head somewhat yellow his countenance and visage rather fair than lovely and well-favoured His eyes gray and dim his neck full and fat his body bearing out and his legs slender and small He began his reign with a glorious shew of piety and kindness Those Tributes and Taxes which were any thing heavy he either quite abolished or abated Whensoever he was put in mind to subscribe set his hand to a warrant for the execution of any person condemned to dye he would say Quà m vellem nescire literas O that I knew not one letter of the book Seneca his Tutor did much extoll that speech of his as if it had proceeded from a pitiful heart He was framed by Nature and practised by custom saith Tacitus to cloak hatred with flattering speeches Many times he saluted all the degrees of the City one after another by rote and without book When the Senate upon a time gave him thanks he answered Cum meruero Do so when I shall deserve Within the first twelve moneths of his Government he poisoned Britannicus who was his Cozen-german his adoptive Brother and Testamentary partner in the Empire Boltons Nero Caesar. His quinquennium or first five years were such that Trajan himself is said to have admired using this speech Procul differre cunctos Principes Neronis quinquennio But it is thought that it was rather the reign of his Governors Seneca and Burrhus than properly his Neronis initia si demas parricidium Claudii cujus etsi non auctor conscius tamen fuit itemque Britannici jus inter versum de caetero valde speciosa fuerunt Abdetis adhuc vitiis praevalentibus bonarum rerum auctoribus Boecleri Dissertatio Politica He delighted exceedingly in Musick and would shew his skill upon the open stage often using the Greek Proverb That hidden Musick was nought worth All the while he was singing it was not lawful for any person to depart out of the Theatre were the cause never so necessary It is reported that some great-bellied woman falling into travel were delivered upon the very Scaffolds yea many men besides weary of tedious hearing praysing him when the Town gates were shut either by stealth lept down from the Walls or counterfeiting themselves dead were carried forth as Corpses to be buried But how timorously with what thought and anguish of mind with what emulation of his concurrents and fear of the Umpire he strove for Mastery it is almost incredible He never durst once spit and reach up flegm and he wiped away the very sweat of his forhead with his arm only There was a boy named Sporus whose genitories he cut off and assayed thereby to transform him into the nature of a woman then he caused him to be brought unto him as a Bride without a dowry in a fine yellow vail after the solemn manner of Marriage not without a goodly train attending upon him whom he maintained as a wife whereupon one brake this witty jest That it would have been happy for the world if Domitius his Father had wedded such a wife He said jestingly of Claudius That he left morari inter homines with a long syllable meaning that he spent his dayes foolishly Epulas à medio die ad mediam noctem protrahebat He held out his Feasts from noon-day till mid-night He was very profuse and prodigal in expences he never put on the same Garment twice when he played at hazard he ventured no lesse than 3125 pounds at a cast upon every point or prick of the chance He fished with a golden Net drawn and knit with cords twisted of purple and crimson silk in grain When he made any journey he never had under 1000 Caroches in his train his Mules were shod with silver but in no one thing was he more wastful than in building His house was so large that it contained three Galleries of a mile a piece in length a standing Pool like unto a Sea the same inclosed round about with buildings in form of Cities It was laid all over with gold garnished with precious stones and mother of pearl He said He now at length began to live like a man and himself named it Domum auream a golden house His Mother Agrippina being with Child with him went to consult with the Chaldeans or South-sayers about her Son they answered her That he should reign but kill his Mother but she being very ambitious slighted that saying Occidat modo imperit Let him kill me so he may be King This was accomplished afterwards for he caused his Mother to be murdered and not only so but which was more horrible he took an exact view of her dead body and beheld it Crowner-like saying He did not think he had had so fair a Mother The sentence nevertheless doth in part acquit him from her incestuous familiaritie For how was it strange to him that his Mother should be so handsome if she had been his Concubine Boltons Nero Caesar. His Father he poisoned he slew his Brother Germanicus and his Sister Antonia and both his wives Poppaea and Octavia his Aunt Domitia his son in law Rufinus and his Instructers Seneca and Lucan There was no kind of affinity and consanguinity were it never so near but it felt the weight of his deadly hands The first persecution was under him in the 13. year of his reign Tertullian calls him Dedicator damnationis nostrae i. e. the first that made a Law to condemn Christians to death Tertullian Eusebius Lactantius and others say that he put Peter and Paul to death Paulus à Nerone saith Eusebius Romae capite truncatus Petrus palo affixus scribuntur Historia huic fidem facit quod illic coemeteria habentur in quibus Petri Pauli nuncupatio ad hunc usque diem obtinet Chrys. and Theophyl upon the fourth Chapter of the second to Timonhy alledge this to be the cause wherefore he put Paul to death because Paul had converted to the Christian Faith Nero's Butler whom he made great account of thereunto he commanded him to be beheaded others say it was because he converted one of Nero his Concubines which afterward refused to company with him but we need assigne no other cause of Nero's rage against the Apostle than that which Eusebius and Ierom both do touch the cruelty of that bloody Tyrant joyned with a wicked detestation of the Christian Faith His cruelty is by Paul compared to the mouth of a Lion 2. Tim. 4.17 but here then ariseth an objection how Paul should suffer under him when he saith there that he was delivered Therefore Paul was his prisoner twice he was set at liberty after his first imprisonment at Rome Phil. 1.25 Philem. 22. Heb. 13.23 2 Tim. 4.16 17. The reason is thus alledged by
id fieri decuit prout hic superius de nivalibus castellis est deductum in quibus jactu globorum se pueri adolescentes futura certamina fortiter toleraturi exercent nulla coeli elementorumve injuria fracti vel fatigati dum in tam duris lusibus aspera hieme fuerint educati Olaus Magnus de ritu gent. Septentr lib. 1. c. 23. When a shooting prize was played before him he gave the garland to one who shot alwayes wide concluding that it was the more improbable difficulty to aim so often and never to hit Taurum toties non ferire difficile est Treb. Pollio in Gallieno c. 12. When it was told him that Egypt rebelled he answered Cannot we live without the linen of Egypt France being lost he laughing said Cannot the Land stand without those Soldiers Cassocks which France sends us Being advertised also of Asias destruction by Earthquakes and Scythian invasion Cannot we subsist said he without Salt-peter 'T is observed that there were thirty competitors once on foot for one and the same throne to wit that of the Roman Empire who confounded one another And I think our age hath seen a greater number of aspirers for a narrower Territory Mr. Gee in his Preface to the Divine Right and Original of the Civil Magistrate from God illustrated and vindicated In his reign the Heavens were darkned so that the Sun was not seen for many dayes in the bowels of the earth were heard roarings with the fear whereof many dyed Earth-quakes threw down many houses whereby the Inhabitants were destroyed these Earth-quakes were frequent in Rome Africk but especially in Asia the Earth opened in many places and shewed Vaults and Caves from whence salt water streamed and several Cities were drowned by the Sea and in Rome there dyed above 5000 in one day of the pestilence Treb. Pollio c. 5. Gallienus addicted only to his pleasures was not affected with these calamities thinking they proceeded rather from chance than any signal punishment He grieved not for his Fathers captivity but when he was informed of it alluding to the speech of Xenophon the Philosopher who having lost his son said Sciebam me genuisse mortalem answer'd Sciebam patrem meum esse mortalem I knew that my Father was lyable to the miseries as other men Nec defuit Annius Cornicula qui eum quasi constantem Principem falso sua voce laudaret pejor tamen ille qui credidit saith Pollio c. 16. Romae in arcu S. Viti reperta est haec inscriptio Galieno clementiss Principi cujus invicta virtus sola pietate superata est M. Aurelius Victor deditissimus numini majestatique ejus Sic est nulla labes tam grandis quae non possit obscurari vitia suum habent defensorem Cuspinianus in Gallieno Odenatus though an Independent Prince was of such moderation that he held correspondence with Gallienus and sent him such of the Persian Nobility as he had taken prisoners for monuments of his victory over Sapor and revenge of the indignities offered to Valerian thus Odenatus conquered and Gallienus triumphed who when he could not eclipse Odenatus his merit by any Princely vertue or suppress it by valor sought to deface it by treachery but failing of his aims therein he made him partner of the Empire for fear Odenatus receiving the titles of Imperator and Augustus from Gallienus and the Senate Being not ashamed ridiculously to triumph over the Persians who detained his Father prisoner and to lead them captive in his mock-shew some jeering companions mixing themselves with the Persians exactly viewed their countenances and being asked wherefore they did it answered We seek for his Majesties Father which when Gallienus heard of he was so incensed at the taunt that he commanded those who uttered it to be burned alive The Scythians invading Cappadocia the Soldiers attempted to make a new Emperor for which Gallienus put them all to the sword Pollio c. 11. In his time the City Byzantium renowned for the sea-fights and the place which barreth in the Euxine Sea was destroyed by his soldiers to revenge which he being received into Byzantium compassed them unarmed with armed soldiers and slew them contrary to his covenant And as if he had done some great matter he posted to Rome and summoning the Senators appointeth decennial playes to be celebrated novo genere ludorum nova specie pomparum exquisito genere voluptatum saith Pollio c. 7. He killed sometimes 3 or 4000 soldiers in a day Id. Ib. c. 18. At last he himself with his brother Valerian and his son Gallienus were slain near Milain where he besieged Aureolus by the treachery of Marcianus Ceronius or Cecropius and Heraclian Pollio c. 14. He was a bad man and a worse Governor yet an act of clemency that he did gat him much love and covered many of his vices the act was this One sold unto the Empress counterfeit Jewels instead of true ones and so cozened her of much money she complaineth thereof to the Emperor importuning him to execute the Law in all rigor who seemeth to give way commanding the Malefactor to be exposed to a Lion But when this Chapman looked for nothing less than death and that a cruel one in the room of a Lion rampant a Capon was ordered to be put out through the Den at which all the Spectators marvelling Gallienus bad the Cryer proclaim Imposturam fecit passus est He deceived others and now is cozened himself being made to believe he should dy is suffered to live and hath a Capon to his supper Bp. Smith's Sermons p. 244. Nempe id leporis voluit id spectaculi Id Gallienus muneris populo dare Id ultionis conjugi id metus reo Angelini Gazaei Pia Hilaria edita Cantabrig tom 1. p. 168 169. He lived 50 years reigned 15 7 with his Father 8 alone At once Rome 30 Tyrants had this fits A monster many Heads how many wits Dr. Holydayes Survey of the world lib. 9. p. 100. Saloninus Gallienus WAS Son of the forementioned Gallienus and Cornelia Salonina Pipara whence some think he was called Saloninus though others conceive him to be so named for being born at Salona but Casaubon inclineth to the former opinion There is little memorable recorded of him besides his noble extraction and education and that he was murdered not so much for his own as his Fathers sake Trebellius Pollio in his life c. 1. Exiguum decus nobile stemma regia educatio nisi virtus accedat saith Goulartius in his marginal observation He was substituted by his Father in the place of his elder brother Cornelius Valerianus who died in his minority Divers Soldiers invited to a feast by Gallienus in the time of their repast laid aside their Girdles and Belts which being gilt or studded with gold silver and precious stones Saloninus took away which being hardly recovered when lost in a Princes Court the military Officers
7 Emperors Claudius his brother Quintillus Aurelian Tacitus his brother Florian Probus and Carus reigned but 18 years Lloids Consent of Times Persica diminues victricibus agmina signis Foelix ni torto fulminis igne cadas Boissardus Diocletian and Maximian Collegues DIocletian's parentage is uncertainly reported some making him the son of a Scrivener others of a bondman made free by Anulinus a Senator but all agree he was a Dalmatian of base birth Haec eadem est Dalmatia quae Hieronymum ceu patronum ecclesiarum quem nemo Latinorum lucubrando vicit nobis dedit Tam verè igitur quà m eleganter a Sulmonensi vate dictum est Terra salutifer as herbas eademque nocentes Gignit urticae proxima saepe rosa est Vadiani Epitome trium terrae partium The name of his Mother and of the Town wherein he was born was Dioclea whence he was called Diocles till he came to be Emperor and then named himself Diocletian converting a Greek name into a Roman form and upon the conquest of the Persians and Egyptians Iovius as Maximian his Collegue stiled himself Herculius velut ille Jovis hic Herculis haeres saith P. Laetus who parallels Diocletian with Iupiter and Maximian with Hercules Iupiter gigantes ut coeli regiam defenderet perdidit Diocletianus ut orbis terrarum regiam tueretur tyrannos surgentes ut Centimanos diligenti cura delevit saith the same Author in Rom. Hist. Comp. Maximianus se progeniem esse Herculis non adulationibus fabulosis sed aequatis virtutibus comprobavit Paneg. Const. dictus Iovius Herculius a Gallis adeo dilecti ut ab eis duo populi nomina sumpserint Ioviorum Herculiorum Viennenses duas urbis portas Ioviam Herculeam appellavere ut epigrammata docent Pomponius Laetus ubi supra When Diocletian serving as a common Soldier in France reckoned with his hostess one of the Druids she told him he was too penurious he jeastingly answered that he would be bountiful when he came to be Emperor of Rome she bid him not mock saying Imperator eris cum aprum occideris From that time he hunted often and killed many boars to see if a Crown would spring from their blood but still missed the Empire which Aurelian Tacitus Probus and Carus obtained whereupon he said I kill many boars but others go away with the flesh At last Aper having killed Numerianus as is above mentioned was brought by the Soldiers before Diocletian who being told his name and concluding at length that the prediction was to be understood of a man presently killed him in outward shew for zeal of justice as being not able to endure so foul a fact but in truth to fulfil the prediction of his hostess the Druid for that Aper signifieth a Boar. Vopiscus in Numeriano saith that his Grand-father from whom he had this report was present when Aper was slain to whom Dioeletian when he struck him said in a bravado Gloriare Aper Aeneae magni dextra cadis adding Tandem Aprum fatalem occidi Vopiscus in Caro Numeriano c. c. 15 16. Promisit verace tibi Druis hospita voce Imperium fuerit cum tibi caesus Aper Boissardi Distich in Iconas l. 1. p. 30. Diocletian was a man greatly esteemed but thus conditioned for he was the first that wore cloath of gold trod on silk and purple embellished with pearls which though it were more than did become him and argued in him a lofty and proud spirit yet this was nothing in respect of his other carriage for next after Caligula and Domitian he was the first who allowed himself to be called Lord and God and would be sued unto as a god though saith Aur. Victor he carried himself liker a Father than a Tyrant Sibi immani saevitia qua religionis odio in omne Christianum nomen est grassatus aeternas infamiae notas ceteroqui non pessimus Princeps inussit M. Velserus Rerum Aug. Vind. l. 6. p. 136 137. It was a good speech of him though an evil Emperor That the best and most wary Prince may be abused by bad servants Vopiscus in Aureliano Vt maximè infame Diocletiani Imperium fuerit ob excitatam exercitam saevissimam in Christianos persecutionem privata insuper vitia nonnulla attamen alias laudatissimum Principem fuisse constitutiones de jure nobilissimas aequissimas promulgasse constat quidem ex veteri Iurisprudentiae passim petitas ad ejus normam compositas Gothofredus in secunda dissertatione juridica p. 39. Notwithstanding his cruelty condemned even by Libanius a Heathen in his Oration to Theodosius the Great yet he counterfeited Clemency and in appearance had the memory of Marcus Aurel. in great veneration as a God saying often that he desired to resemble him in humanity Capitolinus in Marco Antonino Philosopho Rescriptum Diocletiani Maximiani l. 6. C. de Patr. potest Abdicatio quae Graeco more ad alienandos liberos usurpatur f. usurpabatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicebatur Romanis legibus non comprobatur Rittershusius in Salvianum p. 499. Diocletianus si quisquam alius Principum praecipuam Testamentorum rationem habuit enixeque testantium utilitati consultum ivir. Jac. Gothofredus in secunda dissertatione Iuridica p. 40. Diocletian by his profound wisdom wherewith he was endued found out a more assured way to secure himself against rebellions than others had discovered for having taken Maximian for his Companion and Allie and afterwards created Galerius and Constantius Cesars he rendred himself formidable to those who desired to make themselves Emperors For in what part soever the rebels rose one of these four was upon their backs and stifled them in the birth Only Carausius whom the situation of great Britain rendred invincible stood out 7 years But all the other who had the boldness to make themselves Emperors as Aulus Pomponius Aelianus Amandus Iulianus c. were quickly defeated before they could make any considerable progress Tristan Diocletianus post segetem tyrannorum Maximianum Caesarem collegam feeit Chr. Schotani Heptaemeron p. 215. These 2 Emperors chose 2 Cesars Diocletian chose Galerius surnamed Armentarius and Maximian Constantius Chlorus enforcing them to put away their wives and take their Daughters for an assurance of love by the bonds of that alliance Aur. Victor Whereas Eutropius calleth the marriage of Constantius Chlorus with Helena obscurius matrimonium a more obscure marriage his meaning is plain For he neither meant nor said that it was simply ignoble but speaking comparatively and comparing it to his second marriage with Theodora the daughter-in-law to the Emperor by which he obtained first to be Cesar then Emperor in respect of the splendor of this second marriage and the Imperial dignity obtained thereby he did and might well say that the former was more obscure or not so illustrious though in it self it was both very honourable and
yet he floted a great while exhorting the lookers on not to be dismayd with his punishment and so with much a do was at last drowned Prudentius Peristeph Hymn 7. Haec aetas Mrtyres solum sed Historicos philosophos fudit Nam Aelius Spartianus Iulius Capitolinus Aelius Lampridius Vulcatius Gallicanus Trebellius Pollio Flavius Vopiscus e quibus pleraque Caesarum descripsimus historias suas Diocletiano Constantio Augustis inscripsere Arnobius e Philosophis Christianus egregiè fidem tutatus parem discipulum Lactantium tulit Joh. Cluveri Epitome Hist. totius Mundi in Constantio Maxim Galerius was endued with very good qualities and expert in Martial affairs Eutropius lib. 10. Homo gloria rei militaris illustris verum saevitia in Christianos crudelis Vnde foedum exitium habuisse creditus est Pomponius Laetus in Rom. Hist. Compendio Fl. Valerius Severus and C. Galerius Maximinus Associates of Galerius Maximianus Armentarius MOre for cruelty against the Christians than for nobility of descent or degree of honour this name agreed to Severus his pedigree being unknown R. B. in his lives of all the Roman Emperors p. 145. Penes autorem fides esto When Constantius deceased his son Constantine was created Emperor in Britain where he became Governor in his Fathers room by the earnest desire of all In the mean while the Pretorian Soldiers raising a mutiny at Rome nominated Maxentius son of Maximianus Herculius who dwelt in the high-way not far from the City Emperor At which tidings Maximianus Herculius hoping again to recover the Empire which he resigned against his will hasted to Rome from Lucania writing also to Diocletian to resume his former power which motion was slighted Severus Cesar was sent to Rome by Galerius with an Army to repress the commotion of the Guard and Maxentius But as he besieged the City his own Soldiers treacherously forsook him by means whereof Maxentius was fortified in the Empire Severus defending himself in Ravenna is drawn from thence by Maximianus Herculius who circumventing him with oaths perswaded him to go to Rome whither going he was taken and strangled at the Tres tabernae by some whom Maxentius had there appointed to lie in ambush Zosimus l. 2. Maxentius Severum Ravenna evocatum perimit tam cito nullum quam Caesarem Bussieres in Flosculis Historiarum Severus his Corps was put into the Sepulchre of Gallienus distant from Rome 9 miles by the via Appia Victor in his Epitome Galerius incensed with the outrage of Maxentius intended to fall upon the West in revenge of Severus's death but was frustrated therein for distrusting the safety of his Territories he created Licinius Cesar after whose nomination he survived not long Per tres tabernas intelligimus eas quae tribus millibus passuum ab Interamna fuerunt eo loco qui vulgo dicitur Ponteconfino Haec enim inter Romam Ravennam sitae sunt ita dictae à tribus cauponis vel diversoriis publicis C. A. Rupertus in minorem Besoldi synopsin p. 405. concurring with Cluverus in his Italia antiqua l. 3. c. 8. Maximinus was the Son of the sister of Galerius surnamed Armentarius Victor in his Epitome with whom Zosimus rightly interpreted by Stephen concurreth He was Cesar 4 years and Emperor 3 in the East Victor ubi supra By his birth and education he was a Pastoral man but a great lover of wise and learned men of a quiet disposition but much inclined to wine in the excess whereof he commanded many things of which he afterwards repented giving a charge to his followers that they should not execute his desires except he was sober or gave them a command in the morning Id. Ib. He persecuted the Christians being instigated thereto by Theotecnus a Conjurer of Antioch Maximinus pernicies propemodum ultima nominis Christiani dirum exitium si vires animum adequassent saith Bussieres in Flosculis Historiarum Maximus Bishop of Hierusalem and Paphnutius Confessors were condemned by him to the Mines having their right eies pulled out and one of their ham-strings cut Constantine the Great kissed the hole in Paphnutius's face out of which the Tyrant Maximinus had bored his eie for the profession of the Faith the good Emperor making much of the socket even when the candle was put out Dr. Fuller's Holy-State l. 3. ch 15. Adversus Christianos Maxentius Galerius Maximinus caetera discordes instaurant persecutionem quam Eusebius vocat secundam sui videlicet aevi Jac. Cappellus in Cent. Hist. Eccl. p. 69. The heathen Presidents of Provinces forged certain acts of Pilate and our Saviour full of blasphemy against Christ which by consent of Maximinus they send abroad throughout his Dominions commanding by their Letters that the same both in City and Country should be expounded to the youth by School-masters and committed to memory instead of their Themes Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History l. 9. c. 5. Maximini exemplo nihilo melior factus Maximinus persecutionem instaurat Antiochiae Lucianum occidit Alexandriae Petrum Episcopum Maximini furorem castigat Deus tum quod ab Armeniis quos lacessebat turpiter profligatus est tum immissa peste fame in qua Christianorum humanitatem tam admirabilem reddidit Deus quam nuper constantiam in martyriis Cappellus in Eccles. Hist. cent p. 70. In Armenia contra Parthos bellum gerens urget in vicinis locis persecutionem necessitate tamen coactus destitit cum à Parthis magna clade afficeretur Oriens universus fame peste saevissimè affligeretur fames adeo invaluit ut mensura tritici bis mille quingentis drachmis venderetur nostri aeris ultra 350. floren Calvisii Chronologia in quarto p. 559. After the death of Galerius and Maxentius Licinius and Maximinus beheld each other with a jealous eie and made shew of contest but Maximine at Tarsus desided the difference by an irrevocable resignation Maximinus edicto publico Christianos insectatus A. D. 311. coactus est ante vertentem annum palinodiam canere eamque duplicem primum A. D. 312. tum hoc anno Sed tam inutilis ipsi fuit adulatio quam comminatio Periit Tarsi molli flamma medullas exedente corpus ejus ita mutilante ut fieret horrendum aspectu Eusebius l. 9. c. 9 10. Ita tum exitum habuit tertia persecutio Ab initio primae ad exitum ultimae sunt anni circiter decem Jac. Cappellus in Eccl. Chr. Cent. tertia ad A. D. 313. Peccat Eusebius in Chronicis aliquot annoram prochronismo in referenda Maximini morte mirasque dat turbas in recensendis illius rebus gestis in Historia Ecclesiastica quem secutus Baronius praeter haec peccat quod Maximinum mortuum scribat anno Constantini Magni nono quum tamen mense Iunio anno Constantini ut numerant octavo paulo antequam Tribunitiam potestatem octavum iniret Constantinus mortuus sit Maximinus