the Temple and if the Jews refused to receive it that those who withstood him he should put to the sword and lead the rest captive but partly by Petronius his prudence and through Aristobulus his intercession with him and King Agrippa's with Caligula it was hindered The like is in the 21. lib. of Tacitus where he thus writeth of the Jews Sub Tiberio quies deinde jussi a Caio Caesare effigiem ejus in Templo locare arma potius sumpsere quem motum mors Caesaris diremit He gave it out openly that his own Mother was begotten by Incest which Augustus committed with his own daughter Iulia. He caused his Brother Tiberius to be slain and reserved his Uncle Claudius who was his Successor in the Empire for nothing else but to make him his laughing-stock Many of honorable rank were by him put to death and sawed asunder in the midst because they had no good opinion of his shews or had not sworn by his Genius An ordinary thing it was at Rome to swear by the Genius as also by the Fortune and the health of their Emperors And what a devout Oath was this Per Genium that is the spirit or superintendent Angel of the Prince which I take to be as much as his own good self as appeareth by Tertullian Citius apud vos per omnes Deos quam per Genium principis pejeratur Doct. Holland in Annotat. in Sueton Dio as Heraldus upon Tertullians Apologie observes saith that Augustus a most wise and moderate Prince not only pardoned but also suppressed this kind of Oath He forced Parents to be present at the execution of their own Children And when one Father excused himself by reason of sickness he sent a Litter for him Another of them immediately after the heavy spectacle of his Son put to death he invited to his own board made him great cheer and by all manner of courtesie provoked him to jocondness mirth When his Grand-mother Antonia seemed to give him some admonition Momento ait omnia mihi in omnes licere When he had at one time condemned a sort of Frenchmen and Greeks together he made his boast That he had subdued Gallo-Graecia a Nation mixt of French and Greeks After he had well drunk and eaten he took pleasure to cast his friends into the Sea from on high from a Bridge which he built at Puteoli before mentioned and caused many to be drowned which sought to save them Dion lib. 50. of his Hist. Suetonius in Calig cap. 32. He would not permit any to suffer death but after many strokes given and those very softly His Command being generally and commonly known Ita feri ut se mori sentiat Strike so that they may feel themselves dying and endure the pains of an enduring death He executed on a time one whom he had not appointed to die by error only and mistaking his name but it makes no matter quoth he for even he also hath deserved death A certain Citizen of Praetors degree desired oftentimes from the retiring place where he was at Anticyra into which Isle he went for his healths sake to have his Licence continued but he gave order he should be killed outright adding these words therewith That blood-letting was necessary for him who in so long time had found no good by Hellebore that is by purging Being highly displeased upon a time with the multitude for favouring the contrary faction to his would God quoth he that the people of Rome had but one neck meaning to chop them off at one blow Vox carnifice quà m Imperatore dignior Xiphil A speech fitter for an Hangman than an Emperor Over whom being kild by Chaereas the people of Rome afterward insulted He was wont openly to complain of the unhappy condition of the time wherein he lived as not renowned by any publick calamities that his Government was like to be forgotten by the calm and prosperous current of all things and therefore he would often wish for the overthrow of his Armies Famine Pestilence Fire Earthquakes and the like Nonnunquam horreis praeclusis populo famem indixit He proclaimed a famine without scarcity While he was at his recreations and disports he practised the same cruelty both in word and deed oftentimes as he sate at dinner some were examined upon the Rack in his presence and others had their heads struck off His saying was Oderint dunt metuant Let them hate me so they fear me Being one day very free at a great feast he suddenly brake forth into a great laughter and the Consuls who were next him demanding whereat he laughed so his answer was Quid nisi uno meo nutu jugulari utrumque vestrum statim posse At what else quoth he but this that with one nod of my head I can have both your throats cut immediately As oft as he kissed the neck of his Wife or Concubine he would commonly adde Tam bona cervix simulac jussero demetur As fair and lovely a neck as this is off it shall go if I do but speak the word He complained of the iniquity of the time that one doubting to be poysoned of him did take counterpoyson or a remedy against it what sayes he Antidotum adversus Caesarem Is there any Antidote against Caesar His cruelty as Dion saith was not imputed to his Father or Mother but to his Nurse which was a most cruel woman her self and used to rub her breast nipple with blood causing him to suck it which he practised also afterwards for he did not only delight in the committing of many Murders but through insatiable desire of blood would with his tongue suck and lick off the blood that stuck upon his 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 vice 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 baberetur occidi Under him things were brought to that pass as it was reckoned amongst the works of mercy to be slain De quo nescio an decuerit memoriae prodi nisi forte 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 declaim against one when he was
funeral fire killed themselves Many of them also who were absent hearing of the news of his end for very grief of heart ran with their weapons one at another to death Most men who in his life time cursed and detested him when he was dead highly praised him so as it was a common and rife speech that Galba was by him slain not so much for that he affected to be Sovereign Ruler as because he desired to recover the state of the Republick and the freedom that was lost His saying was Melius est unum pro multis quam pro uno multos mori an excellent and worthy speech of an Emperor preferring the publick good before his own private Sic imperium quod maximo scelere invaserat maxima virtute deposuit as Xiphilinus noteth out of Dion He dyed but 37 years old saith Plutarch 38 say Eutropius and Suetonius and was Emperor but three months Plutarch three months and five daies Tertullian four months Aurelius Victor He dyed in the 59. day of his Empire saith Eutropius 95. saith Suetonius Aulus Vitellius HE was beyond measure tall he had a red face occasioned by swilling in wine and a great fat paunch besides somewhat limped upon one leg 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 he not managed all matters else according to his own natural disposition and the course of his former life rather than respecting the Majesty of an Emperor When he came into the field 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 melius 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 judicial Astrologers called Mathematicians because they had said that his reign should not endure one year to an end Nulla re contemtiorem se fecit Vitellius quam ignavia luxuria Boecleri Dissertatio Politica If he could have forborn his riotous living or used any moderation therein covetousness 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 Purveyors the greatest men in the City were spent and consumed in providing of Cates for the banquets the Cities themselves were wasted The Soldiers grew worse and degenerated from labour and vertue partly by turning themselves to pleasures and partly through the contemptibleness of the Commander He would eat four meals a day breakfast Dinner Supper and Rere-banquet or after Supper being able to bear them all very well he used to vomit ordinarily His manner was to send word that he 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 them 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 several dishes of Fish the most dainty and choicest 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 brains of Pheasants and Peacocks the tongues of Phoenicopters the tender small guts of Sea-Lampires sent as far as from the Carpathian Sea and the straights of Spain by his Captains 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 memorial of him in these very terms calling his excess that way Patinarum paludes Platters as broad as Pools or Ponds Nunquam ita ad curas intentus ut voluptatis oblivisceretur He was never so intentively addicted to serious affairs that he would forget his pastimes In his Train all was disorderly and full of drunkenness more like to Wakes and Feasts of Bacchus than to a Camp where Discipline should be He was forward enough to put to death any man he killed Noble men and his School-fellows 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 eies with seeing his death At the execution of another he caused two of his Sons to bear him company because they presumed to entreat 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 heir 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 affairs The Empire was conferred upon him by those that knew him not and yet never man found so constant good will of his Soldiers by vertuous means 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 sencelesness did possess his mind that if other men had not remembred that he had
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 madness lying upon his sword kill'd 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 Vtiles 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 Emperor and Conqueror 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 Emperor being nothing provoked therewith thought it sufficient to bid him divide the donative with the other being saluted in like manner of a Pazret 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 pains 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 habeo 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 than 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 replyed 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 boldness 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 Quibusdum non caruit vitiis vitorum severus ultor Emanvelis Thesauri Caesares Though he was a man severe enough yet he did not know the exceeding wantonness of Iulia his own daughter and her open and audacious boldness but Suetonius seems 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 Iulia's lewdness 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 Phoebe's Father Out of great indignation against his two Daughters and Posthunâ—us 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 carerem He was almost peerless 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 sense of grief he wished for himself and his such Euthanasy such an easy death He being at the point to die thus addressed himself called for his looking-glass 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 ita responderint vos omnes igitur inquit Plaudite Aulus Gellius mentioneth that he sent a letter unto his step-son to this effect Rejoice with me my Son for I have past over that deadly year enemy to old age threescore and three in which number the sevenths and ninths do concur He lived fifteen years after Christ was born and dyed in his 76. year He was beloved of his people for they erected a statue to Mâ—sas the Physitian who in a sickness 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 fear 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 took away all use of Arms. Tyberius Caesar. LIVIA his Mother whiles she went with child of him among many and sundry experiments which she made and signs that she observed and all to know whether she should bring forth a man-child or no took closely an Egg from under a Hen that was sitting and kept it warm sometime in her own otherwhiles in her womans hands by turns one after another so long until there was hatched a Cock-chicken with a notable comb 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 reign as Monarch but yet without the Royal Ensigns for as yet the Sovereign 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 brested fair of complexion great goggle-ey'd whereby he saw so clearly as is incredible to report He used both hands alike his joints were so firm that
with his finger he was able to bore 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 wan on gesticulation and fumbling with his fingers He refused the Empire a long time putting on a most impudent and shameless mind and seeming to rebuke his friends encouraging him thereto as those who knew not what a monstrous and untaimed beast an Empire was He also held the Senate in suspence by ambiguous answers and crafty delaies when they besought him to take it upon him yea humbly debased themselves before his knees insomuch as some of them could endure him no longer one among the rest in that tumult cry'd out aloud Let him either do 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 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 insomuch as he would often say Lupum se auribus tenere he held a Wolf by the ears He knowing excellent well how to conceal his own private passions made himself 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 Governors abroad gave him councel to burden the Provinces with heavy Tributes and Taxes he wrote back unto them Boni Pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere That it was the part of a good shepherd 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 oppress the people too much whereas the old having means 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 festival suppers caused oftentimes to be served up to the Board viands dressed the day before and those half eaten saying That the side of a wild Boar had in it the same of the whole One there was who called him Dominus that is Sir but he gave him warning not to name him any more by way of contumely Another chanced to say His sacred business and a third again That he went into the Senate Auctore se that is by his warrant or authority He caused them both to change those words and for auctore to say suasore that is By his advice and councel and instead of sacred to put in laborious and painful Quotidiana oscula prohibuit edicto item strenarum commercium He forbad expresly by Edict the usual and daily kisses commonly given and taken likewise the entercourse of New-years gifts to and fro Suetonius writeth of him that he did Iura omnibus ferè asylis adimere take away the priviledge of almost all their Sanctuaries because he observed the licentious abuse of them At length he discovered those vices which with much ado for a long time he had cloaked and concealed He was very cruel covetous and libidinous He was wont to adorn his chambers with most lascivious pictures ut ita aspectu deficientes libidines excitaret vide Sueton in ejus vita He spent with Flaccus Pomponius and L. Piso a whole night and two daies outright in nothing else but eating and drinking giving the Province of Syria into the Government of the first and conferring the Provostship of Rome on the other professing even in all his Letters that they were Iucundissimi omnium horarum amici his most pleasant Companions and friends at all Assaies Propter nimiam vini aviditatem for his excessive love of wine and hot waters or because he loved to drink wine hot which is delicate he was for Tiberius named Biberius for Claudius Caldius for Nero Mero One gives this reason of his drunkenness because his Nurse that gave him suck would drink exceedingly her self and nourished him with sops soaked in wine A Lombard for drinking in his presence three gallons of wine at one draught and before he took his breath again was dubbed Knight by him and sirnamed Tricongius The three gallon Knight It is reported that in his time there was invented Glass of that temper that it would abide the hammer and be beaten in length or breadth like lead and pliable to bend every way like paper and that the Inventor hereof was put to death by him See Peacham's Valley of varieties c. 17. He erected a new Office à voluptatibus for the devising of new pleasures wherein he placed Priscus a Gentleman of Rome and one who had been Censor He advanced Sejanus to the highest place of Authority not so much for any good will as to be his instrument for the accomplishing his wicked purposes He put to death a Soldier one of his own Guard for stealing a Peacock out of a Garden Theodorus Gadareus his Master observing his bloudy disposition called him Lutum sanguine maceratum A lump of clay soaked in blood these verses were cast out of him Fastidit vinum quia jam sitit iste cruorem Tam bibit hunc avidè quà m bibit antè merum He loatheth wine and now he after blood doth thirst Drinks this as greedily as wine he drank at first He thought simple death so light a punishment that when he heard that Carnulius one of the Prisoners had laid violent hands on himself he cryed out Carnulius me evasit Carnulius hath escaped my hands His saying was Oderint dum probent Let them
hate me so long as they suffer my proceedings to pass Nullus à poena hominum cessavit dies ne religiosus quidem ac sacer There passed not a day over his head no not so much as any festival and Religious Holy-day without execution and punishment of some many were accused and condemned together with their Children and Wives Straight commandment was given that the near kinsfolks of such persons as were condemned to die should not mourn and lament for them No Informer and Promoter was discredited but his Presentment taken and every crime and trespass was accounted capital He said to one that requested death rather than long imprisonment Nondum tecum redii in gratiam Thou art not yet reconciled to me that I should shew thee such favour Because Virgins by a received custom were not to be strangled he caused the Hangman first to deflour a Virgin and then to strangle her Boeclerus in his political dissertations observes that he had two instruments of his wickedness by which he cloaked his vilest actions 1. Sermonis artificium his ambiguous speeches 2. Inanis quidam color juris as here in that example of the Virgins last mentioned Among other kind of torments he devised that when men had drunk largely of strong wine their privy parts should be fast bound with Lute-strings that so for want of means to avoid their Urine they might endure intollerable pain Foelicem Priamum vocabat quod superstes omnium suorum extitisset He called Priamus happy in that he over-lived all his Sons and Daughters He feared Thunder exceedingly and when the air or weather was any thing troubled he ever carried a Chaplet or wreath of Lawrel about his neck because that as Pliny reporteth is never blasted with Lightning He loved liberal Sciences most affectionately he would do things better of a sudden extempore than upon study and premeditation Repentivis responsionibus aut consiliis melior qvà m meditatis He was much addicted to Astrological predictions and such curious Arts so that the greater part of those things which he executed in all his life time was ordered thereby he gave the more credit to Divination because in certain things he had found the conjectures correspondent to truth His usual Companions were Magicians and Sooth-sayers The principal of these was Thrasyllus whom Tiberius intending on a time to thrust down from a Cliff as they walked together in that he had failed in a former prediction perceiving by his looks that he was troubled in mind demanded the cause Who replyed that by his Art he foresaw some hardly to be avoided danger to be neer him whereat Tiberius amazed altered his purpose He seeing Galba one day coming towards him spake thus of him to certain of his familiars Behold the man that shall be one day honoured with the Roman Empire He made a Law called Lex Papia by which he forbad such men as were past sixty or women past fifty to marry as thinking them insufficient for generation to which Lactantius seems to allude thus jesting at the Heathen touching their great god Iupiter How cometh it to pass that in your Poets salacious Iupiter begets no more children is he past sixty and restrained by the Papian Law Certè Iuliam legem Papia fuisse auctam atque extensam satis constat Sed quid sit adjectum non ita constat Heraldi Commentarius in Ap loget Tertul. Many of the Roman Caesars have been transported with self-admiration they have shared the Months of the year among them April must be Neroneus May Claudius Domitian will have October November is for Tiberias by the same token that when it was tendered to him he askt the Senate wittily as Xiphiline reports it What they would do when they should have more than twelve Caesars It is called the Sea of Tiberius Iohn 6.1 from a City on the bank of it of that name built by Herod in honour of Tiberius Caesar as Iosephus writeth in the 18. Book of his Jewish Antiquities Livie and Ovid dyed in the fourth year of Tiberius Pilate by Letters signified unto him the Miracles of our Saviour Christ his Resurrection and that he was supposed of many to bee God The Romans had a Law forbidding any Emperor to consecrate or set up any god which was not first approved by the Senate for Tiberius Caesar hearing of Christs fame by vertue of that Law moved the Senate to promulgate and relate Christ among the number of their gods who rejected him because he would be God alone or because contrary to the Law of the Romans he was consecrated for God before the Senate of Rome had so declared and approved him whose folly Tertullian thus scoffeth Apud vos de humano arbitrio divinitas pensitatur nisi homini Deus placuerit Deus non erit homo jam Deo propitius esse debedit God should be God if man would let him Iosephus a Jew and an enemy to Christ in his 8. Book of Antiquities c. 4. speaks the same things of Christ that Matthew doth that he was a most worthy man if it be lawful to call him a man said he that he wrought many Miracles that he rose from the dead Tacitus and Suetonius speak of his Miracles Tacitus l. 15. Annal. c. 10. affirms that he was crucified under Pilate in the time of Tiberius that Teberius would have put him in the number of his gods Plutar. De interitu Orac. reports that under the Reign of Tiberius all the Oracles of the world ceased of which the Poets bear witness cessant oracula Delphis Iuv. Sat. 6. Plutarch also in the same book reports that in the later years of the reign of Tiberius a strange voice and exceeding horrible clamours with hideous cries screetches and howlings were heard by many in the Grecian Sea complaining that the great god Pan was now departed And this was brought before the Emperor who marvelled greatly thereat and could not by all his Diviners and Southsayers whom he called to that consultation be able to gather out any reasonable meaning of this wonderful accident but Christians may perswade themselves that by the death of their great god Pan which signifies all was imported the utter overthrow of all wicked spirits Iohn 12.13 Our Lord was crucified in the 15. year of his reign say Tertullian and Lactantius But Luke the Evangelist 3. c. 1. v. maketh his Baptism to fall in the 15. year of Tiberius his reign So then his Passion must be in the 18. or 19. for three years he preached salvation Ierome and Eusebius The fear of losing his Office under Tiberius Caesar whose Deputy he was over the Province of Iudaea made Pilate condemn Christ Iohn 19.12 13. but not long after he lost his Deputy-ship and Caesars favour and fled to Vienna where living in banishment he killed himself Euseb. Hist. l. 2.
the plat-form of a great work which he had contrived he by his efficacious reasons had proved that in some place it was to be corrected Cuffe of Affectation He quotes Dion and Bapt. Fulg. l. 8. He was the most curious man that lived the most universal enquirer in so much as it was noted for an error in his mind that he desired to comprehend all and not reserve himself for the worthiest things but it pleased God to use the curiosity of this Emperor as an inducement to the peace of the Church in those dayes for having Christ in veneration not as a God or Saviour but as a wonder or novelty and having his picture in his Gallery matched with Apollonius with whom in his vain imgination he thought he had some conformity yet it served the turn to allay the bitter hatred of those times against the Christian name so as the Church had peace during his time He was a great favourer of learned men In Adriani Principis aulam non viri tantum militares sed innumerabiles Philosophorum greges tanquam in Lycaeum aut veterem Academiam magnis de rebus disputaturi confluebant Alphonsus Garcias Matamorus in narat Apologet. de Acad. viris literatis t. 2. Piccartus Observat. Historico-polit Dec. 17. c. 5. instanceth in K. Alphonsus and others who delighted in the society of learned men He was minded as Lampridius writeth to have built a Temple to the service of Christ had not some disswaded him therefrom He was of Personage tall and very strong of a good complexion and amiable countenance wearing the hair of his head and beard long To shew that he counted hatred retained a base and unprincely disposition as soon as he came to the Empire he laid aside all his former enmities Insomuch as that meeting with one who had been his capital enemy he said unto him Evasisti Thou art now escaped from my displeasure Spartianus in Adriano videsis Casaubonum Valesius in his Annotat. in Cap. 18. Orat. Constantini Imp. ad sanctorum Caetum saith the verses of the Sybils were feigned by idle men and published for the Sybils about the time of this Emperor Adrian Certe saith he nemo antiquior Iustino eorum mentionem fecit Nam si Sibylla saith he still tam clarè de Christo praedixerat cur Paulus in suis epistolis cum ad Athenienses verba faceret ejus testimonio non est usus maximè cum Aratum alios Gentilium poetas citare non dedignetur Vide plura ibid. Quid Pseudo sibyllina oracula quae Christiani gentibus objiciebant quum tamen è Christianorum officina prodiissent in Gentium autem bibliothecis non reperirentur Scal. in Opusc. When a woman called to him passing by saying Audi me Caesar Hear me Caesar and he answered Non est otium I have no leasure she cryed out Noli ergo imperare then cease to reign at that speech he being moved staid and heard the woman It was accounted discretion in him that would not dispute his best with Adrian sing himself That it was reason to yeeld to him that commanded thirty legions Though he was famous for his industry wit memory and fortunate successe and could in his fatal sickness command others to be slain yet death denyed subjection to him His servant which undertook it fled his adopted Son pretended piety his own hand was prevented by attendants his solicited Physician slew himself that he might not slay the Emperor who yet complained at his death Many Physicians have slain the Emperor He sported at death with these Verses Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque Corporis Quae nunc abibis in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis jocos My fleeting fond poor darling Bodies Guest and equal Where now must be thy lodging Pale and stark and stript of all And put from wonted sporting When he had reigned in great honour and love the space of one and twenty years five months and fifteen daies and lived fifty two years he dyed the eighth or tenth day of Iuly of a Dropsie which malady so tormented him that willingly he refused all sustenance and languished away through faintnesse Antoninus Pius UNto Adrianus succeeded Antoninus Pius who was for his many vertues or rather piety toward the Gods Sur-named Pius for piety to speak properly is the true worship of God as Austin shews in his 10. book de Civit. Dei c. 1. But he was not truly pious because he knew not the true God He was compared for his peace and policy unto Numa Pompilius the second King of Rome His birth was in Lombardy the Son of Aurelius Fulvius He was a Prince excellently learned and had the patient and subtile wit of a School-man insomuch as in common speech which leaves no vertue untaxed he was called Cymini-Sector a carver or divider of Cumin Seed which is one of the least seeds such a patience he had and settled spirit to enter into the least and most exact differences of causes he likewise approached a degree nearer unto Christianity and became as Agrippa said to Paul half a Christian holding their religion and law in good opinion and not only staying persecution but giving way to the advancement of Christians In his time Iustin Martyr wrote notable books of Apologie for the Christians which were preserved and read in the Senate of Rome and mollified the Emperors mind towards them He was favourable to all sorts of men having that Apophthegm of Scipio Africanus rife in his mouth that He had rather save one subjects life than kill a thousand enemies He was of stature tall of a seemly presence in countenance majestical in manners mild of a singular wit very learned and eloquent a great lover of Husbandry peaceable merciful and bounteous he neither in his youth did any thing rashly nor in his age any thing negligently In time of a great famine which was in Rome he provided for their wants and maintained the people with bread and wine the most of the time the famine lasted making victuals to be brought from all parts and paying for the same at his own cost Having reigned twenty and two years seven months and twenty six daies he dyed of a Fever at Porium the seventh of March the year of his life 75. and of Christ 162. His death was generally lamented and the Romans did him great honour and made sacrifices to him Canonizing him for a God and building a Temple also to him Lucius Aelius Verus M. Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus THere succeeded Antoninus the Divi fratres the two adoptive Brethren Lucius Aelius Verus Son to Aelius Verus who delighted much in the softer kind of learning and was wont to call the Poet Martial his Virgil and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus whereof the latter who obscured his Collegue and survived him long was named the Philosopher who as he
cheerfully in emulation of him who excited them to hardship by his own example He was so inured to continual action that even at his last gasp he said Is there any thing for me to do Xiphiline Byzantium was of great strength in the flourish of the Roman Empire The walls of a just height every stone whereof was so joined with couplets of Brass that the whole seemed but one entire piece adorned besides with Turrets Bulwarks and other arts of Fortification Siding with Niger in his war against Severus it endured a siege of three years against all the forces of the Romans during which time the people were so distressed by Famine that men meeting in the streets would draw and fight the Conqueror feeding on the Vanquished For want of Artillery to discharge on the Assailants they cast down upon them whole Statues made of Brass and the like curious imagery Houses they pulled down to get timber for shipping the women cutting off their hair to inch out their tackle and having thus patched up a Navy of 500 Sail lost it all by one tempest Compelled to yield by this misfortune the principal of the Nobility were put to the sword the wealth of the Inhabitants given for a prey to the Soldiers the walls thereof dismantled the Town left in rubbish Yet there appeared so much of majesty and beauty in the very ruines Vt mireris utrum eorum qui primi extruxerunt vel eorum qui deinceps sunt demoliti vires sint potiores as Herodian hath it Instead of punishing he entertained and rewarded Priscus an Engineer who did him most mischief in his siege of Byzantium Xiphiline Entring into Alexandria he found inscribed on the gate Domini Nigri est urbs with which being offended the inhabitants met him crying Novimus nos dixisse Domini Nigri esse urbem tu enim es Nigri Dominus For which ingenious interpretation of their ambiguous inscription he pardoned them Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When certain of his Officers went about to perswade him to rase out an Epigram made in commendation of Niger at the basis of whose statue it was engraved he expressed his dislike by these words Si talis fuit sciant omnes qualem vicerimus si talis non fuit putent omnes nos vicisse talem immo sic sit quia fuit talis Ingenuously and wisely confessing the worth of his enemy Spartianus in Nigro c. 12. The Nigrians possessed of the Cilician streights and entrances couragiously withstood the Severian party till at last a sudden tempest of rain and thunder continually darting in their faces as if the very Heavens had been armed against them they were fain to leave the passage and therewith the victory to the adverse faction having sold that at the loss of 20000 of their own lives which Alexander had the happiness or the had to buy for nothing Dr. Heylin's Geography When he was Lieutenant in Africk one of his inferior acquaintance met him going in state with his bundle of rods carried before him and embraced him familiarly as his quondam chamber-fellow whom he caused to be beaten the cryer proclaiming Embrace not rudely a Roman Lieutenant From which time Lieutenants have not gone of foot Spartian Plautian his favourite was so great with him that one of Plautian's Officers being commanded by Severus then at leisure to plead a cause refused saying He could not do it unless Plautian commanded him Xiphiline At the siege of Atrae when he had beaten down a great part of the wall and his Soldiers were ready to enter he commanded a retreat hoping thereby to induce the Arabians to discover that great treasure there laid up But his covetous design was miserably disappointed for the besieged immediately made up their wall and kept him out Xiphiline Being used to get the victory he now reputed himself conquered because he could not overcome Herodian l. 3. c. 9. When one who lived in Albinus his quarters would have excused his forced assistance of him to Severus demanding what he would have done if it had been his own case Severus answered Ea perferrem quae tu I would suffer as you do Aurelius Victor He boasted to the Senate of his clemency although he slew at one time forty of the most illustrious 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 Imperator vere nominis sui vere Pertinax vere Severus so that Silenus might well say in Iuliani Caesaribus I dare not speak against him I am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty Io. Antiochenus saith he was a great Soldier but his covetousness transported him beyond his valour He was more covetous and cruel than any of his Predecessors Tristan In his first British war he lost 50000 men as Dio acknowledgeth Upon a second defection in Britain he commanded an universal slaughter of his enemies in these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let none escape your bloody rage With terror let all dye Spare not the Mother nor the Babe Which in her womb doth lie Having vanquished Albinus and Niger he begun to make a great slaughter of those which had taken part with them As he was committing this slaughter he said unto Bassianus and Geta his children I by this means shall ease you of your enemies to which when Bassianus so farr consented that he advised to have even their children put to death Geta is reported to have demanded the number of them that were to be slain which when his Father told him he asked Have they neither parents nor friends when it was answered by Severus that they had many Geta replyed Then more in the City will mourn than rejoyce for our victory and you will leave us more enemies than you take from us This wise speech of this young prince touched so well the heart of Severus although he was cruel that he would needs cease from his slaughter but that Plautian and other courtiers which aimed at the enriching of themselves by confiscations incited him to continue A Discourse against Machiavel translated into English p. 272. out of Capitolinus in Geta. c. 4. For his native severity Septimius Afer was as well fitted to the impetuous disposition of the Roman Empire when he undertook it as any medicine can be to the malady for which it is by art prepared And yet his practise though exactly answering to Machiavel's rules of reformation found but the Mountebanks successe be cured some present mischiefs but procured more grievous secret and permanent inconveniences The barbarous nations which longed most for Romes destruction learned the use art of making the Romans weapons and artillery from the discontented Exiles which his severity thrust upon them nor did Constantine the great though Leunclavius be willing to preferr the unsanctified Zosimus his bil against him
to Christian Princes half so much weaken the Empire by his largess towards Christians as Septimius did wound it by seeking to restore or rather to intend the rigour of ancient discipline amongst modern dissolute Romans Dr. Iackson of the divine Attributes part 2. p. 282 283. He gained his sur-name Britannicus by building or at least repairing the Picts-wal 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 brass in the wall betwixt every tower conveyed the least noise from garison to garison without interruption so news of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders and occasional 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 that way of dispatch taken away many inhabitants there-about 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 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 rustical Sooth-sayer 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 however they fell out accidentally yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event While he lay sick of the gout at York the soldiers saluting his son Bassianus Emperor he arose and caused the principal 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 Spartianus in Severo c. 18. Per quae verba affecti corporis impedimento animi magnitudinem atque prudentiam contulit Quam severe igitur arbitrari possumus in alterius generis seditionem animadversurum fuisse cum filii dignitatem cujus post se cupidissimus erat a militibus privatim procuratam tam acerbo supplicio ulcisci vellet B. Fulgosus lib. 2. c. 2. A little before his death he caused his Porphyryâ—urn â—urn to be brought before him 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 consoldiers contemn all others Id. ibid. In relation to which union he bad them read in Salust Micypsa's dying speech to his sons in which there is this expression Concordia res parvae crescunt discordia magnae dilabuntur Spartian c. 21. By his pernicious advice to his sons to study only the enriching of the soldiery he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the Roman power as the Greek Epigrammatist calls it For after Severus his reign for 30 lawful Emperors the Roman Empire saw in the space of 150 years more than an 100 Tyrants The discipline of the vertuous Emperors occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne As the tragical ends of young Gâ—rdian of Alexander Severus of Posthumus Probus and Aurelian manifested Tristan A Prince of indifferent worth had not his vertue suffered ship-wrack by his affections Erant ei filii multo chariores quam cives which though a private man may confess whose Government is but a houshold it is a shame for a Prince whose office as it resembles the gods in power so it should in being free from partiality Sr. William Cornwallis junior in his Encomium of Iulian the Apostate 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 denyed he greedily glutted himself with gross meats and not able to digest them dyed of a surfet Victor's Epitome The imprecation of Plautius Quintillus that he might not die when he would having the like effect upon Severus as that of Severianus had upon Adrian Xiph. Some say he dyed rather through grief for his son Caracalla's wickednesse than of any other malady He lived 65 years 9 months and 52 days and reigned 17 years 8 months 3 dayes He was buryed 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. When he offered to make his Son-in-law Probus Prefect of the City Probus refused saying It seemed less to him to be a Prefect than to be Son-in-law to a Prince Spartian 1 Sam. 18.23 He married Martia and after her death Iulia Domna because he found by her nativity she should be matched with a King though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore whom he yet bare with through excess of affection though she was guilty of a conspiracy Spartian c. 3. and 18. He was deifyed after his death by the Senate He was the most warlike of all the Emperors that were before him quick of apprehension persevering in all things which he determined where he enclined to favour admirable and constant diligent in seeking out friends and liberal in rewarding them equally vehement towards friends and foes Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome He was the only Emperor created out of Africk saith Eutropius lib. 8. Severus might amongst the best shine bright But that he was th' eclipse of his own light Dr. Holyday's Survey of the world lib. 8. p. 90. He associated his Sons in the Sovereignty and declared them Emperors Herodian lib. 3. c. 9. editionis Boeclerianae Sed quae putabat Severus futura amoris vincula fiebant irarum incitamenta saith Iacobus Cappellus in his Historiae Ecclesiasticae centuriae In Severus his reign the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for adultery When Iulia blamed the wife of Argentocoxus a Northern Britain because her country people accompanied promiscuously 10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 Women common among them she not ignorant of the Roman incontinency replyed We accompany openly with the best but vile persons defile you secretly Xiphiline Dio writeth that in Severus his time it rained silver at Rome in Augustus's forum O pluviam salutarem supparem illi qua Iupiter ad Danaen suam penetravit
as were provided for him were painted upon their tables only allowing them to drink Id. Ib. c. 26 and 27. At the 2. and 3. course he caused Bears Pardals Lyons and Leopards which lacked their teeth and claws to be brought in suddenly by their Keepers to terrifie them who were ignorant of their inability to hurt Lamprid. c. 21. He shut them up when they were drunk turning in upon them in the night these disarmed beasts with the fear of which many dyed Id. ib. c. 25. Their yearly salaries were pitchers full of Frogs Scorpions Serpents and Flyes Id. Ib. c. 26. Many times he kept them in their lodgings from night to morning with old Black-moor women whereas he told them he had provided most beautiful ones for them Id. ib. c. 30. When the people had taken up their places before day in the Theatre to behold the sports he caused Serpents to be thrown among them whereby many of them were sore bitten and hurt by flight Lampridius c. 23. He to gratifie his mother did fantastically set up a Parliament of Women with sutable Orders as how to attire where take place when salute but after his death all Women were deprived of that priviledge by the Senate Id. ib. c. 4. and 18. He did drive Chariots drawn by Elephants in the Vatican levelling the Tombs which stood in his way he was also drawn by 4 Camels in the Circus by 4 Mastives in the Palace after he was Emperor by 4 Stags in publick sometimes by Lions he naming himself Magna Mater also by Tigers counterfeiting Bacchus unto whom through his excessive humour of drinking he was something more like other whiles 4 naked Wenches drew him he being also naked Lampridius c. 23 28 29. He was addicted to divination by inspection of the bowels of young men sacrificed chusing many fair Gentlemen throughout all Italy whose Parents were living that their sorrow might be the greater Lamprid. c. 8. By perswasion of Maesa his Grand-mother who pretended to free him from cares of state he proclaimeth Alexander Severus his Cousin-german Caesar maketh him Consul with himself and adopteth him for his Son the Senate ridiculously voting what he commanded viz. Alex. Severus who was 12 years old to be the Son of Helagabalus that was but 16. No more than 4 years 'twixt their Ages run Yet t'one must Father be and t'other Son Herodian in english verse p. 136. He assaying in vain to draw his cousen to his unseemly courses repented that he had made him his Collegue in the Empire expelled all his Tutors from the Court and put the chief of them to death alledging ridiculously That the Pedants spoiled his Son not suffering him to dance and revel but teaching him to be modest and use manly exercises Herodian l. 5. c. 7. Lampridius c 13. That he revenged himself on none who mocked him upon the reading of Macrinus 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 he yet put to death with cruel ingratitude only because he was advised by him to reform The Syrian Priests having foretold him that he should die a violent death he built 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 Iacynth that he might chuse a death according to his humour saying That however he dyed his death should be glorious in the eies of men and such a one as none ever dyed But he failed of his hope though not of his desert for the Soldiers of his own guard whom he commanded to make away his Cousin-german and deface his Statues for the love they bare to Alexander Severus killed Helagabalus himself in a Privy whither he fled to esape them His body was drawn by a Soldier through all the Streets of Rome like the carkass of a dog with this military proclamation The whelp of untamed and ravening lust At last when the quantity of his body was greater than would enter into the stool of a Privy wherein for the last funeral ceremony it should have been buried they drew it to Tiber binding it to an heavy weight and so cast it into the River that it might neither float above water nor be buried he being the only Emperor who was ever so punished From these things that hapned unto him he was called Tiberinus Tractitius They did also thrust stakes through the fundament of some of his lewd companions that their death might be conformable to their life Brevem temporum seriem per generationes regna primus ex nostris Julius Africanus sub Imperatore Marco Aurelio Antonino simplici historiae stylo elicuit inquit Isidorus qui his verbis quintum claudit Originum librum Chronicon suum orditur Non est autem hic intelligendus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus sed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus qui dicebatur Helagabalus sive potius Elagabalus Gerh. Ioh. Vossius de Histor. Graecis l. 2. c. 15. It is observable that notwithstanding he not only permitted but also encouraged his subjects to live licentiously moreover was so liberal toward them that he fed them with most delicate and exquisite meats gave unto them abundance of money and all the plate were it of gold or silver wherewith he was served to them who dined or supped with him and made many other sumptuous distributions to the people yet the Roman 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 and 4 daies Who does not Commodus and Bassian Loath Heliogabalus was Himself and Both Dr. Holyday his Survey of the World p. 90. Alexander Severus HE was named Alexander because he was born in the Temple of Alexander the Great and on that day that Alexander died 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 and 13. who reckoneth 14 omens of his coming to the Empire He is called Alexander Mammaeae from his Mother Mammaea more known than his Father Though he was strict in his discipline yet Lampridius erroneously affirmeth that he was named Severus for his severity to the Soldiers Tristan tom 2. p. 385. His Mother Iulia 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 Emperor that favoured Christians 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 Helagabalus would have slain him he
Image of Govern ex Lamprid. c. 3. 27. He never had any scenical sports at a feast but delighted much in making whelps to play with young pigs in the fighting of Partridges and in little birds flying up and down To lighten his publick cares he had Aviaries of Peacocks Pheasants Ducks Partridges and Ring-doves which he so extreamly liked that he had about 20000 of them for the feeding whereof his servants provided by sale of their Eggs and young ones Lampridius in Alex. Sev. c. 41. Every day also he did some good to others in which saith Tristan he had an advantage of happiness above Titus who could not express the like goodness above the space of a years in which he reigned Alexander Mammaeae satis copiosa expositione quippe cum tredecim annis regnaverit utique est ad praeclari imaginem imperii descriptus adeo planè nihil desideratur eorum quae vel ad educationem Principalis sobolis vel ad normam imperatoriae virtutis vel ad temperamentum singularis potestatis vel ad disciplinam aulae vel ad confilia publicae tranquillitatis creduntur pertinere Boeclerus in Dedicatione praefixa Herodiano 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 amiss 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. ibid. cap. 20. He repaired most of the Bridges which were built by Trajan leaving notwithstanding the name and honour thereof to Trajan Id. ib. c 26. In all the time of his reign which lasted 14 years he suffered none to die 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 stained his honour by her sordid demeanor Herodian l. 6. c. 9. Though duty binds yet herein was his error He gave her too much sway to others terror Herodian in english verse p. 136. When he was passing along in his expedition against the Germans through France a Druid woman cryed out after him in the Gallick tongue Go thy way and look not for the victory and trust not thy Soldiers Purchas his Pilgrims the first part l. 1. c. 12. p. 101. Thrasybulus his friend foretelling that he should die by the hand of a Barbarian he rejoiced thinking that he should die a warlike death but he was mistaken in his interpretation dying not in war for the Soldiers enraged with his discipline and his Mother Mammaea's covetousness slew them both near Mentz in Germany by the instigation of Maximinus a Muletor whom he had raised Herodianus VI. Maximinum ait imperium usurpasse primum deinde Alexandrum cum matre sua necasse in quo a Lampridio discrepat Petavius De Doctrina Temporum lib. 13. p. 699. This end had both the Mother and the Son A gentle Prince of mild and temperate raign His edict was none should to death be done Except the law did first inflict the pain His rule and he much longer might have lasted Had not his Mother thus his honour blasted Herodian in english verse p. 155. S. Aurelius 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 humor who if never so little was left at their overfrugal table reserved it till another time Civilibus occidit armis Maternasque cadens incusat serius artes Diarium Historico-poet l. 3. p. 32. 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 Iupiter's buffon 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 in mentem venit longe satius utilius esse eas amicis impartiri quam sibi recondere He lived 29 years 11 months and 7 daies and reigned saith Lampridius 13 years and 9 daies Quibus Consulibus natus sit Alexander legisse me non memini inter historices quidem omnes eum constat occisum fuisse anno Imperii tertio decimo sed quoto aetatis anno ambiguum Apud Lampridium enim invenies an 29 in Victoris vero Epitome 26 ex quibus tamen numeris si tredecim annos imperii deduxeris Alexandrum rerum potiri coepisse anno aetatis sexto decim◠aut decimo tertio colliges nisi illi quoque numeri utrique falsi sint Vinetus in Eutropium He found his real Sepulchre in Rome but his empty grave in Gallia Dr Brown's Urn-burial p. 41. He is the more to be honoured and admired since being come of uncertain lineage 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 See Lamprid. c. 66 c. Dio 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 insertus inauguravit literas trabea Romanae Graecus scriptor historiae perquam accuratus quam tamen negligentia temporum perdidit dum studiosa brevitatis in Xiphilino ignorantiam fovet umbram amans corpus amittit Dio Cassius Coccejanus historicus prudentissimus immerito a J. Lipsio in Catalogo prudentiae Doctorum in not ad polit praeteritus Forstnerus ad Tacitum p. 101. Dio Cassius in Casaubons opinion the most accurate Historian saith Bolton in his Nero Caesar p. 233. Sub eodem principe floruit Herodianus qui Graecè quoque scripsit historiam pauciorum quidem quà m Cassius annorum sed admodum judiciosam elegantem a Commodo qui regnare coepit anno V. C. 933. ad Maximinum qui periit anno 990. Jac. Cappellus p. 8. praefationis praefixae Centuriis quinque Ecclesiasticae Historiae Dioni Tacito non contextu tantum operis sed pragmaticae gravitatis comparatione adjungendus Boeclerus in Epistola Dedicatoria praefixa Herodiano Sub eoque vixit Aelianus qui de Varia Historia scripsit Besoldus in majore Synopsi Historiae universae The
Soldiers wherewith the rest being enraged slew him and his Son saying Canis pessimi ne catulus quidem relinquendus Of a bad litter not a whelp is to be left He was 65 years old when he dyed and his Son 21. The time of their reign is not agreed upon The Messenger who brought word of their death came from Aquileja to Rome 798 miles in 4 daies Capitolinus c. 25. Magna sane diligentia sed non incredibilis cum similis celeritatis aut etiam majoris exempla apud veteres legantur hodieque edi saepissimè videamus Constat hodiernos veredarios Roma Lutetiam saepe diebus sex septem commeare quae longè major contentio est Casaubonus When his head with his sons were brought to Rome all ran to the Altars to thank the Gods and Balbinus sacrificed Hecatombs for his deliverance commanding the same to be done throughout the Empire Scribit Aelius Sabinus quod pretermittendum non fuit tantam pulchritudinem oris suisse in filio ut etiam caput ejus mortui jam nigrum jam sordens jam maceratum defluente tabo velut umbra pulcherrima videretur Denique quum caput Maximini pilo circumferretur ex hoc ingens gaudium esset prope par moeror erat quod filii caput pariter portaretur Capitolinus in Maximino juniore c. 6. Maximinus was the Author of the 6. persecution which Tristan thinks he raised only that he might confiscate the Christians goods his sacrilegious covetousness not permitting him to spare Heathen Temples As this persecution was the shortest so it was the most violent not of the common sort so much as of their especial Leaders who were either cut off from them or hirelings intruded for them or their flock set up against them Bishop Prideaux in his Introduction to History out of Chrysostom Hujus Maximini monumenta sunt Bracarae Augustae vicus porta Maximini quae hodie quoque post tot saecula nomen retinent Certum est Romanos omnes Imperatores tum per se tum per magistratus res praeclaras in Hispania gessisse Quod tum ex plurimis ipsorum monumentis tum ex antiquis numismatis constat Quae ego omnium ferè Imperatorum insignita nominibus vidi pleraque etiam habeo penes me multa largitus amicis Vasaeus in Chron. Hispan p. 266. Bistoniis armenta jugis paulo ante regebas Romani fraenos qui regis Imperii Boissardus Gordian the Father GORDIAN the elder was son of Metius Marullus and Vlpia Gordiana deriving his pedigree by the Fathers side from the Gracchi and by the Mothers from Trajan the Emperor Capitolinus in tribus Gordianis c. 2. His Father Grand-father and great Grand-father were Consuls as also were his Father-in-law with his Grand-father on both sides and both her great Grand-fathers Id. ibid. He was made Pro-consul of Africk at the age of fourscore having been Ruler of many other Provinces and well exercised in State-affairs Herodian lib. 7. cap. 5. The Africans so loved him that some compared him to Scipio others to Cato many called him Mutius Scaevola Rutilius C. Laelius Capitolinus in tribus Gordianis c. 5. Moribus ita moderatus ut nihil possis dicere quod ille aut cupidè aut immodestè aut nimiè fecerit Id. ib. c. 6. Populo Rom. ita commendatus suis actibus erat ut toto dignus videretur imperio Id. Ibid. c. 9. The young Gentlemen of Tysdrum exasperated by the tyranny of Maximinus his favourite Governor of Carthage slew him and proclaimed Gordian Emperor whom they thought the Romans would like because he was nobly descended He though somewhat coy yet being naturally desirous of honour accepted their offer with a little reluctance chusing rather to avoid the present than future peril holding it not inglorious to die in his old age if need were in Imperial robes Hereupon all Africk revolted and many Cities pulling down Maximines Images erected Gordians Statues whom they surnamed African for so the Southern Libyans are called by the Romans Herodian l. 7. c. 5. He banished all Informers and suffered those that were unjustly condemned to reverse the judgment by pleading Id. ib. c. 6. He recalled all exiles and promised to give the Soldiers more than ever Emperor did and to reward the Commons with an extraordinary Congiary Id. Ib. Vitalian the Pretorian Prefect at Rome a bloudy instrument of Maximinus's was killed by Gordian's appointment Those who obeyed his order therein gave out that Maximine was slain at the hearing whereof the Romans defaced the Images and Statues of Maximinus hatred which till then was over-awed by fear pouring out it self without stop through the Floud-gates of licentiousness The Senate also conjecturing that it was so decreed that all Maximine's honours should be abolished and declared Gordian and his Son Emperors Idem ubi supra c. 7. The Senate at last understood their danger better than their relief Maximine his affairs prospering at Carthage unexpectedly Capellianus an enemy to Gordian and true to Maximine defeated Gordian his Son who was sent against him with all his followers So great was the number that fell that the principal persons could not be found to receive funeral honour nor the dead body of the young Prince Idem ubi supra c. 9. Capitolinus in tribus Gordianis c. 16. Gordian the Father hearing of this through despair strangled himself Capitolinus ubi supra Sanè etsi uter perierit prior non planè constat ambos tamen in Afrâ—ca mortem obiisse non est dubium Zosimus tamen ex aliis scriptoribus tradit naufragio utrumque periisse cum ex Africa in Italiam trajicerent Casaubonus Gordian the elder lived 80 years and yet died of a violent death when he was scarce warm in his Empire A man of an high spirit and renowned learned and a Poet and constantly happy throughout the whole course of his life save only that he ended his daies by a violent death Sir Francis Bacon Eo solum Imperator ne sua morte decederet Bussieres in Flosculis Historiarum Gordian the Son had 22 Concubines by each of which he left 3 or 4 children being therefore called the Priamus and by many in merriment The Priapus of his time Capitolinus in tribus Gordianis c. 19. Quidam Sammonicus Serenus LX. duo millia librorum censuit in sua Bibliotheca quam moriens reliquit Gordiano minori a degustato imperio obscuro ab ista literatorum ore ad coelum lato Lansius in Mantissa consultationum de primatu inter provincias Europae p. 76. Concerning the time of their reign and Capitolinus his error therein See Petavius's Rationarium Temporum the 2. part and 4. book p. 200. Sanè quod pretermittendum esse non censui quia mirabile visum est lectum apud Vulcatium Terentianum qui ipse historiam sui temporis scripsit in literas misi Gordianum seniorem Augusti vultum
dogs Pollio in libro eitato c. 28. XVI Posthumus the Father was the first Tyrant among the Gauls Tristan thinketh none of the contemporarie Usurpers are to be compared to him whom he calleth the French Hercules Valerian preferred him before Aurelian to be Tutor to Gallienus saith Vopiscus in Aureliano c. 8. Posthumus though meanly born assumed the Empire which he so governed for 10 years that by his great valour and moderation he recovered those Provinces which were almost lost Eutropius l. 9. He was slain in a tumult of the Soldiers because he would not permit them to pillage Mayence which rebelled against him in Lollianus his conspiracy Id. Ib. XVII Posthumus junior also was slain in Lollianus his rebellion Tr. Pollio in 30 tyrannis c. 5. He was so eloquent in declaming that his controversies are said to be inserted into Quintilian Id. ib. c. 4. XVIII Lollianus mounted the throne where he sate not with like continuance though confusion as Postumus did Lollianus Posthumus privata virtute clari non nobilitatis pondere vixerunt Pollio in 30 tyrannis c. 5. XIX The restless humour of the giddy Commons casts it self next on Marius a Smith a sutable sovereign to their base affections to whom they were no less unconstant cruel than to the rest putting a period to his government after 3 daies with a sword of his own forging Tr. Pollio in 30 tyrannis c. 7. Ioculariter dictum nequaquam mirum videri si rem Romanam Marius reficere contenderet quam Marius ejusdem artis auctor stirpisque ac nominis solidavisset Victor Schotti Tumults seem incident to Smithe by fate Whose very trade doth as an Emblem show Both the Incendiaries of a State And bellows too which the sedition blow The hammers with their harsh tumultuous jar Make in their brains a kind of civil war Allen's Henry the 7th The veins of Marius his hand seemed as if they were finews he staying carts with his 4th finger if he gave but a fillip to the strongest men that lived in his time they would feel it as much as if they had been struck with an hammer Tr. Pollio ubi supra XX. Victorinus the Father was deputy to Posthumus in France and inferior to none in the office not to Trajan in valour nor to Antonine in clemency nor to Nerva in gravity nor to Vespasian in ordering the Treasury nor to Pertinax or Severus in military discipline but all these vertues were obscured by his desire and use of women Pollio in 30 tyrannis c. 6. He forcing other mens wives was slain at Colen in the 2. year of his usurpation by a Clark whose wife he had ravished XXI Victorinus junior was slain at the same time with his Father XXII Tetricus the Father assumed the Empire by the sollicitation of Victoria or Victorina upon the death of Victorinus her son and grand-child He ascended to the Throne with great applause but considering the desperate practises of the vulgar chose to adorn Aurelian's triumph in a voluntary captivity rather than rule or live at the devotion of a lawless multitude XXIII Tetricus junior was named Cesar by Victoria or Vitruvia when his Father was styled Augustus He submitted to Aurelian as his Father did XXIV Zenobia took the government upon her in the name of Herennianus and Timolaus her sons saith Tr. Pollio in triginta tyrannis c. 27 and 30. But Vopiscus in Aureliano c. 38. writeth that she held the Empire in the name of Vaballathus son of Herod whom Odenatus had by a former Wife She was a Lady of so strong a vertue and of such command upon her self that she is said never to have made use of her husbands company when she perceived her self with child Dr. Heylin in his Geography Zenobiam Longini discipulam Christianam fuisse suadere satagit magnus Baronius sed nondum persuadet Langbain in Longinum p. 53. She not only insulted over the Romans but held the Arabians Saracens Armenians and other fierce and intractable people in such awe that although she were both a woman and a Barbarian they never stirred against her Tr. Pollio in 30 tyrannis c. 30. out of Aurelian his Epistle In Occidente per Posthumum Praesidem Galliae in Oriente per Odenatum regulum Palmyrenorum ejus uxorem Zenobiam servatum imperium Laet in Compend Hist. Vniv. She was somewhat brown had black and bright eies teeth like pearl a shril and manly voice She read the Roman history in Greek and also had her self abridged the Alexandrian and all the Oriental Histories whereby she attained the highest pitch both of wisdom and authority Sir Iohn Hayward in his Epistle to the Reader before his life of Henry the 4th Larga prudenter conservatrix thesaurorum ultra foemineum modum Pollio ubi supra She was led in triumph by Aurelian as well as Tetricus both Father and Son XXV Herennianus son of Zenobia was killed by Aurelian saith Tr. Pollio de 30 tyrannis c. 27. XXVI Timolaus brother to Herennianus had the like fate as the same Author writeth in the place before cited He was an excellent Latin Orator Pollio de 30 tyrannis c. 28. XXVII Hermias Vaballathus grandchild of Odenatus is reckoned among the Usurpers in Gallienus his time by Tristan in his Historical Commentaries tom 3. and C. A. Rupertus on Bésoldus's minor synopsis of History XXVIII Victoria or Vitruvia for her desire of rule was called the Mother of Armies She was mother to Victorinus the elder who usurped in those times and grandmother to the younger Tyrant The relations of her death vary Non tam digna res erat ut etiam Victorina sive Victoria in literas mitteretur nisi Gallieni mores hoc facerent ut memoria digna etiam mulieres censerentur Pollio de 30 tyrannis c. 31. XXIX Aureolus assumed the Empire by constraint of the Soldiery He was killed by Claudius the Emperor at a bridge which from that time beareth his name Pollio de 30 tyrannis c. 11. XXX Antoninus is reckoned by Zosimus among the Tyrants of those times but he relateth not where his Usurpation was for which Tristan calleth him a negligent and confused Historian Titus and Censorinus are omitted here though mentioned by Tr. Pollio in his book of Usurpers because the one lived in the time of Maximinus the Emperor the other of Claudius Claudius the second and his Brother Quintillus CLAVDIVS was appointed Emperor by the will of Gallienus being ready to die who by Gallonius Basilius sent the Imperial Robes to him then at Ticinum Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome He was elected by the Soldiers before the Walls of Milain and confirmed in Rome by the Senate with much joy He was so renowned a Prince that he was said to have Augustus his moderation Trajans vertue and Antoninus his piety met in him A Woman desiring him after he was Emperor to restore an inheritance which he had unjustly took from her
homo mille decollavimus Mille vivat qui mille occidit Tantum vini habet nemo Quantum fudit sanguinis Vopiscus in Aureliano c. 6. as Salmasius hath corrected the printed Copy from the Manuscripts When the Enemies of the Romans had overrun all France he made such havock of them at Mentz that he slew 700 and sold 300 sub corona upon which occasion new Jigges were made Mille Sarmatas mille Francos Semel semel occidimus Mille Persas quaerimus Id. ib. according to the Manuscript Copies He overcame all his Enemies in 3 years whereas Alexander the Great travelled 13 years by great victories before he came into India Caesar spent 10 years in overcoming the Gauls and 4 years in conquering the Romans Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome He was the first Roman Emperor that wore a Diadem on his head and also used garments of gold and precious stones which before that time the Romans were little acquainted with Id. ibid. He caused a Soldier who had committed adultery with his Hostess to have his feet tyed to the tops of 2 Trees bent downward and suffered suddenly to start back again so the wretch was twitched in sunder and hung on both sides in halves He wrote to one of his Lieutenants If thou wilt be a Captain nay if thou wilt live contain thy Soldiers in their duty I will not have a peasant wronged in a Chicken nor a Grape taken without his permission not a grain of Salt or a drop of Oil unjustly exacted I desire my Soldiers should be enriched with spoils of Enemies not the tears of my Subjects I would have them chast in their Quarters and no Quarrelers Which commands Baronius compareth with that of Iohn the Baptist to the Soldiers Luk. 3.14 Hujusmodi erat militaris disciplina sub Imperatore Ethnico quam si nostri Christiani Reges servarent profecto hostibus formidabiliores civibus amabiliores haberentur nibilque tam nobili eorum virtuti usquam praevaleret Olaus Magnus l. 17. de rebus septentr p. 675. He advanced Tetricus one of the 30 Tyrants in Gallienus his time whom he overcame and made him Provost of Lucania who had been before proclaimed Emperor by the French Army elegantly upbraiding him That it was more majestical to rule some part of Italy than to reign beyond the Victor's Epitome Being incensed against Tyana because the Gates of the City were shut against him he vowed He would not leave a Dog in it But having taken it upon a fright by the ghost of Apollonius Tyanaeus dead long before he commanded his Soldiers to kill all the Dogs but spare the Citizens Vopiscus in Aureliano c. 23. This story if it was not true it was handsomely contrived both for the keeping up the honour of the deifyed Apollonius by making him so seasonably deliver his native Town in so great an exigency and also for the saving of the Emperors credit with the Soldiers that he might seem by Divine powers to be absolved from that rigid vow of giving the whole Town up to the slaughter and plunder of the Soldiery Dr. Mores Explanation of the grand Mystery of Godliness p. 151. Aurelian demanding how he might govern well was answered by a great personage You must be provided with Iron and Gold Iron to use against your Enemies and Gold to reward your Friends Zonaras Aurelian takes this counsel to bestow Gold on his men and Iron on his fo Aleyn's Battel of Poictiers p. 120. Aurelian's chief engagement was against Zenobia the most beautiful chast learned wise and valiant Woman of that age Her Letter in answer to him who sorely tired proffered her life and liberty and wealth if she would yield sheweth her resolves for fight He was so enraged at her haughty reply that he forthwith besieged Palmyra destroyed her aids and at last took Her prisoner whom he led in triumph ea specie ut nibil pompabilius populo Rom. videretur saith Treb. Pollio in Zenobia He put Longinus to death upon a supposition that he dictated Zenobia's Epistle He is called Necessarius magis quà m bonus Imperator a Prince rather necessary than good because he wanted clemency saith Vopiscus He was so bloudy that he put to death his own Sisters son Being about to sign an Edict for the 9th persecution of which he was the Author God hindred his purpose cramping as it were his knuckles manifesting to all that the Princes of this world have no power to practise any thing against the Church any farther than God permitteth Eusebius l. 7. At the same time also a Thunder-bolt fell so near him that all thought he was slain by which messenger God warned him to be wise lest he perished in those destructive waies as shortly after he did Mnestheus his Secretary fearing punishment for some offence for which the Emperor threatned him with death and knowing that he used not to pardon if he threatned counterfeited the Emperors hand and wrote the names of many in a rowl as appointed by him to die mixing the names of some with whom the Emperor was truly offended with those of others whom he was not displeased with adding his own name that he might the easilier be believed They upon sight hereof thinking to prevent the worst slew him in a Castle called Coeno-phrurium betwixt Byzantium and Heraclea Id vero in ultionem Sanguinis Christiani ab eo effusi contigisse Constantinus Magnus in quadam Orat. ait Baron Anno Christi 278. num 1. Besoldus in majore Synopsi Historiae Vniversalis p. 179. When Mnestheus his Treason was discovered he was cast to wild beasts as appeareth by marble pillars placed on both sides the monument erected in honour of Aurelian even by those who slew him Vopiscus in Aureliano c. 37. When the Treasury was emptied after Gallienus and the calamities of the Common-wealth Aurelian came in manner of a torrent upon the rich Ammianus Marcellinus l. 30. c. 28. He reigned 4 years 11 months and 7 daies Vopiscus calleth him Bonum Medicum sed mala ratione curantem A good Physitian had not he administred too bitter potions in reference to which Iulian feigneth that he had much ado to defend himself at the Tribunal of Minos before whom many accused him of injustice but that the Sun who had alwaies in his life specially assisted him in all his enterprises excused him to the other Gods saying That he had been punished enough by his death according to the Delphick Oracle which saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iudicium si quis quae fecit perferat aequum est Porphyrie that surly Antichristian Predicabilist grumbled against Christians in his time Bishop Prideaux's Introduction to History Triginta circiter scriptores Catholici blasphemias ejus refutarunt si qua fides Fl. Lucii Dextri Chronicis Lucas Holstenius De vita Scriptis Porphyrii p. 14 and 62. Reginam frustra optaras Auguste triumpho Elusit propria te generosa nece