yere in the whole land there was great scarsitie of bread wherby Traiane was constrained to shorten his iourney and to hasten his imbarkage in such manner that the pestilence draue him out of Africa and hūger out of Spaine Traiane departed Spaine with determination not to stay vntill his arriuall in Asia and there to take the way vnto the greater Armenia would neuer take land in any porte of Italie but passing like pylgrimes made no stay but onely to renue their victuals All those whiche trauelled with Traiane were astonied to sée him passe the portes of his kingdomes as if it had bene the lande of enimies Traiane had a capteine named Valerius Gracchus vnto whom the Emperour did beare speciall affection and did estéeme him as a kinsman vnto this man they say that Traiane sayd in great secrecie If I had found warres in Sicyl Africa or Spaine as I found in Datia whereby I might haue obteined some victorie I woulde not haue passed without landing in Italie but since it is thus come to passe I sweare by the immortall Gods to set no foote a land in Italie vntil I deserue to enter triumphing into Rome High verie high were these wordes worthy and right worthy to be written in the hearts of Princes to beholde this Prince that banished him selfe from the delightes of his own proper kingdomes to séeke fame in straunge landes With great determination Traiane did enterprise the voyage into Armenia wherin he entered making cruell war taking occasion of the king of Armenians which refused to confesse to haue receiued his kingdome from the Romaines but of the king of Parthians Traiane not satisfied to make war vpon the Armenians but also entered the landes and territories of the Parthians bicause in the most principall Prouince of Trapa he deteined his armie more then thrée monethes Parthurus king of Parthians a man of great yeares beholding the warres offered him by the enimie determined to present peace vnto Traiane who being demanded of his Parthians why he discouered so great feare within his owne kingdome he made answere If the wars were but armie against armie the Parthians woulde not feare the Romaines but we fight with the Emperor Traiane vnto whome the Gods haue giuen so great fortune that it farre exceedeth our great power Without consuming of many dayes or imploying of many armies the Parthians made peace with Traiane and the Armenians did yeald them selues as ouercome From Parthimisires king of Armenians the kingdome was remoued and both crowne and kingdome Traiane gaue with his owne handes vnto his sonne and this he did bycause king Parthimisires had sayd that of the Parthians and not of the Romaines he was crowned king in suche wise that the good Traiane in remouing the kingdome frō the father did execute iustice and in giuing it to the sonne gaue a shewe of his clemencie Traiane was not satisfied that the Parthians shoulde haue peace and become tributaries vnto the Romaines but that king Parthurus by the handes of Traiane must be crowned and so it came to passe that knéeling vpon his knées he receiued his crowne kissed his hande and consented to pay tribute Traiane did marche through all those Prouinces and kingdomes and vnto the kinges that did yeald obedience benignly he did intreate them and in their kingdomes did confirme them and vnto suche as did vse resistaunce vnto others he gaue their kingdomes and sent them prisoners vnto Rome Traiane helde for custome that in all principall cities of kingdomes or Prouinces that he had taken by force of armes he did commaunde to erect a most strong castle wherevnto his armies did repayre and a right sumptuous temple wherein to worshippe the Goddes of Rome As Traiane did passe and trauell visite and conquere all the thrée partes of the world that is to say Asia Africa and Europa in all which countries he did trauell to leaue of him selfe immortall fame the testimonie wherof maketh it credible that all the Romaine princes ioyntly haue not erected so many buildings as Traiane onely did performe Traiane did leade his armies verie well furnished ordered corrected and also in great subiection this procéeded that alwaies in his own person he did accōpany the same and helde them both paide and rewarded for as he did vse to say The hoast that of his owne proper Prince is not visited and paide is sildome or neuer in subiection When Traiane was in the warres in his féeding and apparel he did rather séeme a companion then an emperour of Rome for that sildome he went vnarmed and many were the dayes wherein he did eate standing Hauing a bodie somewhat drie and of great sinowes he was moste patient in tedious trauaile of warres that is to say in suffering hunger colde thirste wette snowe heate perils whiche he refused not as a cowarde but sought thē out as one of a valiant mind for that in all hazardes perils he neuer saide vnto his captaines go but let vs go do but let vs do fight but let vs fight He gaue in charge vnto his armies not to attempt to burne houses set fire in corne ouerthrowe milles or cut downe orchardes affirming that these thinges are to be obteined but not destroyed Whē Traiane would take any citie he did not imploye his force in any thing more then to depriue the enimies of their waters In the campes of his enimies he did cause to be sowen false newes that is to wite that if he had victuals to saye that he wanted that if he had money to saye it was spent that if he had muche people that they were gone that if he would shortly giue an assault to saye that he would departe and by this meanes he brought his enimies into negligence while in meane time he did fortifie his armies Traiane was of greate liberalitie vnto such as discouered the enimies secretes and ioyntly therewith of no lesse prouidence for the entering of spies within his campes When he helde warre with any citie or countrye he did not permitt his souldiers to spoile the borders thereof for he helde opinion that smal profit might rise to spoile the poore villages and greate hurte and offence vnto the armies by want of victuals Vnto a captaine that tooke a ploughman kilde his two Oxen at the ploughe Traiane commaunded to be banished with great ignominie and to giue the ploughman his horse his armour and all his wages that was due For no fault Traiane commaunded any man to be slaine in the warres but onely him that slept being of the watche or the captaine that ranne awaye out of the battel or did rauishe any woman Traiane was so pitifull that vsually he did pardon all negligences especially in the warres except two faultes which he did neuer remitt that is to say such as blasphemed the Gods and rauished women Traiane was verie diligent and careful in visiting his camps and to kéepe a reckoning of all his armies and this he did to the ende
he commaunded to be banished or slayne Being sicke in a village named Tiburtina of a fluxe of bloude where he remained many dayes bothe desperate vnruly and out of temper for that he had no patience to thinke that he shoulde dye and an other shoulde succéede him There was alwayes some vnkindnesse betwixt him and the emperesse Sabina but in the end Adrian vsed such skill that secretly he gaue poyson vnto his wife Sabina whereby she finished his life and he lost his suspicion When Adrian perceiued that of necessitie he must néeds dye and that an other must haue his Empire he appointed Cenoio for his successour sonne in lawe vnto Niger and this he did against the mindes of all them whiche did serue him and also of all such as did best loue him bicause many others séemed to be of more deseruing and also of more abilitie to gouerne the Empire Vnto this Cenoio he gaue the name of Elio vero Caesar and to the ende it should be gratefull vnto the people and confirmed of the Senate he gaue them the Circen playes which was vnto them very acceptable did distribute throughout Rome foure thousand Sextercies Presently vpon the adoptiō of Cenoio he gaue him the Pretourship he placed him before the Panoniaes which were admitted to goe next his person did create him the second time Consul did set him at his owne table and did permit to accompanie him in the litter finally Adrian did intreate him as his sonne and all did serue him as their Lord. Presently after that Cenoio was adopted he fell sicke of the disease of death in suche wise as he had not leasure to giue thankes vnto the Senate whereof Adrian being aduertised sayde vnto the Senate Vnto a weake wall were we stated that day when Cenoio was elected Cenoio dyed in the Kalends of Ianuarie for which cause he was not bewailed of the people for that moneth being dedicated vnto the God Ianus no Romaine durst bewaile the dead eyther vtter any sorrowes for the liuing Adrian finding him selfe more oppressed with infirmitie did adopt and declare Antoninus Pius his successour vpon condition that he should adopt the good Marcus Aurelius and his brother Annius Verus The adoption of Antoninus was displeasant vnto som but especially vnto Attilius Seuerus who with great care did solicite the Empire for him selfe and at that time being Prefect of the citie some he did corrupt with money and some with faire promises but Adrian being aduertised of the web that Attilius had in hande did not commaund him to be slaine but to be banished all Italie CHAP. XVII Howe and where the Emperour Adrian dyed ON the day that Adrian commaunded the olde Seuerian to be put to death before the executioner came to cut his throte in a vessel he put certaine coles adding thervnto some incense lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen he said You immortall Gods I take to witnesse if I be culpable wherein I am accused and for which this daye I am condemned and put to death and ioyntly therewith I request and beseech you that in testimonie of my innocencie ye giue me no other reuengement but that when Adrian shall desire to dye he may not dye For the time that the Consul Seuerian was executed Adrian neuer inioyed one day of health but many times desired to dye and sought occasions to kyll him selfe but Antoninus Pius vnderstanding thereof commaunded him to be guarded by daye and watched by night Being assayled with extreme infirmitie and not able eyther to eate or sléepe he many times sought venome to drinke sometimes he would haue a knife to kill him selfe sometimes he wold not eate by pure hūger to hasten his death whereof the Senate being aduertised they did humbly craue that it might please his excellencie to haue patience in that infirmitie since the Gods were pleased to lengthen his life Adrian was much despited with this suite of the Senate and so much displeased with him that sayd it that he should be taken and put to death Adrian had a Barbar named Mastor both faithfull and valiaunt that did attend on his person when he did hunt being his auncient seruaunt whom he did most instantly desire and secretly threaten to dispatch him of his life but the barbar being terrified to heare such wordes fled out at gates By chaunce he recouered a knife into his handes wherewith he would haue dispatched him selfe but by force it was taken from him but therewith and from thence forwarde more desirous to dye and his life more hatefull vnto him Adrian had also a Physician borne in Africa this man he did most instantly request to minister vnto him some poyson to finish his sorrowful and most wretched life so hatefull vnto him selfe but the Physician was so faithfull vnto his lord not able to resist the suit of his souereigne determined to drink the same to die Adrian holding him self for the most vnfortunat the extremest wretch in distresse that so much desired death and could not but liue most truly the suit of Seuerian vnto the gods was most throughly perfourmed in him that is to say that they woulde inlarge his life when he should desire to dye Antoninus Pius being now declared and confirmed for Caesar and Adrian euery day finding him selfe to growe in weaknesse departed from Rome vnto the port of Baias where he remained vsing many experiences in medicines and Physicke which for his health did little profite and to shorten his life gaue some assistaunce Adrian dyed in that port of Baias the sixt day of Iuly and was buried in a village named Ciceroniana He liued thréescore and two yeares and reigned one and twentie yeares sixe monethes and sixtene dayes Before Adrian dyed he commaunded this verse to be placed vpon his sepulchre Turba medicorum Regem interfecit Which is to say The Emperour Adrian by trusting Physicians gaue so hastie an end vnto his yeares The life of the Emperour Antoninus Pius compiled by Syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mōdonnedo Preacher Chronicler Counseler vnto Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the lineage and countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius THe naturall countrie of the Emperour Antoninus Pius was of Gallia Transalpina whiche is as muche to say of swéete Fraunce and was borne in a citie named Nemesa whiche from the time of Iulius Caesar was established a Colonell of Rome His grandfather was named Titus Fuluius a man both generous and valiaunt who in the times that Iulius Caesar did conquer Fraunce did vtter his greate parcialitie in the behalfe of the Romaine Empire for whiche cause after the warres were ended he came to Rome Titus Fuluius in passing into Italie and setling in Rome had happie and great successe for the Fathers of the Senate besides their recompence for seruice they made him a citizen of Rome He had suche skill to profite him selfe by that libertie and proued so cunning to content the people that within the space of foure
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
refourme the storie of the liues of tenne Romaine princes worthie moste surely to be knowen and verie pleasant to be read The purpose wherefore moste mightie Prince I haue taken so exceeding trauaile to compounde this worke is vnto the ende my penne may aduertise wherein my tongue with shame dismaieth to speake for as Bias the philosopher saide The authoritie of princes is so greate that of more thinges they haue to giue them to vnderstand then to dare or presume to speake The king Artaxerxes trauailing on a certeine daye a man of the countrie presented him with a little water in the palme of his hand the which water the king receiued and dranke and when some did murmur of that deede and also detract him the king made aunswere It is no lesse noblenesse vnto the Prince to receiue little then to giue greate and bountifull rewardes The philosopher Lycurgus that was lawe giuer vnto the Lacedaemonians commaunded those of his common wealthe that they shoulde offer vnto their Gods fewe thinges in number and not riche of value whereof when he was noted and also accused made aunswere I commaund not to offer vnto the Gods fewe thinges for that I thinke them not to deserue muche but because all men should haue wherewith to offer since of all men they will be serued for in the time of Apollo they saide vnto mee that they had rather haue little of manie then much of fewe In the lawe whiche God gaue vnto the Hebrues he was so limitted in the thinges he demaunded and so humaine in that he commaunded that in the order of the sacrifices which they should offer he did ordeine and coÌ„maund that the poore man whiche could not offer a goate should offer no more but of the hayre therof In considering that Lycurgus offered vnto his Gods iewels of small price and that king Artaxerxes receiued of a poore man an handfull of water and that vnto the true and liuing God they durst offer no more but of the hayres of a Goate giueth mee hardinesse to present this work vnto your Maiestie ⸫ The life of the good Emperour Traiane Coceius naturally a Spaniard borne in the citie of Calize compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counsellour vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth CHAP. I. Of foure renoumed Cities that perished and were subuerted in Spaine BEfore they had Emperours in Rome either warre was raised in Carthage ther were in foure prouinces in Spaine foure right notable cities which in potencie did matche with Rome in riches with Tyrus in beautie with Helia in opulencie with Tarento The firste was Numantia the seconde Cantabria the thirde Ystobriga the fourth Italica Strabo Isodore and Pomponio Mela giue great admiration vnto the readers of the great power richesse and wealth of these foure cities And on the other part it is great pitie to consider that there is nothing of them remayning to beholde Not without cause it is saide that nothing remaineth in them to be séene because notwithstanding the prouince boundes and climate is knowen of the foundation thereof yet we may hardly attaine to name the verie place where it was buâ—lt Vnto the citie of Numantia Soria succéeded vnto the citie of Cantabria succéeded Tudela of Nauarre vnto the citie of Ystobriga succéeded Merida vnto the citie of Italica succéeded Ciuil The situation of the famous Numantia as some men affirme was vpon a certeine hill neare vnto Soria on the other side of the bridge and as others doe thinke her foundation stoode in Garray a village of Soria ioyning vnto Duero The situation of Cantabria was a league from the citie of the Groine and on that side of Ebro vpon a certeine height where nowe are planted many vines The seate of Ystobriga was where nowe the ventes of Caparra being bayting places stand and others say yt was on the hill that standeth betwixt the two riuers Las varcas de Alconeta yel casare de carceres The situation of Italica was ioyning vnto the citie of Ciuil and some saye it was vpon the way to Carmona and that the arches of Carmona were made to furnishe the citie of Italica O secrete iudgementes of the moste high or humaine instabilitie that all these places being viewed personally of my selfe where these so excellent cities were buylt I found not so muche as a tower a wall a stréete or a house to beholde neither so much as a stone almost to stumble at We haue great reason to exclaime and much more hath the discréete reader to wonder since we vnderstand that fourtéene yeres Numantia resisted the power of the Romaines and now we sée it made a pasture for shéepe We vnderstande that Cantabria was the last thing whiche the Romaines did subdue in Spaine and nowe there remaineth but a patche of vineyardes in the same We certeinly knowe that the greatest strength which king Viriato held in Spaine was Ystobriga and nowe there remaineth not but certeine grâ—ene trées shrubbes They which write of the citie of Italica do saye that it was the most strong and the most estéemed of all the kingdome of Vandalia and nowe they gather both wheat and barley in the same Scipio the Africane destroyed the citie of Numantia because in the first Punicke battels they would not helpe the Romaines Gracchus a Romaine captaine subuerted the citie of Ystobriga because from thence Viriato made him warre Pompeius hoste destroyed the citie of Italica for that in the parcialitie of Iulius Caesar they were most faithfull The Emperour Augustus ouerthrewe the citie of Cantabria as a man more moued with yre then directed by reason The case was thus that as he had the citie besieged and brought in great distresse he sent to require of the citizens to yelde him all their treasure and giue vnto Rome perpetuall tribute The Cantabrians considering what the Emperour demaunded aunswered in a letter after this manner Emperour Augustus we pray the immortall Gods to receiue thee into their defence and that it may please them to examine betwixt thee and vs who in this warre hath more iustice and thou knowest O immortall Prince that men although they haue power to take warre in hande it is not in their handes but in the Gods to obteine victorie because we men begin many thinges with malice the which afterwardes the Gods do finish by iustice with thy exceeding potencie it may not be denied but that thou hast brought this sorrowfull citie into great distresse in such wise that we haue neither bread to eate either water to drinke either skinnes to make garments or corke to make shooes neither towers to couer vs but ioyntly with this thou hast to vnderstande that if wee want armour wherwith to fight wee lacke not heartes to abide death It wel appeareth that thou hast made experience of our weake forces and vnderstandest not the greatnesse of our mindes since thou demaundest the treasure of our houses and the libertie of our persons
attainement of the Romaine empire for the accomplishement whereof he throughly determined to kill his Lorde and maister Commodus placing his sonnes Pretors ouer all the armies to be readie at hande in time vppon the newes of the death of the Emperour Commodus Perennius also had drawne vnto his parcialitie certeine Senatoures and other the welthiest neighbours and citizens of Rome by giftes and rewardes in secret but in especiall by aggrauating the wicked life of Commodus On the fourth day of May the Romaines did celebrate the greate feast of Iupiter Capitoline whereunto not onely the whole people of Rome but also of all cities of Italie did concurre and when the Emperour on that day was resident in Rome alwayes in his owne person went to authorize and sée the feast The Emperour Commodus beholding the playes and pageants prouided for that triumph and Crispina his wife being placed on the one hande and Perennius the priuate and greately fauoured courtier set on the other hande they behelde a carte comming al couered with boughes crying continually for roome and audience And when they were come vnto the presence of the Emperour Cōmodus and all persons by his commaundement vsing silence the people thinking they would haue vttered some pageant or matter of disporte soudeinly there appeared a man aloft vppon the carte which had a long bearde a shéepeheardes hooke in one hande and a sling in the other and from the girdle vpwarde all naked his other garments very poore and after the manner of a Philosopher and directing his woordes vnto Commodus saide The Oration to Commodus O Commodus it well seemeth that thou arte a Prince and that verie young whiche arte in these playes and delightes so carelesse and negligent which thou oughtest not to doe because Princes of thy age estate and condition runne muche more in perill in their excessiue pleasures then in their meane trauailes Being as thou arte rigorous with thine owne and furious and vnbridled with straungers thou oughtest to consider and not to be vnmindfull that thou hast enimies for the Prince that is feared of manie hath iust cause also to feare manie The greatest riches and the best treasure in this world is trueth whereof Princes be moste poore of all people for that their eares being fild and led away with lyes may take no taste in matters of trueth Thou Commodus and other Princes do not euil gouerne your common wealthes of any prepenced malice to destroye the same but because ye giue not either delight your selues to heare the poore that be grieued and oppressed when they complaine neither the good godly and vertuous when they giue aduisement of the greate and horrible vices of briberie extortion and violent robberies committed by officers by the priuate and fauoured by the mightie and men of power Great is the fault of Princes for the vices which they committ but much greater is their offence in dissembling the offences of their fauoured seruaunts because ye offend not but onely the Gods but they both offende the Gods vexe and trouble men are traitours to your own persons Although Commodus thou be licentious dissolute wilfull also not very honest it is impossible but if the hurtes and mischiefes scandals and robberies committed by thy officers fauoured seruants were notified giuen thee to vnderstand thou wouldest commaund them to be amēded also to be remedied for in the ende there is no Prince so euill that desireth not his common wealth to flourish At these dayes trueth in Princes houses is so odious that who so aduentureth but to make reporte therof of death he must haue determination and if any such do escape with life it proceedeth of some conceite to be spoken of madnesse That which at this present I will say discouer I protest vnto the immortal Gods it proceedeth not of madnesse for that my natural iudgement is confirmed with reason either do I say it of malice to be reuenged of any person but onely Oh Commodus to deliuer thy life of great peril and to franchise Rome from seruitude of a tyrant for that which I presume to saye and aduenture to discouer I am assured before my tale be ended my life shal be taken away But O Commodus I giue thee to vnderstande that if thou wilt not giue faith vnto my woordes the time will come when thou shalt vnderstand the trueth of all that I haue saide when thy mischiefe may haue no remedie Thou Commodus art there set placed with the Empresse Crispina on thy right hand on thy left hand thy priuate fauoured Perennius but hadst thou certeine intelligēce what he hath ordeined against thee with thine owne hands thou wouldest burie him quick Perennius hath not been satisfied to put to death all good men to be reuenged of his enimies to haue destroyed all thy seruants to haue robbed all thy treasures but that nowe he practiseth to take away thine owne life to aduaunce and exalt him selfe to the whole power of this citie and common wealth O Commodus if thou knowe not I giue thee to vnderstand that the sonnes of Perennius by fraud haue incēsed thy armies of Illyria agaīst the. Perēnius him selfe ceaseth not to corrupt the Senate and secretly seketh to winne the mindes of men giuing giftes and large rewardes vnto the people and all to the ende that vpon the first newes of thy death without contradictiō he may possesse the whole estate of the Romane Empire And think not that Perennius doth now be gin to attēpt this treason for that of great certeintie I do assure thee that many dayes past he hath put the same in practise is vpon the point at this instant to haue it to be executed in so much that if on this day I had not aduentured to giue thee warning be thou assured that on this present day before this feast had bene finished thy life had here bene ended Vntil that poore man had saide that on that day Commodus death was prepared not onely the people gaue eare but also Perennius whoe presently rose out of his chayre with greate furie commaunding the swoord players to kill that presumptuous and rashe dizarde who was presently slaine drawne cut in péeces and burnt Perennius of all men so deadly hated by this poore mannes tale sunke into suspicion of the people and also Commodus conceiued against him some scruple but that Philosopher béeing there slaine and Perennius in so greate power although they had all suspicion of his treason yet no man there durst speake a worde The matter remaining certeine dayes more suspicious then cleare there came gentlemen from Illyria and brought certein péeces of golde wherein bothe the name also the Image of Perennius was ingrauen whiche money Perennius commaunded his sonnes in greate secrecie to be made The coyners thereof being aduertised what the Philosopher had saide and being in greate doubt in processe of time to be discouered came vnto Commodus and
his defence in such wise that although they wer of great disorder in their life yet they vsed great conformitie in agréement for the manner and fashion of their robberies One of the thinges wherein the malice of man moste readily doeth shewe it selfe is that to doe euill wee are soone agreed but to perfourme a good woorke wee consent with greate difficultie Commodus was well persuaded that the tyraunt Maternus was nowe deade imagining in his owne conceit that at the forsaking of his campe and renouncing of his armie of extreme desperation and horrour of him selfe he had desperately drowned or committed him selfe to the halter But Maternus in recompence of the losse of his potencie and negligence of his honour bent all his studie to deliuer Commodus from his life The Romaines helde a custome vppon the tenth day of Marche to celebrate the feast of the Goddesse Berecyntha on that day the Emperour and the Senate went vnto her temple to offer sacrifices which done and perfourmed generally all persons for the most part disguised them selues masking and feasting throughout the whole citie in suche manner their faces being couered the one was vnknowne vnto the other Maternus and other his fellowe théeues and friendes had agréed to weare secrete armour with face disguised that when the Emperour Commodus should most chiefly be addicted to viewe and beholde the playes and his guarde most carelesse of his person by a coūterfet braule amongst them selues to finde ready meane to cut off his life But notwithstanding Maternus had lost his welth power and honour he ceased not to continue proude hautie and disdainefull seeking to be serued and reuerenced not as a friende and poore companion but after the manner of a Prince and as one that were very rich Wherevpon certaine of his companions being not onely wéeryed but tyred to walke lurkingly in corners and not able to indure to be handled with so great seruitude and further fearing some day to be discouered they repayred vnto Commodus and with great secrecie manifesting the whole matter which is to wit that Maternus the tyrant was a liue and fully determined in those playes and feastes to kill him Incredible was the feare wherewith Commodus was touched when he hearde that Maternus the tyrant was aliue and no lesse was his ioy to consider the conspiracie to be detected and notwithstanding Commodus had intelligence thereof certaine dayes before the feast hée suspended the execution thereof vntill the day of the Goddesse Berecyntha to the end that nothing should be reuealed vnto Maternus of that which was discouered vnto Commodus The maner that Maternus deuised to murder Commodus the same did Commodus vse to take and kill Maternus that is to say the great day of the feast being come as Maternus and his band came masked and armed so Commodus brought forth his men armed and disguised and with a set quarell the traitour and tyraunt Maternus was slaine and his men cutt all to péeces The greatest feast of that feast was celebrate in strāgling hewing mangling drawing burning of the bodies of these miserable théeues because it is an euident lawe for tyrants that the hurtes robberies slaughters violences and burninges which they haue committed in many dayes they come to make repayment thereof in one houre CHAP. X. ¶ Of the inexpected death of Cleander a fauoured and most priuate seruant vnto Commodus AFter the death of the tyrant Maternus the Emperour Commodus passed his life in great doubt and feare imagining with himselfe that some day they would dispatch him either eating or sléeping for he did both knowe and also would say that they were fewe which prayed for his life but very many that sighed for his death Vntill Commodus died hée euer walked warely for hée doubled his guard to guard him by day and strongly shutt in his house by nighte in that which hée did eate in his lodging where he slept on the palfrey wheron he roade on the garments which hée did weare hée set great watche in such wise that hée paid it but only with his life that durst touch his garment Very séeldome he went to the Senate and much lesse did ride openly in the citie hée had not talke with strangers but by writing with his subiects he had no conference but by a person intermitted and that which was more maruell hée had many times such conceite not onely to refuse to write aunsweare heare causes or dispatch affayres but also in foure or fiue dayes would not speake onely one word In the xi yeare of his Empyre Maternus the tyraunt was slaine on the next yeare there followed a great pestilence and a generall hunger in which hunger and pestilence the third part of Italie was consumed Immediatly after the pestilence had entred Rome Commodus departed vnto the citie of Laurento where were planted many Laurel trées for which cause the citie was named Laurento where also the Emperour more remayned then in any other place the Physicians giuing him to vnderstand that to be vnder the shadowe therof was very proper and conuenient for defence of the pestilence Notwithstanding the scarsitie of bread and wine that was that yeare further a certaine occasion of great hūger happened in Rome which was as followeth When the good Marcus Aurelius triumphed ouer the Argonautes he brought amongest other captiues a younge man named Cleander who was openly solde in the market place in Rome and by chaunce bought by a clarke of the kitchin to swéepe make cleane the larder at courte This slaue Cleander became so handsome in swéeping seruing and pleasing his maister that not many yeares after he did not onely make him frée and marrie him with his daughter but also did aduance him to the office of Clarke of the kitchin in such maner that from the estate of a bondman hée indued him with the condition of a sonne Nowe when Clēander sawe himselfe frée married and in office in the Court he trauelled to obteine the good will of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius which he obteyned by carefulnesse in seruice and diligence in his office and vsed therin so great diligence and promptnesse that he was neuer noted either slacke in prouision or false in reckoning Marcus Aurelius being deade Commodus forgate not to remoue Cleander from the affayres of the kitchin and made him capitaine of his guard and Lord great Chamberlaine of his chamber Vnto none of as many as did serue accompany Commodus in his youth that hée was gratefull but vnto Cleander vnto whom it had bin much better neuer to haue risen to so great honour for thereof onely procéeded the losse of his life Althoughe the fauour of Cleander did rise in iest or of small causes he framed in fewe dayes to performe the same in earnest which was as followeth that as Commodus grew into disgrace was abhorred and had no care of the gouernement of the Empire Cleander did presse and in such maner did thronge to entermedle with affayres
giuen vnto the Romanes so many and so great triuÌ„phes there ought to be in them many very notable deseruings There be two things which cause the Romans to hold freÌ„dship with the gods to be lords of meÌ„ which is to wit great worshippers of temples and conseruers of people in iustice for that countrie where temples be not honoured and the wicked chastised may be better termed a den of theeues then a kingdome of good men Ye all vnderstand that be here present howe ye haue slaine the Emperour Pertinax a maÌ„ most surely both holy and most holy because the greatnes of the Empire being conferred with the sinceritie of his deseruing it had not beene much for him but rather a smal reward to haue beene Lord of the whole world In this deede ye haue offended the gods escandalized men committed treason vnto your Lord defamed your countrie troubled your common wealth and brought all Rome vnto confusion in such wise that your fault being so exceeding it may not deserue any parcialitie in punishment Now that ye haue slaine him is it as if ye had slaine Caligula Nero Sergius Vitellius DomitiaÌ„ or Commodê° no but Pertinax which was one of the princes most without repreheÌ„sion that euer reigned in the Romaine Empire As princes be few wilful so it is a venture to chance on such as be good so much the more deserue ye the greater paine as the good Pertinax was profitable vnto the common wealth Vnto whome shall Rome aduenture to commit her trust since they which were appointed for her guard haue set her a sale O treason neuer thought of Oh wickednes neuer heard of to kill the Emperour and to sell the Empire After the vassals haue slaine their Lord and the natiues of the countrie haue sold their common wealth I know not why the gods coÌ„maund not the ground to swallow you vp and presently put not fire into Rome to consume it for after so great an infamie Rome ought neuer more to be named in this world Who should haue said to Quintus Cincinatus Numa Pompilius Camillus Marcus Fabritius Mutius Scaeuola Silla Marius Scipio Iulius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who with great and many triumphes did both beautifie and magnifie Rome that ye should haue set Rome in open sale I firmely beleeue and am out of doubte that they would haue died of pure sorrowe or else would haue slaine your progenitours from whom ye are descended FroÌ„ the time I departed out of Germanie I came musing vppon the way what punishment I should giue you for of the one part if I suffer euery one of you with his life it redoundeth to the scandal of the common wealth and if I would take the same from you the paine is very smal in respecte of your extreme fault for vnto one that is euil they doe him no small benefite to rid him out of this world I coÌ„maund your noses to be slit your tongues to be boared your garments beneth the wast to be cut off and your beards halfe shauen yee shall liue without honour credite or libertie as slaues bondmen in the common wealth in such wise that ye shall not die as the good do vse to die to the end to liue but ye shal liue as the wicked do liue to the end to die Neither doe I suffer you to liue because ye deserue life but for that I will not staine my fame with your filthie bloud If in giuing you al death I might giue the good Pertinax his life not onely yours but also right willingly would I offer mine owne because there is no vent more iust then that one good life by the exchange of many wicked liues might be bought redemed If the gods would permit that at the houre I should coÌ„maunde ye to bee slaine ye should reuiue and recouer life a thousand times would I take away your liues because the horror of your offence deserueth a thousaÌ„d deathes but since losse of life in a momeÌ„t doth deliuer the malefactour of his scourge and torment and afterwardes no other meane remayning to take vengeaunce it is more iust that ye should liue euery day desiring death then that ye should die abhorring life There is nothing more iust then to kil him that killeth but I commaund not that ye be slaine although ye durst kill the good Pertinax and this I do not to the end to do no iustice either to doe you good or pleasure but for that many yeares ye shall haue time to bewaile your wretched life and his innocent death CHAP. V. ¶ Of thinges that he did in Rome presently after he was Emperour AFter that Seuerus had said and finished his speach and coÌ„demned and banished the murtherers of the Emperour Pertinax he determined to enter Rome and his receyuing was mixt with ioy and sorow because of the one part seing him so great a frend of iustice they reioyced and on the other part to sée him coÌ„passed with so great armies they feared him Presently vpon his entrie into Rome he visited the temples according to the custome of the Romane Emperours and there he offered no small but generous sumptuous sacrifices Although in his receyuing a great part of the day was spent and in visiting temples the rest was consumed and now wheÌ„ it was night he was requested of all men to take his ease and to withdrawe vnto his palace yet he would in no wise consent vntil he had visited the Sepulcher of the good Marcus Aurelius where he remained a great space vppon his knées and poured foorth many lamentable teares The next day he went vnto the high Capitol where all the Senate was assembled and there he spake vnto all the Senatours Consuls and all other Romane officers to whome he said many good words and gaue them great hope of many rewards All the people of Rome were astonied terrified to behold the great audacitie and fortune of Seuerus which procéeded of consideration howe without daunger and lesse trauell hée obteyned the Empire for that he gat it not by sheding others bloud neither by the exchange of his owne proper goodes The first day that Seuerus spake in the Senate he made a solemne vow before them all Neuer to kill any Romane if he were not iudged by iustice or to take the goods of any person if by the fiscal he were not condemned If it had béene found in Seuerus workes which hée sware that day in wordes namely that they might not accuse him of crueltie either note him of couetousnes it had béene a great weale for the Romane Empire for there is nothing wherwith princes doe more destroy their common wealthes and also staine their persons then to bee giuen to reuenge their owne proper iniuries and couetous of other mens goodes Forthwith at his beginning Seuerus did shew himselfe milde benigne pitifull liberall valiant harted affable gratious and humaine imbracing his familiars ioying and laughing with straungers in such wise that
the Romanes went after him hearing what he said and praising what he did If in humaine affaires he were prouident in diuine matters surely he was not negligent for that euery day hée visited temples honoured priestes offered sacrifices repaired edifices heard orphans and afflicted in such wise that in victories they compared him vnto Iulius Caesar in humaine policies to Augustus and in diuine thinges to Pompilius The old Senatours and auncient Romanes that had béen bred with Seuerus from their youth were amased to sée how his euil condition was changed and on the other part they thought with themselues that all which he did was but fained for of his owne naturall condition he was subtile warie milde and double and did know how to denie his owne will for a time in that which hée wished to doe afterwardes with all men all that he desired It is a point of wise and skilfull men to ouercome their owne wills in small matters afterwardes to drawe others after them for causes of greater importaunce Althoughe there bee more credite to bee giuen to that which wée sée then vnto that which wée suspect yet in this case they were more deceiued that praised Seuerus in his good woorkes then those which did suspecte him for his old subtilties for that in shorte space they vnderstoode in him great cruelties and no lesse disordinate couetousnesse Those that from their youth bee not bredd in vertuous woorkes or that naturally of themselues bee not of good condition they may for a time deceiue some persons with their guiles but in the end their malice commeth to the notice of all men all which was experimented in Seuerus who vsed violence with his owne proper nature vntill hée sawe himselfe in possession of the common wealth The first office that hée gaue in Rome was vnto Flauius Iuuenal whome hee made Pretor of the people of whiche prouision of the one part he pleased all men because Flauius was a vertuous person and on the other parte it did grieue them because he was seruaunt vnto Iulianus The whole armie that Seuerus led with him he also brought into the citie of Rome and being in quantitie great and of condition proud they might not be contained within the citie for which cause they lodged not onely in houses priuileged and in sacred temples but forceably brake vp doores and entred houses The Romanes receiued the same for a very great iniurie because they onely felt not the despight done vnto their persons but also did bewaile the breach losse of their liberties Thrée dayes after Seuerus entered Rome the captaines of his armies sent to demaund of the Senate to haue giuen them an hundred thousand pesants of gold which were due vnto them for that in times past so much was giuen vnto them that first entered with the Emperour Augustus At the houre when the captaines sent these words vnto the Senat presently and ioyntly they armed themselues and marched vnto the field swearing and forswearing by the life of Seuerus by the world of Marcus that if it were not giuen that day at night they would sack Rome After that Seuerus heard that his armie was in readinesse in the field of Mars and without his cōmaundement he was not a litle escandalized thinking there had béene some treason against him amongest the people but the truth being knowen he requested them to be pacified and to disarme themselues saying that it proceeded not of wise Captaines but of seditious persons to demaund with threatenings that which would be giuen by request Seuerus saw himselfe in great trauell to finish agréement betwixt the one the other but in the end giuing them some monie out of his owne coffers and some from the common wealth he brought them all to a vnitie which was that vnto the Captaines was giuen lesse then they demaunded and the Romanes paid somewhat more then they offered Before all things Seuerus did celebrate the obsequies of Pertinax whereat all the Romanes were present and offered that day vnto the Gods great sacrifices accompting Pertinax amongest the Gods and placeing Priestes to do sacrifices vpon the sepulchre that for euermore should susteine his memorie When Seuerus entred the Empire he found many rents of the treasurie morgaged which is to wéete the royall patrimonie wherein he gaue order for the redéeming thereof to be reduced vnto the royall crowne Seuerus had two daughters of ripe age the one of xxv the other of xxx yeres whome he married within twentie dayes after he came to Rome the one with Prolus and the other with Laertius men of greate wealthe and riches and generous in bloud Seuerus offered his sonne Prolus the office of Censor which he refused saying that he fought not to be sonne in lawe vnto the Emperour to be a scourge of euill men but to be serued of good men Seuerus made bothe his sonnes in lawe Consuls and about Rome he bought them great rentes and also gaue them large summes of money to spend and to his daughters he gaue Iewels wherewith to honour them CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe the Emperour Seuerus passed into Asia against capteine Pessenius that rebelled against him ONe of the famous capteines that rebelled against the Emperour Iulianus as hath béene recounted in his life was Pessenius Niger who with the armies that were in Assyria did gouerne and rule all Asia Seuerus rose in Germanie and Pessenins in Asia and notwithstāding they were both traitours vnto their Lorde the difference betwixt them was that Seuerus for his comming vnto Rome they aduaunced vnto the Empire and Pessenius for remaining at his ease in Asia was condemned for a traitour At the houre that Iulianus his death was published presently Pessenius inuested him selfe with the title of Emperour and Augustus in such wise that Seuerus in Europa and Pessenius in Asia had diuided betwixt them selues all countries and prouinces and much more the one from the other had diuided their willes mindes Pessenius was very wel aduertised in Asia howe Seuerus had entred Rome with a great power and was in state of gouernement as naturall Emperour of the common wealth but neither for letters that were written vnto him or for any thing that might be saide vnto him would he obey Seuerus or muche lesse shewe any feare of him Pessenius was grosse of person valiant warlike and of al men with whome he dealt very well liked and surely if he lost the Empire it was not for want of friendes in Rome but that he abounded with vices in Asia After that Seuerus sawe that neither for threateninges either for promises that he made or for letters that he wrote he might not drawe Pessenius Niger vnto his seruice he determined to conquer him as an enimie although as he afterwardes saide he wished not with him to come in contention because Pessenius was a friende in earnest and no enimie in iest Seuerus commaunded a muster to be taken of all the men he had and
stopt with multitudes of people he began by force to make his way and teare and treade the people who made resistance for their safetie adding thereunto woordes ouer furious as people passioned And as the Emperour then being placed in the same chariot although they said no word to his offence he receiued the cochemans iniurie as his owne presently cōmaunding al his Pretorians which there did guard his person to make slaughter at their libertie And as al persons there present were more deckt and trimmed for the feast then armed either in redinesse for battel so great cōpassion was it to behold the multitudes of people that died there without any offence and sheading of bloud of so many innocentes for if tenne or twelue had offended they were more then 15. thousād that were there executed The Romanes did neither eate drincke sléepe or doe any thing but with great trembling not doubting when they should be accused but when Bassianus shoulde commaunde them to be slaine for neuer tyrant did execute that which he ordinarily perfourmed in Rome which is to wéete without any accusement of fiscall or complaint of enimie or wante of seruice to commaunde any man to be slaine CHAP. VIII Of the prouinces whiche Bassianus did trauell and the thinges which he did therein AFter that Bassianus had slaine his brother Geta and his enimies as also manie of his friendes and infinite others that were neither friends nor foes he departed from Rome iourneying towardes Germanie whiche nowe is named high Almaine with determination to visite those Prouinces and to refourme his armies whiche by continuance of peace were growne to greate negligence in matters of warre A whole summer hee lodged neare vnto the riuer of Danubie where he exercised hunting fishing playing running torneying and sometimes sate in iudgmente and a matter wherein he made all men to woonder was that in hearing anie cause at the instant he gaue sentence wherein he neuer erred and also iudgmente according to iustice He had greate delectatiō of that countrie and the people of the same makinge choyce of the valiauntest and gallantest personages of the youthe of Germanie for the guarde of his person The prouinces adioyning vnto Danubie being set in order he passed into Thracia and from thence into the lande of Macedonia with determinatiō to visite the natiue countrie of Alexander the greate All thinges wherein the actes of Alexander were grauen or painted hee repaired renewed and made better manie other thinges he did both adde and inuente in such wise that in al the kingdome of Macedonie there was neither citie or temple where he did not erecte some edifice or place some picture or counterfeite Bassianus perfourmed manie notable things in Macedonia right worthy praise and some other thinges no lesse to be derided because in manie places he caused a bodie with two heads to be painted and also grauen whereof one he intituled vnto him selfe and the other vnto Alexander The Macedonians did not a little scorne this acte that Bassianus woulde compare with the greate Alexander for they estéemed their kinge in suche possession and estate that they say and affirme neither anie in this life to be equall vnto him either in the other worlde surmoūted of none of the Gods. Bassianus grewe so proude when he sawe him self so generally praysed for his woorthy actes done in Macedonia that he cōmaunded al his househoulde not to call hym Bassianus but Alexander and commaūded al the captains of his armie to intitule thē selues with the names of Alexanders auncient captaines whereof the Romanes receiued no small griefe and al the aunciente seruaunts of his father were not a little disgraced for it séemed vnto them that since he did not trust them with the garde of his person he woulde not loue them either deale with them according vnto his accustomed manner Hee woulde ofte put off all his Romaine apparrell and cladde him selfe after the Flemmish fashion and further the more aptly to resemble them he woulde weare counterfeite red haire and howe muche the more he vsed these thinges so muche the greater was the griefe vnto the Romaines Also he obserued a custome both in eating and drinking in his apparrell and seruice as in all other trauels which all wayes followe the warres but as a common souldiour It happened manie times that if a trench were to be made he firste woulde digge carrie forth earth marche on foote grinde breade corne for his owne diet and bake it vnder the asshes Hee delighted in base lodging to resemble the common soldiour and woulde not drinke in golde or siluer but in woodden tankards finally he did not onely abhorre all thinges that séemed superfluous but also manie times that which was right necessarie Hee commaunded also that none shoulde attende him except he were commaunded or call him Emperour but companion all whiche hee did to obtaine their loue and to seeme admirable in his trauels He commaunded his armie to be diuided into three partes and the one to be called Macedonike the other Laconike and the thirde Spartanike in memorie of three famous prouinces of Grecia whiche folowed the greate Alexander in all his wars and the people which he estéemed most valiaunt and warlike From Macedonie hee tooke his way vnto Pergamus a famous citie in Asia to viewe the temple of Esculapius the father and founder of physicke in which temple he slept manie nights and as he afterwardes saide receiued there manie aunswers of the God Esculapius many coūsels as well for conseruation of his health as the gouernemente of his cōmō wealth From Pergamus Bassianus departed to the citie Ilion that in times paste had beene head of the kingdome of Troy where greate warres were long continued betwixt the Greekes and the Troyans whiche hee founde not onelie destroyed but also plowed and sowen Bassianus did there greately desire to burie some persone after the fashion as in times past they had buried Patroclus and for accomplishment of his desire he commaunded poyson to be giuen vnto Festus his priuate and fauoured seruaunt whome after he was deade he buried there according to the fashion whiche the Troyans vsed with Patroclus whiche fact of his some excuse affirming that Festus died without Bassianus his commaundemente Before that Bassianus entred high Almaine he would visite Gallia Transalpina after a fewe dayes of his entraunce therin commaunded the Proconsul of Narbona to be slaine of which déede as also of others which he executed he fel into the hatred of that cōmō people deserued the name of a tyrant In his nauigatiō frō Germanie into Asia he foūd him self in so great danger that the ship it selfe wherin he sailed did rent sinke he escaped in a litle barke He was strikē with so greate feare on sea that after he had escaped that daunger he woulde oftentimes say I knowe not what man hauing breade to eate and garments to weare and couer him selfe on lande woulde to become an
so opulent the king obteined great riches welth and power Whē Traiane came the second time into Datia king Decebal had great riches both of gold siluer not only for the great rents which he receiued throughout his kingdome but that also he exacted of his subiectes great sūmes of money King Decebal being doubtfull vnto what destinies he and his kingdome were committed determined to burie all his treasure in a riuer which he remoued out of his naturall chanell and in the greatest depth therof he made sepulchres of stone to burie his saide treasure whiche being done he returned the riuer into his olde chanell which was named Sargetia and to the end that no man shoulde discouer this secrete he commaunded to murder all that were present at the hiding thereof But to small purpose for that a fisher which at that time did fish the riuer discouered the whole matter vnto Traiane in suche manner that there is nothing so much hidden that humaine couetousnes doth not discouer Those treasures being brought into Traianes power he diuided thereof amongest his armies vnto euerie man according to the merites of his seruice and of his owne share the first that he commaunded was to builde a most sumptuous temple vnto the God Iupiter wherein he left prouided that for him selfe and the people of Rome yearely sacrifice to be offered He reedified there also the royall house that is to say where the kings of Datia did vse to be resident whiche for the antiqutie thereof was somewhat decayed and through continuall warres not well repayred a worke most certeinely delectable to behold and pleasant to dwell in He repaired also many decayed bridges and mylles vpon high wayes he renued their broken calseys in all places he did build newe houses and reedified others infinite that were burnt He brake and made plaine many wayes vpon the sharpe moūtaines and raysed many newe fortes and renued the old finally you might hardly trauell a league throughout all the kingdome wherein shoulde not be found some notable worke of Traiane Not yet all satisfied he built vpon the riuer of Danubie a bridge of stone which was so curious in the building and so costly in the making that fewe works did match it but none did passe it That bridge contained twentie arches in length and euery piller of one square stone and the arches were of the height of an hundred and fiftie foote wrought without cymet and the distaunce betwixt the pillers were a hundred thréescore and two foote and the breadth of the arches aloft was fortie foote and aboue all the rest the singularitie of the mould and fashion was to be considered and the richnesse of the stone to be regarded bycause the stone was of such glosse that in iudgement it deserued to be set in plate It séemed incredible to mans iudgement for a bridge to be made vpon that riuer bicause the streame was broad déepe in course very swifte and aboue all the rest on no side it might be turned out of his chanell to the end it might be drie at any time to lay the cymet That building was so extreme or to say better so monstrous that it néeded to make experiēce of al high iudgements and capacities and the Romaines there to shewe their strengthes and Traiane there to spend his treasure bicause in the worke there required great potencie and in the order thereof great industrie it is verie small that the penne can magnifie in respect of the wonder which he séeth that beholdeth the same for the better credite therof at these dayes the pillers giue a muster vpon the fierce waters declaring the pryde of his power and the riches of the emperour Traiane would with that edifice giue terrour vnto the liuing and admiration to his posteritie to giue manifest argument that any thing may not be so impossible eyther so hard that with mans hand may not be enterprised and with the riches of Rome might not be finished The cause that moued Traian to build this costly bridge so monstrous was as they say to the end the barbarous people on the other side Danubie might come to fight with the Romaines although the riuer were ouerflowen and also that the Romaines that remained there shuld not giue them selues to pleasure and idlenesse when they considered them selues to be in the eye of the enimie The Emperour Domitian had no suche mynde and valiantnesse whiche for feare that the barbarous people should come to fight with the Romaine hoast cōmaunded the arches of that bridge to be ouerthrowne in such wise that the one made a bridge to prouoke the enimie to fight and the other did raze the same for feare of battell CHAP. XIIII Of the seconde entring of Rome by the Emperour Traiane and the notable thing which he did in the same IN finishing the warrs in giuing order for the Prouince in diuiding the countries and in yealding perfection vnto all his workes and buildings Traiane was deteined in Datia more then thrée yeares in which as he after did report great were the trauels and perils wherein he did sée his person and not small were the expences that he made of his goods The victories that Traiane had obteined being knowne vnto the Barbarians that did inhabite the other side of Danubie the mightie buildings that he had made the great rewardes that he had giuen and the clemencie that with prisoners he had vsed sent their ambassadours vnto Traiane who with verie good will did set down with him a perpetual peace amitie bound them selues to kéepe and defend for him the kingdome of Datia Incredible was the loue that all those nations did beare vnto Traiane which was well knowne when he departed from that countrie to goe vnto Rome in that by all cities where he did passe and by all wayes where he did trauell so great were the teares and cries vttered by all persons that it séemed the grounde to tremble In respect of the great largesse and prowesse that Traiane had perfourmed in those Prouinces it was no maruell that his departing was so be wailed bicause with his great benefites he had won their hearts and with his great and sumptuous buildings he had ennobled his people Vniuersally of al friends and enimies neuer prince as Traiane was so much feared in warres either loued in peace The cause wherby Traiane obteined so great loue and to be so well liked and in such especial grace with al men was that with his frends he neuer vsed negligence and also in readinesse and straite reckoning with his enimies in such wise that such as stood in his disgrace by his wordes they had to vnderstand therof but vnto such as did bende to serue him both in worde and déede he did manifest the same They were infinite that praised Traiane in that he had ben pitiful with them but none did cōplaine that he had found him ingrate Ennius Priscus a noble aunciēt Romaine demaūded of the
that no vagabonds should wander amongest them in such wise that no man went to the warres that did not beare armour and go to the battell Traiane held in his armies maisters of all exercises to teache the young men the arte of knighthood that is to saye howe to playe at the swoorde to shoote in the crossebowe to runne an horsse to skale a wall to mine a castell to wrastle with the enimie to swimme ouer a riuer finally the greatest of Traianes exercise was to augment and nobilitate his armie and knighthood CHAP. XVII ¶ Of the honourable titles that the Romaines sent vnto Traiane and of the earthquake of Antioche THE Romaines did much desire that when Traiane did saile from Spaine into Asia that he should haue landed in Italie but when they vnderstoode of the great victories and prosperities which he had receiued in Asia great was the ioye and sportes which were done at Rome In times past some Princes ouercame the Parthians and others of them were ouercome but neuer prince as Traiane did make them by feare yeald vp their kingdome and that of his owne will knéeling vppon his knées would by a Romaine Prince be crowned The Parthians were a people so vntameable to be subdued that they saide of thē selues the Gods could absolutely confound them but impossible for men to ouercome them Many dayes they were debating in the Senate vpon determination of the manner of thankes which they should write vnto Traiane and what ensignes of honour they should sende vnto him since by his vertue they were all honoured and by his valiant actes feared throughout the worlde All the Senate came to consent to one aduice the which in déede was very generous and noble that is to vnderstande that all maner of coyne should be melted within the Empire and made a certeine newe money in the name of Traiane wherein Traiane was ingrauen and in the compasse thereof these letters were written Imp. Vlp. Tr. Opti Da. Parth. P. P. Tr. P. Con. 2. Sem. Aug. Which is to saye this is the Emperour Vlpius Traianus which was verie good and right fortunate he ouercame the Parthians triumphed ouer the Datians father of the countrie tribune of the people two times Consul his memorie shal be immortal Great was the ioy the Traiane receiued when he sawe that money which the Senate had made and when he read the writing therin conteined but of all the titles whiche they gaue him he gloried in none so much as to intitle him Imperator optimus that is to saye best Emperour for he affirmed that all other titles he had obteined by armes but this other with vertues For defence of colde prouision of victuals Traiane retired in Winter vnto the citie and prouince of Antioche where whiles he remained suche so fierce an earthquake happened as neuer in the worlde past was euer heard or séene The chaunce was thus that on the 22. day of October before the breake of the day soudenly there rose such winde storme so extreme importune that puld vp trées beate downe birdes threw down tiles shooke the houses forthwith it began to lighten and thunder did so sparckle and flame that being night it séemed to be broade daye After the thunder and lightening presently did followe so terrible tempestes and flashinges of fire which with their furious violence brake downe statelye houses set hilles on fire kild men at the soudeine finally it seemed not but that all the world was on fire and that the earth did open And if the earth were afflicted no doubt but the Sea was cruelly tormented for the waters began to swell the windes to alter fishes to be troubled the ayre to be darkened and that which séemed moste terrible the waters did so yell roare braye and rage as if they had béene wilde fierce moste cruell beastes presently vppon the souden there followed suche and so straunge a heate that it constrained al men to giue aire vnto their breastes vnbuckle their gyrdle to throwe off their cloathes to mount into galleries their bodies to sweate and that which was woorste of all that if they went foorth into the ayre the violence thereof did ouerthrowe them if into the sea the rage therof did drowne them As the windes did vse their furie so straunge or neuer séene and the earth so parched and dryed by the drought of the Summer they raised so sharpe a dust that the ayre séemed to be farsed or compound with dust The matter was marueilous monstruous and terrible to beholde the ayre so thicke with dust the Seas to yell and roare the windes in so furious combat that one might not sée another that they durst not open their mouthes neither drawe breath at their nostrils for so greate was the dust that they did swallowe and receiue into their bodies that soudeinly they fell downe dead vppon the earth All these calamities and marueilous wonders were no doubt verie fearefull but vniuersally not so daungerous for although many did perishe many also were saued Then presently began the earth to quake so strangely and vnusually that olde houses did fall walles did open towers did cleaue the monuments did rent and stones did encounter eche other In some places the houses were vtterly ouerthrowne in other partes halfe throwne down in other places walles opened in other some places trées pulde vp by the rootes domesticall beastes slaine finally there was no stréete in the whole citie wherein the earthquake had not vsed his violence If such destruction was executed amongest trées and stones howe great was the calamitie that passed amongest men the case was right lamentable to heare men crye women scriche children waile beastes howle and braye one crossing and encountering another some dead some with broken heades some with broken legges some lamed in their armes and some striken cleane through the bodie At suche time as these thinges did chaunce great numbers of people were come from all the partes of the worlde vnto Antioche some to sée Traiane some to aske iustice some that went to the warres some brought prisoners and others that were straungers and in so great a multitude there was no man that escaped either deadly wounded or hurte except one woman and one slaue Vppon that night of the earth quake Traiane was lodged in a place of pleasure without the citie who leaping out at a windowe not with such spéede but that he was hurte on his right arme not able to saye of the cause whether it procéeded of timber tile or stone Traiane was so terrified with the earthquake that all the time in which he staide at Antioche he would not remaine in any house but in the fieldes in a tent wherein he did eate and sléepe Many dayes after these thinges did passe certeine persons walking to behold the falne houses heard the voice of a woman and digging very déepe they found a woman and her childe that vnder the hollownesse of a vawt were escaped
the poore and redéeming captiues He was sent on a time by Adrian to visite the Isle of Sicyl in which visitation he reformed many people chasticed many tyraunts depriued many officers remoued many enimities repaired ruinous buildinges did melt manye counterfeit coynes but moste of all in suche manner did gouerne the common wealth that no man remained discontented He was iiij yeares Pretor within Rome he was Consul in Campania with Catilinus Seuerus he was Iudge thrée yeres together in al which offices he was neuer noted either rashe in commaundements or rigorous in his chasticements Adrian diuided all Italie into foure iurisdictions placing in euery one a Consul for gouernement thereof and established Antoninus supreme gouernour of them all in such wise that he helde such authoritie and credite that in Rome all was gouerned by his counsell and in Italie all did obey his commaundementes Were his person farre distant alwayes Adrian and the Senate had his counsell present the cause whereof procéeded of his cleare iudgement in the foundation of that which he saide and through the bountie of his vertue he frankly did speake his opinion Wée saide not without iust cause that by his vertue he did fréely saye his opinion for speaking the very truth he is not onely vniust but verie wicked that hath libertie in his speeche and hath not vertue in his life Exercising in Asia the office of Proconsul he vttered so greate wisedome in his commaundementes and so much without couetousnesse in his dealings that he was intituled the holy proconsul which gouernement amongest strangers by a straunger was a case somewhat straunge because detestation alwayes accompanieth such gouernement Comming from Asia vnto Rome in Antioche he buried his eldest daughter whoe had such fame in her life that after her death she left behinde a slaunderous memorie Wée haue saide howe the wife of Antoninus was named Faustine which was mother vnto the faire Faustine wife vnto Marcus Aurelius and moste truely both mother and daughter were touched with infamie by the meane of too muche libertie and too little vertue It was neuer séene in the Romaine Empire that two so vertuous Princes had wiues so licentious notwithstanding the one was sufficiētly aduised the other corrected but for that they were so gratious in their conuersation and so perfect beautifull of their persons it was very little which was saide vnto them in respect of that which was dissembled Antoninus was so limitted in that which he saide and so aduised in the counsels which he gaue that he neuer repented that demaunded the same Before Antoninus came vnto the Empire he was couetous but afterwardes very liberall and his wife reprehending that he vsed no order in giuing or spending he aunswered Faustine simple is thy iudgement since thou vnderstandest not that after we were aduaunced vnto the Empire we lost all that euer we had because all Princes of noble mindes be bounde to giue but haue no licence to kéepe or hoorde The tribute coronall that is to saye the money that was giuen vnto the Emperours for their coronation the one halfe therof he gaue vnto the cities of Italie to relieue the charges of the common wealth His wife he did both honour and cause to be honoured and it was in such maner that he obtained and brought to passe with the Senate that shée shoulde be intituled Augusta Faustina and in her owne name to graue and stampe certeine money the whiche is séene at these dayes Antoninus was imbraced with so ardent affection of the Senate that without his request they erected the pictures and counterfeits of his father and mother his graundfathers and graundmothers his brothers and sisters notwithstanding they were all dead The Circene playes which were vsed euery fifth yeare the Senate did ordeine to celebrate euery yere on the daye of his natiuitie And after that he therefore had greatly gratified the Senate by greate request he obteyned the celebration of them to be perfourmed on the day of Adrians death The Senate to satisfie Antoninus consented that his wife Faustina shoulde be intituled Augusta and also in the coynes whiche they made vnto her honour there shoulde be ingrauen Augusta Faustina whiche excellencie was neuer graunted to anye Woman of Rome for that in giuing her the title of Augusta they gaue her authoritie to set her hande to the thinges of the common wealth CHAP. VI. ¶ Howe he helde all prouinces in peace not by armes but with letters AMongest al the Romaine Princes there was none that performed so great constancie in his affaires as Antoninus Pius which procéeded for that he was not rashe in his commaundements either variable in his determinations but that exactly he considered and examined what he did commaunde and after for no importunitie would reuoke the same Antoninus being resident in the prouince of Campania sending vnto the Senate to request a certeine matter which notwithstanding the difficultie thereof was graunted Gaius Rufus a Senatour saide vnto him Serene Prince I beséeche thée to giue mée to vnderstande by what reason it is brought to passe that in all thy enterprises thou doest neuer repent in all thy requestes thou art neuer denied either in al thy commaundements thou arte neuer disobeyed To whome Antoninus made aunswere If I repent mée not of any my déedes it is because I do them according to reason and if my requests are not denied of the Senate it is because I craue not but that which is iust and if in my commaundements I am not disobeyed it procéedeth that they are more profitable vnto the common welth then for mine owne person Most truely these were words right worthie of such a mā and to the memorie of Princes most chiefely to be commended It was an auncient custome amongst the Romaines to haue the time limitted for their residence in their offices that is to say the Dictatour sixe monethes the Consul one yere the Pretor two yeres the Censour three yeres the maister of the horssemen halfe a yeare and so of the rest Antoninus woulde not consent vnto this custome but in euery respect did alter the same in such wise that with some that shoulde haue continued but two or thrée yeares he helde them in office seuen or eight yeares and others that shoulde haue continued thrée yeares hee displaced them in thrée monethes affirminge that the good officer ought to be conserued all the dayes of his life but the euill not to be suffered one onely daye He sent Fuluius Tusculanus as Pretor into the prouince of Mauritania whome within half a yere he depriued of his office for that he was bothe impatient some what couetous and complaining of the iniurie saide and alledged that in times past he had béene friend vnto Antoninus which nowe was forgotten Whereunto Antoninus Pius did aunswer thou hast no reason thus vniustly to blame mée because the office was giuen thée by the Emperour and not by Antoninus and since thou diddest offende not as Fuluius but
possessedst in thy daughters which thou nourishedst in thy sonnes which thou begattedst CHAP. IIII. ¶ A certeine notable speach vttered by Letus vnto the armie in the fauour of Pertinax AFter that Pertinax had bewayled the death of Commodus not for his owne condition but for that he had béene the sonne of the good Marcus Aurelius hée said vnto Letus Electus that he would not by any meane receiue the Empire if the Senate did not commaund it and the armie consent vnto it because to hold the Empire safe and established and not to enter the same as a tyrant vnto the Senate it apperteyned to vse their election and the armie their confirmation Letus made offer to finishe all that which Pertinax demaunded that is to say the Senate should elect and choose him the armie confirme and allow their election and the hope that he had to obteine the same was that hée had amongest them many friends and kinsefolke and the ioy that all would receiue vppon the newes of his death Letus departing to talke with the Capteines and leaders of the armie made vnto them a compendious speach after this manner His Oration to the assemblie THAT which now I meane to say right excellent Princes and my martial companions will be verie straunge vnto your hearing although not farre distant from your desires because of many things whiche we desire the least and fewest parts thereof we do obteine Neither are the Gods so liberall to giue vs al that we desire either so niggard to denie vs all that we craue and this they do because we shal acknowledge them to be good for that which they giue vs and cōfesse our selues to be euill for that which they denie vs The good and vertuous be not onely knowen in the good woorkes which they doe but also in their good desires which they haue because the euill and wicked if they durst would neuer cease to commit mischiefe and the vertuous if they might would neuer growe cold in doing vertuous acts The Gods neuer ioyntly accomplished the desires of so many as this day they haue accomplished all your desires for being as you are noble generous valiaunt true and no counterfect Romanes it is not to be thought that ye should wish or desire but the libertie of our mother Rome and the reformation of our auncient common wealthe Ye haue all seene what the Emperour Commodus hath beene whiche is to witt howe large in commaundement howe cruell in killing howe carelesse in gouernment how filthie of life through which cause we not onely held our houses as consumed lost and our persons in perill but also were defamed throughout all straunge nations The Prince that is ouer youthly foolish absolute or dissolute looseth his people and defameth his kingdome Since ye haue seene the euils and cruelties which hee hath done I would haue you see heare vnderstād what he mēt to doe for as it seemeth by this memoriall written with his owne hand hee had a will to haue slaine all persons within the Empire and if hee might haue brought it to passe it is credible he would haue cut the throtes of so many as be in this world It was neuer seene or heard off in this world of any tyraunte that hath beene of the maner and condition of Commodus for that naturally he delighted in losse of friends and did glorie to haue enimies Commodus your Emperour is now dead if I be not deceiued I suppose he dieth with conformitie of the whole Empire because there is nothing more certaine then that hee which liueth to the preiudice of all men should die to the conformitie of all men In as much as the Gods haue taken in good part to deliuer vs from the seruitude of this tyrant it is necessary that another Emperour be prouided and chosen and this election may indure no delay but must be dispatched at this instāt because otherwise as the great dignitie of the empire is a thing that many desire few deserue so it might happen that at the time wee would bestowe the same vppon some vertuous man it might be vsurped by some straunge tyrant If vnto euery man that is here present we should haue due respect according to their deseruing I sweare by the immortall Gods wee should want Empires and not Emperours but considering the Empire is but one is not to be giuen but vnto one in the end none shall obteine the same but he vnto whome the Gods shall assigne and the destinies permit The prince that ye haue to electe ought in my iudgement to be natiue of your countrie because the prince that is not natiue but a straunger he shall rather first finishe his dayes then attaine to the loue of his common wealth Ye haue also to elect chuse an Emperour that possesseth age grauitie for that it furthereth not a little the profit and reputation of the common wealth to haue a beard on the face hoarie haires on the head Also it is right necessarie in the Emperour which ye shal elect that he be no foole either a coward but that he be wise pregnant noble minded of experience because in naturall science and long experience the good gouernement of the whole common wealth doth consist Manifesting my minde more clearely I say againe vnto that which I haue said that if my opinion might be taken in this case we ought to determine and fixe our eyes vppon Publius Pertinax in whome concurre all the conditions aforesaid that is to say naturalitie age grauitie science and experience that this is most true there needeth no greater testimonie for the credite thereof then that Commodus held him for his enimie It is not to be thought that the Gods in vaine haue conserued the life of Pertinax vntil this day Commodus procuring by a thousand meanes to put him to death as it is most true that of al the old seruaunts of his father by him slaine onely Pertinax is reserued aliue As wee haue all wel knowen that be here present that Pertinax hath been the man most afflicted banished enuied toyled and persecuted of al the men that now are aliue in this world and surely it is a great argument to thinke that for him for no other the Empire hath beene reserued because the Gods do neuer preserue the life of any man amongest so many perils but afterwards greatly they aduaunce him Wee ought all to hold it for great good hap and greatly to gratifie the gods in respecte of such and so many as haue bin slaine in our common wealth that we finde such a prince for our mother Rome whom they shal not aduenture to contemne because of his grauitie neither be daūted with feare for that he is noble minded either noted of simplicitie in as much as hee is sapient neither accused of vice for that he is vertuous either reproued of feeblenes because he is reposed finally no man may deceiue
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
the recouering of a gate and to fortifie a certeine place in the ende Pessenius lost the citie and Seuerus obteined the victorie Pessenius greatly complained and so was it bruted amongst the people which is to wéete that the capteine Emilianus had secrete practise with Seuerus for considering the stately walles wherewith the citie Cizica was compassed and the valiant people wherewith it was defended al men iudged it impossible to take it and follie to besiege it The cause that moued the capteine Emilianus to do this vnworthie déede was that his sonnes who were left at Rome Seuerus brought with him into that warre vnder great garde and it is to be thought that to giue libertie vnto his sonnes which he had ingendred he made a breache of his fidelitie and othe which he had sworne The Emperour Commodus as he was suspicious of them with whome he had to deale and so euil wished of all such as did serue him so it was his fashion for the most parte when he sent any noble Roman to gouerne any prouince presently to place their sonnes in a fort and this he did to the end their fathers should not be traitours respectinge their children that were kept vnder ward From the time that Commodus reigned in Rome Emilianus gouerned the prouinces in Asia by which cause Seuerus recouered the children Pessenius lost the father The fame being diuulgate throughout all Asia that the citie Cizica was sacked that Seuerus kept the field with victorie all Pessenius knightes that scaped from thence all other their companions that heard therof gaue them selues to flight to séeke places of fortificatioÌ„ wherein to hide their persoÌ„s Seuerus not onely recouered honour profite of this victorie but also planted both feare discorde almoste throughout all Grecia for some rebelled against Pessenius and others did obey Seuerus Although the people of Grecia haue ablenesse to learne science they are no lesse mutable in martial affaires for in warres which they prosequute they follow not the Prince that hath most iustice but him that most is fauoured of Fortune The citizens of Bithynia sent Ambassadours vnto Seuerus saying that they their children were at his commaundement and on the other side the people of Nicena gaue Pessenius to vnderstand that if he sent his armie thither they woulde not only receiue them but also mainteine them which offers they preseÌ„ted not vnto these two Roman princes for loue or friendship that they did beare them but for the auncient enimitie which they had betwixt them selues Seuerus with his armie entring Bithynia and Pessenius into Nicena from thence as from two fortes they did issue to fight in the end betwixt the two armies vpon a certeine day they trauersed so fierce a skirmishe that in bloud slaughter it was no lesse then a battel where the field remained vnto Seuerus Pessenius bands were put to flight Pesseniê° neither for the losse of the citie Cizica neither for that he was beaten out of the field at Bithynia did shewe either feare or weakenesse but diuiding his armie that remained in two partes he sent the one to mount Taurus to defend that passage from Seuerus the other parte he ledde with him selfe vnto Antioche partely to take money out of his treasurie partly to renue as also relieue his armie Seuerus marched with his armie froÌ„ Bithynia vnto Galatia from Galatia vnto Cappadocia which stoode in defence on the behalf of Pessenius where Seuerus souldiours with great furie did assault the same in which iourney the Seuerians receiued no small losse because the citie was situate vpoÌ„ the side of an hill froÌ„ whence to execute slaughter amongest their enimies they néeded no other defence but to whirle stones The affaires standing in this estate there chaunced two cities of Phoenicia to reuolt from Pessenius and to yelde them selues vnto Seuerus that is to saye Laodycia and Tyrus of which newes Pessenius tooke greate griefe and no small hatred which passions conceiued against those cities he not onely vttered in the foule wordes which he sent to be saide vnto them but also in the cruel acts which he commaunded to be done vnto them Pessenius had in his armie fiftéene thousand archers which were called Mauri people that naturally of their owne inclination were giuen to bloud and without al feare of death these Pessenius commaunded to go vnto Laodycia and Tyrus vtterly to burne and consume both citie and people with a warning confirmed by an othe that if they tooke any prisoners to giue any man life the person that vsed that pitie should be slaine These fiftéene thousand archers named Mauri departed vnto Laodycia and Tyrus and manie other that ioyned with them as they tooke them at the soudeine being vnprouided and hauing no time to demaund succour of Seuerus so cruell and inhumane was that barbarous people to those so generous and noble cities that they left not vpon the walles one stone vpon an other either house that they subuerted not either the hed of man woman or childe that they did not cutt off When these matters passed in Assyria the knightes of Seuerus were in Cappadocia traueiling greatly to possesse the mount Taurus but as it was naturally of great height and rockie Pessenius possessing all the passages so they might not by any meane assaile them or conceiue hope of any profitable or honourable attempt Vpon the top of this mount Taurus Pessenius his people had brought an huge number of great stones and rockes to throwe down vpon Seuerus souldiours if they should attempt to climbe the hill but as on the side of the mounteine there grewe many trées both high and great which Seuerus souldiers cut downe in great heapes multitudes to stay the stones before they tumbled vpon men that might be throwne In hauing redy captaines to fight and skilfull to defende none of the armies had cause to complaine either of their enimies to haue enuie except that Pessenius was more vertuous and Seuerus more venturous CHAP. VIII Of a cruell and furious battell betwixt Pessenius and Seuerus wherein Pessenius was slaine IN certaine broken worne and hollowe places as in suche groundes the waters do vse to make Pessenius souldiers had fortified with stones boughes whiche serued them to blinde and stoppe the waye for passage as also from thence both to defende and offend their enimies Neither for trauell to climbe the hill either for feare of death did Seuerus his captaines ceasse any houre to attempt the recouering of the mounte but the wayeâ— and passages were so narrowe and the mountaines so rockie maccessible that tenne defended an hundred an hundred a thousand a thousand tenne thousand The case was thus that the Seuerian armies more daunted with despaire theÌ„ aduaunced with hope soudenly on a night there fel vpon Pessenius souldiours retired from theire rampiers and fortified rockes and that whiche was worse many
lesse by the presence of Seuerus then by the absence of Albinius for according to the olde prouerbe the absent is neuer without blame nor the present without excuse When Seuerus sawe that he had wonne the hearts of his armies hee recouered newe hope to be reuenged of Albinius and to the purpose he made a generall muster of his men of warre and founde tenne thousande horsemen and xl thousand foote men all whiche he presently payde not onely that whiche he did owe them but also gaue them many and greate rewardes adding therevnto many faire promises The first iourney that Seuerus made was to besiege Bizantio for thither the captaines repaired that had escaped the mortall battaile of Pessenius Niger and in the ende tooke it not by force but by hunger and hauing the citie vnder his power he displaced the bulworkes made plaine the towers ouerthrewe the Theaters subuerted their bathes burnt their houses strangled the straungers the natiues he did captiuate finally he behaued him selfe not as a Romane prince but as a moste cruel tyrant With the riches that hee recouered in Bizantio and the aboundance whiche he robbed in other partes he commaunded the cities to be repaired that Pessenius souldiours had sackt and charged the fortes to be erected that they had throwne downe and leauing officers necessarie for gouernement and men of warre to defende those countries he departed with greate celeritie vnto greate Britaine with a determined intente to make furious warres against Albinius His desire was so disordinate to encounter with Albinius that he traueled night and day thicke and thinne foule and faire and that wherefore they most blamed him was that he neither obserued the solemne festiuall dayes or had compassion of the tyred Traueling on those wayes when it snowed manie times hee was bare headed and in the mire hee woulde trauell one foote when it rained hee woulde marche in his doublet and hose and wanting victualles he woulde eate bareley bread and as he after reported to be reuenged of his enimie he thought it all well imployed Hee sent before him valiant captaines and men very light of greate swiftnesse to cleare the wayes vpon the highte of the mountaines and to defende the most perilous places chiefly when he passed the Alpes of Italie doubting that Albinius might haue in that place some hidden ambushe Nowe when Seuerus sawe him selfe and all his armies in Gallia Transalpina and that in so longe a iourney hee had incountered with no stumbling blocke if vntill that time he went with hope from thence foorth he marched in certeintie to obtaine victorie for the feare whiche he had was that his armie trauelinge both weary and spent Albinius at the souden might discouer to giue him battell In al this time Albinius remained in the Isle of Britane which nowe is Englande but presently after hee vnderstoode that Seuerus had passed the Alpes he brought foorth all his armie out of the Isle sente them into Fraunce rather to defende the frontiers then without any commaundement to make warre because Seuerus was so souden in his arriuall the he was then in Fraunce whē they belieued him not to be departed from Italie With great speede Albinius did write vnto the cities adioyning requesting their helpe for money and commaunding them to be stronge and valiant in his seruice of whom manie disobeyed and other rebelled against him notwithstanding they all confessed that they rather did it for feare of the potencie of Seuerus then for the hatred whiche they did beare vnto Albinius But in the ende the two armies beeing ioyned and all the cities diuided into parcialities euery day betwixt them there was incounters and daily meetings to skirmishe and for the moste parte the souldiours of Seuerus departed with broken heades and Albinius his bandes returned victorious They trauersed on a certaine day so furious a skirmish that it was necessarie Seuerus shoulde come foorth armed vnto the same and as hee was not able to make his souldiours to retire neither constraine his enimies to flie thinking to enter to haue parted the fray hee was vrged to fight in his owne person in whiche fight he receiued so greate a blowe with a plummette of leade that hee was feld downe to the grounde and lay for deade so longe space that many did kisse the handes of his sonne Geta as Emperour After Seuerus had escaped that daunger and was cured of his wounde in greate secrecie he called into his presence certaine Sorcerers and Inchanters that hee brought with him both requesting threatening and promising them manie thinges if they woulde tell him the ende of those warres for if hee shoulde be conquerour hee woulde prosecute the same and if hee shoulde be ouercome he woulde returne into Italie The Sorcerers and Inchaunters answered that his armie should receiue greate hurte but in the ende his enimie Albinius shoulde be ouercome and that hee shoulde not obtaine in this case that which he desired that is to say to kill Albinius with his owne handes but that hee shoulde sée him deade before his eyes The tenth of March Seuerus receiued this answere of his Inchanters and presently on the next day he tooke muster of all his men commaundinge them to shooe their horse and amend their armour and the third day hee gaue battell vnto Albinius neare to a citie named Lugduno whiche nowe in Fraunce is called Lions Sonarona whiche on bothe sides was so extremely contended that a greate parte of the day it might not be knowne vnto whome the victorie would incline When al the day was passed and darke within night the one army fighting with the other in the ende Albinius was ouercome This battaile was so bloudie that of so greate a number of people as both the hoastes did conteine there escaped not a man that was not slaine in the fielde or returned vnto his tente vnwounded Albinius remained to keepe the citie and sent his capteines to giue battaile who beeing beaten out of the fielde the Seuerians entred into the citie spoyling goodes burning houses and slaying people Seuerus had a captaine named Letus whiche was the cause of the conquest of that battell for that Seuerus his souldiours beeing in a manner ouercome and Seuerus ready and prest to flie he relieued the battell with a fresh bande of souldiours Letus of skill and industrie woulde not fight that day vntil he sawe Seuerus fledde and also fall from his horse thinking that if Seuerus shoulde die or be slaine and hee ouercomminge and conquering the battell to aduaunce him selfe with the Romaine Empire Seuerus was not ignorant of the good seruice whiche his captaine had done him at that instant either did he hide the intente wherewith he perfourmed the same for whiche cause the warres beeing finished he commaunded his heade to be cut off not for that whiche hee did but for that which he woulde haue done When the Seuerians destroyed the citie of Lugduno amongst the reste they slewe the
were trauersed diuers daungerous skirmishes and no lesse perilous incounters by the consente of Alexander and Artaxerxes they committed both their fortunes vnto the merite of a battell the Persians being ouerthrowen and the Romains remaining conquerours wherein if Artaxerxes had staide his hardinesse and commended the matter vnto policie placeing his power in his fortes and moste stronge places if he had suffered the Romaines by tracte of time to consume thēselues according to the custome of greate armies in straunge countries he might haue preserued both his countrie and honour Great riches were recouered in that battell and infinite the captiues whiche then were taken and as the Persians holde it for a moste greate iniurie to serue any straunge nation so Artaxerxes notwithstandinge hee was poore and ouercome gathered together greate summes of money and redéemed all captiues in suche wise that in Persia there remained no money either anie captiues came vnto Rome Alexander recouered in those warres the renoume of valiant magnanime and not couetous and he was iustely intituled valiaunt for his doughtinesse in fighting magnanime for his magnificent liberalitie and not couetous for the small share that he reserued vnto him selfe The affaires of Persia beeing dispatched Alexander returned vnto Rome entering the same with greate triumph and glorie for that conformable vnto the people and nation which they had subdued was the riches that was brought vnto the treasurie And after being mounted vpon the Capitol he saide vnto the Senate after this manner A shorte Oration made to the Senate Fathers Conscript for that I come tyred with so long a iourney and you no lesse wearied in receiuing mee it were no reason to make long speache muche lesse to inuent newe eloquence because there is nothing so eloquently spoken but if it bee saide out of time or place seemeth tedious vnto the audience He that shall speake or persuade others hath not only to consider what he saith but also to obserue time and respect the assemblie for the Sea at one time doth permitt her selfe to be spurned and at another time not to bee touched By that which ye haue hearde as that which this day ye haue seene ye may vnderstand howe daungerous this warre hath beene and howe copious a victorie we haue obteined for as ye vnderstand Fathers conscript there is no great haruest without great tillage The case is thus that the Persians had in their fauour foure score thousand footemen sixe thousand horssemen seuen hundreth Elephants two thousand yron cartes and two thousand slaues that were young men the one halfe to beare victuals and the other halfe to mend high wayes On that day in which both the one the other came foorth into the fielde to fight no man woulde haue thought but that the whole world had bene come together and also the deade risen out of their graues Of foote men we slewe twentie thousande and did captiuate twentie thousande of horse men two thousande were killed and three thousande did yealde of Elephantes we bringe three hundred and three hundred we haue slaine the cartes the slaues and prisoners they haue redeemed by the weight of money in such wise that we haue taken their countries ouercome their persons and brought away their goods I returne safe sound the armie inriched king Artaxerxes defeated the name of Rome magnified and the confederates satisfied and with all these trauels though we come wearied yet are we not fatigated because victorie is so sweete a thing that it leadeth al trauells past into obliuion Alexander hauing saide these wordes the Senate exclaimed with loude voices The immortal Gods saue thee Alexander the Gods make thy fame immortall since this day thou haste honoured Rome with euerlastinge fame Thou hast ouercome the Persians visited the Parthians subdued kinges inriched the armies and placed vs in great honour for which cause not vnworthily we intitle thee Pater Patriae father of our countrie Tribune of the people most highe Bishoppe first Consul only Emperour of the worlde These such other exclamations manifested by the Senate at the issue of the Capitol gate Alexander saide vnto all persons that there did attend him Fathers sonnes brothers and companions vnto the fathers of the Senate we haue giuen accompt of all that we haue done and will giue you a reason as apperteineth of al that we haue saide For this day the triumph paste sufficeth to morowe we wil visite the temples the nexte daye we will offer greate sacrifices the fourth day wee will giue libertie vnto prisoners the fifte day we will diuide rewardes amongst the poore widowes and orphans the sixte day we wil begin the Persike Circen playes for cōsidering the greatnesse of our victorie we wil first accomplishe with the Gods by whom we haue obteined the same and then with men which gaue vs their assistance When Alexander came from the Capitol hee mounted on horse backe to ride vnto his palace whome at that instante certeine auncient gentlemen of Rome did take beare vpon their shoulders the people gathered together exclaminge with lowde voyces in this manner Blessed is Mamea thy mother blessed art thou Alexander her sonne blessed is Rome that bred thee blessed is the armie that elected thee and blessed is the Senate that did consecrate thee for in thee is conteyned the felicitie of Octauius the bountie of Traiane Thou hast lead with thee into the warres our husbands our sonnes and our friendes whome thou bringest backe with thee all sounde all riche and likewise all contēted wherfore we say vnto thee that if this day we place thee vpon our shoulders for euer more we will lay vp thy memorie in our entrayles In these exclamations the people continued before and behinde for the space of fower houres extremly pestering all passage vntill the chariote triumphant with foure Elephants made the wayes open All that which he saide vnto the people he commaunded presently to be accomplished At the ende of these feastes he did institute a temple of Virgines who were named Maneaes in reuerence of his mother Manea At the same time he receiued newes that at Tanger a citie of Africa Furius Celsus had obteined victorie and Iunius Palinatus likewise in Armenia triumphed ouer the enimies as also Varius Macrinus in Illyria had made a conquest of certeine countries and the currers which brought the newes presented him also with thrée tables of Lawrell The feastes and triumphes being finished he woulde be informed of the officers of the common wealth that is to say how in his absence they had vsed the people and howe they had administred iustice and suche as had not done well he remoued and those that had done well he rewarded giuinge vnto some more honourable offices and to others heritages and money Manie times Alexander woulde say that they deserued as greate glorie that in time of warre did well gouerne the common wealth as they whiche in the warres obteined victorie CHAP. XII Of