The mynes that wee haue be not of Golde to serue thee but of yron to breake thy pride Doth it not seeme to thee O emperour Augustus that since you Romaines haue fought foure hundreth yeres in straunge countries to be lordes it were great reason for vs to fight in our owne houses to escape bondage Prosecute thy warres and do according to the vse of other captaines of Rome and care not to threaten vs and muche lesse to flatter vs for notwithstanding our countrie houses be thine by force neuer whiles we haue life shall wee be but the Gods and our owne This aunswer being hearde by the Emperour Augustus he did sweare by the immortall Gods to take none of them to mercie either to leaue in the citie one stone vppon another And as he promised so he accomplished I would saye in this case that if it were euill to sweare it was muche woorse to perfourme the same Although it be an auncient custome the worde of a king to be kepte inuiolable for the good prince ought not to put in effect that which he hath sworne in his yre CHAP. II. Of the countrie and birth of the Emperour Traiane PRosecuting our intent it is to vnderstand that in the dayes when warre was extremely kindled betwixt Iulius Caesar Pompeius the Pompeians helde Ystobriga which nowe is named Lebrixa and the Caesarians helde Gades whiche nowe is named Calize these two cities did serue to gather their banished to succour their alies and their wounded Before the citie of Italica was destroyed by the Pompeians there did florish two famous knights the one was named Iulius Coceius the other Rufus Vlpius and these two knightes were not onely Captaines at armes but also were chiefe of those two linages that is to saye of the Coceians and of the Vlpians Before that cruell warres entred the citie of Italica these two linages had alwayes betwixt them greate contention but after warres began they ioyned in great friendship for that it hapneth many times that hartes which may not ioyne by loue do after consent and agree by feare The citie of Italica being destroyed these two knightes came to liue at Gades which nowe is named Calize the one of them that was named Coceius was graundfather to the Emperour Nerua and the other which was named Rufus Vlpius was great graundfather of the Emperour Traiane and of the Emperour Adrian by the mothers side The Emperour Traiane was borne in the citie of Calize the xxi of Maye in the seconde yere of the Empire of Nero Rufus and Catinus being consuls In those times there was not in all Europe so famous so generous either yet so profitable a studie as that of the citie of Calize because from Africa they repayred to studie and from Graecia came to learne And to the ende it shall not séeme a fable let them reade Plutarche in the life of Traiane Philon in the booke of Schooles and Philostrato in the life of Apollonius In that citie of Calize vntill the age of xv Traiane studied the Gréeke toung the Latine Rhetorike Traiane was high of body somwhat blacke of face thinne of haire thicke of beard a crooked nose broade shoulders large handes and his eyes in beholding amorous Traiane entring the yeares of xvj left his studie and did exercise armes wherin he was no lesse towarde then valiaunt Traiane was of great swiftnesse on foote and of great readinesse on horsbacke in such wise that it is sayde of him that he was neuer throwne or had fal frō his horse or euer was ouerrun on foote There chaūced a certeine fleete of pyrates to arriue at Calize the which being many and taking the citizens at vnwares the good yong man Traiane did shew him selfe that day so valiaunt in fight and so venturous in conquest that to him alone they did attribut the libertie of their countrie and the glory of the victorie Amongst the Myrmidons whiche be they of Merida and amongst the Ricinians which be they of Truxillio there was raised in those dayes a certaine little warre for the pastures of Gaudiano for that the Myrmidons did say they had held them time out of mind they of Truxillio aduouched that they had lost them and had receiued of them assistance to win them of the enimies The Myrmidons did craue succour of them of Calize in respect of their confederation the Gauditaines did accept the embassage of the Myrmidons as concerning their succour and when they had chosen Traiane for capteine of their armie he made answere The destinies neuer permit either the gods commaund that I take a sword to shed the bloud of mine owne countrie bicause if the one be our friends truly the other be not our enimies And said more Since the warre is not begun and the cause of their debate may be discussed by iustice it is my opinion rather to sende them embassadours to bring them friendes then capteines to attempt wars Conformable vnto all men Traianes answere was both giuen and accepted the which from thence forward was holden estéemed for a knight of great valiantnesse and for a man of great wisedō and iudgement These two vertues goe not alwayes by couples that is to say valiantnesse and wisedome bycause there be some men that be doutie to take perils in hād be not wise to escape thē CHAP. III. Howe Traiane passed out of Spaine being a yong man to goe into Italie IN the second yeare of the Empire of the good Vespasian great Britaine rebelled which is now named England against the Romaine Emperour vnto which warrs Traiane repaired and this he did without charges to the Romaines and for him self to obteine fame accompanied with many others of his countrie In those warres Drusius Torquatus was capteine for the Romaines who persuading Traiane to take wages of the Romaine people as all others did inioy in that warres Traiane answered The merchaunts that come from thence hither they repaire to be more rich but we Gentlemen not to be richer but more honoured The fame that Iugurth obteined in the warres of Numantia that same Traiane obteined in the warres of Britaine in that the one and the other were knights of straunge countries and young venturours and also fortunate bycause for their powers and noble déedes whiche they atchieued in those warrs Iugurthe was king of Numidia and the good Traiane came to be Emperor of Rome That daye whiche Drusius Torquatus entered Rome triumphing of the Britaines being accompanied not onely with knightes subdued but also with knightes and noblemen that had ouercome all the Romaines did inquire for Traiane to sée him and knowe him for that his fame was notorious vnto all men but his person in Rome to verie fewe knowne And hereof it procéeded in processe of time when Traiane and Marius Fabritius did contend for the Consulship of Germanie Fabritius taunted Traiane to be a straunger borne and disgraced in the feature of his body vnto whom Traiane
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
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
heare thereof and woulde ofte say vnto me that manie kinges and kingdomes he had seene lost by mariage in straunge countries and therefore woulde not marrie me but within his owne kingdome and saide at the houre of his death that if I woulde liue manie yeares in peace I shoulde not abandon my children to straunge marriages I had three sonnes whiche nowe bee all deade and there remaineth vnto me but only one daughter in whome remaineth all my hope and if the Gods would and my destinies permitte I woulde giue her an husbande within mine owne naturall countrie whome I might esteeme as my sonne and he me as his father for my intent is not to giue her an husband that hath much goods but in his person greate worthinesse To that which thou sayest of the kingdoms of Parthians the Empire of Romanes would do verie wel to be ioyned in one thou hast great reason in that which thou sayest if it might be done with as great facilitie as it is spoken but how is it possible they may be made one being as they are so strange in nation so distant in situation so distinct in language so diuers in lawes and aboue all the reste so contrarie in conditions Since betwixt you and vs there are so manie landes countries nations hills and seas howe is it possible the bodies beeing so distante that the harts may be vnited Wee are much better knowne vnto the Godds then wee knowe our selues and since they haue created vs and separated vs the one from the other howe is it possible for vs to liue and enioy together for by greate diligence that men may vse either power that princes may practise it is impossible for them to scatter that whiche the Godds do gather together or to ioyne that whiche they do separate If thou wilte haue men for thy warres I wil sende them If thou wilt haue money to inrich thy treasure I will furnishe thee If thou wilt enter peace with mee I will graunte it If thou wilte that wee be brothers in armes by othe I will confirme it Finally I excepte nothing betwixte thee and mee but that thou do not craue my daughter to wife I am determined wil not for giuing my daughter a good marriage leaue my countrie tributarie vnto straunge people The precious iuells and greate riches which thou sentest me I haue receiued with greate good will and I sende thee others although not such either so riche neuerthelesse thou mayest alwayes cōceiue by them that the kinges of the Parthians haue greate treasures in their keeping and no lesse noblenesse of minde to spende them No more but the Goddes be thy defence and that thou of me and I of thee may see good fortune CHAP. XII Howe Bassianus committed a greate treason against the Parthians THis letter being receiued by Bassianus he made semblance of greate sorrowe that the kinge of Parthians would not giue him his daughter to wife howbeit he ceased not therefore eftsones to write sende more presents to bringe to passe by importunities that which of will he might not frame Arthabanus considering the importunities of Bassianus in writinge and his largesse in sending more riche iuells not doubting that anie guile might be concealed in that marriage did yealde him selfe vnto the iudgmente of his friendes who counselled him that hee shoulde not in anie wise but accept the Emperour of Romaines for his sonne in lawe for it might be that hee shoulde recouer him for an enimie that would not accept him for a sonne The fame beeing spread throughout all Asia that the kinges daughter shoulde marrie with the Emperour of Rome Bassianus aduised to repaire and prepare with all speede so that in all cities of the Parthians where he passed they did not only not resiste him but with greate ioy did receiue and feast him for they helde it for greate vaine glorie to sée their princesse demaunded for wife by the great Emperour of Rome In all places where Bassianus passed he offered riche sacrifices in their temples and gaue greate rewardes vnto suche as did attende and receiue him all whiche he dissembled to escape suspicion of the exceeding malice whiche he determined to execute Bassianus beeing arriued at the greate citie Parthinia where most times the greate kinge of Parthians was residente Arthabanus issued foorth to receiue his sonne Bassianus who most truly ranne foorth as cōformable vnto peace as Bassianus readie and determined for the warres There issued foorth with kinge Arthabanus not only the noble and valiaunt personages of his house and courte but also all the men of power and wealth of his kingdome which against that day were called and did attende in such wise that by his traine the kinge discouered his valure as also the noblenesse of his people Nowe when the Parthians beganne to ioyne with the Romaines and of both partes greate courtesies offered Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his armed knights to giue a charge vpon the Parthians vpon whome they executed as greate a slaughter as Hanibal at Canasse and Scipio at Carthage The kinge Arthabanus as he came in the troupe of all his royaltie tooke his seruaunts horse and gaue him selfe to flight and then as it was night his horse verie swift he had leasure to escape with his life although not able to defende his countrie This beeing donne he sackt the royall palace and al the citie and after commaunded fire to be giuen to all partes thereof whiche he perfourmed in all cities where he passed all the time that he remained in Parthia and freely gaue licence vnto his armie to take what they might to kill whome they would This was the manner that Bassianus vsed to subdue the Parthians whiche conquest with more reason may be termed the inuention of a traytour then the conquest of an Emperour for the innocente Parthians were rather solde then ouercome At the presente when these thinges passed Bassianus did write vnto the Senate aduertisinge them that hee had subdued all prouinces and kingdomes of the Easte vnto the Romaine Empire some by force and others by good will and that allthough the Romane princes his predecessours did excéede him in yeares and riches yet not to be comparable vnto him in victories The Senate béeing ignorante of the greate treason of Bassianus practised against the Parthians because they receiued his letters before anie other messenger had made reporte thereof were verie ioyfull and made greate feastes in Rome placeing his counterfeit vpon all the gates of the citie but after they vnderstoode the trueth of the treason committed they were so muche grieued with that so vile a deede that if the Parthians did suffer the Romanes did bewayle CHAP. XIIII How Bassianus was slaine by the commaundemente of his priuate captaine Macrinus THe Emperour Bassianus beeing departed from the territories of Parthia came vnto the prouince of Mesopotamia which was in the moneth of October and beeinge full of woodes wherin were
memorie of king Eritreus which in old time reigned there The riuer Tygris in the discourse of his currant maketh an Ilande conteinining xxx miles in bredth and lx in length wherein reigned Athabilus a Prince both proude and warlike whome without armes Traiane brought vnder his Empire The ayre of those Seas being different in nature from other Seas and being then in the greatest heate of Summer Traiane in that nauigation passed much trauaile and perill and being persuaded by certeine to forsake the Sea and take the land aunswered the vicious go from hence to Rome to séeke delight and the vertuous come from Rome hither to séeke trauailes bycause our predecessours in exchaunge of great trauailes receiued great and glorious triumphes wherefore I will neuer cease fighting for feare either nauigation for perill or daunger At the mouth of those Seas there was a people named Sipassinos so called of certeine fieldes whiche they helde whether from manye partes they brought their heards to féede these Sipassinos were subiects to king Athabilus who vnderstanding of his submission vnto the Romaines ioyntly with great good will came foorth to receiue Traiane Passing along those Ilandes and all the cities along the Sea coasts on either side being subdued Traiane entred the Ocean Sea and therewith vnderstanding the wracke decaye of his shippes the darkenesse of the ayre his pylots to want experience vpon those coasts he arriued to land to renewe his nauie Traiane was informed that those Seas were of such condition that they endured not shippes made of straunge timber but of wood of the Indies for otherwise they did consume or at times drowne them The sorrowe of Traianes harte might not be expressed for that to passe into the great Indies he had no preparation because of the insufficiēcie of his own ships and want of timber of the Indies And when Traiane saw his voyage to be frustrate without remedie they saye that he saide with a great sigh Of all Princes past onely vnto Alexander I giue the preeminence for that he passed into the Indies but if fortune had not hindered mee him as others I woulde haue excelled for I had a wil not only to conquer all the Indies but therein to haue erected a nowe Rome All the time that Traiane stayed there he gaue him selfe particularly to vnderstand of the state of al thinges in the greate Indiaes that is to saye what Gods they worshipped what temples they helde what kinges they obeyed what dyet they vsed what garmentes they did weare howe they did fight in what cities they did inhabite wherein they were exercised and howe muche the greater things they did report so muche the more the sorrowe of his heart did augment From thence Traiane sēt certeine messengers vnto Rome with great riches for the treasurie Also a memoriall of all the prouinces kingdomes Ilandes nations and people that he had subdued and takē and brought vnder the Empire of Rome Great ioy was receiued in Rome vpon the manifestation of these newes no lesse wonderfull vnto the Romaines to read so many and so variable people to be ouercome by Traiane because it was affirmed amongest them in the Senate of Rome that none had séene them either as muche as to haue heard of them Presently they erected in Rome vnto Traiane an arche triumphant wherin was grauen the names of the kingdomes that Traiane had subdued and the principall prouinces that he had taken for if they shuld haue placed them all conformable vnto his memoriall they should want marble to be wrought and workemen to graue the same When Traiane might not passe into the great Indies he came vnto the house of Alexander the greate where as it was saide he died and there did buylde all that by antiquitie was decayed falne downe also did adde other newe buyldings thereunto offered riche sacrifices vnto the Gods in memorie reuerence of Alexander Traiane sayling on the Ocean Sea towardes the Indians the Tesiponts supposing that he should neuer returne into that prouince determined to rebel and therwith slewe all the Romaines that remained in garrison brought all their countrie in armes Against these other people that rebelled Traiane sent Maximinus and Lucius with an armie of greate power who fought most vnfortunatly for that the one fled the other died He that escaped was Lucius who to refourme all faultes past tooke the citie of Nisibin Edessa which he destroyed burnt with fire wherof Traiane was not a little offended because in the warres he would not any spoile to be made by fire Eritius Clarus Alexander Seuerus two Romaine Pretours made their entrie by Seleucia whiche they totally did sacke destroy being aduertised the Traiane was drowned at Sea they rebelled slewe the Romaine magistrates Traiane doubting the rebellion of the Parthians entred their countrie hauing intelligence of the death of Parthurus their king the alteration of their kingdom Traiane commaunded all the principals of Parthia to appeare before him who assēbled in the fields of Tesipont where Traiane being aduaunced did aduertise thē of his determination which if they did admitt consent vnto they might safely hold him for a pitifull father and otherwise they should finde him a most cruell enimie The Parthians ioyntly aunswered that their desire was much more to hold him as a father then an enimie and did yeld them selues both to beléeue and to obey him making their humble suite to giue them no king except he were a natiue of their kingdome for that a straunger should want both loue and obedience Presently Traiane tooke a crowne in his handes and set it vppon the heade of Persnapate declaring him to be their king and lorde of which prouision they helde them selues marueilously wel pleased for that he was not onely of their kingdome and well knowen vnto them but also bothe vertuous and warlike CHAP. XX. ¶ Howe Traiane comming from Asia to triumph in Rome was staide by death in Sicyl THE land of Parthians being stayed pacified Traiane was in disposition to go to Rome partly to rest and to cease from traueile and chiefely to triumph ouer so many nations and kingdomes but being aduertised of the rebellion of the Agarens and that the Romaine pretours were fledd presently Traiane departed vnto the lande of Agarens which is in Arabia hauing a citie as principall of their prouince very little but marueilous strong the destinie whereof was such that being sieged by infinite Princes was neuer taken or ouercome For defence of that citie the nature and situation of the countrie did not a litle helpe for that the assailants had neither wood or timber to aduaunce their engins either water or forage for reliefe of them selues or cattel the same vnto straungers not vsed thereunto did rather séeme to burne then to giue light Traiane commaunded an assault to be giuen vnto the citie the most valiant captaines being mounted vpon the wall at
an instant some were slaine and some ouerthrowen Traiane disguised and in disposition to viewe the citie was of the enimies both knowen wounded and his Squire slaine The Agarens beeing demaunded if at that instant they had notice of the Emperours person they aunswered that his grauitie and the maiestie of his presence did discouer his estate Traiane being at that siege there arose terrible lightening and thunder which in that countrie was neuer séene and besides there descended vppon the Romaine campe flies so many importune that both their meate and drinke and their owne persons were continually couered with the same Traiane considering the citie to be impregnable did retire his armie They saye that he saide at his retraite Since the Agarens with mine armies either my wordes be neither subdued or persuaded the destinies haue reserued this triumph for some other Prince in the world to come In the prouince of Cyrene Traiane had a greate armie both of Greekes as of Romaines and the pretor of those armies was a certeine Romaine named Andreas against whome the Iewes of those partes did rebell and slewe both captaine Greekes and Romaines The Iewes were not onely contented to haue slaine the Romaines but also brought the dead bodies vnto the shambles and there did quarter cut in péeces and solde by weight with no lesse appetite did eate that humaine fleshe then if it had béene hennes and fesants Adding crueltie vppon crueltie they brought forth certeine Romaines whiche they had in prison and did wage one with another a denéere or a point to strike off the head of a Romaine at a blowe Another thing not more vile then horrible the Iewes committed vppon those miserable Romaines that is they fleyed them quicke and tanned their skinnes for leather and further with greatest disgrace did cut off their most shamefast partes and plaide and tost them as a ball in the market place As the Iewes left no Romaine vnslaine so left they no crueltie or kind of death that they did not experiment and in this matter we haue no lesse to marueile at the hearts of the one to execute then of the patience of the other to suffer That which was don by the Iewes of Cyrene was executed by the Iewes of Aegypt and of the Ilands of Cypres who slewe all the Romaines within their common wealthes which slaughter was no lesse then 500000 Greekes and Romaines When these sorrowfull newes came vnto Traiane he was very sicke but notwithstanding prouided what was conuenient for so desperate a case and presently sent Lucius into Cyrene Marcus into Cypres and Seuerus into Aegypt who committed so great spoiles among the people and executed so cruell iustice vppon the inhabitants that if the dead had béene liuing they would haue yelded them selues for sufficiently reuenged Elius Adrianus was captaine vnto Traiane for the guarde of Syria and hearing what had passed in this matter soudeinly he descended into Iurie and did execute therein a greate slaughter and they of Cypres receiuing warning by this great treason did ordeine that no Iewe shoulde dare to inhabite or passe into that kingdome and that if tempest shoulde bring them by chaunce into that Ilande to haue no redemption therof but by the losse of their heades Traiane naturally was alwayes of greate health but in the traueile of so many prouinces following of so many warres sayling vpon so many Seas and enduring so many woundes the griefe or disease of the piles did not a little vexe him But the case was thus that from the daye that Traiane might not passe into the Indies they neuer sawe health in his person or ioy in his face Through the cause or disease of the piles at chaunge of weather Traiane had a fluxe of bloude which for his health was very profitable Either by the colde which he had passed or angers which in him selfe he suffered or greate age wherewith he was laden there increased vnto the good Prince a Pasma or numnesse of his arme and his purgation by fluxe of bloud was stopped Ioyning vnto the citie of Seleuca there were certeine famous bathes whereunto sicke people of all partes did concurre whether Traiane did cause him selfe to be remoued to make proofe for recouerie of his health And as experience did after declare those bathes did not profite but hinder for being weake consumed and spent although he had force to bathe he had no strength to sweate Nowe when Traiane sawe him selfe without hope of life he wrote a letter vnto the Senate of Rome commending the state of his house vnto Lucius and the affaires of the warres vnto Elius Adrianus He dyed in the citie of Seleuca which is in the prouince of Sicyl which from thence foorth was named Traginopolis in the age of 63. yeres and in the reigne of his Empire 21. yeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes ¶ The life of the Emperour Adrian Compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo Preacher Chronicler and Counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift ⸫ CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred and nourished THE greate Emperour Traiane being dead Adrian succéeded in the Empire who was seruaunt friend and cousin of the saide Traiane The beginning and linage of Adrian by the fathers side was of Italie borne in a citie named Hadra and of the mothers side a Spaniard borne at Cades whiche nowe is named Calize a citie of Andoloizia His fathers name was Elius Adrianus maried vnto a woman of Spaine named Domitia Paulina a woman sufficient wise and faire borne in the citie of Calize shée was néece vnto the Emperour Traiane his sisters daughter whome he did much loue for that of a childe shée was bred in his house Adrian had a sister named Paulina who was married vnto a Consul named Seuerinus and the graundfather of Adrianus was named Marillinus of the linage of the Priscans which linage did not a little florishe in the time of the Scipions Adrian was borne in Rome the 9. daye of Februarie in the consulship of Vespasianus septimus and Titus quintus in the yere of the foundation of Rome 488. Adrian had an high bodie of perfecte proportion except his necke which was somewhat stouping his nose somewhat hawked his face swart his eyes more grey then blacke his bearde blacke and thicke his handes more of sinewes then of fleshe his head great and round and a broade forehead a great signe as he had of greate memorie When his father dyed he was but of ten yeres who left him for tutors Vlpius Traianus and Celius Tatianus the one béeing his vnckle and the other his friend effectually requestinge to traine and instruct that childe in wisedome and valiantnesse for that he had no lesse abilitie for the one then for the other At the age of tenne yeres Adrian studied Grammar and after his fathers death his tutours set him to learne the Greeke tongue wherein he was so
him or his maister also with great pitie prouided for his cure of which déed Adrian was praised for valiant and pitifull Also in the prouince of Taragon they had coteÌ„tion for their bounds wherein Adrian prouided to plant lande markes of stone after the maner of pillers to the ende that they shoulde neither be stolne or chaunged CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Adrian did passe into Asia and of the things that chaunced there ALl the prouinces of Spaine being visited Adrian made his nauigation by the Sea Mediterrane vnto the Isle of Sicyl where he mounted the hill Aetna to behold the marueilous thinges therein conteined from whence he descended more in feare and abashed then either instructed or satisfied Adrian being descended from the hill Aetna astonied wearied and also derided staide not in that kingdome but to visite the woorkes of the good Traiane which he did amplifie with buyldinges and indued with patrimonies Adrian being resident in Sicyl vnderstoode that Asterlike the greatest lorde of Germanie was dead in whose place he presently created a king whom he sent to gouerne the same bothe well receiued and better obeyed bycause the Germaines helde them selues escandalized in that they had not kinges to gouerne them but Consuls to chastice them The Mauritans and the Numidians being diuided in cruell dissention and vnderstanding that Adrian was in Sicyl readie to passe into Africa amongest them selues they cut off all causes of warre and concluded an assured peace At that time also the Parthians soudeinly did arme them selues came into the fielde made captaines and fortified their frontiers and brought their seigniorie to be ouer the Romaines and not the Romaines ouer the Parthians Adrian being aduertised of this commotion prepared a greate armie to passe into Asia and also did write vnto the Parthians giuing to vnderstand that he helde them as his friendes and the Senate estéemed them as brethren and not as vassals wherewith the Barbarians were so muche satisfied that presently they left their armour and proclaimed peace throughout the lands Notwithstanding he was aduertised of the Parthians retire he alwayes continued his nauigation into Asia and descended first in Achaia and entred Elusin a famous citie of that prouince and leading a great armie possessing but little money he seazed the sacred thinges of the temples saying that he did it not as a Romain Prince but as a Grecian for that Hercules and Philip béeing Greeke Princes had first done and attempted the same He alone did enter the temples of Asia which was holden for great valiantnesse because without armour he entred amongest the armed Priestes and being demaunded why he would enter to robbe those temples alone and vnarmed aunswered because from our barbarous enimies we take by violence but from the Gods by request Adrian departed also vnto Athens and curiously did consider the order of their studies and the maner of their life and saide that in Athens there was nothing perfect but Agonata the swoorde player because he had greater readinesse and skill to playe with the swoorde then the Philosophers in teaching Sciences Whiche notwithstanding he did greatly honour the Philosophers and to some townes he gaue great liberties from thence he returned to Rome where he stayed but to visite to honour and also to bewaile and mourne vppon the tumbe of Plotina Which being finished Adrian againe went into Sicyl and from thence into Africa where he did visit many townes and cities reedified certeine buyldinges banished diuers Numidians and also Mauritanes for their mutinies From thence he did passe once more into Asia streight vnto Athens where he finished a certeine temple which he had begonne dedicating the same vnto the God Iupiter wherein he did ingraue the Image of Traiane did paint with his owne handes the figure of Plotina his moste especiall souereigne ladye and mistresse The greatest exercise that Adrian did vse in Asia was in buylding repairing and consecrating temples wherein he did place his name and paint with the pencill or else in Alabaster did graue his figure Adrian feasted and made a greate banquet vnto king Cosdroe at that time king of Parthians also did restore him his daughter which was committed for hostage vnto the good Traiane and a litter curiously wrought with siluer golde and Vnicorne and gaue him also many other iewels Many kinges of Asia and other greate Princes came to visite and to honour Adrian who gaue them all so noble entertainement and so highly rewarded them that greate was the honour and magnificence he obtained amongest them Pharasmano king of the Albans refusinge to visite the Emperour Adrian and to renue the league made betwixt him and the good Traiane not many dayes after Adrian wanted not occasion to dispossesse him of his estate and to banishe him all Asia constrained thereby to craue vpon his knees which would haue béen giuen him sitting in his chayre Adrian traueiling and iourneying throughout Asia visiting his presidentes procurors and chiefe officers finding amongest them faultes of great enormitie did punishe the same with moste cruell chastisementes The cause is not vnknowen of the displeasure that Adrian did beare vnto Antioche which hatred was so greate that he trauailed to diuide Syria from Phoenicia to the ende that Antioche shoulde not be the head of so many prouinces Visiting also the whole countrie of Arabia he came vnto the renoumed citie of Peluno onely to visite the sepulture of the great Pompeius which he renued and enriched and also did offer greate and sumptuous sacrificâ—s in the honour of the great Pompeius wherof the Romaine people being aduertised receiued no small delight He did not onely honour the sepulture of Pompeius but also gaue greate rewardes vnto the people of Pelusio because they had that sepulchre in reuerence placing vppon the sepulchre with his owne handes this verse as followeth Ossa viri magni tenni quam blausa sepulchro Howe small a tumbe of lime and stones Conteines a valiant warriours bones CHAP. XII ¶ Of the great liberalitie that Adrian vsed and some cruelties that he committed ONe of the thinges wherin the Emperour Adrian deserued most iustly to be praised was that with al meÌ„ he vsed great magnificence and liberalitie for that naturally in receiuing he was a niggard but in giuing very bountifull There was not euer any thing demaunded that he gaue not if it were not preuented by some others suite which alwayes he did recomfort with hope for time to come The rewardes of his noblenesse was the gift of townes cities castles Prouinces kingdomes mountaines riuers flockes or heardes salt marishes milles offices and not onely such as hapned in the gouernement of the common wealth but also he gaue the horsses out of his stable the garments for his person the prouision for his dispences and the money for his chamber in such wise that to deliuer others from necessitie he brought him selfe in to want of prouision Adrian in his life was noted of diuers weaknesses and defections
of the Prince all whiche Adrian did remoue and adnihilate affirming that those lawes were but of small seruice to the behoofe of the Prince and to the great offence of the common wealth Also the Romaine Princes did vse to inherite the goods of straungers wherin Adrian did ordeine that the children or the next of the kinne shoulde inioye the same Also he ordeined that what so euer he were that founde hid treasure in his owne inheritaunce should inioy the whole and if it were founde in an other mans inheritaunce the owner thereof should haue the one moitie and if it were founde in publike or common place that then it should be equally parted with the Confiscator Also he ordeined that no man what so euer of his own authoritie should kill his slaue for any offence but to be remitted vnto the Iudge deputed by the Prince Also he made a lawe of refourmation both for eating of superfluous meates and also for wearing of garments eyther too many or ouer costly Also he did ordeine that none what so euer should goe or be carried in a litter and one whiche he had he commaunded for example to be burnt in the market place He also commaunded that Consuls and Senatours within the compasse of Rome should weare their gownes whiche was a garment of peace He also ordeined that yong men that wanted their parentes shuld haue tutors vnto the age of fiue and twentie yeares although they were married He also did ordeine that no slaue should be solde eyther man or woman to any ruffian iester or iuggler affirming the possession of slaues to be most vniust vnto suche as wander in idlenesse all the dayes of their life Also he did ordeine that merchants or suche as dealt with exchaunge that brake their credite or were bankrupts without iust cause but only of couetousnesse by defraude to inrich them selues to be set vpon the pillorie in the market place and afterwardes to be banished Rome for euermore He did ordeine that none what so euer should suffer execution within the citie of Rome affirming that so generous a citie and consecrate vnto the Gods were not conuenient to be defiled with the bloude of wicked men Also he did ordeine that men and women shoulde haue their seuerall bathes and that who so euer should enter into the forbidden place to suffer death for the same Also he did ordaine that neyther for the Prince or Consuls any victuals should be taken from any man but that euery man might sell to whome he would where he would and how he might He did ordeine that no woman shuld aduēture to heale with words eyther that any man shuld presume to cure with cōpound medicines but to perfourme all their cures with simple hearbes In buildings he did chiefly imitate his Lord Traiane that is to say that in all countries Prouinces and kingdomes where he had bene he erected many and very famous buildings wherein it is to be noted that he neuer placed his owne name but in the temple of Traiane In Rome in a manner he wholy renued the temple named Pantheus dedicated vnto the Goddesse Berecyntha and where all the Gods were honoured The fielde of Mars in olde time was compassed and by great antiquitie the buildings falne flat vnto the grounde wherein Adrian did not only renue the decayed wals but also did furnish the same with very stately buildings He edified the reall palace named Neptunus he enlarged the palace of Augustus he reedified the bath of Tyberius he much aduaunced the temple of Titus in all these edifices he placed the names of the Princes that in times past built them and not his owne name whiche had reedified them From the foūdation he built a stately bridge which was afterwards named Adrians bridge He made also for him selfe a sepulchre ioyning vnto the riuer Tyber the stones whereof were brought from India and the workemen out of Greece He translated the temple of the Goddesse of good Fortune and the figure of Decian the artificer that was placed therein that was of so great weight that hardly foure twentie Eliphants might remoue the same the whiche figure was dedicated vnto the Sunne Adrian did erect one other to be dedicated vnto the Moone of no lesse weight or riches then the other whereof the great Polydore was workman He built in Rome a certaine building which many yeares after was named the mole of Adrian and at these dayes is called the castle of of Saint Angelo He remoued many riuers out of their chanels to water the fieldes brought many fountaines for prouision of cities In Greece he edified a citie which in time past was named Adrianopolis In the kingdome of Palestine he reedified the great citie Hierusalem which had béene destroyed by Titus and Vespasian and gaue it for name Elia for that his owne name was Elius Adrianus CHAP. XIIII Of some of his gratious and pythie sentences THe Emperour Adrian was a Prince not only sharpe of iudgement and prouident in his affaires but also of great vrbanitie and gratious in speache And the case was thus that Fauorinus a very friende to Adrian hauing an olde house at the enterie whereof he had raysed a stately porche paynted white he sayde vnto him This house of thine seemeth a gilded pill whiche outwardly giueth pleasure but within is full of bitternesse An other friende of Adrians named Siluius very blacke of face and of euill shape of body and comming on a certaine day vnto the Palace all clad in white Adrian sayde vnto those that were present That blacke face with that white garment seemeth no other but a flye drowned in a sponefull of mylke The Emperour Adrian vppon a time from his Palace behelde a Senatour in a long blacke gowne wearing vpon the same a short crimson cloake in graine and demaunding why he did weare such apparell in that place the Senatour answered Syr I walke here with this red cloake to see if my good hap may chaunce to fish some faire Ladie Wherevnto Adrian readily answered Thou seemest rather a red worme to fish frogs then as a man enamoured to fishe Ladies A certaine person with a hoarie heade crauing a rewarde whiche at that time the Emperour denyed the sayde hoare headed fellowe remembring him selfe pouling his heade and shauing his bearde came againe vnto the Emperour to renue his suite and Adrian beholding howe he was altered made fresh and growne young did answere That which now thou crauest I denyed vnto thy father They helde in Rome many fierce beastes to magnifie a daye of greate feasting and when certaine Senatours sayde vnto Adrian that it was somewhat late and highe time to go chace the beasts he made answere Ye might better haue sayd to be chaced of them then the beasts to be chaced of men for if there be ten that dare abide them there be ten myllians that runne away There was in Rome a certaine man named Enatius somewhat entered in age and of
and rulers of the people should not aduenture to spende the goods of the common wealth in matters eyther vnprofitable or superfluous but to the defence of enimies or repayring of fortifications eyther else for prouision of the common wealth in time of deare yeares There was in Rome certaine stipendarie interpreters of all languages to manifest the meaning of straunge ambassadours whose fée and office Antoninus commanded to be forbidden and taken away affirming it to be verie conuenient vnto the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome that al nations and kingdomes should learne to speake their speache and that it were abasement for them to learne any straunge toung Also he did ordeine that al the old impotent blind people in Rome should be susteined at the charges of the common wealth but such as were younger and more able shoulde be constrained eyther to boult meale at the bakers or to blowe the bellowes at the smythes By chaunce on a certaine day he founde an olde seruitour whiche he had knowne long in the warres rubbing and clawing him selfe against the pillers of the Churche Adrian demaunding why he did so rubbe him selfe and weare out his clothes the olde man made answere I haue no garments to clothe my selfe neyther any man giueth me to eate yet if it may please thée Adrian I haue founde meane to rub my selfe Adrian tooke great compassion of that whiche he did sée but much more of that which he heard and presently he commaunded goods to be giuen him and slaues to serue him And as enuie is naturall vnto the poore as pryde is common among the riche The next day other two poore men came before Adrian rubbing them selues amongst the pillers in hope to receiue the like liberalitie whom he willed to be called vnto him commaunding the one to scratch the other and by turne to ease each other of his itch Vnto king Pharasmaco of the Parthians Adrian gaue great giftes that is to say fiftie Eliphants armed with their towers and thrée hundred men of Hiberin in the countrie of Spaine which were of his guard CHAP. XI Of the prodigious and monstruous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus MAny trauels and hard aduentures followed the Emperour Antoninus while he liued and also in all his kingdomes in the time of his reigne bicause Fortune is so variable that she neuer stayeth her wheele or euer ceaseth to be turning thereof In the second yeare of his reigne hunger was so great so sharpe and so generall throughout all Italie that thereof there dyed no lesse then if it had bene of a fierce pestilence There was in Asia so cruell and so generall an earthquake that many houses and buildings were subuerted many people slayne and not a fewe cities disinhabited for the repayring of which great hurtes he sent not onely money from the common wealth of Rome but also plentifully sent his treasure out of his owne coffers In the moneth of Ianuarie there was in Rome so furious a fire that it burnt ten thousand houses wherein there perished of men women and children more then tenne thousande In the same yeare was burnt the stately place of Carthage the one halfe of Antioche and in a manner the whole citie of Narbona In the moneth of August there was at Rome great floudes and besides losse of their corne both reapt and vnreapt The riuer Tyber did so swell and ouerflowe that one dayes losse was not repayred in thrée yeares On the fourth of the monethe of Maie there appeared a starre ouer Rome conteyning the quantitie of the whéele of a myll which threw out sparkes so thicke and so continuall that it séemed rather the fire of a forge then the shining of a starre In the sixt yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in Rome was borne a childe with two heades the one like a man the other like a dogge but the straungenesse of the matter did more excéede in that with one head he did cry and barke as a whelpe and with the other did wéepe as a childe In the citie of Capua a woman was brought a bed and deliuered of fiue sonnes At that time was séene in Arabia a great and a most huge serpent which being séene of many persons vpon the height of a rocke did eate halfe his owne tayle in which yeare there was throughout all Arabia maruellous greate pestilence In the ninthe yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in the citie of Mesia barley was séene to growe in the heads of their trées in such wise that no trée bare fruite that yeare but eares of of barley In the same yeare there happened in the kingdome of Artenitos in a citie named Triponia foure wilde and vnknowne Lions to lye downe in the market place which became so tame that they made them packehorsse to the mountaines for wood and boyes became horssemen vppon their backes In the kingdome of Mauritania a childe was borne which had the heade turned backwards which liued and was bred vp and also suche as would eyther sée or speake with him most conueniently did place them selues at his backe which notwithstanding coulde both sée speake and go but with his hands might not féede him selfe There died in Rome a Senatour named Rufus a man of great wealth and credite whiche after his death did many times come to the Senate sitting in his wonted place and clad with garments after his olde fashion but was neuer hearde speake one worde and this vision continued in the Senate full two yeares CHAP. XI Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes IT chaunced vnto no Romaine prince as it did vnto Antoninus which alwayes remaining within the bounds of Italie and commonly within Rome was so beloued feared and serued of all straunge kings and kingdomes as if personally he visited had conquered thē In the fourth yeare of his empire king Pharasmaco came to Rome but onely to sée Antoninus and brought and presented vnto him so muche and so maruellous thinges that the eyes of men were not satisfied in beholding eyther their hearts in wishing them The king of Parthians had taken awaye much landes from the king of Armenia who sent to complaine vnto the Romaines as vnto their friends alies and confederates for whome the Emperour Antoninus did write his letters vnto the king of Parthians to cease to do wrong and also to make restitution vnto the Armenians whose letters being receiued and read was presently obeied and perfourmed King Abogarus one of the mightiest and most notable kinges of the Orient the Emperour Antoninus did force to come to Rome bycause that owing a great summe of money vnto one of his vassals he would not come to account The good Emperour Traiane had constrained the Parthians to receiue their seate and royall crowne at the handes of the Romaines which subiection the Parthians both denyed and refused but Antoninus not only by letters but also by apparant threatnings did force them to yealde
lesse for the death of Commodus then for the election of Pertinax As hée had béene in so long time in so many prouinces Pretor Censor Quirite Edil Consul Proconsul and Censor Pertinax was one of the most famous Romanes in the Empire whereof succéeded that after the Barbarians were aduertised that Pertinax was Emperour of Rome such as were rebelles left their armour and such as had taken truce made peace Pertinax had a sonne whome the Romanes would haue created Augustus to the end hée should succéede him after his dayes in the Empire which he could neuer like off or consent vnto saying The Gods neuer graunt that with the hope of the Empire my sonne should be nourished vnto vice and idlenesse Commodus had laide intollerable impostes and tributes vpon his people which Pertinax commaunded to be made frustrate affirming that of the will of princes in charging their kingdomes with vniust tributes there succedeth a wilful denial of due and most iust paiments False witnesses hee commaunded to be punished according vnto the lawe named Pena del talion that is to say they should be executed by Iustice wherein they had accused others by malice Hée ordeyned that the testament which had béen made by the husband wise ioyntly might not be altered by the suruiuer Also he did ordeyne that any man dying intestate should not forfett his landes or goods vnto the fiscall but that his sonne or most néere kinsman should inherite the same saying there were no reason or iust lawe where the dead for want of speach should loose his goods The Senators on a day said vnto Pertinax how the Questors of the treasurie and the officers of the fiscal had murmured at him for the law that he made in the fauour for the dead intestate vnto whom hee aunsweared Fathers conscript I may safely say there are not so many that complaine of this lawe as there be that praise and alowe it but I recke not whether the one doth praise or the other mislike but in my iudgement it is no worke of Romanes but the inuētion of tyrants of robberies briberies rapines to fill the treasurie with riches He made a lawe that no fiscall should sue anye person for landes or goodes that were doubtfull saying that the fiscall ought to remoue nothing that clearely were not his owne and that in case of doubt more sure and more conformable vnto iustice were it to remaine with him that doth possesse it thā with the fiscall that doth demaunde it He commaunded all things vniustly taken by his predecessour Commodus to be restoared vnto the owners When the Secretarie came to firme this lawe to be proclaimed and Pertinax reading the same wherein it was said Wee commaunde that all thinges which our predecessour Commodus hath robbed which word robbed he blotted out with his pen and enterlined this woord gotten saying it is sufficient that the lawe be in the fauour of the liuing without iniuring with foule woordes Princes that be dead All that which was knowen manifestly to be Commodus debt he commaunded to be payed and all which he had promised to be giuen and besides all this the wheat oyle and other things which particularly were vsed to be giuen and diuided amongest the people of Rome he caused with great diligence to be brought from all kingdomes and in great abundance and liberalitie commaunded it to be bestowed Many vniust tributs being takē away by Pertinax there succéeded a great necessitie for the paiment and reliefe of the armie of Africa whereby he was constreyned to exact new impositions of his common wealth whereuppon the Consul Gelianus toke occasion to say that he had done contrary to that which he had begon in the Empire against that which he had said in the Senat Pertinax aunswering said When I was Consul as thou art I did meruaile at the déedes of princes and now that I am an Emperour I meruaile of that which you Consuls do speake thus much Gelianus I say to this end because thou shalt vnderstand that Emperours at times make lawes as they ought and at other times not as they would but as they may CHAP. VII ¶ Of many thinges which he did ordeine and reforme in the common wealth THere was in Rome and in the confines of Italie much roughe ground for corne which being barren for want of manuring Pertinax commaunded proclamation to bée made that if any man would grub manure or till the same hée should fréely for tenne yeares take the profite thereof Before Pertinax vsed this diligence in Italie frō Aegypt Spaine and Sicyl they brought wheat to furnish the same for which cause Traiane did vse to say that Rome was more tributarie then any place of the world for that they could not eate but if it were giuen them from other kingdomes There were many particular thinges said to be the Emperours namely hills heards gardēs riuers palaces and houses which hée commaunded to be altered naming them hils gardens and riuers not of the Emperour but of the common wealth for hée affirmed that on that day in which any whatsoeuer was made Emperour hée might haue nothing proper vnto himselfe and said further that if this name Prince be well vnderstoode it giueth no other dignitie to the person that vseth the same but to make him defender of the territories of the countrie and procurer of the common wealthe In the dayes of his predecessours they had attempted new impositions that is to say in ports of the sea at the ports of cities for passage of high wayes of barkes vppon riuers and for baking in ouens al which were to the great detriment of the common wealth and the auncient libertie of Rome the collection whereof Pertinax from thence forth commaunded to ceasse Being demaunded of the Consul Tortelius why he made frustrat lawes so profitable aunsweared because without comparison much more are the displeasures which they giue me then the money which they bring me and as mée séemeth we may not saye that that money is verie cleanely that comes imbrewed with displeasures He commaunded that in criminall causes offendours should be verie well hearde and if in case any should dye fourtie dayes to be expired before he should suffer It was a matter verye monstruous and scandalous that was consumed in expences in the dayes of Commodus wherein Pertinax in suche wise prouided that they murmured no lesse against him for his frugalitie then against Commodus for his prodigalitie They muche blame Pertinax who set before his guestes whiche did eate at his table halfe pigges and halfe géese and many times sent two soppes betwixt two plates for a present and sometime the legge of a Phesant at other times the wing of a capon and reserued also in the morning somewhat to be eaten at night Princes ought verie muche to consider and also to auoyde not to be noted miserable at their table for it is verie small that in such trifles may be saued and verie much that they
Pertinax died the fifte daye of April Falconius Clarus being Consuls his head was throwne of his enimies into Tiber his bodie burieed by his friends and kinsfolkes in the sepulchre of his father in lawe at that present without anie funerall pomp because they slewe all persons that vttered sorrowe or griefe for his death The life of the Emperour Iulianus that bought the Empire compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. Of the life linage and countrie of the Emperour Iulianus THe Emperour Didiê° Iulianê° had to his great graundfather a Romaine named Salianus who was a learned lawyer twise Consul Pretour of the citie and died in the secoÌ„d yeare of the reigne and Empire of Nero and they say he died of pure sorrowe to sée the common wealth in the handes of so furious a tyrant as Nero. His graundfather was named Salbius Iulianus who gaue him selfe more to armes then to letters and went vnto the warres of Datia with Traiane and was captaine of the seconde Legion and longe time diuider of the victualls and in the ende dyed in his office that is to say in the warres against kinge Dacus His father was named Didius Petronius who neither gaue him selfe to science either folowed the warrs as his predecessours but was residente and liued alwayes in Rome folowing his affaires and holdinge offices in the common wealth hee was an assured friende vnto Antoninus Pius and dyed in the Empire of the good Marcus Aurelius His mother was named Clara Emilia a generous and noble Romaine a greate friende and kinswoman of Domitia Lucilla that was mother vnto Marcus Aurelius so did she intreate and fauour him as a sonne and he did obey her as a mother The first office that Didius Iulianus did beare in the common wealth was Decemviriato which is to wéete to be one of the x. visitours of the people and though he wanted age to vse it yet he wanted not fauour to obteine it because Domitia mother vnto Marcus Aurelius did craue this office for him in the Senate He was also Questor two yeares together which office he helde against the Romane lawes for that he was vnder the age of xxx yeares but as hee obtained the office of Decemviriato by the sute of the mother so did they graunte the other by the fauour of the sonne which is to wéete Marcus Aurelius And after that Didius Iulianus was past the age of thirtie yeares he neuer wanted offices in the common wealth for vntill that age the Romanes had rather that yongemen shoulde occupie them selues in learning then in commaunding and gouernement Iulianus was Edil Pretor and Censor diuerse times diuers yeares and at times muche distant but the office wherein he continued longest time was Romane Pretor because he had learning to gouerne and iustice to execute He was naturallie giuen to the warres and with this motion he went one time into Germanie where hee neither obtained fame either augmented his goods for that certeinely he was more handsome in gouernemente then hardie in fight He gouerned by the space of three yeares the prouince of Belgica whiche nowe is named Swetia in which gouernement he behaued him selfe so venturouslie that he obteined what he had lost in the warre which is to say much reputation in the common wealth and greate goodes for his house In the seconde yeare of the Empire of Marcus Aurelius the inhabitantes neere vnto the riuer Albo whiche is in the kingdome of Bohemia rebelled vnto which commotion Didius Iulianus repayred and as hee was humble of speache skilful and aduised in his affaires so in short space he reduced them vnto the seruice of the Romaine Empire When the Senate had intelligence what Iulianus had done in Bohemia the Emperoure thoughte him selfe therein verie well serued and the Senate no lesse contented chieflie for that so exactlie hee had perfourmed the same without requeste or commaundemente and in recompence of this so singular a seruice they sent him the Consulshippe without his requeste or anie other to solicite the same When the newes of Consulshipe came vnto Iulianus they saye that he saide I sweare by the immortall Godes that I neither solicited the Consulship either thought to haue obteined the same but here in it clearelie appeareth that the good dothe more solicite with his good woorkes then the euill with his manie guiles After he had accomplished the yeare of Consulshipe hee was sent vnto the lower Germanie as Pretor which countrie is nowe called Flanders where he remained two years froÌ„ theÌ„ce returned to Rome where he had charge of victuals which office amongst the Romaines was more profitable then honourable The Emperour Marcus Aurelius being deade his sonne Commodus reigning in the Empire Iulianus was accused for a traitour for that he and Siluius his cousen had conspired to haue slaine Commodus his accuser was a noble gentleman of Rome named Seuerus but for that he might not proue his accusation they cut off his heade and set Iulianus at libertie At one time Iulianus was in fauour with Commodus an other time in disgrace but after that he was accused of conspiracie he did allwayes beare him mortall hatred and when he vnderstoode this in Commodus both in worde and deede moste times he kéept his house and excused him selfe from the offices of the common wealth Iulianus was a lawyer and in letters moste learned of whome it is said that fewe did surpasse him in science and none was equall vnto him in eloquence for hee did neuer pleade anie cause in the Senate but he obteined the victorie He was prompt in speache sharpe in propounding and graue in determination of stature somewhat lowe of sanguine complexion and in his youth beganne to be horeheaded of whome in this case it may be saide that hee was a monster in nature for that he had neuer a white haire in his bearde either anie blacke haire in his heade His wife was named Malia Escantilia and had but one daughter named Didia Clara. In this also as in the other nature woulde be extreme because the mother was the moste foule woman that had bene seene in Rome and the daughter was the fairest dame that euer was séene in Italie As Iulianus had gouerned manie countries had the charge of victuales was chiefest aduocate in lawe in al Rome so he obteined the possession of manie iuells and the hoording vp of greate summes of money for whiche cause all the principall Romaines sought to be his sonnes in lawe partelie to marrie with the daughter that was so faire as also to inherite the goods that were so greate Iulianus was slender drie and towards his later dayes he was growne to be cholerik adust he neuer drank wine and therefore did eate muche and yet notwithstanding he was so curious and so costlie in his manner to drinke water that with lesse cost he might haue druncke wine Beinge nowe growne
wherein he had no office in the coÌ„mon wealth In those dayes Letus the Captaine of the guard was greatly in fauour with the Emperour Commodus by whose intercession they coÌ„mended the garrisons of Germanie vnto Seuerus who so skilfully behaued himselfe in that iourney that he returned 2. yeares after vnto Rome with great honour no smal riches At his returne vnto Rome Seuerus bought a certaine compasse of land wherein to till for corne and to féede and bréede cattell and alongest the riuer Tiber hée bought certaine stately and fertill gardens where hee builte houses of great pride which long time after were called Seuerians At a certaine time supping in those gardens vppon the grasse where the freshnesse of the greene was verye great and vigualls very small the case was thus His owne sonne of the age of fiue yeares did giue and diuide vnto all persons of all thinges that were there vnto whome the father said temper thy hand sonne in reparting because thou hast no reall riches to giue The childe made aunswere if I haue them not nowe when I am a child I shall haue them when I am a man All men present wondered considering the age of the child that so graue an aunsweare should procéede from so tender youth CHAP. III. ¶ How the Pretorians did electe him Emperour IN the 10. yeare of the Empire of Commodus Seuerus was sent in message vnto the prouince of Germanie in which Ambassage he obteyned much honour and no small wealth for naturally he was of great dispatch in affaires and skilfull to gather monie Hée was resident in Germanie the space of thrée yeares that is to say vntill in Rome they had slaine the Emperour Commodus of whole death he had great pleasure and of the election of Pertinax no lesse ioy because the liuing was his most special friend and the dead his mortall enimie Not many monethes after he receiued newes how the Emperour Pertinax was slaine by the Pretorians and that hée for very monie had bought the Empire he was much gréeued with the death of the one and the election of the other Seuerus was aduertised how Iulianus was in great hatred of the people for merchandizing of the Empire presently at the instant the men of warre that he had with him declared him Emperour whiche was done in a citie named Carunto on the xii day of the moneth of August That day whereon the armies did aduaunce him as Emperour he gaue and diuided amongst them so great summes of monie as neuer any Emperour had done afore time for he gaue not onely all his owne but also the treasure of his friends With great speede Seuerus sent vnto the armies of Illyria in Pannonia in Spaine Fraunce and Britaine and gaue them to vnderstand how Pertinax was dead that Iulianus had bought the Empire and that the armies of Germanie had elected him Emperour but that hée would not accept the same vnlesse they as true defenders of the Empire would consent vnto their election wherein all with one conformitie did alowe that election which the Germaines had made of Seuerus and vtterly did adnihilate all consents and elections that had or might be to the aduauncement of the Empire of Iulianus and vppon condition that Seuerus should first be sworne to reuenge the death of the good Emperour Pertinax and to giue his fauour vnto the men of warre Presently when the Seuerus sawe his Empire confirmed by the men of warre spéedily he toke his way towards Rome vpon which way not onely he had no resistance but in all places was receiued with great ioy Two Consuls 100. Senatours 30. Questors 22. Iudges 14. Tribunes 10. Pretours 400. priestes and 50. vestal virgins came forth to receiue Seuerus vnto whom he sent to giue vnderstanding that if they would behold his face milde that all persons of al armour either open or secret should disarme themselues for that it was sufficient that he was of the warres and they to receiue him in peace They being persons of so great honour riches and auncient that came foorth to receiue him were not a litle despited that Seuerus should commaund them to be disarmed but in the end they accomplished that which was commaunded them and from thence foorth conceiued against Seuerus mortall hatred because if they disarmed their persons of armour they did arme their hartes with malice And as Seuerus was proud with his Empire and the Consuls and Senatours wise and aduised neither did he perceiue them to be offeÌ„ded either did they discouer themselues to be gréeued or despited for that if they had patience to suffer the iniurie they waÌ„ted not wisedome to dissemble the same As Seuerus was subtile and skilful he did two thinges before he entered Rome wherewith hée greatly wanthe fauour of the common people wherof the first was that he publikely changed his ouer name which is to wit that as he afore time was named Septimius Seuerus after he was named Seuerus Pertinax this he did to the end al men should perceiue the taking the name of the good Emperour Pertinax he would likewise folow the steps of his good life and profite himselfe by his good doctrine for Pertinax was not only loued as a man but also adored as a god And the second thing which he did was to coÌ„maund al the bands of Pretorians which were the men at armes which guarded Rome that leauing all armour they shuld come do him reuerence which were the men that had slaine th'emperour Pertinax not for his owne deseruing but for that he consented not to their wickednes Seuerus secretly had agréed with his armie that they should haue regard to compasse them round in such wise that finding them vnarmed they should stop al meanes to recouer the same for their defence either place of safetie to flie vnto And now when they stood all vnarmed compassed Seuerus commaunded a general silence thoroughout his armieê and directed his words vnto those homicides or mansiears speaking after this maner CHAP. IIII. ¶ How he reuenged the death of the good Emperour Pertinax ALthough al humaine things be subiect vnto vanitie mutabilitie yet this preemineÌ„ce haue the gods aboue men that al things being subiect to changing and variablenes they remaine immutable al things perishing finishing they for euer do continue because there is nothing perpetual but such things vnto whiche the gods do giue perpetuitie The great Romaine Empire much reseÌ„bleth the immortal gods of heauen because all the kingdomes of the earth be finishing haue their ends but she is perpetual all are weake and she strong all be subiect she at libertie all vanquished and she inuincible finally she is she that neuer suffered her better or endured another that was her equal And as it is most true that the gods neuer giue reward without a preceding merit so do they not giue punishment without some fault in him whom they chastise wher of it followeth that since the gods haue
persons and beastes were there daungered also lost and their victualls all caste and carried away By time that shoulde do the deede and the sorrowfull destinies of Pessenius that shoulde conduct the same it chaunced vpon the thirde day after the snowe had fallen the sunne did shine with as hote a glome as in the heate of summer wherwith all the snowe being throughly thawed the violence of most furious waters that descended the hil ouerthrewe and carried away all bulworkes and rampiers that Pessenius had made in that mountaine in such wise that nature framed in one houre that Art might not bring to passe in many dayes that is to say the snowe draue away the people and soone opened the way When the Seuerian armies founde that Pessenius souldiours had forsaken the mounte Taurus and the thawed snowe had opened their way they not onely recouered greate courage but also presumed to haue obtained diuine fauour saying that Seuerus did gouerne them but that the Godds did guide them Vpon the fifte day after the snowe Seuerus souldiours mounted vpon the toppe of Taurus al the snowe beeing thawed and gonne and trackes and wayes beeing dried vp in euery place they founde deade men drowned beastes broken armour and victualls scattered in the viewe whereof they tooke no small pleasure because they had nowe set their feete where before they imployed but their eyes Pessenius being aduertised howe his souldiours had forsaken the mounte Taurus departed with all his hoste from Antioche toke the way vnto Sicyl the multitude of people that hee ledde with him was maruelous and terrible to beholde and yet truly notwithstanding more fearefull in viewe then in fight for admitting they were many younge men well armed yet they were more accustomed to haue peace with vices then warr with enimies Seuerus with his armies Pessenius with his hostes incountred in Sicyl not a league one from an other hauing betwixt them a greate plaine which was named by the men of the country the field of Ysico where was giuen the laste and most famous battel betwixt Alexander and Darius in which the great king Darius was ouercōe and the great Alexander remained monarche of the world In memory of which notable battell there is situated at these dayes the renowmed citie of Alexandria wherein there is is a picture of brasse so naturall a counterfeite of Alexander that to beholde doth partly terrifie and also giueth motion of great reuerence Two dayes after these princes came to this place with conformitie they determined to giue the battell since either of thē had ioyned their whole powers with the presence of their proper persones vntill which time betwixt them there was but small difference for that either of them had greate hope to haue the victorie The night before they fought Seuerus Pessenius were both sadde and their armies in greate watch for as the fatall houre of fight drewe neare although their generous hartes gaue them hope to ouercome their mortal bodies did feare to die At the breake of the day al the captaines made ready to the battell continually two houres before the charge both of the one parte and the other they played vpō instrumētes of musicke which with their melody did yealde such dolefulnesse that exactly it discouered the sorrowfull successe that shoulde followe in that cruell battell The hostes béeing ioyned the one with the other there was trauersed betwixt thē so cruel a fight of euery parte so traueled to obtaine the victory that the day ended the battell not finished That battell was so bloudie wounded of both partes so much contended that within the compasse of two leagues there was not iii. foote of ground that was not couered with mans bloude If the two armies were valiant in fighting surely the two princes their lordes were no cowardes but in the ende when night was come the Pessenians turned their backes the whole conclusion was that Pessenius fledde wounded and Seuerus remained lorde of that field Vpon an horse of greate swiftnesse accompanied with fewe persons Pessenius tooke the way vnto Antioche as the enimies did pursue him at the doore of a poore cottage where he neither had time to rest either place to hide him selfe but groueling vpon his breastes drinking with a pitcher at a blowe his enimies cutte off his head This was the sorrowfull end of Pessenius Niger vpon whose sepulture they placed this Epitaph Here lieth Pessenius Niger an auncient Romane whiche in merite was equall with the vertuous but in misfortunes exceeded the most vnfortunate When Seuerus sawe him selfe aduaunced to so great victorie and that in all Asia there was not one launce in the Rest against him he procured to seaze vpon al principall persons that had escaped from the campe of Pessenius and commaunded not onely to kill them all but also to execute them with greate tormentes Many were founde in the campe of Pessenius whiche did followe him against their willes whome also Seuerus commaunded to be slaine as the rest whiche in déede was rather the acte of a cruell tyrante then a vertuous prince Seuerus had with him the mother and the sonnes of Pessenius whome he sente both mother and sonnes banished vnto an Islande All thinges set in order that were conueniente for the prouision of the good gouernement of Asia Seuerus moued talke amongst his moste familiar friendes for the conquest of the kinge of Parthia and the kinge of Thebes not because they helde him as an enimie but for that they were friendes vnto his enimie Pessenius Seuerus friendes did counsell him that by no meanes he should publish any intente of warre againste the kinge of Parthians or the kinge of Thebanes for the notwithstanding Pessenius was dead in the East Albinius was aliue in the kingdomes of the Weste and that hee was not so sure of the Empire but that it were better counsell for him to seeke newe friends then to awake olde enimies Seuerus dealt cruelly with the inhabitants of Antioche because they had receiued and obeyed his enimie Pessenius and with them did not onely vse iniurious wordes but also did discharge them of al their auncient liberties He slewe all the Senatours of Rome that is to say suche as folowed Pessenius and tooke the name of captaines and Tribunes of other persones he slewe but one and woulde neuer say wherfore but he alone and none other was put to death CHAP. IX Of the Consul Albinius and howe he rebelled against Seuerus being in Englande AMongest the moste extreme young gentlemen that were bred in the house of the good Marcus Aurelius were three which in those dayes were placed for captains in the most famous and daungerous places of the empire that is to say Seuerus in Illyria Pessenius in Asia Albinius in greate Britaine Their Lorde Marcus Aurelius had brought them vp so expert in science so accustomed to vertues so readie in armes so skilfull in
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
for he vsed to say that fooles set neighbours at variance but men that were wise malicious brought kingdomes together by the eares He was also inclined to read books and to vnderstand antiquities if he might not by his important affaires read himselfe he made others to read and further if he chaunced to be so busied that he might not read himselfe either heare reading at such times they read vnto him when he was eating or whē he went to bed He himselfe did write his owne life did write it as truly as if he had béen a chronicler that is to say praising his victories reprehending his vices and also most truly made report of all men that he kild but not of the smal reason that he had so to do Seuerus was much blamed for his great couetise of goods for want of care negligēce of his honour for that his wife Iulia was a cōmon adulteresse whom he did neither chastice or put away neither is it written that euer he did aduise or blame her It was sufficient for Seuerus to know his wife to be euil to be named Iulia whiche name was euer infamous amongest the womē of Rome Although he were an enimie of vices and of vicious mē much more was he enimie of théeues aboue all other kinde of wicked people and so is it said and found of him that he did beare with many malefactors but neuer pardoned any théefe In his apparel he was not curious or costly but alwaies was apparelled as a man of great sobernes especially much cōmended that in his Empire he neuer beheld any person in Rome clad with silke or purple Also in his féeding he was not disordinate yet truly of certaine fruits of Africa giuē to féede somewhat ouermuch and vsed to say that they had a better relishe then others for that being a child hee was bred with them Hée delighted also more to eate fishe then flesh and sometimes passed an whole moneth without the tast of any flesh the flesh that he best loued was mutton of fish the Trout In many cities of the Empire they made by his comaundement very notable woorkes especially in the citie of Tripol in Africa where he was borne he made there a fort an house compassed it with a very stronge wall He was a prince very careful that the citie of Rome should alwayes be well prouided which was manifested at his death at what time they found vij yeares prouision in wheat and oyle CHAP. XVIII ¶ How Seuerus passed into great Britaine where he died SEuerus being settled in securitie and intending certaine buildinges in Rome receiued letters from the gouernour of great Britaine which now is named England that a great part of the Island was reuolted from the seruice of Rome and to appease force them to obedience his presence was right necessarie because the Prefect himselfe was not only denied al obedience but they sought meanes also to kill him Seuerus was not displeased with this newes although he were both old and sickly for that he alwayes desired the offer of great things to magnifie his fame and perpetuate his memorie Seuerus also was pleased with those warres to haue occasion to withdraw his sonnes from the vices of Rome and so it came to passe that his elder sonne Bassianus he made captaine of the armie that he led by land to his younger sonne Geta he gaue the charge of his armie nauie that passed by sea Seuerus at the soudeine and vnprouided assailed the Britaines who at that instāt they vnderstoode of his arriuall in the Isle sent their Ambassadours partly to yéeld accompt and partly to discharge themselues of their rebellion as also to set downe betwixt them a certeine concord which Seuerus would neither yéeld vnto or abide to heare off for he vented rather to obteine the renoune of Britaine then for any reason to make them warre His armies being disimbarked the Ambassadours dispatched euery man prepared the one to offend and the other to defend Seuerus first prouided bridges wheruppon his horsemen might passe his foote men auoyd occasion to swim The Britaine 's of that part of Britaine in those dayes had a custome in time of warre to encounter their enimies in lakes waters where they did place themselues vp vnto the arme pits and from thence did fight and shew their skil when their enimies did shoote or whirle their dartes they would stoope or diue vnder water in such wise that it chāced thrée sundrie times that neuer happened in any part of the world which is to witt that 100. naked men ouercame 1000. armed persons Whē at any time they would fight in the field they vsed certaine targets after the maner of bucklers halfe swords girt vppon their bare flesh All matters apperteining vnto the warres brought vnto perfection Seuerus confirmed his younger sonne Geta gouernour of a certaine place of the Island that had not rebelled and kept his elder sonne Bassianus néere vnto his owne person executing cruel warres vppon the Barbarians who vppon determination to doe hurte or offend their enimies dyed with great hardinesse and vppon other determination would put themselues to flighte in whiche flight their enimies alwayes had the woorsse The warres being trauersed after this manner the gowt did grieuously increase vppon Seuerus in such manner that he could neither go out of his campe either sitt in counsel with his capteines in so much that he was constrained to commende the whole charge of the armie vnto his sonne Bassianus who more did practise secreately to frame hatred amongest the armies vnto his brother Geta then to make conquest of the enimies Bassianus so much reioyced of his fathers griefe and had so great care to inherite that he sawe no houre wherein he wished not his fathers death Not meaning to leaue any euil vnperfourmed that touched an euil nature adding euill vnto euill he suborned the Physicians that did cure him and the seruaunts that serued him in such wise the one to serue him and the other cure him that if the gowte did not finish him poison shoulde dispatche him Although no man said vnto Seuerus any one woorde he did well perceiue what his sonne Bassianus desired and so it came to passe that beholding the disobedience which his sonne did beare him howe euil his seruaunts serued him and howe slenderly his Physician did visite him although he were olde and sickely he died of pure sorrowe and melancholy The last wordes which Seuerus saide before he dyed they saye were these When I tooke the Empire I founde the common wealth throughout the worlde in trouble and nowe I dye I leaue it in peace and although I dye without power to testar ny firmar yet I leaue the Empire firme vnto my two sonnes Antonines if they shal proue good they remaine exactly made princes and if they shal be euil I leaue them nothing Before Seuerus dyed he
commaunded two Fortunes of gold to be made for either of his sonnes one because it was the ensigne of the Empire to take away all occasion after his death for any of them by him selfe or for him selfe to be aduaunced with the Empire but equally to remaine in power and estate This was the ende of Seuerus whome his enimies might not kill with armes and yet with griefe and sorrowe was slaine by his sonnes Seuerus liued thrée score and fiftéene yeres and reigned two and twentie yeres his bones were burnt and the ashes carried to Rome Of this Emperour Seuerus the Senate determined that which of no other prince was determined namely Illum aut nasci non debuisse aut mori whiche is to saye It had beene good in respect of his cruelties which he did he had not beene borne and since that he was borne in consideration of the profite which he did in the common wealth it had beene good he had not died The life of the Emperour Bassianus sonne vnto Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Howe Bassianus and his brother Geta did inherite the Empire of their father Seuerus PResently after the death of the Emperour Seuerus in great Britaine his two sonnes Bassianus and Geta did succéed him in the Empire betwixt whome there was extreme discorde and cruell hatred for notwithstanding in bloude they were brothers yet in wil works they dealt as enimies As Bassianê° was elder brother and also more cauillous troublesome so he began secretely to practise and subborne the capteines of the armie to him onely to giue the Empire and to exclude Geta his younger brother from the inheritaunce and to drawe them vnto his purpose he spake swéete wordes blinded them with faire promises of greate hope and also gaue them riche Iewels Nothing might Bassianus attaine with the capteines of his armie for that euery one in particular and all in generall made him aunswer that since they were sonnes vnto their lord Seuerus and bothe brethren and ioyntly had sworne vnto them as their Lordes and Princes it were not iust they should be traytours in their promise vnto their father or shoulde make a breache of their othe that in the temples they had sworn vnto the Gods. After that Bassianus might not corrupt the armie with woordes déedes or giftes he tooke peace with the Britans to the ende presently to departe towardes Rome and his brother Geta being aduertised that Bassianus sought the Empire vnto him selfe which the father Seuerus had lefte vnto them both grewe into great hatred disdaine with his brother in such wise that from thenceforth the two brethren behaued them selues not only as vtter enimies but also the courte was diuided into bandes Bassianus Geta were brethren by the father but not by the mother for that Bassianus was his sonne by his first wife and Geta by Iulia whiche was the second wife Geta his mother and the auncient and honourable Romanes that were remaining after the death of Seuerus did not a little trauaile to confederate and set them at agréement but in the ende they were neither conuinced with the infinite beares of the mother either might be persuaded by the great requestes and instant intreatance of their friendes The affaires of Britaine being set in order the two brethren much without order departed towardes Rome carrying with them the reliques of their father Seuerus that is to say his bones made ashes which in all cities as they passed were receiued with as great reuerence as if Seuerus had béene aliue From the time that Bassianus Geta departed from Britaine vntil they entred Rome they neuer lodged in one lodging or fedde at one table or had conference vppon the waye but had of eache other great suspicion yea in meat and drinke to haue receiued poyson To go in so greate doubt and suspicion was cause of small staye vppon the waye although it were very long and before their comming vnto Rome either of them had sent their secreate messengers not onely to take vp the best lodginges in Rome but also to solicite and to winne the willes of the common wealth because they conceiued that they might not ioyntly be conserued in their seigniorie but that one must remaine with the Empire That day on which Bassianus and Geta his brother shoulde enter Rome all Rome came foorth to receiue them which was mixed with ioye and sorrowe sorrowe for the death and buriall of Seuerus and ioye for that his children were come aliue to reigne in his steade Entring into the citie the two brethren and newe Emperours went before appareled in purple on horssebacke after them came the Senatours all on foote who bare on their shoulders a chest of Unicorne wherein was placed the ashes of Seuerus such persons as attended the dead went wéeping and those that accompanied Bassianus Geta went singing Being entred into the citie and the day farre spent they went vnto the temple of the greate Emperour Marcus Aurelius where the two newe Princes fell on their knées to adore his sepulchre as a moste holie man and there bestowed the ashes of their father Seuerus Before Seuerus departed vnto the second warres of Britaine he had begon a most sumptuous sepulchre in the fielde of Mars amongest other ornaments that it had were seuen pillers polished verie high and stately wherein was grauen all his actes and victories but his life first was finished before his sepulture was ended CHAP. II. ¶ Howe in Rome they burie their Emperours and of greate ceremonies which there they vsed After that Bassianus and Geta his brother had reposed the body of their father Seuerus in the temple of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius presently they beganne to consecrate his body and to place his soule with the Gods accordinge to the custome of the Romans whiche ceremony was not done but vnto dead Emperours and the order thereof was thus Presently vpon the death of an Emperour the Senate did assemble to determine if hee deserued to be buried with the Godes either els after his burial to leaue him to obliuion as other men and if he had beene euill the Senate woulde be absent at his buriall and if he had bene good all clad in blacke woulde attend to consecrate his body And to do the same their firste attempt was to bury the body of the deade prince without any ceremonie and then made him an image of woode after the manner of a sicke and colourlesse man which they placed alofte vpon a scaffolde ouer the Courte gate and that image although it were of a sicke man yet did they clad it with garmentes of silcke and golde as though the counterfeite were aliue In the hight of that scaffolde or throne the Senate were set on the lefte hande and on the right hand all the matrones of Rome of whome none might he apareled richly either deckt with
Emperour go to Sea. CHAP. IX Of an horrible crueltie that Bassianus committed in Alexandria AFter that Bassianus had séene the greate Ilion and the moste parte of Asia and Bithynia he came vnto the citie of Antioche wher he was receiued with great ceremonie and all the time that he remained there no lesse feasted From Antioche he tooke his way into Alexandrie with greate desire to sée that famous citie which the greate Alexander had builte whereof the citizens beeing aduertised they made moste solemne costly preparation wherewith to receiue him which neuer had beene done to anie prince either Greeke or Romaine chiefly moued there vnto because it was saide that he was a friende vnto Alexander Manie leagues before Bassianus came vnto the citie they repaired the bridges amended the high wayes furnished all places with victuales made manie summer houses with boughes and scattered all the wayes with flowers and further all his traine did take all thinges at their owne pleasure without paymente of anie money But when he arriued in the citie generally the Alexandrines came foorth to receiue him in moste gorgeous apparell accompanied with instruments and manie kindes of musick Presently at his entrie into Alexandrie he went on foote vnto the temples where he offered verie greate sacrifices and burned therein great quantities of incense myrrhe aloes and suche other fumes This beeing done hee went to visite the sepulchre of the greate Alexander where he vsed an imperiall magnificence that is to wéete he put off a most rich robe wherewith he was clad he tooke from his cappe a brooch of greate price a curious collar from his necke from his breste a stone of value inestimable and from his fingers all his rings knéeling vpon the ground did offer the same vpon the sepulchre of the greate Alexander Incredible was the ioy that the Alexandrines conceiued to behold a liuing prince of Rome to haue a Greeke prince which was deade in so greate veneration in respect whereof they loued him with all their hartes and serued him with all their power All whiche thinges Bassianus performed not of intente to honour Alexander or to pleasure the Alexandrines but with more certintie to assure him selfe of them all and afterwardes ioyntlie to kill them all Manie dayes had past since Bassianus had borne greate hatred vnto the Alexandrines and the occasion of his vnkindnesse was because it was saide that they scorned him with words and also derided him in enterludes saying it was a scoffing matter for him to make cōparison with Alexander to name himselfe Achilles and to imitate Hercules Also Bassianus vnderstoode howe they had muche despised him for the death of his brother Geta laide their toungs vpon his owne mother notinge her vnchastitie which iniuries hee wanted not skill to dissemble manie dayes after to reuenge the same at an instant The case was thus the feasts beeing finished he commanded proclamation to be made that al the lustie young men either straungers or natiues of the countrie shoulde muster in a fielde to the ende he would see viewe and also arme them after the olde manner saying that frō thence foorth his will was that al his men of warre should fight not after the order of the Romanes but according to the fashion of the Greekes Greate glorie and also vaine glorie possessed the Alexandrines when they hearde these proclamations and he that might soonest came first into the fielde conceiuing that such as were the wordes of the crier such should be the workes of the Emperour All the youth of Alexandria remaining in the fielde Bassianus with all his armie in armour issued forth to beholde them and he commaunded to bring them selues into a square to the end that one by one shoulde passe before him of whome he woulde take his choyce and presently after giue them armour Nowe when the miserable Alexandrines stoode all as sheepe together vnarmed Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his soldiours to giue the charge as vpon enimies who in their slaughter made so great haste that within an houre those fieldes were all couered not with flowers but with dead bodies Greate was the hurte that Bassianus committed that day vpon the Alexandrines for that he lefte the widowes without sonnes graundfathers without nephues vnckles without cousines brethren without brethren and neighbours without friends in such wise that none remained that was not slaine or else tormented with the death of others The place where Bassianus committed this greate treason and so inhumaine crueltie was in a broade plaine fielde neare vnto the greate riuer Nilus and the number was so greate of them which were slaine that the bloude by streames ranne through those fieldes and stayned and died that riuer Nilus in such extreme manner that that so stately a riuer semed not to runne with water but with bloude The Alexandrines may not be excused of their faulte in speaking euill of Bassianus defameing his mother representing his vile factes in enterludes Admitting that of euil we can speake but euill yet princes enter not into this reckoning whose workes we haue licence to iudge onely in our hartes but not with the toung to blaspheme and despise them And albeit the offence of the Alexandrines was verie great yea though it had béene much greater yet without comparison muche more vehement was the crueltie that Bassianus did execute on them which if he had bene as he ought to haue bene the contrarie he would haue perfourmed for In the houses of heroycall and excellent princes chastisement is giuen by ounces and clemencie without measure CHAP. X. Of a letter which Bassianus did write vnto the kinge of Parthians to haue his daughter in marriage IT séemed vnto Bassianus that to robbe temples to sacke townes to subuert walles and to kill the whole neighbourhood of Alexandrie was but a smal matter in respect of his vile and cruell conditions wherwith he was inclined and to this ende he determined to attempt so rare and odious a treason that all men which should heare or reade therof might counte his crueltie past but a trifle Euen as amongst such as be vertuous one vertue awaketh another vertue so amongst the wicked one euill or mischiefe draweth with it another mischiefe in such wise that there are some persons so vowed vnto euill and mischiefe that without delaie fall into the profunditie of all manner of vice and mischiefe The case was thus that Bassianus séeing himselfe in the Easte partes had a desire to make a conquest of the Parthians and for that he durste not make them warre openly he remembred to deuise a treason for them in secreate So much more vile was the facte as small was the occasion which moued him to commit the same for at that present the Parthians with the Romanes the Romanes with the Parthians were in greate friendship and confederacie Without aduice of parentes friends or counselers Bassianus sente a greate Ambassage vnto Arthabanus king of Parthia sending
because the more part had not to eate nor garments to weare adueÌ„turing to rob vppon the wayes and in townes to silch steale And since my nephue is sonne vnto Bassianus nephue vnto Seuerus a young man of himselfe in semblance of good inclination it seemeth not that we haue erred in his electioÌ„ either shal ye swarue in his coÌ„firmation for that in life he resembleth the father and in courage and noblenesse of minde the graundfather Neither is this election to be reproued for his euil nourturing or doctrine for as ye know he was not trained in vices but in temples not with prophane men but with honest priests not robbing on high wayes but offering sacrifices not sheading bloud but teares not wandering at large but withdrawen not persecuting men but seruing the gods From a child of much infancie I offered my nephue Heliogabalus to the gods in the temple where he hath beene instructed to be milde chaste silent patient sober pitiful and abstinent and if by hap he shall proue otherwise then nowe hee is it may be for the libertie that he shal obteine and not for the doctrine which he hath learned All princes past haue beene elected onely of men but my nephue both of Gods and men for that I vowed him to doe sacrifices the Gods haue rendered him to gouerne kingdomes Ye Romanes do greatly coÌ„mend your selues that ye remoued Quintus Cincinatê° from earing at the plough to be Dictatour but more is my nephue to be praised that was praying in the temple for of more excellencie is that man that prayeth before the gods then he that ploweth after oxen In Rome alwayes in times past the priesthood was diuided from the Empire but ye see that whiche was neuer seene of your forefathers namely that the priest is an Emperour and the Emperour a priest in such wise that with his sacrifices hee shal reconcile vs with the gods with the empire defend vs against our enimies Fathers coÌ„script great infinite thanckes haue we to render vnto all the gods for that they haue giuen vs an Emperour which knoweth to pray hath skil to fight for as ye al knowe few victories are obteined by fight of meÌ„ if the gods do not dispose the same Although the election of my nephue hath beene done by the armie and supposed also to be confirmed by the gods yet neither will I that he rule the empire or be established Emperour vntill by the sacred Senate it be considered also coÌ„firmed for I hold him not Emperour that is obeyed in Asia but that is loued elected at Rome Since this young maÌ„ Heliogabalus is the sonne of a prince the nephue the cousen the brother of a prince a prince elected we haue al to presume that he shal proue a good prince for that he is much bound to be good that is desceÌ„ded of many good persons As long as I enioy life I shall not cease to trauel that his life be such as the doctrine and nourture which I haue giuen him and if after my death he shal proue euil the fault shal then be none of mine for as ye fathers conscript do wel vnderstand no blame is to be imputed to him that is alreadie dead neither may any excuse serue the manifest fault of the liueing CHAP. VIII ¶ How the Romane Senate did allow the election of Heliogabalus of the present apparance of his wickednes THe Embassadors being arriued their Embassage also knowen at Rome both the Senate and people were in excéeding admiration when they vnderstood of the great acts which Mesia had done in Asia heard of the letter that she wrote vnto Rome whereof many copies were made and sent to diuers townes cities In Rome they found themselues in great confusioÌ„ vpon determinatioÌ„ of an answere to the demaund which the matrone Mesia had made because the Senate doubted her atteÌ„pts in time to come in respect wherof they so deferd their aunswere that the Embassadors coÌ„plained vnto the Tribune of the people By letters of her Embassadors the matrone Mesia was aduertised of the dissention betwixt the Senate and people as concerning the election confirmation of her nephue Heliogabalus whervpon presently she determined to depart froÌ„ Asia to Italie vowing with an othe to constraine the Senat to performe by force that which they refused to accomplish of their owne accord The Senate hauing intelligence the matrone Mesia to be departed froÌ„ Asia to Rome not to sue or make request but to fight forgate not to allow the election of Heliogabalus commaunding by publique proclamation that from theÌ„ceforth they should hold estéeme him as their souereigne lord obey him as emperour The matrone Mesia iourneying from Asia to Rome vnderstanding that the Senate had confirmed the election of Heliogabalus stayed in the borders of Greece for that to returne vnto Phoenicia was very far to saile vnto Italie no lesse late The winter being past Mesia in the prime of the Spring sayled into Italie directing her course streight vnto Rome where she was wel receiued and no lesse feasted although it be most true at that instant shee was more feared then beloued that shee was of so great skill and of so much patience that she most wisely could dissemble iniuries and accept and also gratifie seruice Mesia was so prudent and aduised that neither in countenaunce gesture wordes or workes she did either secretly or openly discouer any malice against any person but delt with all persons as with her sonnes and honoured al men as her brethrene All the Romanes were so pleased with the grauitie of her speach and the honestie of her life that on a day the Senate people being conioyned requested with great instance that it might please her to accept the gouernement of the coÌ„mon wealth since she had therein so great experience and that her nephue was in Asia To this demaund Mesia aunswered Fathers conscript I do greatly gratifie your request which vnto me appertayneth not for that it rather agreeth with the condition of women to breede and nourish Emperours and vnto men to gouerne Empires When these matters passed in Rome Heliogabalus stayed in Phoenicia attending an answere from his grandmother Mesia who being aduertised that he was accepted in Rome for their absolute Lord souereigne Emperour came immediatly vnto Antioch with intent the yeare following to passe into Italie Heliogabalus finding himselfe escaped fréely deliuered from the church confirmed Emperour dispatched of the hands of tutours absent from his grandmother and in possession of libertie to liue at his liking his euil inclination presently appeared because the vertue if he had any of his former life was but feyned for the euill inclination of young men may for a time be dissembled but being at libertie they cannot cloake it The first insolencie that Heliogabalus committed in Asia was that he appareled himselfe in a robe wouen with gold silke cotton flax
they did not a litle persuade Traiane to take peace or to make some honest truce and without peril to return to Rome Traiane to this made aunswer our weakenesse should be great and with great reason they would blame vs in Rome if so soudēly we should ceasse to make warre without first making proofe to what ende their forces do extende and also vnderstande what our destinies do containe bycause it may be that if their power be great our fortune may be much greater King Decebal had taken fortified all the daungerous passages and broken all bridges barkes botes of all the riuers and had taken spoiled all the victuals where the Romaines should passe and all these thinges were occasions to increase trauaile vnto Traiane but not of power sufficient to remoue his enterprise for that Traiane was of so valliant a minde that where he sawe fortune most doubtfull from thence he did hope of victorie moste certeine Traiane did take possesse the height of the rockes and mountaines and thereon with all his armie did trauaile many nights and dayes king Decebal did neuer conceiue that Traiane would trauaile by those thornie mountaines for that he thought it impossible for men to trauaile where beastes could not escape King Decebal was constrained to returne vnto the plaine countrie and to fortifie him selfe in strong cities to this ende Traiane did purpose not to fight in mountains that be daungerous but in fieldes that be plaine for he saide that they came not to fight with the mountaines whiche bred bruite beastes but to tame cities which susteine seditious men In very short space Traiane had taken fiue cities seuen castels and many prisoners among which Mirto was taken being vnckle tutour and captaine of king Decebal a man of greate grauitie and of no lesse authoritie Traiane was so rigorous with them that did resist him and so pitifull vnto such as did yelde them that some for loue and others for feare began secretely to practise throughout the kingdome totally to yeald them selues vnto Traiane because they sawe euery day Traians force to increase and the power of king Decebal to decay and growe very weake Traiane besieging a certeine citie named Myrtha holding the captaine therof in great distresse king Decebal forgate not to sende him reliefe succour of great power against whome Lucius Metellus a captaine of Traianes did march and aduaunce him self who at that instant fought so valiantly and manlike that he lest not of all the enimies one onely person that was not either taken or slaine And as in that battaile manye Romaines were slaine and many more wounded lacking clothes to binde vp their woundes Traiane tare his owne shirt to supply their want in that behalfe Being knowne within the citie howe their succorour was discomfited and howe Traiane to cure his wounded had rent his own shirt they did feare the victorie and were amazed at a worke of so great clemencie and bothe these things were not a litle preiudiciall vnto king Decebal chiefely for that he was proude and disdainfull for the good Traiane if with his engins he ouerthrewe their castels with the fame of his good woorkes he did robbe and steale the mindes of his armie The citie of Myrtha beeing taken and rendred into the handes of Romaines presently king Decebal sent Ambassadours vnto Traiane aduertising that he woulde become subiect vnto the Romaine Empire vppon suche condition that the thinges whereon they should capitulate were reasonable and suche thinges as they shoulde commaunde to be perfourmable for otherwise he and his were determined rather to dye with libertie then to liue in bondage The conditions that Traiane sent to demaund were these That he should leaue all armour discampe his armie subuert his castels yelde his engines restore that which was robbed become a friende vnto the friendes and an enimie vnto the enimies of the Senate render suche captaines as came to his succour and giue 100000 pesants of golde to paye the armie and giue one of his sonnes in pledge for suretie of all promises All these conditions king Decebal was contented to sweare and obserue except the rendering of the captaines which came in his fauour to succour him saying that so vile a déede did not agrée with the clemencie of Traiane to demaunde it neither vnto his royall fidelitie to graunt it for that he yelded him selfe and his countrey but to preserue the life of his friendes and alies King Decebal came vnto the presence of Traiane and knéeling vpon the grounde did take off the crowne from his head and kissed the knée and the hand of Traiane the which lifting him from the grounde and againe placing the crowne vpon his head saide vnto him I admitt thee to kisse my knee for the rebellion which thou hast committed and I gaue thee my hande to kisse for the vassalage whiche thou owest mee nowe I giue thee place to sitt by mee as a friend I returne thy crowne vnto thee as vnto a king and therefore learne to vnderstande thy faulte past and to conserue this present benefite for otherwise thou shalt put mee to muche trauaile and thy selfe in great peril CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Traiane triumphed of the Datians and refourmed his common wealth MAny castels being furnished and others ouerthrowen and subuerted and the armies being paide with king Decebals money Traiane departed vnto Rome leading with him the kinges sonne for pledge and other noble men for Ambassadours because it was a lawe much vsed and also obserued amongest the Romaines that it were of no value which was capitulate in the wars if it were not confirmed in the Senate at Rome The Ambassadours of king Decebal arriued at Rome before the Emperour Traiane who bareheaded their armour throwne downe and their hands ioyned and lifted vp did humbly beséeche the Senate that it might please them to pardon kinge Decebal the rebellion which he had committed against them and to confirme all that which the Emperour Traiane had capitulate bycause for that which had passed he did repent him and for time to come did offer amendes With readie disposition the Romaine senate did approue allowe and confirme all actes agréed vppon betwixt Traiane and the Datians and presently commaunded their armour to be restored them to walk in the citie at their libertie bycause it was a lawe inuiolable that the Ambassadours whose Princes helde warres with the Romaine people might weare no kinde of armour either walke the stréetes at libertie without licence Many and most extreme were the feastes wherewith the Romaines did receiue the Emperour Traiane very great was the riches that he bestowed in his triumph admitting that the Romains did much reioyce to see their Empire riche in great power but it did muche more please them to beholde Traiane returned whole safe and aliue for it is incredible what affection and loue all men did beare him and the sacrifices beyonde all valure that for him they did
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
thereof In the place where olde Carthage stoode Traiane did builde a castle more faire then strong and erected therein two counterfets the one of Hanibal the Carthaginian and the other of Scipio the African but presently vpon his departing from that countrie the pyrates layde it flat on the earth Incontinent after Traiane had arriued into Africa there grewe a generall pestilence throughout the same for whiche cause he coulde neyther goe to sée that he desired eyther perfourme that whiche he determined And as the pestilence grewe so cruel Traiane was constrained to retyre vnto the port of Bona which was somwhat more sound and from thence he sent for the principals of the Numidians and also of the Mauritans who incontinently in presence of Traiane were made friends and left and committed into his onely handes all their affaires Amongest all the Princes of this worlde Traiane obteined this excellencie That neuer man came into his presence that denied him that whiche he craued eyther disobeyed him wherein he commaunded bycause in his commaundements hee was verie wise and in requesting verie humble Traiane thought to haue stayed in Africa more then two yeares and yet remained there but foure monethes and as he sayde afterwardes that if the pestilence had giuen no impediment he would of him self haue lefte as great memoriall in Africa as he did in Datia Traiane tooke sayle at the porte of Bona and came by the streightes to Cadix whiche is nowe called Calize a citie of Spaine wherein he had béene bred and from whence being a verie young man he had departed Traiane gaue many Priuileges vnto the Gauditains as vnto his naturall friendes amongest whiche two were most notable namely that they shoulde be citizens of Rome and paye no custome or tribute for any merchandize whiche they transported Traiane did builde in Calize a most sumptuous temple vnto God Genius whiche the Romaines helde for the God of byrthe He made also a calsey of stone along the shoare but it was not all finished when by the furie of the water it was all destroyed He intended to repayre the pillers of Hercules whiche by their great antiquitie were then consumed and being persuaded by certaine persons to erect others in his owne name to the ende that in time to come they might be called the pillers of Traiane and not of Hercules he answered that whiche I ought to doe is that as Hercules came from Graecia vnto Spaine to obtaine honour so ought I from Spaine to goe into Graecia to winne fame Traiane commaunded the bridge of Alcantara in Spaine to be made a worke that lasteth to this our age wherein concurreth statelinesse subtiltie cunning and profite He made another bridge vpon the riuer Teio neare vnto Ystobriga and is the bridge that nowe is broken at the bankes of Halconeta Traiane commaunded the way named Publius to be continued being the waye that nowe is called in Spaine the Calsey that goeth from Ciuil vnto Salamanca and is named the Publian waye whiche is to say the waye of Publius for that the firste that beganne the same was Publius Fabatus one of the Consuls that fought with Viriato That which Traiane made of that calsey little more or lesse was from the Casar of Casares vntil within a league of the vents of Capara whiche be lodging or bayting places and so to be vnderstoode not bicause the histories do clearely report thereof but by the pillers which vpon that way be erected which say in their grauen letters that they were placed there in the dayes of Traiane And he that will be curious to goe and sée as I many times haue gone to sée and reade and also to measure shal finde within the sayde boundes the name of no other Prince but of Traiane and before the Casur which is a towne neyther after the vents of Caparra which be lodgings vpon no piller shall they finde Traiane written The cause wherefore the Consul Publius Fabatus did raise that calsey was to make a diuision betwixt the Vetical Prouince which is Andaluzia and the Prouince of Lusitania which is Portugal diuiding from Ciuil to Salamanca all on the left hand of the calsey in olde time being Lusitania and all on the right hande Andaluzia Betwixt the Proconsul of Betica and the Proconsul of Lusitania there did arise great contention vppon the diuision of their boundes wherevpon this large and sumptuous calsey was erected and perfourmed Vpon the riuer of Gadiana Traiane commaunded a long bridge to be made on the middest whereof he built a market place for the merchants of both people to trade and concurre This bridge appertaineth to the citie of Merida which at this day appeareth verie large and had in the middest thereof a diuision stretching vppe into the riuer the hurle of a stone whiche on both sides came backe vnto the bridge continued directed and sustained by walles in the compasse wherof was the place or market When the Greeks did first giue foundation vnto Merida they made therein two streates and the riuer Gadiana betwixt them both and where Merida nowe standeth was the stronger and that on the other side the riuer was more delectable in suche wise that they helde the one to retyre vnto in time of warre and the other to delight in time of peace As the Consul Publius Fabatus made diuision of Portugal and Andaluzia the streate on the other side the riuer fell to the Prouince of Lusitania and the streate which is nowe Merida fell to the Prouince of Betica and frō thenceforth there was alwayes betwixt thē great contention in such wise that they ouerthrew the bridge that stoode in the middst of the citie and the coyne that in times past had ben currant they made of no value betwixt them This good Emperour Traiane meaning to cut off these so old enimities made in the midst of the citie vpon Gadiana the bridge that nowe is and to remoue all quarels for walking in eache others streates he made a market place in the midst of the bridge where they should congregate talk and traffike of their merchandize The prosperitie of Merida continued vntil the time that the Gothes entered Spaine whiche holding warre with the Silingues being in those dayes Lordes of Andaluzia fortifying them selues in Merida by the Gothes were there ouercome and those generous sumptuous and auncient buildings throwen flat vpon the earth In no citie of all Europe did ioyntly concurre foure buildings suche as Merida helde that is to say a stately college certaine conduites and arches for conueyaunce of waters a temple of Diana and a bridge that contained a great and large market place which continued in building many yeares and perished in one day CHAP. XVI Howe Traiane did passe out of Spaine into Asia and the manner that he vsed in the warres AFter that Traiane had visited in Spaine the Prouince of Betica of Lusitania and the Prouince of Carpentania he came through the prouince of Tarragona in which
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
order how tribunes shoulde gouerne the armies to conformitie whereof he made many excellent lawes which for long time were obserued of the Romaine Princes In this case of order prouision and correction of the men of warre they were onely thrée Princes that attained vnto the chiefe perfection thereof that is to saye Augustus Traiane and Adrian because all other Princes helde men of warre not to defend but to dissipate the common wealth CHAP. X. ¶ Of the actes that Adrian did in Englande Fraunce and Spaine ALl the time that Adrian was in Almaine he did moste occupie him selfe in reforming his men of warre into good customes and order which he did not without greate prudence after the manner of a good mariner whiche in time when the Sea is calme doeth dresse and mende his failes order his anchors against the storme and soudein chaunces that may followe in time to come From Almaine Adrian came vnto greate Britaine whiche is nowe called England and there founde peace as in Fraunce which was then holden for a greate maruaile because from the time of Iulius Caesar whiche did first conquer the same vnto the dayes of Adrian they were neuer without warres with the Frenche men or rebelling against the Romaines Presently vppon his entrie into Britaine he sought curiously to be informed of the lawes they helde and of the customes they vsed which being perused and examined some he did allowe and some he did remoue and make frustrate especially he did adnihilate that lawe whereby the man should holde ii wiues and the woman .vii. husbandes When Iulius Caesar did conquer the Ilande of England he brought many people out of Italie to inhabite that countrie and although the natiue with the straunger helde no warre yet liued they not in perfect peace for the Britans did terme the Romaines newe come men and the Romaines did call them Barbarians Adrian finding that no friendship might be framed by prayer or amendment by correction deuised to diuide the kingdome in the middest and the case was thus that in the middes of the kingdome he made a wall from Sea to Sea a worke most straunge wherein this Prince did imploy great treasure Adrian being resident in Britaine was aduertised from Rome of the want of good gouernement that was vsed in his wiues house by the occasion of certeine Romaines which aduentured to accompany the Empresse whose conuersation was more to the preiudice of his fame then to the profite of his seruice Septicius Prefectus and Sortonius Tranquillus which at that time were Secretaries vnto the Senate these others grewe very familiar with the Empresse Sabina whome Adrian sent commaundement to be depriued of their offices and to be banished Rome Sabina Adrians wife was holden to be franke of speache and of life somewhat licentious Adrian did greatly abhorre to haue Sabina vnto his wife and would saye not in secrete but openly that if he were a common person he would haue béene diuorced for that in her conuersation shée was presumptuous in life loose dissolute Adrian was much inclined to vnderstand not onely the conditions inclinations of his frinds but also of the manner which they vsed to liue in their houses for the vnderstanding wherof he woulde inquire of the seruaunts slaues and labourers that brought them victuals what they did eate and what they did drinke what their maisters spent in their houses Sabina wife vnto Adrian did write a certeine letter vnto a Romaine gentleman complaining that he would not come to visite her through the pleasures of Britaine newe loues in that countrey that he had taken in hand which letter happening by chaunce into the handes of Adrian the knight vnderstanding therof neither went to Rome or abode in Britan. All things set in order in greate Britan Adrian had intelligence that in Gallia Transalpina which nowe is named swéete Fraunce a popular sedition was raised in such euil maner that if it were not presently cut off it might break out into a long cruel warre All the contention was raised vpon certein boūds pastures in a place called Apim Presently Adrian passed into Gallia personally went to sée the marks bounds therof the one the other heard he did diuide those bounds limits equally betwixt them When as a Romaine saide vnto Adrian that it was the office of a poore Iudge not of a mightie Emperour he answered I had rather diuide boundes in peace then conquer countries with warre Now when Adrian would departe from Fraunce he receiued newes from Rome howe Plotina wife vnto Traiane was dead and as shée had béen his onely mistresse his special friend he felt her death so sensibly that besides sighing wéeping he grewe so extremly sorrowful that he did not eate in long time He staide in the place where he receiued these newes many moneths and presently did write vnto the Senate that Plotina should be adored amongst the Goddessses and on the other parte he cōmaunded costly generous sacrifices to be offered for her he did edifie vnto her honour perpetual memorie a temple neare vnto Mansin which he erected vppon pillers of marueilous marble did endue with great riches The affaires of Fraunce being dispatched he came by the Pyrineā hilles into Spaine staied a whole Winter in the citie of Taragon which in those auncient times was the moste strong riche also most estéemed in all Spaine When the Emperour Octauius did conquer Cantabria he did builde in Taragon a most noble house which by the antiquitie therof was much decayed the emperour Adrian at his own cost cōmaūding to be reedified in such wise that by repairing the decayed edificies he renued there the name of Romanes The imperiall house being made Adrian kept court there with all the mightie and noble men of Spaine where and with whome he made manye and good lawes and in especiall he commaunded that the father whiche had but one sonne should commit the same vnto the warres if he had twaine the second should be committed vnto science and the thirde shoulde learne some occupation in the common wealth The Spaniardes complained that the shippes of Italie did transport many thinges out of Spaine that is to saye golde siluer silke oyle yarne wheate and wine and out of Italie they brought nothing into Spane whereupon Adrian commaunded that no straunge ship shoulde lade any thing out of Spaine Adrian gaue greate rewardes vnto many and some for company he caused to goe with him and others some he gaue offices bothe by Sea and land of great honour and generally he gaue money vnto all cities to repaire their decaied walles in suche wise that all Spaine of him helde them selues right well contented There in Taragon Adrian walking alone in a garden by chaunce a young man being madde brake forth vppon him with swoorde drawne Adrian although without armour did take away his swoord without commaundement of correction either to
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
clearely see that amongest all the trauels of men to be an Emperour is the greatest Neither merueile either be escādalized O ye fathers conscript to see me so vntractable and with so many teares to refuse the Empire for if I thought to vse my selfe therein as a tyrant I would not caste it off but would rather procure the same but as my meaning is to liue gouerne more to the profite of the common wealth thē to the aduancement of mine owne house respecting my small strength the Empire is to mee a great burthen Being as I was most truly satisfied with the acquaintance and conuersation of the trauels of the Empire there were no reason to think I should desire the Empire because there is none so foolish as the man that with the hope of a remedie would offer himselfe vnto an hazard Vnto this day I haue beene esteemed in possession of great wealth but now that I am an Emperour I am forced to become poore for that a prince in respect of such with whō he hath to deale and accomplish hath fewe thinges to giue and hath a thousand necessities that constreine him to bribe and robbe Vntil this day I haue had some quietnesse but from henceforth I shal be constreined to liue discontented because from the trauel and disquietnes of the prince peace and quietnesse doeth proceede vnto the common wealth The office of the prince is not to sleepe but to watche not to be idle but to trauell for that euerie excessiue recreation which his person taketh forthwith redoundeth to the offence of the common wealth From my birth vntill this day of any thing I haue not had greater experiēce then to see heare read suffer and experiment trauels wherof many I beheld farre off but alas of my selfe that nowe am inuironed therewith because the appetite of the vulgar people is so feeble and variable that if to day they giue and elect a good prince to morrow they would relishe and haue a taste of the gouernement of some other Naturallie all men in all thinges and at all houres desire to heare and see nouelties and much more desire the same in the estate of gouernement then in all other thinges for that no prince gouerneth so well but that they conceiue an other should gouerne better Vntill this day I haue beene well liked serued and reuerenced but from henceforth al men for the most part shal beare me enuie and hatred because the estate of princes is so enuied that hee shall want sand in the Sea to reckon his enimies but the number of his fingers of one hand shal exceede to point out his friends All this I haue said fathers conscript to the end ye shall not merueile why I haue refused the burthen of the Empire but rather am escandalized knowing what I know to see my selfe charged and ouer laden with the Empire because to renounce it a thousād thinges do moue me to attempt it nothing inuite me But since the gods haue so willed my destinies so permitted ye also haue so ordeined I determin to lode my selfe with this burdē although I am assured it wil cost me my life but I yeld it al for wel imployed if it perfourmed to the benefite of the common wealth These woordes being said by Pertinax the Senate receiued great pleasure and chiefly praised him for that hée forbad all men to speake euill of Commodus knowing as they all did knowe that hée had béene his mortall enimie The Senat receiued Pertinax in the midst amōgest them and did accompany and attend vpon him vnto all the temples and euery temple did offer vnto the Gods notable sacrifices And most truly this was a notable and also a laudable custome amongest the Romans which is to witt that princes newly elected did first visite the Gods before they permitted themselues to be visited of men As Pertinax had his person in so great authoritie and being elected by the armie and the Senat with so great concord and further being old and hoarie headed and so long time knowen in Rome it was a monstruous thing to behold when he came forth into Rome how al men hasted to sée his face for truly it seemed litle vnto euery man to obey him as a prince but to loue and serue him as a father CHAP. VI. ¶ Of many thinges which he did after he was Emperour THe first thing that Pertinax commaunded or prouided was that the men of warre were very wel payed and therwith practised great discipline in which matter more then in any other he presently gaue reformation for that in the Empire of Commodus the armie was abandoned vnto great libertie Cōmodus consumed so great summes of monie in vices that there was not sufficient to pay the men of warre by this occasion they did filche by night rob on high wayes sacke houses spoile corne oppresse the poore and were bribers with rich men finally they were desperate and so flesht that for feare of any paine they neuer absteyned from offence Not many dayes after that Pertinax was published Emperour and with great seriousnes on a certeine day vsed familiaritie with Letus and Electus a Consul named Falcus said vnto him what an Emperour O Pertinax thou shalt proue thy workes begin to make demonstration since thou leadest after thee Letus and Electus which as traytours did kill their Lord Commodus doing what thou doest and consenting to that wherto thou didst consent it may be no lesse besides the euill example which thou yéeldest vnto Rome thou giuest also such scruple vnto thy fame whereby we thinke that if thou wert not the inuentour of his death at the least thou delightest to cloke the same Vnto this Pertinax made aunswere it well séemeth that although thou be a Cōsul thou art but a yongling since thou knowest not to make difference of times It maketh no great matter that I doe with Letus and Electus as they did with their Lord Commodus that is to say they obeyed him and followed him and that whiche they most desired they most dissembled and at the houre of opportunitie they dispatched him of his life The same day that hée was created Augustus and Emperour hée was intituled Pater patriae this excellencie vnto none either since or before was giuen vppon that day His wife was named Flauia Titiana vnto whome likewise on the same day that he was inuested Augustus she was intituled Augusta The Emperour Pertinax did greatly trauell to allowe all thinges that his Lord Marcus Aurelius did fauour to finish that which hée had begon to susteine that which hée had left to repaire that which he had built and to imitate all that which hée had done for hée said it was impossible to erre in following the stepps of the good Marcus Aurelius The fame being diuulgate thoroughout the Empire howe Commodus was dead and Pertinax chosen Emperour the countries cities prouinces and kingdomes gaue very large rewards vnto the messengers thereof no
in suche wise that bothe should haue béene intituled Emperours of Rome and ioyntly therewith sware and affirmed that he did it not to remedie the necessitie wherein he stoode but for greate good wil which he did beare him who aunswered this which thou sayest Iulianus be thou assured that I will neither do it either do I loue but yrketh mée to heare it because to gouerne the Empire I am blinde to traueile I am weake and to inioye it am become olde and much more respecting the age which I possesse and the trauels which I haue passed I am more apte to make peace with the Gods then to take warres in hande against men All the men of warre that were in Etruria did passe vnto the seruice of Seuerus whome he would not by any meanes receiue vntil they had sworne to be innocent of the death of Pertinax Seuerus at the breake of the day discouered him selfe with all his armies two leagues from Rome whiche being knowen vnto the Senate ioyntly they agréed to determine two thinges whiche is to wéete to remoue Iulianus from the Empire and to depriue him of his life and in his place to elect Seuerus Emperour Then one of the Senatours came foorth from the Senate and published with open voice vnto the people that they should hold it for certeine that by the authoritie of the sacred Senat Iulianus was depriued of the Empire and in his stéede Seuerus elected Emperour Great was the ioy that the people receiued when they heard Iulianus to be depriued of the Empire and presently at the instant who best might made most hast to receiue the newe Emperour and none passed by Iulianus house that threw not stones at the windowes and spat not vppon the walles At the houre that the Senate went forth to receiue Seuerus they sent a Gentleman to kill Iulianus who expressing the sorrowful ambassage which he brought with many teares Iulianus requested that he might not be slaine before hee had séene Seuerus but the gentleman durst do no lesse then to cut off his head because the Senate stayed at the porte Salaria and had sworne not to procéede to receiue Seuerus vntill they were certeinly aduertised that Iulianus was slaine The vnfortunate Emperour Iulianus being dead his wife Malia and his daughter Escutilia tooke the body buried him in a Sepulcher of his great graundfather on the right hand of the way of Lauinia Iulianus was noted to be a glutton a gamster couetous and ambitious and on the other part he was pitifull amorous eloquent graue and subtile He liued 56. yeares and 4. monethes be reigned 11. monethes and 5. dayes After his death they did neither giue his body honourable funeralls or contemned his Sepulcher This was the end of Iulianus who being old honourable rich would for the exchaunge of the Empire giue his goods aduenture his fame and loose his life R.v. The life of the Emperour Seuerus compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and countrie of the Emperour Seuerus THE auncient linage of the Emperour Seuerus was of Africa his grandfather was named Fuluius Pius and his grandmother Agrippa which came and died in Lepe an auncient citie in Mauritania was destroyed in the warres of Iugurtha Massimila his father was named Geta and his mother Fuluia Pia a people neither renowmed in armes or glorious in bloud either indued with riches Seuerus was borne in Etrutio Clarus and Seuerus being Consuls the 4. day of April and as his mother reported she had with him a difficult childbirth very tedious to nourse In his first infancie he chiefly delighted to play with other children his fellowes the play of Iudges and when his lot fell to be Iudge as sharpely did he chastice their trifling faultes as he did afterwards chastice their errours in earnest Hee learned the Gréeke and latine tongues with such singular perfection and was so prompt to speake write read dispute in the said tongues as if hee had béene borne in those countries and learned no other languages At the age of xviij yeres he was a publique aduocate and defended causes in lawe in such wise that if he had followed Science as hée did Warres hée had béene no lesse renowmed in science and letters then he was famous in armes He was not full xx yeares of age when he first entered Rome in which dayes there reigned the right happie Marcus Aurelius and by intercession of his kinseman Septimius Seuerus hée had the office to register daily such as either died or were borne in Rome which office although it were not profitable yet was it an occasion of great acquaintance to be throughly knowen because nightly he wēt to Court to report who was borne or had died that day The first night that he entred Rome by chance his host wher he lodged was reading the life of the Emperour Adrian wherin was relation of the great perils which he passed before he might atteine the Empire Seuerus said vnto his host in iest In trauels perills I imitate Adrian I hope also that I shall succede him in the Empire By chance as the Emperour M. Aurelius made a general sumptuous supper vnto many noble Romans Seuerus was amongest them at the time that he shuld haue taken his seat at the table without regard he placed him in the Emperours chaire and when others derided him for his negligence folly which he had comitted Seuerus aunswered Peace gibe not it is possible my destinies may be such that as I nowe sitt in the imperiall chaire in iest so one day I may sit therin in earnest Seuerus dreamed on a night that he suckt the teats of the wolfe that noursed Remus and Romulus which dreame he alwayes held for a great good signe of his future Empire In the time of his youth he was both absolute and dissolute especially in womens matters other vanities for which causes hee was many times taken banished shamed In the offices of warre he was placed in them all especially the office of Questor which he held long time and it is said of him that hauing by that office charge of monie he was diligēt in recouering faithful in diuiding parting therof In the moneth of Ianuary in the 5. yeare of the Empire of M. Aurelius it chaunced him to be Proconsul of Betica which now in Spaine is named the kingdome of Andoloizia where he remained the space of a yeare a halfe in which gouernment he was no lesse loued then feared and feared then loued Seuerus being Proconsul in Betica receiued newes of his fathers death in Africa wherupon he presently passed into Africa partly to execute the obsequies and to giue his father an honourable Sepulcher and partly to take order for a sister that was left vnto him and goods whiche he did inherite The Consul that then was
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
tooke the names of all persons that he might haue with him out of Italie commaundinge them to prepare and to pay his officers that all thinges should be done with moste spéedie diligence for his intent was to enter with so greate haste into Asia that his arriuall and the newes thereof at one instant might appeare vnto Pessenius All the armies of Illyria which he had left in Thracia he commaunded to passe into Asia and all the Senatours all the warrelike officers of Rome all the riche men and all the sonnes of mightie and greate Lordes that were in Italie he ledde with him in that warre He armed in the Sea Mediterrane an hundred galleys and also rigged foorth two hundreth shippes fiftie barkes and innumerable foystes all which went laden with men armour and victuals in such wise that in respecte of his greatnesse and potencie there was none that woulde encounter with him by lande either abide at the Sea. Onelie xxx dayes Seuerus was in Rome dispatchinge with the Senate he departed vnto the porte of Hostia to beholde his nauie and from thence he departed to Nola in Campania where his armye was assembled where he added many thinges that wanted and also remoued many thinges that were superfluous because in thinges of greate importance he was not satisfied to giue them in charge to men of experience but that he woulde see and beholde them with his owne proper eyes When Pessenius Niger heard the newes howe Seuerus came against him by sea and lande they say that he saide these woordes If the destinies be bente against me small may it auaile me that men fauour mee and if Gods be pleased to help me mē may little hinder me And further he saide Seuerus is not satisfied to haue slaine his Lorde Iulianus and to vsurpe the Empire but hath made mee an enimie vnto the people of Rome but I beseche the immortall Gods that if it shal not please them to giue me victorie in this warre that Seuerus may bee conquered when hee moste desireth to ouercome Although Pessenius commended his fortune into the handes of God not withstanding he left not to seeke the aide of men to this ende he did write and send Ambassadours vnto the kinge of the Parthians to the king of the Arthabanes and to the king of the Armenians to succour him with men money because Seuerus came with a determinate minde to destroy them all The kinge of the Armenians aunsweared the Ambassadours of Pessenius Niger that he woulde neither helpe the one or offende the other but defende and conserue his owne kingdome moued therevnto for that Pessenius was his friende and Seuerus not his enimie The kinge of Parthians presently sente his letters throughout his kingdome commaunding them to repaire vnto Pessenius and refuse Seuerus which he did not for the narrowe friendship that he helde with Pessenius but for the auncient enimitie that he did beare vnto the Romane Empire The king of Arthabanes sent vnto Pessenius ten thousand archers with crossebowes all natiues of the prouinces of Bersezana which throughout the worlde were much renowmed and in the warres no lesse feared because they were of valiant mindes in fight and excéeding readie in shooting Further Pessenius Niger commaunded his armie to be renewed with twentie thousand footemen and sixe thousand horsemen whereof the moste parte being taken out of Antioche where the people be most féeble their names being registred and receiuing paye neuer afterwardes came to the warres Vnto all them that vsed this guyle Seuerus afterwardes gaue great punishment not for that they had béene traytours vnto Pessenius but for example to terrifie others Vpon the mount Taurus parte of Cappadocia and Sicyl Pessenius as a man of experience in martiall affaires prouided that the woodes were feld vpon the toppes of mounteines and in streightes and most perillous places made strong watche and warde in such wise that no enimie might approche that was not séene or passe that were not slaine In those dayes there was not in all Thracia a citie more opulent then was Byzantio nowe named Cōstantinople which in buildinges did excéede all cities of Asia and in fertilitie was equall with the best in Europa Amongest other thinges conteined therein that was faire to beholde and much to be praised were the walles the stones whereof were brought from Mylesius curiously squared as if it had béene timber sawen with a sawe which was the cause that the wall being made of many stones the whole wall séemed but one stone Although with the calamities of time the walles be nowe ruinated yet notwithstanding of the same there remaineth some steppes and signes in the viewe whereof there is none but wil praise the witt of them that made it cursse the handes of them that did subuert it When Pessenius sawe him selfe a Lorde so absolute of all Asia and accompanied with so many so noble men of warre he thought him selfe sure of the victorie but as in such cases that which Fortune guydeth is farre differēt from that which the person desireth so very cōtrarie to his former purpose it afterwardes succéeded CHAP. VII ¶ Of the warres that passed betwixt Pessenius and Seuerus in Asia IT was great griefe vnto Seuerus when he vnderstoode howe Pessenius was in so greate redinesse that thought not onely to defende but publiquely to offende Seuerus being certified that Pessenius was in possession of the greate citie Byzantio marched with more spéede with intent to batter the same before Pessenius might come to the succour thereof for that by secrete practises Seuerus had within the citie newe friendes and Pessenius in gouernement had recouered some enimies Neither the intelligences which Seuerus practised secretely either the diligences whiche he vsed publiquely might profite him to obteine Byzantio which when he vnderstoode he traueiled to recouer another citie not farre from thence named Cyzica which was both rockie and compassed with marrishes that is to saye it stoode vppon a rocke inuironed with a riuer Pessenius had for his capteine generall of all his hostes a certeine knight named Emilianus in whome he reposed confidence not onely for matters of warre but also for expedition of causes of peace for that he had bothe wisedome for the one and fortitude for the other The capteine Emilianus put him selfe into the citie of Cyzica whē presently after the souldiours of Seuerus came to besiege it There was betwixt both the armies at diuers times diuers encounters repulses wherin Fortune indifferētly discouered her selfe vnto either partie for at all times when they fought at the wall Seuerus side had the woorse but when they fought in the field Pessenius bandes had that repulse Two monethes after the citie of Cizica was besieged they made a salle and as they would haue retyred Seuerus capteines pursued and entred pelle melle with the capteines of Pessenius and notwithstanding there was betwixt them greate slaughter for
Seuerus considering the citie of Athras to be inexpugnable the people therein inuincible and his campe also weakened through greate sickenesse aduised to rayse his siege before his armie were vtterly lost which he did not without greate griefe and no lesse despight being as he was giuen vnto so many triumphes and victories he thought him self vāquished since he might not ouercome but fortune that naturally discouereth her self to be variable the victorie which shée denied Seuerus in fighting shée in his flight gaue afterwardes more largely The case was thus that sailing on the Sea with all his armie it was his chaunce to encounter with a tempest and being forced to followe the disposition of the weather and not as his heart desired they brought him to riuers of the kingdome of Parthia not thrée leagues distant from the greate citie of Tesiphont where the king was further entred into feasting then compassed with armour Seuerus entred into the fielde of Tesiphont committing so greate spoiles and robberies that he put the people into greate feare which as Seuerus did take at the soudeine and vnwares and being amazed neither able to saye or aunswere if they were demaunded for that to flye they had no time and to resist they had no force that whiche was woorst of all to make agréement it was not in their handes neither might they endure to submitt themselues vnto the Romans Seuerus arriuing at Tesiphont did subuert it vnto the ground slewe al that made resistance and did captiuate man woman and childe he tooke al the treasure and riches bothe of the citie and royall palace finally all the countrie treasure goods and persons came to the handes of Seuerus except the king Arthabanus who escaped on horsebacke Seuerus led with him certeine skilfull painters which as he went traueiling they went drawing and painting all cities castels riuers mountaines nations kingdomes and prouinces by throughe which he passed and all the battels and victories whiche he had made and obteined Seuerus sent a greate Ambassage vnto the Senate and people of Rome with whome he sent many captiues much riches and the tables wherin his victories were set out at large the Romains gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods and also greate praises vnto Seuerus although moste true that all men were pleased with the victories but would not that they shoulde haue béene obteined by Seuerus Departing from the kingdome of Parthia he diuided amongest his armies all that he had taken from the Parthians and for himselfe reserued nothing but that which he sent vnto the Senat and a ring of Vnicorne a white parat or popingay and a gréen horse the which thinges he toke not for their value but forthe straungnes of their colours Seuerus came through the kingdome of Palestina and gaue them many lawes conformable vnto the lawes of the Romanes commaunding vppon paine of death that none should name himselfe a Iew either call himselfe a Christian or obserue the lawe of Christians From Palestina he came through Assyria vnto the citie of Alexandria where also he placed new customes and also made newe lawes which he caused them to write and obserue howbeit they endured but the life of Seuerus for after his death they did not onely breake them but also burnt the tables wherin they were writen CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of Seuerus his sonnes and of their euill inclination THe kinges that were enimies being ouercome new cōfederation made with old friends and all the prouinces of Asia reformed he came vnto Rome and as the Romans had prepared the Parthicke triumph he might not enter triumphing for that he came so weake of a quartane and so lame of the goute that he might neither indure the chariott or suffer the intertainement of the people It had chaunced to none of the Romane Empire as it fortuned vnto Seuerus that is to say that had slaine so many princes obteyned so many victories and yet neuer entered triumphing into Rome which was not for his demerits or repugnancie of the Romanes but for his thrée first victories he might not triumphe because they were Romane princes and to his other victories of Asia his disease gaue impediment Seuerus had two legitimate sonnes the elder was named Bassianus the other Geta who notwithstanding they were brothers in bloud yet were they much different in conditions which infirmitie was not onely manifested in their infancie for that in their childish playes they could neuer agrée either in weightie affaires yeld one consent It was much noted amongest the Romanes that the two bretherne being but children might neuer agrée in their childishe playes and deuises that is to say in making houses of clay running at base driuing topps meating strawes trilling the bowle striking the drumme and other such like childishe trifles That the one delighted the other lothed that which the elder affirmed the younger denied and if it happened their tutours to commaund them to play together if the one did winne and the other loose they tare their haire scratched their faces whirled stones strucke with their fistes in such wise that as from their téeth and face they drue bloud and rent off their lockes so they séemed rather to kill eche other as enimies then to iest as brethren It was no small griefe vnto Seuerus when hée vnderstoode of the euil condition of his sonnes and that alwayes they were diuided amongest themselues who trauelled by al meanes possible to bring them to conformitie which he might neuer by any meanes bring to passe althoughe he requested either would they obey although hée commaunded for his sonnes were so wilfull that they ceased not to execute their owne wills notwithstanding their fathers gentle sute or his extréeme commaundement Seuerus also had a brother named Geta a person of great bolonesse and warrlike who in all warres followed Seuerus and if Seuerus had hautie thoughtes truly Geta his thoughtes were not humble for hée helde it for most certaine that vnto him Seuerus should leaue the Empire Besides that Geta was valiaunt and warrlike so was he also guilefull and diligent that is to say in seruing Seuerus contenting the Senate and pleasing the people The hatred and brabbling that passed betwixte Bassianus and Geta his cousins vsually hée reported it vnto all men in such wyse that Geta supposed to obteine by guile the Empire that Seuerus had gotten with armes Seuerus well vnderstoode howe Geta wente thus anglinge for the Empire and therein to take awaye all occasions in the fourth yeare of his Empire going against Albinius at that time in the citie of Millaine before hée passed the Alpes hee created his elder sonne Caesar and his younger Consul whereuppon a certaine Capitaine said vnto Seuerus it well séemeth Seuerus thou remembrest not the displeasures that Bassianus and Geta thy sonnes haue done thée either the seruice which thy brother Geta hath performed on thy behalfe To this Seuerus aunsweared it well appeareth that thou speakest by hearesaye rather then by anye
slaine his Lord Bassianus not by inducemente of any person but to reuenge his brothers death Many others were of this conspiracie besids Macrinus that ordeyned it and Martianus that sought the same that is to say Nemesianus his brother Apolinarius Renonuus Agrippa al which had sworn his death some for iniuries which they had receiued others for seruice vnrecompenced Presently vppon Bassianus his death Macrinus commaunded his body to be burnt and his ashes to be placed in a coffin of gold so with great gard and no lesse accompanied hee sente the same vnto Iulia his mother in law being then at Antioch who at the instante when she vnderstoode Bassianus to be dead dranke a litle poison wherewith she finished her life The case stāding in this estate newes arriued at the Romaine campe that Arthabanus king of Parthians pursued Antoninus Bassianus to execute vengeance for the iniurie which he had receiued and to the same end the king his knightes before they came to the field made a vowe vnto their Gods neuer more to returne with life before they had slaine the Emperour Bassianus The Romanes beheld themselues in great confusion on the one parte findeing themselues in so straunge a Countrie wythout hope of succour and also for the death of their prince and their enimie so néere at hand to repaire and remedie which mischiefe with great diligence they elected a prince named Audentius a man of honest life and of great experience in the warres which he refused alledging for himselfe age and sickenesse and that of his election hee might not gather but trauel offence vnto the common wealth Two dayes was the armie without an Emperour and in the end vppon Audentius his refusall they elected Macrinus for Emperour which election did rather procéed of necessitie then of will because their Parthian enimies were very néere the worthie persons of the Empire very farre Aboue wée made mention of Iulia the mother in law vnto Bassianus this Ladie being a widowe and resident in the Court in the summer time Bassianus beheld her at a feast as she was halfe naked and inflamed with her loue said vnto her these words If it were possible to renounce this name mother which I owe thee from henceforth I would call thee wife Iulia aunswered If thou wilt thou mayest because princes haue authoritie to make lawes but are not bound to obserue them And as in Bassianus loue did abound so finding in Iulia a readie minde presently he married with her in such wise that vnto patricide he added incest that is to say that hauing slaine his brother Geta also he married his fathers wife Bassianus naturally was euil inclined and if his father were cruell he was most cruell in eating disordinate in drincking vntemperate for many times in his excesse of drinke he would talke at large From his infancie he was hated of all persons no lesse of his owne then of strangers the Pretorian knights onely excepted which was not for the benefites that of him they had receiued but for the libertie which he gaue them to robb and steale Some notable buildinges hee erected in Rome especially certaine stately bathes which hee named after his owne name in cost and curiousnes excéeding all workes and buildinges in Rome He made also a gate in Rome called it Seueriana in the reuerence of the name of his father Seuerus wherin he caused to be grauen al the victories and triumphes that his father had obteined either after or before he was Emperour Hee was the first that brought vnto Rome the image of the Goddesse Isis vnto whome he edified a sumptuous temple and therein did constitute priestes He left no child either legitimate or not legitimate but Heliogabalus whom he had by a néece of his mother Iulia of whom we will speake in the historie following The life of the Emperour Heliogabalus compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Bishop of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fifte CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage and nouriture of the Emperour Heliogabalus THE second wife of Seuerus was named Iulia which was mother vnto Geta and mother in lawe vnto Bassianus this Iulia when she was married vnto Seuerus brought vnto Court with her an elder sister named Mesia a woman of proportion sufficient faire and comely but of condition very wilie This Mesia had with her two daughters whereof the elder was named Semiamira and the yonger Manea both borne in the Emperour Seuerus his Courte and bred and nourished a long time after in the house of the Emperour Bassianus The writers of those times do not name who was the husband of Mesia and the father of Semiamira of Manea and therefore doubted to be conceiued in adulterie or that the father was of linage obscure Mesia remayning in the Court of Seuerus with her two daughters being young very faire Bassianus the sonne of Seuerus had accesse vnto Semiamira and begate of her a sonne named Antoninus Caracalla and for the loue of Iulia his aunt and also to the end the damosell should not bee despised in the sighte of Seuerus the graundmother vsed so great skill in this busines that no person of the Courte might perceiue the daughter to be with child or brought a bed or whether the child was put foorth to be noursed The auncient linage of this womā Mesia was of Phoenicia borne she was in a citie called Mesania néere vnto whiche place in times past a battell had béene fought betwéene the Rhodians and the Phoenicians Antoninus Caracalla on the fathers side was sonne vnto the Emperour Bassianus and on the mothers side sonne of Semiamira and conceiued in adulterie Whē the child was fiue yeares of age he was brought vnto the Courte and there bred nourished with the mother and graundmother but all the dayes that Bassianus liued they neuer durst say that it was his sonne because Iulia his aunt and mother in lawe to Bassianus had married with the selfe same Bassianus and if she had knowen the child to be such she would haue slaine it banished her Néece sent away her sister This woman Mesia was so wise prouident that in the reigne of Seuerus at Court all men did serue her after in the dayes of Bassianus shée commaunded and gouerned all thinges at her owne pleasure and this was in such extréeme wise that with her he did take counsel for the affaires of the cōmon wealth and shée did alwayes accompanie him whither soeuer he went out of Rome although it were vnto the warres This Mesia was frank of speach of no great reformation of life howbeit very skilful in al things which she aduentured to take in hand for notwithstanding al men had of her great suspiciō yet they were fewe that atteyned vnto her secrete drifts Although on the one part she was accused to be lewd loase of life yet on the other shée was praised because shée
was very wise in all thinges wherein she gaue counsell which most clearely appeared for that in the 16. yeares in which she remained in the Courte and manours of those princes who by her iudgement and opinion were gouerned shée was neuer séene to twite or reproue any person with her tongue or giue counsel in any thing that offended the common wealth Being as she was sister vnto Iulia the Empresse and so accepted with those princes this Mesia was marueilous riche and the cause thereof was that all good thinges which were vacant in the Empire she craued and whatsoeuer was giuen her shee receiued The second daughter of this Mesia named Manea maried with a Cōsul named Verius and brought him forth a sonne then named Alexius but afterwards Alexander the Emperour in such wise that this Mesia had one sister an Empresse sawe her two nephues Emperours Mesia doubting that some day it might come to the notice of Iulia her sister that Antoninus Caracalla was the sonne of her husband Bassianus aduised to send both her nephues vnto her owne proper countrie of Phoenicia there to hold them more safe and better taught In the prouince of Phoenicia was a most sumptuous temple dedicated vnto the God Heliogabalus the woorkemanship whereof was wrought all of sawen stone as if it had béene timber in the ioyning whereof their appeared no seame but all mē iudged that knew not that secrete that the whole temple had béene made of one stone There was not in that temple as was in other tēples which is to wit any image or simulachre of any God but that which it conteyned was a blacke shining stone great large beneath and vpwards more narrow wherein was grauen the Sunne and the Moone right curiously subtily which in viewe and beholding did dazill the eyes of men The people of Phoenicia did report that the temple was made by mans hand but the stone was sent by the Gods from heauen for which cause they offered vpon the same siluer gold iewels and other great riches and it was visited not onely by the natiues of Phoenicia but also from many partes of Asia In that temple there were not onely priestes but also Philosophers to the ende that some should sacrifice and others teache and refourme maners because that temple was indued with so great riches that there was sufficient both for the one the other Heliogabalus being of the age of xiiii yeres and his cousin Alexius of the age of twelue yeares their graundmother Mesia placed them in that temple to enure them to offer sacrifices to learne Philosophie These two brethren went apparailed after the manner of two Priestes which is to wéete in shirtes of Linsey woolsey their garments of gold and cotton their sléeues buttoned with Corrall their robes trailing their heades couered with silke calles about their neckes collars of golde their féete bare vppon the instep leaden ringes vppon their little fingers and ringes of golde vpon their thumbes but aboue al the rest they might not eate but in their houses either sléepe but in their temples And because Antoninus was Priest and brought vp in the temple of the God Heliogabalus that is to saye a Priest of the Sunne he was afterwardes named Antoninus Heliogabalus and also many dayes after that he was exalted vnto the height of the Empire he kepte the garments and receiued the stipend of his auncient priesthood Heliogabalus was of meane stature redde haired white faced small mouthed shorte legged and largely bearded and as at that time he was young and faire and his sacerdotall vestmentes did so adourne him although the secrete of his parentage was vnknowen yet all men presupposed that he was of noble bloud CHAP. II. ¶ Howe capteine Macrinus did exalt him selfe with the Empire after the death of Bassianus AFter that Martianus had slaine Bassianus his Lorde through the counsell of Macrinus presently he exalted him selfe or to saye better did tyrannize the Empire neuerthelesse the armies elected him and the Romanes allowed him not because they were pleased with Macrinus but for ioy to sée them selues frée and deliuered of Bassianus So generall was the ioye amongest the Romane people to sée Bassianus dead that they cared not to consider of Macrinus that should succéede whether he were good or bad because heartes that be tormented and men that be despighted when they hap to oppresse their enimies consider not so much of their profite as they respect their reuengement Tenne dayes after Macrinus sawe him selfe Emperour Arthabanus king of the Parthians gaue him battell to reuenge the iniurie which Bassianus had done vnto him this battell betwixt both partes was so contended and so bloudie that the victorie on that daye remained on neither side yet least was the losse vnto the Romanes Arthabanus being aduertised of the death of his enimie Bassianus and his choler also somewhat alaide made peace with the Romanes and with his armies retired into his countrie After Macrinus behelde him selfe elected and confirmed Emperour and king Arthabanus returned vnto his kingdome and that in all Asia not so much as a lance in the rest against him he departed to the citie of Antioche not of any intent to refourme his armie but of purpose totally to vowe him selfe vnto vice and filthinesse The case was thus that being setled in Antioche he gaue héede vnto no other matter but to the vse of the Bathe trimming his head annoynting his bearde going on hunting prosecuting gluttonie and excesse giuing him selfe vnto women and that which was woorst he fledde from affaires and followed vices When at any time Macrinus did issue foorth to viewe his men of warre he walked not with a lance but with a Caane in his hande which they helde for no small iniurie for that amongest them it was a lawe that none might passe through their bandes except he were armed with some armour It was a lawe muche vsed and obserued amongest the Romanes that their Princes did neuer enter armed into the Senate either vnarmed did viewe their Campes and armies since in the one they did manage matters of peace and in the other nothing but warres Macrinus heard by reporte that the good Marcus Aurelius spake sildome and with lowe voice and so he vsed for resemblance to aunswere suters with fewe woordes and verie base in such wise that in his speache he did imitate Marcus Aurelius and in his life did resemble Nero. With none of the Antiochians either with any person of all Asia did he consent to haue conference or to be serued at his table either enter into his chamber or sléepe in his house but after the manner of a tyraunt with his owne he stoode vppon his guarde and with straungers not a little suspicious Auncient persons his olde horsemen and the Capteines of his armies he woulde not commaund to stande vp although they had long continued vppon their knées either to put on their cappes when they stoode bareheaded