that wyth much dyffyculty after longe stryfe hys aduersaryes were vanquysshed For whyles they both contended fynallye he was by the fauoure of fortune lefte onely Emperour But in this darke ouerthwart inueighyng of these woordes he wysshed rather to haue hys dede vnderstanded then openlye harde Then for hys safetye obtayned he promysed vnto euerye Souldyoure twoo thousande fyue hundreth grâ—tes and he alowed theym halfe as muche more vyttayle as they were accustomed to haue before that tyme. He lycenced theym also to take theym selues money oute of the Temples and Treasouryes lauysshynge out at large in one daye as muche as Seuerus had in xviii yeares gathered and of other mennes calamytyes and myseryes heaped togythers The Souldyours beynge wyth so greate aboundaunce of money entysed perceyuynge thole cyrcumstaunce of the aforesayde murdre by those that were fledde from the Courte pronounced hym sole Emperoure and declared Geta a Traytour Antonyne remayned the same nyghte in the Temple and affayinge hym selfe in the rewardes wherewith he had wonne the Souldyours heartes wente the nexte daye into the Senate house beynge enuyroned wyth all the armye and more armure and weapons then were accustomed to garde the Prynce beynge entered into the Senate he made hys sacryfyce and that eanded he ascended thimperyall Throne and made an Oracyon as foloweth ¶ I am not ignoraunt that euery murdre of a mannes owne kynred as soone as it entreth into the eares of others wyll seame odyouse and the name it self when it is heard wil adde a maruaylous sclauÌ„der For compassioÌ„ foloweth the vnfortunate and enuy pursueth the mighty The vanquisshed is thought to receyue iniurye and the Conqueroure is supposed to commyt wronge But if any man wyll ponder the matter it selfe rather with attentife Counsell then any percyal fauoure towardes hym that is dead and exactly consyder hys cause and entente he shal easely fynd that it is both iust and requisyte to reuenge rather then to receiue iniurye For the infamye of tymorousenes doth ensue the calamity of the murdred but the ouercommer besydes that he is in safetye dothe also beare awaye the renowne of fortytude Now al other thinges the which he entended against me wyth poysons and al other kinde of Treason it lyeth in youre handes to wreste oute by tormentes Therefore perdye haue I commaunded all hys seruauntes to be here presente that you may vnderstaÌ„de the trueth There be many of them already racked whose confession ye maye throughly heare Fynally whyles I was wyth my Moother he came vpon me bringing in his coÌ„pany many armed w t weapoÌ„s But I knowiÌ„g the matter before reueÌ„ged my self on mine enemy For he neither bare any minde nor yet purposed anye thynge pertayninge to a brother And to destroy him the which doth first enteÌ„de mischief eueÌ„ as it is rightfull so is it also receaued in vse For Romulus hym selfe the buylder of this Citye forbare not his Brother which deluded hys workes of so greate importaunce I omytte Germanicus the brother of Nero and Tytus the brother of Domitian Marcus the Philosopher did not suffre y e checkes of his Son in lawe But I in thauoyding of poyson prepared againste me and the swoorde that henge ouer my sholders haue slayne myne enemye for that name hathe he throughe his deades deserued Render you thaÌ„kes vnto the Goddes for that they haue preserued one Prince vnto you And let not your myndes be seuered into sondry opinions but obeyenge youre onely Emperour lede your lyues hereafter in traÌ„quillitie For Iupiter eueÌ„ as he possesseth the onely Empire and dominion amonges the Goddes so hathe he appoynted the same vnto one alone amonges mortall men After he had spoken thiese woordes wyth loude voyce full of yre and cruell countenaunce beholding the frendes of Geta whyche trembled and waxed pale throughe feare he retourned into the palayce Furthewith then were the alyes and frendes of Geta put to death euen those which dwelt in the house wyth hym and all his seruauntes so that the age of infantes was not spared Besydes that the deade karkasses were layde in Cartes for a reproche caried oute of the Citye there throwen on heapes and burned Neyther suffered he to remayne alyue anye one which was but of lytle acquayntaunce with Geta The wrestlars Carters and Stage players and finallye all kynde of thynge that was eyther gratefull or acceptable to the eyes or eares of Geta were euerye where destroyed And euerye Senatour that excelled in nobilitie dignitie or ryches was putte to deathe as his frende vpon euerie smale trifle yea somtyme without any cause vpon euery lyght accusatioÌ„ He caused to be slayne also the sister of Commodus beinge verye aged and thitherunto of all Emperous entertayned with great reuerence as it became the doughter of Marcus takynge for occasion that she had bewayled vnto hys moother the death of Geta And with her his owne wife the doughter of Plantianus whiche before was sente into Cicilia and a kynsman of hys owne named Seuerus the sonne of Pertynax and Lucilla the suster of Commodus Finally he roted out as it were from the botom euerye one whiche remained of Thimperal bloude or in the Senate of the nobilitie He commaunded also all the rulers and officers of the Prouinces to be slain as the frendes of Geta so that all the nyghtes were spent in murderynge a meruaylous numbre of men Yea he buried quicke in the yearthe the Vestall virgines as thoughe they had violated theyr virginitie Fynally that whiche neuer before was done he committed For whiles he was lokynge vpon the playes called Circenses the people of Rome reprouynge I knowe not howe a certayne Carter whome he attentiflye behelde he takynge it for an obloquie towardes hymselfe furthwyth commaunded the whole armie to runne vpon the people and to spoyle and slea euerye one that had spoken agaynst the Carter And the souldyours hauing once gotten licence of rifling and robbyng when they whiche had spoken agaynst the Carter coulde not be dyscerned amonges the people for no man woulde in that multitude confesse the trueth as they happened vpon anye man either slewe hym or elles takynge them all captiues after theyr raunsome payed dyd with great difficultie release them When theise thynges were finished Themperour styrred with remorse of hys euyl actes and detesting the liuinge in the Citye remoued from Rome to set the Souldiors in order and visyte the prouinces After he was passed Italye he wente vnto the bankes of Danowe the which are subiecte to the Romayne Empyre There eyther he exercysed his bodye in Cartinge or huntynge all kynde of wylde beastes or elles sate in iudgemeÌ„t but that was very sealdome giuing sentence brifely and answering verye shortly after he had harde but lytle of the matter He there besydes ioyned all the Germaynes into hys societie so that of them he elected euery moste valyaunte goodly of stature for his companyons in warre and garde of his personne And
euery daye agaynste him seeking some occasion were it euer so small to flea hym And so it was by destenye appoynted that Macrinus after he had one onely yeare voluptuousely Raigned should lose both hys Empyre his lyfe fortune hauing ministred lyght and symple occasyon to the Souldiors to commytte that thei had desyred There was a certen Phenycien woman named Moesa borne in a Citye of Phenicia called Emesa Suster vnto Iulia the wyfe of Seuerus Moother of Anthonine Who during the Raigne of Seuerus and Anthonine and the lyfe of Iulia had dwelte in themperours Palayce The same Moesa after the death of her Suster and murdre of Anthonyne Macrinus had commaunded to retourne into her owne Countrey w t all her substance And in sothe she was wonderfull ryche of money as one whyche of verye longe tyme had bene brought vp within thimperiall Treasourie And being retorned home she there continually remayned hauynge two daughters of the whiche the eldest hyght Soemis and the yōger was named Mammea The eldre had a Sōne called Bassianus and the yōger had an other named Alexianus Bothe these yonge mē were brought vp vnder their Moothers Grandmother Bassian was fourtene yeres olde and Alexianus x. Thei were priestes of the Sonne whiche thenhabitauntes of that contrey do chiefly worship naming it in the Phenicien tōgue Heleogabalus Vnto hym haue thei dedicated a very great Temple decked and adorned with abundaūce of Golde Syluer and preciouse stones And not onely thenhabytantes them selues do worshyppe it but all the noble menne also of the nexte nacions and the Barbarouse Kynges doo euerye yeare offer vnto it sumptuouse and precyouse gyftes There is no ymage made after the Romayne and Grecien facion lyke vnto thys God For it is a myghtye stone from the botom sharpened more and more vnto the toppe much lyke a Pynaple The colour of the stone is blacke whyche they reporte to be fallen oute of heauen In the same stone are sene very many formes and colours which they affirme to be the shape of the Sonne made by no mans hande Vnto this ymage was Bassianus sacred priest And because he was thelder hym selfe moste commonlye executed the office apparelled gorgeouslye after the Barbarous maner For he ware a cote wouen with gold hauing longe sleues and retchynge downe to hys heeles Hys legges were couered from the hāmes to the toes with lyke vesture of golde and purple And he ware on hys head a garland of freshe floures shining with colours He was then besydes in the floure of hys youth and the beautifullest of all yonge men at that tyme lyuynge And because hys beautye wyth the proportion of his bodye the floure of hys age and his gorgious decked apparel wer so agreable togethers men compared him vnto the goodly Images of Dionyse Nowe whyles thys Bassianus was celebrating the sacrifice and daunsyng after the Barbarous maner men dyd attentiuely loke vpō him but chiefly the Romayne Souldiours either for that they knew him to be of the Imperiall bloude or elles because hys floryshynge beautye allured euerye man to caste hys eyes towardes hym for the Romayne hoste laye then nyghe that Cytye beyng sente thither for the defence of Phenicia and shortly after departed from thence as we shall hereafter declare As they resorted to the Churche daylye throughe the pretence of religion they gladlye behelde the yonge man Amonges them certayne banyshed Romaynes familier with Moesa Whome she perceyuynge to wonder at the beautie of thys Striplinge reported vnto thē that he was the Sonne of Antonine although he were supposed anothers doubtfull it is whether she spake the truth or not For she said y t whiles she abode in thimperial palaice with her suster Antonine had to do with her .ii. doughters being then yong faire This being once told vnto them by them told againe vnto the residue of their felowes was furthwith published throughout thole Campe. It was besides reported that Mesa had whole heapes of money which she would gladlye distribute amonges the souldiors if thei wold restore thempire vnto her issue They promised her therfore yf she would come priuely by night into the Campe to opē the gate receaue her w t her folkes in For the which promise the olde woman denied them nothyng that they dyd demaunde being contente rather to attempt or take in hād any daūger thē to lede a priuat abiect life Wherfore she departed secretly by night out of y e citie w t her doughters neuewes was conueyed by the afore named fugitiues into the Campe. And beinge into the same wythout interruption receaued furthewyth all the Souldyours called the yong man Antonyne apparelled hym wyth purple and kepte hym with a sure garde amonges them for a whyle Then they broughte all the vitayls and necessaryes that they coulde gette in the nexte vylages and fyeldes wyth theyr wyues and children into the Campe. And so fortified them selues within the same that yf nede required they myght abyde the siege When these thinges were reported vnto Macrinus then soiornyng at Antioche and a rumour was spred throughout the host that Antonynes son was foūde that the suster of Iulia gaue money vnto the Souldiors when all that was spoken of or thoughte to be possible was holden for trew euery man beganne to doubt ▪ and reuolt from Macrinus styrred partly ther vnto through the hate thei bare vnto him partelye through the pitie whiche they had of the memorye of Antonine but especially encensed w t desire hope of monei So y t furth w t many fled vnto y e new Antonine But Macrinus cōtēpninge thole matter as childish vsing his accustomed alacritie of minde abode him self at home sent one of his capytains furth with as great a power as seamed sufficient for the subduing of the rebelles But when Iulianus for that was the Capitains name came thither began to lay siege to the walles the Souldiours y t were within shewed frō their Towers other high places the yong man criyng with loude voices that he was y e Son of Antonine lifting vp great bagges of money which are the only baite of treason And they crediting that he was Antonines son in deade because they wolde haue it so apeare esteming also his face liniamentes of bodye to be verye lyke strake of Iulianus head and sent it vnto Macrinus That eanded the gates of the fortresse were opened and them selfes receiued in Thus was theyr power augmented able not onely to abide a siege and repulse an assaulte but also to pytche a fielde a great number of fugitiues dayly resortynge vnto them When Macrinus heard therof he incontinently marched forwardes with thole armie to assaulte the fortresse And Antonine led his power futh against him for that his Souldiours woulde not tarie the siege beynge able ynough to fyght in playne battayle Then bothe the armyes encountred togethers in the confynes
thirde Tiberius Cesar The iiii Caius Caligula The .v. Claudius Cesar The .vi. Nero Claudius Cesar The .vii. Sergius Galba The .viii. Otho Siluius The .ix. Aulus Vitellius The .x. Flauius Vespasianus The .xi. Titus Vespasianus The twelue Domitianus Of whiche twelue Suetonius Tranquillus hathe wryten compendiouslye Paulus Orosius sayeth that Nerua succeaded Domitian after Nerua Traian after Traian Adrian after Adrian Antoninus Pius wyth hys two Sonnes Aurelius and Lucius whome Marcus AntoniÌ„us Verus and Aurelius Commodus his brother succeaded Which Marcus AntoniÌ„us of whome presently the question is ouerliued the other and remained sole Emperour beyng the .xvii. in nombre reckening Iulius Cesar for the fyrste Of the lignage vertue science and decease of this Marcus Herodian speaketh in the begynnynge of this fyrste booke after whome his Sonne Commodus raigned beyng in the begynning gentle meeke and of good disposicion But after he had escaped the Treason of Lucilla his owne Syster Perennes the Capitayne of his garde Maâ—ternus and Cleander the liuetenaunte of his armie he altered to dissolute and dishonest lyfe and Tirannie Wherfore he was poysoned by Martia one of his CoÌ„cubynes Letus the Capitaine of hys Garde Electus his principall ChaÌ„berlaine And after at their appoyntment strangled by Narcissus FINIS ¶ The fyrste booke of the historie of Herodian THemperour Marcus had many doughters and .ii. sonnes onely of whome the yonger named Verissimus by myschaunce died in his tender age The other named Commodus the father broughte vp w t great diligence and care And hauynge goten from all partes excellente learned men waged theÌ„ with large stipendes that they shoulde euery man for hys parte garnysshe the maners and disposicion of hys Sonne He maryed his doughters at their rype age vnto the best of the Senatours choosyng to his Sonnes in lawe not suche as coulde shew furthe large pedegrues of their auncestrie or suche as vaunted them selues of their great treasoure but those which excelled in perfecte modestie of maners and Innocencie of lyfe For that he esteamed to be the onely perfecte and stable rychesse of the mynde ¶ He forgate no vertue wherin he exercised not hym selfe beyng so studious of the antiquitie of learnyng that in the same he might be compared to the best eyther of the Greekes or of the Romaynes For profe hereof there are many thinges bothe spoken and writen by hym commen euen vnto our tyme. He was so curteis that he would gentely take euery commer vnto hym by the hande not permytting that any man shoulde be forbidden by his garde the approching vnto his person And he onely amonges all the Emperours vsed the study of Sapience not in woordes or knowledge of decrees but in grauitie of maners and continencie of lyfe Wherby it came to passe that the same age and tyme brought furthe a great encrease of wyse men for communely men are wont to folowe the lyues and maners of their prynces But now as touching the notable actes by hym done aswell at Rome as elles where how he behaued hym selfe also towardes the Barbarous nacions enhabytinge the Easte and the Northe the same are contayned in the monumentes of many excellent learned men But those thinges whyche after the death of Marcus by all ages I bothe sawe and harde whereof many by experience my selfe knewe as one traded in common affayres and princes businesse I haue taken vpon me to wryte ¶ Whyles the olde Emperour Marcus soiourned amoÌ„ges the Pannoniens a very greuous disease came vpon hym not onely worne wyth age but also sore broken wyth continuall trauaile and care Wherfore when he perceyued no remedy but death he beganne greatly to doubte in hym selfe lest hys Sonne who was but then entered the fyrst yeres of his Adolescencie eyther throughe vehemencie of hys youthe or elles throughe an inordynate lycence whyche he should haue after hys fathers deathe leuynge all good exercise and study aparte wold addycte him selfe to dronkennesse and superfluous ryot For he knewe well that the myndes of yonge men easily declyne to immoderate superfluytie from laudable and honest dysciplyne He was troubled besydes wyth the memory of many princes whiche beyng but yonge men tooke vpon them the gouernaunce of royaulmes as well of Dionisius the Tiraunt of Sicile whose intemperatenes of lyfe was so great that he endowed with richest rewardes thinuentours of newe pleasures as also of them whyche succeaded Alexander of Macedonie who dyd so shamefullye and Tiranouslye raygne that they purchased to hys kyngedome a notorious obloquy For Ptolomeus fell into so detestable lyfe that contrarye to the lawes of the Macedoniens and all the Greekes he was entangled with thincest mariage of hys owne Syster Antigonus also to represent the GOD Bacchus was wonte in steade of the Macedonien Diademe and crowne to were a Garlande of yuie and for a sceptre to carye a thystell The olde man was vexid besydes wyth late examples as of Nero who abstayned not from the murdering of hys owne moother and made hym selfe as a laughynge stocke vnto all the people He remembred Domytian who lefte nothynge vndone that he thoughte to appertayne vnto extreame Crueltye Wherefore wayeng wyth hym selfe thiese ymages of tyrannye he was tossed betwene hope and feare The nygh nacion of the Germaynes encreased also hys perplexitie for he hadde not throughly broughte them in subiection but some he had taken into hys frendshyppe and the reste he had vanquysshed by force of batayle Many of the same were escaped and hydde them selues for feare of the prynce Wherefore he doubted greately leaste after hys deathe they woulde rebelle agayne in settynge at noughte the youthe of hys Sonne for he knewe the nature of the barbarous people was to be sturred wyth euery small tryfle Beynge turmented wyth thiese troublesome waues of care he caused as manye hys friendes and kynsmen as were then in his company to repayre vnto his presence and at theyr commynge togythers hauyng commaunded hys Sonne to stande before them he lyfted hym selfe somewhat vpon hys pylowe and made this oracion vnto them ¶ It is not to be meruayled at that you are sorowfull and pensyfe beholding me in this plighte for it is the nature of man to bewaile the misfortune of other And those thinges we see with our eyes doo prouoke muche more compassion and pitie Besydes this my reason is commune with you for in the recompence of the good wyll I haue heretofore borne you I hope and as of duty loke for a mutuall beneuolence at your handes And at this presente it is so happened that I must make profe whether I haue in vayne so longe to fore exhybited honour vnto you hauing you alwayes in estimacion and employed all my diligent studie towardes your welthe And you in recompencing the same to shewe your selues not vnmyndefull of the benefytes you haue receyued ye see my son whom your selues haue norished entering nowe the first boundes of his
oftentymes in iudgemente vpon the Cytye controuersies and gaue hys hole mynde to enstructe hys chyldren But they beyng yonge men had corrupted their disposicions wyth sensuall pleasures of the Citye and ouermoche delyte in riotting and vaulting The Bretherne also fell at varyaunce wythin theim selues theyr debate risynge of childishe contencion and boyishe brawle in settynge fourthe cockefightes quaylefyghtes and the wrestlynge of lytle boyes For what soeuer thei had seene or hearde in the Theatre thei euer lyked it diuersly the one not louyng that the other did but the thinge whiche was acceptable vnto thone incoÌ„tinently became odious to the other theyr Parasitâ— and seruauÌ„tes egging theÌ„ to discencion flatering them to thenteÌ„t thei might allure theyr maisters to theyr owne noughty wyll appetites Whereof when Seuerus hearde he endeuoured to reconcyle them to correcte their corrupted maners And then vnto Bassianus who at that tyme enioyed thimperiall dignities honours had receyued the surname of Marcus beynge called Seuerus Antoninus was his eldest Sonne he gaue to wyfe the doughter of Plautianus the Lord great Mayster of his householde This Plautianus being as it is reported by byrthe of base estate was detected and founde gyltye of sedicion and other notorious crimes therfore punished w t vanyshemeÌ„t But he was Seuerus countrey man borne in Aphrique and as some coniecture nyghe of kynred vnto hym but as other surmyse rather gratefull vnto hym in vycyous lyuinge throughe the flowre and bewtye of his youth Hym did Seuerus enhauÌ„se froÌ„ simple and low degre vnto woÌ„derful abundaunce of Treasure And giuing vnto hym the goodes of many that were condeÌ„pned enriched him aboue all other refrainyng only from the admytting him into the gouernaunce of the empyre The whyche rychesse and lybertye he abusynge omytted no kynde of cruelty in doing what pleased hym and became more outragyouse then anye Prynce thertofore raygnynge His doughter as is sayde dyd Seuerus gyue for wife vnto his Sonne But Antonyne hym selfe was nothynge ioyful of the same enforced thereunto rather by necessitye then good wyll For to the vttermoste he detested the mayden and her father so that he vsed neyther one bed nor one house wyth her in suche wyse abhorrynge her that he dayly menaced to put her father her vnto deathe assoone as by hym selfe he should possesse thempyre The whiche when she had eftsones reported vnto her father and opened howe greatlye she was of her husbande disdaigned she kyndeled the maÌ„ maruaylouslye vnto wrathe So that Plautianus perceyuyng on the one syde Seuerus to be decrepite and aged and many tymes vexed wyth dyseases especyallye the gowte and on the other syde Antonius to be a fyerse stoute and cruell yonge man became veary fearefull of hys threatenynges and determyned to commyt some notable myschyefe before hym selfe perysshed There were manye thynges whych enflammed hym wyth ardente ambycyon of thempyre That is to weete hys aboundaunce of rychesse the lyke whereof no pryuate person at any time theretofore possessed the obedyence of the Souldyoure the great honoure he enioyed amonges al the Romaines and the ornamentes of apparaylle wherein he wente abrode For he ware a garmente called Latus Clauus and hadde bene twyse Consull He ware also a sworde and all other tokens of promocyon and dygnitie beyng wheresoeuer he went so terrible that he was not onely vnapproched vnto of any man but also yf anye by sodayne chaunce happened to meete him they woulde turne theyr faces from hym And what way so euer he made hys Iourneye he had certayne Vsshers going before him whiche coÌ„maunded euerye man to auoyde the stretes and no man to be so hardye as to beholde hym but to turne awaye theyr eyes and loke vpon the earthe The which when Seuerus knew him selfe toke it not paciently but grudged greatlye thereat so that he diminisshed muche of Plautianus aucthoritie and endeuored to perswade hym to abate somewhat at the least wise of his so insolent arrogancy But Plautianê° being therof impacient doubted not to compasse by conspiracy TreasoÌ„ thempyre selfe and therfore ymagined thys dryft There was a certayne Tribune named Saturninê° whiche chiefly reuerenced Plautianus and albeit all other did so likewise yet dyd he more and more crepe into his fauoure by a greater token and apparaunce of honouryng hym Thys man Plautianus reckened to be hys most trusty and faythfull frende and suche as onely woulde kepe secrete and close hys counsell and execute what so euer he should commaunde him And therfore sent for him in the euentide and hauing remoued al other aparte sayd these wordes vnto him ¶ Nowe is ê™ he the time come wherein thou muste make perfect thy loue obeysaunce towardes me of the whiche thou haste hytherunto shewed euidente proofe and wherin I may suffycyently recoÌ„pence thy desertes The choyse is gyuen vnto the whyther thou wylt eschew my daunger whom thou now seest and become vassalle vnto my power or ellis oute of hande perysh w t the worthy punishment of a stubburne stomake Feare thou not the greatnes of the enterpryse neither dismay thy selfe with the names of theÌ„perors It is lawful for the to go alone into the Chaumbers where they slepe as if y u diddest returne to the night watche thou maiest easely without any interruptioÌ„ atcheue what thou desyreste There is nothinge elles wherin thou shouldest longer awayt for my coÌ„maundement Go thy way now into the courte as thoughe thou haddest some priyue weighty message of mine to do and there as becommeth a valiaunt man murdre that olde manne and Boy wythin eyther of theyr Chaumbers And as thou arte partaker of the daunger euen so after it is eanded thou shalt enioy parte of the greatest honoures These woordes albeit they somewhat astonyed the Trybunes mynde yet dyd they not vtterlye confounde and expell hys counsell But as a man of a prompte and readye wytte for he was a Syryan borne and for the most parte thenhabytauntes of the Oryent are of exacte and sharpe iudgementes perceyuynge the frantyke folye and mere madnes of Plautianus and knowynge also what he was able to do durst not reprehende any thynge that was spoken leaste hym selfe shoulde furthewyth be slayne But faynyng that all he hadde hearde was acceptable vntoo hym fyrste he saluted Plautyanus as Emperoure and then requyred a lybell of hys hande concernynge the commaundemente of the sayd murdre For it was the vsage of Tyrauntes when they hadde wythoute lawfull iudgement commaunded anye manne to be put vnto deathe to gyue the charge therof wrytten in some lytell boke leaste there shoulde no argumente or proofe remayne of the same appoyntmente Wyth that Plautyanus blynded wyth ouer muche couetyse delyuered vnto the Trybune a boke and sente hym towardes the murdre wyllynge hym that assoone as he had slayne bothe the Prynces before the facte were publysshed he shoulde sende for hym to the entente he myghte be sene wythin themperyal
Palayce before any man hearde of hys possessyon of thempyre Vpon thys couenaunte the Trybune departed from Plautyanus and as he was wonte passed freelye throughe all the Courte where ponderynge wyth hym selfe and perceyuynge howe vneasye it were for one manne to murdre the twoo Prynces lyinge in sundry Chambers he fyrste wente to Seuerus lodgyng and there wylled certayne of hys pryuye Chaumber to helpe hym to the speache of the Emperoure sayinge that he broughte newes whych appertayned to the Emyerours sauegarde They made speadye relacyon hereof vnto Seuerus who furthwyth commaunded the Trybune to be let in And he beynge entered before the Emperoure sayde these wordes I am come hyther O Emperoure ê™ he as he that sente me fyrmelye supposeth to murdre youre personne But as I my selfe bothe wysshe and wyll to be the aucthoure of a greate benefyte and the preseruacyon of youre healthe Plautyanus lyinge in awayte wyth Treason for thempyre hath appoynted me to murdre bothe you and youre Sonne And that not onelye in wordes but in wrytynge alsoo the Testymonye whereof is thys boke And in dede I promised hym to accomplysshe that he commaunded least yf I reiected it an other woulde haue taken it in hande But nowe I am here presente to bewraye the matter vnto you leaste hys presumptuouse Trecherye shoulde oppresse you vnwares Notwythstandynge that the Trybune spake these wordes wyth aboundaunce of teares yet dyd not Seuerus at the fyrste credyte it so muche was the memorye of Plautyanus loue towardes hym fyxed as yet in hys breste yea he suspected all the matter too be contryued of a purpose thynkynge that hys Sonne who abhorred Plautyanus and detested hys doughter had Imagyned thys craftye Couyne and mortall slaunder agaynst hym Wherefore hauynge called hys Sonne vnto hym he beganne to rebuke hym for that he hadde deuysed suche myschyefe agaynste hys frende and well wyller But Antonyne at the fyrste sware and protested that he was ygnoraunte of all thys busynesse and afterwardes encouraged the Trybune whoo persysted in hys tale and shewed furthe the booke to declare the hole Treason Than the Trybune perceyuynge intoo howe greate daungere he was entered not ygnoraunte howe muche in fauoure Plautyanus was wyth Seuerus and knowynge precyselye that yf the Treason laye hydden and the matter not throughly proued him selfe should receyue extreame and cruell deathe spake thus vnto them My Soueraigne Lordes ê™ he what more ample argumente or perfecte proofe do you seke hereof permytte that I maye go furthe of the Courte and by some secrete and trusty person certifye Plautianus that all his commauÌ„dement is fulfilled He be leuyng it wilbe here out of hande to occupie the Palaice as voide TheÌ„ shal it be your partes to examine and trye oute the truth And after he had thus muche spoken he chose a faythfull and trustye persone vnto hym whych should in his name exhorte Plautianus to make haste and come furthwith to the Coorte seynge bothe the Princes were slayne for it behoued hym before the deade were publyshed amonges the people to be within the Palaice that therby occupyenge the Principall Tower and establyshenge thempyre vnto hym selfe all men should maugre their hartes obey hym as one not entringe into thempyre but as already possessed therof Plautianus crediting this matter was puffed with a meruailouse presumption and hope And putting on hym a shyrte of mayle for the sure defence of hys bodye aboute the euenynge of the same daye ascended into hys Chariotte and made haste towardes the Coorte with a fewe whyche were present attending vpon hym who thoughte he hadde bene sente for by the Emperours about some earnest and weighty busynesse And when he was wythoute let of any manne entered into the Palayce the porters beynge ignoraunte what the matter mente the Trybune mette hym saluted hym as Emperoure by collusyon of purpose imagined toke hym by the haÌ„d and ledde hym into the Chamber where he feygned that bothe the dead Emperours Corpses laye Nowe hadde Seuerus appoynted certayne of hys Garde to laye handes vpon hym as soone as he were commen in But when Plautianus hauinge at that instaunte other faÌ„syes in his heade was entred into the Chamber sawe the two Emperours there standynge and perceyued hym selfe apprehended beyng wyth that so greate a matter very sore agaste he began humbly to entreate and desyre pardon affyrminge that all thys dryfte was forged vniustely of malice against him TheÌ„ Seuerus reproued hym rehersynge the manye tolde benefites and honors he had bestowed on hym And Plautianus replyed agayne repetynge the testimonies of hys accustomed truthe and good wyll towardes themperour wherwith Seuerus began some what to relente and credite the wordes of Plautianê° vntyll that the shyrte of mayle appeared throughe a slyt of his vpper garment Whiche Antonyne perceiuing being a sterne and fierse yonge man and thertofore detesting Plautianê° saied I wold gladli wete ê™ he what answere thou wylte make vnto thiese two pointes Why camest thou in the euening vnto themperours vnsent for And what meaneth this sherte of mayle thou wearest for who commeth in armure to a Supper or banquette And hauinge so sayde he commaunded the Tribune and those that were present to stabbe hym in with their swordes and daggers as a manyfest Traitour and open enemye And thei makinge no delaye in the mater executed Themperours commaundement slewe the man and threwe hys body into the highe waye to be spurned at skorned of the people This iuste ende of lyfe had Plautianus a man of insatiable auarice After this done Seuerus constituted two Capitaynes ouer the men of armes and hym selfe moste commenly soiourned in the Suburbes or elles nyghe the Sea costes of Campania sitting in iudgement vpon maters of controuersy in the lawe And beyng very diligent in Ciuile affayres chiefly coueyted to haue his childerne traded at Rome with decente honest maners For he perceiued that theyr myndes were bente vnto playes and shewes more vehementlye then became thestate of Princes Wherby it wold come to passe that the yoÌ„ge meÌ„s studies coÌ„tencions tending to diuerse purposes their willes also and appetites woulde become dysagreable wheÌ„ as it were certaine brondes of debate shold be kindled betwene them But especially Antonyne after the death of Plautianus wexed terrible vnto al men Besides that he compassed wyth all the crafte ymaginacions he could deuise how he might destroy the doughter of Plautyanus hys owne wyfe But Seuerus sent her with her lytle Sonne whyche she had by Antonine into Sicilia with as much richesse as abundantely suffyced for her meate and drincke other necessaries Ensuyng in that point Augustê° who entreated after the same sort the Sonnes of Antonius after he was adiudged a Traitour Seuerus endeuoured in all that he coulde to reduce hys Sonnes to loue and concorde and to reconcyle eyther to other admonyshing them with auncient Histories and examples wherin many calamytes riseÌ„ thrughe discorde of Bretherne wer rehersed He added therunto the
Phalaux in the honoure and remembraunce of Alexander When thei were so assembled he commaunded them to seperate themselfes in bandes a greate space one from an other that he mighte electe oute of them the apteste ages statures and personages for the warres The yonge men creditynge the same and perswaded wyth a coloure of truthe thrughe the greate honoure he had before shewed towardes theyr deade Prince resorted thither in many cōpanyes bringinge with them their Parētes and Bretherne with ioyouse acclamaciōs shoutes Then Antonine went about eche companye vewing them and praisinge this and that in euerye one as he liked vntil his whole host had compassed them vnwares and loking for no such thinge And when he perceaued them al to be enclosed with his armie entangled as it were with nettes him self came furth with his garde and gaue a watche word vnto the Souldiours who furthwith ran vpon the people and slewe with meruaylous slaughter the naked and vnarmed youth al other that wer present Of the Souldiors some were occupied in murdering onely other some buried the deade corpses in huge pyttes coueringe them with earth againe raysed a meruaylous highe hil Many were drawen half dead into y e pittes many were buryed quicke There perished besides very many of the Souldiours them selfes For they which had any breth remaining and not fully lost theyr natural strength clipping the Souldiors which ranne vpon them drewe the same also into the pittes wyth them And there was so great a murdre committed that with streames of bloud which ranne alonge the playnes not onely the mouthe of Nylus but also the Sea by the Citie became red of colour Thys eanded Antonyne affecting the Parthyane surname and renowme of Thoriental conquest although the people were nowe in perfecte peace inuented this crafte He wrate letters vnto Artabanus king of Parthia and sent vnto him Ambassadors with sundrie sumptuous giftes In those letters he wrate that he wold take to wife the kinges doughter for y t him self was a prince and a princes sonne And therfore it besemed not hys estate to become son in law of any priuate or meane persone but rather to mary a Queene or the doughter of a great and puisaunt king He alledged that the Empires of Rome and Parthia being the .ii. mightiest of the world ▪ shoulde by this affinitie ioyne togethers and no ryuer disseuerynge them be of so great strength that it were impossible for any forreyne power to vaynquishe them For quod he all the Barbarous nations whiche are nowe subiecte vnto both these Empires wyll easely continewe in subiection when euerye of them shall haue theyr owne rulers and gouernours The Romaynes he affyrmed had an armye of fote men the whyche wyth speares and in playne battayle excelled all other And the Parthians had a greate power of horsemen and experte archers Wherefore these thynges ioyned togethers and agreinge in one they shoulde he sayde easely retayne vnder one Scepter and Diademe the Empire of the whole worlde The pleasaunte spyces and fyne clothe also whiche came from them to the Romaynes and the goodly metall and all curious wroughte thynges which were transported from the Romains to them agayne shoulde not after thys mary age be seldome caried as it was wont by marchauntes but thuse therof shoulde be in common to them without let or interruption in one land and vnder one gouernour After the Parthian kinge had receaued these letters he fyrst denied the request saying that a barbarous matrimony became not a Romain For what cōcord quod he woulde be betwene them which vsed not one language nor one kind of liuing appayrel There were he sayde at Rome manye Senatours doughters amonges whome the Emperoure might chose hym a wyfe as there were in hys dominion certayne called Arsacide Neyther was there anye cause he thoughte why anye of them shoulde be alyenated from theyr natiue countrey With thys aunswere he repulsed the Emperours suyte But Antonyne neuer lefte of sendynge manye gyftes and promysynge by othes hys perfecte loue towardes hys doughter vntyll the Barbarous prynce beleuynge hys wordes promysed to geue hym hys doughter to wyfe When the fame of thys was spredde all the Barbarous people prepared themselues to receaue the Romayne Emperoure reioysynge wyth a certayne hope of contynuall peace thereafter Then Antonine hauing passed without let or staye of anye man the Riuers entred into the Parthian Region and rode thrughe the same as hys owne And in hys waye all the people celebrated sacryfices burning encense vpō the decked Aultares wherwith he fayned hym selfe to be greatly pleased After a lōge iorney he approched at the laste nyghe the Palaice of Artabanus Who met wyth him in a certaine plaine before the Cytye to receaue hym as a newe Brydegrome and hys Sonne in lawe And a greate multytude of the Barbarouse people crowned wyth theyr countrey floures and apparayled in garmentes adorned wyth golde and varyable colours celebrated the same as a feaste and solempnytye daunsynge togithers by the sounde of Pypes and Tabors For in those instrumentes they are aboue measure delyted especially when thei are ones wel tyipled with wine But when all the multytude were assembled togythers and hauing lefte their horses behinde and laide asyde their bowes and arrowes applyed them selfes to banquetynge and gatheringe togither in a rude plumpe stode withoute order whyles thei suspected no harme but euery mā thrusting forwardes to see the newe maryed man Sodeynly Antonyne wyth a preuy sygne commaunded all hys men to slea and destroy the Barbarouse people They beyng astonyed with that sodeyne chaunce turned theyr backes and fledde from the Romaynes whyche pursued and slewe them Artabanus hym selfe beynge socoured and set vpon a horse by some of hys Garde dyd wyth greate dyfficultye escape But the residewe of y e Parthians were euery where ouerthrowen and murdered For thei neither had their horses which thei most vsed thei hadde perdie sente theim before to grasse neyther coulde thei flee for theyr wyde garmentes hangynge downe to theyr heales interrupted theyr runnynge Thei broughte not besydes theyr bowes and arowes with them for what neaded that at a weddynge Thus after a great murder done on the Parthiens and a greate bootye of men and beastes taken captyues and ledde awaye Antonyne departed And withoute any resystence burned the Townes and vyllages geauing lycence vnto his Souldiours to ransake and spoyle all that they woulde or could This mischief calamitie did the Parthiens vnwares receiue Then Anthonyne hauing vyseted the inwarde partes of Parthia and his Souldiours beyng weryed w t rapyne and murder retourned into Mesapotamye From thence he sygnified vnto the Senate people of Rome that he had subdued Thoriente and brought in subiection all the men of those Regiōs The Senate albeit thei before knewe perfectly the hole circumstaunce for Princes affayres can by no meanes contynew longe in hugger mugger yet throughe feare and flaterye