which Title she refused saying She had born Vitellius and not Germanicus And afterwards not approving his Actions it was reported she was poisoned by him Yet some think that to be her Image which is on a Reverse of Vitellius with Mater Augusti Mater Senatus Mater Patriae His Wives were first Petronia whom after he had a Son by her he repudiated and slew Dolabella because he married her Second Gelaria Fundana by whom he had a Son almost Dumb and Stupid slain by Matianus and a Daughter whom Vespasian married very honorably CHAP. VI. Of Flavius Vespasianus Titus Vespasianus Domitianus § 1. FLavius Vespasianus was born A. V. C. 761. A. C. 10. reigned nine Years 11 Months and twenty two Days died aged sixty nine Years of mean Parentage obtained the Empire by his Merits for having done great Services in Britanny where he fought thirty Battels and Germany he was at last sent into Judaea being not feared because of his mean Extraction where the Legions hearing of Galba Otho and Vitellius their Election by their Armies conceived themselves as able to raise an Emperor as the others and therefore by common consent made choice of him who was presently received by all the Eastern Legions He was a very Prudent Sober Vigilant Valiant Clement Moderate Frugal and Liberal Person Frugal in his own House and towards the Courtiers who blam'd him much for Covetousness but so Magnificent in building Temples Cities Bridges Highwaies c. that it is much admired how he found Wealth enough to do it after those expensive Beasts especially since he oppressed none but wept extraordinarily even at the just Punishment of Malefactors The Greeks to whom Nero had foolishly given liberty tax him for reducing them again to pay Tributes and be subject to the Romans for which they had no reason using their Liberty to quarrels amongst themselves and to the prejudice of the Commonwealth Very many Medals of Vespasian the chief are His Victory over Judaea a Woman leaning to a Palm-Tree with her Hands bound signifies the Captivity of the People A Woman sitting in an unusual Posture alludes to that of Isa. 3. 26. She being desolate shall sit upon the ground Two Capricorns with a Globe between He was born under Capricorn as was also Augustus and of later Times Charles V. and Cosmus Medices surnamed the Great Vespasian's Head ℞ a Jupiter with a Patera in his Right Hand in his Left a Scepter with an Eagle on the Top. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anno novi Templi octavo Before his coming to the City his Son Domitian and Sabinus seized upon the Capitol where Vitellius besieged and fought them Sabinus was slain there Domitian escaped but the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was burnt by whether Party uncertain Vespasian therefore coming to Reign in his first Year rebuilt that Temple from which Building he counts this Epocha A Victoria Pacifera with a Bulla Caduceus and a Serpent before betokening the Direction of the Gods as the Caduceus of Prudence the word Paci Augustae The Front of the Temple of Peace built by him adorned with many Statues SPQR Vespasian Consecrated crown'd with Laurel not Radiant as being a great and invincible Heroe ℞ a Pot between two Laurels The Pot represents the Pot of Oil set by the Dead before they were interred Before their Doors also was set a Pot of Water for them that entred to Expiate themselves The Laurels were in honor of his Victories A Womans Head without Inscription probably Coenis his Concubine after his Wives death whom he loved dearly a prudent Woman Jupiter sitting holding a Victory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as Jupiter the Castle-or Town-Keeper Bolanus he that governed Asia His Wife was Fl. Domitilla by whom he had Titus Domitian and a Daughter called Fl. Domitilla both the Mother and Daughter died before he came to be Emperor but notwithstanding they were Consecrated and Medals made for them Titus Vespasianus § 2. Born A. U. C. 793. A. C. 42. reigned above two Years and died as most say poisoned by Domitian aged forty Years Was the most Couragious Liberal Prudent Chast Mild Knowing Temperate Innocent Prince that till that time the Romans had He chaced out of the Court all Women c. of evil Lives sending away Q. Berenyce who hoped he would have married her as also all Accusers Calumniators and Flatterers some of whom he put even to Death he said he lost that day in which he did not good to some or other Being advised to put to Death some that conspired against him he said he had rather dye himself his Father himself and Brother were perswaded that all things were by Fate and that they could not prevent the Death appointed and destined to them by the Gods Pax. Aug. a Peace and a Thigh of a Sacrifice upon a Stool for to Peace they Sacrificed only the Thigh and Leg-bones Nor was it lawful to shed Blood in her Temple So they killed and dressed the Sacrifice without and then brought in and burnt the Bones Antiochia Vesp. and Titus much honoured that City not only building much of it but placing there the Brazen Cherubims brought from Jerusalem and building a Theatre in the place where the Synagogue of the Jews stood An Altar Providentia intimating that it was his Providence and Wisdom that destroyed the Jews under whom the Christians also were comprehended and established the worship of the Gods Victoria Navalis over the Jews upon the Lake of Genesareth An Elephant a Symbole of Perpetuity and Magnificence but Titus had also a marvellous Elephant which perceiving one day that the Wife of his Master committed Adultery with another Person killed them both and laying them both together in the Bed as they were before covered them and when his Master came home he carried him to the Bed uncovered them and shewed what was done and afterwards shewed his Teeth which were Bloody Titus sitting on a Rock leaning on his Perizonium and a Horse the Emblem of Empire brought to him by a Woman supposed to be Fortune naked without Wings Wheel or Orb they fancying that when Fortune had travelled all the World over at last she came to Tyber and went into the Palace where immediately she laid aside her Wings Wheel Globe c. and there rested A Woman upon the Prow of a Ship because of the Situation upon the Sea with a Scepter in one Hand a Vine-branch in the other because of its Fruitfulness in excellent Wines a Dove which there were nourished in great quantity the Syrians not eating but nourishing them as Sacred Birds of Venus and into which Semyramis the great Queen was converted The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like a Jupiter with Towers on his Head and a Flower in his Hand which seems to be Lotus esteemed by them because of it they made Bread Nilus was worshipped by the Egyptians as Jupiter His Wives were Arricidia who died without Children
to the Palace where seeing the Frugal Provision made for Pertinax he scorned it very much and commanded great Preparations to be made intending to live more like Commodus to be thereby more grateful to the Soldiers to content whom also he took his Name But hereby he incurred the hate of the People whom at first he despised but afterwards slew many of them by his Soldiers and the Senate where entring he made an insolent and foolish Oration in Commendation of himself And as he invaded the Empire unworthily so he carried himself laschly and negligently especially when the People first cried up Pescennius Niger and afterwards Sept. Severus to whom he offered at last to be Partaker of the Empire which Severus refused who sent his Soldiers disguised into Rome who slew Julianus after he was condemned by the Senate His Wife was Manlia Scantilla who together with his Daughter Didia Clara married to Cornelius Repentinus her Cousin German both of them stiled by the Senate Augustae incited the old Man to take upon him the Empire Little notice is taken of them by Historians and but few Medals of them 3. C. Pescennius Niger Justus Son of Annius Fuscus and Lampridia was born when and where not known reigned about eight Months and after many Battels was slain by Severus about fifty eight Years old was called Niger because of the Sun-burntness of his Neck and Face the rest of his Body being very white Was very Sober and so Chast that he never accompanied his Wife but that he might have Children by her Rather plain open and generous than cunning yet Wife and Prudent he by Letters perswaded M. Aurelius to continue the Governors of the Provinces five Years at least that the Assistants of the Governors should succeed them that the Governors and their Counsellors should have their Salary duely paid them saying Judicem nec dare debere nec accipere Was in great Employments which he discharged with great Honor. Was because of his Valor Virtue and Generosity in the East called the Second Alexander Imitating the ancient Captains in the Discipline of War His Wife Children and whole Family were put to death by Severus Minerva Victrix Minerva reaching Niger a Crown and he offering her a Globe hereby acknowledging her for his singular Patroness Probably he dedicated some Statue to her in this Posture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a City in Syria Euphratesianâ Niger as AEsculapius acknowledging him thereby their Saviour 5. Decimus Clodius Albinus called also Septimius by Severus when he made him Caesar Son of Ceionius Postumius Albinus and Aurelia Messalina reigned about three Years eight Months killed himself being vanquished by Severus Was Hasty Proud Cholerick Active Valiant So bold a Gladiator that he was called the Cataline of his Age. Very Lascivious a horrible Eater but little Drinker Grave exceeding severe towards the Soldiers Learned and Eloquent Commodus would have made him Caesar which he refused but accepted afterwards from Severus who honor'd him only to amuse him sending at the same time five Persons to kill him whom Albinus compelled to confess by force of Torments Whereupon he went to fight Severus and first defeated his Lieutenant Lupus and afterwards encountered Severus himself near to Lions where Severus's Party being almost overcome was restored by Laetus who brought a fresh Army whereupon Albinus through Despair killed himself and his Body was most barbarously used by Severus Saeculo Frugifero Cos. II. and another Saeculi foelicitas much what the same thing their chief Felicity consisting in Plenty A Deity-raies about his Head like Apollo a Caduceus like ☿ and a Trident like Neptune Probably the ☿ of the Galls which was the great Genius of the world and therefore Author of Fecundity the Head is the Sun presiding over the Seasons of the Year the Caduceus's Wings represent the Fecundity of the Air as the Serpents do the Harmony of the Elements and the Trident the Fruitfulness of the Water Another like the former but the Head like Cybele and an Howe instead of a Trident. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sidetensâ—…um the Second City of Pamphylia where it seems Albinus had been Governor and which Severus chose to himself two Warriors joining hands Severus in Arms as Superior the other without as Inferior 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gaditanorum a Temple and Hercules standing being much worshipped there Albinus was an African and had governed Spain Gades two Islands one belonging to Africk the other to Europe His Wife was Pescennia Plautiana Daughter of Plautius Quintillus whom Severus slew By her he had a Son Pescennius Primaeus or Prinaeus slain with his Mother though before pardoned by Severus after the Victory over Albinus CHAP. XIII Of L. Septimius Severus Bassianus Caracalla Septimius Geta and M. Opilius Macrinus 1. L. Septimius Severus Son of L. Sept. Geta and Fulvia Pia was born at Laeptis A. D. 147. reigned seventeen Years eight Months three Days and died at Sixty five Years nine Months twenty three Days old was very Active Vigilant Couragious Indefatigable Provident especially for Provision of good Understanding and a Lover of Learning tho himself not Learned but withal most horribly Ambitious Traiterous Cruel Covetous and Vindicative more than any of his Predecessors having put to Death Forty of the eminentest Persons of the Empire at once without hearing their Cause upon Suspition of their Conspiring with Albinus for which being exceedingly hated he endeavoured to engage the Soldiers to himself by giving them many Gifts and Licences to wear Gold Rings to have Wives with them c. the cause of much Misery and Ruine of the Empire and even of himself for as soon as Caracalla came into his Youth they began to cast their Eyes upon him and neglect Severus made Caracalla Augustus in despight of him which so heightned him that he continually sought to kill his Father sometimes by Poyson sometimes by the Sword which so enraged the Gouty Old Man that his Disease increased exceedingly and became so insupportable that he would have killed himself but was hindered and at last eat so enormously on purpose that he died upon it after he had in vain endeavoured to punish his Son whom he mortally hated Dying he said Omnia fui nihil expedit Diis Auspicibus c. Col. II. Hercules and Bacchus with a Dog Severus going to fight in the East against Niger purposing also to invade the Parthians and Indians Sacrificed to these two Gods under whose Auspicia Standards of the one as a Victor over Tyrants of the other as over the Indians Auspicia also they called the Sacrifices they made the day of their entering their Office or Employment The Heroes anciently were said to have Dogs with them both because of their Fidelity c. and of their Divination they attributing much to their Barking Howling or Fawning Hercules's Dog crushing a Purple Fish discovered to Hercules that excellent Die Saeculi felicitas a Crescent with Seven Stars shewing the numerous
an Army given him by the Senate to command in Gallia to whom M. Antony being forced out of Rome and Italy by Brutus and Octavius and declared Enemy by the Senate repaired and because of his Forces joined him in the Triumvirate he kept his Army up entire thinking to suffer M. Ant. Octav. Caesar and Sextus Pompeius to ruin or weaken one another so much that he might master them all But Caesar having conquered S. Pompeius did not go against Antony but turned upon him and practising with his Officers gained all his Army from him Upon his low Submission and Petition Caesar gave him his Life and left him Pont. Maximus and so sent him to Rome where he lived in great Melancholly and Contempt the rest of his days his Son striving afterwards to practise the Legions against Augustus was put to death CHAP. II. Of Augustus § 1. C. Octavius Son of Octavius and Atia Grand-child of Julia the Sister of Jul. Caesar was born upon Mount Palatine ad Capita bubula though the chief Habitation of this Family was at Velitrae A. U. C. 690. before the Birth of our Lord sixty two Years Sept. 22. having the Sign Capricorn presiding in his Nativity whereby as the Astrologers said he was promised the Empire of the World and to be a God after his death for they held that ♋ and vs were the two ports of Heaven by vs the Souls of Heroes descended and ascended by ♋ those of extraordinary Persons which made Augustus put a Capricorn upon his Coins Julius Caesar his great Uncle adopted him into the Julian Family whereby he obtained the Command Wealth good Fortune and Popularity as well as the Name of Caesar hereupon we find upon many of his Coins C. Caesar Divi Filius Julius Caesar was Murthered when Octavius was about nineteen years old and in the Country whereupon he hasted to Rome and against the Advice of most of his Friends and Kindred resolved to take upon him the Name and Inheritance of Caesar. Where M. Antony then Consul though pretending to revenge Caesar's death received him very proudly but Antony presently after designing for himself against the Commonwealth was forced by him to fly into Gallia to Lepidus and quit the Siege of Brutus at Modena Antony having got Power sent to Caesar that if he would join with him and Lepidus to revenge the Death of Caesar they would make themselves III Viri in Imitation of Caesar Pompey and Crassus who had done the same before if not they would join with Brutus and that Party against him whereupon he assented and they took upon them the Triumvirate and many Coins were stamped some in honor of each of them some in honor of them all together as that with three Hands conjoined and the Ensigns of Supreme Power Fasces Caduceus Orbe c. Presently thereupon Caesar went against Sex Pompeius the Son of Pompey the Great who by his Fautors who were many in the Senate was made Governor of the Sea Coast and had a great Navy which Caesar overcame in Sicily Of this Sextus Pompeius are many Coins stamp'd with some relation to Sea-matters as with a Neptune prow of a Ship c. and of Caesar his Victory over him and Conquest of Sicily Many also of the other III Viri either with the names of the Mint-masters Quaestor or some other of their Officers Caesar's Coin is often reversed with a Thunderbolt either to represent his own terribleness in War or the assistance from Heaven particularly from Julius his Father which as they say he often experienced in the Wars and especially in that fatal and decisive Battel at Actium whereby he became Master of the whole Roman Empire and in Memory of which he repaired the decaied Temple of Apollo there and dedicated his own Image in the habit of Apollo Actius in a long Robe his Harp c. pretending to be his Son in the Library of the Palace After the Battel of Actium he returned to Rome and there put it to the question amongst his Friends whether he should restore to the Commonwealth its ancient Liberty or take upon himself the absolute Sovereignty and constitute a Monarchy After much debate the latter was resolved and withal to avoid that Rock which had split many others and of late his Father Julius he determined to abstâ—… from all Monarchical and odious names and to content himself with the ordinary Titles of the Magistrates of the City § 2. So then whereas anciently the eldest of the Censors or Viri Censorii such as had been Censors was called Princeps Senatus and afterwards such were chosen by the Censors in their Quinquennial Muster commonly the most excellent and eminent Persons as Scipio the African continued so all his life time Octavius chused to be called by that name as of chiefest honor amongst all the Senators The same Custom was also observed amongst the Equites and Pedites and amongst the Youth also wherefore the young Caesars and some few for Honors sake before the Emperors called Principes Juventutis we find frequently called Principes Juventutis but afterwards it became a Title of the young Sons or Heirs of the Emperors besides this he was always one of the Consuls or else put in whom he might trust and named the other also So you see upon the Coins of the Emperors Cos. II. III. c. Imperator at first was not a Name of Office or Command but of Honour only The Soldiers after a Victory wherein a certain number of their Enemies were slain and therefore called by Cicero Victoria justa because in after-times they were not so punctual calling their General by the Name of Imperator So you see many times Imp. X. XVI c. i. e. called so so often by the Army Appian saith if they had slain 10000 oâ—…â—…ir Enemies yet afterwards it came to denote him who commanded all the Forces of the Commonwealth in Chief The Senate being prone to Flattery most of them expecting Preferment from him heap'd upon him all the honorary Titles that had before been bestowed upon others amongst the rest that of Pater Patriae or P P. which at first was bestowed upon Cicero for discovering and defeating the Conspiracy of Catiline They called him also Augustus a Term applied before time only to the Gods or Heroes as if he had somewhat above Humane in him And in after-times Augustus signified him that was invested in the whole absolute Power of Emperor and Caesar who was designed to be but not actually invested in the Majesty of the Emperor None but he that was Augustus designed in Medals with a Crown of Laurel the Title of Semper Augustus or perpet Augustus not found before Diocletian and Maximianus When an Emperor with Raies about his Head it should seem to signifie that he was consecrated by some City or other and that that Coin was made after such Consecration § 3. Being Consul his Sentences might be hindered and interrupted by the Tribune of the
But what he did well was for fear lest the chief Men should Conspire against him not for love of Virtue and the same fear wrought in him by Messalia and Agrippina his Wives caused him to cut off whomsoever they pleased So that he put to Death Thirty Senators 221 Equites and other Persons innumerable So Foolish and Timorous was he that when his Wife Messalina was Married openly to Silius it was a long time before he knew it and when he did durst not a great while take Vengeance of her But he was afterwards poisoned by his Wife Agrippina in a Dish of Mushrooms or Tertuffale which he loved above all other things and his Mother had longed for when Great with him Claudius had one only Son called Britannicus whom Nero and Agrippina his Step mother Murthered of him Medals very rare Yeâ—… Seguinus hath one his Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â„ž a naked Figure supposed to be the Sun with a Hart to shew his Swiftness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alabanda was a City in Caria where the Sun was very much worshipped Many Medals of Claudius one reverse a Temple in which Peace or Rome crowneth him the words Romae Augusto communitas Asiae A Britain naked fighting with a Poignard against a Roman Soldier armed A Jupiter amidst seven Stars with Thunder in one Hand and a Trident in the other or a Jupiter and Neptune joyned as if both gave their Power to Claudius There arose in his days a Rebellion headed by Furvus Camillus Scribonianus Legatus in Dalmatia the Army which chused him Emperor terrified with Omens slew him the fifth day No Medals of him Seguinus hath set down a very curious Coin of Lead on the one side a Digamma a Letter sound out by Claudius and not used after his Death with a Palm issuing out of it IO. 〈◊〉 Sat. â„ž a Garland which he conceives very probably to be after the Victory Claudius obtained in Britanny Dio saith that the Gallican Legions refusing to march into Britanny he sent Narcissus his Freed-man to perswade them to it who coming to the Army and setting himself in the General 's Seat and beginning to make a Speech the Army universally cried out IO Saturnalia IO. as if Servants then ruled and turning to A. Plautius their General desired him to lead them into Britanny which he did and afterwards hearing of their good Success Claudius came in Person and attributed to himself the Victory and Triumph CHAP. IV. Of Nero Claudius Macer 1. NERO was born A. U. C. 789. A. D. 38. reigned thirteen Years seven Months Twenty eight Days died about Thirty two Years old The most abominable Monster for Lust Debauchery Cruelty and all Wickedness that ever the World saw He gave his mind to nothing laudable but Singing and Playing The Senate having voted him to be whip'd to Death through the Streets he chused rather to kill himself crying out Qualis Artifex pereo Medals many of him tho the Senate decreed his Coins should not be Currant because of the length of his Reign Yea mistrusting some such thing of the Senate 't is probable that he caused upon divers of his Coins the Pourtraict of Augustus and Tiberius to be stamped 2. As himself standing one Foot on a Globe and a Spear in his Hand as if his Valour had given him the Empire of the World The like a Roma sitting and setting her Foot upon a Globe His Figure standing Raies about his Head like the Sun in the one Hand a Laurel in the other a Victory the word Aug. Germanico perhaps to represent the Colosse he caused to be made of himself and in imitation of that of Rhodes Four Fishes perhaps coined in Greece upon the Birth of his Daughter Claudia where it was the Custom that the fifth day after the Birth of a Child the Women who had been assistant at the Labour first washed their Hands then took up the Infant and carried it running throughout all the House to the Hearth especially and then the Kindred made a Feast of such Fishes as are here expressed Lobsters Pulpes such viz. as are very Proliferous and Inciters to Lust these Feasts were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the way Athenaeus notes that the tenth day after the Child was born the nearest Kindred met together to name the Child which they did after they had Sacrificed and Banqueted together In Rome the eighth day was commonly for Females the ninth for Males the Lustricus for purifying and naming the Child Ara pacis and another the Temple of Janus shut up the reason of opening of Janus's Temple in time of War was taken from Romulus who fighting against the Sabins and being worsted there rose up immediately out of Janus's Temple a Spring of Hot Water wherewith the Romans scalded and so vanquished their Enemies Going therefore to War they set open Janus's Temple in hopes of like Success Three Arches of a Bridge with Con. C C II. i. e. perhaps Consensu civitatum Campaniae duarum Then it signifies some Bridge made over the great Trench he endeavoured to cut between Avernus and Ostia The Port of Ostia tho upon his Medals was chiefly built by Claudius he only adorned and compleated it A Triumphant Chariot drawn with four Horses and Nero holding a Crown and Palm with the word Euthymius perhaps representing his Victory at the Olympick Games in a Race of Horses Euthymius was a Famous Wrestler of Locri who fought with the Daemon Temsus and delivered a Beautiful Damsel from him for which reason he was made a God and worshipped by the Locri who probably stamped this Medal in Honor of him An Hydraulick Instrument like our Organs in which he was much delighted as Sueton. noteth A Serpent as ready to take Fruits from an Altar which either represented AEsculapius or as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Mother perswading him that sleeping he was preserved by a Serpent from the Trains of Messalina Besides it was a good Augury to have a Serpent come and eat upon their Altars as Virgil noteth of AEneas and that they nourished Serpents as signs of good Luck and this Nero did in the Wood of Lavinium amongst the rest Nero Caesar in his Youth â„ž a Senator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Acknowledgment of some Favour that City received by his means Nero Radiant as the Colossus of Rhodes â„ž 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Rhodians stâ—…g themselâ—…es Rhodiâ—… Neâ—…nenses Augusti Nero like Apollo â„ž his Wife like Latona 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Europa carried upon a Bull. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She being Venus and Astarte Nero with a Serpent about his Neck signifying Felicity â„ž An Eagle with a Palm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The River Meles Famous for inspiring Poetry Nero and Agrippina â„ž Libertas Nero â„ž Jupiter the two Monarchs of Heaven and Earth So of Serapis also Nero. â„ž Poppaea Sabina as a Juno Nero. â„ž Messalina his last Wife as a Ceres Claudius Macer 3. Was Propraetor
in Africk when Nero died and commanding the Army there partly instigated by his own Ambition partly by Calvia Crispinilla the Mistress and Minister of Nero's Lusts who after Nero's Death being condemned and sought for to be slain fled to Macer and perswaded him to hinder the City from Corn till they declared him Emperor it seems also he had some Party in the City amongst the Senators since there is a Medal of him with his Image and S. C on one side on the other a Ratis with Propraet Afric But Galba being Emperor sent Trebonius Garucianus immediately into Africk who got his Army from him and â—…lew him CHAP. V. Of Servius Sueton. Sulp. Galba Salvus Otho Aulus Vitellius 1. GAlba born A. U. C. 750. reigned seven Months six Days died aged Seventy three Years employed for a long time in great Charges and Commands at Nero's Death he governed Spain where he was declared Emperor by the Army and Encouragement of Julius Vindex Sriving to reduce the Army to the ancient Severity and Discipline and giving them nothing but being extremely and sordidly Covetous he fell into their Hatred The People also were no less offended with his Lust and Impotency whom he governed by his three Friends T. Vinius Corn. Laco and Icelus his Freed Man Persons contemptible for their Arrogance Cruelty and Baseness they were after a while all together slain by Otho who had before-hand corrupted the Army He chose Piso also a Sour young Man to be his Successor who was slain with him His Medals are a Soldier with a Victory in one Hand a Pike with an Eagle in the other with Roma renascens as if ruined by the former Emperors And the same â„ž with Roma â„ž XL. or Quadragesima remissa which was a certain Tax paid at the Passages of Rivers and Ports which he remitted A Triumphant Arch with S. C. erected either in remembrance of his former Victories or the Defeat of Macer Honos Virtus Mars presenting Liberty kneeling before Galba the word Libertas restituta because by the Fame of his Arms he forced Nero to kill himself His Wife was Lepida by whom he had two Sons who both died young Q. Calph. Piso frugi Licinianus was because of their like manner of Life chosen by Galba to be his Successor he was Caesar but four days was killed with him and buried by his Wife Verania who bought his Head Galba's Head Galba Imperator â„ž the Head as of a Goddess Rest. Num. which some interpret Restitutor Nummorum But no History mentions any such thing of him besides Nummus is scarce found in that Sense but Moneta Others say Restitutor Numidiae where he governed two Years Pro-Cos and established and settled the Province Others say Restitutor Numinis the Head seeming to be of a Goddess not of a Country Sueton. saith that when he took the Toga virilis he dreamed that Fortune stood before his door and told him that if he would not let her in she would go to the first Man she met whereupon going to his door he found a Brazen Image of Fortune of above a Cubit long which he took in carried to his House at Tusculum and kept an Anniversary Sacrifice to it M. Salvius Otho 2. Born A. U. C. 784. A. C. 33. reigned three Months five Days killed himself at thirty seven years old was Courteous Prodigal Effeminate Delicate Dissolute Luxurious he governed Lusitania without blame courted Galba and was the first who perswaded him to take upon him the Empire coined all his Plate for his Assistance in hopes to be adopted by him having contracted such great Debts that nothing less than the Empire could deliver him But as soon as Piso was adopted he resolved to kill Galba and by excessive Largesses and other means drew the Soldiers to his part He was very intimate with and imitated Nero in his Life and Manners and the People made their Acclamation Neroni Othoni He debauched Poppaea from her Husband to deliver her to Nero Whereupon he was sent Governor into Portugal It is doubted whether any large Medals of Brass of Otho yet small Coins of Brass there are and of Silver not very rare Such as Otho â„ž on Horse-back brandishing a Spear Pont Max. the Goddess Victory Victoria Othonis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â„ž 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â„ž Isis's Head LA the East generally took part with him because acknowledged by and resident in the City and Sueton. saith particularly that he often sacrificed to Isis. Aulus Vitellius 3. Was born A. U. C. 767. A. C. 16. reigned six Months twenty two Days died aged about fifty four years a Fat Gross Heavy Dull Sottish Cruel Lustful Drunken Glutton Nasty Beast having all the Vices of Caligula Nero and Otho and nothing either of their Ingenuity Parts Conduct or Gentileness He came into Reputation with Tiberius by Flattery and serving him in his Lusts by the same Arts he continued in the favor of the rest Galba thinking him not fit to head or manage a Design sent him General into Lower Germany where by giving the Soldiers Licence to do what they pleased he got their Favors so much that they saluted him Emperor Presently he marched into Italy where having got the better in one Battel Otho through his Effeminateness impatient of Labor never so much as rallying his Men who were overcome by Surprize and desired much to regain their Honor or retiring to his Army slew himself and left the Government to Vitellius who behaved himself in it most cruelly and covetously killing all he could have any Pretence against for their Wealth which he consumed wholly upon his Belly and so laschly that he without ordering or providing for himself was taken by Vespasian's Soldiers naked in a Sink and soled through the City and at last carried to the Scalae Gemoniae there a long time tormented and at last thrown into Tyber Of his Medals A Vesta holding a Sacrificing Platter in one Hand in the other a Torch with Vesta â„ž populi Romani Quiritun signifying that he was Pont. Max or that Vesta was the chief Defendress of Rome or that his Government was to be Eternal AEquity the Goddess AEquitas Aug. Victory with a Platter and Palm sitting S. C. for he pretended to take Arms to Revenge Galba's and Piso's death A Tripode with a Dolphin and a Crow XV VIR SACR-FAC Quindecimvir Sacris faciundis Vitellius was one of them whose Office was to keep the Sybils Books and make certain Sacrifices the Dolphin a Fish of good Presage Apollo was called Delphinius because he guided Castalius the Cretan conducting a Colony under that shape Theseus also sacrificed to him under that Name and Plutarch testifieth that many Altars of the Greeks had a Dolphin upon them the Crow Sacred to Minerva and much esteemed in Augury and Divination A Shield curiously wrought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sextilia was his Mother a brave and vertuous Woman whom he saluted Augusta
Marcia Furnilla whom some call Fulvia by whom he had Julia Sabina he was divorced from her being yet a private Person Julia Sabina his Daughter refused by Domitian married Flavius Sabinus whom Domitian for love of her caused to be Murthered and having got her with Child perswaded her to destroy the Foetus whereby she also killed her self Her Medals a Julia Augusta ℞ a Peacock Divi Titi F. Venus Augusta Venus resting upon a Pillar in one Hand the Helmet of Mars in the other a Spear her Cestus or Scarf which was a sort of thin Vestment through which the whole Body was seen therefore in the Cestus was said to be placed the Charm of Love tyed about her Thighs Signifying that she was Venus and had Command and Power over Domitian Domitian § 3. Was born A. D. 52. U. C. 803. reigned about fifteen Years was slain at the Age of Forty four Years by his Domesticks who were afraid he should have Murthered them as he had done many others He was Beautiful enough and at first by his good Laws for reforming their Religion and against Gelding Boys and his frequent hearing of Causes gave hopes of good Government but he changed after a while and shewed his own Inclinations to be Barbarously Cruel Traiterous Insolent Cowardly Ignorant Lustful and every way Vitious He because as some imagine he heard the Sybils prophecied of a Virgins Conception gave out and imprisoned some for not saying that he was the Son of Pallas which is the reason why somewhat of Pallas is upon most of his Medals He would needs be a God sometimes Jupiter Hercules c. would have his Bed be called Pulvinar suffered himself to be adored gave his Hand to be kissed c. He banished also all Learning especially Philosophy out of Rome A Goat within a Crown Princeps Juventutis perhaps in Flattery to resemble him to Jupiter educated by a Goat of Amalthaea of whose Skin he made his AEgis A Ram. Princeps Juventutis the Ram the chief of the Flock and first of the Signs Domitian having upon his Breast the AEgis ℞ on Horse-back his Horses Foot upon the head of a River representing a Statue described by Papinius Statius made in Honour of Domitian after his giving Peace to Germany or rather his buying it A Triumphal Arch. In the Habit of Mars with a Trophy on his Shoulder for his German Victory Pallas standing upon a Ship with two Prows her Invention probably representing the Vessel in which Domitian passed the Rhine and Danow being so fearful that he could not endure so much as the trouble of Rowing he had a Boat on purpose drawn by the Gallies in which he sate alone like an Image Plin. Paneg. An Altar dedicated to him by the Nicaeenses probably for giving them the Primacy of Bithynia against the Nicomedians under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Forensis President of Tribunals esteeming him a God As also in that of an Eagle holding Thunder they called him Jupiter Domitor Orbis Isis stretching or displaying a Sail called Pelagia Goddess of Navigation and Inventress of Sails § 4. His Wife was Domitia Longina Daughter of that brave Corbulo whom Nero caused to kill himself he took her from her Husband AElius Lamia whom he afterwards also slew She was a very wicked Woman and governed by Paris a Comaedian whereupon Domitian turned her away but overcome with her Beauty afterwards received her and for fear he should again use her worse she helped to Murther him Others commend her much for her Virtue and Procopius saith that after Domitian's Death she was so much reverenced by the Senate that she was sent for thither and desired to request what she pleased of her Husbands she only desired the liberty to set up his Image where she pleased which was granted She sent therefore and gathered together his torn Limbs and had them put together and sowed and fastened so as the Body being given to the Statuaries they made a Statue upon it which she placed upon the ascent to the Capitol which he saith remained there till his time representing the marks of the sowed Limbs A Peacock Concordia August made after her Repeal By her he had a Son which dying young was consecrated A Child sitting upon a Globe amongst Stars Domitian and Domitia ℞ a Temple with a Goddess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domitian began his Patents Dominus ac Deus noster sic jubet she might well be a Goddess then Lucius Antonius injured by Domitian who called him Scortum Governour of Germany raised a Rebellion but was overcome and slain by another General CHAP. VII Of Cocceius Nerva Ulpius Trajanus § 1. NErva was born A. D. 33. reigned some say sixteen Months others 27. he entered into the twenty eighth Month for he was Cos. IV. and in the second year he was made Emperor for at that time we find his Medals died aged above Seventy two Years was a most Just Mild Wise Tranquill Passionless Irreproachable Bountiful Learned Prince recalled those Domitian had banished and in their rooms sent the Informers Accusers Sycophants of the Court was persecuted and banished by Domitian jealous of his Virtues Being advanced to the Empire by the Murtherers of Domitian he could not protect them from the Rage of the Soldiers who cut them to pieces the first Action of Insolence of the Army but not the last A little before his Death he most wisely provided for the Commonwealth by adopting Trajan who having gained a great Victory in Pannonia and sending a Crown to Nerva was by Nerva adopted in the Temple of Jupiter Capit. and immediately made Caesar and Trib. Pot. given him tho it seems he abstained till after Nerva ' Death from the Title of Augustus yet was he partaker of the Sovereignty Ulpius Trajanus § 2. Was born A. C. 54. reigned nineteen Years six Months sixteen Days we find no more than TRI. Pot. XVII died at the Age of sixty four Years at Selinapte from his death called Trajanopolis was exceedingly Valiant Magnificent Just Liberal Benign Eloquent but either for Laziness State or his squeaking and not very intelligible Voice had another to speak for him in the Senate a very great Soldier Patient and Painful was taxed for Drunkenness Lust and Ambition of Honor which made him be called Wall-Flower because so many Inscriptions of his Name upon Buildings His Medals very many His Head with an ordinary Inscription ℞ Osyris or the Sun with a Peach upon his Head and a Stag to intimate his Swiftness in his Hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LI I. Koptika was a Prefecture in Egypt His Head an ordinary Inscription ℞ his Pillar with an Owl on the Top an Emblem of Vigilance Providence and Wisdom A Ship with Soldiers in a Storm and Trajan standing in the Sea calming it c. shewing the miserable Condition of the Commonwealth when Trajan undertook it Trajan under the shape of Hercules ℞ the Erymanthean Boar ℞ the Club as
one of the Fountains of Jordan afterwards rebuilt and called Caesarea Paneadis and Caesarea Philippi the two Temples one to Augustus the other to Antoninus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AEsculapius and Venus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being quite ruined by an Earthquake as also a great part of Ionia sore shaken Antoninus repaired them and planted Coos with a Colony of Milesians therefore Antoninus and Faustina were meant by the two Deities Cybele sitting upon a Rock under her a Man with his Head and Arms above Water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flavia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Samosate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sacrum asylum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 legibus suis vivens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metropolis Comagenes The Man seems to be Euphrates the Son of Arandax who finding his Son Axurta sleeping one day near his Mother by mistake slew him and afterwards drowning himself gave name to the River Euphrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Jupiter's Head with Serapis's Bushel Ammon's Horns and Osiris or the Suns Beams AEsculapius's Serpent twisted about a Pisis or Neptune's Trident like a Mercuries Caduceus and a Cornucopia for Nilus The NT probably Antoninus as if he were acknowledged by the Egyptians to have been their Serapis or comprehending all the Gods of the Heathen â„ž 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Man on Horse-back under him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perhaps for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one of the Cabiri Corybantes or Idaei Dactili Antoninus's Head Antoninus Aug. Pius P P. TR. P. Cos. IV. â„ž a young Child swathed newly born not Faustina for she was married when he was Cos. IV. whose Mother seems there to represent Rhea or Mater Magna with the Corybantes or People with Instruments of Musick and Satyrs Antoninus's Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. â„ž Jupiter or Pius in his shape sitting upon Rocks and raining out of an Horn upon a Statue lying along underneath probably some River a Rock also a little House or Temple and a Cypress-Tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where note that it should seem I anciently in Latin was not pronounced like ee since the Greeks express it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Seneca Ep. 58. renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by I. Antoninus's Head c. â„ž a Woman naked sitting upon a Rock with a Water-flower in her Hand and a Water-plant behind the Rock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marcus Sabinus Governor of Philippopolis a City in Thrace under Mount Rhodope coined this it should seem by this that Rhodope was so called not from a Queen of Thrace but from a Nymph Daughter of Strymon got with Child by Neptune 2. His Wife was Annia Galeria Faustina Sister to AElius Caesar a foolish lightheaded Woman who denied her self nothing she desired she died at thirty six Years three Months old she had two Daughters one died in his Proconsulat married to Silianus Lamia the second was Faustina and two Sons one of whom a Medal with his Mother deified Galerius Anton. the others name not known as neither the time of their Death as neither whether the two Cornucopia's a â„ž of Antoninus be meant of them or the two Sons of M. Aurelius Faustina that hath her Hair wreathed on the top of her Head is the Mother she that hath it tied up behind the Daughter CHAP. X. Of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Verus 1. M Aurelius Antoninus Son of M Annius Verus Brother of AElius Caesar and Domitia Lucilla was born A. C. 122. reigned nineteen Years ten Days died at fifty nine Years old At Syrmium by the help of his Physicians as some say in favor of Commodus Was sickly but exceeding Couragious Laborious Prudent Just Mild Learned in Philosophy especially and Chast. He put none to death but only banished them for Treason forbad Gladiators to kill one another and therefore blunted their Weapons Whilst he was Caesar he wore not Garments different from ordinary Persons nor would suffer Fire to be carried before him his word was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All things flow from Above and that he that would live or govern happily must imitate the Gods Very liberal towards all Poor Persons even the Christians as appears by Capitolinus who calleth them homines novos where see also who was Lucius Commodus Verus He gave to Hierapolis which was almost wholly Christian at one time three thousand quarters of Coin Yet held the Soul to be Mortal and the Gods to have Bodies Notwithstanding his great Wars he never forsook his study of Philosophy which yet made him not at all morose Aurelius Caesar armed riding upon a Sphinx the Emblem of Subtilty Cunning and Prudence as also of Egypt either as if by his Prudence he conquered Barbarians and all other his Enemies or particularly some Exploit in Egypt A Woman perhaps Faustina praying for the Health of M. Aurelius or perhaps of the whole Empire which was in his time much afflicted with the Plague and such Diseases before the Altar of Salus another of AEsculapius presenting a little Cake which they called Sanitatem and being put into the hands of the Idol and taken out again was accounted Sovereign for many Diseases and a small Vase it may be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or poculum Sanitatis The Temple of Mercury upon four Hermes's Over-head a Dog a Cock a Tongue Relig. Aug. for ☿ as the Inventor of Religion and Sacrifice was accounted the Genius of Piety and Religion with a Purse to shew the plentiful Provision for the Entertainment of his Temple by the Bounty of the Emperors A Dog Fidelity a Cock Vigilance and a Tongue Perswasiveness necessary to a Pontifex This God much worshipped by M. Aurelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A King with a Diadem and Head-â—…e not unlike an Imperial one the name of the Kings of the Osdroenians Eddessenians c. which are parts of Arabia who seemed to be Christians and are divers of them called by the Fathers Viri Sancti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Emperor presenting an Eagle to Cybele Attalus the Son of Polemon the great Sophister probably sent to the Emperor in behalf of his Country ruined by Earthquakes obtained great Succor for he repaired them and many other of those Asian Cities which worshipped the Goddess Cybele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Athletes with Cestus's probably some Eminent Persons the Lacedemonians a People above all other addicted to Martial Exercises sent to the Emperor who also practised those Athletick Exercises very much to strengthen his Health as he did also Hunting and Hawking as his Father loved Fishing If it be enquir'd what kind of Hawking was then in use among the Romans whether like our Modern and of what Continuance that hath been I answer that it is out of my design to enter into such Discourses but that I am informed that a Person of Quality of this Nation hath an ancient Greek Author of this Subject ready for the Press 2. His Wife was Faustina a very beautiful and
sprightly but a vile abominable Woman for Lasciviousness and all other Wickedness which yet either her Husband was ignorant of or would not be informed or dissembled for in his Book he commends her much and when she died bewailed her in a most extraordinary manner as if he had never understood Philosophy and afterwards deified her for which Actions he is justly censured He had by her six Children as appears by a Medal of Faustina with two in her Arms and four about her No Son attained to Age save Commodus Sextus Annius Verus younger than Commodus died at the Age of seven Years by the unskilful cutting of an Imposthume behind his Ear his Father punished not but comforted the Physicians and mourned for him only five days There are Medals of him Antonius Geminus Twin with Commodus died at four Years old Annia Cornificia Sister to M Aurel. married Numidius Quadratus by whom she had a Son of the same name to whom M. Aurelius left his Mothers Inheritance he was put to death by Commodus Lucilla married L. Verus Fadilla put to death by Caracalla of the rest little known Veneri Victrici Faustina as Venus half naked holding M. Aurel. as Mars lest he should â—…o to the Wars or else getting him to her self from Fadia the Daughter of AElius Caesar. Fortunae muliebri to which she was much devoted her Temple four Miles out of Rome whither went only such as were Univirae and offered a Crown Soeculi felicitas Two Children upon a Bed When Male Children of a good House were born they carried them into the Temple of Juno Lucina and laid them upon a Bed of the bigness of that Hercules lay in when he slew the Dragons for an Omen of their future Prowess AEternitas Faustina carried upon the Wing of a Victory or Minerva or perhaps Diana Lucifera into Heaven after her Consecration AEternitas Faustina of a grand and divine Stature set between two Heroines or lesser Goddesses probably her own and Husband's Sister both installed amongst the Demi-Goddesses as coming to accompany her to Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a City of Thrace gratifying the Emperor for setling their Peace by his Victories over their Neighbors Isis and Anubis Dog-headed whom the Egyptians conceived the chiefest God and Goddess intimating Faustina and Aurelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Certain Quinquennalian Games celebrabrated at Actium perhaps renewed by Aurelius 3. Lucius Aurelius Verus called also Commodus before his Adoption Son of AElius Caesar was born A. C. 129. reigned about eleven years and died of an Apoplexy about forty two years old He was a Foil to M. Aurel. being Rash Heady Light headed Prodigal Voluptuous a Mocker so much given to Whoredom that at the request of a common Strumpet he cut off his Beard which he had so carefully nourished easily drawn and ordered by his Servants At first he was not so bad as after the Parthian War which he finished chiefly by his Lieutenants M. Aurelius notwithstanding with great Prudence covered his Faults and commended in him what was good i. e. to love his Servants not to dissemble not to be bloody Rex Armenis datus They say his Name was Soëinus ejected first by Valogesus who flying to the Romans was made a Senator and afterwards re-established which perhaps is shewed by his Roman habit Col. Patr ensis rather than Patricia an Athlete sacrificing and laying his left Hand upon a Term or Pillar with a Head upon it as sacrificing to ☿ the God of Games for Patrae was a City of Achaia the Theatre of Games to which Verus was much addicted The Statue of Jupiter in the shape of Verus upon the top of a Mount flaming on one side and Trees on the other perhaps Vesuvius it may be the Inhabitants thereabouts worshipped him to deliver them from the danger of those Eruptions or else as Jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or President of the Mountains upon the top of which the Heathens used to worship their Gods Venus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or on Horseback 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Anatho a holy Town of the Isle Prosopites an Island made by Nilus and an Asylum His Wife was Lucilla the Daughter of M. Aurelius whom he married in his Parthick Expedition her Father promised to accompany her into Syria though he went no farther than Brundusium but her Husband lest M. Aurelius should be witness of his Debauches met her at Ephesus where they were married But before that she was possessed with the Devil which could not be ejected by any but Abertius Bishop of Hierapolis to which City after the Ejection the Emprors gave that great Largess of Corn. After Verus's death she was married to Claudius Pompeianus a very virtuous and worthy though mean Person but she maintained her quality of Emperess till Commodus being displeased with her at first banished and afterwards killed her She was a Daughter worthy such a Mother such an Husband such a Brother Her Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â„ž Ceres sitting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dio speaks in Trajan's time of Manus a King of the Arabians beyond Euphrates between the Osroeni and Armenia Major possibly this Mannus might be his Son or Grand-child For Verus sending Avidius Cassius against Vologaesus a near Neighbor to this Mannus Mannus being afrighted cajoled the Empress then being at Antioch with her Husband pretending friendship to the Romans for fear 4. Under M. Aurelius and Verus arose up a Rebel Avidius Cassius a Man of many especially Military Virtues who endeavored to engage in his quarrel the Legions of Asia Syria and Egypt pretending first to restore the ancient popular Government but afterwards taking upon him the Title of Emperor he was slain after three Months by common Consent of the Armies and People wonderfully affectionate to the Virtues of M. Aurelius CHAP. XI Of Commodus 1. COmmodus was born A. C. 162. reigned 12 Years nine Months and was strangled at the Age of thirty one Years In his Impurity Brutishness Cruelty Injustice Gluttony Drunkenness Impiety equalled Caligula Nero Vitellius and Domitian He murdered his Wife his Sister his Cousin German his Aunt all his Friends and twenty four of the eminentest Persons of the Empire He violated his Sisters the Vestal Virgins had three hundred Concubines and as many This his Incontinency was augmented by the Ointments and Medicines he took to preserve him from the Plague which reigned violently in his time He defiled the Temples and Altars with Murder and Lust gave his mind to be a Gladiator Charioteer Pimp c. Yet in hate to the Senate Severus afterwards made him a God Jupiter laying his Hand on the Shoulder of Commodus I. O. M. Spon sori Sec uritatis Aug usti Col oniae Aug ustae f elio Cermeno in another Germeno a Wolf suckling two Children Rome being much desolated by a great Plague Commodus repeopled and would have it called Colonia Commodiana Now Rome was composed anciently of four Villages Romula
Treacherously So did he also to the Germans under pretext of Marriage with his Daughter he invited Artabanus King of the Parthians with his Nobility into a great Plain and theâ—…e slew most of them but the King escaped He designed to Murther his Father threatned his Mother killed his Brother his Father-in-Law Plautianus his Aunt Lucilla his Governour and Kinsinan Papinianus forced his Preceptor to kill himself for which he was so haunted that many times he became Furious crying out upon his Father and Brother for Persecuting him so much that none durst â—…ame Geta to him Tho his Baseness was such â—…hat he durst not put on Armour 〈◊〉 â—…is Fear â—…rced him to make his Cloaths so like Armour â—…hat he was believed alwaâ—…â—…o 〈◊〉 Aâ—…med As he passed through Macedoma he imitated Alexander the Great would be called Magnus and set both their Heads upon the Bâ—…sts of â—…is Statues At Ilium he would needs be Achilles Providentia the Head of the Sun to whom Providence is many times attributed as well as Power shewing the Providence of Severus in â—…aking Antoninus Caesar. A Lyon Radiant with Thunder in his Mouth â—…ems to signifie the Lyon which as he was going against the Parthians came down from 〈◊〉 Mountain and fought against his Enemies 〈◊〉 the head of his Troops He also nourished 〈◊〉 Tame Lyon which he sed at his Board â—…d carried always with him and which when he went forth that time he was slain â—…ould have stayed him in his Tent so that â—…e tore his Garment A Lyon also in this Figure was worshipped at Heliopolis the Country of Julia and thereabouts as the God Genaeus or the Sun a certain 〈◊〉 â—…amed Eusebius testifying that â—…e saw a Globe 〈◊〉 Fire descending from Heaven and that it â—…as the God Genaeus Col. Caesarea Aâ—…ph in the 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Goddess 〈◊〉 like a Nun 〈◊〉 â—…eems to be Diana Alpâ—…a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indulgentiae foecundae Julia sitting as a Goddess obtaining some Favour or Indulgence for Carthage or some other City v. g. some Privilege Liberty Prerogative c. So the Romans expressing by this Medal the great Benefit to all the World by her Fecundity Caracalla Radiant imitating the Sun in a little Oval Chariot drawn by four Horses which was the manner in the Ludi Circenses in Honour of the Sun whom they fansied to be carried about the World in such a Vessel With these and such-like Games was Caracalla mightily delighted AEsculapius with the little God Telesphorus and a Ball it seems coined for the recovery of Caracalla from some great Sickness and that he submitted his Empire unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Decreto Senatus An Eagle crowning Caracalla c. Severus to the great affright of the Senate declared himself Son of M. Aurel. and Caracalla took upon him the name of Commodus Two Gods the one inâ—…olded in the Scarf of the other drawn by two Horses Probably Caracalla and Julia represented by the Perinthians in their Games as the Sun and Moon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zeugma was a strong City and Castle upon a Passage over Euphrates on the other side on the edge of a vast Solitude a Temple on the Top of an high Rock to which there are two Ascâ—…nts probably erected by Vespasian and repaired by Caracalla at his return out of Parthia or by the People in Honour of him with a Capricorn alluding to the Situation of the place on one side being a place fit for Goats only the other for Fishes i. e. Euphrates where Venus turned her self into a Fish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A freed Man of the Emperor 's made Governour of Magnesia a City of Ionia at the Mouth of Maeander A young Man Caracalla crowned with Olive and a Girdle of Scarlet sitting before an Altar whereon is a Pine-Apple Sacred to Cybele and about him three Coribantes beating their Sheilds probably intimating the Initiation of the Emperor in these Mysteries for the Expiation of his Fratricide for which these Ceremonies were accounted very Efficacious two of the Coribantes having killed their Brethren and Preservation from Danger This Emperor being very Timorous and also much troubled in mind for that Fratricide of which yet probably by being thus initiated he was not recovered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Serpent with a Man's Head the Serpent the Genius of Wisdom c. was frequently worshipped and particularly by the Nicomedians the Egyptians brought in the manner of joyning Beasts with Mens Heads or Bodies Bacchus leaning upon and caressing Pan in the other Hand a Capricorn into which Sign Pan was converted â—…or transforming himself first into it and thereby shewing the Gods the means to escape Typhon who had almost surprised them Pan is joyned to Bacchus both because he was brought up in the Cave with him ☿ his Father leaving him there to keep him company and that he was the Best and Drunkennest Companion he had Bacchus was worshipped chiefly at Nysa in Egypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Instrument betwixt an Ox and Sheep it may be to draw Water out of the bottom of the Sea as they say they did their Island sâ—…uate in the Phaenician Sea being a Rock and having no Spring being once besieged Geta in a Croissant they imagined that the Souls of theiâ—… 〈◊〉 inhabited the Air from the Earth to the Moon but the Gods above the Moon and Sun and that the Goddesses or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passed through the Moon and some pure and innocent Men also as Geta. But this raâ—…ly for ordinarily they took their way through the Sun His Wiâ—… was 〈◊〉 Plautilla Daughter of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest Favourite the 〈◊〉 Empire ever saw a Vile Brutal Traitor that 〈◊〉 one time caused a hundred Citizens Soâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quality to be gâ—…lded for Musitians â—…o 〈◊〉 Daughter he was slain for Treason in 〈◊〉 his presence and his Daughter with the two Children thereupon banished and afterwards slain a fit end for so shameless and impudent a Woman Venus felix Plautilla like Venus giving an Apple to her Son young Antoninus 4. P. Septimius Geta was born A. C. 190. reigned with his Brother ten Months fifteen Days was slain by him in his Mothers Bosom at the Age of Twenty three Years was like his Father Severe but not Cruel having as some Authors say disswaded him from putting to Death so many of the Friends of Niger and Albinus lest there should be more in Rome sorry than glad for their Victory Delighted much in Neatness Gardens learned and virtuous Mens Conversation acquitted himself well in the Wars wherefore his Brother jealous of the Affection generally born to him never rested till he had slain him and to satisfie the People he afterwards Consecrated him Principi Juventutis Geta on Horse-back looking back upon two others that ride after him The Ludus Trojanus invented by Ascanius and described AEneid 5. Castor standing by his Horse Cyllanus intimating the Excellency of Geta in that
his Table and every other Place carrying him along to the Wars with him and inviting him to take pains c. according to his Example which so wearied Camillus that he desired leave to retire and so did He changed all Elagab's Officers which he had set in all the Empire He forbad all vicious Persons to salute and come to him but good Men he visited even in their own Houses especially when Sick To Courtiers and Smoak-sellers he was an implacable Enemy stifling one of them with Smoak because he Sold Smoak He would not have any Panegyrick made in his Praise Severus and Maesa â„ž 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Bona for tuna sive Tucca Terebentinorum Carthaginensium Fortune with a Globe Scepter and Wheel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the Name of a Town which worshipped Fortune which they here apply to Maesa by whose Conduct Severus came to the Empire A Lectisternium to Fortune as giving her thanks for the Empire Severus Alex. without a Garland â„ž Alex. the Great 's Effigy a sign of the great Honor and Devotion he bore to him A Garland of Gold within 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysanthina Sardianorum ter Neocororum The Sardians as Neocori made Games and Wrestlings in Honor of Sev. Alex. called Chrysanthina and sent him this Crown of Gold made in fashion of Leaves probably of the Plant and Flower Chrysanthis these Games probably instituted by Chrysanthas a great Commander of Cyrus the Great famous for his great Services to him whom he set over Lydia and Ionia after the Example of Cyrus himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tenos was an Isle one of the Cyclades a Trident charged with a Serpent In that Isle Neptune was worshipped under the Epithete of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neptune also brought Storks amongst them 〈◊〉 devour their trouble-some Serpents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Zacinthyans Zante now the Isle is called a Colony of the Ionians were very idle and effeminate Persons given much to Plays and Dances one of which is here represented i. e. Diana as surprising the Satyrs and old drunken Maron Dancing about one of her Nymphs lying asleep 〈◊〉 His Wife was Sulpitia Memmia Daughter probably of Sulpitius Marcianus a Person of great Reputation Power and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in also to the Emperor Mamaea being offended that she took the Name of Augusta caused her to be banished wherefore her Father being Angry endeavored to raise a Mutiny amongst the Soldiers against the Emperor for which he was put to death Monsieur Seguin as Morellus saith discovered S. Barbiam Orbianam to have been the Wife of Alex. Severus He had a Sister called Theoclia whom he would have married to Maximus Son of Maximinus had it not been for the barbarousness of the Father which exasperated his Father against him Afterwards she was married so Messala Son of Silius Messala put to death by Elagabale Julia Mamaea Mother to Sev. Alex. was at first instructed by Origen and the Christians but afterwards fell into divers Heresies that taught her to conceal next to counterfeit and and lastly to quit all Religion and give her self up to hoarding of Money She became also Proud and Haughty by which Courses she brought that excellent Emperor into Disâ—…putation he strived to reform and restrain her but could not she having got so great Power A Medaillon wherein she is represented as having somewhat of Isis having a Peach between two Leaves on her Head the Moon by the Crescent Nature by her Breasts discovered Concord a Cornucopia Minerva by her Nose-gay of Olive and Laurel and Victory by her Wings â„ž Felicity or Maesa Crowning Mamaea holding a Sacrificing Platter and a Scepter Two other Figures perhaps of Theoclia and Memmia Col. F. Bostra Alexandrea Bostra one of the chiefest Cities of Arabia first made a Colony by Trajan afterwards repaired by this Emperor A Head with Towers to shew its Strength Cornucopia for its Plenty and a Star for the East 5. Sulpitius Martianus Father-in-Law to Alex. made Caesar by him V. S. Antoninns was by the Guards who had slain Ulpianus set up but he refused to be Emperor and going away lived unknown After his refusal they set up Uranius In the East one Taurinus set up himself but for fear drowned himself in Euphrates Ovinius Camillus also rebelled against him whom Alex. sent for carried him into the Senate declared him his Companion communicated Counsels with him took him with him to the War where he presently grew weary and disposed to kill himself which the Emperor prevented sending him to his own House with a Guard of Soldiers but afterwards finding that he practised the Soldiers against him and that the Soldiers were inclined to him as one likely to let them do what they list he was put to death CHAP. XV. Of Julius Verus Maximinus and Maximus 1. C. Julius Verus Maximinus Son of Micca and Abaqua the one a Goth the other an Alain born in a Village of Thrace about A. D. 173. reigned five Years more or less was slain with his Son Maximus about the Age of sixty five Years was a Gyant in Stature Bulk Strength Force Boldness Eating c. a great Enemy to Idleness Filthiness c. which made him retire under Elagabale but otherwise Impious Sacrilegious Ungrateful in the highest degree to his Emperor who had brought him from his Retreat made him General of his Armies and had thoughts of Marrying his Sister to his Son Murdring him and all those who had assisted him in his necessitous and low Condition Cruel and Avaritious putting to death all Alexander's Friends and Counsellors all the chiefest Christians all the Eminentest Persons of the Commonwealth to get their Wealth suborning Accusers Informers and Calumniators against them an incredible number of whom was put to death by Pupienus c. Inconsiderat Rash Imprudent even in War losing by his ill Conduct an Army that he carried against the Persians and at last his Life also by his indiscreet besieging of Aquileia which not being able to take he accused his Officers and put most of them to death which made the whole Army rise against him and kill him and his Son in his Tent. Maximinus and his Son â„ž Castor and Pollux naked on foot with their Bucklers and Javelins Maximinus and Maximus â„ž Neptune sitting and two Tritons who were the Sons of Neptune and Salacia BPOYZHN 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 N. which is no other than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the like Letters being often changed one into another a City of Bithynia upon the Sea of Propontis His Wife probably was Paulina a good Woman aged when he came to the Empire who endeavored to perswade him from that Cruelty he used and was sorry when he committed it which the Tyrant not enduring made her away also She was Consecrated of which some Medals His Son was C. Jul. Verus Maximus the beautifullest Person of his time and withal Chast Liberal and
or Nuptialis in Honor of the Marriage of this young Prince carrying two Torches as Mother of the Sun and Moon as also the Mother or at least the next Kindred carried Torches before the Bride and a Veil wrought only by the Hands of Chaste and Fruitful Matrons His Wife the Martyrologies say was Tryphonia a Christian Woman who suffered Martyrdom as is supposed under Valerian 3. Caius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus seems to be the Son of Severus Hostilianus Caesar before Philippus he received the names of Messius Quintus by the Adoption of Decius who married to him his Daughter Gneia Seia Sallustia Barbia Orbiana and left him to govern Rome and Italy whilst he went against the Goths Decius thus providing to settle the Empire in his Family but was deceived the Pestilence taking away Hostilianus about the same time the Decii were slain by the Goths His Wife was Gneia Seia c. not Herennia as her Mother was called Caius Julius Valens Licinianus seems to be the Brother of Hostilianus him the People seeing the Decii were dead perswaded to be Emperor who going into Illyricum to fight against Gallus was abandoned and slain by his Soldiers The Senate also chused Hostil Perpenna Licinianus of the same Family who was also after a while taken away by the Plague 4. C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus was born Anno Christi 207. was with his Son Volusianus made Emperor in the Isle Meninge or Girba reigned about two Years six Months was slain by AEmilianus at the Age of Forty seven Years seems to have married Hostilia Severa Daughter of Severus Hostilianus and his Son Volusianus to have married Herennia Hetruscilla Daughter of Decius so that Decius could not trust any Man better to go against the Goths who had seized upon Philippopolis in Thrace nor is it probable what many Authors say that Gallus betrayed Decius into the Hands of the Goths shewing them what was to be done to ruine Decius but rather that Decius was Ruined by his own Rashness constraining the Goths to fight with him upon Disadvantages for hastily and disorderly pursuing them through a Marsh they turned Head and destroyed him but Gallus gathering the Relicks of the Army and what more Men he could get together put himself speedily in a condition to fight them but because of the Persians then Invading and the Plague within ruining the Empire he chose rather to make them a Bridge of Gold and send them away with a 〈◊〉 of Money which though Dishonorable yet was then a necessary Composition Returning to Rome he began to make Preparation against the Persians who had taken and pillaged as far as Antioch mean while AEmylianus left by him Governor in Pannonia practised the Soldiers against him who â—…lew him and his Son at Interamna Tarni as he was marching against the Persians Junoni Martiali the Mother of Mars and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortitude presiding over Arms whence by the Falisci called Curitis from Curis signifying a Spear Juno sitting with a pair of Sizers or some such thing in her Hand if Sizers it denotes the Custom that Men had to cut off and cleanse themselves from their Hair before her Images or because Sizers are the chiefest and most ordinary Tools of Womens labor Apollini Salutari because the Emperors took great care to free the Empire from the Contagion that reigned they were called Apollines Salutares His Wife was Hostilia Severa of whom we find nothing In Sir J. Cotton's Library is a small broken Coin with OCTIA 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 probably this Woman 5. C. Vibius Volusianus little noted except for a great Persecutor of the Christians and his care for Interring such as died of the Plague Was â—…ain with his Father His Wife seems to be Herennia Hetruscilla of whom little is spoken yet there are some Meâ—…als both of her Husband and her self but easie â—…o be understood 6. C. Julius AEmylianus called by Victor AEmilius AEmilianus was a Moor and born about A. D. 214. reigned about four Months and was slain in his Palace at Spoleto about forty six Years old got the Empâ—… by Treachery and Ingratitude kept it without any Reputation and lost it shamefully being by the Senate declared publick Enemy and sending to Valerianus then with the Gaulish Legions offering to make him Emperor if he would destroy AEmilianus which he understanding offered to lay down the Empire so that he might command the Army against the Persians but Valerian would not Capitulate with but slew him Votis decennalibus S. C. the Senate made solemn Prayers that it would please the Gods to grant him a Reign of Ten Years when they would renew them again CHAP. XIX Of P. Licinius Valerianus M. Cyriades Ingenuus Q. Nonius Regilianus M. Fulvius Macrianus Father and Son Quietus Balista Odenatus Moeonius Herodes Valens Piso AEmylianus Saturninus Trebellianus Celsus Victorinus § 1. P. Licinius Valerianus Sirnamed Colobius Son of Valerius Licin Gallienus was born A. C. 184. reigned about seven Years was taken Prisoner at Cesarea by Sapor King of Persia and afterwards cruelly flea'd to death at seventy six Years old Notwithstanding what some Authors say he seems to have been a Man of great Valor Prudence and Conduct of great Experience and an Exemplary Life being by Decius made Censor an Office usually annexed to the Emperor's Person and partaker of the greatest Charges of the Empire and was in such Reputation that he was generally desired by all Men to be Emperor At first he ceased the Persecution raised against the Christians and employed them very much afterwards by the perswasion of a certain Magician he began a most violent and inhuman Persecution against them using also most devillish Sacrifices and Practises for which causes God Almighty it seems gave him up into the Hands of the Persians For many of his Lieutenants being by them beaten and the East Country much ruined by the Plague and the Wars he was forced to go in Person where Fighting his Army was ruined and himself taken Prisoner and laden with Chains in his Robes was forced to be a Foot-stool to the Persian when he got on Horse-back for many Years together and at last flea'd alive Col lonia Julia Augusta Felix Helvia Lilybeum in Sicily certamina Sacra Capitolina OEcumenica Iselastica Helvia Three Vessels with Palms in them Prizes for the Victors OEcumenica probably because free for all Nations to come and all sorts of Exercises Iselastica because the Victors were drawn in a Chariot of four Horses into their own Town and received a certain Stipend from the Emperors called therefore Iselasticum Coloniae Tyro Metropoli Tyre made Metropolitan of Phoenicia by Hadrian and a Colony by Sept. Severus A Man upon a Gate with a Goddess the Sun c. hard to be understood except it refer to the Story of the Slaves who having all but one Straton slain their Masters ordered that he should be King who saw first the Sun arising Straton by the
not suppress him but made him partaker of the Empire on condition he would go against Postumus and ruin him which he could not do Afterwards Gallien mistrusting him fought against him forcing him to retire into Milan where Gallien besieging him was slain Claudius being made Emperor Aureolus submitted to him but afterwards they falling out fought and Aureolus was by the Soldiers slain contrary to the mind of Claudius who would have given him his Life After his death he built a Bridge in the Place called by his Name and erected him a Tomb. LI Legio prima MINERvia Restituta Minerva and Aureolus holding a Palm between them 5. M. Aurelius Claudius as some say natural Son of Gordian III. and a Woman of Dalmatia was born about the Year 239 reigned somewhat above two Years and died of the Plague as some say as others slain in a Mutiny of his Army about thirty two Years of Age. He was of a prodigious Strength of Body but a more Heroical Courage Prudence Integrity Constancy Justice and Capacity Valerian made very great account of him sodid Gallienus who sought by great Presents to pacifie him when he knew that he was offended at his Debauchery and at last when he saw himself dying he sent him the Imperial Ornaments in Gratitude to whom and to wipe off the Suspition of his Murder he writ to the Senate not to suffer any more of Gallienus's Friends to be put to death the Nobility being very violent against them and to give himself the honor of Consecration which were both done There were two Wars upon his hands Tetricus in France and the Goths he chused first to go against the Goths saying that Tetricus was his Enemy but the Goths the Commonwealths Enemies and though there were a vast number at least 320000 and 2000 Ships of War yet he absolutely ruined them slaying a very great number of them as he had done before also when General under Gallienus He died at Syrmium and the Senate dedicated to his honor his Statue of Massy Gold in a Discus of Gold in the Senate and his Statue of Gold also in the Capitol before the Temple of Jupiter of ten Foot high as also a Columna rostrata with his Statue on the top of it of fifteen hundred Pound of Brass He was a great Persecutor of the Christians Virtus Claudii Aug. Claudius holding an Horse intimating his Governing the Commonwealth represented often by an Horse Divus Claudius Caesar ℞ Consecratio We read not of his Consecration by the Senate this then must be according to the common Voice and Desire of the People Divo Claudio ℞ Consecratio Claudius young as about seventeen Years old shewing him after his Consecration to have renewed his Vigor and to continue always youthful 6. M. Aurelius Claudius Quintillus Brother of Claudius was chosen Emperor by the Army left in Italy and after his Brother's death confirmed by the Senate he reigned seventeen days and hearing that Aurelianus was chosen Emperor by the Soldiers he cut his Veins and bled to death or some say he was slain in a Mutiny by the Soldiers and as appeareth by his Medals Consecrated after his death 7. Victoria or Victorina seems to have been the Sister of Postumus a Woman of great Understanding Generosity and Artifice as appears by her insinuating so much into the Soldiers Affections that she made them chuse her Son and Grand-child and afterwards her Kinsman Tetricus Emperors Called Mother of the Armies and being another Zenobia Septimia as appears by a Brass Coin set out by Seguinus Zenobia seems to have been a Syrian and probably a Jewess at least by Profession or else a Samosatenian Christian tho some say Samosatenus fell into his Heresie by endeavoring to convert her from Judaism She never lay with her Husband after she had once conceived was a Woman of great Understanding Prudence Courage Constancy Gravity Eloquence Justice and Laboriousness marching a foot many times in the Head of her Infantry and haranguing the Soldiers with her Helmet sometimes also she would drink with the Officers whereby she kept those unconstant Nations always firm to her Her extraordinary Abilities and the Services done against the Persians by her Husband Odenatus and her self merited Pardon from Aurelianus At first she reigned under the Title of her Sons but afterwards she stiled her self Queen of the East designing to subject the whole East and afterwards march into the West and joyning with Victorina make themselves Mistresses of that also For which cause Aurelian came upon her and in a great Battle overcame her but offered her Peace and a quiet Retreat which she refused trusting to the Aids of the Persians Sarazens c. which Aurelian turned from her So that in fine he besieged her in Palmyrene her chief City whence she escaped upon a Diomedary but was overtaken at Euphrates brought back and carried in Triumph in Chains of Gold and rich Jewels afterwards she had Houses and Lands to a great Value near Tivoli Tiburtium where she and her Family lived a long time in great Honor and left Posterity after them in Rome Herennianus and Timolaus Sons of Odenatus and Zenobia one or both after the Death of their Father were called Augusti by Gallienus notwithstanding the whole Power was in Zenobia What became of them is uncertain most probable that Herennianus died before and that Timolaus lived with her at Tiburtium and left his Posterity at Rome Hermias Vaballathus was the Son of Herodes Son of Odenatus by another Wife to his prejudice it should seem Zenobia and her two Sons reigned or else that she governed under his Title who it seems after the Murther of his Father was brought up in some place of Armenia or there abouts under the Protection of the Romans and that Aurelian made use of his Soldiers and Subjects to quell Zenobia Most of his Medals are Reverses to Aurelianus Imp. C. Aurelianus Aug. the East mingled with some Lines of Aurelian ℞ Vabalathus UCrim PR the Image of Vabalathus crowned with Laurel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Father being called Athenes Herodianus or Herodes the Syrians commonly as this Prince had two Names one Greek the other Syrian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the fourth Year of his Reign which was the first of Aurelianus and in another Medal the fifth of his which was the second of Aurelian 8. Septimus was made Emperor by the Soldiers in Dalmatia and presently by them slain Zosimus also nameth one Epitymius and another Achilleus a Kinsman of Zenobia reigning in Egypt and defeated by Diocletian these two may probably be the same the Coins being inscribed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zosimus also nameth Urbanus but if not he that was Governor of Palestine and put to death by Maximianus we know nothing of him Domitianus also is named probably that Claudius Domitius Domitianus the General of Aureolus an eager and valiant Man who defeated the Macriani and in hatred to Aurelian who slew
towards the Servants and Familiars of Constantius which yet they did not he slaying and banishing many of them without any Injury done to himself by them and displaced all the Officers of the Houshold He to shew his Mildness and to set greater Enmity amongst the Christians recalled all the banished Bishops of the Christians commanding and licensing all to serve God as they pleased He restored the Pagan Altars and Temples spent much Money in perverting Persons from Christianity promoted Heathenism with all his Power the first Expedition he undertook was against the Persians whither marching at Antioch he was hugely affronted and scorned with Jeers and Libels entering into Persia he suffering himself to be Fooled by certain Run-aways burnt his Fleet and marched into desart and inconvenient places where being continually alarmed and harassed by the Persians he was at last slain by one of their Troopers Apolonius Tyaneus â„ž An Athlete drawn by four Horses intimating the Games addressed by Julian to the Honor of Apollonius worshipped as a God by the Inhabitants of Tyana Many of Julian's Medals have upon them Serapis Anubis Isis or some other of their Deities mingled with some Traits of Julian Libanius affirming that many Countries and Towns erected Statues unto him mixed with the Effigies of their Gods and that they prayed publickly unto him and that none who prayed unto him went away without performance of his request His Wife was Flavia Maximiana Helena called also by her Brother Constantia seemed to be a virtuous Christian she died not long after his assuming the Title of Augustus Isis Faria which was the true name of Isis the Daughter of Pharoah and married to Joseph who was afterwards worshipped as Serapis so saith Tertullian 3. Fl. Jovianus was born at Singidunum in Pannonia the Son of Varronianus a Man of greâ—…t Esteem in the Court he reigned seven Months one and twenty days and died about thirty three years old He was very Strong Valiant Couragious Resolute Affable Chast Continent and Clement and an Orthodox Christian protesting he would not accept the Empire except all the Army would declare themselves Christians which they presently did He refused to serve under Julian except he had liberty of his Religion which Julian granted After Julian's death he was chosen Emperor by the universal Consent of the whole Army which was brought into a desperate condition by the Rashness of Julian insomuch that Jovianus was forced to save the remainder of it to make a Peace with the Persian to yield to them the Provinces conquered upon them by Galerius and two strong Towns Nisibus and Singara He associated to himself in the Empire his Father being newly dead his Son Varronianus an Infant he forbad and severely punished all Idolatry extirpating out all Magicians and their Superstitions As he was going to Constantinople at Dardastane he was found dead in his Bed probably of an Apoplexy being given to eat and drink somewhat too Liberally His Wives name was Charito Daughter of Lucilianus a very worthy Person who probably for the Profession of Christianity had forsaken the Court for a private Life but was by Jovianus made Governor of Illyricum and was slain afterwards in a Mutiny at Rheims Charito was a Zealous Christian. Varronianus an Infant after his Father's death had one of his Eyes put out to make him uncapable of the Empire Books Printed for and Sold by William Miller at the Acorn in St. Paul's Church-yard where Gentlemen and others may be furnished with most sorts of Acts of Parliament Kings Lord Chancellors Lord Keepers and Speakers Speeches and other sorts of Speeches and State-matters As also Books of Divinity Church Government Humanity Sermons on most Occasions c. Books in Folio Assemblies Annotations in two Volumes Ainsivorth's Annotations Book of Martyrs in Three Volumes Jones's Reports Bishop Wilkins's Essay towards a real Character Cradock's Harmony of the Four Evangelists Curia Politiae Elton on the Collossians Love and Revenge a Romance Extravagant Shepherd the Anti-Romance Heywood's Hierarchy of Angels Hart's Diet for the Diseased Jones on the Hebrews Johnson's Three Plays Kellet on the Sacrament Lloyd's Memoirs Leggon's History of the Barbadoes Matchiaver's Works Monk's Military and Politick Observations Orlando furioso Philip de Comine's History Ramsey's Astrology Rouse's Works Royal Chymistry Spanish Bawd Bishop Smith's Sermon In Quarto Barclay's Argines in English with Cuts Ball against Canne of Separation Holy History Jackson's Concordance to the Bible Sir Henry Vane's retired Man's Meditations Weeme's Works in three Volumes Adventures in Love Arreignment of the whole Creature Allain's Chain of Scripture Chronology Behmon's Pieces Bolton's Works in two Volumes Baxter's Works Cooper's Heaven Opened His Life and Death Clark's Life of William the Conqueror Cradock's Knowledge and practice Carpenter's pragmatical Jesuit a Comedy Dod on the Commandments On the Lord's prayer Digges's Tectonicon Extravagant Shepherd a Comedy Ghost or the Woman wears the Breeches Heywood's Life of Edward VI. Life of Henry IV. Hooker's Soul's preparation for Christ. Soul's Humiliation His Exaltation History of King Authur History of precious Stones Killigrew's Conspiracy a Tragedy Leigh's Saints Rest. Norwood of Fortification Squier on the Thessalonians Struther's King David's Choice Voyage of the wandring Knight Medice cura teipsum or the Apothecaries plea against Dr Christopher Merret Bagshaw's Doctrine of Free Grace His Discourse about Christ and Anti Christ. His great Question concerning Things indifferent in Religious Worship Of God's Decrees against Pierce A Letter of Advice concerning Marriage By A. B. In Octavo ☞ Lately published some Instructions in the Art of Grammar writ to Assist a young Gentleman in the speedy Understanding of the Latin Tongue Vinnes's Twenty Sermons on the Sacrament Arcanum of Astrology Botelar's Art of War Bagshaw's Rights of the Crown Bunworth of the French Disease Continuation of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia Dent on the Revelation Downame's Abstract Enchirion of Fortification Epicurus's Morals ☞ Wall 's Baptism Anatomized being propounded in Five Queries 1. What Water Baptism is 2. What is the end for which it was Instituted 3. What giveth right to it 4. Who are the true Administraters of it 5. Whether is be Lawful for a Man to Baptise himself wherein the right that the Infants of Believers have to Water Baptism is vindicated The duty of Believing Parents in that matter asserted and that by the contrary Tenet and Practice they ought themselves to be excluded from the Lords Supper is plainly and fully proved ☞ The Christians daily Walk in holy Security and Peace Being an Answer to these Questions 1. How a Man may do each present days work with Christian Cheerfulness 2. How to bear each present days Cross with Christian Patience Containing familiar Directions 1. How to walk with God in the Course of a 〈◊〉 Life 2. How to be Upright in the said walking 3. How to Live without taking Care or Thought in any thing 4. How to get and keep true peace with God wherein manifold Helps to