water but with bloude The Alexandrines may not be excused of their faulte in speaking euill of Bassianus defameing his mother representing his vile factes in enterludes Admitting that of euil we can speake but euill yet princes enter not into this reckoning whose workes we haue licence to iudge onely in our hartes but not with the toung to blaspheme and despise them And albeit the offence of the Alexandrines was verie great yea though it had béene much greater yet without comparison muche more vehement was the crueltie that Bassianus did execute on them which if he had bene as he ought to haue bene the contrarie he would haue perfourmed for In the houses of heroycall and excellent princes chastisement is giuen by ounces and clemencie without measure CHAP. X. Of a letter which Bassianus did write vnto the kinge of Parthians to haue his daughter in marriage IT séemed vnto Bassianus that to robbe temples to sacke townes to subuert walles and to kill the whole neighbourhood of Alexandrie was but a smal matter in respect of his vile and cruell conditions wherwith he was inclined and to this ende he determined to attempt so rare and odious a treason that all men which should heare or reade therof might counte his crueltie past but a trifle Euen as amongst such as be vertuous one vertue awaketh another vertue so amongst the wicked one euill or mischiefe draweth with it another mischiefe in such wise that there are some persons so vowed vnto euill and mischiefe that without delaie fall into the profunditie of all manner of vice and mischiefe The case was thus that Bassianus séeing himselfe in the Easte partes had a desire to make a conquest of the Parthians and for that he durste not make them warre openly he remembred to deuise a treason for them in secreate So much more vile was the facte as small was the occasion which moued him to commit the same for at that present the Parthians with the Romanes the Romanes with the Parthians were in greate friendship and confederacie Without aduice of parentes friends or counselers Bassianus sente a greate Ambassage vnto Arthabanus king of Parthia sending