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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	yield_v	young_a	youth_n	13	3	7.7719	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02294	A chronicle, conteyning the liues of tenne emperours of Rome Wherin are discouered, their beginnings, procéedings, and endings, worthie to be read, marked, and remembred. Wherein are also conteyned lawes of speciall profite and policie. ... Compiled by the most famous Syr Anthonie of Gueuara, Bishop of Mondonnedo, preacher, chronicler, and counsellour to the Emperour Charles the fift: and translated out of Spanish into English, by Edward Hellowes, Groome of her Maiesties Leashe. Hereunto is also annexed a table, recapitulating such particularities, as are in this booke mentioned.; Decada de los diez Cesares y emperadores Romanos. English	Guevara, Antonio de, Bp., d. 1545?; Hellowes, Edward.	1577 (1577)	STC 12426; ESTC S103534	315,538	500

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

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 cōsidered 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 Saturninꝰ 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 cōuenient 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 remēber 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 chāberlaines 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

they did not a litle persuade Traiane to take peace or to make some honest truce and without peril to return to Rome Traiane to this made aunswer our weakenesse should be great and with great reason they would blame vs in Rome if so soudēly we should ceasse to make warre without first making proofe to what ende their forces do extende and also vnderstande what our destinies do containe bycause it may be that if their power be great our fortune may be much greater King Decebal had taken fortified all the daungerous passages and broken all bridges barkes botes of all the riuers and had taken spoiled all the victuals where the Romaines should passe and all these thinges were occasions to increase trauaile vnto Traiane but not of power sufficient to remoue his enterprise for that Traiane was of so valliant a minde that where he sawe fortune most doubtfull from thence he did hope of victorie moste certeine Traiane did take possesse the height of the rockes and mountaines and thereon with all his armie did trauaile many nights and dayes king Decebal did neuer conceiue that Traiane would trauaile by those thornie mountaines for that he thought it impossible for men to trauaile where beastes could not escape King Decebal was constrained to returne vnto the plaine countrie and to fortifie him selfe in strong cities to this ende Traiane did purpose not to fight in mountains that be daungerous but in fieldes that be plaine for he saide that they came not to fight with the mountaines whiche bred bruite beastes but to tame cities which susteine seditious men In very short space Traiane had taken fiue cities seuen castels and many prisoners among which Mirto was taken being vnckle tutour and captaine of king Decebal a man of greate grauitie and of no lesse authoritie Traiane was so rigorous with them that did resist him and so pitifull vnto such as did yelde them that some for loue and others for feare began secretely to practise throughout the kingdome totally to yeald them selues vnto Traiane because they sawe euery day Traians force to increase and the power of king Decebal to decay and growe very weake Traiane besieging a certeine citie named Myrtha holding the captaine therof in great distresse king Decebal forgate not to sende him reliefe succour of great power against whome Lucius Metellus a captaine of Traianes did march and aduaunce him self who at that instant fought so valiantly and manlike that he lest not of all the enimies one onely person that was not either taken or slaine And as in that battaile manye Romaines were slaine and many more wounded lacking clothes to binde vp their woundes Traiane tare his owne shirt to supply their want in that behalfe Being knowne within the citie howe their succorour was discomfited and howe Traiane to cure his wounded had rent his own shirt they did feare the victorie and were amazed at a worke of so great clemencie and bothe these things were not a litle preiudiciall vnto king Decebal chiefely for that he was proude and disdainfull for the good Traiane if with his engins he ouerthrewe their castels with the fame of his good woorkes he did robbe and steale the mindes of his armie The citie of Myrtha beeing taken and rendred into the handes of Romaines presently king Decebal sent Ambassadours vnto Traiane aduertising that he woulde become subiect vnto the Romaine Empire vppon suche condition that the thinges whereon they should capitulate were reasonable and suche thinges as they shoulde commaunde to be perfourmable for otherwise he and his were determined rather to dye with libertie then to liue in bondage The conditions that Traiane sent to demaund were these That he should leaue all armour discampe his armie subuert his castels yelde his engines restore that which was robbed become a friende vnto the friendes and an enimie vnto the enimies of the Senate render suche captaines as came to his succour and giue 100000 pesants of golde to paye the armie and giue one of his sonnes in pledge for suretie of all promises All these conditions king Decebal was contented to sweare and obserue except the rendering of the captaines which came in his fauour to succour him saying that so vile a déede did not agrée with the clemencie of Traiane to demaunde it neither vnto his royall fidelitie to graunt it for that he yelded him selfe and his countrey but to preserue the life of his friendes and alies King Decebal came vnto the presence of Traiane and knéeling vpon the grounde did take off the crowne from his head and kissed the knée and the hand of Traiane the which lifting him from the grounde and againe placing the crowne vpon his head saide vnto him I admitt thee to kisse my knee for the rebellion which thou hast committed and I gaue thee my hande to kisse for the vassalage whiche thou owest mee nowe I giue thee place to sitt by mee as a friend I returne thy crowne vnto thee as vnto a king and therefore learne to vnderstande thy faulte past and to conserue this present benefite for otherwise thou shalt put mee to muche trauaile and thy selfe in great peril CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Traiane triumphed of the Datians and refourmed his common wealth MAny castels being furnished and others ouerthrowen and subuerted and the armies being paide with king Decebals money Traiane departed vnto Rome leading with him the kinges sonne for pledge and other noble men for Ambassadours because it was a lawe much vsed and also obserued amongest the Romaines that it were of no value which was capitulate in the wars if it were not confirmed in the Senate at Rome The Ambassadours of king Decebal arriued at Rome before the Emperour Traiane who bareheaded their armour throwne downe and their hands ioyned and lifted vp did humbly beséeche the Senate that it might please them to pardon kinge Decebal the rebellion which he had committed against them and to confirme all that which the Emperour Traiane had capitulate bycause for that which had passed he did repent him and for time to come did offer amendes With readie disposition the Romaine senate did approue allowe and confirme all actes agréed vppon betwixt Traiane and the Datians and presently commaunded their armour to be restored them to walk in the citie at their libertie bycause it was a lawe inuiolable that the Ambassadours whose Princes helde warres with the Romaine people might weare no kinde of armour either walke the stréetes at libertie without licence Many and most extreme were the feastes wherewith the Romaines did receiue the Emperour Traiane very great was the riches that he bestowed in his triumph admitting that the Romains did much reioyce to see their Empire riche in great power but it did muche more please them to beholde Traiane returned whole safe and aliue for it is incredible what affection and loue all men did beare him and the sacrifices beyonde all valure that for him they did

yeares he was twice Consul once Gouernour of the citie and once Iudge in suche wise that his vertue was more beneficiall then others to be naturall of the countrie The father of Antoninus Pius was named Fuluius Aurelius a man vertuous and learned and no lesse then his grandfather Titus was twice Consul his grandmother of the mothers side was named Bobinia and the father of his mother whiche was Arrius Antoninus was no lesse estéemed in the Romaine Empire then was his other grādfather for he was Iudge two yeres Master of the horsse men one yeare Tribune of the people an other yeare and in the ende two times Consul This Arrius Antoninus was a great persecuter of Domitian a great friende of Nerua and verie priuate with Traiane whiche when he perceiued Nerua to accept the Empire being so olde he had greate compassion of him and sayde these wordes My friende Nerua I giue thee to vnderstande eyther it is some cursse from thy predecessours or some vengeaunce that the Goddes will take of thee since they permitte thee to take the Empire and at the time of most neede to haue counsell they depriue thee of thy sound and good iudgement The good olde Nerua did so sensibly féele these wordes spoken by his friende Antoninus that had it not béene by the great importunitie of Traiane he had presently renounced the Empire which if he had done as afterwards he did he had not erred bycause his age was too greate and his strength but weake Antoninus Pius had a father in lawe named Iulius Lupus which long time was a Senatour that desired not to beare office but with his patrimonie to liue in quietnesse Antoninus Pius married with the daughter of Annius Verus who was named Annia Faustina a woman of excelling beautie and this was mother vnto the famous Faustine wife vnto the great Emperour Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius and Faustine his wife had two sonnes which died in their youth and also two daughters of which the elder was married vnto the Consul Sillanus which also died in their youth The second daughter as the mother was named Faustine married vnto Marcus Aurelius in whome the succession of the Empire did remaine Antoninus Pius had but one sister named Iulia Fadilla whome he tenderly loued not onely for that he had no more but because they were twinnes and borne both at a birth Antoninus Pius was borne the xiii daye of October at a certeine place named Laurina which afterwardes he did nobilitate with stately buyldinges and indued with great priuileges and also did amplifie the boundes thereof which were but short and narrowe In the moste time of his infancie he was nourished with his fathers father and being more entred into yeres he continued with his other graund father by the mothers side and was so vertuous and so well inclined that he was pleasing vnto all men and beloued of all persons he attained to be knowen vnto all his grandfathers both of father and mother who all fixed their eyes vppon Antoninus as well to inuest him with learning as to endue him with riches and wealth for as he afterwards reported of them they vsed to saye that they fauoured him more for his vertue then for affinitie With his graundfathers he learned both tounges of Greeke and Latine he gaue him selfe more to Cosmographie then to any other science and did muche delight to talke with men of straunge nations to giue them to vnderstande that he did knowe all the particularities of their countries by science as they did by experience Being so intirely beloued of his graundfathers they helde him alwayes in company with Philosophers who of his owne natural condition delighted not but in the company of the vertuous whereof it procéeded that after he became so cruell an enimie vnto the wicked and so perfect a friend vnto good men The customes and companies that Princes do take in their youth they loue and followe afterwardes when they be men CHAP. II. ¶ Of the inclination proportion and naturall fashion of his bodie ANtoninus Pius was of an high stature slender and very streight his eyes somewhat outward black hayre thicke bearde white rare and gaptothed his face white merrie gladsome and faire in such wise that he did rather prouoke to be loued then feared Naturally he was of great health his téeth excepted which he lost before he came to age When a certeine cunning man made offer to be bound to place him téethe wherewith to speake and eate Antoninus made him aunswere Since neuer from my harte proceeded fained or double woords there shall neuer enter into my mouth counterfete teeth The want of his téeth made him to eat with paine and stutter in his spéeche Being touched with a Iester for his stammering Antoninus aunswered I recke not greatly to stumble in wordes so that I erre not and stand vp right in deedes In Rome there was a Senatour named Taurinus liberall in spéeche and not sober in diet who reprouing Antoninus for that his téeth failed him bothe to eate and speake aunswering saide I consent to that which thou saiest for that I if I woulde may not be a glutton but thou maist and wilt not leaue to be malicious Many Princes did excell Antoninus Pius in science but none did matche him in eloquence for that ordinarily he did talke in the Latine tounge did dispute in the Greeke He was naturally very well conditioned which had in him moste apparance for that alwayes his woords were without malice and his thoughtes without suspicion Although he were of complexion cholerike sanguine which giueth men occasion to be rashe and soudein it had no place in Antoninus Pius for that he was constant in aduersities and patient in iniuries When in his presence they saide any woordes that did grieue or offende him or brought him any sorrowfull newes in biting of his lipp in casting downe his eyes and laying one hand vpon another they vnderstood his great sorrow but ioyntly herewith he was neuer séene of any man soudeinly to chaunge countenaunce muche lesse to speake any cruell or iniurious woorde Before he was Emperour he was the welthiest man of all the Empire for that he did inherite from his foure graundfathers greate and ample patrimonies vnto whome he was sole inheritour He was giuen to gather conserue and augment his goodes riches and wealth but without all oppression to any person for that he liued onely of him selfe defrauding no man of his suite After he obteined the Empire when by chaunce any talke was moued of the couetousnesse of men and of the necessitie of Princes many times he woulde saye I giue thankes to the immortall Gods that since I haue beene Emperour I haue not taken any thing from any man either before that euer I was benighted with debt He had great affection to the woorkes of the fielde and therein had not onely the tooles and thinges necessarie for the purpose that is to saye buffes oxen cartes

olde and rich and hauing but one daughter whiche also was married Iulianus gaue him selfe to liue in ioy and pleasure that is to say vsed not but to solace alongst the riuers to haunte places frequēted with people to recreate with friends to talke of times paste to séeke exquisite and delicate meates and alwayes to haue new guestes in such wise that hee did flie eache thinge that was displeasante and did and procured what so euer might yealde pleasure Iulianus longe time perseuered in Rome in this manner of life according to which life he had neither faithfull friendes or feared and cruell enimies because if anie did loue him it was for that hee gaue them some of his money and if others did hate him it was because they receiued no parte of his riches CHAP. II. Howe the Empire of Rome was set to sale and also soulde by proclamation AT the instante that the Pretorian bandes had slaine the Emperour Pertinax they aduised to ioyne in one to seaze the walles to take the gates of Rome and that with an armed power partelie for that the people should not rise against them as also to choose an Emperour at their owne liking Although the common people behelde the imperiall palace besette yet they did not thinke that they woulde haue slaine the Emperour because the fame went amongst them that Pertinax was come foorth and that with milde wordes he had intreated them but as it after chaunced though the greate troupes were retyred Pertinax was slaine by the fewer number Whē the death of Pertinax was notified vnto the commō people al Rome was readie in armour Verie greate was the confusion whiche was that day in Rome both of the one parte to see Pertinax slaine and also for that the armie was bent against the people and euerie houre redie to ioyne kill eache other but that they knewe not againste whome to fight because the people woulde haue taken vengeaunce of the traitours that had slaine the Emperour but the armie woulde not deliuer them in suche wise that they were all faultie in that facte the one in the acte the other for consent The moste principall of the Senate manie matrones of Rome moste wealthy persons and such as loued peace and quietnesse after that they sawe the walles besette the towers taken the gates lockt and the streetes stopte through out al Rome they departed vnto their inheritances vntill they might see the conclusion of that so perilous scandalous a tumulte for they had had experience that no man might be safe in his house vntill there were a new Emperour and that the election of him shoulde be consecrated with the handes of manie persons The Pretorian bandes beholding the moste parte of the people to be fled and none lefte that durste reuenge the death of Pertinax or resiste their attempts they lost al feare and recouered a newe courage not to amende the fault whiche they had committed but to giue and sell the Romane Empire The case was thus that a man at armes mounted vpon the wall at the gate Salaria who in the name of the whole armie made proclamation and saide with a loude voice Is there anie man that will giue more for the Empire of Rome is there anie man that will set a price for vnto him that will giue most money we will giue it for his owne Of all the iniuries disgraces and calamities that the Frenchmen the Assyrians the Hunnes the Gothes the Lombards did vnto Rome none was equal vnto this which is to say to set the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome in open sale It was greate griefe to sée it and also presētlie to write it to sée and heare proclamation who will giue money for the Empire of Rome vnto whome a fore time the whole worlde had giuen tribute By this so notable example princes and mightie Potentates are to be admonished what greate mutabilitie is conteined in thinges of this worlde since the same persons that had seene Rome the ladie of so manie and greate kingdomes did also see her solde proclamed and bought for money Al the gentlemen auncient Romanes and Senatours coulde not fill or satisfie them selues with wéeping when they behelde and hearde the proclamations made out at windowes and that which did more grieue them was the greate infamie whiche allwayes shoulde followe Rome in that shée was set to sale and of the daunger also of the common wealth which was to be bought of some tyrante Those that woulde haue bought the Empire had no money for that Commodus had ouerviewed and ransackt their store and those that coulde haue bought of greate griefe and no lesse shame woulde not deale therein for in respect of the iniurie that they should haue committed vnto their mother Rome it might not be saide that they bought it for money but solde it vnto some enimie In conclusion the segniorie of Rome and the greatnesse and maiestie of the Empire passed in publique proclamations by the space of three dayes in whiche no man woulde buye it or sette it in price in so muche as the Pretorians were despited that no man would giue money and the common people in greate sadnesse that they woulde sell it The fourth day after Pertinax was slaine as Didius Iulianus was at supper with greate pleasure and talking howe the Empire continued in proclamations his wife daughter and sonne in lawe persuading him to aduēture to buy it since the Pretorians were growne to so great wante of shame as to sell it Iulianus consideringe of the one parte what was saide by proclamation and on the other parte what his friendes did persuade him left his eating cast downe his heade and gaue him selfe profoundlie to consider of the matter whiche is to wéete whether it were simplicitie to leaue or vilanie with money to buy the common wealth Iulianus being verie pensatiue with him selfe and indetermined his wife daughter and kinsfolke yet againe replied saying that it was not nowe time to blinde him selfe with studie but to profite him selfe by his money and that also he had to consider that it were lesse euill to buy the Empire with his owne proper money thē as other to obteine the same by losse of mens liues and that he shoulde not care to deferre the euente by delayes since the Pretorians grewe displeased and proclamations to be cut off As Iulianus naturally was proude founde him selfe riche and also importunated by his friendes he determined to buy the Empire and for the purpose presently goeth to the foote of the wall and crieth out vnto the watch that was thereon saying for bloud ye knowe me to be descended of noble Romanes and in riches most wealthy and that he woulde giue them so muche money for the Empire that they shoulde be abashed to sée it and tyred to tell it The Consul Sulpitius father in lawe vnto the Emperour Pertinax in secrete did solicite the Pretorians to giue him the Empire not to the ende he

the ambassage that thy greatly fauoured Plautianus doth send thée whose messenger I am not to giue thée warning as I do aduise thée but to kill thée and thy sonne Bassianus for that as thou hast trusted him with thine honour and giuen him of thy goodes it séemeth vnto him also that thou shouldest serue him with thy life Great was the admiration of Seuerus when hee heard what Saturninus said and yet most true that presently hee mighte not beléeue the same or could thincke that so vile treason might be conteyned in Plautianus but rather that his sonne Bassianus had béene the inuenter thereof to lead him into disdaine and hatred against Plautianus Bassianus being lodged within his father at his voyce did awake and came foorth whome his father Seuerus reproued blamed with words very sharpe for the inuention of so great euill and sware by the immortal Gods to receiue him from thenceforth into his further grace and fauour in the way of reuenge for so great an impietie for Plautianus was not a man to haue any such thought in his heart And as Bassianus had not heard the beginning of Saturninus speach so was hee abashed to sée his father so gréeuously offended wheruppon Saturninus seeing the incredulitie of the Emperour Seuerus how entirely he loued Plautianus puld foorth his writing wherein hee was commaunded to kill both him his sonne and further did humbly craue that Plautianus might be sent for with aduertisement that Seuerus and his sonne were slaine and then it should be séene that he would come apparelled not in silk but in yron One was sent as from Saturninus vnto Plautianus to come to Court where at his arriuall finding all in silence Saturninus met him at the chamber doore receiuing him as new Emperour vppon his knées did kisse his hands and taking him by the hand in the darke said he would direct him where Seuerus was strangled and his sonne Bassianus slaine Plautianus thinking all safe sure that Saturninus saide entered the chāber alone where Seuerus Bassianus with certaine assistants were readie to receiue them whome when hée beheld liuing that hée had thought to be dead he chaunged countenaunce and lost his speach A long time was Seuerus reprehending Plautianus putting him in remembraunce of all thinges which he had done for him and in especiall so many great displeasures which he had passed for his sake and had aduaunced him aboue all persons in the Empire and aboue all the rest had reuenged him of all his enimies After Plautianus had a little recouered himself he bowed his knées before his lord Seuerus and with teares began to craue pardon for his offence promising amendment in time to come saying that for his owne cause hee ought to pardon him although hee wanted all deseruing for any mercie but to take away all occasion of reporte in the Empire that euer he had fauoured so wicked a person Beholding Plautianus teares the promises which he made the hoarie head beard that he so tare and the great loue that he had borne him Seuerus was in a maner determined to pardon him but in the end being found to be clad in a shirt of male wheron Bassianus laying his hand said Tell mee Plautianus into princes chambers at such an houre as this do seruauntes enter apparelled in silke or armed with yron I sweare vnto thee by the immortall Gods since thou bringest yron to kill vs thou shalt here die with yron And hardly had ended these woords when he began to stab him with his dagger whoe presently fell downe dead and was beheaded whose head was fixed vppon a launce ouer the port of Hostia the body deliuered vnto boyes to trayle alongest the streates of Rome This was the ende and conclusion of the fauoured and priuate Plautianus whome Fortune s●●st aduaunced and follie afterwards cast away CHAP. XVII ¶ Of the particular vices and vertues of Seuerus THe newes being spread throughout Rome that Plautianus was dead al the people tooke great pleasure and no lesse would haue ioyed if Plautianus had slaine Seuerus and his sonne Bassianus for that all thrée were so euil wished in the common wealth that the least euill which they would them in the common wealth was but death The offices that Plautianus held in the common wealth Seuerus diuided amongest the Tribunes simple and plaine mē and not giuen to trouble but the loue and fauour which he had vnto Plautianus he neuer after committed vnto any person for as afterwardes he said he knew not whome to trust since his priuate and fauoured seruaunt Plautianus would murther him Plautianus being dead there was none that might suffer or indure the cruelties of the prince Bassianus or follerate his tyrannies for Bassianus stoode in awe of Plautianus partly for that he was his father in lawe as also for that he had bred him from his infancie Seuerus considering his sonnes Bassianus Geta to increase in age decrease in wit caused wilde beasts to be brought for them to kill horses to runne inuenting new playes to practise therein to occupie their persons diuerting their mindes to those games to reinoue them from vices Finding no profite to lead his sonnes to vertue by those warlike exercises he would cal them in secrete and tel them of many old examples how such and such princes were cast away by discord and that the same mischance must happen vnto them if they did not behaue themselues as friends fauour eche other as brothers for that with concord smal things increase by discord great things came to nought Besids that the two brethren were ouerthwart in maners and peruerse of conditions as before hath beene said their tutours did them much hurt that is to say in dissembling their vices inciting them to greater enimities whereof Seuerus being aduertised some of them he banished some he dispatched some he drowned in welles affirming that they deserued more punishment that kindled enimities then the persons that did execute them Plautianus left a daughter that was wife vnto Bassianus and her sonne nephue vnto Seuerus and sonne vnto Bassianus as well the mother that was young as the sonne which was a child they banished into Sicyl giuing them of al that which they had no more but to serue them wherw t to eate which Seuerus did not for enuie that he bare to his nephue daughter in law but not to offēd his sonne Bassianus Seuerus did vaunt himself that his predecessours had bin of a citie in Africa named Tripol which he did nobilitate not only in buildings but also in rents priuileges and plāted there and orchard of Oliue trées which did yéeld so great quantitie of oyle that it was sufficient for a great part of Africa and Italie Seuerus was a friend of wisemē fauoured studious delt very well with such as were learned but ioyntly with this hee did most abhorre them if they were either ouerthwart or troublesome

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