of the Goddes and doo greatlye reuerence Liuie in the .ix. booke of hys seconde warre Punique sayth that they founde in the Sybyline bokes whyche were perused and redde ouer because of the often raynynge of stones the same yeare that when so euer anye straunger and forreyne enemye shoulde moue warre agaynste Italye he myghte be vanquysshed and expelled thence yf the Moother Idea were transported to Rome from a fyelde of Phrigia named Pesinus The whyche to do the Romaynes sent fiue Ambassadours wyth fyue greate shyppes called Cynqueremes to Atalus king of Asie Who led them to the place called Pesynus delyuered them the holye stone whych the inhabitauntes there called y e Moother of the Goddes and appoynted theym to carye it vnto Rome It was receyued at the Hauen of Hostia by Publius Scipio beynge iudged at that tyme the worthyest manne in all the Cytye to do the same caryed vnto Rome and sette in the Temple of Victorye wythin the Palayce the .xiij. daye of Apryll whyche was celebrated and solempnyzed wyth feastes and gyftes that the people in greate aboundance offered vnto the Goddesse Whych playes the Romaynes called Megalesia The same Goddesse is called Ops whome they suppose to be y e wyfe of Saturne called Rhea by the whyche they vnderstande the earth that geueth affluence and abundaunce of all thynge She is otherwise named Cybele of the name of a Hyl and cytye of Phrigia where her sacrifyces were fyrst instituted Or she is called Cybele of Cimbals which signifyeth the Instrumentes and Soundes they vsed in the sacryfyces The Poetes sayen that she roade in a Chariot and had a crown of Towers wherby they sygnyfye that the earthe hangeth in the ayre and the world tourneth alwayes rounde aboute and that the earth hathe vpon it Cytyes and Townes wherein be Towers She is called Moother of the Goddes because she engendreth all thyng She is also called Pales for y t she is y e Goddesse of sheperdes her feastes are called Palilia And she is also surnamed Berecinthia of a moūtaygne of Phrigie called Berecynthes Accordyng to the diuersytye of her names she hath dyuers powers dyuers sacryfyces and dyuers ministers Vnder theyse names Cybele Berecynthia Goddesse Pesynuntyne Moother Idea because they came of names of places in Phrigia from whence thys Goddesse was broughte to Rome is no diuersitie of puyssaunce sygnified Thys Goddesse hathe Priestes and Ministers called Galli by the name of a Riuer named Gallus in Phrigia The water wherof causeth theym to be mad that drynke it Those Priestes be gelded who beyng sturred wyth madnesse noddynge theyr heades vp and downe wyth great noyse of small Belles whych they caryed did prophesye and tell of thynges to come in that madnesse They were otherwyse called Corybantes I. ILium is the same Cytye that we call Troye the great Ilus son of Tros in y e coūtrey called Troas dyd buylde thys ritye Iliū so called of his name And of the countrey wherin it stode it was named Troye as wytnesseth Sabellique in the fyfth booke of hys fyrst Enneade The Countrey is ioynyng vnto Phrigia on the East and towardes the west it hath the Sea Hellespontique as Ptolomee hathe described it in hys first Table of Asie Illiria The Royalme of Illiria described by Ptolomee in his .v. Table of Europe hath on y e North Coste y e .ii. Pannonies on y e west y e coūtry called Istria Towards the East it hath y e high Misia And towards y e South a part of Macedonia This Roialme is also named Liburnia y e part which extēdeth towards y e high Misia is called Dalinatia At this presēt the Illiriā Regiō is called Sclauonia Loke Ptolome in y e said .v. cable of Europe India There are .ii. Indes both in Asia ioyning togithers wherof thone maketh an ende of Asie towards thoriēt is called Inde beyonde the Riuer of Ganges On this side the Riuer is Inde called Inde on this side Ganges which hath on the East syde the same Riuer On the west the Royalmes of Paropanisades Arachosia Gedrosia On y e North y e moūtaine Imaus And on the Southe the Indian Sea as sayeth Ptolome in the fyrste Chapiter of the .x. Table of Asye ¶ Iocasta was y e wife of Laius King of Thebes After whose deceasse she maried her own Sone Oedipus vnwares And had by him .ii. childrē Etheocles Polinices who fought togithers after Dedipus death for the Royalme of Thebes And in y e same cōbate both y e Bretherne slew one an other as saieth Sabellique in y e .vij. Booke of his first Emeade For this cause did y e Alexādriens in mocquerie call Antonines Mother Iocasta because Antonyne for to obtayne Thempyre alone had slayne hys Brother Geta as the .ij. Sones of Iocasta slewe one an other for the Royalme of Thebes Ionie Plyne in the .v. Booke the .xxix. Chapi sayeth that the Countrey of Lydia watered ouer wyth the Riuer of Meander very croked and full of tourninges both extende aboue Ionie hauing on y e East syde Phrigia on the North Misia and on the Southe Caria The which Countrey of Lidia was before called Meonie By y e descriptiō y t Ptolomee maketh in y e firste Table of A◠Ionie is y e self same Regiō y t is called Lidye or Meonye At the lest wise it is a parte therof bosiding vpon the Sea whiche for that cause is called Ionyan The same Ionian Sea dothe extende frō the Bankes of Ionie vnto the bankes of thysle of Sicile Plinye in the iiii booke the .xi. Chap. sayeth that the Greekes deuyded the Ionian Sea into the Sea of Sicile and the Sea of Crete so called bicause of the nigh Isles Ptolome in the .v. boke the seconde Capiter sayeth that the Regiō proprelie called Asia hath on the North syde Bithinia On the West a part of Propontis the Sea Hellespontique the Sea Ieariā the Sea Myrtoique On y e East the Regiōs of Licia Pamphilia Galatia And on the Southe the Sea of the Rhodes In this Region are cōprised Lidia Caria other small Royalmes In Lidia is Ionia as it is before saied And Ionie is ryght ouer aneanst an Isle called Icarie whereof the Sea there is named Icariā And it is the same which is called Ionian Caria is betwene Lidie the Sea of y e Rhodes On the West it hath the Sea Icarian or Myrtoique And on y e East is Licia ioyned to Pamphilia ¶ Issicus Sinus is a reflexion bendinge of the Sea which hath on the West thyste of Cipres And on the East Siria ioyned vnto the Bankes of Siria And on the Northe syde is the Countrey of Cilicia In y e plaine by the same tourning of the Sea is the Citye of Alexādrie builded by Alexāder y e grete in memorie of y e batail by him wonne against Darius King of Persia In this place also was the battayle betwene Seuerus Niger ¶ Ister is a great and
thirde Tiberius Cesar The iiii Caius Caligula The .v. Claudius Cesar The .vi. Nero Claudius Cesar The .vii. Sergius Galba The .viii. Otho Siluius The .ix. Aulus Vitellius The .x. Flauius Vespasianus The .xi. Titus Vespasianus The twelue Domitianus Of whiche twelue Suetonius Tranquillus hathe wryten compendiouslye Paulus Orosius sayeth that Nerua succeaded Domitian after Nerua Traian after Traian Adrian after Adrian Antoninus Pius wyth hys two Sonnes Aurelius and Lucius whome Marcus AntoniÌ„us Verus and Aurelius Commodus his brother succeaded Which Marcus AntoniÌ„us of whome presently the question is ouerliued the other and remained sole Emperour beyng the .xvii. in nombre reckening Iulius Cesar for the fyrste Of the lignage vertue science and decease of this Marcus Herodian speaketh in the begynnynge of this fyrste booke after whome his Sonne Commodus raigned beyng in the begynning gentle meeke and of good disposicion But after he had escaped the Treason of Lucilla his owne Syster Perennes the Capitayne of his garde Maâ—ternus and Cleander the liuetenaunte of his armie he altered to dissolute and dishonest lyfe and Tirannie Wherfore he was poysoned by Martia one of his CoÌ„cubynes Letus the Capitaine of hys Garde Electus his principall ChaÌ„berlaine And after at their appoyntment strangled by Narcissus FINIS ¶ The fyrste booke of the historie of Herodian THemperour Marcus had many doughters and .ii. sonnes onely of whome the yonger named Verissimus by myschaunce died in his tender age The other named Commodus the father broughte vp w t great diligence and care And hauynge goten from all partes excellente learned men waged theÌ„ with large stipendes that they shoulde euery man for hys parte garnysshe the maners and disposicion of hys Sonne He maryed his doughters at their rype age vnto the best of the Senatours choosyng to his Sonnes in lawe not suche as coulde shew furthe large pedegrues of their auncestrie or suche as vaunted them selues of their great treasoure but those which excelled in perfecte modestie of maners and Innocencie of lyfe For that he esteamed to be the onely perfecte and stable rychesse of the mynde ¶ He forgate no vertue wherin he exercised not hym selfe beyng so studious of the antiquitie of learnyng that in the same he might be compared to the best eyther of the Greekes or of the Romaynes For profe hereof there are many thinges bothe spoken and writen by hym commen euen vnto our tyme. He was so curteis that he would gentely take euery commer vnto hym by the hande not permytting that any man shoulde be forbidden by his garde the approching vnto his person And he onely amonges all the Emperours vsed the study of Sapience not in woordes or knowledge of decrees but in grauitie of maners and continencie of lyfe Wherby it came to passe that the same age and tyme brought furthe a great encrease of wyse men for communely men are wont to folowe the lyues and maners of their prynces But now as touching the notable actes by hym done aswell at Rome as elles where how he behaued hym selfe also towardes the Barbarous nacions enhabytinge the Easte and the Northe the same are contayned in the monumentes of many excellent learned men But those thinges whyche after the death of Marcus by all ages I bothe sawe and harde whereof many by experience my selfe knewe as one traded in common affayres and princes businesse I haue taken vpon me to wryte ¶ Whyles the olde Emperour Marcus soiourned amoÌ„ges the Pannoniens a very greuous disease came vpon hym not onely worne wyth age but also sore broken wyth continuall trauaile and care Wherfore when he perceyued no remedy but death he beganne greatly to doubte in hym selfe lest hys Sonne who was but then entered the fyrst yeres of his Adolescencie eyther throughe vehemencie of hys youthe or elles throughe an inordynate lycence whyche he should haue after hys fathers deathe leuynge all good exercise and study aparte wold addycte him selfe to dronkennesse and superfluous ryot For he knewe well that the myndes of yonge men easily declyne to immoderate superfluytie from laudable and honest dysciplyne He was troubled besydes wyth the memory of many princes whiche beyng but yonge men tooke vpon them the gouernaunce of royaulmes as well of Dionisius the Tiraunt of Sicile whose intemperatenes of lyfe was so great that he endowed with richest rewardes thinuentours of newe pleasures as also of them whyche succeaded Alexander of Macedonie who dyd so shamefullye and Tiranouslye raygne that they purchased to hys kyngedome a notorious obloquy For Ptolomeus fell into so detestable lyfe that contrarye to the lawes of the Macedoniens and all the Greekes he was entangled with thincest mariage of hys owne Syster Antigonus also to represent the GOD Bacchus was wonte in steade of the Macedonien Diademe and crowne to were a Garlande of yuie and for a sceptre to carye a thystell The olde man was vexid besydes wyth late examples as of Nero who abstayned not from the murdering of hys owne moother and made hym selfe as a laughynge stocke vnto all the people He remembred Domytian who lefte nothynge vndone that he thoughte to appertayne vnto extreame Crueltye Wherefore wayeng wyth hym selfe thiese ymages of tyrannye he was tossed betwene hope and feare The nygh nacion of the Germaynes encreased also hys perplexitie for he hadde not throughly broughte them in subiection but some he had taken into hys frendshyppe and the reste he had vanquysshed by force of batayle Many of the same were escaped and hydde them selues for feare of the prynce Wherefore he doubted greately leaste after hys deathe they woulde rebelle agayne in settynge at noughte the youthe of hys Sonne for he knewe the nature of the barbarous people was to be sturred wyth euery small tryfle Beynge turmented wyth thiese troublesome waues of care he caused as manye hys friendes and kynsmen as were then in his company to repayre vnto his presence and at theyr commynge togythers hauyng commaunded hys Sonne to stande before them he lyfted hym selfe somewhat vpon hys pylowe and made this oracion vnto them ¶ It is not to be meruayled at that you are sorowfull and pensyfe beholding me in this plighte for it is the nature of man to bewaile the misfortune of other And those thinges we see with our eyes doo prouoke muche more compassion and pitie Besydes this my reason is commune with you for in the recompence of the good wyll I haue heretofore borne you I hope and as of duty loke for a mutuall beneuolence at your handes And at this presente it is so happened that I must make profe whether I haue in vayne so longe to fore exhybited honour vnto you hauing you alwayes in estimacion and employed all my diligent studie towardes your welthe And you in recompencing the same to shewe your selues not vnmyndefull of the benefytes you haue receyued ye see my son whom your selues haue norished entering nowe the first boundes of his
somewhat was tolde themperoure And as he came before hym themperoure commaunded hym too be apprehended and too haue hys head strycken of And beynge set vpon a Speare too be caryed aboute Knowynge that he shoulde shewe vntoo the people a pleasaunte and desyred syghte Thus was thys myschyefe appeased and the fyghte on eyther syde asswaged For the Sduldyours when they sawe him dead for whom they fought feared the indygnacyon of the Emperour whom they perceiued too be deluded and that nothing was done by hys commaūdement The people on thother parte accompted thē selues satisfied wyth the death of the begynner of the mischiefe The chyldren also of Cleander for he had twoo sonnes all his frendes were at one tyme slayne and theyr bodies being drawen through the Citie and most filthely ordered were at the last throwen into the common synkes of the Citie This was the ende of Cleanders destenies And in hym onelye mans nature can as I mighte say boldely bragge that a man may be aduanced from moste vyle and lowe estate vnto the hyghest type of dignitye and being soo exalted fall downe in the leaste and sodeyne momente of fortune Then Cōmodus althoughe he feared that the people woulde moue some newe tumulte againste hym yet by hys frendes perswasyons retourned into the Citie And being receyued wyth ioyfull shoutes and assemblyes of y e people entered into thimperyal palayce And certainly so many perylles beinge paste he began from thencefurthe to trust no creature but to destroy now this now that man gyuynge credyte vntoo euerye false accusatyon He toke besides into his frendshyp no man in whome was any vertue remaynynge but dyd withdrawe his mynde equallye from all good studye For the vnbrydeled lustes of the bodye dyd bothe day and nighte oppresse him wyth most greuous bondage He remoued as a spie from his gate euery man whom eyther goodnes or any meane and honest qualitie did beautifie But slaues and suche as vsed most filthye maners hadde hym as wholly addicted vnto them He vsed alsoo aboue measure cartynge and sleing of beastes For the which exercyses the flattering Parasites extolled him with fame of fortitude There by he behaued him selfe in those thynges more dishonestly then became a sober prudent Prince At that season were apparaunte in the skye certayne prodygyouse tokens For starres appeared contynually by daye lyghte and manye of them beynge stretched out in lengthe semed too hange in the myddes of the ayre Beastes besydes of all kynde were broughte furthe not obseruynge theyr nature wyth monstrous shape of bodye and membres nothynge agreable But the greatest calamytie partely brought presente doloure and especyally afterward wyth moost myserable coniecture dyd put all men in feare For when there had neyther anye shoures or clowdes sauynge onely a lytle earthquake preceaded wheather it were by chaunce wyth lyghtenynge in the nyghte or elles wyth anye fyre kyndeled in the earthe the hole Temple of peace was sodeynelye burnte The whyche worke of all other in the Cytye was greateste and mooste beawtyfull and of all the Temples mooste ryche and gorgyouselye buylded and adorned wyth muche golde and syluer For almoste euerye man broughte hys substaunce thyther as intoo a treasourye And therebye the fyre so ragynge in the nyghte broughte manye that were riche in to extreame pouertye Wherefore all men bewayled the common calamytye openlye and euerye man lamented hys owne losse pryuatelye When all the Temple was consumed vearye manye the beawtyfullest buildinges of the Citie were enflamed with fyre also Amonges the which y e temple of Vesta was one so that the Palladiū was sene the which the Romaynes do chiefely worship and kepe secrete beynge broughte as they saye from Troye and at that time fyrst sythens it came into Italye sene of all men For the Vestall Virgines hauing with muche difficultye saued it caryed it through y e strete named Sacra via vnto themperours palayce Many the goodlyest partes besydes of the Citie were burned And the fyre ragyng many daies was not ceased before that sodaine shoures quenched it Wherfore all men that time referred the hole matter vnto the Goddes by whose wil they thought the fyre to be begon and ended interpreting warres y t did ensue to be signified by y e burning of y e Tēple of Peace The whiche coniecture of things the hap did afterward verifie For y e Citie being vexed with manye greuous discōmodities the people dyd not as they were wonte beholde Commodus beneuolentlye but euerye one imputed the cause of theyr myserye vnto hys dyssolute and pernycyouse vyces for his wickednesse was not hydden from them neyther wolde he it shoulde be kept close But those thinges that were in his house committed not withoute infamye the same he feared not to blase and blowe a brode He waxed so insolent that he abandoned the name of his father and for Commodus the sonne of Marcus commaunded himself to be called Hercules the son of Iupiter And leuing aparte the apparayle of the Romayne princes he ware a Lions skinne bearinge in hys hande a clubbe and couered hymselfe with purple and clothes wouen with golde not with out the derysion of all men For in that one garment he represented the wantonnesse of women the prouesse of noble men Thus did he daily behaue himself He also chaūged the names of y e monethes for their auncient tytles apoynted them new of his owne surnames of the whiche manye were referred vnto Hercules as vnto one moste puysaunt He caused also Images to be erected vnto hym throughoute the Cyte and amonges them one in the Courte of the Senate the whiche helde a bowe bente that the Images them selues sholde shewe terrors and manaces The which Image the Senate after his death pulled downe and for it erected agayne the Image of lybertye But Cōmodus when he coulde not aswage and brydle hymselfe taking vppon him to shew furth pageantes vnto the people promysed that he would with his owne handes slea before them all kynde of wylde beastes stryue by a synguler contencion with euery valiaunt younge man When the rumor of these tryalles was spredde abroade there assembled people out of all Italy and other nighe nacions to behold that syght whiche they had neuer before seane nether by talke herde of For his hande was reported to be so stedfaste that what so euer he had throwen or shotte at wyth darte or arrowe the same wold he assuredly strycke And he retayned daily about him mooste approued archers of Parthia Numydyane slyngers all the which hym selfe in cunnynge farre excelled Nowe when the daye of this Pageande was come there was buylded in the middes of the Amphytheater a gallerie for Commodus In the which he myght runne rounde about lest that fyghting beneth with the beastes he should be in daūger But by casting his dartes frō aboue as oute of a safe place he shoulde rather shew his cunning of throwing then any
wytte his sufferaunce of laboure and prompte audacyte of good hope in enterprysynge of weightie affayres After the people had receaued him with ioyouse acclamacions and the hole senate welcommed hym at the gates of the Cyte he vyseted the temple of Iupiter made there his sacrifyce and saluted the other Temples and then entred into the imperial palayce The next day he came into the Coorte where he made an oracioÌ„ with a good countenaunce and embrased al menne openly and priuely sayeng he came vnto the City to reuenge the death of Pertinax And promysed to erecte the fundacions of the estate of Senatours and nobles of Rome as longe as he were Emperour That no man should lose his life or goodes excepte he were by iudgemente condempned all pykethankes and false promoters beyng dyspatched away And that he would folow Marcus steppes in gouerning the Empyre hauing not onely the surname he said of Pertinax but also his full mynde entent By this talke he wan hym selfe muche fauoure But many of the auncyent men knowyng his accustomed subtylty â–ª tolde theyr frendes pryuelye that he was a deceytfull man bente vnto fraude and a meat dissembler caring for nothing so that he might obtayn that he thoughte his owne auauntage The whych report of the Elders experyence dyd afterwarde verifye Seuerus then remayned but a fewe dayes in the Cytye but hauyng bestowed on the people many gyftes and aboundauntlye rewarded the Souldyours amongest whome he elected the strongest and valyaunteste into theyr places that were erste dyscharged for the garde of hys person he furthwyth prepared hys iourney towardes the Oryent whiles Niger lay styll and gaue hys mynde vnto the wantonnes of Antyoche Thinkyng it beste to make haste that beyng vnloked for he myght oppresse Nyger vnpuruaied of strengthe to resyste hym Wherefore he coÌ„maunded the Souldiours to make them selues ready and after he had gathered togither bandes of men from euerye coaste mustered all the youthe in Italye sente for the residue of the Illyryan armie remaining in Thrace and with no lesse dylygence gotten a great nauye and fylled all the Italyan galleyes of .iij. orders wyth Souldyours armed he brought to gyther wyth incredyble celerytie abouÌ„daunce of al necessaries For he knew well that there neded a great power agaynst y e nacioÌ„s enhabytyng y e parte of the earthe that is opposyte vnto Europe all the whyche dyd wyth one mynde folowe and fauoure Nyger Therefore after thys sorte dyd Seuerus apparayle hys armie to the warre But the man beyng prouydent of a forecastyng wytte suspected muche the armye of Englande who were verye myghtye and warrelyke and of them was ruler one Albynus a manne of the ordre of Senatours whyche had bene traded in greate wealthe of all richesse and pleasures Thys man Suerus thoughte good to wynne by craft vnto hym least yf the same styrred wyth hys ryches kynred armye and renowne all prompte prouacatyons to couetynge of thempyre woulde chalenge the domynyon of all thynges vnto hym selfe and whyles Seuerus were busyed wyth the warres in the Oryente take possessyon of Rome not farre dystaunte from Englande And therefore he determyned to allure vnto hym wyth a coloure of honoure Albynus beynge symple lyghte of credyte and beleuynge Seuerus for that in hys letters myssyues he protested all thynge by solempne othe Wherefore callyng hym Cesar and promysynge hym the partycypacyon of hys Empyre he preuented hys ambycyon He sente lettres also vnto hym full of gentle commendacyons whereby he desyred hym chyefly to take vpon him the charge of thempyre sayinge that it neaded suche a noble manne and of suche dyscreate age as he was Hym selfe he sayde was olde and vexed w t the gowte and hys twoo sonnes verye yonge The whyche Albynus credytynge accepted gladlye the honoure beynge ioyfull that he obtayned hys desyre wythoute batayle or other trouble And Seuerus that al thynges myghte seame more credyble sente lettres of lyke tenor vnto the Senate commaundynge the moneye to be coyned wyth the stampe of Albynus pycture hys Image to be erected and other honoures to be done vnto hym wherebye he establysshed the truste of hys beneuolence When he hadde thus prouydentlye fynysshed thys dryfte beynge oute of feare of the affayres in Englande and hauynge gathered togyther aboute hym the Illyryan Legyons and all other thynges nedefull he dyd set forewarde hys hoste agaynste Nyger As for the places where in hys Iourney he arested what Oracyons he made in euerye Cytye what meruaylouse wonders appered what Regyons he passed and fynallye what conflyctes there were and what numbers on bothe sides were slayne the same all Hystoryographers especyallye the Poetes treatynge of thys matter and the whole lyfe of Seuerus do verye plenteousely make mencyon of in theyr Verses But I entende to put in wrytynge thynges manyfestlye knowen vnto me done by the space of seuentye yeares vnder manye and dyuerse Prynces And therefore I wyll touche the chyefeste thynges done by Seuerus wythoute or fauoure faynynge anye thynge as I se they haue done whyche wrote in that age or elles ouerslyppe vnspoken anye thynge that shall seame worthye memorye The eande of the Seconde booke of Herodian ¶ The Argumente of the thyrde booke of Herodyan THE begynnyng of the Thyrde boke dothe treate of the batailes betwene Seuerus and Niger and of the preparacion of the same Then after of the deathe of Nyger of the crueltye of Seuerus which would by Treason haue slayne Albynus whome he had taken into the rule of thempyre Consequentlye of the ouerthrowe of Albynus men and Albynus owne death Of the vyage and expedycyon made by Seuerus into the Orient of thambycyon of Plautyanus and hys death After that the dyscorde betwene the twoo brethren Seuerus sonnes and of the viage made by Seuerus wyth his Sonnes into England where he died And the eande of the Thyrde boke treateth of Antoninus Seuerus eldeste Sonnes crueltye and howe he fayned for a while to be agreed with hys brother Geta ¶ The thyrde booke of Thistorye of Herodian IN the Booke preceadyng we haue at lenght openid the death of Pertinax the murder of Iulianus with the comming of Seuerus into the Cytie and his expedicion againste Niger Who when he suspected no suche mater hearynge that Seuerus was in full possession of Rome taken as Emperour by the Senate and that the hole â—llyrian army was commyng against hym by lande and Sea had hys mynde wonderfullye troubled anâ— hys courage meruaylousely daunted Neuerthelesse he gaue furthwith commaundement to the Presydentes and rulers of the Prouinces to defende and stoppe all their passages hauens and streytes And sente to the Kynges of Parthia Armenia and Atrenia for ayde But the ArmenyaÌ„ King answered that he would take neyther parte but onelye defende hys Realmâ—â—t the comming of Seuerus The Parthian Kynge â—t him worde that he wolde commaunde by commiâ—â—on the nobles of his Realme to muster and gather thâ—ir powers togythers For so was he accustomed
Palayce before any man hearde of hys possessyon of thempyre Vpon thys couenaunte the Trybune departed from Plautyanus and as he was wonte passed freelye throughe all the Courte where ponderynge wyth hym selfe and perceyuynge howe vneasye it were for one manne to murdre the twoo Prynces lyinge in sundry Chambers he fyrste wente to Seuerus lodgyng and there wylled certayne of hys pryuye Chaumber to helpe hym to the speache of the Emperoure sayinge that he broughte newes whych appertayned to the Emyerours sauegarde They made speadye relacyon hereof vnto Seuerus who furthwyth commaunded the Trybune to be let in And he beynge entered before the Emperoure sayde these wordes I am come hyther O Emperoure ê™ he as he that sente me fyrmelye supposeth to murdre youre personne But as I my selfe bothe wysshe and wyll to be the aucthoure of a greate benefyte and the preseruacyon of youre healthe Plautyanus lyinge in awayte wyth Treason for thempyre hath appoynted me to murdre bothe you and youre Sonne And that not onelye in wordes but in wrytynge alsoo the Testymonye whereof is thys boke And in dede I promised hym to accomplysshe that he commaunded least yf I reiected it an other woulde haue taken it in hande But nowe I am here presente to bewraye the matter vnto you leaste hys presumptuouse Trecherye shoulde oppresse you vnwares Notwythstandynge that the Trybune spake these wordes wyth aboundaunce of teares yet dyd not Seuerus at the fyrste credyte it so muche was the memorye of Plautyanus loue towardes hym fyxed as yet in hys breste yea he suspected all the matter too be contryued of a purpose thynkynge that hys Sonne who abhorred Plautyanus and detested hys doughter had Imagyned thys craftye Couyne and mortall slaunder agaynst hym Wherefore hauynge called hys Sonne vnto hym he beganne to rebuke hym for that he hadde deuysed suche myschyefe agaynste hys frende and well wyller But Antonyne at the fyrste sware and protested that he was ygnoraunte of all thys busynesse and afterwardes encouraged the Trybune whoo persysted in hys tale and shewed furthe the booke to declare the hole Treason Than the Trybune perceyuynge intoo howe greate daungere he was entered not ygnoraunte howe muche in fauoure Plautyanus was wyth Seuerus and knowynge precyselye that yf the Treason laye hydden and the matter not throughly proued him selfe should receyue extreame and cruell deathe spake thus vnto them My Soueraigne Lordes ê™ he what more ample argumente or perfecte proofe do you seke hereof permytte that I maye go furthe of the Courte and by some secrete and trusty person certifye Plautianus that all his commauÌ„dement is fulfilled He be leuyng it wilbe here out of hande to occupie the Palaice as voide TheÌ„ shal it be your partes to examine and trye oute the truth And after he had thus muche spoken he chose a faythfull and trustye persone vnto hym whych should in his name exhorte Plautianus to make haste and come furthwith to the Coorte seynge bothe the Princes were slayne for it behoued hym before the deade were publyshed amonges the people to be within the Palaice that therby occupyenge the Principall Tower and establyshenge thempyre vnto hym selfe all men should maugre their hartes obey hym as one not entringe into thempyre but as already possessed therof Plautianus crediting this matter was puffed with a meruailouse presumption and hope And putting on hym a shyrte of mayle for the sure defence of hys bodye aboute the euenynge of the same daye ascended into hys Chariotte and made haste towardes the Coorte with a fewe whyche were present attending vpon hym who thoughte he hadde bene sente for by the Emperours about some earnest and weighty busynesse And when he was wythoute let of any manne entered into the Palayce the porters beynge ignoraunte what the matter mente the Trybune mette hym saluted hym as Emperoure by collusyon of purpose imagined toke hym by the haÌ„d and ledde hym into the Chamber where he feygned that bothe the dead Emperours Corpses laye Nowe hadde Seuerus appoynted certayne of hys Garde to laye handes vpon hym as soone as he were commen in But when Plautianus hauinge at that instaunte other faÌ„syes in his heade was entred into the Chamber sawe the two Emperours there standynge and perceyued hym selfe apprehended beyng wyth that so greate a matter very sore agaste he began humbly to entreate and desyre pardon affyrminge that all thys dryfte was forged vniustely of malice against him TheÌ„ Seuerus reproued hym rehersynge the manye tolde benefites and honors he had bestowed on hym And Plautianus replyed agayne repetynge the testimonies of hys accustomed truthe and good wyll towardes themperour wherwith Seuerus began some what to relente and credite the wordes of Plautianê° vntyll that the shyrte of mayle appeared throughe a slyt of his vpper garment Whiche Antonyne perceiuing being a sterne and fierse yonge man and thertofore detesting Plautianê° saied I wold gladli wete ê™ he what answere thou wylte make vnto thiese two pointes Why camest thou in the euening vnto themperours vnsent for And what meaneth this sherte of mayle thou wearest for who commeth in armure to a Supper or banquette And hauinge so sayde he commaunded the Tribune and those that were present to stabbe hym in with their swordes and daggers as a manyfest Traitour and open enemye And thei makinge no delaye in the mater executed Themperours commaundement slewe the man and threwe hys body into the highe waye to be spurned at skorned of the people This iuste ende of lyfe had Plautianus a man of insatiable auarice After this done Seuerus constituted two Capitaynes ouer the men of armes and hym selfe moste commenly soiourned in the Suburbes or elles nyghe the Sea costes of Campania sitting in iudgement vpon maters of controuersy in the lawe And beyng very diligent in Ciuile affayres chiefly coueyted to haue his childerne traded at Rome with decente honest maners For he perceiued that theyr myndes were bente vnto playes and shewes more vehementlye then became thestate of Princes Wherby it wold come to passe that the yoÌ„ge meÌ„s studies coÌ„tencions tending to diuerse purposes their willes also and appetites woulde become dysagreable wheÌ„ as it were certaine brondes of debate shold be kindled betwene them But especially Antonyne after the death of Plautianus wexed terrible vnto al men Besides that he compassed wyth all the crafte ymaginacions he could deuise how he might destroy the doughter of Plautyanus hys owne wyfe But Seuerus sent her with her lytle Sonne whyche she had by Antonine into Sicilia with as much richesse as abundantely suffyced for her meate and drincke other necessaries Ensuyng in that point Augustê° who entreated after the same sort the Sonnes of Antonius after he was adiudged a Traitour Seuerus endeuoured in all that he coulde to reduce hys Sonnes to loue and concorde and to reconcyle eyther to other admonyshing them with auncient Histories and examples wherin many calamytes riseÌ„ thrughe discorde of Bretherne wer rehersed He added therunto the
Treasure him selfe hadde gathered togither all the Temples filled with money and the richesse whiche encreased daylye of foreyne Tributes howe the Souldiours might through that abundaunce be retayned with ample and riche gyftes and how the mē of armes in the Citye were augmented foure times more thē thei were before and so greate an armye soiorned nyghe the Citye that no forreyn power yf a man considered the selfe multitude or the greatnes of their bodies or elles the abundaunce of money could be founde comparable vnto them But all thiese thinges he sayed wolde be of none effecte whiles the two brethren dysagreed kepte ciuell warre within them selues With rehersall hereof and entermedlyng corrections with praier he laboured to represse their insolent courages and to bringe them to an atonement and concorde But all was in vaine for thei had throwen the brydelles out of theyr mouthes beyng continually enclyned to the worste And although the yōge men through the feruencie of their youth and immoderate lycence were sturred too much alreadye vnto delytes of sundrye voluptuouse lustes yet were there euer redi at their elbowes flockes of parasites which allured them vnto diuerse cōtrary disposicions not only extolling their dissolute vices but also inuēting newe pleasures wherwith the one myght be pleased and the other offēded Of the which parasites Seuerus hym selfe apprehended many in the verye minystery of theyr flatterye and therefore dyd put theim to death As the olde man was thus in mynde molested wyth the sensuall and vnhoneste lyfe and delytes of hys Sonnes he receyued letters from hys lyuetenaunte of Englande wherby he was enformed how the barbarouse people rebelled and wasted thole Region with inuasions and Commocions Wherefore he neaded a greater puyssaunce of men to resiste and suppresse them there wanted the Emperours presēce also Glad was Seuerus hereof for beynge a man of his owne nature greadie of renowne after his vyctories in thoriente and Septententrion and his surnames by y e same obtained he coueyted to make some Conquest ouer the Englyshemen And to lede hys Sones fourthe of the Citie that being farre from the pleasures therof thei might accustome them selfes to warlike and sober dyet Wherfore he proclaimed his expedicion into Britayne beynge very olde and sore troubled with the goute but yet of so valiaunte a stomake as neuer was any yonge man In hys iorney he roade moost communely in a horse litter neuer resting longe in any place When he had ended his voyage and passed the Ocean Sea with as muche celeritee as can be thoughte he entred into Brytaine mustered his Souldiours hauing gathered a wōderfull power togithers and prepared hym selfe to batayle The Britons beynge astonied and agaste wyth thys so sodeine arriuall of themperour And hearinge that so huge an host was assembled against them sēt Ambassadors vnto him to purge their misdemeanours entreate for peace But Seuerus makinge delaies of purpose lest he shuld retorne to Rome w tout ani thīg done being very desyrous of y e Cōquest Surname of Britaine dismissed the Ambassadors home againe w tout any resolute answere geuē to their suite Him selfe with circumspecte industrie prepared all thinges expediente vnto the warre And his chiefest care was to buylde bridges ouer and in the marishes to thentente hys Souldiours myghte stande and fyghte in safetye For manye places in Britaine are full of watery maryshes throughe the often flowynge ouer of the Ocean Sea By those maryshes dyd the Brytons swymme and skyrmyshe therin wyth theyr enemyes beyng couered wyth water vp vnto the nauell and not muche caring that men se the priuy partes of theyr naked bodyes Neyther dyd they knowe the vse of apparaile but accustomed to compasse their belyes and neckes onely wyth Iron whych they estemed an ornament and token of richesse as other barbarous people supposed golde They paynte theyr bodies wyth dyuerse pyctures and fourmes of beastes and therefore weare no garmente least the paynting shoulde be hydden beynge a nacion verye valiaunte and warlyke gredye of slaughter and contente onely wyth a small target a speare and a skeyne hangynge by theyr naked sydes ignoraunte vtterlye of thuse of shyrtes of mayle and helmettes for they reckened the same cumberous vnto them whē they should swim ouer the lakes throughe whose vapours and heate the ayre is there alwayes mystye and darke Seuerus omytted nothyng vndone that myghte auayle the Romaine Souldiours and endomage the Britons And when all thynges were prepared as hym selfe wysshed he lefte hys yonger Sonne named Geta in a parte of the Isle whyche was subiecte vnto the Romaines to se to the iudgementes of matters in law thadminystracyon of Cyuile affayres vnto whom he appoynted as Counsellours certaine of hys frendes beynge graue Personages And hym selfe toke Antonyne in hys companye agaynste the Brytons After the Romayne armye was passed the Ryuers and Bulwarkes whyche beyng buylded ouer aneanst the Brytons at that tyme eanded the boundes of the Romayne Empyre there were foughten manye lyghte skyrmysshes wherof at al tymes the Romaines were vyctours But the flyghte ftom them was easye vnto the Barbarous for they hidd them selues in woodes lakes and other secrete corners wherwith they were throughlye acquaynted All the whyche beynge contraryous vnto the Romaynes caused muche delay in the warre In the meane season a greuouse disease came vpon Seuerus beyngesore appaled wyth age so that he was constrained to kepe his Chambre and sende Antonine vnto the warres there to execute themperours offyce But Antonine not regardynge any busynesse of the Brytons endeuoured by all the meanes he could to winne and confyrme the heartes of the Souldyours vnto hym deprauynge often tymes his brother to thentente they should onely obey and ayde hym to the attaynynge of the Soueraignytye The longe maladye of hys father and the slowe procrastynacyon of hys death caused the yonge man to be verye pensyfe and doubtfull so that he laboured to perswade hys fathers Physycions and mynysters to rydde in anye case wyth all celerytye possyble the olde man oute of the world vntyll that Seuerus beyng rather throughe thoughte then syckenes consumed eanded hys lyfe who was the moste famouse of all Emperours in warlyke affayres For none other had obtayned so manye vyctoryes and Conquestes eyther Cyuyle agaynste hys aduersaries or forreyne agaynst the Barbarous nacyons Thus deceased he after he had gouerned thempyre the space of .xviii. yeres leauynge hys Sonnes for hys successours in the same vnto whome he lefte also so greate aboundaūce of riches as none of his predecessours had before him done and a greater army then anye forreyne power was able to resyste When Anthonyne had ones gotten the Supreame aucthorytye he began to destroye euery man from the verie bedde syde as the prouerbe sayth For he put to deth the Phisicians because they obeyed not hys commaundemente in hastyng hys fathers deathe And slewe all hys owne and brothers Nouryces and
enstructers for that they wente about to reconcyle theym leauynge throughe hys crueltye none a lyue that was eyther in dygnyty or had reuerenced hys father The Chyuetaynes of tharmye he entyced to perswade the Souldyours to proclayme hym onely Emperoure ymagynynge daylye manyfolde myschyefes agaynste hys brother But he could not wyn the Souldyours good wylles or assent therunto For they remembred that Seuerus brought eyther of them vp from theyr infancie wyth equall diligence them selues had euer shewed lyke honoure obedyence to them both Wherfore Antonine perceiuynge that he coulde not speade of hys purpose wyth tharmye hauynge taken truce wyth the Brytons graunted them peace and receiued theyr hostages he remoued wyth great spede towardes hys Moother Brother WheÌ„ the two Brethren met togither theyr Moother laboured to bryng them to agrement wherin also many of the moste prudente and sage of Seuerus frendes and Counsailors earnestly trauailed Antonyne thereby seyng all men repyned hys sensualytie was enduced rather of force then good wyll to counterfaite loue After whych done the two Brethren gouernynge thempyre wyth equall honoure and Soueraignitye launched oute of Brytayne and sayled wyth the Relyques of theyr father towardes Rome For when they had burned the bodye they caried the asshes intermedled wyth certayne pleasaunt odours in a boxe of Alabastre to Rome that it might be there enteared enclosed amonges the sacred monumentes of other Prynces Them selues ledde thus theyr armye as Conqueroures of Brytayne and passed ouer Thocean vnto the next coaste of Fraunce After what sorte therefore Seuerus deceased and howe hys Sonnes tooke vppon theym thempyre it is in thye presente booke at lengthe declared ¶ The ende of the thyrde booke of Herodyan ¶ The Argumente of the fourthe Booke of Herodian THe fourthe Booke speaketh of the pompe that was at the Cononizacion of Seuerus The discorde and debate of the two two Bretherne and the deathe of Geta slaine by his own Brother Anthonyne who remayned after sole Emperour and was very cruel and vncoÌ„stauÌ„t After that of the TreasoÌ„ done by hym to the Alexandriens and the cause therof Of an other Treason done vnto Artabanus the King of Parthia And howe Anthonyne hym selfe was slayne by Martialis one of hys Garde and howe Macrinus was made Emperour who sustayned and helde on the warre with Artabanus and fynallye made peace and concorde with hym ¶ The fourthe booke of Thistorie of Herodian THe Actes of Seuerus by y e space of .xviii. yeres are in the former booke sufficiently shewed After whose deathe the yonge Emperours his Sonnes w t their Moother retourned hastly towardes Rome vsyng in their iorney continuall rancor and debate For thei neuer lodged in one Iune or vsed one table suspecting daily all theyr mete and drynke leste eyther of them preuenting other should couertly in their seruices worke hys feate wyth poyson And for that cause thei made the speadier remouinges thinking to liue more safely within the Citie where thei purposed to deuyde themperial palaice betwene them or elles as thei bothe chieflye wyshed to lye a sunder in other the largest beautyfullest houses of the Citye When thei were entered into Rome all the people crowned wyth Lawrell receyued and the Senate welcommed them Formoste rode themperours themselfes clothed in Imperiall purple And nexte them folowed the Consulles beringe the vessell wyth Seuerus reliques Which vessell the people after they hadde saluted the newe Emperours dyd reuerentlye worshyp Themperours Consulles beynge thus accoÌ„panied wyth pryncely pompe caryed the same into the Temple where the diuyne monumentes of Marcus and other Emperours are seen After they had fynyshed the solempne sacrifyce and according to the aunciente vsage celebrated the funerall Cerimonyes bothe the Bretherne departed into thimperiall palaice which thei deuided betwene theÌ„ closed vp all backe doores and priuey posternes and mette togither onely at the vtter gates They chose besydes eyther vnto hym selfe a sundrye Garde and neuer came togithers vnles it were some tyme for a lytle whyle to be seen of the people Neuerthelesse first of all thei accoÌ„plished the due funeralles of their Father For the Romaines accustome to coÌ„secrate with Immortalityee suche Emperours as at their death leue eyther ChildreÌ„ or Successours in thempyre behinde them And those whiche are endowed with that honour thei Canonize amonges the Goddes There is throughout the Citye a certayne dolefull lamentacion mixed with feastfull ioye And thei vse to enterre the dead Corpse very sumptuousely after the coÌ„mon sorte of men But then thei haue an Image made as lyke the deade Emperour as maye be The same within the porche of the Imperiall palayce thei laye in a great highe bedde of Iuorie couered ouer with cloth of golde And truely the same Image loketh very pale lyke vnto a diseased pacient About the bedde on eyther syde a great parte of the daye do certayne persons syt That is to weete on the left syde the Senate clothed in blacke garmentes And on the ryghte syde many Matrones whome either their husbaÌ„des or parentes dignitees do bewtify None of thiese are seene to were any owches or chaynes of golde But beyng cladde w t thinne white vesture thei shewe the countenaunce of mourners And thus doo thei continewe the space of .vii. dayes dureng the which euery daye themperours Phisicians â—oo repayre vnto the Bedde And as thoughe thei hadde felte the pacientes pulces declare that he waxeth more sicke then before Finally when it semeth that he is deceassed Certane of the moste noble and worthy yonge meÌ„ of thorders of knightes Senatours doo take vp the bedde on their shoulders and cary it throughe the strete called Sacra via vnto tholde market place where the Romaine magistrates are accustomed to reÌ„der vp their offices Ther on both sides are certaine stages made with steppes vpoÌ„ the which on thone side is a quere of boyes beyng noble mens Sonnes and on thother syde are many bewtyfull women singing Himpnes and balades in prayse of the dead Emperour measured with diuerses lameÌ„table verses When those are fynyshed the yonge men do take vp the bedde againe and bere it out of the citie into the fielde called Campus Martius In the broadest parte whereof there is erected a towre foure square w t sides of equal height builded of great timber lyke vnto a Tabernacle The same within furth is filled with drye chippers Rodes And on the vtter syde haÌ„ged with Arras clothes of golde and decked with ymages of Iuorie and sundry painted pictures Within it also is an other lesse Towre but lyke in forme with doores and portalles opened And ouer y t the .iii. fourthe w t manye other roumes ascending continually vntil thei reiche vnto the highest which is lesse then all the other A man may coÌ„pare this building vnto Towres whiche are set in haueÌ„s with fyre on the Toppes to directe shippes which sayle by nyght on the seas into their perfecte portes and sure stacions The same are
that wyth much dyffyculty after longe stryfe hys aduersaryes were vanquysshed For whyles they both contended fynallye he was by the fauoure of fortune lefte onely Emperour But in this darke ouerthwart inueighyng of these woordes he wysshed rather to haue hys dede vnderstanded then openlye harde Then for hys safetye obtayned he promysed vnto euerye Souldyoure twoo thousande fyue hundreth grâ—tes and he alowed theym halfe as muche more vyttayle as they were accustomed to haue before that tyme. He lycenced theym also to take theym selues money oute of the Temples and Treasouryes lauysshynge out at large in one daye as muche as Seuerus had in xviii yeares gathered and of other mennes calamytyes and myseryes heaped togythers The Souldyours beynge wyth so greate aboundaunce of money entysed perceyuynge thole cyrcumstaunce of the aforesayde murdre by those that were fledde from the Courte pronounced hym sole Emperoure and declared Geta a Traytour Antonyne remayned the same nyghte in the Temple and affayinge hym selfe in the rewardes wherewith he had wonne the Souldyours heartes wente the nexte daye into the Senate house beynge enuyroned wyth all the armye and more armure and weapons then were accustomed to garde the Prynce beynge entered into the Senate he made hys sacryfyce and that eanded he ascended thimperyall Throne and made an Oracyon as foloweth ¶ I am not ignoraunt that euery murdre of a mannes owne kynred as soone as it entreth into the eares of others wyll seame odyouse and the name it self when it is heard wil adde a maruaylous sclauÌ„der For compassioÌ„ foloweth the vnfortunate and enuy pursueth the mighty The vanquisshed is thought to receyue iniurye and the Conqueroure is supposed to commyt wronge But if any man wyll ponder the matter it selfe rather with attentife Counsell then any percyal fauoure towardes hym that is dead and exactly consyder hys cause and entente he shal easely fynd that it is both iust and requisyte to reuenge rather then to receiue iniurye For the infamye of tymorousenes doth ensue the calamity of the murdred but the ouercommer besydes that he is in safetye dothe also beare awaye the renowne of fortytude Now al other thinges the which he entended against me wyth poysons and al other kinde of Treason it lyeth in youre handes to wreste oute by tormentes Therefore perdye haue I commaunded all hys seruauntes to be here presente that you may vnderstaÌ„de the trueth There be many of them already racked whose confession ye maye throughly heare Fynally whyles I was wyth my Moother he came vpon me bringing in his coÌ„pany many armed w t weapoÌ„s But I knowiÌ„g the matter before reueÌ„ged my self on mine enemy For he neither bare any minde nor yet purposed anye thynge pertayninge to a brother And to destroy him the which doth first enteÌ„de mischief eueÌ„ as it is rightfull so is it also receaued in vse For Romulus hym selfe the buylder of this Citye forbare not his Brother which deluded hys workes of so greate importaunce I omytte Germanicus the brother of Nero and Tytus the brother of Domitian Marcus the Philosopher did not suffre y e checkes of his Son in lawe But I in thauoyding of poyson prepared againste me and the swoorde that henge ouer my sholders haue slayne myne enemye for that name hathe he throughe his deades deserued Render you thaÌ„kes vnto the Goddes for that they haue preserued one Prince vnto you And let not your myndes be seuered into sondry opinions but obeyenge youre onely Emperour lede your lyues hereafter in traÌ„quillitie For Iupiter eueÌ„ as he possesseth the onely Empire and dominion amonges the Goddes so hathe he appoynted the same vnto one alone amonges mortall men After he had spoken thiese woordes wyth loude voyce full of yre and cruell countenaunce beholding the frendes of Geta whyche trembled and waxed pale throughe feare he retourned into the palayce Furthewith then were the alyes and frendes of Geta put to death euen those which dwelt in the house wyth hym and all his seruauntes so that the age of infantes was not spared Besydes that the deade karkasses were layde in Cartes for a reproche caried oute of the Citye there throwen on heapes and burned Neyther suffered he to remayne alyue anye one which was but of lytle acquayntaunce with Geta The wrestlars Carters and Stage players and finallye all kynde of thynge that was eyther gratefull or acceptable to the eyes or eares of Geta were euerye where destroyed And euerye Senatour that excelled in nobilitie dignitie or ryches was putte to deathe as his frende vpon euerie smale trifle yea somtyme without any cause vpon euery lyght accusatioÌ„ He caused to be slayne also the sister of Commodus beinge verye aged and thitherunto of all Emperous entertayned with great reuerence as it became the doughter of Marcus takynge for occasion that she had bewayled vnto hys moother the death of Geta And with her his owne wife the doughter of Plantianus whiche before was sente into Cicilia and a kynsman of hys owne named Seuerus the sonne of Pertynax and Lucilla the suster of Commodus Finally he roted out as it were from the botom euerye one whiche remained of Thimperal bloude or in the Senate of the nobilitie He commaunded also all the rulers and officers of the Prouinces to be slain as the frendes of Geta so that all the nyghtes were spent in murderynge a meruaylous numbre of men Yea he buried quicke in the yearthe the Vestall virgines as thoughe they had violated theyr virginitie Fynally that whiche neuer before was done he committed For whiles he was lokynge vpon the playes called Circenses the people of Rome reprouynge I knowe not howe a certayne Carter whome he attentiflye behelde he takynge it for an obloquie towardes hymselfe furthwyth commaunded the whole armie to runne vpon the people and to spoyle and slea euerye one that had spoken agaynst the Carter And the souldyours hauing once gotten licence of rifling and robbyng when they whiche had spoken agaynst the Carter coulde not be dyscerned amonges the people for no man woulde in that multitude confesse the trueth as they happened vpon anye man either slewe hym or elles takynge them all captiues after theyr raunsome payed dyd with great difficultie release them When theise thynges were finished Themperour styrred with remorse of hys euyl actes and detesting the liuinge in the Citye remoued from Rome to set the Souldiors in order and visyte the prouinces After he was passed Italye he wente vnto the bankes of Danowe the which are subiecte to the Romayne Empyre There eyther he exercysed his bodye in Cartinge or huntynge all kynde of wylde beastes or elles sate in iudgemeÌ„t but that was very sealdome giuing sentence brifely and answering verye shortly after he had harde but lytle of the matter He there besydes ioyned all the Germaynes into hys societie so that of them he elected euery moste valyaunte goodly of stature for his companyons in warre and garde of his personne And
of Phenicia and Syria On the one side Antonines Souldiours fought more corageously through feare of greuous punishment if thei were vaÌ„quished On thother side tharmie of Macrinus fought faintly amonges whoÌ„ many reuolted vnto Antonine The which when Macrinus perceaued fearinge lest beinge forsakinge of his all men he should be taken prisoner suffer great reproche whiles his souldiors fought he threw away hys Cote armour other imperial ornameÌ„ts being accoÌ„panied with a few of his meanest souldiors he fled awai And hauing shauen his beard least he should be knoweÌ„ clad in a simple garmeÌ„t his head face coÌ„tinuallye couered he trauayled both night day preuenting w t celeritie the fame of his fortune For as yet hys men foughte w t great prowes as though Macrinê possessed stil theÌ„pire He so escaped as we before haue declared In the meane whyle the Souldyours on eyther side fought valiauntlye And of Macrinus syde the men at armes of hys garde named Pretorians sustayned alone the whole burnte For they were talle mighty men and chosen and approued warriours The reste of the multytude toke Antonynes parte But when they whiche a great whyle had foughten for Macrinus coulde neyther see Macrinus hym selfe nor the Imperiall Diademe and ornamentes beynge ignoraunte where he was become whether he were slaine or elles fledde they wyste not what counsayle to take And althoughe they purposed no longer to fight for hym whyche appeared or coulde be founde no where yet feared they to yeld them selues vnto theyr enemyes power as recreant and vanquished Subiectes Then Antonyne knowyng by the Captyues that Macrinus was fledde sent incontinently to aduertise them that they in vayne foughte for a timorous and fugitiue Coward promysynge them on his othe that he woulde forgyue and forget all that was by them done and vse theym from thenceforthe for the garde of hys personne The which they all creditynge ceassed furthwith from further fyghtynge Then Antonyne without delaye sent certayne after Macrinus who was longe before escaped And beynge founde in Chalcedon a Cytye of Bythinia verye sore sycke and worne throughe hys contynuall trauayll and hydden in a house of the Suburbes had hys head there smytten of It is thoughte that he mynded to go to Rome affyenge hym selfe in the beneuolence of the people But in saylynge towardes Europe in the narowe Sea of Propontis nygh vnto Bizantium a contrarious wynde draue hym backe as it were of purpose towardes the place where he should fynyshe hys lyfe Thus happened it that Macrinus escaped not by fleynge awaye the handes of his enemies receauing a vylanouse death and entending to late to goo to Rome when he shold in the beginning haue done the same and hauing at this his ende bothe his counsell and fortune cleane against him After this sorte was Macrinus slayne wyth hys Sonne Dyadumenus whome a lytle before he had assocyated vnto him in theÌ„pyre Now after thole army had pronouÌ„ced Anthonine for Emperour when him selfe had taken vppon hym the chiefe gouernaunce of thempyre and all the oriental affayres were sette in order as euery one most neaded by the discretion of his Graundmoother and other his frendes for that hym selfe was verye yonge of age and vnskilfull in matters of greate importaunce soiourning there but a shorte space he caused hys remouing to be proclaymed accordynge to the wyll of Moesa which chiefly coueted and made hast towardes Thimperyall Pallaice of Rome wherewith she so longe before hadde bene acquaynted When the Senate and people of Rome harde of thiese thinges euery man began to be sorowfull with the tidinges But thei muste of force and necessytye then alow it seynge he was chosen by the men of war And accusynge within them selues the necligent mynde and sensuall maners of Macrinus thei imputed thole defaulte of his ouerthrowe vnto hys owne slouthe and to none other man as causer thereof Anthonine beinge departed out of Siria wintred his army at Nicomedia the season of the yeare so constraining him Then he began to waxe insolent aboue measure celebratynge dailye the honour of his Countrey God with superfluouse and vndecent pompe daunses Hym selfe was cladde in wanton and luxuriouse apparel wouen wyth Purple and Golde decked with Ouches and Braceletes Chaynes and Kynges of Golde ware a Crowne like vnto a Chaplet adorned with Golde and preciouse stones The forme of hys habyte was as it were a meane betwene the Phenicien and Median Apparayle He despysed the Romaine garmeÌ„tes bicause thei were made of wolle the which was as he said vile of no estimacioÌ„ Neither wold he any webbe but suche as were of Sirian silke accustomiÌ„g to coÌ„ abrode w t y e sown of fleutes Tabors as though he shuld celebrate y e feast of Bacchus WheÌ„ Mocsa beheld these his dossolute maners she begaÌ„ w t huÌ„blepeticioÌ„ to persuade him to were y e Romayne apparaile least y t yf he entred into the Citie Senate house in y t strauÌ„ge Barbarouse vesture he should offeÌ„de the eyes of the beholders Which being vnaccustomed vnto suche waÌ„tonnes ceputed it more seamely for womeÌ„ then meÌ„ But he coÌ„tempning the olde womans wordes entending to trust no maÌ„ for he retained none about his person but suche as were agreable vnto his owne sensualitye and fullye mynding to vse the same apparayle continually determined being absent to make a profe with what countenaunce after what sorte the Senate and people of Rome would accepte his vsage Wherefore he sente to Rome his owne picture painted lyuely in a table with the linyamentes facyon of apparell wherein he was woÌ„t to sacrifice vnto his God And therw t the figure of his God also vnto whoÌ„ he was sacred commauÌ„ding them y t caried it to set it in y e middes of the Senate house in some high place ouer y e head of victory y t when y e Senatours were assembled thei shuld offre encense wyne He coÌ„mauÌ„ded also y t all y e Romayne Magistrates whiche vsed to execute publique Sacrifices shuld before all their Goddes whoÌ„ thei vsed to sacrifice vnto name honor his God Heleogabalus Whereby it happened that when he entred in to the Citie y e Romaynes beheld no newe or strauÌ„ge syghte for that thei daily before had seen his picture TheÌ„ after he had distributed amoÌ„ges y e people bouÌ„tifull giftes as al new Emperours are accustomed he set furth many suÌ„ptuouse shewes plaies And builded a large and gorgeouse TeÌ„ple for his God w tin the same many aulters vpon the whiche euery morning he sacrificed a C. Bulles a greate number of sheepe And heaping vpon the aulters all kindes of odoriferouse spices he vsed to powre down many Cuppes ful of y e best olde wines y t could be goteÌ„ So y t they ran down suÌ„dry streames of wine miÌ„gled w t bloud About y e aulters he caused many to dauÌ„se w t y e sowne
Antonyne endeuoured to corrupte him wyth hys sensuall maners that in syngynge and daunsynge beynge partaker of hys Priesthode he shoulde weare the same apparell and vse the same facions with hym But Mammea the Moother of Alexander preserued hym from all dishonestye and fylthye lyfe bryngyng him vp priuely vnder diuers learned men in litterature modestie and good maners accustomynge hym vnto wrastelynge and other decent exercises and instructynge hym in the Greeke and Latyn tongue Wherat Antonine greatly grudged repentinge him of his adoption and participation of the Empyre And therfore he expelled out of his Palaice all those Instructours of whome some the excellentest he put to death and thother he afflicted with exile allegyng agaynst them foolishe and vaine causes that they corrupâ—ed hys Sonne not suffering hym to vse lybertye and daunsynge but instructinge hym in modest and comelye exercises And he fell into suche extreme folye that he distributed the chiefest dignityes in the common wealthe amonges players of Commodies and Enterludes For he made Liuetenaunt generall of the Armye a certayne daunser whiche in hys youth had bene a common Player vpon Scaffoulds Another of the same rabel he appoynted gouernour of the youth and another chiefe of the order of knyghthode Vnto Carters Ruffyans and disordered Brotheis he commytted the chiefe charge of the Empyre And vnto hys Bonde men and Lybertynes as euerye of them exceaded another in abhomination he delyuered the rule of the Prouynces Thereby all thynges whyche before were honest were tourned into vyle beastlynesse whyche caused that all men and chiefely the Romayne Souldyours detested hym as one whych fashyoned hys countenaunce more wantonlye then became anye honeste woman For he was decked wyth chaynes and ouches of golde and apparelled wyth lasciuious clothynge vncomlye for a man and daunsed daylye in the syght of them all Wherfore they bare more beneuolent myndes vnto Alexander and had better confideÌ„ce in that Child for that he was modestly brought vp And they all saued hym from y e treason and myschiefe of Antonyne Neyther woulde hys Moother Mammea suffer hym to touche any meate or drynke that was sent from the other The chylde also vsed not any of the Imperiall or common Cookes and Pastelers but suche as hys Moother had chosen for hym whyche were both trusty and honest She gaue hym money also to distribute priuelye amonges the Souldyours whyche chiefelye couete the same that he myghte by it as by a sure lynked Chayne drawe them vnto hym When Antonyne perceaued that he inuented all the mischiefe he coulde agaynste Alexander and hys Moother Neuerthelesse theyr common Graundmoother Moesa avoyded all suche crueltye For she was a woman of a stoute corage and had also of longe tyme soiourned in the Imperiall Palayce wyth her Suster Seuerus wyfe whereby she was throughlye skylfull of that whiche Antonyne entended who was naturallye full of talke and wythoute discretion accustomed to blase abrode what soeuer he mynded or woulde haue done And then seynge hys enterprise not to proceade as he wyshed he determined to depriue the Chylde all of Imperyal honours And therefore commaunded that he shoulde be no longer saluted as Emperoure neyther woulde he suffer hym to go abrode amonges the people But the Souldiours desyred hym wonderfullye disdaynyng that the Empire should be taken from him Then Anthonine caused a rumoure to be blowen abroade that Alexander was deade to the entente he myght thereby perceaue after what sorte the Souldyours woulde take the same But they seynge the chylde not appeare abrode and hauynge theyr hartes persed wyth those sorowefull tidynges waxed wonderfull wrothe withelde from Antonine hys accustomed garde and hauynge shutte the gates of theyr Campe sayde they woulde perforce see Alexander within theyr Temple Antonyne beyng thereby smitten wyth feare rode vnto the Campe in the Imperiall Chariot beynge adorned wyth precious stones wherin also sate Alexander Whome the Souldiors after they were bothe entred into the Campe and brought into the Temple therof saluted aboue measure folowynge hym wyth ioyfull acclamations and vtterlye as I myghte saye contempnyng Antonyne He beynge therwyth meruaylouslye chaufed after he had lyen one nyght within the Temple and noted the Souldyours whyche had shouted vnto Alexander commaunded them all to be put to deathe as authors of sedicion and rebellion They thereat disdaynynge and abhorrynge before tyme Antonyne whyshyng also to dispatche out of life that monstrous Emperour and to helpe theyr Companyons and perceauyng the tyme to be apte for the deede furthwyth slewe Antonyne hym selfe and hys Moother Soemis who was by chaunce at that tyme ther present and with them all theyr Seruantes and ministers of vice that came wyth them into the Campe. Then they delyuered vnto the common people the bodyes of Antonyne and Soemis to be drawen wyth shame throughoute the stretes of the Cyty The people dyd so and then threw them into the common synkes that they myght be caryed into Tyber And the Souldyours hauynge saluted Alexander for Emperoure broughte hym into Themperiall palaice beyng verye yonge and as yet obedieÌ„t vnto the coÌ„mauÌ„demetes of his grandmother Finis ¶ The Argumente of the syxte Booke of Herodian IN the syxte Booke the Authour treateth of the bountie and clemencie of Alexander the auarice of his Moother Mammea Of the warre made by Artaxerxes Kynge of Persia and the occasyon therof Against whome Alexander apparayled a great army and deuided it into thre partes Then ensuen the causes wherefore Alexander loste the loue of the Souldiours Who in the beginning of the warre against the Germaines chase Maximinus Emperour whiche procured Alexander with his Moother and all hys frendes to be slayne ¶ The syxte booke of the Hystorie of Herodian IT is manifestly in the former booke declared what ende of lyfe had Anthonine theldre After whome Alexandre alone possessed the name and regimente of Thempire But thadministracion of all affayres and gouernaunce of the weale publique appertained to the women who endeuored to reduce all thinges to their pristinaâ—e seemelynes and modesty For fyrst of all thei elected .xvi. of the ordre of Senators excelling in grauity of maners and coÌ„tinencie of life to be assistauÌ„te of preuy vnto CouÌ„saill TheÌ„peror w t oute the consent of whiche Counsaylours there was nothing eyther in word or writiÌ„g coÌ„fyrmed Where by this forme of priÌ„cipality becam grateful vnto y e meÌ„ at Armes and Senate of Rome for that it was chauÌ„ged from moste pestiferous Tiranny vnto the ouersyght and rule of noble men Then were the ymages of the Goddes whiche Anthonine in hys lyfe tyme had remoued oute of theyr Seates restored agayne into theyr owne Temples and places Then were all those whiche Anthonine had rashelye for their â—uyll maners aduaunced vnto highe dignities deposed set to their accustomed lyfe and occupacion Then all Ciuyle and foreyne matters of iudgemente were apoynted to thordring of wyse and profouÌ„de learned men in the lawes And all warlyke affayres coÌ„mitted to the rule
hys secrete friendes aboute the same mater And althoughe the hole armye and people of that Regyon knewe and vnderstode all thys busynesse and were prone also to reuolte sturred with the boldenes and noueltye of so greate enterpryses yet dyd euery man holde his peace taking vpon him to be ignoraūt of the case so greatly was Maximinus feared amonges thē that nothing was hidden from hym For he dyd not onely herke vnto euery mans wordes but also watch and prye vpon the gesture of their faces and handes The thyrde daye he caused all the Souldiours to assemble in a playne before the City and there him selfe sytting in a highe throne rehersed oute of a booke an oration his by frendes composed and penned before thus I know verily that I shal declare vnto you a thing straunge incredible but as I my selfe suppose not worthy so muche wonder as laughter Thei are not the Germaynes so often vanquysshed that do moue warre against you and your valiaūtnes neyther the Sarmatyans whiche dayly treate wyth vs for peace The Persyās also which ones wasted Mesapotamia dothe nowe waxe wyse in quietinge theim selues wythin their owne houses beynge taughte partely wyth youre valiaunte prowes in warrefare partely with the enprises whiche I haue atchiued wherewith thei became aquaynted when I had the gouernaunce of the Armye for their passage ouer the Ryuers But leste I should deteyne you with a thyng more woorthye laughter the Carthaginenses are become madde and wyth an infortunate olde man which doteth throughe extremitye of age I doute whether he were perswaded or compelled therunto thei do as it were in a stage enterlude play and take the Principalytie vpon them For to what Armie do thei truste when as Sergauntes and Catchepolles doe supplye the Proconsulles roume amonges theim what weapons wyl thei beare seynge thei haue none but smale speares to hunte wilde beastes withal And in steade of warlike exercises thei vse daūsing sīging of Ballades Carroles Let not y e thīges which are reported to be done wythin the City of Rome Dismay you 〈◊〉 that Vitalian is slayne by disceyte howe vnstable the myndes of the Romaynes be and howe prompt theyr corage is onelye to make shoutes it is manifest vnto you If these .ii. or .iii. armed men they thruste one another forwarde to the daunger in spurnynge one another and fleinge awaye euerye man from hys owne daunger they neglecte the common peryll If any man hath reported vnto you the thynges done by the Senate there is no cause why you shoulde meruayle that oure contineneye scameth ouer harde vnto theym and thereby that the agremente of Gordianus maners wyth theyrs and hys voluptuouse lyfe is by theym preferred before vs. For amonges them all valiauntnesse and graue deades are counted austere and tyrannous and all dissolute lyfe is estemed gentle and pleasaunte They feare therefore oure gouernaunce because it is moderate and laborious and they reioyse at the name of Gordian whose infamye of lyfe is not vnknowen vnto you Wherfore agaynst them and suche as they are you haue to warre O Souldyours yf a man maye at the leaste wyse call it warre For my mynde geueth me and so maye all other thynke that before we approche neare vnto Italye the greatest parte of theym wyll humblye meete vs wyth Laurell Bowes in theyr handes and caryinge theyr Chyldren wyth them fall prostrate at oure feete or elles beynge stryken wyth cowardlye feare runne awaye leauynge all theyr goodes behynde theym for me to take and distribute amonges you that you may enioye the same for euer When he had thus muche spoken and enterlaced hys talke wyth manye skornefull reproches of the whole Cytye and Senate of Rome threatenynge them wyth the gesture of hys handes and wyth terrible countenaunce and menacynge them as though they had been preset he proclaymed his voyage towardes Italy And then hauinge geuen vnto the Souldyours much monei he soiourned ther for one dai That passed he entred into his iourney leadynge wyth him a meruaylous great armye and all the Romaine power There folowed hym also a great number of Germaynes not to be neglected whome he had eyther by force subdued or els associated in amitie vnto hym He caryed besides diuers engens and Instrumentes of warre with other thynges whiche he had prepared before against the Barbarous nacions Now did he marche slowelye because of the wagons and other necessaries for the warre whiche were caryed in hys companye For seyng that iourney happened sodeynlye vnto hym the thynges expedient for the Souldyours were not gathered by anye mans prouision as it was tofore accustomed but they were then hastelye as it came to hande taken and caryed Wherfore he determined to send before the Pannonian bandes in whome he had great confidence whiche also fyrste saluted him for Emperour and willyngly attempted all perylles for hys saufegarde Theyse he commaunded to set forwarde before the reste of the hoste and to enter into Italye But whyles Maximinus was thus in hys iourney his affaires had better successe in Carthage then he loked for For there was a certayn man named Capellianus of the order of the Senatours Liuetenaūte of Mauritania which is subiect to the Romains and of thē named Numidia This naciō was fortified with stronge armies of men whiche defended it from the inuasions of y e Barbariens theyr neyghbours wherby he had aboute hys person no small bande of men at armes Betwene this Capellianus and Gordyan there was muche discencion aboute a certayne controuersie in the lawe Wherefore after Gordian had obtayned the name of Emperour he sente one to succeade Capellianus in hys office cōmaunded him to depart from the rule of the Prouince But he disdaynyng therat beyng true to hys Prince of whom he had receaued that dignitie gathered all the power he had together And after he had exhorted them to continewe theyr trueth and othe of allegiaunce he remoued towardes Carthage leadynge wyth hym a wonderfull greate and stronge Armye in the whyche there were verye manye menne not onelye of floryshynge age but also instructed in the handelynge of all kyndes of weapons and expert in warrefare and through vsage of skyrmyshes wyth the Barbaryens theyr neyghbours verye prompte quycke and readye to battayle at all tymes When it was declared vnto Gordyan that Capellianus was commynge towardes Carthage bothe hym selfe was stryken wyth a sodeyne tremblynge feare and all the Carthagynensses greatly dismayed who in a dysordered heape wythoute anye warelyke order yet hauinge hope of victorye thruste themselues forwardes oute of the Cytye to meete wyth Capellianus The olde man Gordian as some reporte assone as Capellianus approched to the Cytye despayring of al good hope because he perceaued Maximine to haue a greate power of men then in Affrica remaynynge hanged hym selfe But the Commynaltye kepyng secrete hys death did chose his son for theyr Capitayne So it came to hande stryppes The Carthagynenses were many
what stature w t the qualitie of her person and vnder what wordes the highe Bishoppe dyd admitte a Vestale Vyrgyn into the order Looke Aulus Gellius in the sayde Booke and Chapyter ¶ The ende of the Annotations ¶ Imprynted at London in Flete strete by Wyllyam Coplande at the Sygne of the Rose Garlande ¶ Cum gratia et priuilegio regali ad imprimendum solum ¶ Faultes eseaped in the Pryntinge Fol. Pagina Linea Errata Reade ii i. xxxiij Marternus Maternus viij ii xxxvij facyon factyon xij ij in the Margent dexteritee agylytee lxvi i. xvi vnto Counsayll Counsell vnto lxxxiiij i. i. dismay you not dysmay you lxxxvij ij x. repusynge repulsynge c. i. i. sylence dyd attentifely sylence attentyfely The childerne of Marcus Verissimus Commodus The good disposicion of Marcus Pannonie Adolescencie Dionisius Ptolomeus Antigonus Bacchus Nero. DomitiaÌ„ The oracion of Marcus vpon hys death bed The oracion of Commodus The table of parasites Histria The oracion of pompeianus vnto Commodus The nobilite of Commodus Faustina Commodus mother Antonius puis Hadrian Traian The beautie of Commodus PereÌ„nes Lucilla Commodus eldest Sister Lucius Verus Quadratis Quintianus Amphitheatre Thexaction of pereÌ„nes Lucilla and her coÌ„plices put to death The treson of PireÌ„nes discouered The death of PereÌ„nes A newe conspiracye Maternus The deth of Maternus Pesumtis The battayle betwene Ilus y e phrigian and TaÌ„talus the Lidian Ganimedes The ryuer Gallus The PesynuntyaÌ„ Goddesse Vestal vyrgyn The pestilence Laurentum The remedye against the pestilence CleaÌ„der Theatrê The punyshmeÌ„t of Cleander The begiÌ„ninge of Commodus tyraÌ„nye â—arting Prodigyouse tokens in y e ayre The TeÌ„ple of peace burned The TeÌ„ple of Vesta The Image of Pallas Vestal virgins The â—tee of Commodus ParthieÌ„s Numimidiens Amphitheatre Lions PaÌ„thers Inde Ethiope Colossus Ianus Saturne Iupiter Latium Saturnus feastes New yeres gyftes Martia one of Commodus concubynes Letus Electus PhilocoÌ„modus Narcyssus Commodus straÌ„gled to death Appoplexie Pertinax Pertynax declared Emperour The nobilitie of Glabrio The oracyon of Partynax The maners and behauior of Pertinax Thinsolencie of the men at armes of the Emperors gard â–ª The wordes of Pertynax vnto the Souldiours The ambicyon of Iulyanus Sulpityanus Iulyanus made Emperour bi y e PretoriaÌ„ Souldyours Nyger called to theÌ„pire Syria Phenices Euphrates The oracion of Niger Niger saluted Emperour Europe Euphrates Tigrys Danuby and the Rheyn Pannonyens Seuerus The dreame of Seuerus Tribun Cohorte Pretoryan The oracion of Seuerus â–ª Seuerus is named Augustê° and Pertinax The Alpes A Tribune slewe Iulianê° The wordes of Seuerê° vnto the PretoriaÌ„ souldiours The preparacyoÌ„ of Seuerus agaynste Niger Thrace Europe Albinus Parthia Armenia Atrenia Barsemius Taurus Cappadoce Cilicie Bizantium Thrace Propontis Asye Miletum CyzicuÌ„ Armenie Taurus Asye Gallatie Bithinia Galatia Cappadocia Laodicia Syria Tyrus Phenicia Berynthyens Laodicia Tirus destroyed Issicus Sinus Theatre Darius AlexaÌ„der Alexandria The battayle betwene Seuerus Nyger The deth of Niger Tigris Albynê° The oracion of Seuerus Bizantium clene destroyed Perinthians The batayle betwene Seuerus Albanê° The Englishmen valiauÌ„te warriors Letus The deth of Albinê° Cesar Pompey Augustê° Antoniê° Silla Marius The noble actes of Seuerus Ceres Seculer playes Barsemius Atremie Armenie Agbarus Osrohenians InterraÌ„na Albenyans Atras besyeged Parthia CtesiphoÌ„ Artabanus Misians Pannoniens The debate of Seuerê° two Sonnes Bassianê° Plautianus ThinsoleÌ„cye of Plautiâ—nus Saturninus The Treson of Plautianus The Treason disclosed The punyshemeÌ„t of Plautianus Commocion and mutine in England England full of marishes ThoceaÌ„ The auÌ„cyente olde maners of Englyshmen Geta. The sicknesse of Seuerê° The deth of Seuerus Hys victoryes Seuerê° reygned xviii yeres The crueltye of Antonyne Campus Martius Phari Pirrhichius The dyscorde of y e two brethren Geta better beloued of y e people Antonine outrageouse and cruell The partynge of thempire betwene the twoo brethren Propontis BizaÌ„tiuÌ„ Chalcedon Antioch Alexandrie Mauritanians Numidians Iulia the ii Emperors mother Her wordes vnto them Geta slayne by hys Brother Anâ—yne The oracyon of Antonyne Romulê° The extreme Crueltie of Antonine The vestall virgines CirceÌ„ses The sobrietie of Antonine The strength of Antonyne Danuby Capitole Pitanite Pergamus Troye Achilles Patroclus Sylla Hannyball Antyoche Alexandrie The occasion of Antonines hatered agaiÌ„st the AlexaÌ„driens Iocasta The murder of the Alexandriens by treason Nilus Letters sent vnto Artabanus Arsacide The Parthians ouerthroweÌ„ by disceyte Mesapotamye Audentius Macrinus Maternianus The Letters of Maternianus to Antonine Martialis Carre Mesapotamy Antonyne murdered by Martialis Martialis slaine Antonies mother slew her selfe Antotony raigned alone vi yeres Macrinus toke the rule of thimpire vpoÌ„ hym The oracioÌ„ of Macrinus A sore battayle A longe battayle A meruaylous ouerthrowe The Letters of Macrimê° to the Senate The fault of Macrinus Phenicia Moesa Emesa Soemis Mammea Bassianê° Alexianê° Heleogabalus Bassianus named Antonine called vnto thempire Iulianus A coÌ„flict The pretorian men of armes ChalcedoÌ„ The death of Macrinus Prâ—pontis Bizantium Macrinê° and hys Sonne Diadumenus slayne Anthonine full Emperoure Nicomedia Thinsolencye of Antonyne Vaine sacrifyces Vestale Virgyns The Image of Pallas Vrania Carthage Astroarche The mere folye of Antoâ—yne Alexander made Emperoure Antonyne hys Mootehr slayne AlexaÌ„der the Empyre ruled by women The deth of Moâ—sa The wisedome of MaÌ„mea AlexaÌ„der to muche obedient vnto hys Moother Siria Mesapotamye Artaxerxes Tygris Asia Europe The Aegian Sea PropoÌ„tis Cyrus Medes Ionia Caria Darius Alexander Arsaces The oration of AlexaÌ„der The departure of AlexaÌ„der froÌ„ Rome The Ambassade of Artaxerxes Ionia Caria The Aegeansea Pontus The Armye of Alexander deuided into three partes Armenia Medians Tigris Euphrates AlexaÌ„der deceyued his Armye The Romaynes vanquisshed The Army waxed wroth wyth Alexander What y e PersiaÌ„s armie is The Germaines rebell The ScituatiatioÌ„ of Illiria Rheine Danubie Pannonye Osrohemians Maximinus had been a shepherd Maximinê° Lorde of the Souldyours Tribun Alexander hys Moother w t theyr frendes slayne The tyranny of Maximinus Magnus Quarcinus Macedonius The Germaynes houses SirmiuÌ„ The exaccions of Maximinus The sacrileges of Maximinus RebellioÌ„s bytter Curses againste Maximinus The Gouernour of Affriane The Gouernour of Affrik slayne Gordianus chosen Emperoure by the yoÌ„ge meÌ„ The wordes of one of y e yong me vnto GordiaÌ„ Gordianus saluted Emperoure Libia Affrikes Tisdrum Carthage The ryches and bygnesse of Carthage Alexandrie Vitalianus The deathe of Vitalianus The vnconstaÌ„cy of the Romayne people Gordianus his Son pronounced Emperours Sabinus slayne The oracion of Maximinus Sarmatians Mesapotamye Proconsull Capellianus Mauritania Numidia Gordianus hanged hym selfe The Cattheginenses ouercomen Gordianus Son slayne in y e throÌ„ge Maximê° and Albinus created Emperours Gordianus an Infant Gallicacanus Mecenas Souldiors slain in the TeÌ„ple The Audacitee of Gallicanus The Cytye of Rome set on fyre Alpes Eumona The gretenes of the Alpes The TyrrheniaÌ„ The IoniaÌ„ Seas Aquileia The scituacioÌ„ of Aquileia The preparacion of the Aquilyens for the defence of their Citye Crispinus Menephilus Southsayers Beles A sore repulse The deth of Maximinus his Son Altinum Rauenna Maximê° Maximê° and Albinus slain Gordianus sole Emperour