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A03096
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Herodian of Alexandria his Historie of tvventy Roman Cæsars and emperors (of his time.) Together with the most solemne deification of the Roman emperors and empresses. Interpreted out of the Greeke originall.; History. English
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Herodian.; Maxwell, James, b. 1581.; I. M., fl. 1629.
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1635
(1635)
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STC 13223; ESTC S104000
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107,861
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378
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but rightly weighing his cause and ballancing his purpose they will soone discern that it is farre more reasonable and necessary to revenge than receive an Injurie the Party slaine being withall so egregious a coward and the Victor so bravely valorous as appeares by the Event What perillous Plots hee had on foâ—t against me both by Poysons and all sorts of treacherous practices you may soone finde by the torture of his Servants whom I have therefore commanded to bee brought hither that you may know the truth Divers of them have beene examined already whose Confessions you may heare The truth is I being with my Mother he and others rusht in upon me with drawne swords but I shrewdly suspecting it my mind misgiving me prevented it and slew him as a Traitonr for certes hee had not the affection or disposition of a brother Now as it is an act of Iustice to bee revenged on such dangerous persons so are there good Precedents for it Romulus the first Founder of this City would not indure his owne brother * * Vid. Liv. Aurel. Victor de Orig. Gent. Roâ—â— that did but jest at his endeavours I omit Germanicus brother to Nero and Titus brother to Domitian Marcus himselfe that made such afaire Flourish of Philosophy and Humanity would not suffer the affront of * * There was a Report that Marcus Aurelius poysoned him but as Aurelius Victor saith none but lewd persons believed it Lucius his Sonne in law but secretly dispatcht him And so have I anticipated by a just Vindication the Poysons and Sword of an Enemy for so his Deeds stile him You are therfore to thanke the Gods that have reserved you such a Prince under whose sole Regiment you may now live quietly and securely without Distractions For as Iupiter is the onely Emperour among the Gods so hath hee decreed that there shall bee but one Emperour among Men. Having thus said with a loud Voice in great rage and casting His Savage Cruelty a terrible frowne on his brothers friends he leaves the Senatours most whereof lookt pale and trembled and hurries to the Pallace where he instantly slew all his brothers servants friends not sparing any Officers that were found in the House nor any other no not very Infants All whose Carkasses being despightfully throwne into Carts and carryed out of the City were cast by heaps at randome into the * They had not the honour of a decent Funerall fire Hee spared none that had the least acquaintance with Geta but put to the sword even Wrestlers Charriot-drivers and all kinde of Players and Actors that had any way delighted him by seeing or hearing them He slew also the most eminent and opulent Senatours upon the least suipicion or suggestion that they were friends to his brother He put to death Commodus his Sister who was then an old woman and had bin much honoured of all the Emperours because she was Marcus his Daughter imputing it as a crime that shee wept with his Mother at her Sonnes Murther Nor did hee forget his quondam Wife Plautians Daughter that lived in Sicily nor his Couzen-german named Sevecus nor Pertinaxes Sonne nor the Sonne of Lucilla Sister to Commodus but cut them all off together with all the Imperiall Kindred and the flower of the Nobility and Gentrie Then sent he into the Provinces and massacred all the Presidents and Procurators as Geta's Favourites Yea whole Nights were spent in such Tragicall executions of all sorts of people Hee buryed the Vestall Virgins quicke pretending they had lost their Virginity Lastly which was never done before when at the Circensian * Instituted in honour of Neptune Vid. Al. ab Alex. Gen. Die lib. 6. cap. 19. Sports where himself was a spectator the people cast some scoffe at a Charriotier which he favoured he taking it as an affront to himselfe suddenly commanded his Men at armes to rush among the Multitude and kill all that had scorned the Charriot-driver Upon this Command it being impossible to find out the Delinquents in so great a throng no man confessing himselfe guilty the Souldiers spared none that they light upon but either slew them or tooke away that they had in lieu of Ransome After all which hainous Acts his conscience His guilty Conscience recoyling and shrewdly stinging him he was weary of the City life and resolved to leave Rome upon colour to reforme the Legions and visit the Provinces Departing therfore from Italy he came to the banks of Ister and the Northern parts of the Empire where he exercised His Exercises himselfe in Coach-races and combating with all kind of Wilde-beasts Sometime he sat in judgement though very seldome where after a few words on either side he presently gave Sentence He much affected the Germanes and made them his His affection to the Germanes Confederates and Associates in warre choosing from among them the most valiant and personable to bee of his Guard Yea he oft laid aside his Roman habit and put on Germane attire going abroad in their Cassockes trimmed with Silver and wearing a yellow Periwig lâ—ke the Germane bush Which affected Garbe infinitely indeared him to the Barbarians And the Roman Army was well pleased by reason of his profuse Donatives and because he descended to the performance of all Military His Military Austerity labours in his owne person for hee would first dig when neede required and if a bridge were to bee made over a River or a Rampire to be cast or any Manuary worke or toyle to bee undertaken he would be the first that should put his hand to it contenting himselfe with a spare Diet wooden cups and platters and any bread whatsoever for his manner was to take so much wheat as would suffise one man which he grinded himselfe and then kneading it into Cakes and baking it on the Embers eat it Briefe hee left off all manner of Iunkets and delicates faring no otherwise than the poorest common souldier Moreover it pleased him better as he pretended to bee called Fellow-souldier than Emperour accustoming himselfe to travel on foot as the rest did and rarely using Horse or Caroach carrying also his owne Armes and many times the Great Imperiall Standard which being marveilous weighty by reason of the rich and Massie Gold-worke was not easily borne by the strongest Ancient-bearer For these and the like observances the army loved him as a good Souldier and honoured him as a brave Commander And indeede it was a wonder that so small a timberd man was able to do so great matters But when he had visited the Legions upon the banks of Isâ—er and went downe into Thrace which borders on Macedonia he then began to play Alexander He acts Alexander reviving that Kings Memory by all meanes possible causing his Statues and Images to be erected in every City and filling Rome it selfe the Capitoll and all the Temples with them I have seen also divers ridiculous Images
of him extracted out of divers ancient principal Authors HIs Apparell was extreame brave and gorgeous yet hee never wore one Garment twice His Shooes were embellisht with Diamonds See an Antiquity of a RomaÌ„ Bath or Stove lately discovered neere Leicester related in the Description of that County by that worthy Patrioâ— and judicious Antiquaty Wil. Burton Esquire and Oriental Pearles of the most Caracts His Seats were strewed with Muskâ— and Amber His Beds were covered with Cloth of Gold tissued on Purple and imbossed with Gems of inestimable value His Way was strewed with Filings of Gold and Silver His Vessells even of basest Vse were of Obryze Gold His Lamps burned with precious Balms Gums of India and Arabia His Fish-ponds were filled with Rose-water His Ships in his Theatricall Sea-fights floated in Rivers of Wine His * Bathing was as ordinary with Romans as eating and sleeping Bathes most magnificently built when he had once used them were still pluckt down and new built His Plate of refined massive Gold but never served twice to his Table His Rings and lewels infinitely rich yet never worne twice His Concubincs numberlesse but never laine with twice Every Supper in his Court cost 1000 pounds sterling When hee lay neere to the Sea hee would eat no â—ish When he was farthest in the Continent hee would eat no Flesh Whole Meales were furnisht with Tongues of Singing Birds and Braines of rarest Creatures All Europe Asia and Africke with the Ilands adjacent in a word the Globe of Earth and * As farre as was theÌ„ discovered to the Romanes Sea wherof he was Lord Paramount was not able to fill this Gulph In his Progresse he was attended by 600 Charriots fraught with Concuâ—ines Catamites and Pandars for whom be built a Seraglio in his Court where himselfe in the habit of a Curtezan used to make solemn speeches to them terming them his brave Fellow-Souldiers and Companions in Armes What gallant Instructions he gave them I sorbeare to mention He caused to be gathered in Rome * Vid. Lips de magnit Romana ten thousand weight of Spiders ten thousand Mice and a thousand Polcats which he exhibited to the Roman Peeres and People in a Publicke Shew and Solemnity Professing that now he perfectly understood how mighty a City Rome was Lastly to omit other more strange prankes his summoned a * Senatum Parliament of Women to consult about Tires Fashions Dresses Tinctures and the like weighty and important Affaires FINIS HERODIAN HIS IMPERIALL HISTORIE The sixth Booke The Contents ALexander Emperour The Religion and State reformed Maesa Deified Alexanders Elogie His Marriage Persians invade the Romanes Alexander writes to the Persian who scornes his Letters Generall Muster in Italy Alexander marches against the Persian An Embassy Another braving Embassy Embassadours punisht Alexanders Policie Archery Armenian Mountains The Romans defeated Alexander retires Best Physicke for Souldiers Germany rebells Alexander comes to the Rhine Archers Heralds Maximine described and elected Emperor Alexander slaine WEe have formerly declared Alexander Emperour in what manner Antonine the elder brother ended his dayes After him Alexander had the title and ornaments of Emperour but the management of affaires and regencie of the Empire rested in Moesa and Mammaea Regents Maesa and Mammaea who labored to reduce all things to better order and moderation And first they selected out of the Senate 16. ancient grave and honourable Peeres for assistants and counsellers to the Prince without whose suffrage consent nothing was to passe as an act of State Which manner of government was wondrous pleasing to the People Souldiers and Senators the Empire being thereby reduced from an injurious Tyrannie to the forme of an * 〈…〉 ment of the principall men Optimacie Their prime care was to restore the Images of the Gods Religion first reformed removed and displaced By Antonine to their owne ancient Temples and Oratories Next Next the State all that hee had advanced to honors and offices either without N. B. desert or for their lewd prankes they discharged and degraded commanding every of them to follow their former trades and professions All civill and judiciary offices they bestowed on famous learned men and excellent Lawyers and all places of martiall command they gave to brave noble Captaines Souldiers expert in * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In wâ—â—â—ch words the excellent authour hath couched both the parts of war viz Tactick and Stratâ—gematick Marshalling of Moesa dies is deâ—fâ—â—d Armies and Military Exploits The Empire being thus administred a long time Maesa being now very old deceased and was buried like an empress being after the Roman fashion * At a Womans deification they used a Peacocke into which they supposed her soul to sâ—â—t as an Eagie at a Mâ—â—s See this supreme solemnit described in the beginning of the 4 book of this H 〈…〉 deified Mammaea being now sole Regent and Guardian of her Son followed still the same tracke of government When he came to his age to manage the state himselfe shee fearing lest his unstaid youth might in that height of liberty soveraignty pâ—â—câ—â—iâ—ate him into the vices and vanities incident thereto set a strong Watch about the Court prohibiting allewd and loose persons from his presence lest his good nature should be corrupted and his minde provoked to lust by bewitching Syrens and fawning Parasites She perswaded him also to attend matters of Iudicature * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the best part of the day to keepe him from Idlenesse the Mistris of all lewdnesse Alexander indeed was naturally adorned with Affability Clemencie and other Princely graces as was afterwards apparant in the course of his life For in 14 yeares his Alexanders Elogie Empire was not stayned with bloud not one being put to death by him all the while And though divers were convict of haynour crimes yet hee spared their lives which you shal hardly finde to have bin done by any Emperor since Marcus None can remember that in all the time of his Raigne there was any executed without Iudiciall Processe He much blamed his Mother was very angry with her for her greedy covetousnesse of money and accumulating of riches For Mammaea pretending to hoord up Coin to supply Alexanders bounty to the Souldiers got a great Masse of Treasure to her selfe Which although it were much disliked in her and condemned by the Emperour yet did her 〈…〉 lent practices in spoyling 〈…〉 their good and estates 〈…〉 him to his obloquy 〈…〉 She gave him a wife of a noble Family whom hee dearely loved but she soon after banisht her the Court. For arrogating to her selfe alone the title of Empresse and maligning her Daughter in-lawes honour shee proceeded to that outrage that the young Empresses Father though in great esteeme with Alexander his son in law not able to indure the many wrongs shee did him and his Daughter flâ—d into