difficulty Anno Domini 985. because there was a great confusion about him and Henry Duke of Bavaria but afterwards the Electors all accorded to Otho and this their election was confirmed by Pope Benedict of those times He was not any way different from the conditions oâ— his predecessors for he was a great defender of the Church And in all his warres which were many he remained invincibly victorious having alwayes a brave spirit wherefore he was called the wonder of the world Finding all in quiet and peace he intended to go into Italy which he did and came to Rome and was crowned by Gregory the fifth with wonderfull solemnity and being very desirous to returne into Germany he was poisoned by the Romanes and died suddenly in Rome the eightenth yeare of his Empire committing his body to his sons to be conducted solemnly into Germany there to be interred at Aquisgrane and his ashes to be inurn'd after the Romane fashion This Emperour married Mary the daughter of the king of Arragon which Mary often entised a young Earle a man of a singular chastity as being himselfe also married to the satisfaction of her lust but being by him repulsed she complained to Otho that the Earle had forced her to his desire Wherefore Otho commanded him to be beheaded The Earles Lady taking up the head of her husband came and threw it before Otho as he was at that time in the seate of Iudgement with many teares and word charging him that hee was guilty of innocent blood which shee proved by taking before his face and the rest of his company a red hot Iron in her hand 〈◊〉 custome it â—as among â—â—e Romans â—at whosoeâ—er did take a â—â—d hot Iron 〈◊〉 his hand â—â—d was not â—â—rt waâ— held â—â—nocent of â—â—at act wherâ—â— he was acâ—â—sed which never hurt her Otho seeing that and the Lady thereupon insulting promised her his owne life in satisfaction But the Peeres after much intreaty somewhat pacified the Lady and the matter being more seriously sifted the whole crime fell upon the Empresse whom Otho commanded to bee burnt and gave the Widdow 3 Castles to her and her children for ever Barro This Emperour also appointed divers Offices in the Empire as Chancellor Dapifer Pincerna and the like adding those places as honorable to those Earles and Counts upon whom hee conferred them thenceforth to be irremoveable for ever 125. Henry 2. HEnry the second borne in Bavaria Anno Domini 1001. was by the Electors created Emperor in the yeere of Grace 1001 being at first Duke of Bavaria Hee was an excellent and Saint-like man and had a Lady to his wife worthy and like himselfe adorned with all compleat perfections This man by the reason of serious occupations concerning the Imperiall affaires could not for a certaine space come into Italy but dispatching his businesses of greatest importance he came to Rome not in a pompous manner but with a conveniet and due greatnesse and was by Benedict 8 then Pope crowned Emperour Afterwards he went toward Capua against the Saxons and staied them out of Italy together with many Greeks which favoured the Turks At length having well composed the Empire and founded the bishoprick of Bamberge he matched his sister in marriage to Stephen king of Hungary afterwards falling sick in a short time died I finde it not recorded where to the great greife of all men and lieth enterred at Bamberg before mentioned 126. Conradus 2. NOt without great contention two yeeres after the death of Henry this noble and sublime Prince borne in Franconia Anno Domini 1024. was lawfully chosen Emperour who immediately made warre upon Elibrand Duke of Milan and besieged him although out of his owne clemency and noble minde and by the intreaty of the Arch-bishop of Colonia he raised his siege Departing thence hee went to Rome and by Pope Iohn was crowned Emperour with great solemnity and triumph After some dayes departing from Rome he warred against the Sclavonians and bravely overcame them He ordayned many most commodious and profitable lawes amongst which this was one That what Prince soever violated the peace hee should lose his head It is not found nor certainly knowne when how nor where this most Christian Emperour dyed Neverthelesse it is credibly to be supposed that a good end concluded so good beginnings and so vertuous a life but had ininterment at Spires Glaber amongst other Authors reporteth that on the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul the 29 of June Anno Domini 1033 at sixe of the clocke in the morning the Sunne began to be eclipsed and continued untill eight in a very strange manner the Suune seeming to bee of the colour of a Saphire being in the upper part like the Moone in the last Quartile and the countenances of men seemed of the colours of the dead pale and wanne and whatsoever was in the Ayre seemed of a yellow or Saffron colour to the terrour of all men so that the greatest Philosophers and learnedst of those times could not give any other reason but that it portended mortality and demonstrated a power incomprehensible by humane nature and reason 127. Henry 3. AFter the good Conradus Anno Domini 1039. Henry his sonne borne also in Franconia succeeded in the Empire In the beginning of his Reigne hee fought very fortunately against Hurdericus King of Bohemia and made him tributary so that he never after disturbed him He overthrew the Hungarians and restored Solon to his Kingdome of which hee had beene deprived by Ladislaus About this time there grew many â—issensions in Rome amongst the Preâ—ates concerning the Popedome and â—â—e with singular prudence laboured â—o pacifie them and caused a Counâ—ell to be called in which Clemens â—he second was elected as true Pope â—nd by him was crowned Emperor After wards hee made warres upon â—he Sarazens Returning into Germany he built a â—ately and sumptuous Church in Samberge dedicating it to St. Gregory and obtained it to be a Catheâ—rall with an obligation of sending â—certaine quantity of Incense to the Pope and a white Horse with due Furniture Bertholdus reports this That Henâ—y beginning to loath and hate his wife â—ho was a most innocent and vertuous â—oman committed her to prison â—here he compelled many to violate and â—orce her he commanded his second sonne Conradus to doe the like which he refusing being his step-mâ—ther this Henry denied him to bâ— his sonne and after some other inward infirmitie besides his Apoplexy as peradventure iealousie which many times breeds from a meer but false suspition and causeth perpetuall dissention and debates which by continuance altereth the nature of love converting it to a loathing and hatred oftentimes to the ruine of one or both parties He died in Aquisgrane leaving his sonne Henry to inherit the crowne imperiall and had his funerall obsequies performed in a most royall and glorious forme and thus buried at Spires 128. Henry 4 TOr the memorable
of his Predecessors Hee dyed of a Fluxe in the yeere of our Lord Eighty one in the Ninth yeere of his Reigne aged 69. In his time was put to death in Rome Linus the first Bishop of that See to whom succeeded Cletus the first Bishop of that name and the second of that greatly boasted Succession from Saint Peter the Apostle Suetonius records this that before the death of Vespasian there appeared a Comet and as his Friends gave him notice that it portended his Death Scipio du Pleix hee slighting it and not any way discouraged thereby said That it threatned not him but the Kings of the Parthians that wore long haire as the Comet had yet neverthelesse Vespasian dyed not long after 11. Titus Anno Dom. 81. TItus was of no lesse goodnesse and vertuous morality than his father Vespasian had beene before him An. Dom. 81. He was well learned in the Greeke and Latine tongues and most excellent in writing But in Armes hee exceeded the glory of the precedent Emperors because he tryumphed for the overthrow of the Iewes In his government of the Empire he was so circumspect diligent and especially liberall that hee was called The Idol of Nations and hee esteemed that day to be lost wherein he had not done a courtesie And therefore he said once to his brother that conspired his death That he need not attempt that by sratricide which he without it might obtaine by favour But because the Romans were not worth perhaps so compleate and just a Governor by the secret judgement of God hee was taken from the world by a maligne Fever which in few dayes ended his life in the Country neare to Rome at the yeeres of 41 and of his Empire the second two moneths and twenty dayes And lies buried at Rome having by his valour and wisedome made the Roman Eagle to triumph over Hierusalem Iosephus largely describes the Hierosolimitan Warres and passages Append. Iosephus and affirmes that whatsoever thing could bee found of any value was by him transported to Rome Hee was so amiable and affable to all that hee was called Amor delicia generis humani but as it is thought he dyed poysoned by his brother Domitian who succeeded him in the Empire 12. Domitianus Anno Domini 83. DOmitianus succeeded the good Titus his brother An. Dom. â—3 who in the beginning was likewise affable mercifull and justâ—â—â—e did not much addict himselfe to warres although he triumphed and was victorious in all those wars which he undertooke but tooke great felicity in shooting in a long bow became so dexterous in it that he hazarded thereby the lives of many men yet never hurting them But he in the progresse of his government became so cruell unjust and covetous that upon the least occasion hee put many men to death usurping their wealth saying Himselfe was next heire He was a great persecutor of Christians because in his time many very holy men were slaughtered with exquisite and new found torments In the end by the conspiracy of Stephanus the Steward of his houshold and others he was murthered in his Palace in Rome at the age of 45 and in the 15 yeere of his reigne and was buried in the way that now leads to the Lateran Church The second persecution began now against the Christians Eusebius tearmes him HaeredeÌ„ Neronianae saevitiae And it is not to be wondred that hee should so much be given to shed blood and devise torments for men who used in his study privatly to practise all punishments upon Flies and Gnats 13. Cocceius Nerva Anno Domini 99. AFter Domitian 〈◊〉 Dom. 〈◊〉 Cocceius Nerva being the 13 Emperour and the first Italian by Nation was judged the fittest man to succeed in the Empire who was nobly descended and chosen in the yeere of Christ 99 being of age 66. This man was so mercifull benigne and liberall that all the world admired him Hee recalled all the Christians from exile and mitigated their troubles He caused the children of the poore to be brought up and educated at the publique charge hee purchased many lands and distributed them to the poore decayed Cittizens And to bring these matters to effect hee was constrained to sell his owne Plate of Gold and Silver with the rest of his houshold-goods And reflecting upon his end hee elected Traianus a man very nobly descended and of an ancient family to succeede him He dyed in the tenth Moneth and ninth day of his Reigne of a conceit hee tooke against a Senator called Regulus to the great lamentation and sorrow of the whole City which had now lost a true Patron of the poore and was buried with all the Ceremonies of the ancient Romans in the Temple of the Goddesse Fortune The charitable disposition of this Caesar to strangers and poore people got him not unworthily the title of Pauperum Patronus Charity being then scarce knowne and little practised of the Heathen Governours 14. Traianus In the yeere of Christ 100. TRaianus being the first Emperor of Spanish blood An. Dom. 100. was the honour as well to his owne Nation as also to the Emperors precedent instantly having taken possession government upon him hee began to reâ—orme the corruption of the Lawes â—dministring true Justice unto all Hee was wonderous good to the â—oore He caused all the poore mens â—hild ren both of the City and country of Italy to be brought and trained up in good Literature and Discipline In peace and warre he was most judicious and just but being seduced by the Divell although afterwards he became more temperate hee persecuted the Christians putting infinite numbers of them to death and during his reigne was that third famous persecution of the Church He subdued Dacia Mesopotamia and made Armenia tributary he tooke in Soria Babylonia and Chaldâ—a In his returning backe to Italy being arrived in Cilicia fell dangerously sicke and in Selencia 〈◊〉 dyed whose ashes were brought 〈◊〉 Rome and in an Uine placed on the top of a Columne which the Roman Cittizens erected to the memory of him who so worthily and so long had manag'd the Empire he reigned twenty one yeeres sixe moneths and 15 dayes In this Emperours reigne the City of Antioch by an Earth-quake was utterly ruinated Dio Casilus speaking much in his commendations dashes them all with an extraordinary affection to Wine and Boyes but others have cleared that aspersion and doe largely praise this Caesar for his incomparable endowments of minde and habilities of body And certainly such worthy atchievements had their originall from an excellent qualified spirit But if wee seriously consider his weighty and dayly imployments any will easily confesse that hee could not spare time for such idle toyes having all his spirits continually otherwise imployed 15. Adrianus An. Domini 121. COod Traianus being dead An. Dom. 221. Adrianus his Nephew a Roman was chosen to succeed who followed the steps of his Antecessor and gave great
governe the Empire any longer but to resigne it his wife Ariadna forbad them strictly to doe it so he miserably perished 90 Anastasius Anno Domini 491. THis Emperour was by Nation of Macedonia in Greece Anno Domini 491. and having taken possession the better to confirme himselfe in that esse combined by a present and speedy course and by donatives of great value with Clodoneus King of France by whose meenes hee wase stablished in the Dignity and State He seemed a great lover of the Christian Religion but afterwards by the perswasion of Acatius Bishop of Constantinople a man tainted with the heresie of Arianisme began to follow and embrace it for which being reprehended by Hormisda Bishop of Rome by the way of Embassadors slighting thē with contempt and dismissing them saying That it belonged to the Emperour to reprehend the Popes and the Popes ought not to reprehend Emperours and this answer he made with great indignity and supremacy Wherupon as * Sūmario delle vite de gl◠Imperatore Romani c. an Italian Author saith were it for so great an insolency and pride or other errors in the presence of his Peeres and all the Court by the divine judgement hee was wounded with a Thunderbolt and so dyed suddainly after hee had governed 26 yeeres Appendix A little before his death saith Baronius Baro. there were seene terrible earthquakes and other prodigies and hee was often terrified in his sleepe with fearefull visions amongst which this was one A man of a sterne looke holding a booke in his hand saying Ecce ob perversitatem fidei tuae annos quatuordecim vitae tuae deleo See for thy perversnesse of beleefe I put out fourteene yeeres of thy life And being premonished by the Oracle that he should dye by fire although hee sought all possible precautions and preventions thereof Anno 518. 9 of Iuly a most fearefull lightning with a clap of Thunder terrified his very heart so that he went from chamber to chamber from couch to couch and was carried into the heathermost part of his Palace in a cave or cellar where no light did appeare yet for all that was strucke dead with lightning at Constantinople Annot. Misc 11.15 Zonar Annot. part 3 and no substance or moisture found in his body at all but dryed like a pot-sheard or a bone burnt in fire 91 Iustinus Anno Domini 523. IVstinus a Thracian by nation An. Dom. 523. was called out of bondage to the Empire He was really a lover and professor of Christian Religion and as it were a defender thereof he opposed all heresie and banished all Arrians out of Constantinople Whereupon King Theodoricus a fautor of that Sect being much disgusted forced and constrained Pope Iohn with many of the noble men of Rome to goe to the Emperour to perswade him to restore the Arrians and recall them otherwise that hee would doe the like nay worse to all the Clergy and Bishops in his Kingdome which through feare was by the Pope performed And returning backe with the Roman Barons the Kings demand being not performed the Pope was immediately imprisoned and there starved through hunger The good Emperour perceiving this and being now very aged had no desire of revenge but dyed with griefe as all Authors report in his chiefe City of Constantinople to the great discontent of the Christians having chosen his Nephew Iustinianus to be his successor In the eight yeere of his Reigne on a Fryday at Constantinople 5 Calend Iunij at dinner-time there was such a suddaine Earthquake that with it and other strange magicall charmes the Winds blustering every where in the house blowing the Kitching-fires about bred a double destruction to the people both of ruines and fire mixing together Euagr. lib. 4. cap. 5. and Euphrasius Bishop of that City having at that time his head strucken off by the disaster was intombed in the fire 92 Iustinianus Magnus Anno Domini 527. IVstiman An. Domini 527. an Illyrian by Nation was a very zealous man in the Christian Religion and of a singular learning and wit rather Angelicall than Humane Hee reduced all the Imperiall lawes into one volume and to the Codex hee inserted the Digests and Authenticks by the which the whole world is directed for the maintenance and conservation of States He overcame the Vandals tooke the City of Sal◠and freed all Italy from the tyranny and cruelties of the Goths He subdued the Moores which wasted and spoyled Affrica with whose spoiles the famous Captaine Bellisarius built two stately Edifices in Rome and founded a worthy Monastery in the City of Oreti and endowed it with sunicient revenues for the maintenance of the religious as also many famous Churches By the example of his Captaine Generall this Emperour also in Constantinople famous all over the world in the honour of the most holy Trinity and St. Sophia And having to his most honorable memory enlarged the Empire hee fell into a strange disease and became a starke foole and so he dyed franticke and was buried at Constantinople in the yeere of his age 83 and of his Empire 38. Anno 560 in this Emperors reigne Clotarius King of France having a sonne Chramnus who had often flowne out and after some reconciliation had having forgotten his former promise and duty to his King and Father fell into an open rebellion against him and after that received remission At length hee raised Armes the third time against his Father in the lesser Brittannia and being taken alive was by the command of Clotarius shut up in a cottage together with his wife and children by whose instigation hee was spurred on to this rebellion wherein they were all burnt to death 93 Iustinus Iunior Anno Dom. 566. QUite contrary to his worthy Antecessor was this most unworthy Iustinus Anno Domi◠566. an Illyrian by nation and a man most bitter cruell avaricious unjust perfidious fraudulent a contemner both of God and man he would often utter these words With whom shall wee live at last wee kill armed men in Warre and the unarmed in peace But by the divine Justice he lived not long in impunity defiling himselfe with sundry sorts of basenesse because dietings and the most exquisite nutriments nor Physicke could afford him any assistance at all but grew continually from bad to worse Whereupon because Sophia his wife although wise enough for a woman governed the Empire untill the time of Tiberius the second but being a woman shee was not much feared because in her time the Longobards over-ranne and possessed all Italy but before this Iustinus recovered he adopted Tiberius as his sonne and pronounced him Augustus And as some say he built a City in Istria now called by his name Iustinopolis Againe falling sicke his disease fell into his feete whereof hee dyed at his Imperiall City of Constantinople not having any great pompe or state at his funerall all being rather glad in
content and joyfull expectation to the whole City He visited in person the whole Empire and all the warres hee undertooke succeeded fortunate He was not very severe 〈◊〉 the Christians hee gave himselfe exceedingly to the knowledge of all manner of Arts and Sciences and any man whatsoever was expert in any knowledge he called him to Rome forbidding all that were not Proscssors to seeme to professe any their Art or Science unlesse they were Masters indeed and well able fully to instruct others in them Falling into an inourable disease hee attempted oftentimes to kill himselfe and offered rewards to any man that would kill him and many times hee sollicited many with threatnings to murther him Finally the Physitians seeking to give him content perswaded him to forbeare eating and drinking and so he did and dyed at Baiae in upper Gall at the yeeres of seaventy two and five moneths and seaventeene dayes in the two and twentieth yeere of his reigne and was conveyed to Rome He continued the persecution against the Christians and afterwards slackened it by a remisse way Hee builded Temples and dedicated them to his owne honour He prophaned the holy places about Hierusalem and being tyred with an incurable Dropsie hoâ— would faine have dyed but could 〈◊〉 Hee suffered for his effusion of Chriffian blood Lastly hee dyed through voluntary famine This being such a tedious and irkesome disease wrought such a strong impression in his conceit that death was rather to bee enjoyed than a life so diseased and miserable 16. Antoninus Pius Anno Domini 139. ANtoninus succeeded Adrianus â—y way of adoption An. Dom. 139. in which lignity hee lived upright and vertuously There were not many warres in his time because by his vigilancy hee made himselfe beloved and feared keeping all Nations in due subjection There came Embassadors dayly to Rome from all parts of the world to obtaine graces and priviledges for their countries to whom hee gave audience very courteously advising them before they speake saying Demand that which is iust and yee shall obtaine And furthermore he entertained them all in such sort that they all continued his most faithfull and obedient subjects He was called the Father of the vertues because hee was so just courteous liberall and good and above all a lover of all good men neither was there any one vice found in him Being at his Villa or Countrey-house being of the age of seaventy he dyed of a Feaver having governed the Empire 23 yeeres Whose death was lamented of all the Empire being deprived of such a Governour and Father truely pious Hee was inurn'd in Rome towards the Easterne gate The name of Pius was given him because when hee came to the Imperiall Dignity he pardoned all Delinquents 〈◊〉 Non oportet ab his rebus principatus exordium ducere In the fifteenth yeere of his Reigne hee by a speciall Edict restrained the persecution against the Christians 17. Aurelius Verus M. Aurelius Anno Domini 162. AFter the death of Antoninus Pius An. Dom. 162. Aurelius Verus together with Marcus Aurelius the Philosopher both being adopted by Antoninus began their government Aurthâ—â— Verus was the son of Aelius Verus and Comitia Calvilla This man becooâ—â— himselfe to Soria and was taxed for being extraordinarily addicted to all manner of lust And returning to Rome he added to this vice many more as sports toyes deceipts and so many other villanies that he shewed himselfe to the full in all his actions an imitator and follower of Nero and Vitelli. us All which passages his companion Marcus Aurelius dissembling because his vices might not publickly be notified to the City very wisely and to this mans satisfaction sent him against the Parthians which were now in rebellion whom he overcame with many other Countries Comming backe to Rome he brought with him all sorts of infamous lewd and vicious persons with whom hee betooke himselfe to his Mosque whom 〈…〉 now called Turkes have â—mitated for this stately sort of builling and within a little after dyed riâ—ing in his warlicke Parthian Charriot â—o refresh himselfe by the pleasantnesse of the place These were called Divi Fratres because they were both adopted by 〈◊〉 to the Empire But because 〈◊〉 was the elder brother and more faâ—ous he so carried himselfe as if hee had beene rather a Father than a Brother to his younger Brother Verus under these a fifth persecution was raised against the Christians 16. Marcus Aurelius Anno Domini 162. MArcus Aurelius a Roman by blood An. Dom. 162. continued his government after the death of his companion Verus being adopted with him by Antoninus This man was replenished with so great goodnesse and vertue that deservedly he was surnamed The Philosopher In his time there were warres dangerous Earthquakes grievous floods 〈◊〉 â—â—dations terrible dearths and most fearefull plagues The Church suffered great tribulations by his persecution Hee was little fortunate in his wife and although hee knew her to be dishonest yet neverthelesse hee would not dismisse or divorce her affirming her dowry to be the Empire which dignity amongst men was esteemed an unvaluable portion And therefore it could be no wisedome in him to goe about to lose it This Emperor being in the warres of Germany dyed of a grievous sicknesse call'd by latter Physitiâ—ans the Hemeroids at Beudâ—bone in Germany having reigned 19 yeeres whose death the whole Empire deplored to which he had beene so good a Mecâ—naâ— and most excellent Patron and by the will of some of his Councellors and as â—it is thought by the approbatioÌ„ of most of the Senate had his body in great solemnity brought to Rome and with al the â—funerall Rites tryumphantly interr'd close by the Capitoll 19. Commodus Anno Dom. 182. COmmodus a Roman An. Dom. 182. wicked and vicious succeeded his good Father Aurelius who because he was the sonne of to great a man was without any difficulty and with great applause of all in generall proclaimed Emperor Being in possession hee addicted himselfe to all wickednesse and vice Whereupon hee gave occasion to 〈◊〉 to conspire against him which he discovering hee made a fresh subâ—ect of exercising his cruelties He was â—onderous active of body and admiâ—able in throwing a Dart Hee dyed â—ost miserably by the meanes of Marâ—ia his concubine who having found 〈◊〉 booke wherein were written the â—ames of those which were condemned â—o dye and shee finding her selfe amongst the rest poysoned him and â—fter as hee was reaching or striving to â—omit as it was appointed by her he was stabbed in divers places dying at the age of thirty two yeeres having reigned thirteene leaving no notable memory of himselfe to posterity Hee caused the Sacrifices peculiar to Hercules to be offered unto himselfe favouring the Christians hee unwittingly exercised a persecution upon his owne Gentiles He led a life most exâ—orbitant and lewd and to equalize Nero every way he intended to fire the City of Rome But being hindered of his cruell
powerfull Sapores King of Persia and came off with great honour victorious Hee recovered Antioch and passing further he tooke in the great Citties of Carrâ— and Nesibo in which voyage the Grand Counceller his Father-in-law dyed in whose place he chose Philippus who became so prouâ— and insolent for the degree and honour he received that utterly contemning Gordianus esteeming 〈◊〉 now no more Emperor caused 〈◊〉 to be slaine at 20 yeeres of his age and of his Empire the fourth he received his death at Nola and 〈◊〉 buriall at Bambergh 37. Caius Valens Hostilianus This Emperor although hee is unknowne to some Historians yet thus much notice is found of him OF this Valens Hostilianus because the Historiographers make little or no mention it is thought that his Parents were unknowne and consequently little or nothing can be said of him And yet it is true that some affirme that after the death of Gordianus there was a certaine Marcus chosen by the Senate of whom there is not any essentiall relation found out but onely this that hee dyed suddainly and that in his place this Hostilianus was created by the Senate and that by a suddaine pride elation and conceit of joy falling sicke dyed suddainly although some say the above said Marcus yet living he was allotted him as fellow Emperor or partner and collegue in the command and that Hostilianus was saluted by the Title of Augustus But it is credible that both of them dying suddainly as it is supposed left no great note behind them 38. Marcus Iulius Philippus Anno Domini 246. JVlius Philippus an Arabian borne An. Dom. 246. a man of a coorfespun thread by descent but in Armes of a finer worth and hue was by Gordianus made Captaine Generall against the Persians And by little Gordianus became disesteemed of the souldiers by this mans meanes commanding them to kill him and proclaime Philippus Emperor And making peace although much disliked with the Persians marched towards Rome where hee made his son Philippus a Collegue in the Empire Hee instituted those playes called Saeculares in the memory of the first foundation of the City At that time making Decius Generall against the Goths the souldiers called their Generall Emperor against whom Philippus marched with a powerfull Army but being hated of all by reason of his too imperious command and government he was by them wounded at Verona but dyed at Vtrect Anno Domini 250 and was buried at Spiers a famous Imperiall City in Aquitaine This Emperor was a Christian and the first that received Baptisme he reigned 5 yeeres In his time the famous Cyprian flourished and was made Bishop â—â—â—â—â—rthage Apollonia the Virgin after her jawes were broken and â—eeth pulled and knocked our Josephus Baronius Spondanus by â—he command of this Emperor who â—id behold the action would rather â—oluntarily cast her selfe into the â—â—re prepared for her then speake â—lasphemy and after some other â—ruelties committed by this Emperor was converted and baptized a Christian 39. Marcus Iulius Philippus Anno Domini 246. MArcus Iulius Philppus sonne of Philippus and Severa An. Dom. 246. was made Caesar and Collegue of the Empire by his Father at seaven yeeres of his age at which time he became a Christian being baptized by his Fathers appointment together with a great number of his neaâ—â—st and dearest friends and servants 〈◊〉 holy and salutiferous action being performed by the chiefe Commanders of the Roman Empire was an occasion that many came to the knowledge of the truth and fixed their eyes upon the true light of Iesus Christ our Redeemer This Emperor was by nature so melancholy that no man living could make him once laugh although many did their best indeavours by slights and inventions This youth having reigned 7 yeers and being at the age of 14 at the report of his fathers death all over the City by the Pretorian souldiers was suddainly and cruelly slaine but by his speciall friends and those that favoured him for his Christianity his corpse was conducted to Spiers and there inurn'd not farre off from his Father 40. Decius An. Domini 250. AFter the death of the Philips An. Dom. 250. Decius an Austrian succeeds without any resistance or difficulty but was viâ—â— voce elected by the whole Senate and was called Imperator Augustus because he was a man endued with great vertue and valour very wise and prudent and well experienced in most offices and Magistracies discharged by him with singular dexterity and wisedome Briefly he was of a goodnesse that he might worthily have beene enrolled amongst the good Princes had not the Church suffered so great tribulations and afflictions under him being an Infidel and non-credent which was the seaventh perfecution which the Church of God endured Hee was victorious against the Gothes and joyning a fresh battaile with them by the treason of Trebonianus Gallus his Captaine Generall he was overthrowne And at the report of the death of his sonne Decius putting spurres to his horse and giving him the reines wilfully precipitated and cast himselfe into a deepe pit without hope of safety and to the losse of his life at the 50 yeere of his age and of his Empire the second and anno Domini 252 and buried at Spiers In the heate of his persecution hee commanded is certaine young man a Christiâ—â— to be bound and lye uppon his backe and an harlot to be sentus him to provoke him to lust which hee perceiving and feating to be overcome with pleasure â—it off his tongue and spit it in her 〈◊〉 as shee was kissing him so that the greatnesse of that paine overcome the sence of lust 41. Mesius Decius Anno Dom. 250. OF no lesse goodnes valour than his Father was this Decius even in his youth An. Dom. 250. wherfore he was chosen as partner in the Empire and by the Senate confirmed Caesar and successor to Decius his father with whom as a brave souldier hee went to the warres of the Cothes which was so bloody and terrible that the greater part of the Roman Army was slaine and put to flight and Decius the youth was mortally wounded by an arrow through his very heart where in the sight of his Father he suddainly fell downe dead from his horse moving not onely his owne souldiers but even his enemies to compassion having reigned two yeeres together with his father Decius The which news being understood by the Senate much afflicted them not so much for the slaughter and losse of so many vanant and noble Romans as for the unfortunate end of both the Emperors his reigne being 〈◊〉 absolute but with his fathers a 〈◊〉 bation the Senate and City lost not onely a good Tree but also an hopefull fruite 42. Trebonianus Gallus Anno Domini 252. AFter the great and terrible slaughter of the Roman Army in the battaile with the Goths An. Dom. 252. Trebunianus being by birth a Gaule borne at Delean by the surviving souldiers was
hee used not by the instigation of any man but out of his owne invention and and furious braine this was one That being a Necromancer hee slew Christian women being great with child and tooke the children yet unborne out of their wombes the ashes whereof he used in his execrable art to make himselfe greater in authority and power All which availed him nothing because that fighting with Constantinus the Great upon a Bridge hee was by him throwne and drowned in the river Tyber which happened in the fift yeere of his reigne having no other sepulture then the River This Emperor used to joyne the living bodies of men with other dead carcases and being chain'd mouth to mouth hee caused them to bee tumbled up and downe 65. Licinius Anno Dom. 310. LIcinius a Dacian borne An. Dom. 310. being a man knowne to be singular and rare in feates of Armes was by Galerius made Captaine Generall afterwards Co-emperor For wretched avarice and bestiality of lust hee was knowne to be most dissolute and hee was so ill bred and extravagantly drowned in ignorance that he became an enemy of all litterate and learned men terming them the skum and filth of men endeavouring by all meanes that men should shun and avoid them as a poyson or a contagious plague He grew so insolent and proud for one onely victory which hee obtained in the East that hee slighted and contemned Constantinus and began to increase his cruelty and tyranny against the Christians Whereupon Constantinus opposed himselfe and they both joyning battaile this Tyger was put to flight in the Countrey of Pannonia and intending to reinforce his cause was in his 〈◊〉 campe by his owne souldiers manacred in Thessalonica at the age of 50 yeeres and of his government 〈◊〉 and was carelesly cast into a pit having no other respective funerall 66. Martinianus Anno Domini 312. MArtinianus Anno Domini 312. a Sclavonian by Nation a man meanely borne but well experienced in the Art Military was for that cause made Generall of the Horse He was created Emperor and Caesar in Bizantium but in a short time he lost both dignity and life because being taken in Thessalia with Licinius by the expresse command of Constantine they were both murthered by the Souldiers and therefore not having left any memoriall behinde him but this example that we may see and know that many were raised to the Imperiall dignity more by sedition ambition and interest in their souldiers than by any their just desert claime or title to such a degree But it is no wonder that in a manner all or most of them died immaturely and unfortunately being they had neither a meane order or regular way of governing themselves much lesse others living for the most part dissolutely not reflecting on the Proverb Qualis vita Finis ita Live well dye well 67. Constantinus Magnus Anno Domini 312. COnstantine An. Dom. 312. a Britan by Nation a man most valiant and worthy in a manner of an Empire more than any one of his Antecessors after the death of his * I suppose iâ— is meant Constantian Clorâ—â— Father he was elected Emperor He overcame all the Tyrants of the Empire and recovered all rebellious Countries wherefore hee entered into the City of Rome in wonderfull pompe He began to persecute the Christians wherefore peradventure by the divine will and pleasure he was so infected with a Leprosie that the Physitians left him as incurable But the heavenly Grace was his assistance for being asleepe in the night hee saw a vision telling him that if he desired to recover his health hee should recall Silvester the Bishop and all the Clergy from exile Which thing he performing and being baptized he was immediately cured And increasing in devotion hee built many Churches to the glory and honâ—it of God This Emperor would say in praise of Age that Age appeared to be best in foure things Old wood best to burne old Wine to drinke old friends to trust and old Authors to read of Moreover he said that there was but this difference betweene the death of old men and young men that old men goe to death and death comes to young men This Emperour built a City called by his name Constantinople whither hee after translated the Imperiall seate And being at the age of 66 yeeres he passed to a botter life to the great griefe of all and especially of the Christians then living whom he did entirely love and cherish Hee obtained the sole Monarchy of the whole Empire and every where restored peace to the Church He was prolected 〈◊〉 in all his wars he exhorted 〈…〉 to Christianity but compelle 〈◊〉 It was thought that he was poisoned of his brothers at Nicomedia in Greece and had pompous sunorals worthy of so great a Man at the Gity of Constantinople which hee had lately builtâ— 68. Crispus An. Domini 314. ABritan by birth was Crispan An. Dom. â—14 who by his Father Constantiue was elected Emperour and honoured with the title of Casar hee was a man so proper and compleate in the beauty of person that Fausta his Mother in law sought by all meanes possible to allure and intice him to her lust unto whom he by no meanes willing to consent by his vertuous obstinacy converted her vicious love into an extreaunity of hatred insomuch that she accused him to his Father for a forcible violator of her chastity To whose words Constantine giving credit caused the vertuous young man to be miserably put to death at Pola in Histria But not long after this sallacy of the Mother in law comming to light and the innocency of the chaste young man worth an eternall memory being manifestly discovered the wicked Step mother sought to excuse the incestuous malice with the pretence of her plot to wit That Crispus should not be a hinderance to the honour of her sonnes in the Imperiall claime But at length by the perswasion of Helena who was infinitely grieved for the death of her Grand-child the wicked step-mother was put into a hot bath wherein shee breathed her last and suffered a death toâ—â— mild for such an impious and treacherous impurity This Emperor was taught and instructed in Learning by the famous Lactantius It is evident that he was singularly qualified valiant and fortunately victorious Helena his Grand mother much lamented his immature death which was not onely suddaine but mischievous and griev'd the whole Empire who by that meanes were deprived of so hopefull a Governour 69. Constantinus Anno Domini 314. COustantine was the second of that name An. Dom. 314. After the death of his Father Constantine the Great the Empire was divided into many parts but that of France Spaine the Alpes England and Scotland did befall to his charge but not contented with these hee pretended by hereditary right that also of Italy and Affrick which here demanded by way of Embassie but not obtaining his pretended cause he made
and bloody that on both sides there fell more than an hundred and fourscore thousand persons besides an infinite number maimed and wounded and Attila himselfe fled halfe dead with a very small company that attended him He slew Hetuis whose death was boldly revenged by his friends without any respect of persons For Valentinianus being in Campo Martio at Rome was set upon by them wounded and slaine being not able to make any notable resistance In this Emperors time that famous learned Doctor St. Augustine dyed anno 430. St. Patrick the Patron of Ireland began to convert that Country to Christianity In the yeere 446 the Picts invaded England and the same yeere there was such a terrible Earthquake continuing for the space of sixe moneths together insomuch that the people forsooke their houses and Cities for feare of the ruines and infinite disasters which did happen both by Sea and Land Galla Placidia the Mother of this Valentinianus a singular good Christian and a woman of a great and wonderfull solid judgement dyed neere the Campo Martio in Rome having beene daughter sister wife mother and step-mother to Roman Empeours 86. Martianus Anno Domini 450. AFter the death of Theodosius Anno Domini 450. Martianus succeeded in the Empire who was supposed to bee a Spaniard by Nation and governed seaven yeares together with Valentinian Hee was a good Christian and singular fautour of them He married the sister of Theodosius In the time of his government Alemannia was lost and Dacia Spaine and Aquitaine likewise together with Gascoigne which could never be recovered In his time St. Vrsula with eleven thousand Virgins were martyred by Attila's souldiers In the sixt yeare of his Imperiall sway Maximianus a noble Roman married by force Eudosia which was already wife to Valentinianus imperiously began to tyrannize and usurpe the Empire which being understood by the Vandals they immediatly marched with a very powerfull army and came to Rome where they slew him and cast him into Tiber and having sacked the City They returned into Africke carrying Eâ—dosia and her daughter with them who was the cause of the death of his Emperor There happened in the fourth yeare of his reigne so great a famin in Italy that many slaves and poore peasants were inforced to sell their children for money to buy Bread and to pay their tribute But Valentinian ordered and commanded that they might be redeemed againe at the same rate likewise it was followed with a vehement pestilence which destroyed in short space many thousands of people in those parts it being not within the compasse of humane power to stoppe or hinder it because sent from a supreame hand which is unresistable 87. Leo. Anno Domini 457. UPon the death of Martianus An. Dom. 457. Leo being by Nation a Grecian of the City of Thebes was chosen to succeede being a man indeede worthy of such a degree About that time the Roman Common-wealth was sorely perplexed by certaine tyrannicall usurpers which endeavoured to encroach and arrogate the Throne and in particular Gensericus King of the Vandals who came into Italy with a puissant army to that intent Which by Leo being perceived caused him to bee affronted with two severall armyes at once neare Pupolonia by whom Gensericus being overthrowne hee privately retyred in a disguise home into Africa After this Aspera man very noble and powerful in Constantinople together with his two sonnes complotted intended the death of Leo to murther him but the treason not taking effect with their owne deserved death they meritoriously suffered that which to another they intended In fine Leo being in peace with the Ostrogothes fell sicke and shortly after dyed at his Imperiall City of Constantinople and there Inurnd leaving his Nephew to succeede Marcellinus reporteth Anno 458 that Vesuvius a burning mountaine of Campania Carcel in â—hron did cast forth its burnt bowels and covered the face of Italy not onely with nocturne darknesse in the day but also with a small kind of dust and ashes which bred by the heate of the Sunne such strange monsters that is almost incredible such as Gesner an Historian justifies and makes mention of both by nature and figure 88. Leo Iunior Anno Domini 474. THis Leo was Nephew to the afore said Emperor An. Dom. 474. of the same Countrey but not of the same City for he was borne in Corinth in Greece Hee was replenished with all the qualities necessary for a wel-disposed and good Prince for which singularity of parts he was so highly prized and esteemed of Leo his uncle whom he could not endure out of his sight in whose goodnes he took such complacency pleasure more then ordinary as he said and by him conceived the sole solaces and contenting recreations in the interims of the weighty affaires belonging to an Imperiall Crowne Whereupon falling sicke he immediately created this Leo Augustus and successor But reflecting this to have been done in his fit and feeling himselfe sicke to death with his owne hands crowned his owne Father Zeno and declared him Emperor intreating that hee would bee pleased to governe the Empire with the greatest integrity and good justice as befitted a just Prince which Zeno promised and Leo retired himselfe to the private life of a Christian and vertuous man and paied nature her debt at Vienna the Metropolis in Austria 89. Zeno. Anno Domini 374. TO the vertuous sonne Leo the discreet father Zeno succeeds Anno Domini 374. a Graecian of the countrey of Cilicia a man well beloued and reverenced of all men This good Prince understanding and having newes of the creation of a new Emperor in Constantinople rather chose to returne to his former privacy than any wayes disturbe the Republicke or Common-good by any forces of his But Almighty God disposed these things otherwise for this dissention For the Constantinopolitan Burghers or Aldermen being not able to endure the insupportable injuries of the new Emperour Basilicus so was he called betook themselves to Zeno and confirmed him their Emperor and Governour who the affaires of the Empire being composed to the generall good and quiet of all confined this Basilicus with his noble family into Cappadocia Hee overthrew Odoacer which much disturbed Italy and afterwards he instituted many most wholesome and commodious Lawes But in the end many turbulent seditions being raised in Constantinople to him irremediable he dyed as some report with griefe Appendix As others write after hee had reigned seventeene yeeres and five moneths hee dyed a death befitting such a man For being surprised with a fit of the falling-sicknesse which long hanted him Euagrius lib. 3. cap. 29. Or as Euagrius saith out of an excesse of eating and drinking or as dead drunke and being ordered as a dead man was buried alive but when hee was heard out of the Vault to implore his servants and guard most dolefully lamentably to let him out thence not to
Answer of this Leo to one that would be made a Gentleman This Emperor being at his Palace a Citizen of Bologna exceeding rich and wealthy but of base parentage presented himselfe before the Emperor saying May it please your sacred Majesty to make and create me a Gentleman for I have wealth sufficient to maintaine the state and degree of a Gentleman The Emperor answered him I can make thee much more rich than thou art but it is not in my power to make thee noble for that is an honour which thou must purchase by thine owne virtue 109. Constantinus 5. Anno Domini 720. THis man Anno Domini 720. being also an Isaurian by birth following the steps of his Father persecuted good men exceedingly and in what hee could hee destroyed all good lawes and customes bent himselfe to witchcrafts and enchantments and to a thousand infamies and as a common enemy to Christian Religion he followed the Arrian sect of Athanasius Patriarch of Constantinople by whose perswasion he caused many Priests to be put to death with many Monkes and good Christians Wherefore the Pope desirous to reforme his errours and to reduce him to better courses sent Embassadors unto him exhorting him to quitt himselfe of that pernicious sect but they and the Popes Embassie were not onely slighted but contemned and scorned whereupon he was excommunicated Upon this he contracted a new League with the King of Bulgaria a man like himselfe in every quality and condition This man enjoyed the Empire very happily in respect of his owne person but when or where he dyed it is doubtfull but some doe affirme that hee dyed at Adrianople When this Emperor was baptized he defiled the Font with his ordure whereupon it was Prophetically conjectured that much mischiefe would bee by him perpetrated wherefore hee had the by-name of Copronymus He was called also Caballinus because this Monster of men was so much delighted in horse-dung that hee wallowed or anointed himselfe in it and commanded his Courtiers to doe the like Theophanes and Theostâ—riscus in Nicet 110. Leo 4. Anno Domini 751. AT this time the Empire was much afflicted An. Dom. 751. because the Barbarians in this Emperors time possessed all the East Whereupon the Romans being much distressed tyred and worne out of heart with continuall warres were resolved to put themselves in the power and protection of the French Wherefore Leo intended to march with an Army into Syria but perceiving the enemies strength to bee great he retyred with great feare and in liew of recovering the Provinces lost from the Empire he betooke himselfe to lust and idlenesse inventing every day new fashions of apparrell in the richest manner possible to adorne himselfe but above all he greatly was taken with Jewels of which hee made himselfe a Diadem especially with those which were taken out of the Church of S. Sophia and wearing it continually through the weight of it hee dyed with an extreame paine in his head at Constantinople leaving his wife Hirene to governe the Empire together with his sonne and was inhum'd there One thing that was remarkeable in the time of his Regency was Theophanes that in the second yeere of his reigne and in the Summer time betweene the Cyclades Isles Thera and Therasia there appeared out of the Sea a vapour to boyle like the smoake of a chimney for the space of many daies which by little and little growing thicke and large broke out into into a flame afterwards it cast out whole rocks of Pumice and transported great heapes of them all over the lesser Asia Lesbos and Abydus and all the maritine parts of Macedonia in such sort that the whole superfice of the Sea was covered with them and in the middest of so great a fire a new Isle grew suddainly up by the heaping of the earth together and joyned it selfe to that Isle which is now called Sacra 111. Constantinus 6. Anno Dom. 775. AFter the death of Leo Anno. Dom. 775. Constantine his sonne whose place of birth is not probably nominated tooke upon him the Imperiall government His Mother Irene with whom hee ruled ten yeeres was a cause that a Councell of thirty and three Bishops was held in which many profitable lawes were made tending to the general coÌ„modity and benefit Afterwards his mother perceiving that he would not be correspondent to her expectation and will being hee abandoned himselfe to debauches and lasciviousnesse there grew a dissention betweene them so that hee deprived her of all government and himselfe governed absolute five yeeres He was a most cruell man for he caused the eyes of many noble Citizens to be pulled out under pretence of their conspiracy and treason against him The people seeing this they recalled the Empresse Irene and taking Constantine they imprisoned him and in revenge they likewise plucked out his eyes and so in that extreame misery he concluded his fate the place of his death or interment being obscured In the yeere 780 in this Emperors regency a certaine man digging in a wall of Thracia found a stone coffin wherein there lay the body of a man and Letters fastned to the coffin in brasse which made these words Christus nascetur ex Virgine Maria Credo in cuâ—â— sub Constantino Irene Imp. 8. Sotiterum me videbit Theophanes and all other Greeke and Latine Historians constantly affirme Anno 793. Mens Decemb. the River Tyber overflowed the City to the highth of twice a mans depth so that they were inforced to helpe and relieve one another by little skiffes and tubs Anno 797. Theoph. writes also that for the space of ten dayes the Sunne was darkned that ships on the Sea could not steere a right course and that many perished by this strange accident being a thing against and beyond nature 112. Carolus Magnus Anno Domini 801. TO the name of Magnus the greatnesse of this Carolus was every way correspondent An. Domini 801. who was a man really vertuous liberall generous and in Armes admirable being by nation a Frenohman After the death of his father Pipinus hee remained coinheritor with his brother Carolus of the Crowne of France but after the space of two yeares hee remained absolute in the rule and government in which he tooke in Aquitaine Hee overthrew Desiderius King of the Longobards and restored againe to the Church whatsoever Desiderius above mentioned had taken away and thereupon the Empire was put upon him by the generall Councell and the Popes and crowned with great solemnity and triumph Returning into France hee overcame the Saxons conquered Spaine hee subdued the Gascognes Britans and many other powerfull Princes whereby he got such fame that from all parts of the world Embassadors came with rich Presents beseeching his gracious favour At length falling into a feaver but as some say of a Plurisie and other inward paines of his bowels he dyed at Aquisgrane to the inâ—â—unable griefe of the Universe and was
to satisfie the world and expresse his magnanimity he voluntarily restored him his kingdome againe giving his daughter unto him in marriage And having reduced all matters to a generall peace he fell sicke and dyed at the age of seventy three at Gemersheym and was interred at Spires 139. Adolphus AFter the death of the good old man Adolphus An. Domini 1292. Marquesse of Anassona borne â—n Nassau attained to the Imperiall dignity in the yeere of the Incarnation 1292 with the unity of consent of the Electors This man was also adorned with all the riches of vertue but very poore in wordly estate and weake in men of Armes And although he were not crowned by the Pope neverthelesse peradventure by advice and councell or at that time indiscreete not reflecting that impresses of Warre should be performed rather by superiority the better to secure the victory than by inconsiderate temerity and rashnesse hee laboured with those small forces which he had to recover some places defected from the Empire And fighting against Albertus sonne of Rudolphus now Emperour in the Countrey of Spire although hee behaved himselfe very valiantly neverthelesse through the small quantity of soldiers he was by the same Albertus overthrowne and slaine neare Spires and lyes buried there In this Emperors Reigne Anno Domini 1303 the Chaire wherein the Kings of England are crowned at Westminster was brought out of Scotland by Edward King of England which the Scots called the fatall chaire in the yeare 1310. The knight-templers in Germany France England and other countries were all cut off many of them burnt alive Chron. Montford 140. Albertus ALbertus Anno Domini 1269. the son of Rudolphus late Emperor deceased borne in Nassau a man most expert in arâ—â—es succeeding in the Empire demanded divers severall times of Boniface the Pope his coronation who being against it and repugnant would by no meanes condescend thereto Afterwards by the reason of jarres and discords betweene Philip king of France and the Pope he did not onely crowne and confirme him Emperor but gave him also the kingdome of France subjecting the king to his Imperiall government and command which was an occasion of infinite slaughters discords intestine and civill warres in Christendome This man having ever spent and emploied the greatest part of his time in warres and heroicall actions labouring day and night to recover the secure harbour of tranquillity and peace on a certaine day disembarking himselfe having passed over the Rheine he was slaine at Rheinveld in Germany by anephew of his for certaine dissentions between them which before had happened in Arabia and hath his ashes inurn'd at Keningstadt In this Albertus his time lived that famous Doctor Ioannes Duns Scotus who died at Coloyn being supposed to be dead having onely an accustomed fit of a Lethargy which afterwards was evident when they that were his friends came caused him to be taken up again having found him to be alive by many bruises on his face and his flesh eaten off of his armes and shoulders and many other signes tokens to thegriefe of many a worthy scholler 141. Henry the 7. THis Henry was Marquesse of Luxemburghe where he was borne Anno Dom. 1368. son to Henry and Beatrice elected in the yeare of grace 1308 and confirmed by Pope Clement upon this condition that at the end of two yeares he should according to the accustomed manner goe to solemnize his coronâ—tion at Rome which he persorming was entertained with all pompous manner and jncredible magnificence by the Cittizens and Communalty and after that was crowned by 3 Cardinals and there he appeased many dissentions which were then afoote in the Countrey of Italy many parts being taken His returne was by Tuscany where his soldiers did much mischiefe Being arrived at Buonconvento within 12 miles of Siena he fell grievously sicke and caused himselfe to be carried to the Bath of Macereto and that availing him nothing he returned againe to Buonconvento where his sicknesse increasing and the best Art in Phisicke working no good effect within few dayes after hee dyed and was inhumed at Pisa 142. Fredericke 3. The Popes chaire was vacant two yeares three moneths and seaventeene dayes THis Fredericke was Duke of Austria Anno Domini 1314. where hee was also borne the sonne of Albertus Caesar and elected to succeed in the Imperiall Throne At the same time 2 Emperors were chosen by the Electors viz. this Frederick Lewis and both being crowned there ensued not onely betweene them but also all the world over most cruell and bloody civill warres And each pretending his cause juridically lawfull enabled themselves to their utmost possibility with what forces they could for warre the better to march whithersoever occasion should call upon them Matters standing upon these termes each of them for his best advantage and security fortune brought them in processe of time to a meeting victory hovering over the battaile which was not without great effusion of blood on both sides But in conclusion the Catastrophe fell worst upon Fredericke to his utter ruine so he falling into a deepe melancholy was therein in a short time lost passing to another life leaving his enemy Lewis to enjoy the seate Imperiall he dyed in Austria expecting his resurrection at Murbach A Fable of this Emperor Fredericke propounded to the Embassador of King Lewis the 11. in the 6. yeare of his Reigne Charles Duke of Burgundy having planted his siege before the City of Nuce which was succoured by this Emperor and the Almaines King Lewis the 11 of France who sought nothing more than the ruine of the said Duke of Burgundy sent his Embassador to the Emperor Fredericke to pracsise and perswade with him to seize consiscate into hâ—s owne hands all those lands and signorie which the Duke of Burgundy held of the Empire and that hee for his part would doe the like for the Country of Flanders Artois Burgundy and other dependants of the Crowne of France The Emperor upon this motion made the Embassador this answer Neere unto a certaine City in Almaine did once haunt a most cruell Beare which did many mischiefes and displeasures to the inhabitants adioyning now said the Emperour it hapned that 3 merry companions aâ— they were drinking in a Taverne and having little money to pay their shot they agreed with their Host to venture upon the Beare and to kill him and then make sale of his skinne and tâ— pay him with the money and for the performance thereof they prepared themselves presently to goe and take him the bargaine being made and dinner ended they put themselves in quest of the Beare and approaching to the cave where hee was lodged the beare issued out upon them so fiercely that being surprized with a suddaine feare one of them fled away backe tewards the towne the second saved himselfe by climbing up a tree and the third being overtaken by the Beare fell downe under him as dead
of his urine hee left Rudolphus his eldest sonne Emperor himselfe passing to a better life at Ratisbon about the age of 50 or thereabouts to the discontentment of all Christendome and lyeth entombed at Lintz in Austria 154. Rudolphus THe Imperiall Majesty as it were an inheritance of the noble house and family of Austria Anno Dom. 1576. was after the death of Maximilian conferred by the Electors upon his son Rudolphus King of Bohemia and Hungary who was borne in Austria who also accepting the degree which deservedly suited with his goodnesse hee alwayes carrying himselfe in his actions as a pious and just Emperour and in particular a defender of the Christian faith Hee ordained in his Diets excellent holy lawes Continually as it appeares he laboured to reduce to the bosome of the Church both by his good example and power in Armes all those which by their owne deficiency had fallen from it Hee recovered what hee could things usurped by the Imperiall enemies and adversaries to the Christian Religion It pleased Almighty God to grant him alwayes victory and to heare the prayers of his subjects and humble honourers of the great worth of this great Caesar in the service of Christendome and the glory of that eternall Majesty upon which all others doe depend but the manner of his death and inhumation I read not of 155. Mathias THe Emperor Rudolphus had given an intimation for an Imperiall Diet in Francfort Anno Domini 1612. with a preparation to goe thither for an election of a King of the Romans although he were surprized with sicknesse and deprived thereby both of Empire and life having reigned 36 yeares Whereof Mathias King of Bohemia and Hungary having intelligence he went from Vienna to Prague and there having solemnized the funerall exequies of his late brother and leaving good order and directions for the interregne hee went to the Diet where on the 13 of Iune 1612. he was by the Electors chosen Emperor with a generall applause and proclaimed and solemnly sworne in the Church of Saint Bartholmâ—w where also upon the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist hee tooke the Iron Crowne to which solemnity he rod with 10000 horse by the reason of the concourse of so many Princes Lords to so famous a spectacle The next day he caused his wife to bee crowned Empresse This Mathias the first of that name was a Prince of a high spirit and a good souldier He swaid the Empire onely 6 years 9 moneths and 7 dayes and dyed at the age of 63 to the great griefe of all men 156. Ferdinand 2 THe Emperor Mathias being departed from Prage to Vienna where his brother the Arch-Duke MaximiliaÌ„ was An. Dom. 1619. And now there was a preparation for an Electorall Diet for the election of the Arch-Duke Ferdinando de Gratz to be King of the Romans who was already chosen King of Bohemia and Hungary after which departure the Protestants in the Kingdome of Bohemia rebelled and upon the 20. of March 1619 the afore said Mathias departed this life After that Moravia Slesia Lusaria and part of Austria rebelled likewise through the sway of some powerfull Protestant commanders and Princes who shrunk out of the coller of obedience and refused to performe homage in vigour of a cession made by Albertus the Arch-Duke brother to the aforesaid Mathias Maximilian being lately dead so that the rebellion dilated it selfe in the Kingdome of Hungary Now came on the prefixed time for the Electorall diet to be held aâ— Francfort where some of the Electors were present for the election of a new Emperor and Ferdinand himselfe as King of Bohemia and Hungarie one of the seven Electors stept in although the aforesaid BohemiaÌ„ yet persisting in their rebellion sought what possible they could to prevent him He was neverthelesse by three Electors chosen Emperour with an universall applause the 2â— day of August being the festivall day of Saint Austin Ferdinand the second of that name was borne the 9 of Iuly 1578. He was alwayes a stout defender and observer of the Roman Church and upon the 8 of November with a powerfull Army and great slaughter of the adverse party recovered the City of Prague which is the Metropolitan City of the Kingdome of Bohemia whereupon great hopes are conceived of his prosperity of government FINIS
his death than grieving for it because of his vicious conversation and government 94 Tiberius Anno Domini 576. TIberius being adopted Augustus by his Predecessor An. Dom. 576. succeeds in the Imperiall dignity according to his worthy deserts He was a Thracian by nation a man replenished with all splendor of vertues and all other excellent qualities beseeming a Christian Prince Hee was most indulgent to the poore to whom he destributed the whole treasure of the Empire Wherefore peradventure Almighty God made him so abundantly wealthy and extraordinarily rich that very shortly hee became possessor of all the treasures of Nar setes the Eunuch which were of an invaluable esteeme and price He recovered likewise Persia with many rich spoiles and ever protected and defended the Roman state from all treacherous annoyances whatsoever And in particular he releeved it in an extreame famine and dearth Perceiving himselfe at last hastning towards his last day by the advice of Sophia his Mother in law hee left Mauritius his sonne in law successor in the Imperiall throne which much advanced his greedy desire of governing because Tiberius in few dayes after passed to a better life at Constantinople in his Court vsually kept in that part of the City which lies next to the Sea a place abounding with all sorts of pleasures as of exquisite Gardens Fish-ponds rare prospects curious walkes and perambulatories befitting so great a Majesties residence 95 Mauritius Anno Domini 583. MAuritius sonne in law to Tiberius Anno Domini 583. was borne in Cappadocia and in his tender age gave great testimonies of a great spirit making demonstrations of acts and qualities most Princelike Whereupon for his magnanimity greatnesse of courage and virtues he deservedly ascended to the most invict degree of the Empire And having taken possession to his great honour he recovered Armenia and Persia Afterwards hee gave himselfe over to a bad life persecuting Gregory the Great and animating the people against him and also persecuted greatly the Church Wherefore by the Divine Judgement hee suddainly dyed an Angell having visibly fore-told it in Constantinople that the Emperour should be slaine with a knife Mauritius dreamed one night not long before his destruction Scip. du Pless that himselfe and all his issue were slaine by one Phocas and having made diligent inquiry after such a man of that name found that there was but one so called in his whole Army who being but a poore clarke of a band slighted him Lastly his souldiers seeing him in a miserable perplexity and that hee had not duely given them their pay they mutinied and chose Phocas for their Emperour who persecuted Mauritius even to Chalcedonia where he tooke him his wife and children before his face and to aggravate his sorrows hee slew them and lastly him in the twentieth yeere of his Reigne and was intombed at Constantinople in a Temple as some report builded by himselfe with admirable cost and lustre as well for the materialls as also for the modell and largenesse of it 96 Phocas Anno Domini 602. THis Phocas being by Countrey a Gaule An. Dom. 602. and but a Centurion was neverthelesse by the whole Army created Emperor He was entertained in Constantinople with wondrous joy and exceeding great honour and to confirme his greatnesse there was a Statue erected to him in S. Caesarius amongst the former Emperors But not long after changing his activenesse into a stupefying sloth hee became so idle that Persia revolting was lost and many other Provinces to King Cosroes which King sacked and spoiled the City of Rome imprisoning Zacharias Patriarch of Ierusalem Hereupon Phocas became more cruell and by that meanes hee lost still more and more Which the people of Rome being not able to suffer not without great reason they raised Heraclius against him who being vanquished was brought manicled with Irons to Heraclius who looking upon him said Thâ—â— wretched fellow hast thou thus governed the Republick To whom hee answered Thou maist governe it better Upon which reply Heraclius speedily apprehended him and with great boldnesse and courage commanded some of his soldiers to cut off his hands and feete and then his members causing a stone to be fastened to his other limbs and therewithall to be cast into the Sea and as some Authors report the soldiers burned his body in revenge at Constantinople 97 Hieraclius Anno Domini 611. THis Emperour Heraclius An. Dom. 611. an Affrican by birth was replenished with Heroicall qualities and in particular in Chevalry and other military knowledge that all men admired him Hee had an ardent desire that the Christian Religion should be propagated and enlarged and to that end he sought to take in Persia at that time growne a Treasury of all manner of Riches and there he repaired the ruined and demolished Churches Chosroes the Persian King after many overthrows hee received by Heraclius in his last flight finding himselfe ill and endeavoring to make his younger sonne Mardesas King Syroes the eldest understanding it plotted with the Peeres the destruction of his father and so pursuing his Father at last overcame him and then put him to extreame usage loading him with Iron-fetters and guives about his necke and legs putting him into the darke house which Chosroes had newly built and so by him tearmed to lay the money and treasure which hee had got by Christian spoiles where hee had a very little quantity of bread and water sufficient onely to keepe him alive but was almost famished that hee did eate his owne flesh off his armes or as farre as hee could reach with his teeth And likewise his son commanded these Peeres which detested him to abuse and kick him beate him and spit upon him bidding him eate his belly full of that gold and silver which he had taken from the Christians Lastly he tooke his younger brother Mardesus and all the rest of his brothers and commanded them to be slaine before his fathers face and five dayes after caused his father to be pricked to death with needles This Emperor Heraclius brought the Crosse of our Lord backe againe to Hierusalem which had beene violently and by force of Armes transported by the Parsians At which time the feast of the Exaltation was instituted Returning to Constantinople he retired him to his study and grave consultations and in particular hee much delighted himselfe in the study of Astrology by the too much knowledge therein hee became an Hereticke and by the divine will Antioch and Hierusalem were taken by the Sarrazons and Arabians Theoph. lib. 10. Card. 18. Hera whereupon hee supposing to have lost his reputation he grew into a fitte of extreame melancholy and so into a Dropsie and thereof dyed at Constantinople and was there inhum'd with great solemnity 98 Heraclius 2. Anno Domini 613. TO Heraclius the father Anno Domini 613. Heraclius the forme succeeds being of the same Nation was elected and created Emperour â—y his father