personages of the Roman Empire not hearing them in their defence contrary to a Law which himself first made proving himself thereby truly to answer his name being as was said of him verè Pertinax verè Severus so that Silenus might well say in Iuliani Caesaribus I dare not speak against him I am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty 10. Antiochenus saith he was a great Souldier but his covetousnesse transported him beyond his valour He was more covetous and cruell then any of his Predecessors Tristan When he warred in Britain he commanded an universall slaughter of his enemies in these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let none escape your bloudy rage With terrour let all die Spare not the mother nor the babe Which in her womb doth lie Having taking Albinus prisoner he commanded him to be slain caused his body to be laid before his palace rode over him and at last cast his mangled corps the stench whereof could not be endured into the river Rhâ—sâ—e with the carkases of his wife and children Having compelled Nigers Captaines whose children he kept as pledges to betray Nigers affaires when he had attained his ends he slew them and their children He gained his sur-name Britannicus by building or at least repairing the Picts-wall between England and Scotland 132. miles in length against the incursions of the Scots and Picts At every miles end was a tower and pipes of brasse in the wall betwixt every tower conveied the least noise from garison to garison without interruption so newes of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders and occasionall provision made for resistance There were also resting places for the Areans who were appointed by the Ancients saith Amm. Marcellinus to serve for foot-posts to run as occurrents fell between the Officers and carry them word of the least stirring Since the wall is ruined and that way of dispatch taken away many inhabitants thereabout hold land by a tenure in Cornage as Lawyers speak being bound by blowing a horn to discover the irruption of the enemy Cambden's Britannia ubi videsis plura It is reported by Spartian that in his passage to York a little before his death a Black-Moor with a Cypresse garland on his head did meet Severus who bid him as unfortunate to be put out of his sight and saluted him thus Totum fuisti totum vicisti jam Deus esto victor At his entrance into the City he was by errour of a rusticall Sooth-fayer who guided him brought into the Temple of Bellona and black beasts being appointed for sacrifice did of themselves follow him to his palace Which things howsoever they fell our accidentally yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event While he lay sick of the gout at York the souldiers saluting his son Bassianus Emperour he arose and caused the principall of them to be brought before him and when they prostrate craved pardon he laying his hand on his head said Sentitisne tandem caput imperare non pedes Spartian c. 18. A little before his death he caused his urne to be brought before him and taking it into his hand said Thou shalt contain him whom the world could not Xiphiline He said to his Sons on his death-bed Agree among your selves enrich the souldiers and contemne all others Id. ibid. In relation to which union he bade them read in Salust Mycypsa's dying speech to his sons in which there is this expression Concordiâ res parvae cresâ—unt discordiâ magnae dilabuntur Spartian c. 21. By his pernicious advice to his sons to study onely the enriching of the souldiery he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the Roman power as the Greek Epigrammatist calls it For after Severus his raigne for 30 lawfull Emperours the Roman Empire saw in the space of 150 yeares more then an 100 Tyrants The discipline of the vertuous Emperours occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne As the tragicall ends of young Gordian of Alexander Severus of Posthumus Probus and Aurelian manifest Tristan He ended his life with these words Turbatam Rempublicam ubique accepi pacatam etiam Britannis relinquo senex pedibus aeger firmum Imperium antoninis meis relinquens si boni erunt imbecillum si mali Spartian c. 23. Before he dyed he was so pained in all his body but especially in his feet that not able to endure the torment he called for poyson which being denied he greedily glutted himself with grosse meates and not able to digest them dyed of a surfet Sex Aurel. Vict. The imprecation of Plautius Quintillus had the like effect upon Severus as that of Severianus had upon Hadrian Xiphilin Some say he dyed rather through grief for his son Caracalla's wickednesse then of any other malady He lived 65 yeares 9 moneths and 25 dayes and reigned 17 yeares 8 moneths and 3 dayes He was buried in a place near York which to this day is called Severs-hill It was said of him by the Senate that either he should not have been born or not have dyed having done so much mischief in pursuit of greatness and so much good when he was established Spartian c. 18. He married Martia and after her death Iulia Domna because he found by her nativity she should be matcht with a King though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore whom yet he bare with through excesse of affection though she was guilty of a conspiracy Spartian c. 3. and 18. He was deifyed after his death by the Senate After the death of Charles the 9 of France his image was laid in a rich bed in triumphant attire with the Crown upon his head and the collar of the order about his neck and 40 dayes at ordinary houres dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies as sewing water grace carving c. all the Cardinals Prelats Lords Gentlemen and Officers attending in far greater solemnity then if he had been alive Now this I confesse was a piece of flattery more then needed but not comparable to that of the Romans in making their Emperours Gods which they might well have conceived was neither in the power of the one to give nor of the other to receive Dr. Hakewill in his Apology In Severus his reigne the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for Adultery Id. ib. When Julia blamed the wife of Argentoâ—oxus a Northern Britain because her country people accompanied promiscously 10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 Women common among them she not ignorant of the Roman incontinency replied We accompany openly with the best but vile persons defile you secretly Xiphiline Dion writeth that in Severus his time it rained silver at Rome in Augustus his forum O pluviam salutarem supparem illi quâ Iupiter ad Danaen suam penetravit sed nimis hic infâ—equentem inquies Sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusâ
subegerat clementiâ magis vicerit He was of so good a nature that such as he subdued by Battell he more overcame with gentlenesse He said the greatest pleasure he took of his Victories was that he daily saved the lives of some of his country-men that bare armes against him Caesar dando sublevando ignoscendo gloriam adeptus est Salust in bel Catilin When Pompey's head was presented to him Vberrimas lachrymas profudit he wept bitterly and caused him to be honourably buried saying Ego Pompeii casum deploro meam fortunam metuo I lament Pompey's fall and fear mine own fortune When he found many Letters in Pompey's coffers wherein divers testified their good will unto Pompey and their hatred towards him he neither read them nor copied them out but presently burnt them least being exasperated by them he should have been forced to have committed some greater evil When Pompey's Images had been thrown down he caused them to be set up again and Cicero thereupon used this speech that Caesar in setting up Pompey's Images again made his own to stand surer He accounted his conquest of the two Pompeys Sons to Pompey the great in Andaluzia in Spain the most glorious of all his victories for he would often say afterwards that at others times he fought for Fame and Victory but that day he fought for his life which he had never fought for before When some of his friends did counsell him to have a Guard for the safety of his Person and some also did offer themselves to serve him he would never consent unto it but said It was better to dye once then alwaies to be afraid of death He said also Mori se quam timeri malle saith Paterculus when some advised him to keep by Armes what he had got by Armes When he was hindered by one of the Tribunes from taking some of the common Treasure out of Saturnes Temple and told that it was against the Law Tush said he Time of Warre and Law are two things That speech of his was compounded both of terrour and clemency to Metellus the Tribune for Caesar entring into the inner Treasury of Rome to take the money there kept Metellus forbad him whereto Caesar said That if he did not desist he would lay him dead in the place and presently taking himself up he added young man it is harder for me to speake it then do do it He was a spare drinker of Wine as his very enemies confessed whence arose that Apothegme of Cato That of all that ever were Caesar alone came sober to the overthrow of the state He was the first that devised the way for friends to talke together by writing Cyphers in letters when he had no leisure to speake with them for his urgent businesse and for the great distance from Rome He said Caesars wife ought not only to be without fault but also without all suspition of fault Being certified that Cato had slain himself with his own hands he seemed to be very sorry for it and said O Cato I envie thy Death because thou didst envie my glory to save thy life Cicero wrote a book in commendation of Cato to justify that action which Caesar answered with another which he called Anti-Cato both which are lost Schildius out of Beroaldus saith Cicero wrote a book intituled Cato in commendation of him which vexed Caesar because he conceived the commendation of the other tended to his dispraise and therefore he wrote two bookes against Cato discovering his crimes called Anti-Catones Being in a Pinnase or small Boat in a great storm he said to the Master of it Fellow be of good cheer for thou hast Caesar and his fortune with thee So Charles the fifth taking his Horse to rush into the main battel was requested to forbear but he answered An Emperour was never shot through with a Bullet So William the second of England comming to imbark at Portsmouth the Master told him the weather was rough and there was no passing without imminent danger Tush said he set forward I never yet heard of a King that was drowned Dan. Hist. Yet I may say of him as our Chronicler doth of one of our English Kings Inerant illi confuso quodam temperamento virtutes magnae vitâ—a non minora Suetonius and others speake of his unnaturall uncleannesse and prodigious prodigality He stole out of the Capitol 108000. pounds reduced to our money in gold at once gave to Servilia a Jewell which cost him 46875. pounds owed 1953125. pounds more then he was worth by his own confession His shewes and publike Donations in costlinesse are almost invaluable About the trimming of his body he was over curious so as he would not only be shaven very precisely but also have his hair plucked The chiefest cause that made him mortally hated was his excessive desire of honour and his slighting the Senators When his friends complained unto him of Antonius and Dolabella that they intended some mischief towards him he answered them again As for these fat men and smooth-combed-heads quoth he I never reckon of them but those pale-visaged and carrion lean people I fear them most meaning Brutus and Cassius He never refused to fight but in his latter dayes being then of this opinion that the oftner he had gottenâ—victory the lesse he was to venture and make trial of fortune also that a victory could gain him nothing so much as some disastrous calamity might take from him There conspired against him more than threescore the heads of which conspiracy were Cassius and Brutus He had fair warning of his death before it came by many evident prodigies Fires were seen in the Element and spirits running up and down in the night and solitary Birds at noon-day sitting in the great Market-place as the Bird Regaliolus did flye with a little branch of Lawrell into the Court of Pompeius a sort of other Birds of divers kinds from out of the Grove hard by pursued after and there pulled it in pieces Caesar sacrificing to the gods found that one of the Beasts which was sacrificed had no heart and that was a strange thing in Nature how a Beast could live without a heart There was a certain South-sayer that had given Caesar warning long before to take heed of the day of the Ides of March which is the fifteenth of the Moneth for on that day he should be in a great danger That day being come Caesar going unto the Senate-house and speaking merrily to the South-sayer told him The Ides of March were come So they be softly answered the South-sayer but yet they are not past Christianus Matthias Theat Histor. Theoret Pract. in Iul. Cap. 3. hath an elegant and memorable parallel history Henry the 4. King of France was disswaded from going abroad that day he was slain by some as a day mark't out by
Astrologers to portend danger to his person yet he a second Caesar as well in the course of his life as of his death was little sway'd therewith but like a King and a Christian replied that it was an offence to God to give credit to these Prognostiques and that having God to his guard he feared no man The Life and death of Henry the 4. The night before this Discourse had with the South-sayer all the windowes and doores of his chamber did flye open and his Wife Calphurnia dreamed that Caesar was slain and that she had him in her arms He was stabbed with 23. wounds he onely gave one groane at the first thrust without uttering any words Some say That as M. Brutus came running upon him he said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thou my Son All men are of opinion that such a death befell unto him as he desired for when he had read in Xenophon how Cyrus being at the point of death gave order for his Funeral he seting light by so slow and lingering a kind of death wished to dye quickly and of a suddain The very day before he was killed in a certain discourse moved at supper in Marcus Lepidus his house upon that point which was the best end of a mans life He preferred that which was suddain and unlooked for He dyed in the 56. year of his age Et in Deorum numerum relatus est he was made a god after death which could not defend himself from death from cruell murther and that Non ore modo decernentium sed persuasione vulgi Not only by their voyce which decreed such honour unto him but also by perswasion of the common people A Comet shined then for seven dayes together arising about the eleventh hour of the day and it was believed by those blind Heathen to be Caesars soul who had been a Comet of combustion to the world Micat inter omnes Iulium sidus velut inter ignes Luna minores Also upon his Image there is a Star set to the very crown of his head Of these Murtherers there was not one that either survived him above three years or dyed a naturall death All stood condemned and by one mishap or other perished some by shipwrack others by battel and some again shortned their own dayes with the very same dagger wherewith they had wounded Caesar Cassius as Plutarch reporteth and Brutus according to Dion Choyce Observations OF OCTAVIUS AVGUSTVS HE was styled by the name of Augustus i. e. worshipfull or sacred which they thought to be a name of reverence and Majesty because all consecrated and hallowed places were called Loca Augusta That Moneth which was by them called Sextilis because it was their sixth Moneth is called Augustus in honour of him and things of greatest splendour are called Augustissima Iulius Caesar was his great Uncle but his Father by Adoption He was called Octavius from his Father and Augustus from his victory A man most nobly descended for riches honour friends Empire fortunate victories almost adored for bodily good things of comely stature Forma eximia per omnes aetatis gradus venustissima Of most amiable visage and that also majesticall by his bright and shining eyes Quibus etiam existimari volebat inesse quiddam divini vigoris Wherein also as he would have men believe was seated a kind of Divine vigor and he joyed much if a man looking wishly upon him held down his face as it were against the brightnesse of the Sun therefore a certain souldier turned away his eyes from beholding his face and he demanding the reason why he did so he answered Quia fulmen oculorum tuorum ferre non possum His hair was somewhat yellow and his body freckled with spots which his flatterers would have the world believe were in form like stars He was indeed somewhat low neverthelesse of a comely stature five foot and nine inches the just measure saith one of our late famous Queen Elizabeth who as she matched that Roman Emperour in happinesse and duration of Reigne so did she likewise in the stature of her body Cities were called Caesareae in honour of him so in honour of our Virgin Queen was there a Country called Virginia Augustus Imperii formator ne Dominum quidem dici se volebat Augustus the founder of the Roman Empire for his Father Caesar was but Metator rather then Imperator the chalker of it out then the setter of it up This great man would not be called Lord. Upon the same day that our Saviour was born he forbad them by Edict to call him Lord that all Lordship might be ascribed to him In his time our Saviour was born Imperante Augusto natus est Christus imperante Tiberio crucifixus He consulting with the Oracle of Delphos about his Successour received this answer Puer Hebraeus diis beatis imperans jubet me Hanc domum linquere rursus in orcum reverti Quod superest abi tacitus ex aris nostris Whereupon Augustus coming home in the Capitol erected an Altar and thereon in Capitall letters caused this inscription to be ingraven Haec est Ara Primogeniti Dei He is mentioned in the Scripture Luke 2. 1. There came an Edict from Augustus Caesar that all the world should be taxed i. e. all the Provinces subject to the Roman Empire for the Romans called themselves Lords of the whole world He made not war upon any people without just and necessary causes his saying was That neither battel nor war was to be undertaken unlesse there might be evidently seen more hope of gain then fear of damage He likened such who sought after small commodities with great danger unto those that Angle with a golden hook which if it be broken off no draught of Fish whatsoever is able to make amends for the losse That was prudent advice of Henry the fourth K. of France to Henry the third his Brother who would needs with those small forces they had salley out of Tours upon the great Army of Charles Duke of Mayen Sire quoth he N'hazardons pas un double Henry contre un Carolus i. e. Let us not venter a double Ducket for a single penny He was so troubled and astonished at the Relation of a Foyl and overthrow of Varus that for certain moneths together he let the hair of his beard and head grow still and wore it long yea and otherwhiles would run his head against the doores crying out Quintilius Varus Deliver up my Legions again Suetonius He deemed nothing lesse beseeming a perfect and accomplished Captain then temerity or rashnesse using this speech Satis celeriter fieri quicquid commodè geritur That is done soon enough which is done well enough He was so exceedingly delighted with that proverbiall saying Festina lentè that he would not onely use it frequently in his daily Colloquies but
that he might deface the suspicion of assasinating his Son He imitated Marcus Aurelius in a slow pace and low voice and Nero in a cruell life Instead of Macrinus he was by his own servants called Macellinus as one would say Butcher quòd macelli specie domus ejus cruentaretur sanguine vernularum Because his house was like a shamble of murthered men Capitolinus in Macrino c. 13. He was named Mezentius because like him he joyned live bodies to dead He commanded 2. souldiers who had ravished their hostesses maid to be sewed up in the bellies of 2. great Oxen their heads onely left out that they might speak one to another He caused those souldiers who committed Adultery to be tyed to the women and burnt alive though his Wife Nonia Celsa was insatiable that way He shut live men in seiled walls where they dyed miserably Mothe le Vayer in his Opuscules p. 27. c. thinketh that one reason why Macrinus banished Lucius Priscillianus a valiant Captain into an Island where he dyed was because he had the boldnesse to encounter alone 4. such fierce beasts as a Bear a Leopard a Lyonesse and a Lyon though his cruell carriage under Caracalla who advanced him afforded sufficient pretence for his punishment as Dion informeth us l. 78. Macrinus said he was clement when he punished but one souldier in an hundred with capitall punishment for a mutiny when he thought they deserved to be decimated or at least one in 20. to suffer Having written to the Senate that he knew no body desired his death Fulvius Diogenianus cryed out Yes but we all do After he had concluded a peace with Artabanus the Parthian King he returned to Antioch in Syria and there spent his time in sensual pleasures being drenched so far therein that the Army began to dislike his government and to favour young Bassianus the son of Caracalla then present at Emesa a Citie in Phoenicia with Maesa his Grand-Mother by his Mothers side who there had built a Temple to the Sun and therein ordained him a Priest for which cause he was called Heliogabalus which in the Phoenician language is the Priest of the Sun To this temple resorted many of the Souldiers and seeing the beauty of the youth allured Maesa to bring him to their Camp where known to be the Son of Caracalla the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperour and maintained his right against Macrinus who after this revolt met young Heliogabalus in the confines between Phoenicia and Syria where he fought a bloudy battel but being put to flight hasted to Chalcedon fell sick and was with his Son Diadumenus put to death by the Souldiers because he contracted their pay and suppressed their luxury He lived 54. yeares reigned one year and 2. Moneths Principis hic custos sumptum pro Caesare ferrum Vertit in auctorem caede Macrinus iners Mox cum prole ruit Gravibus pulsare querelis Cesset persidiam quoe patitur meruit Ausonius Choyce Observations OF HELIOGABALUS THis Monster had more names and sur-names saith Tristan then Hydra had heads for whilest he was a private man he was called Varius Avitus Lupus Varius from his reputed Father Varius Marcellus Avitus Lupus from Julius Avitus Lupus his Grand-father by the mothers side after being presented to the Souldiers to obtain their favour he was named Bassianus by whom when he was received and proclaimed Emperour they gave him the name of Antoninus He was the last Emperour upon whom that name was conferred which because he dishonoured he was called Pseud-Antoninus He was named Assyrius saith Dion because he was often seen in publick clothed with a barbarous habit such as his Countrymen the Priests of Syria anciently called Assyria used to wear His debauchednesse made him to be sur-named the Roman Sardanapalus He had the sur-name of Heliogabalus given to him because he was Priest of Heliogabalus the peculiar god of the Emesenes so strange a Deity that Authors agree not about the writing or meaning of his name though it be most probable that it signifieth the Sun He was the spurious issue of Caracalla and Symia Syra which Sealiger rendreth Lunula Onychine He had 6 Wives in the short time of his reigne the first of which was Annia Faustina of Commodus his linage for the enjoyment of whom he caused Pomponius Bassus her husband to be put to death not permitting her to weep for him Divorcing her he married Cornelia Paula a most Illustrious Roman Lady that he might the sooner be a Father said he who was not able to be a man yet soon after onely because she had a spot in her body as he said he put her away and stripping her of all honours sequestred her to a private life After pretending he was in love he violently took out of Vesta her sacred Nunnery at Rome Julia Aquilia Severa a Vestal Virgin and married her which by the Heathens was held such a crime that the Num which had carnal knowledge of a man was buried alive writing to the Senate who were grieved at his sacrilegious act That she was a fit match for a Priest and impudently affirmed he did it That from himself a Priest and his Wife the chief Priestesse of Vesta there might be born issue worthy of the Gods Yet he quickly turned away this wife for to espouse another with 2 more whose names are unknown it being difficult to determine whether he be to be blamed more for his frequent and illegal marriages or his sudden and causelesse divorces And at last being possessed with a continuall inconstancy having changed 5 times in 4. yeares he returned to Aquilia Severa compare Dion l. 79. with Herod l. 5. c. 6. Nor did he thus play at fast and loose with humane matrimonies onely but now his God also wanted a wise Him he married first to Pallas after saying His God liked not so martial a wife to Vrania concluding it was fitter to match the Sun and Moon together making his God almost as fickle as himself Herodian l. 5. c. 6. He gave all the treasure in the Temple of Vrania to his God for a portion with her He commanded all the people of Rome and Italy to use all publick and private feasts for joy of the wedding He erected in the suburbs a magnificent Temple into which every year with great solemnity he brought his God whom he preferred before Iupiter and made an edic◠that the Romans should pray to the ne◠god Heliogabalus before all other gods who he said were servants of his God spoiling their Temples to enrich that of his nay would have had no other gods worshippe◠at Rome saith Lamprid. in Heliogab c. 3. Ne◠Romanas tautùm voluit extinguere religioues sed per orbem terrae unum studens ut Heliogabalu◠deus unus ubique coleretur Id. ibid. c. 6. He was a man for all women and a woman for all men Coëffeteau He so far differed from the manners o◠men that modesty
day in the year except the first of Ianuary whereto the number of 5000 Martyrs at the least might not be ascribed saith Hierome in his Epistle ad Heliodorum Chromatium Quis non horreat in una Aegypto 144 millia mortalium caesa 700 millia in exilium acta praeter Africam totamque Europam in carnificinam versas ut totum orcum dicas in orbem effusum ubi nemo nisi tortus vel tortor sit Bussieres in Flosculis Historicis Maximian at Octodurum commandeth the Army to sacrifice to false gods the Theban Legion consisting of 6666 Christians remove their quarters to Agaunum to avoid if possible occasion of discontenting the Emperour who summoneth them to perform their parts in this devilish worship they return an humble denyal with their resolve not to disobey God for whose sake they would ever continue faithfull to him He unsatisfied with this answer putteth them to a decimation to which they submit with cheerfulness praying for their murderer His commands are renewed but prevail not on the remainder who are butchered without resistance there being no delay in their death except from the wearines of their executioners Mauricius their Colonel could not contain his joy when he saw the first decimation gallantly suffered How â—eareful was I said he to his awhile surviving souldiers for armed men may be tempted to defend themselves lest any of them might upon colour of just resistance for self-preservation in an innocent cause have strugled against this blessed slaughter I was watchful and had Christs example in readines who commanded his Disciple to put his sword into his scabbard Salus vestra non periclitabitur nisi armis vestris Despair it self could not conquer one single patience which yet createth valour in cowards and maketh them more couragious in such extremities because they are fearfull since they are likely to do most to preserve life who are most afraid of death Eucherius Lugdunensis Diocletiano Maximiano imperantibus acerbissima persecutio exorta quae per decem continuos annos plebem Dei depopulata est quâ tempestate omnis ferè sacro martyrum cruore orbis infectus est quippe certatim gloriosa in certamina ruebatur multoque avidius tum martyria gloriosis mortibus quaerebantur quà m nunc Epistopatus pravis ambitionibus appetuntur Nullus unquam bellis mundus magis exhaustus est neque unquam majore ttiumpho vicimus quà m cùm decem annorum stragibus vinci non potuimus Sulpitius Severus Sa r. Hist. l. 2. There was a Columne as a Trophy of the extinguishing the Christian faith erected to him with this inscription Dioclesiano Caes. Aug. Galerio in Oriente Adopt Superstitione Christi ubique deletâ Et cultu Deorum ubi que propagato Gruters Inscriptions p. 280. This most bloody persecutour of the Church at last perswaded Maximian to lay aside with him all government not because he was weary of persecuting but of disappointment since he could not hatch his long brooded designes for the utter extirpation of the Christians being thus out of hope to do all the mischief he intended by resigning the Empire he putteth himself out of powr to do any Being sollicited 4 years afterby Maximian to reassume his charge he answered You would not tempt me to it did you see the herbs set with my own hands in my garden at Salona Diocletian being invited by Constantine the Great and Licinius to their marriage-feast excused himself that by reason of his age he could not come upon which they wrote back threatning Letter wherein he was charged to favour Maximinus and to have shewed favour to Maxentius whereupon fearing some shamefull death he poysoned himself S. Aur. Victor Maximian seemingly taking offence at his son Maxentius then at variance with his son-in-law Constantine the Great under colour of this dislike repaired to Constantine who married Fausta his daughter with whom he tampered to make away her husband but she revealed his treachery to Constantine who thereupon put him to death Vtinam Maximianus suo potius ingenio quà m alieno exemplo fastidiâ—set fortunae fastigium Diocletianum secutus est Sic verò animi inconstans quia cùm ex Augusto privatus esset è privato tyrannus esse voluâ— Nam ut ad Imperii majestatem eveheret Mâ—xentium filium acriter affâ—xit Rem Romanam ut deinde evectum rejiceret pater quoque esse recusâ—vit Iam nec in filio Maxentio nec in genero Constantino purpuram ferens dum insidias utrique struit interficitur Puteanus in Historia Insubrica Choyce Observations OF CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS And GALERIUS ARMENTARIUS To whom are joyned SEVERVS MAXIMINVS MAXENTIVS LICINIVS Collegues WHen Diocletian and Maximian laid down the ensignes of command Constantius Chlorus was chosen Emperour in these Western Provinces of France Spain and Britain Unto Galerius his government fell Egypt and the Provinces in Asia Constantius who chose rather to govern well than much gave up Africk and Italy to him as too remote from the seat of his residence and eye of his direction Constantius was by birth a Roman his Father was named Eutropius his Mother Claudia Neece to the Emperour Claudius Gothicus Tristan thinketh that Constantius was not called Chlorus from his Palenes since Eumenius attributeth to him a very sanguine complexion but from some green garments which he wore when he was young and he mentioneth others who had the same surname He was very affable reigned to enrich his subjects saying It was fitter that the wealth of the Land should be dispersed into the Commons hands than locked up in Princes coffers in which kind he was so averse from all superfluities that he may rather be adjudged faulty the other way for he was an enemy to extortions even to the lessening of the train of his house Being but nominated for the Empire and reproched for his poverty by Diocletian who sent to exhort him to heap up treasures he advertised the people of his want who vehemently contended among themselves to fill his Exchequer rejoycing greatly that now they had that long wished for opportunity to witnesse their benevolous minds unto the Emperour whereupon he truly and excellently said That the love of the people is the richest and safest Treasury of the Prince Shewing to Diocletians Embassadors the great summes which he had ammassed in few houres they were amazed thereat after whose departure he returned all the Subsidy that was presented to him by which custome he rather got the Epithet of poor than so indeed being by this voluntary poverty richer than Diocletian himself yea than all the other Princes together who were partners with him And as this one action shewed his royal magnificence so this other declareth his piety in both which he was exemplary To try the hearts of his Courtiers he proclaimed that all they who would not forsake the worship of the true God should be banished the Court and should have heavy penalties and fines laid upon