naturall condition mutinous ambitious importune intermedling quarellous full of garboyle and being aduertised that Enatius was deade he fell into a greate laughter and sware that he could not a little maruell howe he coulde intend to dye considering his great businesse both night and daye A certaine auncient citizen comming vnto the Emperour Adrian for certaine suites and causes propounding his demaunde and also replying an answere without intermission remouing without all manner any meane for the Emperour to speake answered Friende if thou feede on both cheekes we may not eate both together Surely it was an answere very fayre and of great vrbanitie for thereby he gaue him to vnderstande that if he both propounde and answere he could not giue him iustice There was a Senatour in Rome named Fabius Cato of auncient yeares and amongst the people in great credite but ioyntly therewith he was a man of a small stature which would soone be offended and as soone be pleased vnto whome on a time Adrian sayde Since your chimney is so small you must beware to lay much wood vpon the fire for otherwise it will be alwayes smoakie CHAP. XV. Of the thinges that he did woorthy prayse and some other things worthy dispraise THe Emperour Adrian did vse and intreate such as did serue him very well and with great affection but he might not indure them to presume to be ouer priuate for he would say that he held them not to commaund him but to serue him and grewe not a little displeased with such as were not moderate in their déedes and courteous in their wordes Being in Spaine in the citie of Taragon he behelde in a garden one of his meane seruaunts walking betwixt two Senatours vnto whome he commaunded to be giuen a great blowe with this aduertisement The Emperour commandeth this blow to be giuen thee bycause thou shalt be ashamed to presume to walke with such as thou art bound to serue In his dyet he was neyther temperate much lesse a gormound that vsed excesse for that he left not to eate of any thing in respect of health or vertue but without dyet did eate both what and whē he liked In wine he had a good rellish and at times dranke thereof so frankly that he hindered the health of his person and also the credite of his fame There was in his dayes great earthquakes pestilences dearth and hunger in which calamities he shewed him selfe a pitifull Prince and of great magnanimitie bycause in time of hunger he gaue the people wherewith to be susteined and in time of earthquakes money to reedifie He discharged many cities of their whole tributes and to others some part he released in suche wise that in all his Empire there was no citie that newly receiued not some benefite at his hande eyther deliuered not from some olde payment In the first yeare of his Empire the riuer Tyber did so ouerflowe that thrée dayes damage thereof was not repayred in thrée yeares He was of the men of warre much feared for that he did chastise them and no lesse beloued bycause he did pay them The chiefest cause of his great prayse in Chronicles or of writers of histories and the tender affection that the Romaines did beare him procéeded that in time of peace he helde his men of warre in great ciuilitie and in time of warre he gouerned the common wealth as if it had béene in peace Alwayes when the Senatours repayred vnto him eyther to eate or for affaires he did alwayes entertaine them standing and if they were Consuls he came foorth to receiue them and if they were Iudges he did rise when they came before him and if they were officers of the Senate he would somewhat stoupe or nod with the head in suche wise that with all he vsed greate courtesie and in speache and conference no lesse vrbanitie To repaire temples to prouide priestes and to offer sacrifices he was a Prince both carefull and diligent and ioyntly therewith it is to be noted he consented not to the inuention of newe deuices and muche lesse did he admit straunge customes CHAP. XVI Whome Adrian did adopt to succeede him in his Empire AFter the Emperour Adrian had trauelled in a manner throughout the world by sea and lande and passed both colde and heate he fell into a grieuous sicknesse he himselfe giuing occasion therof for that in his dyet either in the time of heate or colde did sildome or hardly vse any order Presently vpon his sicknesse his heart was touched with great care vpon the determination whom he should adopt to the succession of the Empire bycause many did followe him that did much desire it but verie fewe that did deserue it The death of Seuerian Dion doth report was after this manner Adrian on a certaine daye at his dinner sayd vnto the Consuls that sate at his table I would haue you name me ten men in science learned and sincere of life vnto one of which I may commend after my dayes the estate of the common wealth They all vsing silence vnto that demaund Adrian sayd reckon me but nine for I haue one and such a one as is my brother in lawe Seuerian for that he hath both age and grauitie After a fewe dayes that these things did passe Adrian being in great daunger through a fluxe of bloude that brake foorth without ceassing at his nose doubting that first his life shoulde haue finished before the bloude would haue staunched did point with his finger Lucius Cōmodus to be his successour And after recouering more health he was aduertised that Seuerian and Fuscus his nephew continued murmuring at that whiche he had commaunded and that vnto him the Empire was not directed Adrian beganne to disdaine and abhorre him with great hatred This Seuerian of the age of ninetie yeares Adrian commaunded to be slaine bycause he set him selfe in the imperiall chaire and gaue vnto such as were in fauour with the Emperour a solemne supper and bycause in secrete he had conference with the capteines of warres Before that Seuerian dyed hée determined to haue giuen the Empire vnto the Consul Fuscus which was his nephewe but when Adrian vnderstoode that Fuscus had conference with Magicians and Soothsayers to be aduertised if he should inioy the Empire he put him to death in suche wise that he both lost the inheritaunce and also his life Pletorius Metus came to visite Adrian in his sicknesse which being his great frend he would neither heare nor sée bicause he did imagine that he came not to visite but to inherite Gentian the Consul a noble and auncient Romaine also he persecuted for no other cause but for that he vnderstoode he was both liked and honoured of the Senate and that all men did hope hée shoulde succéede him in the Empire The Emperour Adrian did neuer shewe him selfe so cruell in his life as he did somewhat before his death bycause all those that he thought did hope to succéede him in the Empire
resident in Africa sent Seuerus for his Embassadour to the Sardinians which were reuolted from the Romanes and entering into Sardinia with certeine burning torches according to the maner of an Embassadour of Rome there came vnto him a townesman after the fashion of a iester and did imbrace him whom Seuerus commaunded to be whipt saying In the act of so great grauitie trifling gibes be inconuenient For that which this iester did and for the disgrace which Seuerus receiued they ordeyned in Rome that from thence forth Embassadours alwayes should enter all cities on horsebacke as in times past they had vsed on foote Continuing Proconsul in Africa he would néeds vnderstand of a Mathematiciā or Astronomer how farre his fortune extēded or did reach and hauing receiued the day and houre and also the ascendent of his natiuitie the Astrologian being amased and terrified of the Fortune which his natiuitie did promise him said vnto him It is not possible that this be thy natiuitie therfore were it meete thou shouldest giue me thine owne and not the natiuitie of another for were it true that thou wast borne vnder such a cōstellation thou shouldest be Emperour of Rome At the age of 32. yeares hée was in Rome elected Tribune of the people more for the pleasure of Marcus Aurelius whome he serued then for the seruice that Seuerus had done in the common wealth but afterwards he proued so toward and was so vpright in causes of iustice that it neither repented the cōmon wealth to haue chosen him either Marcus Aurelius to haue procured the same His Tribunal office being ended he was named Pretor of the people and on the day of his election the more to aduaunce his honour the Emperour passing throughe the streates of Rome placed him with himselfe in the Licter which déede was not a litle reproched of some through enuie and of othersome thorough disdaine CHAP. II. ¶ Of the offices which Seuerus held in the Empire before he was Emperour THe affaires of Spaine being dispatched Seuerus failed into Asia and assone as he had set his foole a land hee departed vnto Athens partly to behold the gouernement of the Greekes and partly also to heare the doctrine of Philosophers because in those dayes they talked not of any matter more in all this world then of the great Fortune of the Romanes and the profound eloquēce of the Greekes Not a few dayes he remayned in Athens hearing the Philosophers conferring with the Senatours visiting temples and viewing buildings because naturally he was a friend of new inuentions desired no lesse the knowledge of antiquities Although Seuerus of person was valiant and Capitaine of Rome and also of indifferent eloquence yet they gaue him no good interteinment in all Grecia for which cause when he came afterwardes vnto the Empire he streightly reuenged the olde vnkindnesse which he bare vnto the Greekes euery day diminishing their priuiledges Being returned from Asia vnto Rome hee was sente Embassadour vnto the prouince of Lugdune which nowe in Fraunce is named Lion of Sonorona and being at that time a widower they practised with him a marriage with a certeine Lady of noble bloud in countenance most faire and gratious in gesture That Lady was named Iulia of royall bloud vnto whome purposing to present iewels of great price and finding no goldsmith sufficient to performe the same being also aduertised of a goldsmith in Syria that excelled all men in that facultie and doubting all messengers to be insufficient trauelled in his owne person to fetch the same as he after made reporte vnto his spouse that with the rewards which he gaue vnto the goldsmith and the charge of that voyage hée might twise haue béene maried The Senators sēt to reproue Seuerus not because he had married but for the great iourney and large expences which he had passed for a woman aduising him that it was not conuenient for a citizen of Rome to imploy his person but to aduaunce his honour either consume his goods but for defence of the common wealth whereunto Senerus aunsweared that for none of those matters wherof he was blamed he either deserued blame or punishmēt because without all comparison much more was the merite of that Lady with whom he was married then the expences or trauells which for her seruice he had suffered And further he said it seemeth vnto mée fathers conscript that for this acte I deserue honour no blame since thereby ariseth vnto Rome both honour and profite because strange kingdoms haue séene that Captaines of Rome to obteine riches haue strēgth skil and to spend them haue noble minds Seuerus stayed ioyntly 3. yeares in Fraunce both loued and feared no lesse reuerenced of the Frenchmen not onely for that he was iust in iudgment and liberal in expences but aboue the rest in that he was of a sincere life The Calends of Ianuarie being come at what time in Rome they diuide their offices the Proconsulship of Sicylia was allotted vnto Seuerus wherof he receiued no smal griefe partly for that he found himself very wel placed in Fraunce feared the condition of the Sicylians Being resident in the Isle of Sicyl he was accused by his enimies of Rome that he did not exercise the gouernement of the common wealth so much as the search of southsayers who should be Emperour of Rome because in those dayes Commodus was Emperour of Rome and all men held it for certaine that for his wickednesse he should be slaine or himselfe for his great vitiousnes should die Commodus receiued great displeasure when hee vnderstoode that being as hee was aliue and but a young man Seuerus should séeke for the succession of his Empire for which cause Seuerus was forced presently to depart from Sicyl come to Rome there to discouer and make proofe of his innocencie because the daunger was no greater then losse of honour and life Presently vppon his arriuall at Rome he did yéeld himselfe vnto the gaile Mamortina and would not depart from thence vntill by publique sentence his innocencie was vttered and his accusers depriued of their liues Two monethes after these matters passed the Calends of Ianuarie were come in which Seuerus was elected Consul ioyntly with Apuleius Rufinus the day that this was published they say that Seuerus said This day it is manifested in mee that men neither know what prosperities be conuenient for them either what aduersities doe impeache them and I say it for this cause for that criminally I was accused in Rome and my person prisoner in the place of malefactours whereof there proceded that I departed from Sicyl came to Rome giue safetie vnto my life augment my goods recouer fame take vengeance of mine enimies and obtaine the Consulship of the common wealth The time passed of his Consulship hee stoode an whole yeare without any office and as he afterwards said many times the best and merriest dayes of all his life were conteined in that yeare
which they had gathered togeather Seuerus slewe some with some reason others vpon smal occasion but all these which followe he killed without all reason or occasion that is to say Munius Sellius Claudius Bitalius Papianius Elius Iulius Lolius Aurelius Antoninus Posthumius Sergius Fabius Nenius Amussius Casperius Seyonius Sulpitianus Coceyus Eructus Assilonius Claudius Honoratus Petronius Pessenius Cestus Aurelianus Materius Iulianus Albinius Cerelius Faustinianus Herenius Valerius Nobius Arabianus Marcus Fabatus These men were glorious both of bloud also for noble déedes riches for they were either Consuls Censors Pretors Senatours Ediles Tribunes or capteines whose goods he imployed not vnto the publique treasurie but did incorporate vnto his patrimonie for him selfe to inioy the dayes of his own life to leaue vnto his children after his death Seuerus defamed Cincius an auncient Consul affirming that he had procured poyson to kill him wherfore he commaunded him to be slaine but the trueth being knowen as Seuerus afterward reported but the Cincius did much delight to goe on hunting had a fine yeark to kill the Bore other venerie in the mountaines He commaunded also Narcissus to be cast vnto the Lyons who at the request of Martia choked Commodus it was nothing to commaund them to be slaine but that with his owne eyes he would behold them executed which was wont to be so straunge vnto Romaine princes that they neuer vsed to sée any person put to deth neither so much as in the citie to be resident but they vsed if any suffered to ride or go foorth on hunting CHAP. XIII ¶ Howe Seuerus returned into Asia and conquered many prouinces AFter that Seuerus had conquered and slaine thrée Emperours that is to saye Iulianus in Rome Niger in Asia and Albinius in Fraunce it séemed vnto him that since he had chasticed and triumphed ouer the Romans he ought also to make his name glorious amongest the Barbarians because all the warres that he helde vnto that daye were more to make him selfe Lorde of the common wealth then to magnifie his name Seuerus aduised him selfe to go in his owne person to make warres with the Parthians the occasion of which enterprise was for that the king of Atrenoes had fauoured the parcialitie of Niger but had deferred the reuengement thereof to make conquest of Albinius being in great Britain If Seuerus in this case had taken the opinion of the people either the counsell of the Senate he woulde neither haue taken those warres in hande or made accompt of the iniurie because at that time those kingdomes were neither friendes or foes with Rome And as the Romans were fatigated tyred with warres so they were contented for the time to ceasse the recouering of them for their vassals to obtein them for quiet enimies Seuerus departed vnto Asia and in the way would first take the kingdōe of the higher Armenia whereof the king of Armenia being aduertised and that he came with an armie of so greate power and so determined to take his kingdome met him vppon the way not armed as a man of warre but clad with the garments of peace his truce being set downe with Seuerus presently he gaue him much money and offered to sende him succour for the accomplishment wherof he deliuered vnto Seuerus his two sonnes in pledge Seuerus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also tooke him vnder his protection The affaires of Armenia being dispatched Seuerus departed towardes the kingdom of Hosdroenos whose king was named Anguaro bothe crooked and same but yet no foole for he had such skill to recouer the good will of Seuerus that he neither admitted him as a vassall tooke no money demaunded no hostages or did his countrie hurt but receiued him to his familiar friendship and made him a confederate with the people of Rome Hauing passed the kingdome of Hosdroenos Seuerus entred the landes and countries of Albanos and being then the moneth of April and spring time he founde the fieldes full of flowers and grasse and commaunded his horsses for the space of fiftéen dayes to be fedde and his armie to be recreated and refreshed because his horsses were growen leane and his men tyred Seuerus beeing departed from the fieldes of Albanos entred the countrie of Arabia Felix where they found that which they found not in all the kingdomes of the worlde namely the trées that hare the precious Aromatike spices and the boughes whereof they gathered the most fine and excellent baulme Seuerus sacked all the townes of Arabia Felix cut downe their fieldes spoyled and oppressed all people and as he afterwardes saide he would not haue entred therein for that being as it was so riche so ioyfull pleasant and delectable but because he found him selfe in greate cumber to withdrawe his souldiours from thence for that they felt them selues more delighted with the vices of Arabia then with the hazardes and daungers of the warres Hauing passed the delectable countrie of Arabia Felix Seuerus entred the countrie and kingdom of Athrabanos against whose king principally he made that iourney Athras was a great citie situated vpon the top of a most high hill and chiefest citie of all the kingdome and for that cause was named the kingdome of Athrabanos Seuerus went presently to the siege thereof but as the king had inclosed him selfe therein with great readinesse and prouision the wall being strong the citie rockye the people warrelike and furnished with munition and victuals small was the hurte that Seuerus did vnto them within but which the Romans receiued was very greate And as Seuerus gaue foorth no other bruite when he came from Rome but to be reuenged of the Athrabanos he perfourmed that warre so exactly that there was no daye but he battered the citie of Athras and occupied his warlike engins deuised and practised all manner fights and offences that might be against the enimie and the moste notified Romans that there did not notifie them selues but in the ende might neither take the same either as much as a capteine or ouerthrow one windowe Those that were besieged within that citie to iest with their enimies tyed very subtily little earthen pottes vnto a kinde of byrdes like vnto Crowes which flying ouer the armies of Seuerus let fall their pottes vpon their pates by which iest many had their heades broken but much more were the Romans despighted to consider howe little they did estéeme them not fighting with them in armour but with pottes and tankardes The ayre of that mountaine was verie subtile the waters verie thinne fruites in great aboundaunce and the Sunne verie hoat and the grounde somewhat moyst by which occasion Seuerus his whole campe fell into the disease of the fluxe and there died amongest the rest seuen notable capteines two of Seuerus cousins and a little bastarde sonne which all men likewise thought to be his cousin but by his greate sorrowe teares he discouered the childe to be of his owne proper fleshe
a thing admirable how the mother without meate so long time might haue milke to nourishe her childe In reedifying of other houses they found a dead woman and a liue childe sucking the brest At the time of the earthquake in Antioch the mountaine Caucasus did so open and tremble that all the cities adioyning doubted to be ouerwhelmed with the fal therof Running riuers of immortall memorie became drye Springs neuer séene or heard of did flow remaine and olde fountaines for euermore dried vp many hilles made plaine and many vallies made euen Finally there was no house in Antioche or within the compasse of the territories therof that was not totally destroyed or changed after a maner into some other order or fashion CHAP. XVIII ¶ Howe Traiane subdued Assyria and what he did in Babylon NOwe when Summer was come Traiane prepared to departe the confines of Antioche towardes the iourney of Assyria to conquer that countrie if that by peace they did not yeald the same and being arriued at the great riuer Euphrates he found the ships burnt all the bridges broken and all the Barbarians in armes with a minde to dye or to defend their countries The Barbarians vnderstanding of Traians approche made an vtter spoile of all their woods to remoue all meanes of renuing their nauie or to reedifie bridges Traiane had intelligence that farre from thence certeine shippes vppon the hill Nisibin were a making whiche presently he sent for and brought in cartes and in very shorte space a flote vppon Euphrates rigged and armed The riuer Euphrates being passed Traiane founde another riuer named Pessin ioyning vnto the hill Cardius which also was of great strength and almost impassable but Traiane brake vp his shippes and once more by land did carrie the same vnto that riuer wherin he fought with the Barbarians that defended their bankes And as they after reported vtterly determined rather to dye then to submitt themselues to subiection But that they conceiued Traiane to be no mortall man which would fight against them but some of the immortall Gods that came to destroye them moued thereunto in beholding Traians readie carriage for shippes by lande as they had by Sea. That countrie was named the prouince of Adiabena which being all ouerrunne brought vnder subiection he passed vnto Arbela and vnto Anguaguemela two most opulent prouinces in whose fieldes in the olde worldes past the greate king Darius was ouercome of Alexander Magnus Traiane spent all that Summer in conquering those prouinces whiche although they differ in names yet differ not in seignorie because they be alwayes annexed vnto the kingdome Assyria whiche the Barbarians changing the S. into T. do call the same Attyria And nowe when Summer began to decline Traiane determined to winter at Babylon in all which way he neither found enimies that did resist him either friends to accompany him because those desertes be so solitarie and drye that hardly bruite beastes be found in the same Before Traiane did enter Babylon he would first personally sée the lake of Bytamin the water whereof hath this propertie that bricke tile sande lime or chalke that is tempered therewith maketh a cyment thereof so harde and strong that yeldeth not vnto stone or yron With this water the tiles and brickes were made and all other mater tempered that did erect all the walles of Babylon Also Traiane went to sée the caue where the water came soaking foorth whereout procéeded a stench so pestilential that kilde all cattel that came neare thereunto and all birdes that did flye ouer the same Men that passe that waye dare not venter the viewe thereof muche lesse to approch the smell except the Eunuches that be gelded which feare not to beholde neither are indaungered by the sauour Traiane might not be satisfied with the view and contemplation of Babylon muche delighting to viewe the infinite antiquities therein conteined and had thereof great compassion and also saide it many times howe many and howe renowned Princes had consumed there their treasure and imployed the chiefest parte of their life to perpetuate their fame which were nowe forgotten and their stately buyldings vtterly ruinated and falne downe Traiane attempted a certeine woorke within that lande which did not onely excell all that he had done in Rome Italic Sicyl Datia and Spaine but also all that Ninus Belus Semyramis and Alexander had made in Babylon Traiane was of so high thoughtes and so singular in his conceites which he attempted and in his buyldings which he erected he was not satisfied that others should thinke him equall with Princes past but iudge and confesse him to be singular amongest the rest The case was thus he opened the mother of the riuer Tygris and of the riuer Euphrates made from the one to the other a great a déepe chanell to vnite them both into one streame a thing for the present easie to be written but at that time verie terrible to beholde because the chanell that Traiane caused to be made from the one riuer to the other was so high so large and so déepe that verie greate shippes might turne saile and ride at anchor Vppon that chanell Traiane did builde a moste stately and a right loftie bridge a strong castell a riche and sumptuous palace and certeine gardeines and orchardes most pleasant and on either side the riuer he built faire houses to dwell in and store houses for merchaunts and to place there his perpetuall memorie did name the same Traianicall Babylon This buylding endured not long and the cause thereof procéeded that the riuer Euphrates had his channell more high then the riuer Tygris whereby Tygris did increase and Euphrates diminish and the Babylonians doubted the one for want of water to be lost and the other with the furie of the water to be destroyed From Babylon Traiane departed to the citie Tesiphont being the head of that prouince which although some dayes it stoode in defence of it selfe in the ende it came to be yealded and there it is said that Traiane found so greate summes of money that he had sufficient to pay his armies to raise vp newe buyldings and also to furnishe his treasurie Greate were the newes that daily came to the Senate of the marueilous victories which Traiane obteined throughout the worlde and howe beyond all Princes past he had augmented the Empire of Rome The inhabitants of Tesiphont were ignorant to sacrifice vnto the Gods or to obserue feastes and holy dayes whereupon Traiane commaunded to erect a temple vnto the greate God Iupiter and gaue them instruction what feastes they shoulde obserue and howe they should sacrifice vnto their Gods. CHAP. XIX ¶ Howe Traiane after great trauaile to passe into the Indiaes was constreined to retire ALl these countries being ouercome and sett in order Traiane determined to saile by the read Sea which is very great and runneth from the Ocean of the Indiaes vnto Arabia and is otherwise named the Sea Eritrean in
him to liue within the kingdome Adrian would not or else durst not make warres with the Parthians but gaue vnto Parsnapate the Seigniorie of certaine countries and Prouinces of Syria being vacant at that time as Lorde to inioy the fruites thereof and as Romaine Pretour to gouerne the people When Adrian had obteined the Empire presently he published and sayd vnto all men that he wold become a pitifull Prince and truly in some pitifull causes he did shew him selfe to be the sonne of Traiane but in some rigorous matters he séemed to be the brother of Nero. A certaine man named Bebius was Prefect in Rome who was contrarie vnto Adrian in all thinges that eyther touched his honour or profite and being counselled to kill Bebius for that he ceased not to be his aduersarie made answere I will not onely permit Bebius to liue but also the office of Pretour which hee helde but for a yeare I will confirme vnto him during his life Laberius and Frugius two Romaine Senatours were banished vnto the Isle of Pontus whom he commaunded to returne to their houses and their goodes to be restored them but the Consul Frugius being mutinous mouing commotion betwixt Adrian and the Senate he commaunded to be throwne aliue into Tyber and obteined no lesse honour in the executing of the one then in pardoning the other Vnto certaine Gentlemen of the armie that sayde vnto Adrian in times past that he should be Emperour he gaue double rewardes affirming that he gaue them not for their aduertisement but for their good will. CHAP. VII Of his entrie into Rome NOwe when Summer was come Adrian parted from Antioche to come to Rome and lefte for Preposite of Syria Catalius Seuerus and tooke his way throughe Illyria and determined to make warre with the Sarmatians which would not receiue the Ambassadours of peace Lucius Turbon that had béene Pretour tenne yeares in Mauritania came foorth to méete him vpon the waye with whome Adrian had great friendship being a young man and in house with his Lorde Traiane presently he made him Pretour of the Prouince of Datia and Panonia At that time Lucius Turbon was in Africa maister of the horsse men of whome Adrian was aduertised that he was verie riche and in greate power throughout the kingdome and that he had not obteined all that riches in the time of warre but by briberie in time of peace Adrian was not a little grieued of that which was sayde by Lucius Turbone bycause he was his friende and also seruaunt vnto Traiane but all this notwithstanding he applyed all that he had vnto the common treasure and disarmed him of his knighthoode As muche as Adrian did increase in potencie so much did his enimies increase in enuie in suche manner that they coulde neyther incline their harts to loue him eyther yeald their strēgth to serue him The case was thus that Palma Celsus Sobaius and Lucius Adrian going on hunting were determined in the middest of the chace to rid him of his life wherevpon they were agréed that in his swiftest pursuit of any wild beast they would attend him in the most thickest pace or track there vnder the colour to misse their leuell at the beast would shoote and kill the Emperour All these foure were men of noble bloud and rich in goods and were called Cōsulares bycause at other times they had bene Consuls but as their treason was discouered first by iustice they were beheaded before Adrian went on hunting Great was the murmuring and mutinie throughout all Rome when they vnderstoode howe Adrian had executed so cruell iustice vpon these foure Consulares or noble men partly for that they helde opinion that Adrian had raised that quarell againste them and partly for custome and manner for that fewe were the chastisements whiche the good Traiane did execute but great was the number that receiued pardon Adrian being aduertised that for the death of the foure Consulares all Rome was escandalized and that for a man reuenging and cruell his person was defamed determined with all spéede to come to Rome to excuse him selfe of that fault The affaires of Adrian stood not in so euill estate as vpon the way they gaue him aduertisement which did well appeare in that the Senate did offer him the triumph due vnto Traiane being cut off by death to inioy the same but Adrian refusing gaue order that the Image of Traiane shoulde be placed in the triumphant chariote to the ende that good Traiane shoulde not want a triumphe although but after his death Presently when Adrian came to Rome he went to visite the Sepulchre of his Lorde Traiane where his eyes did shed many teares and for him did offer vnto the Gods most sumptuous sacrifices All the Senate being ioyned and also all the most principal of the people vnto whome Adrian made a long oration wherin he gaue them to vnderstand of the state of the Empire and did excuse him selfe of the death of the aforesaide foure Consulares because the officers of the Senate had made searche and inquisition of the cause and the Pretors of the armies did execute the sentence The Senate did offer Adrian the title of Pater patriae but he would not receiue it affirming it to be one of the titles of his lord Traiane and since he had been a good father it were great reason he should proue a good sonne It was a custome in Rome and throughout all Italie that when their Princes came newely to gouerne the Empire that all cities and other people should furnishe him with a certeine summe of golde and siluer with the golde to make a crowne and the siluer for the seruice of his house and sometimes they did present so much golde to make the crowne that the remnant was sufficient to mainteine the warres Adrian refused not onely this seruice to be demaunded but also returned that which was brought him saying that his crowne should be riche when his subiectes should be in wealth The officers of the treasurie that is to saye suche as had the collection and kéeping of the masse of Rome had raised greate rentes daily inuenting newe manner of tributes in the common wealth which being knowen vnto Adrian he commaunded all newe impositions to be remoued from the common wealth and the inuentors thereof to be displaced from their offices Generally the Romains complained vnto Adrian of the dearth of victuals foorthwith he prouided for prouision of wheat from Sicyl wines from Candie and oyle from Spaine and further gaue such prices vnto the same and all other victuals that the poore might féede with the riche He did promise and sweare in the Senate to put no Senatour vnto death although he were culpable without the accused should first be heard and his cause considered by all the Senate and truely this othe did excuse Adrian of many executions and was no lesse occasion that the Senatours committed many faultes Princes haue to consider what they sweare
and promise for from that day wherein Princes shal vnable thē selues to punishe vice and sinne from thenceforth their vassals shal followe wickednesse In the yere that Adrian entred Rome all thinges were deare and the people not sounde or in health who vsing greate magnificence commaunded much money to be giuen to the poore of the common wealth in such wise that it was not founde that any died for hunger either suffered any extreme necessitie There were many that had béene banished and diuerse in prison for debt due vnto the Fiscall that is to saye vnto his chamber Adrian gaue commaundement by publique proclamation that all such debtes should be absolued and that for any such debte none should be runnagates either kept in prison Adrian did derogate the law custome of his predecessours which is to wéet that the goods of the condemned should be for the Prince which he commaunded from thenceforth to be imployed not to his chāber but to the comfort of the common wealth for he saide and helde opinion that the Iudge should neuer be grieued to punishe offendours when he should remember to inherite a share of the offendours goods He extremely delighted when any person came to craue and much more did reioyce if he had to giue but if by chaunce he had not to satisfie his demaund at the least he gaue him a friendly aunswer From the time that Adrian was in possession of the Empire he was neuer heard to say or name Traiane but my Lord Traiane CHAP. VIII ¶ Of the good conditions and inclinations of Adrian WIth much diligence and no lesse secrecie Adrian inquired what life the Senatours did leade and what exercise they vsed and such as he found poore and vertuous he augmented their patrimonie and such as he found riche and vicious he found meane to depriue them from the Senate Adrian was a Prince verie skilfull and muche considerate in punishing his officers and seruauntes that is to saye he kept secrete from the people the causes why he remoued any person from his office And further if he displaced any person from his commoditie he did not forget otherwise to recompence him in such maner that if he did chastice them he did not dishonor them Many times did Adrian speake these woordes Whome I shal see esteemed and worshipped in the common wealth I wil rather determin to take away his hed then his honour The rēts which the good Traiane left in many partes of Italie for the bréeding of children the sustaining of widowes the marriage of Orphans he did not only confirme but also made better All the seruants of Traiane he did aduaunce to better offices such as were not méete for offices he gaue thē money Adrian commaunded serch to be made how many noble men were falne into pouertie such as were decayed by mischaunce he relieued such as procured pouertie by vice he gaue them leaue to endure necessitie He gaue help to al the Romaine widowes to marrie their daughters he was not more boūtiful in giuing relief vnto the daughters then he was an enimie to succour the sonnes for he helde opinion that that young man deserued not to be married that with his handes did not obteine a marriage By thrée dayes space he did celebrate the feast of the god Genius that is to saye the daye of his birthe and commaūded vpon those dayes to giue pitances vnto all the people and he with all the Senatours and nobles did eate and banquet in his imperiall palace the cost whereof did not amount vnto so little but as they were thrée if they had béene sixe the rentes of the whole Empire had béen spent and parte of their treasure By the space of sixe continuall dayes he did cause them to represent the game of swoorde players and the people craued certeine other playes which he would not consent not for that he delighted not therein but to giue them to vnderstand in Rome that it appertained vnto Princes as much to moderate their pleasures as to giue order for thinges of importance Before Adrian was Emperour he was thrise Consul for which cause he made diuers Romaines thrée times Consuls and whereas some were offended for want of like fauour he did aunswer Such as did exceede mee in merite ought to be equall with mee in dignitie Within the compasse of Rome neuer before the dayes of Adrian were permitted more then two Consuls the one to gouerne the common wealth the other to go to the warres but Adrian did adde and create a thirde Consul for that if the one should be sicke and the other resident in the warres the common wealth shoulde not remaine without an head Tutinus a noble knight of Rome Adrian did create Senatour and gaue him the ensignes of Consul whereat the whole Senate was offended affirming that the Emperour ought or might not create in such manner partely because Tutinus was not of deseruing and partly for that the aduise of the Senate should haue béene vsed therein Adrian was displeased with these wordes of the Romaines and from thence foorth did vse more libertie in reparting offices and lesse companye in determining causes He helde Seuerianus in greate veneration which had married his sister vnto whome he gaue both honour and great rewardes and at all times when Seuerianus came vnto his chamber to conferre and to vnderstand his pleasure Adrian came foorth to méete and receiue him at the doore Although Seuerianus came to visite Adrian and Adrian came foorth to receiue Seuerianus yet auncient and very mortall was the hatred betwixt them for in this case either of them did vtter and discouer to be possessed with a moste vile intent for that Seuerianus did trauaile to depriue Adrian from Empire and honour and Adrian with no lesse facilitie did take away his life When Adrian was in Rome at the least he went thrise a wéeke vnto the Senate and if he were either sicke or muche busied they did repaire vnto his presence in such maner that nothing of importance did passe in the Senate wherein they did not vse his iudgement Adrian was of familiar conuersation with his speciall friendes and with his particular seruaunts with whome he went to eate in their gardeines to fishe at riuers to hunt in the fieldes and all other such like pastimes Naturally he was giuen to haue compassion of the sicke and herein he did neither consider whether they were friends or foes for that indifferently he did visite them and at his owne charges did prouide for them He did not onely visite the sicke but also the olde men decrepite with age of whome at large he woulde inquire of the yeres that they had liued the kingdomes they had trauelled the daungers they had passed the enimies which they had helde the necessities that they had endured in suche wise that many times of the things which they had saide of times past he tooke example for the time
ploughes but he him self would be occupied in sowing corne cutting vines pruning trées and at times would take the plough and make a dozen of furrowes He was extreme in nothing but that in and for all thinges he placed him selfe in the middest which he did very well discouer in the gouernement of his person and estate wherein neither for his prodigall expence he was noted proude either for want of a noble minde estéemed a niggard Many times the Heauens being cleare and a settled faire weather in apparance he would saye vppon suche a daye wee shall haue raine or chaunge of weather wherein he neuer erred and manye times did aduouche that the knowledge thereof procéeded not of science either of Philosophie but of certeine experiences which he gathered when he vsed the labour of the fielde When on a certeine time with his knife he was pruning of a plumb trée in his orcharde ioyning vnto the high way a Senatour saide vnto him since you are an Emperour ceasse to vse the office of a labourer vnto whome Antoninus aunswered it is lesse euil for an Emperour to prune trées in his orcharde then to consume lost time in his palace He was very attentiue to that which was saide and curiously he did consider what others did chiefely to the ende to attaine knowledge for that naturally he was sharpe and of delicate iudgement He was alwayes occupied either in reading studying disputing or doing somethinge with his handes and wherein he wanted skill he disdained not to craue to be taught Alwayes for the more parte he went bare headed through much heate he had therein and one aduising him the ayre of Rome to be very hurtfull and therefore right necessarie to haue his head couered aunswered assure mée from troubles of men on earth and I am assured that nothing shall offende mée which the Gods shal send mée from Heauen He was of him selfe excellent in Musike delighted therein and a greate friende to Musicians Antoninus Pius was suche and so good that all heartes did loue him all toungs did praise him and all suche as did not knowe him but by reporte had him in admiration finally he was compared vnto Numa Pompilius because in him there were not more vertues to be desired either one onely vice to be reprehended CHAP. III. ¶ The workes of pietie which he did and the cause why he was intituled Antoninus Pius ANnius Verus father of the first Faustine and father in lawe vnto Antoninus Pius became so olde that he was not able to sit on horsebacke either to go on foote but that he was led and staide by the arme to saye his opinion in the Senate because from olde putrified men ripe and found counsels do proceede Antoninus Pius beeing the man that delighted to leade his old father did not only giue him way in foule places but in going vp of staires did rather séeme to beare him then leade him Passing on a certeine day and beholding an olde man named Iulianus led vnto prison for debt and vnderstanding the cause he presently payed the same and added a worke of more pittie that payde not onely all his debtes but gaue him also to susteine him his house For that a penall lawe prouided in that behalf that by iustice or otherwise none shuld shead bloud within the compasse of Rome for his cause at the gate Salaria a place deputed for execution of offenders and maisters also did there chastice their seruaunts and thus it chaunced that Antoninus Pius passing that way found there many slaues bounde and beaten moste cruelly he conceiued so great pitie to sée them so beaten without pitie that presently he bought them all and the same daye he bought them the verie same daye he made them frée From his youth it was his inclination to visite the sicke and to accompany suche as were in sorrowe distresse and out of comfort wherein the good Antoninus did so muche vtter the griefe that he had of their griefe he so much sorrowed of their sorrowe that no man did so sensibly féele his owne griefe as he did bewaile the misfortune of others An auncient Romaine widowe which had but one sonne whose misfortune was to kill another young man and being condemned to dye the sorrowfull mother came lamēting wailing and crying vnto the Emperour Antoninus with whome he did so earnestly and so grieuously wéepe as if it had béene his owne sonne And being aduertised by his friendes and his most speciall and priuate seruaunts how euil it became him to wéepe with and like a woman aunswered that sorrowfull woman came to craue helpe and succour for her sonne and for that I may not relieue her with some remedie I did assist to bewaile her mischaunce The Romaines had a custome to leaue the dead bodies of men executed in the fieldes but Antoninus Pius was the first that gaue order for such bodies to be buried affirming it sufficient to take from men their liues and not to féede beastes with their carcases From the time of the proude Tarquine the Romaines held for custome to giue malefactours great tormentes the good Antoninus did take away all tortures wherwith the members of mans bodie was put in daunger saying that the torment was sufficient that were to chastice but not to dismember Fabatus Dioscorus Lipolus Macrinus Fuluius Torquatus Eucenius Bruscos and Emilius whereof foure being Consuls thrée Iudges and two Pretors and banished by Adrian Antoninus gaue them all pardon and for that many did mislike this déede affirming it to be done to the preiudice of the fame and memorie of Adrian he aunswered Adrian my Lorde did not erre in that which he then did and I thinke I do not erre in that which I nowe doe because then he did it to profite him selfe by his iustice as I nowe doe to obteine aduauntage by clemencie Whether so euer he went either in Rome or other places of Italie wéekely he did visite the prisoners and the poore which he found there for debt he commaunded the creditours with his owne money to be payde and after that he had thrée times paide for one man and the fourth time found in prison for debt he commaunded him to be deliuered vnto his creditour for his slaue A fewe dayes after this commaundement his clemencie not able to endure so rigorous Iustice notwithstanding the sentence was moste iust he prouided at his owne cost once more to buy and to giue libertie vnto that poore man As before recited when Adrian was sicke and so distempered with his infirmities that some he commaunded to be taken some banished and some put to death but Antoninus Pius being adopted Augustus and being inuested with the whole gouernement did neither arrest banishe or kill them but onely commaunded to absent them selues and not to appeare in his presence Amongest all the notable workes of pietie that Antoninus did perfourme was that Adrian striuing and watching to kill him selfe Antoninus did ouerwhatche to preserue a liue
and consent vnto the obedience of Rome Rometalce king of the Pindaroes was accused in the Senate of disloyaltie vnto the Romaines in the warres they helde against the Rhodes who coÌ„ming vnto Rome to quite him selfe the good Antoninus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also did not permit that for any thing past any motion should be made affirming that his offence might not be so great but that his submissiue apparance did reforme the same The Olbiopolites a people in Asia held warre with the Taurocistes alies of Rome vnto whom Antoninus sente succour by sea and with assistance of the Romanes subdued the Olbiopolites who not only paid all charges of the warres but also gaue hostages to maintaine peace Antoninus neuer raised warre but that first he sought to conserue peace and praised not a little that saying of Scipio that is to say Hee rather wished the life of one citizen of Rome theÌ„ the death of a thousand enimies When hée married his daughter Faustina vnto Marcus Aurelius he made a suÌ„ptuous feast and gaue great rewards vnto his men of warre He held his sonne Marcus Aurelius in great reuerence and would haue made â—im Consul which hee refused holding it for more happie to turne bookes then to appease nations After he had sent vnto Calcedonie for the great Philosopher Apollonius and had giuen him an house to dwell in solitarilie neare vnto the riuer Tiber Antoninus sent for him who refusing to come sent answeare That schollers do vse to come to their maisters and not maisters vnto their scholers whereat Antoninus laughing said A trim ieste that Apollonius hath paste so many seas from Calcedonie vnto Rome and now refuseth from his house to come to mine Although Apollonius were learned in Philosophie yet was hée in his life very couetous whereat when certaine in presence of the Emperour did murmur hée aunsweared for very deare that Philosophers sell vs their Philosophie alwayes their science is more worthe which they teach vs then the goodes which wée giue them CHAP. XII ¶ Of the succession of the Empire and the occasion of his death AS the Emperour Antoninus in his youth was alwayes a frend vnto the vertuous euen so in his age carefully hée did séeke the conuersation of the wise and therewith had no lesse care of publique matters then of his owne priuate affaires Generally hée was so liked and loued of al nations that in all temples in all walles gates and buildings these foure letters were placed namely V.A.C.R. whiche is to saye Vita Antonini Conseruatur Respublica which is to saye On the life of Antoninus the whole weale of the Romane Empire dependeth Leauing a part many good lawes which he made for the Common wealth for which purpose hee had alwayes attendant about him men in the lawes singularly learned who among the chiefe was Vindemius Verus Siluius Valente Abolusius Metianus Vlpius Marcellus and Iabolinus before whome hée set the lawes of all kingdomes and of the most necessarie and approued to take the choice to be established in his kingdomes When he did institute any lawe either ordeine any proclamation he alwayes expressed therein so great reason that his commaundements were neuer disobeyed either his lawes reuoked The cause of his death they say was after this maner from Gallia Transalpina that is to say swéete Fraunce they did present him certaine chéeses whereof he eating at his supper more then was conuenient they ministred vnto him a perillous vomit whereby they discharged his stomache not onely of meate superfluous but also of bloud righte necessarie which bredd in him a furious feuer and finding himselfe in great weaknesse without disposition to sléepe either appetite to eate he commaunded al the Senatours and chief gouernours to be called vnto his presence and before theÌ„ all did commende the common wealth vnto Marcus Aurelius his sonne and Faustine his daughter And making his testament in verie good order wherin he gaue vnto his seruants great gifts which being finished and perfourmed he gaue vnto his daughter Faustine the inheritaunce of all his lands which he possessed before he came vnto the Empire His feauer increasing and his strength and life wasting the fourth day of his sicknesse about noone beholding and viewing all the circumstants and shutting his eyes as if he would sléepe gaue vp the ghost who was no lesse bewailed at his death then he was beloued in time of life and presently by conformitie of the whole Senate was intituled Holie and all the people at the newes of his death a vie in euery streate did grite skrich and cry aduauncing and magnifying his bountie clemencie benignitie liberalitie iustice patience prudence and prouidence Al the honours were done vnto him and all the famous titles were giuen him that vpon any noble Prince had bene imployed And deserued that in the temple of Iupiter a priest of his owne name should be institute Also they built him a temple and dedicated vnto his honour the Circene playes and a fraternitie where they were all called Antonines This Prince onely amongest all Princes liued and dyed without sheading of bloude and for likelinesse compared vnto Numa Pompilius not onely in good gouernement of the common wealth but also for sinceritie of life The life of the Emperour Commodus the sonne of good Marcus Aurelius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara byshop of Mondonnedo preacher Chronicler and CouÌ„seler vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus THe Emperour Commodus had to his grandfather Annius Verus and his father was the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius and his mother was the right faire and renouned Faustine on whose side he was nephewe vnto the Emperour Antoninus Pius a man of a refourmed life and very beneficiall vnto the common wealth of Rome He was borne in a certaine place named Lodie on the eight day of September at the time that his father and Drusius his vnckle were Consuls the one gouerning matters of warre in Datia and the other in refourmation of causes in the common wealth The Empresse Faustine being great with childe and neare vnto the time of her childe byrth dreamed that she was deliuered of certaine serpents but especially of one more fierce then the rest of which dreame when his father Marcus Aurelius was infourmed they say that he sayde I feare me Faustine that the sonne of this birth shall proue so fierce a Serpent that shall be of power to commit a murther of our fame and to poyson the whole common wealth of Rome The Astronomers and Nekromantiques which in those dayes were resident in Rome they sayde and prognosticated many things of the byrth of the Emperour Commodus and as it appeared afterwardes they sayde very little in respect of that which followed bycause this miserable and vnfortunate Prince in his manners did rather resemble the infernall furies then reasonable creatures From his infancie his father Marcus Aurelius carefully did trauell in the
tooke the names of all persons that he might haue with him out of Italie commaundinge them to prepare and to pay his officers that all thinges should be done with moste spéedie diligence for his intent was to enter with so greate haste into Asia that his arriuall and the newes thereof at one instant might appeare vnto Pessenius All the armies of Illyria which he had left in Thracia he commaunded to passe into Asia and all the Senatours all the warrelike officers of Rome all the riche men and all the sonnes of mightie and greate Lordes that were in Italie he ledde with him in that warre He armed in the Sea Mediterrane an hundred galleys and also rigged foorth two hundreth shippes fiftie barkes and innumerable foystes all which went laden with men armour and victuals in such wise that in respecte of his greatnesse and potencie there was none that woulde encounter with him by lande either abide at the Sea. Onelie xxx dayes Seuerus was in Rome dispatchinge with the Senate he departed vnto the porte of Hostia to beholde his nauie and from thence he departed to Nola in Campania where his armye was assembled where he added many thinges that wanted and also remoued many thinges that were superfluous because in thinges of greate importance he was not satisfied to giue them in charge to men of experience but that he woulde see and beholde them with his owne proper eyes When Pessenius Niger heard the newes howe Seuerus came against him by sea and lande they say that he saide these woordes If the destinies be bente against me small may it auaile me that men fauour mee and if Gods be pleased to help me mē may little hinder me And further he saide Seuerus is not satisfied to haue slaine his Lorde Iulianus and to vsurpe the Empire but hath made mee an enimie vnto the people of Rome but I beseche the immortall Gods that if it shal not please them to giue me victorie in this warre that Seuerus may bee conquered when hee moste desireth to ouercome Although Pessenius commended his fortune into the handes of God not withstanding he left not to seeke the aide of men to this ende he did write and send Ambassadours vnto the kinge of the Parthians to the king of the Arthabanes and to the king of the Armenians to succour him with men money because Seuerus came with a determinate minde to destroy them all The kinge of the Armenians aunsweared the Ambassadours of Pessenius Niger that he woulde neither helpe the one or offende the other but defende and conserue his owne kingdome moued therevnto for that Pessenius was his friende and Seuerus not his enimie The kinge of Parthians presently sente his letters throughout his kingdome commaunding them to repaire vnto Pessenius and refuse Seuerus which he did not for the narrowe friendship that he helde with Pessenius but for the auncient enimitie that he did beare vnto the Romane Empire The king of Arthabanes sent vnto Pessenius ten thousand archers with crossebowes all natiues of the prouinces of Bersezana which throughout the worlde were much renowmed and in the warres no lesse feared because they were of valiant mindes in fight and excéeding readie in shooting Further Pessenius Niger commaunded his armie to be renewed with twentie thousand footemen and sixe thousand horsemen whereof the moste parte being taken out of Antioche where the people be most féeble their names being registred and receiuing paye neuer afterwardes came to the warres Vnto all them that vsed this guyle Seuerus afterwardes gaue great punishment not for that they had béene traytours vnto Pessenius but for example to terrifie others Vpon the mount Taurus parte of Cappadocia and Sicyl Pessenius as a man of experience in martiall affaires prouided that the woodes were feld vpon the toppes of mounteines and in streightes and most perillous places made strong watche and warde in such wise that no enimie might approche that was not séene or passe that were not slaine In those dayes there was not in all Thracia a citie more opulent then was Byzantio nowe named Cōstantinople which in buildinges did excéede all cities of Asia and in fertilitie was equall with the best in Europa Amongest other thinges conteined therein that was faire to beholde and much to be praised were the walles the stones whereof were brought from Mylesius curiously squared as if it had béene timber sawen with a sawe which was the cause that the wall being made of many stones the whole wall séemed but one stone Although with the calamities of time the walles be nowe ruinated yet notwithstanding of the same there remaineth some steppes and signes in the viewe whereof there is none but wil praise the witt of them that made it cursse the handes of them that did subuert it When Pessenius sawe him selfe a Lorde so absolute of all Asia and accompanied with so many so noble men of warre he thought him selfe sure of the victorie but as in such cases that which Fortune guydeth is farre differēt from that which the person desireth so very cōtrarie to his former purpose it afterwardes succéeded CHAP. VII ¶ Of the warres that passed betwixt Pessenius and Seuerus in Asia IT was great griefe vnto Seuerus when he vnderstoode howe Pessenius was in so greate redinesse that thought not onely to defende but publiquely to offende Seuerus being certified that Pessenius was in possession of the greate citie Byzantio marched with more spéede with intent to batter the same before Pessenius might come to the succour thereof for that by secrete practises Seuerus had within the citie newe friendes and Pessenius in gouernement had recouered some enimies Neither the intelligences which Seuerus practised secretely either the diligences whiche he vsed publiquely might profite him to obteine Byzantio which when he vnderstoode he traueiled to recouer another citie not farre from thence named Cyzica which was both rockie and compassed with marrishes that is to saye it stoode vppon a rocke inuironed with a riuer Pessenius had for his capteine generall of all his hostes a certeine knight named Emilianus in whome he reposed confidence not onely for matters of warre but also for expedition of causes of peace for that he had bothe wisedome for the one and fortitude for the other The capteine Emilianus put him selfe into the citie of Cyzica whē presently after the souldiours of Seuerus came to besiege it There was betwixt both the armies at diuers times diuers encounters repulses wherin Fortune indifferētly discouered her selfe vnto either partie for at all times when they fought at the wall Seuerus side had the woorse but when they fought in the field Pessenius bandes had that repulse Two monethes after the citie of Cizica was besieged they made a salle and as they would haue retyred Seuerus capteines pursued and entred pelle melle with the capteines of Pessenius and notwithstanding there was betwixt them greate slaughter for
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