end had Niger being brought to that Disaster by his dull protracting of time though otherwise he were as they say in his publike and private carriage not culpable Niger being slaine Severus presently put to death all his friends and Partizans whether Voluntaries or compelled to assist him Yet he pardoned the Souldiers which were fled for feare to the Barbarians beyond the River Tigris and received them into favour For great numbers of them retired into those parts whereby it came to passe that the Barbarians were afterwards more able to incounter the Romanes in set battell their manner of Fight before that time being onely with bowes and arrowes on horseback without compleat Armour having no skill to use Sword or Lance but clad with thinne loose Garments they shot their Arrowes most part backewards flying from their Enemies But when diverse Romane Souldiers and among them many Armourers which fled thither had set set up their Rests there the Barbarians learned not onely to use Armes but also to make them Severus having setled the Affaires of the Orient to his owne contentment had a strong desire to invade the Dominions of the Atrenian and Parthian Kings who were both Nigers Confederates But deserriug that till another time he cast about how he might now establish the Romane Empire on himselfe and his Sonnes For Niger being taken away the only Rub that remayned was Albinus whom he held to be altogether unprofitable for his Purpose and incompatible to his designes Besides the Report was that his Caesarian Title had so puft up his spirits that he beganne to fare like an Emperour and that many of the chiefe Peeres of the Senate had secretly writ to him to hasten to Rome while Severus was absent elswhere ingaged And indeed all the Nobles were most devoted to Albinus who was very honorably descended and reputed to bee of a sweet and generous Disposition Of all which passages Severus having got intelligence resolved not instantly to make open warre against him or proclame him his enemy there being no just cause or colour for it but to trie if he could make him away by treacherie Wherefore hee dispatches Severus plots against Albinus to him diverse trusty persons which as Poasts used to carry the Emperors Letters and Missives giving them in charge that after they had publikely delivered the Packets they should desire him to understand some further secrets in private and wheÌ„ he was apart from his guard suddenly to fall upon him kill him Moreover he delivered to them divers sorts of poysons to bee minâ—stred to him by some of his Carvers or Cup bearers if they could perswade them But Albinus his friends mistrusting Severus gave him many caveats to beware him as a fraudulent and insidious person For his fame was fouly blasted by his ill dealing with Nigers Captains whom having under wrought by their Children as wee formerly shewed to betray Nigers Affaires when he had made use of their Service and attayned his owne ends hee slew both them and their Children By these Actions of his they manifested to him his dangerous disposition Albinus thereupon doubled his Guards and admitted not to his presence any messenger from Severus till he had laid by his military Fauchiâ— and was also searcht lest he had any other Weapon in his bosome And now were Severus his poasts arrived at Albinus * In Britain Court where delivering their Letters openly they besought him to step aside to heare some speciall Secrets Albinus suspecting them commands them to be apprehended Then secretly torturing them he learnt out all their treachery and put them to death and made preparation against Severus as a professed Enemie Which Severus understanding being of a violent spirit and irefull nature he no longer concealed his Enmity but assembling all his Army spake thus Severus his Speech against Albinus LEt none reflecting on my former Actions tax me of Levity Treacherie or Ingratitude towards my reputed friend I could doe no more than associat him by a firme League in the Imperiall Government which some man would hardly doe to his own brother Yea I communicated to him that which you conferred on me alone But Albinus unworthily requites these extraordinary Favours which I have heaped upon him For he is now up in Armes against Vs contemning your valour and not regarding his League with me For he seekes with insatiable Desire to ingrosse that with his owne perill which hee securely injoyed by a peacefull Participation Neither doth he revere the Gods by whom hee hath so oft sworne nor respects he your travells which with so great glory and courage you have undertaken for Vs both For the fruits of your happy successe extended likewise to him Yea had he continued faithfull to us we had done him greater honour than was yet imparted to him Now as to doe ill * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Offices is an act of Injustice So not to redresse a Wrong is * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unmanly In our Wars against Niger our Quarrell was not so just as necessary For he sought not to imbrace the Imperiall dignity invested in our person but the Empire lying then at stake and being yet litigious both of Vs with equall Ambition fairely wrestled for it But Albinus violating Leagues and Oaths makes choice rather to bee an Enemy than a Friend and to wage Warre rather than continue in amity being advanced by our meere bounty to that eminent * * Title of Caesar implyed Hâ—â—â—e apparancâ— Honor which anciently appertayned to the sacred Branches of the Imperiall Stemme Wherefore as wee have formerly ennobled him with great and glorious Advancements So now wee hold it meet to chastise his ignoble Treachery by force of Armes As for his poore Army of * * Britaines Ilanders it is impossible it should resist your Puissance For since you alone by your owne Valour and admirable Prowesse have wonne so many Battells and conquered all the Orient who can doubt but that now by accesse of so many gallant men at Armes for here are almost all the Roman Forces you shall easily rout a small Number led by One that hath neither Wit nor Courage For who knowes not his Voluptuary life fitter for a Swine than a Souldier Let us therefore * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bravely advance against him with our wonted alacrity and magnanimity having the Gods for our Guides whom hee hath dishonoured with Perjuries and calling to mind the many Trophies wee have erected which hee so highly scornes Severus having thus sayd the whole Army proclamed Albinus Traytor but making full Demonstration of their loyall zeale to him by their Acclamations they mightily incouraged him and made him wondrous confident Whereupon rewarding them with magnificent donatives he tooke his Iourney against Albinus Withall he sent certaine Troops to invest Byzantium Bâ—zantium invested which was yet held by Nigers Souldiers that fled thither Which Citie was
fight like a Souldier against Barbarians nor to arme himselfe like a Roman Prince but to prostitute so glorious a Dignity to so sordid a profession He easily vanquisht his Antagonists and attempted no further than to draw bloud every one yielding him the Mastery as acknowledging him rather an Emperour than a Fencer In this mad humour he ranged so farre as that hee purposed to forsake his Palace and live in a Fence-Schoole and now being weary of the Name of Hercules hee assumed the Name of a famous Sword-Player deceased And whereas the Romanes had the Colossus or Image of the Sunne in great veneration hee tooke the head from it and set on another representing his owne inscribing in the Basis not his Fathers Titles or any Imperiall Stile as he was wont but in stead of Germanicus or Conquerour of Germanie The Vanquisher of a thousand Gladiators But now was it high time for him to leave his Foolery and the Citie to bee freed from his tyrannie which fell out in the beginning of the yeare on that day which the Romans keepe holy to Ianus the most ancient Ianus his Feast God of Italy who entertained Saturne expelled by his sonne Iupiter from whoâ—e concealement it had the name of Latium Wherefore to this day they first celebrate the Feast of Saturne and then of Ianus whose Image hath two heads alluding to the beginning of the new and end of the old yeare Now whereas the Romans were wont on this prime Festivity to congratulate each other and Newyeresgifts to send to their friends peeces of Gold and Silver and divers other gifts interchangeably in token of mutuall love and observance and the chiefe Magistrates of the Citie vested themselves in rich Purple in honour of that great Solemnity Commodus then determined to issue forth not out of the Imperiall Palace according to the ancient custome but out of a Fenceschoole and to shew himselfe openly to the people not in his Robes and Princely Purple but armed like a Master of Defence with a traine of Gladiators following him This his determination when Marcia Commodus his Concubine hee had imparted to Marcia his most honoured Concubine who as if she were his married Wife had all the honours of Empresse except that of FIRE Shee fell downe on her knees and besought him with teares not to prophane the Majesty of the Roman Empire in that sort nor to hazard his person among such lewd and desperate Ruffians But when after much intreaty shee saw there was no hope of prevayling shee went away weeping Then he sends for Latus the Generall of his Armies and Electus his Chamberlaine and commands them to prepare a lodging for him that night in the Fence schoole that hee might the next morning goe from thence to sacrifice on that solemne Festivall and shew himselfe in Armes to the Romans They humbly desired him to desist from that purpose and not to doe an act so unworthy an Emperour wherupon in great rage hee commands them out of his presence and retiring into his bed-chamber to repose himselfe at Noone as hee vvas wont he tooke his Table-book and writ downe those which hee doomd to death that night Among which were Marcia Latus Electus and a great number of Nobles and Senators for he was fully resolved to cut off all the ancient Councellors and others which were his Fathers friends lest his blacke deeds should be checkt by their grave centures intending to divide their Goods and Estates among the souldâ—ers Sword-players that the one sort might defend him the other delight him Having thus done hee layd his Table booke on the Pallet not imagining that any would enter his Chamber Now there was a little Boy that could scarce speake such as those which being halfe naked are deckt with gold and precious stones and are the â—â—â—ysest delights of the nobleâ—â— Romans This boy 〈…〉 〈…〉 dus so extreamely * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 love 〈…〉 oft lâ—y in 〈…〉 〈…〉 hiâ— and w 〈…〉 Phâ—lo-Commodus that Phâ—lo-Commodus is Commodus hâ—s Dâ—iling his name she wing how hee loved him The child being fuli of play went as hee usually did into the Bed-chamber while Commodus was bathing and revelling with his Minions and taking the Booke to play with went forth and as some Divine Power ordained Marcia met him and catching him up in her armes and kissing him for shee dearely loved him tooke the booke from him fearing lâ—st by his childish dalliance he might blot out some matters of weight As soone as shee perceived it was Commodus owne hand shee had a great appeâ—ite to reade it But when she found the deadly Contents and that she before all others was to bee slaughterd and that Laetus and Electus were to follow with such a number of noble persons she sighed and said thus to her selfe Is it so Commodus Marcia and others conspire the Emperors death doe you thus reward my love Have I deserved this at your hands for enduring your ignoble and debauched conditions so many yeares You shall find that a sober woman is able to dash your drunken Designes Immediately shee sends for Electus as shee was wont in regard hee was Lord Chamberlaine who as it was thought was over-familiar with her and giving him the booke said See Electus what a banquet we are to have this night He as soone as hee read it being amazed now hee was an Aegyptian borne a bold and daring fellow and very cholericke seald up the booke and sent it forthwith by a trusty messenger to Laetus who being likewise startled instantly repaired to Marcia pretending hee was to speake with her about dressing the Fence schoole for the Emperour Vnder this colour they resolved that now they must instantly doe or suffer without delay or procraâ—ination They concluded to dispatch him by poyson which Marcia undertooke to effect very easily in that shee still used to give him the first Cup which from her hand hee would take most kindly As soone as hee returned from his bathes shee presented him a poysoned Cup of Aromaticall Wine Commodus being exceeding thirsty with much bathing and chasing of wild beasts quaffes it off as hee was wont Whereupon his head being very heavie he fell into a slumber by reason of his vehement exercise as was supposed Wherefore Electus and Marcia commanded all to bee gone and depart the Court lest they disturbed his rest Thus was it ever with him in his drunken fits for when hee bathed or banquetted hee had no set times of Repose being ever distracted with severall sorts of pleasures which still enthralled him Having rested Commodus poysoned and strangled a while and the poyson now working in his stomacke and belly his head grew light and now hee fell a vomiting extremely either by reason hee had formerly over-glutted himselfe with feasting and carowsing which might haply expell the poyson or else because he used as Princes doe to take some antidot to prevent
poison When he had long vomited the conspirators fearing lest disgorging all the poison hee should come to himselfe and put them all to the sword they promised a great reward to oâ—e Naâ—câ—ssus a tall desperate youth to strangle him as hee lay And this was Commodus end having reignd 13 yeares after his Fathers decease the most Nobly-descended of all the Emperours before him and the goodliest person of his time And to speake of his dexterity in Darting inferiour to none But he bâ—spurtled his life with foule Vices and ignoble Exercises as hath bin declared HERODIAN HIS IMPERIALL HISTORIE The second Booke The Contents PErtinax his description His magnanimity His worthy esteeme Laetus his Speech to the Armie Pertinax proclaimed Emperour and confirmed by the Senate His Speech to the Senatours His rare Government Embassies congratulatorie Pertinax a Father to the Commons Informers punisht Pertinax his love to Learning The Pretorians mutine His Speech to them He is murthered and extremely lamented Pretorians make Port-sale of the Empire Iulian buies it The Commons curse him Hee is debauched Niger commended His Policie to get the Empire Stage-Playes and Revells Nigers Speech He is elected Emperour and visited by Embassadours His Security and Errour Severus described His strange Dreame His deâ—pe Policie Hee is elected Emperour His Speech His Expedition to Rome Italy surprized Iulian amazed Alpes Elephants trayned Severus his Stratagem Iulian deserted and slaine Severus takes the Pretorians by a train His Speech to them They are degraded Hee enters Rome Hee courts the Commons and Nobles His warlike Preparation against Niger Hee feares the Britans Their Elogie Albinus their Governour He is declared Caesar by Severus Herodian writes a Historie of 70 yeares COMMODVS being * In the Night slain as hath beene related in the former booke the Conspirators carefull to conceale the Fact from the Souldiers which watched the Emperours Pallace caused his Corps to be wrapped and wound up in a course Coverlet and gave order to two of their trustiest Servants to carry it forth as some voyd stuffe sent out of the Bed-chamber They which conveyed it away passed easily thorow the Guards which were either so drunke or drowsie that they could scarce hold their Halberts or else gave small heed to that which they thought little concerned them Thus was the Emperours Corps closely carâ—yed out of the Court Gates and sent by Coach that night to Arislâ—um Laetus Electus and Marcia having debated what was best to be done resolved to give out that he dyed suddenly of an Apoplexie which they thought would easily bee credited his excessive Epicurisme and Intemperance being so vulgarly knowne But their first care was to elect for Emperor some ancient and temperate man both for their owne safety and that all might have a breathing time after so bitter and wanton a Tyrannie After consultation they held Pertinax his description none so fit as Pertinax who was an Italian borne famous for many noble acts in Peace and Warre and renowned for many victories over the German and Easterne Barbarians and the onely able man that was left of all those honourable persons which Commodus was recommended to by his Father Marcus who reposed greatest confidence in him above all his Nobâ—es and Commanders whom Commodus either revered for his Gravitie or spared for his Poverty for that also was part of his praise that whereas hee tooke greatest paines in governing the State yet hee was the poorest of all the Nobility To him therefore at midnight when all were asleepe Laetus and Electus with a â—ew others of that faction addresse themselves who finding the Gates shut call up the Porter who opening the Gate and perceiving the Souldiers and Laetus the Generall ran in great affright and amazement to tell his Master Pertinax bids him bring them to him saying that now that mischiefe would betide him which hee had long expected They say that such 〈…〉 was his undaunted spirit that he neither forsooke his bed nor changed his countenance but with a bold courage and unappalled visage spake thus to Laetus and Electus whom he supposed to bee sent to murther him This indeed is the end that every night I have a long while expected being the last of all his Fathers friends and I have oft wondered that Commodus was so slow to dispatch me Why then forbeare yee Doe as you are commanded that I may bee rid from continuall feare and anxietie Laetus replyed Speake no further of these things which are so farre beneath your merit Our comming is not for your destruction but for the safetie of our selves and the Roman Empire For the Tyrant is dead and hath his due reward having suffered that which hee intended to inflict on us Our comming therefore is to invest you in the Empire His worthy 〈…〉 whom of all the Nobilitie wee know to be for Vertue Authority Age and Gravity most loved and honoured by the people not doubting but this our choyse wâ—ll be acceptable to them and most safe for us Pertinax answered I am too old to bee deluded in this sort Why doe you offer to abuse mee as a Coward and so to slay me Then said Electus Since you will not credit us reade this Booke you know Commodâ—s his hand having beene so long used to it and then you shall perceive what danger wee have escaped and that we speake not this to try you but truely to informe you Which when Pertinax had done knowing them also to bee his ancient friends and understanding all the busines hee yeelded himselfe to their dispose First then it was thought fit to send to the Army to know how the Souldiers would take it but Laetus undertooke to get their goodwill being their Generall and therefore of some authority with them Wherefore the night being farre spent and the next day the Feast of the New-yeare they hastned to doe all before it were day They sent also some of their trustiest servants to disperse the newes of Commodus death and Pertinax his going to the Army to bee made Emperour Which when it was divulged in the Citie all the people in an extasie of Ioy ran through the streets to bring the happy tydings to their friends that were of any note Who in greatest danger of Tyrants for wealth or worth for such were in greatest danger of Commodus Wherefore they ran to the Temples and Altars to give thankes to the Gods for their deliverance And now some cried out the Tyrant was dead some the Fencer others worse than all this For that which before they durst not mutter for feare they now proclaimed with impunity But the most part of the people posted to the Army being much afraid lest the ruder Souldiers accustomed under the former Tyrannie to ravine and spoile would not admit for Emperour so mild a Prince as Pertinax which to the end to perswade them to the more forcibly they went thither in great numbers Laetus Electus and Pertinax
from Military austerity and Martiall dispositions But he was the first that altered their strong and manly Diet and subverted all Order Discipline and Obedience to Governours by teaching them to hunt after Money and using them to delicate Fare Having made these Ordinances after his owne fancie he entred the * Or Parliamenthouse Senat-house where ascending his Royall Throne hee made a bitter Invective against Albinus Friends producing the secret letters of some of them which hee found in his Cabinets and objecting to others that they had honoured him with the richest Presents to these that they had favoured his Eastern * Niger Enemies to those that they were Albinus Favourites Then he put to death all Severus cruelty and covetousnes the chiefe Peeres of the Senate and slew without mercie all that were of great Estate and Nobility in the Provinces pretending to suppresse his Enemies but spurred on indeed by extreame Avarice wherein he exceeded all the Emperours For as in Haughtinesse of Spirit hardnesse to indure labour and Skill in Martiall affaires he was equall to the worthiest So was hee an unmeasurable Lover of Money which hee accumulated by cruell Slaughters upon the least Cause or Colour ruling his Subjects rather by feare than love Neverthelesse hee affected popular Lustre by frequent His Popularity exhibiting most stately Shewes of all Sorts where were oft slain an hundred beasts brought from strange countries Hee distributed also magnificent Donatives to the people and ordayned a Triumphall * Game or Exercse of Manhood Agon sending for Actours and Champions from all parts I have seene in his Time Shewes of all kindes of Pageants in all the Theaters at once as also processions and vigils like Ceres mysteries Secular Games These were then called Secular Solemnities because they V. Alex. ab Alex. Gen. dier l. 6. c. 19. were celebrated as they sayd after the Tearme of three Ages or Generations What time Bedles went thorow Rome and Italy to invite All to come and see those * Instituted in honour of Apollo and Diana the Sunne and Moone Shewes which they had never seene before nor should ever after see Intimating thereby that the inter-space betwixt the past and present Celebrity exceeded the longest Age of Men Having stayd a sufficient time at Rome where he associated his Sonnes in the Soveraignty and declared them Emperours considering that his former Victories were over his owne Countrey-men and the Romane Armies for which cause he forbore Triumph he determined to get himselfe honour by a glorious Conquest of the Barbarians His pretext was to be revenged on Barsemius the Atrenian King for his Confederacie with Niger Whereupon he lead his army into the Orient and as hee was about to enter Armenia the Severus his second Expedition into the East King of the Armenians sent him Money Presents and Hostages humbly intreating to contract a League of Amitie with him Severus seeing all things happen to his mind in Armenia marches against the Atrenians But Augarus King of the Osroens submitted himselfe to him and having assured his Homage by delivering his children for pledges sent to his Ayd a goodly Band of Archers Severus having passed the Region lying betwixt the Rivers and the Archers Country of the Albenians made a Rode into Arabia Felix where growe those odorate Herbes which wee use for Spicerie and Frankincense Having destroyed many Cities and villages and wasted the Countrey â—e entred the Land of the Atrenians and Siege of Atrae beleaguerd Atrae a City mounted on the top of an exceeding high Hill strongly walled and fortifyed well manned and full of excellent Archers Severus army incamping before it made many furious Assaults striving with all their strength to master it to which purpose they assailed the Walls with all sorts of warlike Engines pretermitting no kinde of Invasion But the Atrenians made abrave Resistance and with Shot and Stones from above did much hurt to the Severians They filled also Earthen Vessells with small Fowles and Venomous beasts which being cast among them and lighting on their Faces and other open parts of their bodies crawled all over them and secretly stung and tormented them Moreover they were not able to indure the stifling Aire of that extreame hot Clime which cast them into strange Calentures so that the most part of the Armie dyed rather by that meanes than by the Enemie Whereupon the Souldiers growing desperate at that luckelesse Siege where the Romans lost more than they got Severus discamped and departed without Effect lest all his Men should perish being much grieved that the successe of the Siege was not answerable to his desire For having beene wont to get the Victory in all incounters he now reputed himself overcome because he could not overcome But Fortune soone after smiled on him and advanced his Designes so that hee lost not all his labour but fared better than hee expected For his Army being imbarqued was not brought to the Romane Territories as hee intended but was hurried by the violent Streame to the Parthian banks not many dayes journey from Ctâ—siphon where was the royall Severus strange fortune Palace of the King of Parthia who lived there in peace esteeming Severus warres against the the Atrenians to concerne him nothing at all In which security he little thought of any Disaster Severus Host arriving there Si vis securus esse time securitatem S. Bernard against their wills by the violence of the Current presently landed and immediately fell a syoyling ravaging the Countrey driving away all the Cattell they met with for Provision and burning all the Towns as they went Then marcht they to Ctesiphon where the great King Artabanus was resiant and King of Kâ—â—thia surprised finding the Barbarians ubproâ—vided they slew every man they found pillaged the City and led captive all the women and children The King with a few Horsemen escaped but they rifled his Treasures and taking all his Ornaments and Iewells returned to their Ships Thus got Severus the victory over the Parthians rather by chance than choice And now having sped so happily beyond all hope hee sent * Dight with Laurel as Conquerors used Letters to the Romane Peeres and People containing a glorious Relation of his Acts accompanied with painted Tables representing all his Battels and Conquests Hereupon the Senate decreed to him all triumphant Honours and the Sirnames of the Nations hee had vanquished Severus having composed the Orientall Affaires took his way towards Rome bringing with him his Sonnes who were now big Youths Having ended his Iourney ordered the Provinces as was requisite and visited the * Mysiae now Servia and Bulgaria Mysian and Pannonian Armies he entred the City in Triumph the Romanes receiving him with great Acclamations Severus Triumph and glorious Ceremonies Hee againe entertained them with Feasts Sports Spectacles and Pageants giving them Royall Donatives and solacing them with Triumphall Shewes