drinke water somtimes wine somtimes ale somtimes sider somtimes sodde water somtimes golden water some times stild water and at other times hee woulde not drinke but brothes and collesses In the manner of his feeding he neither vsed authoritie or obserued grauitie for at some times he woulde eate sittinge in a chaire sometimes on a bench and sometimes walking for he vsed to say that in such manner he did both eate and digest Naturally hee was giuen to sleepe verie litle through the weakenesse of his braine and slepte in all places without respect as well in the temple as in the Senate in the garden in the bath in the bedde and also in the market place in suche wise that hee wanted force to resiste the leaste motions and affections of his inclination Heliogabalus did inuent at Rome a certeine manner of feasting named Festum vindemiarum that is to saye the feast of grape gathering which feast was so dissolute vnshamefast vnto the viewe of the common people that afterwards in Rome they neuer cōsented to the celebratiō therof He was also greatly addicted to playe at tennis and whē he was offended with any olde Senatour either any auncient or honourable Romane he would sende for him to playe and accompany him with whome he would playe so much that in the end the sorrowfull gentleman should departe vnto his house both tyred beswett and drudged and also many times despoyled of his money He went verie seldome vnto the temples was vtterly voide and barren of all friendship or affection vnto wise men was neuer séene to read in bookes greatly abhorred suters affaires was negligent either to paye or refourme the armies made small accompt either of friendes or enimies finally he was addicted vnto his owne opinion and a mortall enimie vnto reason CHAP. X. ¶ Of a letter written by the great matrone Mesia vnto her nephue the Emperour Heliogabalus THE greate matrone Mesia being aduertised in Asia of her nephue Heliogabalus so farre inraged with vice in Rome did write him a letter after his manner My sonne Heliogabalus when thou departedst from Asia vnto Rome I hoped to haue heard such newes of thee as might be ioyfull to thy common wealth and haue giuen vnto mee greate renounce glorie but as I am aduertised here and also giuen to vnderstand from thence there thou doest minister matter for all men to murmur and here vnto mee sufficient cause to weepe Sixtie sixe yeares are past since I was borne into this worlde in which I haue buried and bewailed my father Torquatus my mother Aristina my sister Phillis and her husbande Tharsus Also I buried and bewailed my husband Aristippus my sonne Lucius Francus my daughter Dolobella and her husband Martianus Also I bewailed and buried the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and the Empresse Faustina my good and gratious Ladie in whose house I was borne and in whose palace I was married I also buried and bewailed the Emperour Commodus the Emperour Pertinax Annius Pastor mine vnckle Mirtha mine aunte Camillus my nephue and Ioanna my neece Also I buried and bewailed the Emperour Seuerus my onely good Lorde and famous Emperour Also I bewailed and buried thine vnfortunate father my deare and moste desired sonne whose name I dare not either any other expresse in my presence because the sounde thereof constraineth mee to breake foorth in teares I thought it expedient my sonne to leade thee vnto remembrance of al these thy predecessours to the ende thou mayst see howe small reason it were that I should bewaile the liuing since I haue wept all the dayes of my life for so many persons that are dead When thou wast borne by stealth and I did both hide and couer thee when I did remoue thee from Rome and brought thee vnto Grecia when I caused thee to be instructed in Greeke letters and bred and nourished thee in companie of wise men when I did offer thee vnto the God Heliogabalus and made thee a priest in his sacred temple I thought my sonne that all these thinges should serue mee for ioye and peace in my reposed age and not to bewaile thy childishe youthfulnesse In this I acknowledge how free the iudgements of the Gods are from the thoughtes of men in that the gods determine one thing and men suppose another which hath chaunced both vnto thee and to mee O my sonne Heliogabalus because the childishnesse which thou doest vse and the vices thou possessest I did not onely thinke thou wouldst not committe but also that in thy minde they shoulde neuer haue had passage When I did place thee with the greate prieste Gorgias caused thee to be apparayled in the sacred vesture prayedst daily vnto the gods and also euery weeke diddest offer sacrifice in the temple I hoped thou shouldest haue proued a Paragon in vertue and not as thou arte a monster in all vice If thou wouldest consider many thinges do persuade and also binde thee to be good but nothinge prouoketh thee to be euill that is to weete ▪ to be a man reasonable to haue beene a priest to be borne in Rome to be nowe an Emperour to haue nourished thee in my house and to be descended of bloud so noble and generous for it much prouoketh men to perfourme that which they ought to do to remember from whence they be descended Beleeue mee my sonne that with lesse cost and more ease thou shalt be vertuous then vicious because vices content the fleshe when they are committed and torment the hearte after they be perfourmed but vertues yelde not so much griefe in their woorking as pleasure when we haue giuen repulse vnto vice I may not comprehende the froward fortune that foloweth thee or the sorrowfull destinies which haue pursued mee since I nourished thee in trueth and thou prouest and arte become a lyar I bred thee chaste and thou arte imbrued with impudicitie I brought thee vp in temperance thou hast stained thy selfe with excesse and gluttonie I trayned thee in shamefastnesse and thou rendrest a life moste dissolute and that which is woorst aboue the rest thou doest neither feare to offende the Gods or escandalize men Admitting thou wouldest not be good for any offence vnto the Gods that haue created thee or anye griefe or scandal vnto men with whome thou doest liue yet oughtest thou so to be to remoue all heauinesse and displeasure from mee thy olde and sorrowfull grandmother since thou knowest I bought for thee the Empire by the weight of money drawen out of my chestes and by force of teares issuing breaking from mine entrailes My sonne thou doest well knowe that to make thee a Romane Prince I gaue greate giftes vnto the temples offered vnto the Gods infinite sacrifices gaue vnto the Pretorians all my treasures made vnto the Priestes great offers sent vnto the Senatours moste riche iewels all which is nothing for if it had beene possible I would haue giuen my bloud vnto the immortall Gods that thou
the poore and redéeming captiues He was sent on a time by Adrian to visite the Isle of Sicyl in which visitation he reformed many people chasticed many tyraunts depriued many officers remoued many enimities repaired ruinous buildinges did melt manye counterfeit coynes but moste of all in suche manner did gouerne the common wealth that no man remained discontented He was iiij yeares Pretor within Rome he was Consul in Campania with Catilinus Seuerus he was Iudge thrée yeres together in al which offices he was neuer noted either rashe in commaundements or rigorous in his chasticements Adrian diuided all Italie into foure iurisdictions placing in euery one a Consul for gouernement thereof and established Antoninus supreme gouernour of them all in such wise that he helde such authoritie and credite that in Rome all was gouerned by his counsell and in Italie all did obey his commaundementes Were his person farre distant alwayes Adrian and the Senate had his counsell present the cause whereof procéeded of his cleare iudgement in the foundation of that which he saide and through the bountie of his vertue he frankly did speake his opinion Wée saide not without iust cause that by his vertue he did fréely saye his opinion for speaking the very truth he is not onely vniust but verie wicked that hath libertie in his speeche and hath not vertue in his life Exercising in Asia the office of Proconsul he vttered so greate wisedome in his commaundementes and so much without couetousnesse in his dealings that he was intituled the holy proconsul which gouernement amongest strangers by a straunger was a case somewhat straunge because detestation alwayes accompanieth such gouernement Comming from Asia vnto Rome in Antioche he buried his eldest daughter whoe had such fame in her life that after her death she left behinde a slaunderous memorie Wée haue saide howe the wife of Antoninus was named Faustine which was mother vnto the faire Faustine wife vnto Marcus Aurelius and moste truely both mother and daughter were touched with infamie by the meane of too muche libertie and too little vertue It was neuer séene in the Romaine Empire that two so vertuous Princes had wiues so licentious notwithstanding the one was sufficiētly aduised the other corrected but for that they were so gratious in their conuersation and so perfect beautifull of their persons it was very little which was saide vnto them in respect of that which was dissembled Antoninus was so limitted in that which he saide and so aduised in the counsels which he gaue that he neuer repented that demaunded the same Before Antoninus came vnto the Empire he was couetous but afterwardes very liberall and his wife reprehending that he vsed no order in giuing or spending he aunswered Faustine simple is thy iudgement since thou vnderstandest not that after we were aduaunced vnto the Empire we lost all that euer we had because all Princes of noble mindes be bounde to giue but haue no licence to kéepe or hoorde The tribute coronall that is to saye the money that was giuen vnto the Emperours for their coronation the one halfe therof he gaue vnto the cities of Italie to relieue the charges of the common wealth His wife he did both honour and cause to be honoured and it was in such maner that he obtained and brought to passe with the Senate that shée shoulde be intituled Augusta Faustina and in her owne name to graue and stampe certeine money the whiche is séene at these dayes Antoninus was imbraced with so ardent affection of the Senate that without his request they erected the pictures and counterfeits of his father and mother his graundfathers and graundmothers his brothers and sisters notwithstanding they were all dead The Circene playes which were vsed euery fifth yeare the Senate did ordeine to celebrate euery yere on the daye of his natiuitie And after that he therefore had greatly gratified the Senate by greate request he obteyned the celebration of them to be perfourmed on the day of Adrians death The Senate to satisfie Antoninus consented that his wife Faustina shoulde be intituled Augusta and also in the coynes whiche they made vnto her honour there shoulde be ingrauen Augusta Faustina whiche excellencie was neuer graunted to anye Woman of Rome for that in giuing her the title of Augusta they gaue her authoritie to set her hande to the thinges of the common wealth CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe he helde all prouinces in peace not by armes but with letters AMongest al the Romaine Princes there was none that performed so great constancie in his affaires as Antoninus Pius which procéeded for that he was not rashe in his commaundements either variable in his determinations but that exactly he considered and examined what he did commaunde and after for no importunitie would reuoke the same Antoninus being resident in the prouince of Campania sending vnto the Senate to request a certeine matter which notwithstanding the difficultie thereof was graunted Gaius Rufus a Senatour saide vnto him Serene Prince I beséeche thée to giue mée to vnderstande by what reason it is brought to passe that in all thy enterprises thou doest neuer repent in all thy requestes thou art neuer denied either in al thy commaundements thou arte neuer disobeyed To whome Antoninus made aunswere If I repent mée not of any my déedes it is because I do them according to reason and if my requests are not denied of the Senate it is because I craue not but that which is iust and if in my commaundements I am not disobeyed it procéedeth that they are more profitable vnto the common welth then for mine owne person Most truely these were words right worthie of such a mā and to the memorie of Princes most chiefely to be commended It was an auncient custome amongst the Romaines to haue the time limitted for their residence in their offices that is to say the Dictatour sixe monethes the Consul one yere the Pretor two yeres the Censour three yeres the maister of the horssemen halfe a yeare and so of the rest Antoninus woulde not consent vnto this custome but in euery respect did alter the same in such wise that with some that shoulde haue continued but two or thrée yeares he helde them in office seuen or eight yeares and others that shoulde haue continued thrée yeares hee displaced them in thrée monethes affirminge that the good officer ought to be conserued all the dayes of his life but the euill not to be suffered one onely daye He sent Fuluius Tusculanus as Pretor into the prouince of Mauritania whome within half a yere he depriued of his office for that he was bothe impatient some what couetous and complaining of the iniurie saide and alledged that in times past he had béene friend vnto Antoninus which nowe was forgotten Whereunto Antoninus Pius did aunswer thou hast no reason thus vniustly to blame mée because the office was giuen thée by the Emperour and not by Antoninus and since thou diddest offende not as Fuluius but
discharged him of his head in such wise that conformable to his filthie life hée receiued a nastie death Although Heliogabalus and his mother were ioyntly slaine yet most truly she discouered a more noble minde for that shée died in her chamber as a Ladie and hée most cowardly in a priuie Heliogabalus and his mother being dead they tooke their naked mangled bodies and trailed them in the dirte alongest the streates vnto Tiber in the depth whereof they were cast to be eaten of fishe and not to bee sought or found of men Many Princes his predecessours successours were very euil wicked of life and pernicious vnto the cōmon wealth but amongest all Heliogabalus alone was hee in whome was found no good worke so he alone wanted a Sepulchre By this Prince all princes ought to take example to flie wilfulnesse and the hatred of their people because a detested life remoueth all merite of honourable buriall The Romanes not satisfied to haue slaine drawen and drowned Heliogabalus ouerthrew and whirled stones at his counterfects that were placed in the Capitol scrapte out his name in all places where it was written and the more to discouer their hatred they did not onely kil all his seruauntes and friends but burned all his apparell and iewels in such wise that of him remayned no other memorie in Rome but the report of his name whereat they did spet on the ground Heliogabalus reigned 6. yeares 3 monethes and tenne dayes he liued 32. yeares 4. monethes and fiue dayes wherof 26. yeares he was a young man very vertuous a priest withdrawen and also solitarie the other 6. yeares hee was an Emperour more absolute and vicious then euer reigned in the Romane Empire for that the vices which were scattered in other persons were found ioyntly in his possession The life of the good Emperour Alexāder Seuerus sonne of the good matrone Manea compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counsellour vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the nouriture and naturall countrie of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus AVRELIVS Alexander was naturally an Assyrian borne his father was named Varius and his mother Manea hée was cousen germane vnto the emperour Heliogabalus for their mothers were sisters and although he were borne in Assyria yet he was bred and nourished in Rome for that in those dayes his grandmother the great matrone Mesia gouerned Seuerus his household and also the whole common wealth Alexander was tall of body of blacke curled haire sallow leane faced with great eyes a thicke short necke his hands drie and of bigge sinewes slender legged high of instep and his complexion somewhat cholerike but much flegmatike which afterwards he discouered in the course of his life because he was mild of conuersation and in gouernement pitiful Alexander was borne in the citie of Arsena Septimus Seuerus being Emperour hee was nourished the first foure yeares in Assyria then brought vnto Rome vnder the gouernement of his grandmother where after she had kept him with her other thrée yeares in Rome she returned him into Assyria partly to auoyde the idle nouriture of the Court and also for that Bassianus should not murther him The presages of his Empire were these it was found most truly that on the day that Alexander Magnus died this Alexander Aurelius was borne at the time of child birth his mother came to visite the Sepulchre of Alexander where she fell in trauell and brought forth this sonne who was named Alexander his nourse being called Olympia and his tutour Philip which were the two names of the father mother of Alexander Magnus The selfe same day that Alexander was borne there came an old woman to her house and offered vnto the mother a red egge which a stock doue had layd at the houre aduouching that red egge to signifie no other matter but that the same child should be Emperour Manea the mother of this prince was a woman very wise prudent aduised and no lesse faire and the speciall cause why shee deserued so greatly to be estéemed and honoured was because no Romane woman did excéede her in honestie of person either was equal vnto her in kéeping her house As this matrone Manea naturally was vertuous and inclined vnto good so she had great solicitude to nourishe instruct her sonne Alexander in good maners and to learne good and profitable sciences and to the end he should not forget in the companie of other yonge men what he had learned of his masters and tutors she set great watch that none were permitted either to talke confer or to be conuersant with him that were not wise learned After that Alexander was able to goe his mother taught him to be temperate in diet neat in his apparel reposed in his pace and reformed in his speach He held so great measure in all thinges apperteyning to good maners sinceritie in vertues and cleannesse from all vice which that age alwayes doth yeld that all men vnto whom he was knowen said that it was as much to sée Alexāder in time of his youth as Tullius when he was an old man It was not to be found all the time hee was gouerned by his mother that any one day hee did passe without learning or exercise either in letters or cheualrie wherof they both deserued perpetuall praise which is to witt the mother in her cōmaundements the sonne for his obedience Many sonns would proue good if their fathers had knowledge to giue them instructions neither would so many proue euil if they did yeeld obedience vnto their parents to whiche purpose the diuine Plato said in his bookes of common wealth that that familie was happie blessed where the parents were prudent the children obedient Manea vsed most special vigilancie in the gard of her sonne not onely from all vsual vices but also vicious persons for that many times good inclinations are corrupted by vicious conuersation In his infancie his scholemasters were Valerius Gordius Viturius this Viturius was he that afterwards was most estéemed in his house and wrote the discourse of his life which historie was lost when the Gothēs entered Rome His maister for Grāmar was Nebon the Grecian in Philosophie Estelion the first and in Rhetorike Serapio the vertuous afterwards when he came to Rome he had for his maisters Escarius Iulius and Macrinus graue persons to instruct learned to teach Aboue all other Romane princes Alexander was a friend of wise men for whom he made diligent search enriched them if they were poore honoured enterteined gaue them credit when they counselled him finally a wise mā of him neuer receiued an ill answere or foūd in his house any doore shut against him Being demaunded why he did so generally delight in the wise learned he answered I loue them for that which they know honour them for that which they may for in time to come
an instant some were slaine and some ouerthrowen Traiane disguised and in disposition to viewe the citie was of the enimies both knowen wounded and his Squire slaine The Agarens beeing demaunded if at that instant they had notice of the Emperours person they aunswered that his grauitie and the maiestie of his presence did discouer his estate Traiane being at that siege there arose terrible lightening and thunder which in that countrie was neuer séene and besides there descended vppon the Romaine campe flies so many importune that both their meate and drinke and their owne persons were continually couered with the same Traiane considering the citie to be impregnable did retire his armie They saye that he saide at his retraite Since the Agarens with mine armies either my wordes be neither subdued or persuaded the destinies haue reserued this triumph for some other Prince in the world to come In the prouince of Cyrene Traiane had a greate armie both of Greekes as of Romaines and the pretor of those armies was a certeine Romaine named Andreas against whome the Iewes of those partes did rebell and slewe both captaine Greekes and Romaines The Iewes were not onely contented to haue slaine the Romaines but also brought the dead bodies vnto the shambles and there did quarter cut in péeces and solde by weight with no lesse appetite did eate that humaine fleshe then if it had béene hennes and fesants Adding crueltie vppon crueltie they brought forth certeine Romaines whiche they had in prison and did wage one with another a denéere or a point to strike off the head of a Romaine at a blowe Another thing not more vile then horrible the Iewes committed vppon those miserable Romaines that is they fleyed them quicke and tanned their skinnes for leather and further with greatest disgrace did cut off their most shamefast partes and plaide and tost them as a ball in the market place As the Iewes left no Romaine vnslaine so left they no crueltie or kind of death that they did not experiment and in this matter we haue no lesse to marueile at the hearts of the one to execute then of the patience of the other to suffer That which was don by the Iewes of Cyrene was executed by the Iewes of Aegypt and of the Ilands of Cypres who slewe all the Romaines within their common wealthes which slaughter was no lesse then 500000 Greekes and Romaines When these sorrowfull newes came vnto Traiane he was very sicke but notwithstanding prouided what was conuenient for so desperate a case and presently sent Lucius into Cyrene Marcus into Cypres and Seuerus into Aegypt who committed so great spoiles among the people and executed so cruell iustice vppon the inhabitants that if the dead had béene liuing they would haue yelded them selues for sufficiently reuenged Elius Adrianus was captaine vnto Traiane for the guarde of Syria and hearing what had passed in this matter soudeinly he descended into Iurie and did execute therein a greate slaughter and they of Cypres receiuing warning by this great treason did ordeine that no Iewe shoulde dare to inhabite or passe into that kingdome and that if tempest shoulde bring them by chaunce into that Ilande to haue no redemption therof but by the losse of their heades Traiane naturally was alwayes of greate health but in the traueile of so many prouinces following of so many warres sayling vpon so many Seas and enduring so many woundes the griefe or disease of the piles did not a little vexe him But the case was thus that from the daye that Traiane might not passe into the Indies they neuer sawe health in his person or ioy in his face Through the cause or disease of the piles at chaunge of weather Traiane had a fluxe of bloude which for his health was very profitable Either by the colde which he had passed or angers which in him selfe he suffered or greate age wherewith he was laden there increased vnto the good Prince a Pasma or numnesse of his arme and his purgation by fluxe of bloud was stopped Ioyning vnto the citie of Seleuca there were certeine famous bathes whereunto sicke people of all partes did concurre whether Traiane did cause him selfe to be remoued to make proofe for recouerie of his health And as experience did after declare those bathes did not profite but hinder for being weake consumed and spent although he had force to bathe he had no strength to sweate Nowe when Traiane sawe him selfe without hope of life he wrote a letter vnto the Senate of Rome commending the state of his house vnto Lucius and the affaires of the warres vnto Elius Adrianus He dyed in the citie of Seleuca which is in the prouince of Sicyl which from thence foorth was named Traginopolis in the age of 63. yeres and in the reigne of his Empire 21. yeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes ¶ The life of the Emperour Adrian Compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo Preacher Chronicler and Counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift ⸫ CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred and nourished THE greate Emperour Traiane being dead Adrian succéeded in the Empire who was seruaunt friend and cousin of the saide Traiane The beginning and linage of Adrian by the fathers side was of Italie borne in a citie named Hadra and of the mothers side a Spaniard borne at Cades whiche nowe is named Calize a citie of Andoloizia His fathers name was Elius Adrianus maried vnto a woman of Spaine named Domitia Paulina a woman sufficient wise and faire borne in the citie of Calize shée was néece vnto the Emperour Traiane his sisters daughter whome he did much loue for that of a childe shée was bred in his house Adrian had a sister named Paulina who was married vnto a Consul named Seuerinus and the graundfather of Adrianus was named Marillinus of the linage of the Priscans which linage did not a little florishe in the time of the Scipions Adrian was borne in Rome the 9. daye of Februarie in the consulship of Vespasianus septimus and Titus quintus in the yere of the foundation of Rome 488. Adrian had an high bodie of perfecte proportion except his necke which was somewhat stouping his nose somewhat hawked his face swart his eyes more grey then blacke his bearde blacke and thicke his handes more of sinewes then of fleshe his head great and round and a broade forehead a great signe as he had of greate memorie When his father dyed he was but of ten yeres who left him for tutors Vlpius Traianus and Celius Tatianus the one béeing his vnckle and the other his friend effectually requestinge to traine and instruct that childe in wisedome and valiantnesse for that he had no lesse abilitie for the one then for the other At the age of tenne yeres Adrian studied Grammar and after his fathers death his tutours set him to learne the Greeke tongue wherein he was so
mountaines to hunte on whiche chace many were the dayes that he imployed much mony hee spente but muche and many more were the vices which he there committed Thrée monethes and odde dayes he went a fishing at riuers passinge the fieldes and huntinge in mountaines in all whiche time he neuer entered citie towne or village either slepte in anye house and then sent his commaundement vnto the Senate to prepare a triumph for that he woulde enter triumphinge into Rome affirminge that he better deserued triumph for killing beasts that did eate corne then other Emperours for killinge of men that liued in townes The Senate neither might or durst but to receiue him with great triumph the abhominable Commodus most odiously in the chariot triumphant placed a younge man named Anterus and opēly after the manner of man and wife did imbrace eche other In his progresse and pastimes whiche hee vsed in those mountaines he lost no parte of his euill customes but rather added euill vpon euill that is to say the fiercenesse which he recouered in slaying of wilde beastes after his comming to Rome he imploied in murdering of many honourable personages As touchinge the first it is to wéete he banished xxiiii Consuls possest their goods and made a rewarde therof vnto his strumpets other infamous persons whereof fiue by importunate suite of his gratious fauour were restored to their houses and shortly after he cutt off their heads There was in Rome a Senatour named Birrius a man in the days of Marcus Aurelius much estéemed who deserued to marry with a sister of Commodus who for that he warned and informed Commodus of his euill and foule life he commaunded him and all his friends to be slaine and also al the alies and seruants vnto his sister From the time of Commodus father there was remaining a certaine prefect named Ebutianus a man moste truely auncient in yeares and no yonglinge in vertues Commodus being aduertised that Ebutianus had much lamented the death of the Consul Birrius vnto whom Commodus sent a messenger to say vnto him that he woulde vnderstand of him if he woulde wéepe for the death whiche he sente him as he had wéept with the life which he possessed whiche being saide by the commaundement of Commodus he cutte off his head Another Senatour named Apolaustus who also sorowed the death of Ebutianus Commodus commaunded to be slaine The daye that Apolaustus was executed certeine young gentlemen of Commodus his chamber when they vnderstoode of execution done vnto suche as mourned for Ebutianus they deuised to make a shewe of great ioye for the death of Apolaustus to escape the like daunger whereof Commodus being aduertised he commaunded their throtes to be cutte saying that for any acte done of the prince they ought neither to laugh or weepe but heare and see and holde their peace Also he slewe Seruilius and Dulius with all their parentage which were descended of the linage of Silla and he slewe Antius Lupus Petronius and Mamertus with all their bande which were of the linage of Marius affirminge that he executed the Sillans to reuenge the Marians and executed the Marians to reuenge the Sillans There was in Rome a younge gentleman a cousen to Commodus both very faire and valiant and one saying by chaunce vnto Commodus that Mamertus Antonianus his cousen did resemble him in fauour and imitate him in valiantnesse he commaunded them both presently to be slaine affirming that he shoulde be an Emperour that did so resemble and compare with him Amongst other anciente Romaines there were sixe olde Consuls whose names were Alius Fuscus Celius Felices Lucius Torquatus Alatius Ropianus Valerius Bassianus and Patulius Magnus who for their impotencie were not able to come vnto the Senate he commaunded them all to be slaine saying that he was bounde to do in Rome as the good gardener in his orchard that is to say that the drie olde tree must be cutte or puld vp by the roote and cast into the fire In the gouernement of Asia the Senate had placed Sulpitius Crassus Iulius Proculus and Claudius Lucanus as Proconsuls to gouerne those prouinces whome withe their families Commodus gaue order to be murthered with poyson because in his presence they were praised for their déedes done in Asia and also for communication which they had of his euils committed in Rome Marcus Aurelius visitinge the kingdome of Achaia had borne vnto him a Néece and daughter of his sister named Annia Faustina whome also Commodus commaunded to be slayne but the quarell that he had to take away her life was for that shée had married without his licence On a certaine day vpon the bridge of Tiber were fourtéene noble Romaines talking and passinge the time and Commodus at that instant passinge that way saide vnto one that he should demaunde as of him selfe whereof they talked vnto whome they answeared that they were recountinge the vertues of Marcus Aurelius and that they had great sorrowe of his death Commodus hearing this answere presently and out of hande commaunded all the xiiii gentlemen to be hurled headlong ouer the bridge into the riuer affirming that they coulde not speake well of his father but that they must speake euil of him which was his sonne He woulde many times play with the sworde players and betwixte ieste and earnest he killed a thousand of them He was so cruell of nature and so doughtie in his déedes that he had no scruple to kill either feare to be slaine Commodus perceiuinge that al the Romaines fledd either to sée heare speake or to be conuersant with him to no other ende but to auoyde occasion to be slaine at his handes he remembred to inuente a conspiracie which is to wéete to say and publishe that many had conspired against him to his destruction all which he commaunded to be strangled and cutt in péeces notwithstandinge that any suche conspiracie was neuer thought of or intended CHAP. VII Of a certaine conspiracie attempted against Cōmodus and of Perennius his most fauoured counsellour Amongst other sisters Commodus had one named Lucilla who in the life of her father Marcus Aurelius maried with a Consul whose name was Lucius Verus whōe he admitted with him selfe to be cōpanion in the Empire by such meane as Lucilla was intituled Empresse her husbande Emperour But a yeare and three monethes Lucius Verus liued as companion in the Empire with Marcus Aurelius his father in lawe in suche wise that euen then when he was very younge he loste his life and Lucilla as younge became a widowe Lucius Verus being dead Marcus Aurelius married his daughter Lucilla vnto a noble Romaine named Pompeyanus a man verie wise in letters experte in armes and aunciente in yeares After the death of Marcus Aurelius Commodus succeding in the Empire and not then married did allwayes intreate his sister Lucilla as Empresse for as muche as shée had beene wife vnto an Emperour and also being an auncient custome continued in the malice of
giue vnto the multitude to murmur He many times came foorth vnto the fielde of Mars and there he caused the whole armie to exercise feates of war rewarding such as were industrious and reprehendinge such as were dull and hartelesse There were many Romaines and others in the confines of Italie whiche did owe great summes of money not onely vnto the fiscall but also vnto the treasurie among whome some in times past had béene his friendes and others that were in great necessitie he cōmaunded both the one the other to bee deliuered of the fiscall since it was due vnto him selfe and made payement of their whole debt that was due vnto the treasurie Amongest other vertues the Emperour Pertinax of twaine was muche noted and praised whiche is to wéete of clemencie and gratefulnesse for that he was pitifull vnto the afflicted and thankfull vnto his friendes Pertinax had a sonne whome after he was Emperour he would not permit to come to the court either as much as vnto Rome but that he helde him in his countrey following his owne affaires and the profite of his owne house whereuppon the Consul Fuluius Turbone saide vnto Pertinax that he séemed rather the sonne of a labourer then of an Emperour he lift vp his eyes to heauen and with a greate sigh saide My mother Rome hath cause to be contented that I offer and put my life in perill for her cause without venturing my sonne and house in like daunger Most surely the saying was lamentable and the more it is considered the more profounde it is whereby it appeareth that he helde him self for moste vnfortunate to be established in the Empire and that he left his sonne in greatest felicitie to be depriued of the Empire Although Pertinax were olde and graue and was placed in the height of the Empire he alwayes vsed greate vrbanitie towardes all men in suche wise that no man did him reuerence vnto whome he did not vtter some courtesie according to the qualitie of the person Fiftie seruauntes in Rome in one night and in one houre slewe their maisters for whome the Emperour caused so diligent searche that onely fiue escaped and the paine that he commaunded they should suffer was to carrie the dead bodies bounde fast backe to backe in suche wise that the stenche of the dead did finishe the wretched life of the liuing In the schoole where Pertinax studied a certeine Romaine named Valerius was there also a student and being alwayes in companie and of age not much vnlike and continuing in greate friendship did many times eate with Pertinax which during their repast were neuer hearde to talke but of science knighthood repayring of Rome or else the reformation of the common wealth It did well appeare in Pertinax that he tooke the Empire against his will for truely neither in his dyet either in his apparell either in his gesture or spéeche either in any other thing did he behaue him selfe as an Emperour in suche wise that he presumed not to represent what he was but what he had béene He saide manie times that in this worlde he neuer made the like faulte as when he accepted the Empire and many times made motion to leaue the same and to returne vnto his house but that he did recomfort him selfe with this saying that for as muche as he was of so greate age he might not liue longe but be deliuered of his tedious life CHAP. VIII ¶ Of certeine vices wherewith he was infected and of the prodigies of his death AS the Emperour Pertinax was olde so was he charged with the infirmities of olde age that is to saye with auarice because in gathering and kéeping of money he was verie diligent and in giuing or spending verie dull and vnwilling Also he was noted to be a man verie flexible in his affaires that is to saye he was not stiffe either greatly did vse therein any contradiction but that which one did counsell him another might easily persuade the contrarye the cause whereof was his good naturall inclination whiche coulde not without griefe beholde any man that was in sorrowe Also Pertinax was noted that he neuer denied any thing that was demaunded although many his promises were neuer perfourmed for at moste times he promised to giue that which was impossible to be accomplished And because the maiestie and greatenesse of Princes doth consist to haue and possesse whereof to giue they ought much to be aduertised in consideration what is craued of them and what they promise for hauing to do as they haue with so manie and to furnishe so infinite necessities they ought if their subiectes be vnshamefast in crauing to be graue in promising Ioyntly with this Princes ought to be aduertised that where they haue once gaged their royall worde all things set aparte they ought to perfourme the same Pertinax was twise married his seconde marriage was with the daughter of Vulpitianus whome he made prefecte when he was made Emperour As concerning the vnchastitie of his wife also Pertinax was noted whiche is to wéete of negligence in gouerning and remisse in reprehending her for that truely shée was both young and faire absolute and dissolute and reported in Rome to be more enamoured with a young Musician then with Pertinax her olde husbande Also Pertinax was much noted to haue vsed vnlawfull loue with Cornificia his néere kinswoman whome he had nourished from her childhood for shée was committed by her father vnto his protection this matter was no lesse scandalous then foule and no lesse foule then scandalous for that suche like and so great euill was not conuenient to a man of so greate age either permissible in a Prince of so great grauitie Some prodigious and straunge signes appeared before his death especially on a time offering certeine sacrafices vnto the Goddes Penates that when the coales were moste kindled and on fire soudeinly they were séene all dead and quenched whiche did signifie that in the greatest certeintie of his life soudeinly death should assaile him Not sixe dayes before he was slaine as in the temple of Iupiter he was offering great sacrifices with his own handes he offered a Pecocke wherein he found no hearte when it was opened and soudeinely the head vanished when the throate was cutt Eight dayes before he was slaine a Starre ioyned with the Sunne and did shine at noone dayes as if it had béene midnight Thrée dayes before he was slaine Pertinax dreamed that he fell into a fishepond and that there was a man with an huge knife to kill him and woulde haue fled and could not Iulianus whiche after succéeded Pertinax in the Empire hauing a Nephewe newe married vnto his Néece and hauing repaired vnto Pertinax to visite him Pertinax saide vnto the young married man be good and I shall holde and esteeme thee as my sonne serue thy vncle Iulianus as a father because he is my fellowe in office and successour They had béene ioyntly Consuls and afterwardes Iulianus in the
in suche wise that bothe should haue béene intituled Emperours of Rome and ioyntly therewith sware and affirmed that he did it not to remedie the necessitie wherein he stoode but for greate good wil which he did beare him who aunswered this which thou sayest Iulianus be thou assured that I will neither do it either do I loue but yrketh mée to heare it because to gouerne the Empire I am blinde to traueile I am weake and to inioye it am become olde and much more respecting the age which I possesse and the trauels which I haue passed I am more apte to make peace with the Gods then to take warres in hande against men All the men of warre that were in Etruria did passe vnto the seruice of Seuerus whome he would not by any meanes receiue vntil they had sworne to be innocent of the death of Pertinax Seuerus at the breake of the day discouered him selfe with all his armies two leagues from Rome whiche being knowen vnto the Senate ioyntly they agréed to determine two thinges whiche is to wéete to remoue Iulianus from the Empire and to depriue him of his life and in his place to elect Seuerus Emperour Then one of the Senatours came foorth from the Senate and published with open voice vnto the people that they should hold it for certeine that by the authoritie of the sacred Senat Iulianus was depriued of the Empire and in his stéede Seuerus elected Emperour Great was the ioy that the people receiued when they heard Iulianus to be depriued of the Empire and presently at the instant who best might made most hast to receiue the newe Emperour and none passed by Iulianus house that threw not stones at the windowes and spat not vppon the walles At the houre that the Senate went forth to receiue Seuerus they sent a Gentleman to kill Iulianus who expressing the sorrowful ambassage which he brought with many teares Iulianus requested that he might not be slaine before hee had séene Seuerus but the gentleman durst do no lesse then to cut off his head because the Senate stayed at the porte Salaria and had sworne not to procéede to receiue Seuerus vntill they were certeinly aduertised that Iulianus was slaine The vnfortunate Emperour Iulianus being dead his wife Malia and his daughter Escutilia tooke the body buried him in a Sepulcher of his great graundfather on the right hand of the way of Lauinia Iulianus was noted to be a glutton a gamster couetous and ambitious and on the other part he was pitifull amorous eloquent graue and subtile He liued 56. yeares and 4. monethes be reigned 11. monethes and 5. dayes After his death they did neither giue his body honourable funeralls or contemned his Sepulcher This was the end of Iulianus who being old honourable rich would for the exchaunge of the Empire giue his goods aduenture his fame and loose his life R.v. The life of the Emperour Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus THE auncient linage of the Emperour Seuerus was of Africa his grandfather was named Fuluius Pius and his grandmother Agrippa which came and died in Lepe an auncient citie in Mauritania was destroyed in the warres of Iugurtha Massimila his father was named Geta and his mother Fuluia Pia a people neither renowmed in armes or glorious in bloud either indued with riches Seuerus was borne in Etrutio Clarus and Seuerus being Consuls the 4. day of April and as his mother reported she had with him a difficult childbirth very tedious to nourse In his first infancie he chiefly delighted to play with other children his fellowes the play of Iudges and when his lot fell to be Iudge as sharpely did he chastice their trifling faultes as he did afterwards chastice their errours in earnest Hee learned the Gréeke and latine tongues with such singular perfection and was so prompt to speake write read dispute in the said tongues as if hee had béene borne in those countries and learned no other languages At the age of xviij yeres he was a publique aduocate and defended causes in lawe in such wise that if he had followed Science as hée did Warres hée had béene no lesse renowmed in science and letters then he was famous in armes He was not full xx yeares of age when he first entered Rome in which dayes there reigned the right happie Marcus Aurelius and by intercession of his kinseman Septimius Seuerus hée had the office to register daily such as either died or were borne in Rome which office although it were not profitable yet was it an occasion of great acquaintance to be throughly knowen because nightly he wēt to Court to report who was borne or had died that day The first night that he entred Rome by chance his host wher he lodged was reading the life of the Emperour Adrian wherin was relation of the great perils which he passed before he might atteine the Empire Seuerus said vnto his host in iest In trauels perills I imitate Adrian I hope also that I shall succede him in the Empire By chance as the Emperour M. Aurelius made a general sumptuous supper vnto many noble Romans Seuerus was amongest them at the time that he shuld haue taken his seat at the table without regard he placed him in the Emperours chaire and when others derided him for his negligence folly which he had comitted Seuerus aunswered Peace gibe not it is possible my destinies may be such that as I nowe sitt in the imperiall chaire in iest so one day I may sit therin in earnest Seuerus dreamed on a night that he suckt the teats of the wolfe that noursed Remus and Romulus which dreame he alwayes held for a great good signe of his future Empire In the time of his youth he was both absolute and dissolute especially in womens matters other vanities for which causes hee was many times taken banished shamed In the offices of warre he was placed in them all especially the office of Questor which he held long time and it is said of him that hauing by that office charge of monie he was diligēt in recouering faithful in diuiding parting therof In the moneth of Ianuary in the 5. yeare of the Empire of M. Aurelius it chaunced him to be Proconsul of Betica which now in Spaine is named the kingdome of Andoloizia where he remained the space of a yeare a halfe in which gouernment he was no lesse loued then feared and feared then loued Seuerus being Proconsul in Betica receiued newes of his fathers death in Africa wherupon he presently passed into Africa partly to execute the obsequies and to giue his father an honourable Sepulcher and partly to take order for a sister that was left vnto him and goods whiche he did inherite The Consul that then was
experience whiche thou hast in this case for as thou haste no brothers either hast béene married to haue any children no more knowest thou what difference of loue is beetwixte the one and the other For I giue to vnderstande that without all comparison wee fathers doe more loue the thwartes of oure children then the seruice of oure brethren The elder brother whiche was named Bassianus changed his name and commaunded all men to call him Antoninus Aurelius in the memorie of Antoninus Pius and of Marcus Aurelius because these Princes were verye glorious in their liues and in their Common wealthes no lesse beloued When Seuerus returned from the warres of Parthia his sonnes Bassianus and Geta were then men and for that hee vnderstoode that the Romanes were thereof then very doubtfull hée requested his sonnes that notwithstandinge the variaunce betwixte themselues they woulde bée in peace wyth the people but héerewith mighte hee not tame the condition of the young men either persuade them to be in friendshippe with the Romanes for as much as he soldered with his good woords so much did they escaÌ„dalize with their lewd woorkes Seuerus finding himselfe infected with infirmities compassed with enimies and his sonnes so euill inclined was alwayes sad pensiue melancholie and in a manner in despaire not onely doubting they would diminish the estate wherein he left them but also lose the honour which they did inherite Seuerus considering the daily complaints made of his sonnes in the Senate and the continual displeasures which they gaue him aduised to banishe them the vices and pleasures of Rome the one hee sent into Germanie the other into Panonia but if they were euil in his presence they were much worse in his absence for that aforetime by their subiection they absceined from some vices but afterwards with libertie they committed all mischiefe The parents that with their owne hands and in their owne houses may not frame vertue in their children will hardly atteine it at the hands of others for that vertue is not obteyned in seeking straunge countries but in the amendment of old errours CHAP. XV. ¶ Of a fauoured seruaunt of Seuerus named Plautianus JN the dayes of the Empire of the good Marcus Aurelius there came from Africa vnto Rome a gentlemaÌ„ named Plautianus poore blind in sight craftie and subtile in condition and being as hee was mutinous and quarelling and wheresoeuer he went mouing some debate Marcus Aurelius commaunded him to be banished Rome for he was a prince of such patience that he suffered not in his common wealth a man that was vitious or any young maÌ„ that was quarellous Plautianus being banished Rome departed vnto the garrisons of Illyria and from thence also being caste as a seditious person repaired at last into the company of Seuerus of whome he was very well handled and also honoured and in all thinges placed aboue all men some said that it was done of Seuerus for that hée was of his countrie some for kindred and some durst say that hée serued not onely for martiall affayres but also to do him seruice in the chamber After that Seuerus came to be Emperour he gaue so great credite vnto Plautianus and so strictly did follow his counsell that he neither read letter but hée did sée it or signed commission that hée liked not either gaue any reward that he craued not In the Senate he was placed in the most honourable seate when he came forth into Rome all the Gentlemen did accompanie him when he came out of his house all Embassadours did attend on him in time of warre all captaines sued vnto him if there were playes and pastimes they were alwayes represented before his palace if they had to giue or receiue any money all did passe through his hands in such wise that it was neuer séene in Rome that any man without the title of an Emperour enioyed so great portion of the Empire Plautianus naturally was proud ambitious couetous and cruell and the more to shewe his fiercenesse crueltie magnificence he alwayes had a drawne sword borne before him and when he passed through the streats hee would that none should dare to behold him in the face but cast downe their eyes to the ground and when hée trauelled vpon the way he had alwayes one that went before to giue warning to all persons to giue way where he should passe in such wise that hee neither would behold straungers either be séene of the countrie natiues Seuerus gaue in reward vnto Plautianus the goods of al persons that were condemned and confiscate in the Empire and as hée was of a gréedie and couetous nature so they were infinite that he caused to be slaine in the Empire not because they had so deserued but for their goods which they possessed The elder sonne of Seuerus named Bassianê° being come to ripe vnderstaÌ„ding and perceiuing how al things went was greatly gréeued to se Plautianus haue so great power in the gouernement of the common wealth and Plautianus presently finding the hatred of Bassianus practised with Seuerus that Bassianus should marrie with his only daughter and incoÌ„tinently the elder sonne of Seuerus was married vnto the daughter of Plautianus Plautianus beholding himselfe not onely the alone fauoured but also father in lawe with Seuerus it séemed vnto him but a trifle to be Lord of the whole world and most truly Plautianus in heaping honour vpon honour and estate vpon estate bredd his owne destruction for that men neuer surfet to eate that which is necessarie but in eating and drinking more then the stomache will beare Though Plautianus daughter was very faire of good condition and brought with her a most rich dowrie yet did her husband Bassianus most cruelly hate her which he discouered both in woord and déede affirming her to be the daughter of a base and vile person and that hée would one day kill both her and her father and yet not therewithall satisfied they did neither sléepe in one chamber or dine at one table Bassianus aunsweared certaine Romanes that requested him to bee friend with his wife and to honour his father in law I giue you Romanes to vnderstand that I did not marrie but my father did marrie mée which I would not haue done if he had coÌ„maunded me but to defloure the daughter and enioy the treasure of her father and since it is done let her séeke an husband for I will séeke a wife Plautianus vnderstanding what his sonne Bassianus had said and that his daughter was not married but dishonoured that Seuerus was old sicke and that Bassianus held him not as a father in lawe but as an enimie determined to reuenge that iniurie either els to loose both life and honour in the enterprise Bassianus informed his father Seuerus of many tyrannies which Plautianus committed in the common wealth and Plautianus also complained howe euill hée vsed his daughter and thus they went on coÌ„firming their enimitie and giuing euery day new passions
become friendes and their agréement was that they had diuided the Empire he remaining with the estate and seat of Rome and Geta his brother hauing Antioche the head of his Empire and the estate of all Asia As Bassianus then saide so it was agréed that the goods of the patrimonie were diuided in thrée partes two partes for the two brethren and the third for Iulia their mother and further that all Senatours capteines and other notable persons of the Empire fréely if they so liked might go with Geta into Asia or remaine with Bassianus in Rome There was no man there that liked this agréement much lesse allowed the same for they all did sée it was but fained and that ere long the Empire would be inflamed with warres as in the dayes of Iulius Caesar and Pompeyus of Caesar Augustus and Marcus Antonius Although all men were grieued with that which was saide yet all men did both dissemble and kéepe silence with sad countenance casting their eyes to the ground which their mother Iulia possessing patience in sufficient aunswered and saide vnto them as followeth CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of an excellent speache vttered by the mother vnto her sonnes I may wel call ye sonnes O children of my heart since thou Geta proceededst from mine intrailes thee Bassianus I haue nourished with my breastes I sweare by the immortall Gods that much greater is the loue that I bare thee then the affinitie which I haue with thy brother Thou well knowest Bassianus that from the first houre that I came to the court was wife vnto thy father Seuerus I had the name of mother in lawe the works of a perfect mother and that many times thou didst request mee to cherish thy brother Geta for that it seemed vnto thee he was not fauoured in such wise that if he be the only person that I haue borne thou only wast he that was cherished I haue great reason to call you my children to bewaile you as children to talke with you as children for on the day that the one proceeded frō my bowels the other entred into my harte Maruell ye not to see mee powre forth so many teares at euery worde to be dismaide swoone for as ye see my sorrowfull eyes so may you behold my lamentable heart ye should well perceiue it gush out more with bloud then mine eyes doe flowe with teares If my husbande your father shoulde heare that which I heare and should see that which I see it would grieue him that euer ye were borne and no lesse that euer he begate you because you wil giue no credite vnto your friendes either obey me your sorrowfull mother or perfourme his will cōmaundemēt Wherfore do ye seeke the whole for one since he left the same for bothe what an heauie matter is this my children the Gods haue created ye brethren and you haue conuerted your selues enimies the glory which ye possesse to haue had such a father ye would quite him with so much griefe to haue so frowarde children To leaue the Empire entire your father slewe Iulianus Pessenius Niger and Albinius that helde it diuided in three partes and nowe againe ye will diuide and rent it in pieces Do ye not vnderstand howe Princes that haue their willes vnited neede not to diuide their countries Haue ye not heard say that to obteine honour to defende that which we possesse for these two only things for no other cause warre is raised betwixt kinges and princes If this be true as it is and both you falling out for goods knowe ye not that your father onely of him self hath left ye more then all the Princes of the worlde haue left vnto them And if it so be that ye striue for the attainement of honour I knowe not to what ende ye would haue more honour then to be Emperours of Rome O immortall Gods I inuocate and moste humbly pray you that ye deale not according to the childishnesse of these young men but agreeable vnto the great seruice which their father hath done you the abundance of teares which their lamentable mother hath powred foorth for otherwise the memory of my Lord Seuerus shal perish be lost the maiestie of the Empire put in great danger If we did think my children that this diuision of the Empire might be an occasiō frō henceforth to deale liue like brethrē we would hold it all for good and thinke it all right well but what doth it profite that ye haue diuided the Empire onely in two partes and ye twaine remaine diuided in an hundreth thousande differences If ye wil be fauoured of the Gods obeyed of men call to remembrance your fathers commaundement condescend vnto your mothers request and yealde your selues vnto the iudgement of your friendes for that young Princes do neuer knowe to gouerne wel if they permitt not to be gouerned of the vertuous Consider children that ye are but younglings and in great affaires haue small experience and that your youth shall leade you vnto many vices your smal experience cause you to fall in great many errours Also my children ye haue to consider that ye possesse your heartes too much passioned and go inuironed with many lyars which two thinges be most cruell and enorme in the persons houses of princes because with their passion they committ much iniustice and by lies they cloake many foule and pernicious deedes The passioned and furious hearte is sufficed with his owne furie to be lead into all errours and the lyar defendeth him from all knowlege and acquaintaunce of his owne fault If ye remember your selues that ye be men and that I am a woman with great reason ye might haue small regarde vnto that which I do say but if ye consider that ye be my children and I your mother greate estimation should ye conceiue of my counselles for that credite which I lose to be a woman I recouer for that I am your mother If ye did loue your father as your father loued you your sorrowful mother should haue no cause so much to persuade you to be friendes for that to remoue all causes to bring his honour in disputation ye would refuse cast behind you all interest whatsoeuer of any goods Since ye will not liue in peace in as muche as it toucheth the seruice vnto the Gods and the great mischiefes that must follow your owne persons and the infamie wherewith ye shall infect your dead father yet shoulde ye doe the same for the loue and behalfe of your liuing mother because the dissentions trauelles and infidelities of the children many they be that doe beholde them but in the ende the mothers do onely bewaile them Against the testament of your father without the will of your mother contrarie vnto the custome of the Senate and without aduise of any friend ye haue betwixt you diuided the empire leauing me vnto my selfe to be diuided wherein speaking
heare thereof and woulde ofte say vnto me that manie kinges and kingdomes he had seene lost by mariage in straunge countries and therefore woulde not marrie me but within his owne kingdome and saide at the houre of his death that if I woulde liue manie yeares in peace I shoulde not abandon my children to straunge marriages I had three sonnes whiche nowe bee all deade and there remaineth vnto me but only one daughter in whome remaineth all my hope and if the Gods would and my destinies permitte I woulde giue her an husbande within mine owne naturall countrie whome I might esteeme as my sonne and he me as his father for my intent is not to giue her an husband that hath much goods but in his person greate worthinesse To that which thou sayest of the kingdoms of Parthians the Empire of Romanes would do verie wel to be ioyned in one thou hast great reason in that which thou sayest if it might be done with as great facilitie as it is spoken but how is it possible they may be made one being as they are so strange in nation so distant in situation so distinct in language so diuers in lawes and aboue all the reste so contrarie in conditions Since betwixt you and vs there are so manie landes countries nations hills and seas howe is it possible the bodies beeing so distante that the harts may be vnited Wee are much better knowne vnto the Godds then wee knowe our selues and since they haue created vs and separated vs the one from the other howe is it possible for vs to liue and enioy together for by greate diligence that men may vse either power that princes may practise it is impossible for them to scatter that whiche the Godds do gather together or to ioyne that whiche they do separate If thou wilte haue men for thy warres I wil sende them If thou wilt haue money to inrich thy treasure I will furnishe thee If thou wilt enter peace with mee I will graunte it If thou wilte that wee be brothers in armes by othe I will confirme it Finally I excepte nothing betwixte thee and mee but that thou do not craue my daughter to wife I am determined wil not for giuing my daughter a good marriage leaue my countrie tributarie vnto straunge people The precious iuells and greate riches which thou sentest me I haue receiued with greate good will and I sende thee others although not such either so riche neuerthelesse thou mayest alwayes cōceiue by them that the kinges of the Parthians haue greate treasures in their keeping and no lesse noblenesse of minde to spende them No more but the Goddes be thy defence and that thou of me and I of thee may see good fortune CHAP. XII Howe Bassianus committed a greate treason against the Parthians THis letter being receiued by Bassianus he made semblance of greate sorrowe that the kinge of Parthians would not giue him his daughter to wife howbeit he ceased not therefore eftsones to write sende more presents to bringe to passe by importunities that which of will he might not frame Arthabanus considering the importunities of Bassianus in writinge and his largesse in sending more riche iuells not doubting that anie guile might be concealed in that marriage did yealde him selfe vnto the iudgmente of his friendes who counselled him that hee shoulde not in anie wise but accept the Emperour of Romaines for his sonne in lawe for it might be that hee shoulde recouer him for an enimie that would not accept him for a sonne The fame beeing spread throughout all Asia that the kinges daughter shoulde marrie with the Emperour of Rome Bassianus aduised to repaire and prepare with all speede so that in all cities of the Parthians where he passed they did not only not resiste him but with greate ioy did receiue and feast him for they helde it for greate vaine glorie to sée their princesse demaunded for wife by the great Emperour of Rome In all places where Bassianus passed he offered riche sacrifices in their temples and gaue greate rewardes vnto suche as did attende and receiue him all whiche he dissembled to escape suspicion of the exceeding malice whiche he determined to execute Bassianus beeing arriued at the greate citie Parthinia where most times the greate kinge of Parthians was residente Arthabanus issued foorth to receiue his sonne Bassianus who most truly ranne foorth as cōformable vnto peace as Bassianus readie and determined for the warres There issued foorth with kinge Arthabanus not only the noble and valiaunt personages of his house and courte but also all the men of power and wealth of his kingdome which against that day were called and did attende in such wise that by his traine the kinge discouered his valure as also the noblenesse of his people Nowe when the Parthians beganne to ioyne with the Romaines and of both partes greate courtesies offered Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his armed knights to giue a charge vpon the Parthians vpon whome they executed as greate a slaughter as Hanibal at Canasse and Scipio at Carthage The kinge Arthabanus as he came in the troupe of all his royaltie tooke his seruaunts horse and gaue him selfe to flight and then as it was night his horse verie swift he had leasure to escape with his life although not able to defende his countrie This beeing donne he sackt the royall palace and al the citie and after commaunded fire to be giuen to all partes thereof whiche he perfourmed in all cities where he passed all the time that he remained in Parthia and freely gaue licence vnto his armie to take what they might to kill whome they would This was the manner that Bassianus vsed to subdue the Parthians whiche conquest with more reason may be termed the inuention of a traytour then the conquest of an Emperour for the innocente Parthians were rather solde then ouercome At the presente when these thinges passed Bassianus did write vnto the Senate aduertisinge them that hee had subdued all prouinces and kingdomes of the Easte vnto the Romaine Empire some by force and others by good will and that allthough the Romane princes his predecessours did excéede him in yeares and riches yet not to be comparable vnto him in victories The Senate béeing ignorante of the greate treason of Bassianus practised against the Parthians because they receiued his letters before anie other messenger had made reporte thereof were verie ioyfull and made greate feastes in Rome placeing his counterfeit vpon all the gates of the citie but after they vnderstoode the trueth of the treason committed they were so muche grieued with that so vile a deede that if the Parthians did suffer the Romanes did bewayle CHAP. XIIII How Bassianus was slaine by the commaundemente of his priuate captaine Macrinus THe Emperour Bassianus beeing departed from the territories of Parthia came vnto the prouince of Mesopotamia which was in the moneth of October and beeinge full of woodes wherin were
slaine his Lord Bassianus not by inducemente of any person but to reuenge his brothers death Many others were of this conspiracie besids Macrinus that ordeyned it and Martianus that sought the same that is to say Nemesianus his brother Apolinarius Renonuus Agrippa al which had sworn his death some for iniuries which they had receiued others for seruice vnrecompenced Presently vppon Bassianus his death Macrinus commaunded his body to be burnt and his ashes to be placed in a coffin of gold so with great gard and no lesse accompanied hee sente the same vnto Iulia his mother in law being then at Antioch who at the instante when she vnderstoode Bassianus to be dead dranke a litle poison wherewith she finished her life The case stāding in this estate newes arriued at the Romaine campe that Arthabanus king of Parthians pursued Antoninus Bassianus to execute vengeance for the iniurie which he had receiued and to the same end the king his knightes before they came to the field made a vowe vnto their Gods neuer more to returne with life before they had slaine the Emperour Bassianus The Romanes beheld themselues in great confusion on the one parte findeing themselues in so straunge a Countrie wythout hope of succour and also for the death of their prince and their enimie so néere at hand to repaire and remedie which mischiefe with great diligence they elected a prince named Audentius a man of honest life and of great experience in the warres which he refused alledging for himselfe age and sickenesse and that of his election hee might not gather but trauel offence vnto the common wealth Two dayes was the armie without an Emperour and in the end vppon Audentius his refusall they elected Macrinus for Emperour which election did rather procéed of necessitie then of will because their Parthian enimies were very néere the worthie persons of the Empire very farre Aboue wée made mention of Iulia the mother in law vnto Bassianus this Ladie being a widowe and resident in the Court in the summer time Bassianus beheld her at a feast as she was halfe naked and inflamed with her loue said vnto her these words If it were possible to renounce this name mother which I owe thee from henceforth I would call thee wife Iulia aunswered If thou wilt thou mayest because princes haue authoritie to make lawes but are not bound to obserue them And as in Bassianus loue did abound so finding in Iulia a readie minde presently he married with her in such wise that vnto patricide he added incest that is to say that hauing slaine his brother Geta also he married his fathers wife Bassianus naturally was euil inclined and if his father were cruell he was most cruell in eating disordinate in drincking vntemperate for many times in his excesse of drinke he would talke at large From his infancie he was hated of all persons no lesse of his owne then of strangers the Pretorian knights onely excepted which was not for the benefites that of him they had receiued but for the libertie which he gaue them to robb and steale Some notable buildinges hee erected in Rome especially certaine stately bathes which hee named after his owne name in cost and curiousnes excéeding all workes and buildinges in Rome He made also a gate in Rome called it Seueriana in the reuerence of the name of his father Seuerus wherin he caused to be grauen al the victories and triumphes that his father had obteined either after or before he was Emperour Hee was the first that brought vnto Rome the image of the Goddesse Isis vnto whome he edified a sumptuous temple and therein did constitute priestes He left no child either legitimate or not legitimate but Heliogabalus whom he had by a néece of his mother Iulia of whom we will speake in the historie following The life of the Emperour Heliogabalus compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and nouriture of the Emperour Heliogabalus THE second wife of Seuerus was named Iulia which was mother vnto Geta and mother in lawe vnto Bassianus this Iulia when she was married vnto Seuerus brought vnto Court with her an elder sister named Mesia a woman of proportion sufficient faire and comely but of condition very wilie This Mesia had with her two daughters whereof the elder was named Semiamira and the yonger Manea both borne in the Emperour Seuerus his Courte and bred and nourished a long time after in the house of the Emperour Bassianus The writers of those times do not name who was the husband of Mesia and the father of Semiamira of Manea and therefore doubted to be conceiued in adulterie or that the father was of linage obscure Mesia remayning in the Court of Seuerus with her two daughters being young very faire Bassianus the sonne of Seuerus had accesse vnto Semiamira and begate of her a sonne named Antoninus Caracalla and for the loue of Iulia his aunt and also to the end the damosell should not bee despised in the sighte of Seuerus the graundmother vsed so great skill in this busines that no person of the Courte might perceiue the daughter to be with child or brought a bed or whether the child was put foorth to be noursed The auncient linage of this womā Mesia was of Phoenicia borne she was in a citie called Mesania néere vnto whiche place in times past a battell had béene fought betwéene the Rhodians and the Phoenicians Antoninus Caracalla on the fathers side was sonne vnto the Emperour Bassianus and on the mothers side sonne of Semiamira and conceiued in adulterie Whē the child was fiue yeares of age he was brought vnto the Courte and there bred nourished with the mother and graundmother but all the dayes that Bassianus liued they neuer durst say that it was his sonne because Iulia his aunt and mother in lawe to Bassianus had married with the selfe same Bassianus and if she had knowen the child to be such she would haue slaine it banished her Néece sent away her sister This woman Mesia was so wise prouident that in the reigne of Seuerus at Court all men did serue her after in the dayes of Bassianus shée commaunded and gouerned all thinges at her owne pleasure and this was in such extréeme wise that with her he did take counsel for the affaires of the cōmon wealth and shée did alwayes accompanie him whither soeuer he went out of Rome although it were vnto the warres This Mesia was frank of speach of no great reformation of life howbeit very skilful in al things which she aduentured to take in hand for notwithstanding al men had of her great suspiciō yet they were fewe that atteyned vnto her secrete drifts Although on the one part she was accused to be lewd loase of life yet on the other shée was praised because shée
Senate health and grace Vnto men so glorious in acts so graue in precepts and doctrine as ye are right reuerent fathers coÌ„script it may seme a matter both new straunge for a woman to write vnto the sacred Romane Senate which renowmed name the Gods to reuerence men therat do tremble and are terrified The matters which by my embassadours I send to giue you to vnderstand neither for that I am a woman that may do litle your grauitie hath not to coÌ„sider of the same as a matter of smal importance because all men are not so wise that none doth misse either al womeÌ„ so vnable but that some escape error Those thiÌ„gs which ye shal read in this my letter or shal heare at the mouth of my Embassadours I sweare vnto you by the immortall gods and by the sepulchres of mine elders that they be most true not feigned for that in a Lady of mine estate it were lesse infamie to be vnchast then to be a lyar I haue heard my Lord Mar. Aurelius say when I was but a child that in women alwayes were conioyned truth chastitie and a woman of trueth was neuer but chaste a woman addicted to lying did neuer continue in coÌ„tinencie Some of you that now are liuing may remeÌ„ber when the Empresse Iulia my sister came to be wife of the Emperour Seuerus and how in her company I came to the Court wherin I was long many yeares both serued and also persecuted for as in courts of princes they that seeke their singular aduancement the one ceaseth not to persecute the other Although in princes palaces where I liued I haue beene persecuted defamed and also enuied yet I beseech the immortal gods that the dealing entreatance which then I vsed with such as wished me euil that the same no other they will performe on me which now wish me well In 53. yeares that I haue stayed in diuers princes courts I neuer dasht any person out of countenance I neuer toke the tale out of their mouth I neuer spake any iniurious word I neuer reproued any persoÌ„ I neuer did preiudice any mans name neuer iniuriously tooke any vengeance because in houses of great princes no man maye obteine aduauncement if hee lacke skil to suffer This which I here relate fathers conscript is not to recouer praise but to the end ye should beleeue me for if my persoÌ„ possesse no credite my embassage must needs haue issue of no effect Speaking more in particular I say ye know that many yeares since my sister and I departed Rome attending on the emperour Bassianus and after that the traitour Macrinus had slaine him Iulia his vnfortunate wife so sensiblie did feele his death that by extreeme sorrowe she finished her life Fortune would not coÌ„sent to depriue me of my vital spirits when my sister Iulia was bereft of life and this she did not to the end to forget mee but the more to greeue mee because in great perils and misfortunes if at that time fortune did dissemble it was not so much as to honour them as afterwardes to bee reuenged of them Of the death of Bassianus my lord and your emperour as it was in my hands to bewaile him if it had beene as well to defende him either hee had neuer died or else had beene raised to life for that most truly although Bassianus were yonge vaine fickle absolute dissolute yet on the other part he was patient silent and pitiful and it might haue beene in the burthen of greater age he would haue forgotten the vices of his youth There is no confidence at al times in most wise men either despaire in fickle yonge meÌ„ for that we see all day long that many times age doth bring forth fruite where reason did not yeld as much as leaues He that in deede laide hands on Bassianus was that caytiue Martianus but he that commaunded him to be slaine was the traitour Macrinus a man most truly of base condition infamous life obscure linage an idiot in letters intemperant in speach vicious in maners and a tyrant in his workes Ye perfectly perceiue fathers conscript that a man so much defamed were a slaunder to be receiued accepted for a prince for that in great estates Segniories it is not sufficient that their princes be valiant but also honourable which is to wit not to want proportion in their persons and to haue noblenes in bloud of all whiche things Macrinus hath no possession for besids that he is of obscure linage infamous of life cruel of coÌ„dition and false of promise so had he a swarte visage and a dwarfs body he was splay footed also proare blind Macrinus was not satisfied to haue slaine Bassianus but also vsurped the Empire and to heape euill vppon euil did sweare vppon the altar of the temple that he had not slaine Bassianus in such wise that the periured Macrinus was not coÌ„tented with homicide and manslaughter but before the Gods was also periured But as the Gods are iust in rewarding the vertuous and not carelesse to chastice the wicked that the election of men being not confirmed of the gods my nephue Heliogabalus and I haue herein vsed so great skill that at the time when the tyrant Macrinus was most abandoned vnto the vices of Antioche wee cut off his head in such wise that Asia was set free froÌ„ his tyrannie and the death of Bassianus well reueÌ„ged The armies that were scattered discoÌ„tented diuided and euil payed we haue gathered together payed and vnited and possesse all Asia in obedience vnto the Romane Empire Also fathers conscript I wish ye to vnderstand that in the time of life and also after the death of the tyrant Macrinus the armies did elect my nephue Heliogabalus Emperour which election I will not denie but that I desired practised procured and also bought for that it seemed vnto mee that the Empire being in the hands of such a tyrant as Macrinus it was not bought but redeemed If in this marte of the Empire I haue offended I wil yeeld my selfe to al maner of punishment but therwith I would haue ye to vnderstand that I bought it with my money openly of your armie from a tyrant farre from Rome in a rebellious time and for the sonne of Basssianus and I say for the sonne of Bassianus which with most iuste title should haue inherited the Empire if Macrinus had not vsurped the same Fathers conscript it seemeth not that I haue deserued blame much lesse any chastisemeÌ„t because by my industrie and proper goods I haue paied your armies set Asia in peace slaine the tyrant redeemed the Empire and aboue all the reste haue reuenged the death of Bassianê° giuen as his inheritance apperteined vnto his sonne As your armies do heare report and there doe write they were so poore and in such distresse that more iustly it may be said not that I suborned but succoured them with my monie