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
Homer in great estimation whereof Adrian did take so great enuie that he gaue streight commaundement that none shoulde reade Homer eyther openly or secretly but the workes of Anthimachus who was a Philosopher most obscure Adrian had condition curiously to inquire of common and small matters whereof he was both noted and murmured bicause Princes being giuen to make search of trifling causes proue variable in prouiding for matters of importance Also Adrian was of fickle disposition for that at the souden he woulde determine to perfourme some enterprise and after growe colde and incontinent omit the same of this as of the rest with great reason he was noted and accused bycause graue Princes ought to haue a reposed deliberation and a diligent execution Adrian was in two things most extreme that is to say he vsed no measure or weight in his loue or hatred for vnto whom he did loue he gaue all his heart and where he did abhorre he did imploy all his strength Admitting that this manner of loue or hatred is tollerable in others yet most truely of vertuous Princes not permitted bycause if they be vnbridled in loue in others which they loue not they cause enuie and if they be absolute in hatred they séeke vnto them selues great infamie wherefore it is conuenient in loue to be discrete and in hatred prouident and aduised He was likewise most extreme that if he praised any thing he did aduaunce it to the cloudes and if it fell not into his fauour he dispraised it to the déepest bottome in such manner that all sayd of Adrian that in praising he was verie gracious and in nippes tauntes and gyrdes not a little malicious Adrian had great delight in faire women who was so absolute and also so dissolute in that vice that he did not onely inioy virgins persuade married women but also in the houses of his verie friendes he had his secrete loues Of the one part considering his iniustice and of the other parte the great iustice that he did execute the historiographers would not place him amongest the pitifull Princes neither condemne him that were tyrannous bycause most truly if he did chastice some by iustice also he siue others by enuie CHAP. III. Of the friends and enimies which Adrian had ADrian being of the age of ninetene yeres Traiane conceiuing the abilitie and towardnesse of the yong man as well in letters as in armes sent to Spaine for him to come to Rome with whome he did so behaue himselfe that for entertainment he did receiue him into his chamber and in his loue did place him as a childe The naturall bountie and great abilitie of Adrian being in apparance Traiane from thence foorth did so regard and fixe his eyes as well to honour him all the dayes of his life as also to leaue him Emperour after his death Adrian being in so great fauour with the Emperour Traiane there folowed thereof in processe of time no small displeasures to his person and perils vnto his life for his enimies by enuie with the Emperour procured his disgrace and with their malice did maligne him with the people It is an auncient pestilence in the courtes of Princes that the Prince being pleased to beare affection or to honour any person forthwith they ioyne to murmur procure to persecute the same As Seuerianus being husband vnto a sister of Adrian did murmur of him vnto Traiane saying that it was a wonder vnto all men in Rome to sée Adrian to priuate so far in fauour that they presumed that after his dayes he should leaue him the Empire vnto whome Traiane made answere Who hath to succéede me in the Empire only the Gods be acquainted therewith but admitting that it were my will and the Goddes permitting that Adrian shoulde succéede me in the Empire I can say vnto thée that to gouerne the same he will proue no foole neyther a cowarde to defende it The answere that Traiane made was very good and yet not without a secret taunt for that the Consul Seuerianus had neyther praised him for valiaunt eyther held him for wise This Seuerianus was alwaies a great enimie of Adrian did not cease trauelling to disgrace him with the Emperour wherby Adrian hapned at times to be both in fauour and disfauour in suche manner that Adrian burned betwixt two fiers whiche is to wit eare to resist his enimies and solicitude in conseruing his frends The first office that Adrian had in Rome Traiane being Consul and Domitian being emperour he was made a Decem viriato that is to say he was appointed for one of the ten men that were deputed to determin contentions amongst the people Adrian gaue so good account of his office and recouered in Rome so good fame that he séemed sufficient vnto al men alone and in his own person to gouerne a common wealth and so it came to passe that in the yeare folowing he was deputed Tribune of the second legion that is to say that he had charge to gouerne and correct the seconde capteinship of the armies that were in the wars bycause it was a custome in Rome that euerie capteinship should haue a capteine to fight and a Tribune to rule and gouerne The yeare of the tribune office being past he was sent vnto the inferiour Misia gouerning that Prouince with so great prudence and was of suche readinesse and skill amongest those Barbarians that some delighted to obey him the others durst not resist him Adrian was in no small perplexitie for the doubt he had to be remoued from Traianes fauour which he suspected to sée him selfe in Misia his enimie Seuerianus with Traiane in Rome that vppon any report that might be made of him there the malice of his enimie had place to aggrauate and he for him selfe being farre distant not able to answere Traiane had in his chamber one whome he much fauoured named Gallus a most speciall friend vnto Adrian and Adrian being aduertised that Gallus his most faithfull friende was deade made for him great obsequies and wept for him many teares There succéeded in fauour vnto this Gallus another named Surus a man sufficiently wise and prudent and also this as Gallus was most special friend vnto Adrian and the very cause wherby he obteined the fauoured to be his friends was for that in his giftes he was very liberall and to doe for his friend no lesse determined Also Adrian gaue him self to content serue and please Plotina Traianes wife and vsed therein so great skill and came so farre into fauour with Plotina that out of that so narrowe friendship he gathered more profit then she did honour Traiane had in his house a néece named Sabina whiche was to marrie and requested for wife of many noble Romaines but Plotina and Surus trauelled and persuaded Traiane to marrie her vnto Adrian affirming that with this marriage he was excused of two marriages that is to say to séeke a wife for Adrian
him or his maister also with great pitie prouided for his cure of which déed Adrian was praised for valiant and pitifull Also in the prouince of Taragon they had coteÌ„tion for their bounds wherein Adrian prouided to plant lande markes of stone after the maner of pillers to the ende that they shoulde neither be stolne or chaunged CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Adrian did passe into Asia and of the things that chaunced there ALl the prouinces of Spaine being visited Adrian made his nauigation by the Sea Mediterrane vnto the Isle of Sicyl where he mounted the hill Aetna to behold the marueilous thinges therein conteined from whence he descended more in feare and abashed then either instructed or satisfied Adrian being descended from the hill Aetna astonied wearied and also derided staide not in that kingdome but to visite the woorkes of the good Traiane which he did amplifie with buyldinges and indued with patrimonies Adrian being resident in Sicyl vnderstoode that Asterlike the greatest lorde of Germanie was dead in whose place he presently created a king whom he sent to gouerne the same bothe well receiued and better obeyed bycause the Germaines helde them selues escandalized in that they had not kinges to gouerne them but Consuls to chastice them The Mauritans and the Numidians being diuided in cruell dissention and vnderstanding that Adrian was in Sicyl readie to passe into Africa amongest them selues they cut off all causes of warre and concluded an assured peace At that time also the Parthians soudeinly did arme them selues came into the fielde made captaines and fortified their frontiers and brought their seigniorie to be ouer the Romaines and not the Romaines ouer the Parthians Adrian being aduertised of this commotion prepared a greate armie to passe into Asia and also did write vnto the Parthians giuing to vnderstand that he helde them as his friendes and the Senate estéemed them as brethren and not as vassals wherewith the Barbarians were so muche satisfied that presently they left their armour and proclaimed peace throughout the lands Notwithstanding he was aduertised of the Parthians retire he alwayes continued his nauigation into Asia and descended first in Achaia and entred Elusin a famous citie of that prouince and leading a great armie possessing but little money he seazed the sacred thinges of the temples saying that he did it not as a Romain Prince but as a Grecian for that Hercules and Philip béeing Greeke Princes had first done and attempted the same He alone did enter the temples of Asia which was holden for great valiantnesse because without armour he entred amongest the armed Priestes and being demaunded why he would enter to robbe those temples alone and vnarmed aunswered because from our barbarous enimies we take by violence but from the Gods by request Adrian departed also vnto Athens and curiously did consider the order of their studies and the maner of their life and saide that in Athens there was nothing perfect but Agonata the swoorde player because he had greater readinesse and skill to playe with the swoorde then the Philosophers in teaching Sciences Whiche notwithstanding he did greatly honour the Philosophers and to some townes he gaue great liberties from thence he returned to Rome where he stayed but to visite to honour and also to bewaile and mourne vppon the tumbe of Plotina Which being finished Adrian againe went into Sicyl and from thence into Africa where he did visit many townes and cities reedified certeine buyldinges banished diuers Numidians and also Mauritanes for their mutinies From thence he did passe once more into Asia streight vnto Athens where he finished a certeine temple which he had begonne dedicating the same vnto the God Iupiter wherein he did ingraue the Image of Traiane did paint with his owne handes the figure of Plotina his moste especiall souereigne ladye and mistresse The greatest exercise that Adrian did vse in Asia was in buylding repairing and consecrating temples wherein he did place his name and paint with the pencill or else in Alabaster did graue his figure Adrian feasted and made a greate banquet vnto king Cosdroe at that time king of Parthians also did restore him his daughter which was committed for hostage vnto the good Traiane and a litter curiously wrought with siluer golde and Vnicorne and gaue him also many other iewels Many kinges of Asia and other greate Princes came to visite and to honour Adrian who gaue them all so noble entertainement and so highly rewarded them that greate was the honour and magnificence he obtained amongest them Pharasmano king of the Albans refusinge to visite the Emperour Adrian and to renue the league made betwixt him and the good Traiane not many dayes after Adrian wanted not occasion to dispossesse him of his estate and to banishe him all Asia constrained thereby to craue vpon his knees which would haue béen giuen him sitting in his chayre Adrian traueiling and iourneying throughout Asia visiting his presidentes procurors and chiefe officers finding amongest them faultes of great enormitie did punishe the same with moste cruell chastisementes The cause is not vnknowen of the displeasure that Adrian did beare vnto Antioche which hatred was so greate that he trauailed to diuide Syria from Phoenicia to the ende that Antioche shoulde not be the head of so many prouinces Visiting also the whole countrie of Arabia he came vnto the renoumed citie of Peluno onely to visite the sepulture of the great Pompeius which he renued and enriched and also did offer greate and sumptuous sacrificâ—s in the honour of the great Pompeius wherof the Romaine people being aduertised receiued no small delight He did not onely honour the sepulture of Pompeius but also gaue greate rewardes vnto the people of Pelusio because they had that sepulchre in reuerence placing vppon the sepulchre with his owne handes this verse as followeth Ossa viri magni tenni quam blausa sepulchro Howe small a tumbe of lime and stones Conteines a valiant warriours bones CHAP. XII ¶ Of the great liberalitie that Adrian vsed and some cruelties that he committed ONe of the thinges wherin the Emperour Adrian deserued most iustly to be praised was that with al meÌ„ he vsed great magnificence and liberalitie for that naturally in receiuing he was a niggard but in giuing very bountifull There was not euer any thing demaunded that he gaue not if it were not preuented by some others suite which alwayes he did recomfort with hope for time to come The rewardes of his noblenesse was the gift of townes cities castles Prouinces kingdomes mountaines riuers flockes or heardes salt marishes milles offices and not onely such as hapned in the gouernement of the common wealth but also he gaue the horsses out of his stable the garments for his person the prouision for his dispences and the money for his chamber in such wise that to deliuer others from necessitie he brought him selfe in to want of prouision Adrian in his life was noted of diuers weaknesses and defections
inherite You haue great reason in minde to be satisfied and in harte contented since ye haue a prince not deliuered by the hands of strangers but borne in your owne houses I confesse that to proue good it auaileth muche to desire and also procure to be good but ioyntly herewith I saye that to be a prince it necessarily requireth to haue the fauour of his kingdome for otherwise if straungers do repugne and subiects do not succour it may be in his owne handes to be a good man but not in his power to be a good Prince My father was olde and I am yong wherof it foloweth that more glorie redoundeth vnto you by yealding obedience vnto me then vnto my father bicause obedience done vnto him proceeded of the merit of his authoritie but that which yee shall yealde vnto mee proceedeth of your owne pure vertue All the rewardes honours and offices that my father gaue in time of his life from henceforth I confirme them vnto such as hold them for that being as he was both holy and vertuous the Gods aproouing all his actes it were not iust they should be disalowed of men Neither in the dignities of the Senate the captainshippes of the armies the offices of my house there is nothing to be sayd much lesse to be altered only one thing remaineth betwixt my father and mee which is that I confirme his good works change my vnreformed maners Let vs ioyntly put on noble minds to giue good end vnto the warres whiche my father hath so happily begunne which being finished wee will all goe to our ease and solace and inioy the pleasures of Rome whiche warres if wee should leaue vndone although the hurte should redound to mee the faulte should proceede and be imputed vnto you I will not saye more vnto you my friendes companions but that I request and desire you alwayes to commend vnto your memorie the great loue that my father hath borne you and the good dealing he alwayes vsed with you that from his antiquitie my tender yeres and your greate vertue ye maye frame a Prince good for your selues and profitable for the common wealth Finally I saye that if ye haue my father in remēbraunce ye will neuer forget or disobey mee his sonne for comparing his vertue with my libertie doubtlesse and without comparison ye shal be much more persuaded by his noblenesse then altered by my youthfulnesse This talke being finished much money was throwen out amongest the armyes because on such dayes it was amongest the Romaines muche vsed The Romaine Princes did not muche varie from reason to giue and promise muche money in the beginninge of their Empires for as muche as the malice of man is greedie and couetous they are more persuaded withe a little money which is giuen then with many wordes that are spoken vnto them CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of a certeine famous and notable speeche vsed by one of his tutours for that he would leaue the warre of Panonia vnfinished ALl the officers of the Senate and all the captaines of the armie did marueilously mitigate their sorrowe for the death of their moste louing Lorde Marcus Aurelius when they hearde his sonne Commodus talke with so greate singularitie not onely for that he confirmed whatsoeuer his father had done but also because he promised by imitation most naturally to resemble him But what and howe great difference was betwixt the wordes of this Prince at that instant the workes which after he perfourmed in his life was muche too muche for nothing was more aparant then that al his good words and woorkes vppon that day did finishe and take an ende because from that day he did not onely speake euil and do euill but that which is woorst of all it was neuer séene that euer he had any motion or desire to do good Many be wicked and desire to amende but this person so vnhappie and solde to sinne was not to day so euil that he desired and procured not to morrowe to be woorse Certeine dayes after he had vsed this talke vnto the army he permitted to be gouerned by the aduise of his tutours but euen shortly after he both forgate the commaūdement of his father and his promise made vnto his men of warre for that he lost not onely the feare of his tutors but also the loue and shame vnto his friendes Commodus when he did inherite the Empire was weake delicate and of tender yeares but notwithstanding did vse such licence and libertie of life that decayed his person and damnified his inclination and manners His tutors and gouernours finding the offence that insued therof aduised to remoue the mischiefe by information and counsel in secrete but so peruerse was his condition that for their gentle admonition he did presently abhorre them Nowe when Commodus had publiquely lost his feare vnto tutors his obedience vnto gouernours and reuerence vnto his friendes he woulde neither beholde the one or speake with the other but that all his communication and conuersation was with persons light young and vicious vnto whome he committed all his secretes who began to persuade him to leaue the warres to go to Rome renuing his memorie with the opulencie of Italie and the beautie of Rome and ioyntly did murmur at the land of Panonia saying it was barren drye colde poore and contagious and that to drinke a pitcher of water they were first constrained to breake the Ice With these and suche like woordes Commodus was easily persuaded to leaue the warres of Panonia and take his waye into Italie and to bring the same to effect calling his tutours and gouernours into his presence fained to haue greate suspicion that while he remained in the warrs some others should cōspire rebel in Rome in respect whereof to avoyde the woorste he was determined first to assure him selfe of his owne countries before hée conquered straung kingdoms So greate sorrowe entred the harts of the gouerners and capteines that were present at that assemblye that heauily castinge their countenaunces on the grounde they were not able to aunswere one woord A Senatour named Pōpeyanus being present at that counsell who had married Lucilla daughter vnto Marcus Aurelius and elder sister vnto Commodus besids his aliance in marriage he was a man both rich wise valiaunte and aunciente and therewithall had greate boldnesse in that which he did and no lesse credit in that which he saide This Consul Pompeyanus beholding all the assembly in great silence thought good to take in hand to aunswere the Emperour Commodus after this manner The Oration of Pompeyanus to Commodus Oh my sonne and my Lord for thee to haue desire to see Rome to go into Italie is no meruel for the same which thou desirest all we haue longe wished but folowing and imbracing reason we endure not to be ouercome or carried away with sensualitie I call thee sonne because I haue bred and nourished thee from thy youth and I call thee Lord because thou
in all his offices was founde to be verie wise verie iust seuere and no lesse sincere but after the good Emperour was dead he grewe negligent and also was noted with the blemishe of a nigarde and couetousnesse because from thenceforth he did rather imploye his forces to gather richesse then to gouerne the common wealth Of this notable example it may be inferred of that which euerye day we sée to chaunce which is that good Princes of euil men make good seruauntes and euil Princes of good men make euil seruauntes for that many times notwithstanding the seruaunt naturally be euil he doth endeuour and enforce him selfe to be good in respect of his maister which is good and so by the contrarie if the Prince be euil the seruaunt strayeth vnto euill although of his owne nature he be good Nowe Commodus being Emperour in Rome when Pertinax bribed and gathered money in Asia againste whome certeine people did rise and mutine exclaming that he helde them oppressed and robbed he was constrained thereby to retyre vnto Rome to escape their pretented practises to dispatche him of his life nothing displeasant vnto Commodus to the ende he might inherite his goods Pertinax being come to Rome and the tyraunt Perennius in those dayes gouerning the Empire and commaunding Commodus gaue him verie euill entertaynement and woorse conuersation not for that Pertinax had so deserued but the rather to giue him occasion to departe from Rome for that being as he was verie wise and of great iudgement valiant riche and also auncient he doubted to bée depriued by Pertinax from the fauour of Commodus Pertinax beholding the follies of Commodus the tyrannies of Perennius the losse and spoyle of the common wealth of Rome aduised to departe from thence and to goe vnto the countrie of Liguria separating him selfe to liue in a poore village where in times past his father had liued and kepte shoppe and buying that poore dwelling where his father had solde oyle fishe wine bread and other victualls buylt in the compasse thereof a stately buylding permitting the olde to remaine in the midest without any addition or diminishing thereof Pertinax excéedingly delighted to beholde that countrie wherein he had passed his life being but a childe and from whence he had departed so abiect and nowe returned with suche wealth and credite And being aduertised of the foale of the Asse whereon he had vsed to carrie wood to be aliue he bought it and did so vse féede it as it had béene some auncient seruaunt of great deseruing He there erected manye and solemne buyldinges bought great and many purchases gaue great summes of money vnto his kinred old friends and acquaintaunce and did so ioye to sée him selfe so riche where he had béene so poore and to obteine so great quietnesse after so muche trauaile that he saide and wrote vnto his friendes that if Princes had throughly tasted and knowen the rellishe of reposed rest of them selues and of their owne proper will they would abandon their Empires Pertinax being setled in quietnesse Commodus sent his commaundement that he shoulde departe into Britaine to execute the office of Pretor which he obeyed more for feare then of good will and presently began to reforme the armies whiche were in robberies verie absolute and of life no lesse dissolute And on a time a certeine mutinous legion made commotion not because they had contention amongest them selues but early to awake Pertinax to violate his life The matter fell out after this manner that Pertinax found him selfe in so great perill that all men thought he had béene slaine yet amongst the dead he escaped aliue notwithstanding cruelly wounded After these matters were pacified and Pertinax cured of his woundes hee so seriously chasticed that treason which they had conspired against him that he ministred matter to murmur at Rome and to bewaile in Britaine The Senate being aduertised what had passed betwixt the armie and Pertinax sent a suspense of and for his pretorian office and gaue him charge of prouision for victuals and munition whiche he woulde not accept but sued for his discharge to departe for that the armies helde him extreme and cruell and he of the armies had greate doubt and suspicion Pertinax being arriued at Rome founde that Perennius the tyraunt was nowe dead and Pertinax being a man of authoritie and grauitie a small time fell into the fauour of Commodus vnto whome he commended the prefecture or gouernement of the citie of Rome and succéeding Fussianus whoe vsed his office with great crueltie Pertinax obteined greate good liking of all the people who perfourmed his charge with no lesse mildnesse and pietie Commodus not contented that Pertinax had recouered so greate fauour in the common wealth and finding no occasion either to kill or banishe him aduised to discouer his euill will whiche he did beare him bothe in worde and déede that of him selfe he would séeke occasion to departe frō Rome who finding apt sure meanes to renounce his office retired vnto his owne proper house and countrie supposing neuer more to haue béene remoued from thence all the dayes of his life partely for that he perceiued howe Commodus sought occasions to take away his life and partly moued of olde age to repose the remnant of his dayes CHAP. III. ¶ What was saide and what he aunswered vnto those persons that offered him the Empire AFter that Martia Letus Electus and Narcissus had slaine the Emperour Commodus a greate parte of the night being passed and all persons in the palace being couched vnder the gouernement of profound sléepe Martia and her companions tooke the carkase of Commodus and wrapt it in an olde Seron wherein the slaues did beare out the ordure of the stable giuing them to vnderstande that it was a certeine vessel with a charge also to carrie it forth After the bodie was remoued out of the courte they laide it into a carre and conueyed it into a certeine village named Aristro where Commodus did vse to bathe and solace but on the next daye his death being published the Romanes pursued and although he were dead they cutt off his head and trailed his bodie throughout all the stréetes of Rome Martia Letus and Electus considering they had slaine Commodus and bestowed his carkase at their pleasure aduised amongest them selues to séeke out and to name an Emperour before daye shoulde come vppon them to the ende the Empire should haue an owner as also to haue defence vnder his protection and so it came to passe when the death of the one was manifested the election of the other was published the matter hapned after this manner Letus and Electus talkinge with them certeine of their especiall frindes departed streight vnto the house of Pertinax knocking at the gate to haue it opened with greate haste one of the sonnes of Pertinax beholding them to come armed at such an hour and with such hast was taken with so great feare that when he
the Romanes went after him hearing what he said and praising what he did If in humaine affaires he were prouident in diuine matters surely he was not negligent for that euery day hée visited temples honoured priestes offered sacrifices repaired edifices heard orphans and afflicted in such wise that in victories they compared him vnto Iulius Caesar in humaine policies to Augustus and in diuine thinges to Pompilius The old Senatours and auncient Romanes that had béen bred with Seuerus from their youth were amased to sée how his euil condition was changed and on the other part they thought with themselues that all which he did was but fained for of his owne naturall condition he was subtile warie milde and double and did know how to denie his owne will for a time in that which hée wished to doe afterwardes with all men all that he desired It is a point of wise and skilfull men to ouercome their owne wills in small matters afterwardes to drawe others after them for causes of greater importaunce Althoughe there bee more credite to bee giuen to that which wée sée then vnto that which wée suspect yet in this case they were more deceiued that praised Seuerus in his good woorkes then those which did suspecte him for his old subtilties for that in shorte space they vnderstoode in him great cruelties and no lesse disordinate couetousnesse Those that from their youth bee not bredd in vertuous woorkes or that naturally of themselues bee not of good condition they may for a time deceiue some persons with their guiles but in the end their malice commeth to the notice of all men all which was experimented in Seuerus who vsed violence with his owne proper nature vntill hée sawe himselfe in possession of the common wealth The first office that hée gaue in Rome was vnto Flauius Iuuenal whome hee made Pretor of the people of whiche prouision of the one part he pleased all men because Flauius was a vertuous person and on the other parte it did grieue them because he was seruaunt vnto Iulianus The whole armie that Seuerus led with him he also brought into the citie of Rome and being in quantitie great and of condition proud they might not be contained within the citie for which cause they lodged not onely in houses priuileged and in sacred temples but forceably brake vp doores and entred houses The Romanes receiued the same for a very great iniurie because they onely felt not the despight done vnto their persons but also did bewaile the breach losse of their liberties Thrée dayes after Seuerus entered Rome the captaines of his armies sent to demaund of the Senate to haue giuen them an hundred thousand pesants of gold which were due vnto them for that in times past so much was giuen vnto them that first entered with the Emperour Augustus At the houre when the captaines sent these words vnto the Senat presently and ioyntly they armed themselues and marched vnto the field swearing and forswearing by the life of Seuerus by the world of Marcus that if it were not giuen that day at night they would sack Rome After that Seuerus heard that his armie was in readinesse in the field of Mars and without his cōmaundement he was not a litle escandalized thinking there had béene some treason against him amongest the people but the truth being knowen he requested them to be pacified and to disarme themselues saying that it proceeded not of wise Captaines but of seditious persons to demaund with threatenings that which would be giuen by request Seuerus saw himselfe in great trauell to finish agréement betwixt the one the other but in the end giuing them some monie out of his owne coffers and some from the common wealth he brought them all to a vnitie which was that vnto the Captaines was giuen lesse then they demaunded and the Romanes paid somewhat more then they offered Before all things Seuerus did celebrate the obsequies of Pertinax whereat all the Romanes were present and offered that day vnto the Gods great sacrifices accompting Pertinax amongest the Gods and placeing Priestes to do sacrifices vpon the sepulchre that for euermore should susteine his memorie When Seuerus entred the Empire he found many rents of the treasurie morgaged which is to wéete the royall patrimonie wherein he gaue order for the redéeming thereof to be reduced vnto the royall crowne Seuerus had two daughters of ripe age the one of xxv the other of xxx yeres whome he married within twentie dayes after he came to Rome the one with Prolus and the other with Laertius men of greate wealthe and riches and generous in bloud Seuerus offered his sonne Prolus the office of Censor which he refused saying that he fought not to be sonne in lawe vnto the Emperour to be a scourge of euill men but to be serued of good men Seuerus made bothe his sonnes in lawe Consuls and about Rome he bought them great rentes and also gaue them large summes of money to spend and to his daughters he gaue Iewels wherewith to honour them CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe the Emperour Seuerus passed into Asia against capteine Pessenius that rebelled against him ONe of the famous capteines that rebelled against the Emperour Iulianus as hath béene recounted in his life was Pessenius Niger who with the armies that were in Assyria did gouerne and rule all Asia Seuerus rose in Germanie and Pessenins in Asia and notwithstāding they were both traitours vnto their Lorde the difference betwixt them was that Seuerus for his comming vnto Rome they aduaunced vnto the Empire and Pessenius for remaining at his ease in Asia was condemned for a traitour At the houre that Iulianus his death was published presently Pessenius inuested him selfe with the title of Emperour and Augustus in such wise that Seuerus in Europa and Pessenius in Asia had diuided betwixt them selues all countries and prouinces and much more the one from the other had diuided their willes mindes Pessenius was very wel aduertised in Asia howe Seuerus had entred Rome with a great power and was in state of gouernement as naturall Emperour of the common wealth but neither for letters that were written vnto him or for any thing that might be saide vnto him would he obey Seuerus or muche lesse shewe any feare of him Pessenius was grosse of person valiant warlike and of al men with whome he dealt very well liked and surely if he lost the Empire it was not for want of friendes in Rome but that he abounded with vices in Asia After that Seuerus sawe that neither for threateninges either for promises that he made or for letters that he wrote he might not drawe Pessenius Niger vnto his seruice he determined to conquer him as an enimie although as he afterwardes saide he wished not with him to come in contention because Pessenius was a friende in earnest and no enimie in iest Seuerus commaunded a muster to be taken of all the men he had and
Seuerus considering the citie of Athras to be inexpugnable the people therein inuincible and his campe also weakened through greate sickenesse aduised to rayse his siege before his armie were vtterly lost which he did not without greate griefe and no lesse despight being as he was giuen vnto so many triumphes and victories he thought him self vāquished since he might not ouercome but fortune that naturally discouereth her self to be variable the victorie which shée denied Seuerus in fighting shée in his flight gaue afterwardes more largely The case was thus that sailing on the Sea with all his armie it was his chaunce to encounter with a tempest and being forced to followe the disposition of the weather and not as his heart desired they brought him to riuers of the kingdome of Parthia not thrée leagues distant from the greate citie of Tesiphont where the king was further entred into feasting then compassed with armour Seuerus entred into the fielde of Tesiphont committing so greate spoiles and robberies that he put the people into greate feare which as Seuerus did take at the soudeine and vnwares and being amazed neither able to saye or aunswere if they were demaunded for that to flye they had no time and to resist they had no force that whiche was woorst of all to make agréement it was not in their handes neither might they endure to submitt themselues vnto the Romans Seuerus arriuing at Tesiphont did subuert it vnto the ground slewe al that made resistance and did captiuate man woman and childe he tooke al the treasure and riches bothe of the citie and royall palace finally all the countrie treasure goods and persons came to the handes of Seuerus except the king Arthabanus who escaped on horsebacke Seuerus led with him certeine skilfull painters which as he went traueiling they went drawing and painting all cities castels riuers mountaines nations kingdomes and prouinces by throughe which he passed and all the battels and victories whiche he had made and obteined Seuerus sent a greate Ambassage vnto the Senate and people of Rome with whome he sent many captiues much riches and the tables wherin his victories were set out at large the Romains gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods and also greate praises vnto Seuerus although moste true that all men were pleased with the victories but would not that they shoulde haue béene obteined by Seuerus Departing from the kingdome of Parthia he diuided amongest his armies all that he had taken from the Parthians and for himselfe reserued nothing but that which he sent vnto the Senat and a ring of Vnicorne a white parat or popingay and a gréen horse the which thinges he toke not for their value but forthe straungnes of their colours Seuerus came through the kingdome of Palestina and gaue them many lawes conformable vnto the lawes of the Romanes commaunding vppon paine of death that none should name himselfe a Iew either call himselfe a Christian or obserue the lawe of Christians From Palestina he came through Assyria vnto the citie of Alexandria where also he placed new customes and also made newe lawes which he caused them to write and obserue howbeit they endured but the life of Seuerus for after his death they did not onely breake them but also burnt the tables wherin they were writen CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of Seuerus his sonnes and of their euill inclination THe kinges that were enimies being ouercome new cōfederation made with old friends and all the prouinces of Asia reformed he came vnto Rome and as the Romans had prepared the Parthicke triumph he might not enter triumphing for that he came so weake of a quartane and so lame of the goute that he might neither indure the chariott or suffer the intertainement of the people It had chaunced to none of the Romane Empire as it fortuned vnto Seuerus that is to say that had slaine so many princes obteyned so many victories and yet neuer entered triumphing into Rome which was not for his demerits or repugnancie of the Romanes but for his thrée first victories he might not triumphe because they were Romane princes and to his other victories of Asia his disease gaue impediment Seuerus had two legitimate sonnes the elder was named Bassianus the other Geta who notwithstanding they were brothers in bloud yet were they much different in conditions which infirmitie was not onely manifested in their infancie for that in their childish playes they could neuer agrée either in weightie affaires yeld one consent It was much noted amongest the Romanes that the two bretherne being but children might neuer agrée in their childishe playes and deuises that is to say in making houses of clay running at base driuing topps meating strawes trilling the bowle striking the drumme and other such like childishe trifles That the one delighted the other lothed that which the elder affirmed the younger denied and if it happened their tutours to commaund them to play together if the one did winne and the other loose they tare their haire scratched their faces whirled stones strucke with their fistes in such wise that as from their téeth and face they drue bloud and rent off their lockes so they séemed rather to kill eche other as enimies then to iest as brethren It was no small griefe vnto Seuerus when hée vnderstoode of the euil condition of his sonnes and that alwayes they were diuided amongest themselues who trauelled by al meanes possible to bring them to conformitie which he might neuer by any meanes bring to passe althoughe he requested either would they obey although hée commaunded for his sonnes were so wilfull that they ceased not to execute their owne wills notwithstanding their fathers gentle sute or his extréeme commaundement Seuerus also had a brother named Geta a person of great bolonesse and warrlike who in all warres followed Seuerus and if Seuerus had hautie thoughtes truly Geta his thoughtes were not humble for hée helde it for most certaine that vnto him Seuerus should leaue the Empire Besides that Geta was valiaunt and warrlike so was he also guilefull and diligent that is to say in seruing Seuerus contenting the Senate and pleasing the people The hatred and brabbling that passed betwixte Bassianus and Geta his cousins vsually hée reported it vnto all men in such wyse that Geta supposed to obteine by guile the Empire that Seuerus had gotten with armes Seuerus well vnderstoode howe Geta wente thus anglinge for the Empire and therein to take awaye all occasions in the fourth yeare of his Empire going against Albinius at that time in the citie of Millaine before hée passed the Alpes hee created his elder sonne Caesar and his younger Consul whereuppon a certaine Capitaine said vnto Seuerus it well séemeth Seuerus thou remembrest not the displeasures that Bassianus and Geta thy sonnes haue done thée either the seruice which thy brother Geta hath performed on thy behalfe To this Seuerus aunsweared it well appeareth that thou speakest by hearesaye rather then by anye
tedious complaintes vnto Seuerus but in the end hée gaue eare vnto the complaints of Plautianus as vnto a seruaunt but vnto Bassiaaus as vnto a sonne Seuerus considering the continuall displeasure giuen him by Plautianus the tyrannies hee executed in the Empire the enimitie betwixt him and Bassianus and that also with his great fauour he estaéemed him litle conceiued that some day he might rise with the Empire wherefore from thenceforth hée neither shewed him good countenaunce either gaue him so great authoritie in the common wealth Plautianus did well perceiue that he had not onely Bassianus vnto his enimie but also stoode in disgrace of Seuerus and thought with himselfe that to escape best cheape either they would take away his life or cast him out of fauour and to deliuer himselfe of so great an infamie he determined to kill them to quite himselfe CHAP. XVI ¶ Of a certaine treason that Plautianus had ordeined against Seuerus and how it was discouered THe order that Plautianus vsed or to say better the disorder that he practised to kill Seuerus and Bassianus procéeded as from a passioned tyraunt and not as a man aduised and so it afterwards redounded to his losse and destruction The case was thus there was in Rome a Tribune named Saturninus natiue of Assyria who was the greatest friend that Plautianus had with whome hée did most communicate to whom he did most commend his secretes and also for whom he did most pleasure Plautianus sending for this Saturninus an houre within night and inclosing themselues within a chamber said in great secrecie these wordes following Plautianus his Oration to Saturninus Saturninus thou knowest how great loue I haue borne thee and how many good deedes I haue done to thee thy house wherof there needeth no other token but the beholding of thee so highly aduaunced in the Court so accepted in my seruice many with me be offended at thee al men haue enuie Friends parents acquaintance recommended and seruaunts I had for whome to haue done vnto some of whom I was much beholding of others I was to haue coÌ„sidered for seruice all these notwithstanding on thee onely I fixed mine eyes to magnifie thee and in thee I imployed my hart to loue thee I sent now for thee to recompt vnto thee my trauels and sorrowes to the end thou shouldest helpe to deliuer mee from them and herein thou shalt perceiue the affectionate loue which I beare thee in that I repose my confidence in thee wherein I would not trust mine owne proper sonne for sonnes thincke not but howe to inherite their fathers goods but verie friendes haue care to deliuer their friendes from griefe and sorrowe Thou well knowest Saturninus what great seruice I haue done to Seuerus and since my youth haue followed him in the warres I say I serued him so young that I alone am his most auncient seruaunt although I bee now the most forgotten and abhorred Setting a part all seruices which I haue done for him and all great daungers that I haue passed to deliuer him from perill I haue borne so tender affection vnto my Lord Seuerus that I left to like him as a man and did adore him as a God and that this is true it appeareth most cleare in that I gaue my daughter vnto his sonne Bassianus and my selfe to be his perpetuall slaue After I spent my youth in his seruice followed the father throughout the world his sonne Bassianus nourished in my armes from his infancie I did yeeld him my goods I gaue him my onely daughter I gouerned his common wealth in peace of his euill life I framed in al men an opinion of great vertue his cruelties and tyrannie I made all men beleeue to be zeale of iustice in such wise that they neuer committed vile deede that I soldered not either at any time commaunded any difficult matter that I accomplished not The matter is thus come to passe the Gods permitting or my sorrowfull destinies procuring I am fallen into so great hatred of Seuerus and in so cruel contempt and enimitie with Bassianus that in recompence of al my seruice which I haue done them all the dayes of my life they are nowe determined to take away my life Thou seest now Saturninê° whether it be reason that I endure the same whereunto if I should giue place I should perish my house should be lost the gods vnserued the whole Empire escandalized and therefore it is coÌ„uenient that I execute on them that which they would execute vppon mee for that it is more consonant vnto reason that the euil be corrected of the good then that the vertuous should come vnder the power of the wicked Behold Saturninus what affection I beare thee that haue layd vp in thy breast so great a secrete this terrible deede I will put into thy handes therefore presently thou must depart vnto the Court and go into his chamber where Seuerus sleepeth and cut off his head from Bassianus his sonne also thou shalt take away his life Thou shalt say vnto the guard at Court that euen nowe there came vnto mee a post out of Asia and art sent by mee to giue Seuerus intelligence thereof and goest at such an houre for that daunger dependeth thereon And since thou hast not beene abashed to heare it be not terrified to performe it for that I sweare vnto thee by the immortal gods that after Seuerus is dead and I in the possession of the Empire conformable vnto the great perill wherein nowe thou doest aduenture thy selfe shall be thy rewards that then thou shalt receiue These and such other thinges Plautianus said vnto Saturninus who aunsweared that hée was readie to do his commaundement vppon condition that hée would giue him in writing in what manner he would haue him to kill Seuerus and Bassianus his sonne which he desired to this end that if in time he should forget the recompence of so great a seruice he might shewe him that writing both to remeÌ„ber the seruice past as also the reward vnperformed Plautianus doubted not to giue Saturninus a writing signed with his owne hand wherein hee commaunded to kill Seuerus and Bassianus his eldest sonne the contents of the writing was thus J Plautianus do request as a friend and commaund as a Censor that thou Saturninus Tribune do kill the Emperour Seuerus and Bassianus his elder sonne and for the same I promise thee and by the immortall Gods sweare vnto thee that as thou art onely in perill so to make thee singular in the Empire Saturninus as a man skilfull and subtile for more assuraunce vnto Plautianus vppon his knées kist his hand as though alreadie he had béene sure of the Empire and then being in the déepe of the night he departeth vnto the Court the guard presently giuing place and the chaÌ„berlaines in like maner who placing himselfe directly before Seuerus as he lay in his bed said these words O Seuerus how carelesse art thou of
iuels of gold or stone â—ut all persones were there clad in white for that all white apparell in Rome was counted mourning The Senatours and matrones were placed and sett at the risinge of the sunne and did not rise vntill the sunne was set there might they neither speake or gaze about but all that time was consumed in sighing wéeping and wayling From houre to houre Physicians came and went to visite that Image and so did raise beholde and féele his pulses as if the Emperour him selfe had béene there aliue and alwayes at their parting would report vnto the Senatours and ladies that the sicke person drewe on to death At which newes the matrones did grite and shriche and the Senatours did wéepe and waile This order they vsed seuen dayes together but first vpon the sixt day the Physicians did forsake the sicke person and finally on the seuenth day manifestly would publish his death presently after he was denounced for dead placeing the handles of the baire whereon the Image of the dead was laide vpon their shoulders the chiefest and moste honourable Senatours on horssebacke did beare the same and after this maner went vnto the place named Vaieia and might not go by any other way but by the sacred waye whiche was a tracke where no man durst passe but Emperours that were dead and priestes that were aliue In that place named Vaieia there was another buylding made of stone after the manner of a Throne hauing on bothe sides degrées and staires to mount aloft where they did place the Image of the dead Emperour vpon the one staires stoode children the sonnes of the gentlemen of Rome and on the other parte stoode the damsels and virgins of Rome and there did singe many sorrowfull songes and hymnes published in the praise of the dead From thence they remoued the baire with the Image of the dead vnto the fielde of Mars where also was made another scaffold all of drie woode vnder the vaut whereof was laide stubble stalkes and strawe and other kindling matter to burne the outside was brauely painted and hanged with rich tapestrie and aloft vpon the highest parte thereof they placed the Image of the dead Emperour On the day in which this ceremonie was perfourmed in Rome they did concurre to beholde the same from all partes of Italie and euerye Lord and ladie that was present did throwe vppon the degrées of that Throne Myre incense aloes amber roses and other thinges of fragrant sauours When all men had offered their swéet perfumes the Senatours did skirmish on horsseback and presently after them the two CoÌ„suls gaue a boylt aloft on their chariots gorgeously adorned and after them there followed on foote all the auncient Romanes and neighbourhood of Rome and all such as had béene captaines of the warres all which after they had gone a turne about the Throne fel downe groueling exclaming very lowde against the ground After the thrée processions were done which is to wéete of the Senatours of the Consuls and of the capteines came he that did inherite the Empire who with a burning torche gaue fire to that Throne whiche being all of drye stuffe presently was consumed Before the beginning of this great ceremonie the Senate sought out against that day a braue Eagle which was placed betwixt the handles of the baire where the Image of the dead was laide with great skill and subtiltie at the time that the Image burnt the Eagle was loosed and flewe away and as her proper nature is to flye vpwarde all men saide with loude voices that it was the soule of the dead Emperour that was gone to the Goddes vp to heauen As oft as ye shall finde these words written of any Prince or notable personage namely Inter diuos relatus est that is they haue placed him with the Gods all these ceremonies were done vnto him vnto such a one from thenceforth they might sacrifice adore make temples and place Priestes in such manner they had to honour him as a God and not to talke of him as of a man. CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the mortall hatred betwixt Bassianus and Geta his brother AFter the two brethren had accomplished the funerall office of their father Seuerus they went bothe to lodge in the sacred palace not ioyntly but parting the lodging betwixt them euery one placing porters by them selues and their gard to attende vpon them Although their lodging was one yet their willes and dispositions were diuers and suche as had to deale in matters of importance conferred not with them but with their mother who tooke the opinion of the one and so of the other whiche afterwardes was perfourmed by aduise and consent of the Senate because otherwise the common wealth shoulde haue runne at randon and be lost These two Princes neuer ioyntly came foorth but when they went to the Senate or to visite the temple of the greate Emperour Marcus Aurelius for Seuerus had commaunded that weekely they should offer sacrifices in that temple and monethly his heires should visite that sepulchre Bassianus and his brother Geta had small care to visite temples offer sacrifices go to the Senate reforme the comon wealth either prouide necessarie matter for the warres but all their bent and studie was the one to beguyle the other to winne the willes of the people to the ende that one being dead the other might reigne without contradiction Both the brethren being thus diuided and bothe leading the Empire into handes notwithstanding that bothe had enimies and friendes yet alwayes the greater parte of the common wealth were more affectionate to the younger sonne which was Geta. Geta was white and redde high sharpe milde nimble of groase lightuesse and of verie good condition and yet in respect of reigning he was as proude as Bassianus Bassianus his brother was a falowe blacke cholerike adust little of bodie broade forehead muche skinne on his handes hollowe and hoarse of voice preignant subtile diligent and a iyar for if he néeded anything he would flatter all men with faire words and after enuen all things in lies The diuisions euery day proceedinge from euil to woorse it was beyonde all mennes powers to bring them agreed or make them friendes they bothe deuised without aduertisement of any person to diuide the Empire the manner was that all kingdomes should equally be diuided in two partes that the name of Emperour should be indifferent vnto them both There was allotted vnto Bassianus all Europe vnto Geta his brother the kingdoms of Asia and the end wherfore they diuided the Empire was not to be friendes from thenceforth but to haue libertie men and riches to rise with Rome and he that might do most to dispatche the other of his life When this agréement was made they determined to call their mother Iulia and all the auncieÌ„t seruauntes and friendes of the house of Seuerus their father vnto whome Bassianus gaue to vnderstand how his brother and he had agréed and were
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
vnder their histories which they shall write our same shal shine and flourish Alexander in the dayes of his youth was deadly hated of his cousen Heliogabalus this procéeded not of the sharpe condition of Alexander but for the euil nature of Heliogabalus that is to say for that he would not consent to be a coÌ„panion in his wickednes as by birth he was his kinseman There were neuer séene two princes so conioyned in parentage so nere in succession so different in liues as Heliogabalus Alexander for that in Heliogabalus there was not one vertue to be praised either in Alexander one vice to be reprehended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe Alexander was aduaunced vnto the Empire and of his laudable manners TWo yeares before the Pretorians killed Heliogabalus the Emperour Alexander was elected Augustus to the great grace liking and conformitie of al the Romane people whereof procéeded that on the day in which they had slaine the vnworthie Heliogabalus they gaue vnto Alexander the ensignes of the empire When Alexander began to reigne he was very younge wherfore Mesia the â—randmother and Manea the mother did take the charge 〈◊〉 gouernement of the empire who although in condition they were womeÌ„ yet most truly in gouernement they discouered themselues to be men They elected xij persons to assist them in the affaires of the Empire which were chosen amongest the auncient the most experte amongst the learned the most wise without determination iudgment of all these they did neither heare what was demaunded either determined any matter that they had to doe The first déede of Alexander his grandmother Mesia his mother Manea his xii counsellours was to take order for reformation of temples namely to repaire the decaide to clense the defiled inrich such as were robbed and to populate such as were disinhabited because in the dayes of his predecessour Heliogabalus not only humaine matters went to wracke but the gods also were profaned Diuine matters being reformed presently they toke order for coÌ„seruation of the coÌ„mon wealth before all things all vicious persons were resolued from their offices and not satisfied to punish their offences with depriuation of their offices he forced them to make restitution of whatsoeuer they had either bribed or purloyned from thencefoorth to liue of their owne proper sweate Matters of iustice were not handled but of men very well learned Martiall affaires were not commended but vnto men of great experience causes of the common wealth were not manured but of persons skilfull therein in such wise that they prouided not offices for men but men for offices Also Alexander reformed the whole condition estate of his house as well the ministers as the expences thereof which all the dayes of Heliogabalus excéeded in disorder was no lesse defiled with vice for which cause he set a seazment of the charges thereof and elected faithful officers to spend the same in such wise that in the house of Alexander there was neither immoderate expences either men wanting offices Although order was taken for the ordinarie expences of his house yet notwithstanding his houshold had all things in abundance conuenient vnto his imperial magnificence and many strangers that came from farre praised Alexander because they might not accuse him of prodigalitie either note him of auarice The temples the common wealth and his house being ordered the good prince forgat not to reforme his owne person not only for the maner of consuming of time but also for the order and maner of his apparel for that he vsed to say if the monie which princes spend in robes superfluous the time which they coÌ„sume in apparelling decking themselues were spent to the profite of their common wealthes they should obteine more fauour of the gods lesse hatred of men Alexander was so humble in condition that publikely he coÌ„maunded none should call him Lord either by word or writing but the priests should call him brother the Senatours sonne men at armes companion and common persons friend and this he did for that he held the gods in so great reuerence that he would they only should be called Lords On the superscriptioÌ„s of letters brought him by Embassadours or sent him from any prouince they wrote theron exquisite and stately titles wherin he prouided no other superscription to be added but this Vnto our sonne our Brother our Companion or Friend Aurelius AlexaÌ„der Romane Emperour Heliogabalus his predecessour did commonly weare precious stones on his feete and most costly iewels of gold and Vnicorne in his apparel whiche thinges Alexander neuer vsed either delighted to weare for as he was wont to say princes are not to be knowen of their vassals by their rich robes but by their good works performed in their common wealthes He was apparelled most coÌ„monly in white in winter with a certaine kind of blaÌ„ket of Britaine and in summer with a certaine maner of cotton that was brought him from Asia Some times he would make him garments of cotton linnen wouen together oftentimes saying that he much delighted therein for that it was very cheape to be bought light to weare might best be washed in summer He would many times walke in Rome with a friend or twaine holding his hands behind and finding himselfe wearie would enter into the first neighbours house and sit downe vppon a banke of earth some times would there fall a sléepe in such maner that he had so great familiaritie with all men as if he had béene one of them He was mild pitiful patieÌ„t silent in all things of great continencie was neuer séene extréemely disteÌ„pered or at any time to vse furious words with any person for which cause no maner of person did wish him euil for his euil déeds but of a cancred and corrupt nature wherewith he was defiled CHAP. III. ¶ How Alexander being inuested with the Empire presently did visite and reforme his common wealth IN the second yeare of the Empire of Alexander his grandmother the great and renowmed matrone Mesia died in whose death he the Romane people also discouered great sorrow bestowing vppon her coarse so honourable a funeral and such solemne obsequies as apperteined to one that had béene cousen vnto the Emperour Seuerus and had for nephues the Emperour Heliogabalus and Alexander Mesia being dead the burden of gouernement was layed vpon Manea mother vnto Alexander whome al men conceiued to be in full possession of chastitie temperance prudence and patience but notwithstanding somewhat inclined to auarice whereof procéeded these words earely in the morning to be written vppon the gates if Manea had not charge of monie in the coÌ„mon wealth such a Romane had neuer béene borne in Rome Long time passed in which the Senate had not béene visited which Alexander forgat not as wel to visite as also to reforme not only by inquisition how they liued and gouerned the common wealth but also how they ordered their houses