compared with eternall felicitie He died at the age of foure and twenty on his birth day being the nineteenth of August in the yeare 1293 and was canonized by Pope Iohn the 22th in the yeare 1316. This peace which had cost much bloud Treaties drawen on by necessitie last not long money and time lasted but a little while For seeing that which is done by force continueth no longer but during the space wee cannot resist necessitie Fredericke thirsting after Sicily which he had left began the warre afresh upon the first occasion Repentance waiteth on headlong counsels but shame and losse undoubted fruits of rash counsels recompenced the breach of the treatie with punishment The King of Arragon summoned to constraine his brother to observe the treatie The King of Arragon is summoned to joyne his forces with Charles to constraine his brother to observe it Fredericke lost twentie five gallies six thousand men and had there left his libertie if the Catalonians had not afforded him passage for his safetie Auxiliaries soone revolt thinking they were more obliged to the bloud of one of their Princes than to the succour of the King of Naples It is no act of providence to employ those against an enemy who are of the same Nation for in times of necessitie they set upon him whom they should defend Fredericke haughtie and young whose courage could never despaire of victorie nor ever feare death unwilling to retire upon his discomfiture prepareth a fresh Army and returnes into Sicily Charles the second sent Robert his sonne Duke of Calabria to encounter with him on the Frontiers He transported with an over-weening opinion of victorie which easily deceiveth young Souldiers imagined that going about to fight with those whom his father had vanquished It is a great advantage to fight with an enemy whom hee hath once before vanquished That is it which Scipio said to the Romans on the day of battell against Annibal Philip Prince of Tarentum prisoner at Panormo in the yeare 1299. hee had not to doe with enemies but with the relicts of their defeature Hee enters into Sicily encourageth his troopes to march fight and vanquish but is overthrowen Philip Prince of Tarentum his brother taken prisoner and Calabria lost Robert gathering the rest of his forces together beleaguers Drepany and in this siege it was where God offended with this house began to give way to the ruine of it by means which testifie the most feeble Instruments are in his hands powerfull Engines to demolish the greatest States Violante Duchesse of Calabria was in the field to beare her husband company So Agrippina accompanied Germanicus into Almaigne and in occasions encouraged Souldiers by her valour and to give example to the Souldiers by her constancie and courage suffering even in the time of her being with childe the solicitudes and toyles of a siege Shee was there delivered of her second sonne named Lewis and the immutable decree of humane accidents which depend on a superior Law would needs have it for the much greater unhappinesse of this flourishing Kingdome that there could not be found any woman fit to breed this Prince but a creature so despicable as that she got her living by being a Laundresse Fishing is an abject condition the Grecians call it a miserable error in the sea and her husband daily stood upon the promontorie of a rocke to catch fish with an angling rod. Shee was young her countenance sweet which made all the rest amiable her proportion strong and vigorous The lesse delicate nourishment is the more vigorous is the nourishment and stature little inferiour to a tall stripling Besides povertie added some favour to her election for it is thought her manner of living free from excesse and curiositie rendred her complexion much stronger and her conscience the more simple Having derived no name from the place of her birth shee tooke that of Catania her countrey For being neere the proud Typhaeus Carthaneen hath the sulphur and drinks the smoke of it Stat. and was called Philippa the Catanian and as this Citie is unhappily scituated neare Mount Aetna which vomiteth fire and sulphur upon its neighbours so her greatest infelicitie was to have approached this fire of favour which in the end turned her into ashes But so soone as she bad drunke in the enchanted cup of the Court her primitive innocencie degenerated into an ardent thirst of greatnesse in such sort that in stead of suffering the incommodities of want in the abject condition of her state A poore man suddenly enriched hath much adoe to governe himselfe in riches she knew not how to beare the affluence of happinesse in this her first fortune For it is not so hard a matter for the rich to endure povertie as for the penurious to accord with riches The siege of Drepany having continued some time The King of Arragon tooke Sicily from King Charles the first had his son prisoner and his grand childe the Prince of Tarentum the besieged were succoured by Fredericke and Robert constrained to returne to Naples with a smaller company and much lesse contentment than hee marched forth withall whereat King Charles his father became greatly displeased and sad and seeing injuries are weighed according to the qualitie of the persons who either doe or receive them it was a verie distastfull thing with Charles to see that a King of Arragon had put such harsh affronts upon the Kings of Naples boasting to have furnished out the triumphs both of their Crownes and Princes And although the warre was betweene King and King The Arragonians chose Peter Tarres for their King and tooke the Crowne from him to give it to Ramirez he notwithstanding thought a King of Arragon could not enter into comparison with him either as King of Naples or as issued from an house which had not begun to reigne like his for the Crowne had stood fully nine hundred yeares on the heads of his Ancestors Ramirez bastard of Sanchez King of Castile began to reigne in the yeare 1017. and the Arragonians had not knowen above three hundred yeares what a royall Scepter meant The Monarchie of France was founded upon the ruines of an Empire which swayed the whole world and amongst the Gaules the most warlike province of Europe a people so daring as to advance their Standards on the highest top of the Capitoll The Arragonians made a Kingdom of a County choosing a Monke for Founder whom they took out of a Cloyster that they might have a King extracted from the Gothish race After he had reigned some time he retired into his Monasterie and recommended his daughter to Alphonsus the seventh King of Castile He was so simple and doltish that mounting on horse-backe to wage warre against the Moores and they putting a lance into one hand and a target into the other hee tooke the bridle betweene his teeth Hee quickly shooke off his
imprisonment of many of them seisure of their goods and his will was executed with such order and diligence that on one and the same day being the foure and twentieth of Ianuarie by one same signall given they were all cast into prison and few dayes after executed Their goods were given to the Knights of the order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem who at that time possessed themselves of Rhodes by a prettie stratagem Taking of Rhodes by the Knights of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem in the yeare 1309. causing certaine Souldiers to creepe into the Citie in sheepe-skins amongst a flocke of sheepe and the Captaines disguised like Shepherds Charles died a while after in the yeare 1309 three-score yeares of age God blessed this Prince with a plentifull posteritie to afford him alliance with the best and chiefest houses of Christendome The first Charles Martell King of Hungarie Secondly Lewis a religious man of the Order of Saint Francis and Bishop of Tholouse Thirdly Robert Duke of Calabria who succeeded his father Philip Prince of Tarentum married Catharine Empresse of Constantinople daughter to Philip son of Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople and Beatrice of Sicily daughter of Charles the first king of Naples Fourthly Philip Prince of Tarentum Emperour of Greece Fifthly Iohn Prince of Achaia or Morea Sixthly Raymond Berenguer Count of Andria Seventhly Tristram borne during the imprisonment of his father Eighthly Lewis of Duras Ninthly Peter surnamed Tempest Count of Gravina The eldest daughter Margarite married to Charles Count of Valois and mother of Philip of Valois Blanch married to Iames of Arragon Eleonor to Fredericke King of Sicily Marie to Iames King of Majorica Beatrice to the Marquesse of Este afterward to Bertrand of Baux Prince of Orenge Humbert Daulphin of Vienne Wits are purified in adversitie and Princes who have exercised theirs in the calamities of fortune and necessitie have had better successe than others Tâ—â—otheus a more fortunate than able man was painted sleeping and Cities which of themselves were taken in an heape on whom Crownes have fallen without labour and Cities even sleeping As Charles the first got not the Crowne of Naples without paine nor preserved it without perill his reputation being raised upon glorious actions of his vertue and constancie So Charles the second maintained not his but by wrastling with Fortune which to ruine him cast him foure yeeres into the power of his enemies Italy afforded him the glorie of its repose and to have preserved it from sinking under the desperate and furious factions of Gwelphes and Gibelâ—es He lived so well that hee died willingly That you may die contentedly you must not deplore the actions of life There was not any Nation which admired him not nor shall any age faile to record him Robert his third sonne succeeded him by exclusion of the children of his eldest Charles Martell King of Hungarie The disputation of the Vncles precedencie before the Nephues was treated by Baldus The question whether the Vncle should be preferred before the Nephew was disputed before the Pope at Avignon who more considered the age experience and merit of Robert than the right of those in minoritie At his entrance into rule Lewis the second sonne of Robert dieth at nine yeares of age death tooke Lewis his second son from him whom the Catanois had bred whereat hee conceived such sorrow as wee may of a fruit pulled off before maturitie The death of an Infant is a fruit not fallen off but pulled from the tree before the time so that seeing all the hope of his succession rested on the Duke of Calabria his onely sonne he desired in good time to see him a father and for that purpose sought out a wife for him Henrie of Luxenbourg the Emperour offers his daughter to the son of the King of Sicily in the yeare 1312. Henrie the seventh offered him his daughter but he married one of those which the Emperour Albert left and that no man may enter into this Historie who confirmes not the example of the unhappinesse of prosperitie hee may observe his fortune to be remarkable Having gotten the Empire Battell of Worms where Adolphus of Nassau was slaine the eight and twentieth of Iune 1308. not onely by right of election but by armes for hee discomfited and slue in battell Adolphus of Nassau his Rivall ten yeares after in the yeare 1308 he was slaine by his Cousin German neare the Citie of Bruch and as it were in the sight of the Castle of Habspurg the Cradle which bred the first Princes of the house of Austria This young Prince fell into despaire because the Emperour who had many children to provide for denyed to restore him the Seigniorie of Kiburg which was his mothers Necessitie is wittie in ill counsels A Prince young and needy is apt to enter into ill counsels against him who withholds that which would suffice to preserve him from necessitie Three little Cantons revolted against their Governours in the yeare 1308. The first league of three Cantons of the Switzers was made at Brilan the seventh of Decemb. 1325. He died in the time of his purpose to chastise rigorously the three Townes of the Switzers which revolted against those who governed them as subjects of the Empire Three Pesants who had no other use of iron but to pricke forward their Oxen and cleave wood employed it to raise a warlike Common-wealth which hath an hand in all the warres of Christendome drawes money from the most powerfull Christian Princes and hath fought nine battels to secure their libertie He left two and twentie children by Elizabeth of Carinthia Albert had two and twentie children by his wife Elizabeth of Carinthia and although hee had great possessions in Austria Bohemia Alsatia Swevia and Suitzerland there was not enough to afford a Principalitie to each one yet they were all well provided for and the daughters required in mariage by the best Families of Christendome Robert preferred this alliance before that of the Emperour Henrie the seventh and gave to his sonne Charles Duke of Calabria Catharine Princesse of Austria This Prelation offended the Emperour and began their enmitie which was exasperated by the aid Robert gave to the Gwelphes Robert succoureth the Florentines against the Emperour Henrie of Luxenbourg the Emperour condemneth Robert King of Naples to lose his head 1318. and Florentines The Emperour vexed hereat published a Ban declared him a Rebell against the holy Empire condemnes him to lose his head and the Crowne of Naples The condemned onely appeales to his Sword made his judgement be revoked pursued the Emperour who retired into Piemont and pressed him so hard that hee repented to have incensed a brave and masculine courage Never injure him who can take revenge which accounted not the suffering of injuries laudable nor the forgetfulnesse of them profitable The Florentines afterwards to free themselves from such an enemy who never
they not beene little and might the condition of mans extraction depend on his own choyce evreie one would bee borne great there is not a creature Ioane eldest daughter of the Duke of Calabria is declared Heire of the Crowne of Sicily in the moneth of Iune and yeare 1330. but would bee derived from a noble house Ioane was about foure yeares and an halfe old when her father died and when shee was in the beginning of the seventh King Robert who desired nothing more than to establish her declared her his heire the Subjects of the Kingdome of Naples and the Countie of Provence acknowledged her did her homage and promised if God disposed of Mary before she were a mother they would confesse her sister Ioane for their Queene Besides Philip Prince of Tarentum said that hee would have no other heire if he died without issue As power encreased for Ioane favour augmented for her Governesse who had a hand in everie thing Ambition covereth it selfe with any thing it findes causing her ambition to passe under the specious pretext of her Pupils service and as if all had conspired to her greatnesse Loseth the best and most assured guide of her life the Duchesse of Calabria who alone held her designes under controll died shortly after this declaration Had shee lived shee never would have suffered her to extend the charge of the Princesses person over the government of the State The good education of Infancie was but as a dew which is exhaled by the first fervours of youth Shee was a Princesse whose life was truly innocent as being endued with the humilitie of an Hand-maid towards God the goodnesse of a Mother towards her Subjects and the severitie of a Iudge towards her selfe Her mother Margarite Duchesse of Valois and sister of King Robert a Princesse incomparable for her chastitie first bred her Shee lived in a Court which was a Temple of puritie The Court hath long tasted the fruit of those vertues which Saint Lewis sowed in it for the good odours Saint Lewis and Queene Blanch left behinde them were not as yet dispersed and it is observed for proofe of unspeakable modestie and goodnesse that King Philip the Hardie ordained no Noble man should lye in the Queens Palace with his own wife Greatnesse excused nor vice Calisto daughter of Lycaon mother of Arcâ—â— deceived by Iupiter under the forme of Diâ—na was turned into a Beare by Iuno nor could it preserve the faire Calisto losing her chastitie from being reputed as ugly as a Beare The Duchesse Marie deceasing gave her daughter what shee esteemed most precious the richest of her Crownes and the dowrie of three score thousand pounds which King Philip le Bel had designed her The Declaration King Robert made Who retaineth anothers keepes not his owne conscience in quiet that hee might not leave the succession of his Crowne doubtfull drew not out the thorne that stucke in his heart nor could his conscience any longer suffer it Hee enjoyed the Crowne of Naples by exclusion of his elder brothers children To extinguish these pretentions and to make but one house of two hee treated the marriage of his grand-childe Ioane When Andrew was brought to Naples he was but seven yeares old and his wife was then nine with Andrew second sonne of the King of Hungarie and that of Marie with Lewis already the declared King of Hungarie Vpon this resolution Charles his father departed from Buda and came to Naples Robert received this Prince with incredible joy and thought his arrivall might repaire the losse of the Duke of Calabria his sonne The impediments of consanguinitie taken away by the Popes dispensation the marriage was solemnized at Naples with extraordinarie pompe and magnificence on the eighteenth of September 1323. But dispositions were so contrarie Forced and constrained marriages have unfortunate events and unequally suited that there was no other successe expected from this Match but miserie Thinking to bring concord into his house he introduced trouble left disturbance in his soule and seeking to saile at the same instant and with the same wind into two sundrie Ports saw himselfe carried away both from the one and other Amities or enmities contracted in the first education are not easily dissolved He thought that by the breeding and education of them together the love which might bee enkindled in this first acquaintance would encrease with age but the designes of men oft times succeeding much otherwise than they project Life is divided betweene cares and contentments as betweene day and night this long conversation bred contempt in those young hearts who being as yet uncapable of amorous flames were so accustomed to neglects and disdaines that when youth would enkindle affection it found nothing therein but Ice and although bodies were joyned together to obey the King yet their hearts were everlastingly separated Anxieties for the present sorrow for the passed and feare for the future oppressed the soule of Robert who divided all the dayes of his life betweene griefe and watching In the end pensivenesse called him to yeeld himselfe up to the lodging which old age had appointed him He entred thereunto in the 64th yeare of his age 1342 the fifteenth of Ianuary He loved choyce wits so were the Poets Poetrie was in great esteeme under the Earles of Provence Provence Bards of his time called He had in his Librarie the works of foure-score famous Poets the greatest part of them Gentlemen for it was the most generous exercise of the Nobilitie of Provence in the sweet tranquillitie of peace Petrarch made use of the inventions and conceits of the Provence-Poets He tooke delight to read the writings and heare the discourses of Petrarch hee spent three dayes in conference with him so much esteeming his doctrine as to compare it to the pearles of his Crowne Hee wrote letters to Rome in his behalfe Whilst Princes patronize learning we shall ever have knowing men It is not so necessarie they have propension to Sciences as affection to understanding men for by cherishing and giving care to such they learne much of them As Alexander was praised A Prince who esteemes knowing men cannot be ignorant for having enforced Sparta to serve and Athens to be silent so had hee the honour to reduce Genoa to constancie and Florence to obedience But hee is not in this Historie to appeare so free and exempt from the strokes of Fortune as not to meet with disasters in the midst of his prosperities After the death of so many deare friends and sorrow for the confusion hee was to leave in his house he observed on the back-side of his bright dayes Battell of Mount Catin the thirtieth of August 1315. the losse of the battell of Mount Catin where Charles of Tarentum was slaine Philip of Tarentum his brother taken prisoner and the Count of Gravines retiring lost in a Marish Fredericke of Arragon twice attempted on
conferred favours so neare to the Sunne There is no providence so certaine that it can assure things future nor at first flight soares up to heaven by strength of wing hee abides within the knowledge of what he is and what he hath beene is contented with what befalls him and not scorning any man dispiseth himselfe and priseth those who disesteeme him Hee shewes humility towards the great Courtesie to others never enters into competition with any who may hurt him never embroiles himselfe with partialities nor accounts his fortune by desert Fortune many times possesseth the place of merit he repaires all manner of defects by his modesty for the truth is modest ignorance is much more tolerable than proud ability Modesty alone is the assured guide of prosperity from whence a man never wanders who loseth not himselfe It is hard to joine modesty and felicity together It is an especiall favour from heaven when they for some good space walke both together It is the first piece which is wanting in the equipage of those who sodainly rise to great Fortunes Prosperity causeth Pride Pride Insolence Insolence Folly and Folly head-long ruine There are not any but such as get riches with innocency who possesse them with modesty The Duchesse of Calabria thought the fortune of the Morisco was the Catanoises reall act Peleus and Anchises enjoyed as saith Plutarch wedlocke with Goddesses wherefore she resolved to marry them together Raymond Cabanes might hit upon a better but he was nothing nice protesting that were he honoured with this favour he would compare with those who had married Goddesses To make this alliance the more noble and to cover the shame of both their births this good Lady gave the Duke of Calabria her husband to understand Great wealth shews ill without honours and he the King his father that they wanted nought but honour and that their great possessions well deserved to afford them distinction from the multitude The Catanian willing enough to oblige her husband to acknowledge her as the sole cause of Nobility laboureth hard to get him a Title As she was importunate in begging benefits so she became impudent in the pursuit of honours and never gave over till Sancha made him a Knight before he was a Gentleman All the Court murmured against the King as too liberall of the ensignes of honour whereof a wise Prince is so sparing that he never makes use of them but to recompence merit and great services Nature Folly and Fortune give sometimes the ambition of a Prince to the courage of a groome Every one complained of Nature which gave the high soaring affections of a Prince to abject soules and put noble thoughts into hearts inferior The King granted him the order of Knighthood and he received it according to the forme of the institution thereof made by Charles his father Information being given of his military atchievements and dexterity in armes upon the witnesse of those who bent their consciences to favour Conscience is accommodated to time and favour giving assurance of that which was not nor ever had beene For the truth is Raymond never handled Iron but in a kitchin or at the Oare among gally-slaves there was a day appointed for the Ceremony in the great Church The History of Provence saith the Knight was caused to sit on a chaire of silver covered with greene velvet The King seated on his royall Throne under him the King of Hungary his sonne who with a great traine came to see him Queene Mary his wife the Duchesse of Calabria his daughter Princes and Princesses his children Raymond presenteth himselfe the Archbishop of Barri made a discourse upon the noblenesse of the act then gave an oath to binde him not to ride upon an Asse or Mule like the Knights of the scarfe but to serve the King defend Ladies wronged in their honour Alphonsus instituted the order of the scarfe and band and to enter into the lists of Combat for them if he were intreated After the oath given two ancient Knights presented him at the feet of the King who striking him on the head or shoulder With his sword solemnly pronounced these solemne words The sword put on by Virgins bound him not to use it in any wicked act God make thee a good Knight Seven well attired Damsels girted him with a sword and foure Knights put on his spurres The Queene and Duchesse of Calabria led him into his ranke and the Knights embraced him but discontentedly because hee had obtained without merit or service through favour and intercession the honours which were onely ordained for singular Knighthood was established to recompence worth and vertue and excellent rewards of vertue It is the onely advantage which worth yeelds to one man above another if it bee not seldome it is contemptible Musique Bals Tournaments conclude the feast and the next is the wedding Raymond marrieth the Catanian and with her Insolence Ingratitude and Pride In the Kitchin his thoughts transported him to armes Desire which aspireth beyond things to be desired is no desire but a disease now when he is in the midst of them he aspires to an higher pitch and his desires extend much farther than his hopes This extraordinarie greatnesse takes his verie countenance away from him he is altogether astonished at it as a Kite on the fist So Coprous hath Greeke attire and barbarous hands or a Monkey in scarlet Dignities and new riches breed some thing sottish in the mindes of those who are accustomed to possesse and enjoy them for a long time His first modesty brake company with prosperitie Pride makes him glitter everie where his Ryot throwes him into all superfluities and profusions wherein it may be shewed Excessive riches are garments too long and troublesome and he stands perplexed and cumbred in great riches as with garments too long and heavie Charles in the meane time sought the peace of the Church which at that time was much turmoyled and felt strange revolutions Boniface the eighth died a prisoner Benedict the eleventh of the order of Saint Dominicke Bernand Arch-Bishop of Bouâ—deaux chosen Pope succeeded him for eight moneths and seventeen dayes and Clement the fifth chosen after him came to Philip le Bel and Charles Count of Valois His coronation was performed with great solemnitie but much disturbed by the death of the Duke of Britaine Iohn Duke of Brettaigne slaine by the fall of a wall at Lyons 1306. The holy See transferred from Rome to Avignon in the yeare 1307. The abolishing of the Templers in the Councell of Vienne in the yeare 1309. slaine by the ruine of a wall The Pope from thence went to Avignon and there established his See setting the Crowne of Sicily upon the head of Robert Duke of Calabria Charles began in Provence the terrible persecution against the Templers and being at Marseilles in the yeare 1307 commanded the
appeared amongst them but for their ruine caused him to be poysoned at Bonconvent Henrie the seventh was poysoned at Bonconvent in an Host others say hee was hurt with a fal from on horse the fifteenth of August 1312. Death dissolved the marriage of the Duke of Calabria with Catherine of Austria and she died without children Robert who had but onely this sonne presently sought out another wife for him entreating King Philip the Faire hee would bee pleased the house of Valois might restore to the Crowne of Naples what it had thence borrowed Charles the second his father had married Margarite his daughter to Charles Count of Valois and Robert desired Grafts for his Sonne of this royall Stocke which had never beene tainted with the least suspition of impuritie She is not chaste enough who by the least suspition makes her chastitie to be doubted It is said of this Lady that the Embassadours of France having required her for the Kings brother besought her they might see whether shee were touched with her fathers naturall imperfections In the choyce of Princesses to bee wives for Kings the stature and grace of body was considered who was crooked shee unclothed her selfe even to her smocke made of so fine Holland that one might easily behold her shape and withall replying that Never would she for a Crowne make any scruple to pull it off King Robert desirous to see his sonne the Duke of Calabria fully accomplished in all vertues gave him for Tutor the Count of Elzear a kinsman of the Earles of Provence Saint Elzear Earle of Arrian of the house of Sabran every where renowned for admirable purity of life Kings that neglect the education of those who are to succeed them little regard their owne states Good government cannot be expected from a Prince ill bred the safety whereof depends on the good education of the Prince Warres are not the cause of so many miseries as ill mannaged education For such calamities are but temporary but disorder lasteth whilst the scepter swayeth By the fruits of Iustice and piety which this tree bare it may be understood it was well manured The intended marriage being resolved on It is a great triall of courage to abstaine from that which is both desired and permitted he sent his Governour to Paris to negotiate it He could not make choice of a more unspotted Oratour as one who had lived three and twenty yeares with Delphina his wife in voluntary and secret chastity preserving devotion amidst the vanities of Court Humility in greatnesse naturall frailty among pleasures and single life in marriage Charles Duke of Calabria marrieth Mary daughter of Charles Count of Valois 1324. Scoffers will make sport hereat for the danger there is in placing powder neare unto fire But the actions of Saints should bee considered not with discourse of nature but effects of grace The Marriage of the lady Mary was the raising of the Catanians fortune whom King Robert gave to his daughter in law as a woman that had seene the birth and education of all the children of the royall family she having served Queene Mary daughter of the King of Hungary Length of service gaineth trust for servants the Duchesses Violante Sancha Catherine shee was an aged Oke a worne Medaile only honoured for her antiquity every one made addresse to her as to the register of houshold government She was beloved by this Lady more than by all the rest and being an understanding woman presently perceived the delights and inclinations of her Mistresse propended to prety conceits neat curiosities and quaint ornaments The Queenes of Persia had provinces named from rheir dressings one was termed the Queenes girdle another heâ— Head tire There was not any thing either rare or excellent thorow all Europe which she sought not out to please her that one would have thought whole provinces stood affected to her accommodation Robert had other contentments which nearly followed the marriage of his sonne with Mary of Valois the City of Genova rendred it selfe up to him and he had possession of it full eighteene yeares The Church gave him the guardianship and government of Ferrara Florence ressented it Robert is made Vicar for the Church at Ferrara It is a thing very naturall for people to submit themselves voluntarily under the rule of good and wise Princes The first yeare of the marriage of his sonne brought forth a daughter whom he named Iane It is a rule in nature that the best command and he appointed the Catanian to be her governesse and made Raymond Cabanes her husband super-intendent of his houshold Catherine of Austria died on the 15. of Ian 1323. and Mary of Hungary on the 25. of March 1323. To preserve the good intelligence he held with the Pope he often visited him at Avignon and was there whilst in lesse than two moneths he received newes of the death of his daughter in law Catherine of Austria and his Mother Mary of Hungary To understand the like griefe one must have such a daughter and such a Mother He there also saw the death of one of his dearest friends Amedeus the fourth Duke of Savoy Pope Benedict would not enrich his parents with the goods of the Church Pope Benedict the twelfth died a while after leaving the continuation of the sumptuous palace of Avignon imperfect Flesh and bloud had not any power over him Some Courtiers brought his father before him cloathed otherwise than beseemed his condition he would not acknowledge him untill he had reassumed the habit of a Miller nor give him any thing but wherewithall to buy a Mill. He often said Popes should neither have kinred nor allies and that they were not administrators of Church-livings to enrich their owne kindred A Prince should consider those treaties which oblige him The great reverence he bare to the Pope was a notable proofe of his wisdome for he well knew whilst the Kings his predecessors held good correspondence with the Popes having ever before their eyes the treaties Philip King of Macedon caused the articles he agreed on with the Romans to be read unto him and capitulations betweene the See Apostolike and their Crowne the more exactly to observe them the peace of their state had beene invincible nor had the Princes of the house of Swevia who banded against them derived any other profit than losse both of the Empire of Almaigne and Kingdome of Naples Never should we quarrell with those who may more endammage In the investiture of the Kings of Naples it is said they will not accept the election of the Emperour Charles Duke of Calabria as head of the Florentine Common-wealth nor their army with 200000. duckets rent by the yeare than profit us To quiet the spirit of the Pope he promised him by oath never to accept the Imperiall Crowne nor title of King of Lombardy as Prince of Tuscany under the penalty
to their designes and so direct them to the utmost limits Piso by petty crimes is mounted to the greatest from avarice to rapine from thence to practices so to ambition and from ambition to the violation of the authority of lawes by that way to hasten to the contempt of the Gods To Spaine hee hath given testimony of his avarice to Syria of his ambition and to the house of Germanicus of his impiety So soone as you honoured him with the charge of Lievtenant to Germanicus Haud invito imperatore ea fieri occultus rumor incedebat Tac. he dissembled not his ambition to become Generall practising at Rome to make him odious to his father and in the Armie to be despised of the souldiers He laboured to draw them to his devotion expelled the Tribunes who would not depend on him filled their places with persons trustie Defidiae in castris licentia in urbibus Tac. Eousque corruptionis provectus ut in sermone vulgi parens legionum haberetur Tac. and to make himselfe beloved by men of warre permitted sloth in the Campe riots in the Citie insolence in the field and was then called father of the legions On the other side Plancina went equall with Agrippina and undertooke matters above the decorum of women was often present in the exercises of the Cavallerie and race of swift horses And though this was harsh to a temper whose actions were civill Secreta studia paiâ— non potest animus ad civilia erectus agendique cupiduâ— Sen. yet he thought it more fit to dissemble them than disquiet the Emperour his father with troublesome complaints He commandeth Piso to leade one part of the Legions into Armenia or send his sonne thither he made no account of the one or the other and lost the opportunitie of a service most important for the Empire Si quando adsideret aâ—rox ac dissentire manifestus Tac. When he sate in Councell with Germanicus or on a seat of justice under him he sharply and impudently opposed all his designes I will recite an incredible insolence but so certaine that he will not dare denie it thereby to manifest that follie and malice were inseparable companions and sisters in all his actions Being present at a feast of the King of Nabathaea seeing the golden Crownes given him were not of like lustre or weight with those of Germanicus and Agrippina hee cast them to the ground and full as foolish as malicious undertooke to reprove the magnificence of the feast discoursed against superfluitie and said such an expence was fit for a Roman Emperour not the sonne of a King of Parthia He who offendeth a Prince hath no safeâ—y but in absence Silly man didst thou thinke ever after this to finde confidence in the soule or securitie in the friends of Germanicus whom thou so shamelesly hadst offended although he were condemned for being too good Erat Germanicus clemens Sen. and for suffering too much Could'st thou suppose there might bee any safe retreat in the world to protect thee from the anger of a Prince extracted from the bloud of Augustus Hast thou ever heard the hearts of this line have beene exasperated without ensuing punishment And behold why Plancina Nunquam erit foelix quem torquebit Sen. who could not esteeme her selfe happie whilst Agrippina was so told her husband hee must either perish or revenge himselfe and either pull this thorne out of his owne heart or suffer another to doe it Admire Conscript Fathers the goodnesse and generositie of this Prince Patres conscripti Plut. It is a generous way of revenge to let the enemy see one can bee revenged who having so often and so sensibly beene offended by Piso hath ever contented himselfe with letting him know he could have revenged but did save when hee might destroy Nescius quibus insectationibus peteretur mansueâ—udine tamen agebat Tac. Hee came to Rhodes unto him and was well advertised of all the practices he used against him but bare himselfe with such equalitie and temper that upon notice a storme had cast him on the sands hee sent vessels to dis-ingage him Potest quandoâ—ue inteâ—iâ—â— mâ—â—ci ad casuâ—â—â—ofe ri Tac. although if he there had left him only Chance could have beene accused of his losse and Fortune supposed to conspire in his revenge Germanicus visiting Aegypt was curious to see the sources of Nilus Nilus cujus inenarrabilu natura est cum mundo traxit principia Sen. that memorable river which began with the world and in his returne found Piso had changed the Decrees made at his departure altered what he established Amici accendendis offensionibus callidi Tac. and contemned his commands Hee was much troubled herewith his servants animated him to resent it and hee could not so dissemble it but that choler appeared by his words and revenge in his menaces Piso retireth Germanicus fals sicke Piso who knew the force of the malady removes not far off and death is hastened by the violence of the poyson Ah cruell man Heare the words of this dying Prince yea dying words which eternally shal live in the memory of the Romans I dye miserably in the flower of mine age by the treason of Piso and Plancina The last words of a dying Prince fortified the complaint against the authors of his death I conjure you my friends to let the people of Rome know these wretches cut the throats of the neece of Augustus and her six little children Where are hearts to be found which these words doe not rent asunder Yet thou Piso livest still and the Sunne affords thee her light Thy conscience not knowing where to hide thee hath brought thee hither to suffer punishment denying thee the safetie thou elsewhere hast sought Tutum aliquaeres in mala conscientia praestat nulla securum Sen. As it hath failed thee in deliberation on this crime so hath it betrayed thee in leading thee to punishment What hast thou done after this parricide Thou didst visit the cities of Asia and spend thy time in the faire houses of Achaia This was done Subdola mora scelerum probationet subvertit Tac. to the end proofes might vanish and witnesses dye It is needfull Fathers Conscript to set Piso in the condition of a man convict to reduce him into the state of one accused Hee hath not done as the good man Valerius Publicola who being accused Mihifasces jus Praetoris mihi legiones date forsooke his house at Velia and lodged in the village to the end he might ease them of the trouble to finde him out The innocent man flyeth not from judgement but hee that is culpable avoydeth the Iudges If he had beene accused for taking armes hee purposed to shelter himselfe with the power he had in Syria under Germanicus his Generall if to have layd hands on publique treasures he supposed the share which hee distributed among his friends would save the
rest Hee escapes for a little who robbed much When great ones arâ— accused they must appeare upon easie summons If Martina the notorious Witch and Sorceresse a great friend of Plancina were alive shee could declare the whole mysterie of this treason The friends of Germanicus caused her to be brought towards Rome but when she arrived at Brindisi she suddenly died and the poyson hid in the knots of her haire Vâ—nenum nodo crimuâ—â— occultatum neâ— ulla in corpore sign samp iâ—exitii resâ—rta Tac. Sâ—orum in sidiis externas inter gentes oâ—cidit Tac. appeared not on her body If presumptions may assist veritie it cannot be said this Prince who found lesse securitie among his owne than with strangers was murdered by any other than Piso Who hath done it Hee had displeased none but him and upon the resentment of this offence hee was declared his enemy hee assaulted him in his chariot and it is knowen to bee a verie hard matter to separate the desire of death from that of succession So Leporina sued her husband Sabinus in the time of Vespasian Wee heretofore in this place have heard of one proscribed who to enjoy the goods of his wife told her he would kill himselfe shee replyeth she resolved to beare him company He prepareth the deadly drug but so craftily that drinking first hee left the poyson for his wife which through the weight thereof remained in the bottome of the glasse Id genus veneni fuit quod pondere subsideret in imam potionem bibiâ—iste usque ad venenum uxor venenum Sen. P. She dieth he was in health and enjoyed the wealth she left him by her will Never is that poyson escaped which is given by the next heire Who rejoiceth more at a death than he who procured it And desires it more ardently than he that expects it with much impatience How did Piso entertaine it Luctus lato cultu mutatus Tac. Hee made sacrifices hee offered victimes Plancina is so transported with this joy that shee layd aside the mourning weeds shee was putting on for the death of her sister and attires her selfe with the fairest and richest garments of her ward-robe This accusation aboundeth with so much varietie and his resolution to free himselfe from Germanicus is replenished with so many mischiefes that they smother Nihil ordinatum quod praecipitatur properat Sen. and by heapes precipitate one another in this discourse so that I have much adoe to marshall them in order I had forgot to tell you how Piso sent Spies to know the condition of Germanicus his sicknesse and the symptomes thereof This displeased the sicke man and much troubled his minde not with feare for death never terrified him but with anger and passion apprehending that so soone as he should expire Piso would usurp command over his Forces Flosti lenta videntur veneficia Tac. and his wife rest at his discretion Piso in like manner was perplexed the poyson was so slow that it wrought not it's effect soone enough hee therefore returned into Syria to be nearer the Legions and upon occasion to make use of them Which was the cause Germanicus said in his anguish of mind It is a verie sensible griefe to dye in the sight of an enemie and to leave a wife and children in his power How then must I dye destroyed by mine enemie shall he see me give up the ghost What shall become of my distressed wife how shall shee bee entreated what shall my children doe to whom teares in this calamitie will not bee wanting to weepe for me though words perhaps faile to deplore me Let that happen which Heaven will Piso hath taken away my life but hath left me courage nor am I reduced to such debilitie that I ever shall consent the murderer may derive reward from my death When the Romans would break friendship â—ith any one they gave them notice thereof forbade them their house Tit. Hereupon he sent him a letter written with his owne hand to this purpose that hee held him for an enemie that he forbade him accesse to his house and abode in that Province But there is no doubt but witchcraft succeeded poyson since the bones of the dead were seene torne from the members and fastned to the wals and roofes of the chamber characters with charmes and imprecations the name of Germanicus engraven on plates of lead ashes halfe burnt Maleficiis animae numinibus inferni sacrae Tac. and mingled with the putrifaction of ulcers and other incantations and impieties with which they use to bewitch any one to death sacrificing him to the God of hell Although this Prince were dying Moderatus cursus qui vult propius regredi Tac. and in the agonies thereof Piso feared him and at his command weighed anchor and departed but went not farre off that his returne might be speedy when he should have notice of his death And if all this put together serve not to convince him where shall truth seeke for proofes Thus Conscript Fathers you behold before your eyes a man marked from his mothers wombe for violence and the spirit of rebellion for hee is sonne of a father Ingenium violemuÌ„ obsequii ignarum Tac. who followed the faction of Brutus and Cassius He not onely is an extortioner but a robber not an entermedler but seditious not an enemy but a rebell not a murderer but a tormentor Cicero saith the crime of Verres enforced the Iudges to condemne him Never did any Criminall more exact your justice than this man for the execration of his crime enforceth you to condemne him and if in despite of Gods and men you pardon him it will bee impossible to free him from the hands of the people who expect him and heare Conscript Fathers their exclamations there is not any woman so low of stature that promiseth not her selfe to teare some haire from his head When the triumphant passed to the Capitoll he put his prisoners over to the Magistrates and durst not bring them to his lodging Propose to your selves what their joy will be when they see the heads of rebellion dragged after a triumphant chariot and the next day executed for satisfaction of the inhumanities and cruelties they committed in their Provinces yea much more will they bee pleased when they shall behold Piso in torment They lose their patience if you doe not speedily pronounce these solemne words Take I Lictor collâ—ga manus caput ob nubito arbori infoeliti suspendito Cic. Executioner this Parricide this Theefe this Rebell binde his hands blinde-fold his eyes and fasten them to a miserable gibbet And who knoweth whether the multitude transported with griefe and sorrow will rest there whether they will bee contented with the punishment of one alone and not rush upon those who favoured this impious man esteeming them more wicked than him No no Non majus sâ—elus in R. P.
against Tiberius at least against him The interest of children transporteth Parents The consideration of his children choked in his soule all resentment of the injurie hee suffered and seeing himselfe lost would bee ruined alone And that their innocencie might be distinguished from his punishment hee wrote a letter to Tiberius beseeching him to take pitie of them and that done hee resolved to dye thrusting his sword thorow his owne throat It is a madnesse to dye for feare of death He died not for feare of death but not to satisfie his enemies in the manner If there be any thing troublesome in a publique death it is onely the griefe and shame of content thereby given to an enemie When this death was related to the Senate Tiberius shewed sorrow in his face Caesar flexo in maestitiam ore Tac. but it was feigned and to distract the judgements made upon this occasion to his prejudice and settle his countenance by his discourse hee among other things informed himselfe of that which Piso had done the day before and how hee spent the night Plaeraque sapâ—enter quae dam inconsullius Tac Some there were who answered with discretion others more inconsiderately as upon the like occasions there are some who cannot endure to bee accounted so foolish as not to know that of which we wish they were ignorant Hereupon Tiberius read the letters which Piso had written to this purpose Since Caesar I see my selfe oppressed by the conspiracie of mine enemies and the violence of a false accusation Conspiratione inimicorum invidâ—â falsi criminis veritati innocentiae nusquam locum Tac. which affordeth no place in the Senate either for truth or mine innocency the Gods are my witnesses I have not failed in dutie towards you or reverence to your mother for which cause I beseech you to think on my children Gneius Piso ought to have no share in my fortune Qualiscunque fortunae meae non est adjunctus Tac. whatsoever it be for he stirred not out of Rome Marcus Piso disswaded me from going into Syria and I could wish the father had accommodated himselfe to the youth of the sonne and the sonne not yeelded to the age of the father Nihiâ— quidquam post haec rogaturus salutem infoelicis filii rege Tac. This is the cause why I with the greater instance humbly entreat his innocencie may not feele the punishment of my obstinacie and seeing my selfe in a condition never to beg of you againe I conjure you by five and fortie yeares service by the esteeme your father Augustus had of mee Pravitatis pâ—nas innoxius non luat when I was his Collegue in the Consulship and by the friendship you have professed to preserve my poore sonne He spake not a word of his wife For how could hee remember her who forgat him in this extremitie and had perhaps promised the Empresse and Sejanus to open the chamber doore for murtherers to kill him Tiberius having read these letters said Although Piso had deserved the miserie whereinto hee was fallen yet was hee moved to pitie for the respect of his house that it was notwithstanding verie reasonable Ex arboribus quavontus aut turbo evulsit soboles residua est fovenda Sen. to preserve the siens of the tree which was felled downe and not to lay the punishment on his guiltlesse children whereof absence discharged the one and the fathers command excused the other Patris jussa filius non potest detractare Tac. and therefore they not lyable to the crime of taking armes As for Plancina hee besought the Senate to yeeld her up to the prayers of his mother The whole assembly well saw the impudencie and impietie of this request good men murmured against this woman as the cause of Germanicus his death and Piso's slaughter Shall then say they the Empresse have the honour to save the murderesse of her grand childe to visit her Fas aviae interfectricem nepotis adspicere adloqui eripere Senatuiâ— Tac. to comfort her in the death of her husband to snatch her out of the hands of the Senate The Lawes will not allow to Germanicus what they grant to the meanest Citizen Vitellius and Veranius who were nothing to Germanicus have bitterly deplored his death Venena artes semel faeliciter expertae in alterius exitium facilè vertuntur Tac. and Augusta his grand-mother defendeth Plancina that hath caused it and what may we expert from hence but that the force of poysons and witchcrafts having so prosperously succeeded she likewise will employ them against Agrippina and her children to allay the thirst of the Grand-mother and Vncle with the bloud of this miserable family and so satisfie the rage of Sejanus The opinions summed up Aurelius Cotta saith the memorie of Piso ought to be abolished Nomina sceleratorum è fastis radenda Tac. and his name raced and blotted out of the Calenders and Annals the moytie of his goods confiscated the other given to his son Gneius Piso with command to change his name Marcus Piso deprived of office and banished for ten yeares Concessa Plancinae incolumitas ob preces Augustae Tac. and to have five hundred Sesterces for his entertainment Life given to Plancina in consideration of the Empresses request All consented to this opinion Tiberius who had what he desired sweetneth the rigor of this judgement Pudore flagitii princeps placabilior fit Tac. for the hatred of Plancina's absolution made him lesse severe against the children there being no apparance why hee should pardon the mother a murderesse and condemne the innocent children Hee saith the name of Piso should remaine in the Annals as well as Anthonies Nomen Marci Antonii qui bellum patriae fecit fastis mansit Tac. who had invaded his owne Countrey Messalina saith A golden Ensigne should bee raised in the Temple of Mars-Avenger and Caecinna Severus an Altar to Revenge No saith Tiberius it is not good Domestica mala tristitia operienda Tac. in victories atchieved on strangers domestique miseries should be covered with sadnesse Fulcinus Trio who so lowdly had declaimed against Piso besought the assistance of his favour the better to charge the accused he answered Facundia non est violent a praecipitanda Tac. Take heed you precipitate not your eloquence by the violence of your passion Hee was offended that hee too much had pressed Piso in the matter of poyson for all the words that were spoken on this subject touched him verie neere Hee wished him to represent the passion of Agrippina Rerum humanariâ— ubique ludibria Tac. Audivi ex senioribus qui ad nostram usque juventam duraverunt Tac. without passion in himselfe Behold the vanitie of humane practices Hereupon Tacitus saith I remember I have heard it told in my youth by those of that time That many peeces had beene seene in Piso's hand which he did not publish
liberty for verily the feare of death excuseth not him who offēdeth truth to flatter fortune To publish lying histories or give false instructiōs to those that write them is to rob passengers on the high way in good earnest He retaining the same liberty in his discourses he had done in his writings contemned the pride of Sejanus and to free himselfe from the hands of a man so potent made it appeare he was reall and exempt from the number of the miserable This Calamity was not so frequent among the Romans when Germanicus lived these two Lions did as yet restraine their pawes feare tempered the actions of Tiberius and necessity with-held the insolence of Sejanus Dion saith that opinions often passed currant against his he not therewith offended Dion saith whilst Germanicus lived Tiberius did nothing at any time of his owne head He referred all manner of affaires to the Senate hee ministred justice by the advice of those who assisted him allowed every one should deliver his opinion endured contradiction and sometime suffered to be cut off in his opinions Tiberius said I am Lord of slaves Emperour of souldiers and over the rest a Prince He would not be called Lord but by slaves nor Emperour but of souldiers he absolutely refused the name of father of the Countrey he gave way in discourse and petitions to the title of Augustus used it in the dispatches he made to Kings and in all occasions else was contented with the name of Caesar and Prince of the Senate His ordinary wish was that heaven would grant him life so long as the common wealth should stand in need of his service Whilst Germanicus lived All that was done during the life of Germanicus but after his death all was changed the day of his birth was not solemnized no man sware by his fortune no statue nor Temple was erected to him When he went thorow the City he desired not to be attended either by Senator Patrician or Roman Knight or any man of quality in all things demeaning himselfe as if he lived under a popular government yea he descended even to the making of funerall orations for particular men If he exercised any violence Ambition for a long time makes it selfe little to become great it was cloaked and coloured with semblances of reason or necessity or if it were secret it appeared not at all The Emperour Augustus to please Livia banished him to the I le of Planasia Clemens a famous impostor had slaine his Master Agrippa Posthumus the grand-child of Augustus and because he was much of his age and stature Veritas visu morâ falsa festinatione incer t is volescunt Tac. he caused the bruit thereof privately to run as a thing dangerous and afterward publikely as a matter acceptable that Agrippa was alive for it was true the Mother of the Emperour had made him away presently after the death of Augustus whose memory was so precious and venerable that under this name he found friends in Gallia succours in Italy and credit in Rome the people proclaiming and beleeving the Gods had reserved him for the good of the Empire Tiberius considering that rumour and his levity gave countenance to this fiction and that it could not so slenderly be beleeved but it would prejudice his affaires commanded him to be attached by those who fained to be of his faction Percunctanti Tiberio quomodo Agrippa factus esset respondisse fertur Quo modo tu Caesar Tac. Being brought before him he wondred he so cunningly had managed this imposture demanding of him by what title art thou made Agrippa The gallant answereth by the same thou hast made thy selfe Caesar Torments could not evict from him the names of his complices Inanis credulitas tempore ipso vanescit Tac. and although Tiberius knew he had beene assisted both with mony and counsell by the greatest he enquired no further of them But caused him to be put to death without further noyce Tiberius then had reason to account the death of Germanicus amongst the best dayes of his owne life and Sejanus reckoned it one of the greatest steps to his fortune but the same malice they bare to the father continued against the children yet endevouring all they could possibly to dissemble it to the end it might seasonably appeare in the meane time covering it with large demonstrations of affection towards them Neronem e liberis Germanici jam ingressum juventam commendavit Patribus non sinc risu audientium Tac. Tiberius prayeth the Senate to give Nero a dispensation of age that he might enter into publike offices and be able at fifteene yeares to become Questor which is not granted but at two and twenty He was also created Pontifex and the day he entered into this dignity Congiarium pleb Tac. he made a donative of provisions to the people who much rejoyceth to behold the children of Germanicus in a flourishing state of youth For full accomplishment of alacrity he espouseth Iulia the daughter of Drusus ut illa secundis ita hoc adversis animis acceptum Tac. But she grew disdainfull when she heard the daughter of Sejanus was promised to Drusus the sonne of Claudius esteeming this noble family was dishonoured by such an alliance and that it gave but too much hope to a man who already had over-much power and who accounted himselfe unhappy if he commanded not impatient to live as a private person The heavens unwilling to derive fruit from so bad a tree disposed thereof otherwise Drusus sporting in the City of Pompey threw a peare up into the aire Iason the Tyrant of Pherez said he died for hunger if he arrived not at Tyranny for he could not live a foole that is to say a private man and receiving it againe with open mouth was strangled and this daughter participating in the disastrous end of her father made her wedding song at the foot of the gallowes as in his due place shall be seene The hatred was so enraged against Sejanus that some said he made this marriage to destroy his sonne in law Miror fuisse qui traderenta a Sejano necatum Suet. This opinion could have no other foundation but that this young Prince discovered too much contempt of this alliance or too much scorne to be the sonne in law of a man so odious who had no honour in him his ancestors or himselfe Vaine is the praise which comes not from a praise worthy man having acquired nothing he could leave nought to his children and received praise but only from those whom he himselfe durst not commend Drusus could not brooke this insolence nor that his father Tiberius should preferre Counsels and forraine affections before naturall Secreta viri corrupta uxore produntur Tac. He spared not to say to his wife who betrayed him and to his friends who deceived him that Sejanus was almost become a Colleague as he hath
Adulteresse could so long bee silent but this discourse shall not be ended till this wonder be satisfied Sejanus facinorum amnium repertor habehatur ex nimia caritate in eum Caesaris Tac. The actions of Sejanus were so exploded and Tiberius for favouring him so hated that already being branded with so remarkable and notorious villanies it was thought hee had put Drusus to death by the hand of Tiberius suggesting that his sonne out of desire to rule had resolved on his death and that it were fit he tooke heed when hee dined at his table not to drinke the first draught which should be presented unto him Druso ignaro juveniliter hauriente poculum cunctis suspitio tanquam metu pudore sibimet arrogaret patri finxerat Tac. that Tiberius taking the cup from the Tasters hand offered it to Drusus and that shame and feare not suffering him to refuse it hee swallowed downe the poyson prepared for his Father An imposture without apparance or foundation He who made assay was called in ancient inscriptions Apotione or Praegustator by Xenophon Oinochâ—â—s Tac. This impious act could not so easily have beene perpetrated by Drusus for the Father tasted nothing without assay which custome was brought from the Persian Court into the Palaces of the Roman Emperours since Augustus his time Make Tiberius as cruell as you will yet cannot the honour of a wise cunning and warie Prince bee taken from him and well he might have beene condemned of much imprudence if he had plotted to make his sonne away by the meere advice of Sejanus and before he were exactly informed of the cause and confederates of this conspiracie This onely proceedeth from the malignitie of rumours Atrocior semper fama erga dominantium exitus Tac. little favourable to the actions of Princes All which Tiberius hath done is curiously collected and published but never hath there beene creature so transported with hatred and passion to dishonour his memorie as to reproach him with Parricide Divulgata atque incredibilia avidè accepta non sunt antehabenda veris neque in miraculum corruptis Tac. Wee ought not to receive all which bruit approveth without suspition nor to preferre things incredible although divulged and greedily entertained before reall truth though oft times disguised with apparant semblances and frivolous wonders to impresse amazement on mindes This death once againe restored the hope of succession to the children of Germanicus Simulatio habitum ac voces dâ—lentium induit Tac. and though the Senate for their love to Tiberius deplored this accident yet were their teares faigned and passion without sorrow There was not a man but was well pleased to see that by this death the house of Augustus began to reflourish Drusus likewise was not beloved but for the inveterate hatred they bare to his Father A segelflatos cay omotatos Dion for he was much debaushed and as the vice of another displeaseth even the vitious his Father oft chid him for these insolent and haughtie humors which made him to be most quarrelsome Solus nullis voluptatibus avocatus moestam vigilantiam malas curas exercet Tac. and cruell But the people excused all that saying It were better hee should passe the night in feasts the day in Theaters than to languish in the melancholy of solitude pensive vigils and pernicious amusements Presently the teares of Tiberius being dried up Negotia pro solatiis he went to the Senate to seeke out consolation in affaires The Consuls sate on their Sellae curules and the Senators low and after them the Praetors and Tribunes and seeing the Senators sit low he caused them to ascend putting them in minde of the reverence of the place and the dignitie of their charges and used his speech to raise up their spirits which sorrow had dejected The custome of mourning was not to stirre out of the house nor behold day light Vix dies à plaerisque lugentium adspicitur Tac. Sirs I may perhaps be condemned that in so fresh a sorrow I here am present and well I wot that those who are in griefe brooke not day-light nor condolement of their friends most neare But as I ascribe not this to weaknesse of heart so I desire to let you know that I have not sought out a greater ease in mine affliction than the embraces of the common wealth He also said that the decrepit age of the Empresse tooke from him the hope of her assistance that his grandchildren were in their minority that he already had passed more than the moity of the course of his life that he prayed them the children of Germanicus might be admitted the only remedy Germanici siberi unica praesentium malorum levamenta Tac. and consolation of the evils which at this time afflicted him Nero and Drusus were sent for Egressi consules firmatos eloquio adolescentulos deductosque ante Caesarem statuunt Tac. The Consuls went out of the Senate house to receive them and after some words spoken to encourage them they were conducted to the Emperour who taking them by the hand said Sirs when these children lost their father I committed them to the charge of Drusus my son and their Cousin and prayed him although hee had children to take as much care of them as of his owne proper bloud educate and preserve them for himselfe and posterity But now that Drusus is taken from them I addresse my prayers to you and conjure you before the Gods and our Countrey that undergoing the performance of my obligation and yours you take upon you the breedding and care of the nephewes of Augustus descended from eminent and illustrious Personages Afterward casting his eyes on the young Princes he sayes to them Nero my darling and you Drusus these Lords whom you here behold are your Fathers The condition of your birth is such â—â—a natâ—aâ—tis ut bona maloque vostra ad Remp. Tac. that the state hath much interest in the good or evill you shall doe In these ocasions they had words proper of joy and desire among the Grecians Agathetuche and the Latines Quod saustum selixque sit The Senate answered not but with teares vowes and prayers and this discourse of Tiberius had served for his honour had he not thereunto added the same promises which so often were exploded heretofore and which much it would have troubled him to keep I protest unto you Fathers Conscript saith he I have no other ambition but to restore Rome to her ancient liberty and leave the governement either to the Consuls or some other These last words were so farre from the intention of him who spake them Vana irrisa vero honesto fidem adimuni Tac. and the beleefe of his auditory that they tooke from the first all the estimation which truth and honesty might give them All that was nought but meere deceit This evill Prince thought of nothing
paenu quidem nunquam satis coercitum per praemia eliciebantur Tac. There was then no safetie in Rome but for Informers a pernitious sort of people whom disorder had put into credit to ruine overthrow all and who were so countenanced that their calumnie was not only unpunished but recompenced The more implacable stiffe they were to maintaine a falshood and out-brave truth the more they were rewarded nor was it a lesse offence to displease them than things holy and sacred Vt quis districtior accusator velut sacro sanctus erat lo ves ignobiles paenis afficiebantur Tac. Others who would not belie their owne consciences nor deliver their opinions contrary to truth were despised and punished Vibius Serenus proconsull of the lower Spaine was accused by his owne son to have conspired against the Emperour and to have sent men into Gallia to incite Miseriarum ac saevitiae exemplum atrox reus pater accusator filius Tac. and stirre up the people He appeareth in the nasty and durty frocke of his voyage for he was but now freshly returned from banishment and though he saw his life in imminent perill yet had he a firme countenance before the Iudges and with an eye of indignation and menace beheld his sonne jocund and merry Stamping with his feet up and downe for anger and making a noise with his chaines for he was brought thither by the souldiers that guarded him he lifted his hands to heaven prayed the Gods to send him backe to the place from whence he came and to punish the ingratitude and impiety of his sonne Nature so unworthily outraged How soere the matter goe with the sonne the father should dispoile himselfe of the office of a father to play the part of a judge prompted him these imprecations not suffering he should shew himselfe as a father to this wicked villaine who had revolted from the duty of a sonne A father should content himselfe with a light punishment for a heavy fault but this disloyalty was so prodigious Pro peceato magno paululum supplicii satu est patri that it drew from his heart this prayer to the Gods for his chastisement whersoever monsters are found they are strangled without consideration of whence they are Birds are fed which come from forests In silvis ortas aviculas pascitis domi natos scorpionesoc ciditis Petr. and scorpions killed which are bred in the house This countenance so confident impressed in the minds of the Iudges an opinion of the innocency of the father and made the wickednesse of the sonne appeare who was so terrified with remorse of conscience and the murmur of people threatning him prison stoning to death and the punishment of parricides that he fled to Ravenna Exequi accusationem adigitur Tac. from whence Tiberius recalled him enforcing him to pursue his accusation for he by all meanes desired to be rid of Serenus having upon his stomacke the distast of a letter which he had written eight yeares before Haud tutum contumacius loqui apud aures superbas offensioni proniores Tac. in termes more arrogant than eares proud and curious to resent offences could suffer The Senators gave their opinions hereupon Gallus Asinius advised he should be banished to the Ilands of Gyara or Donusa which Tiberius disliked because there was no water either in the one Dandus vita usus cui vita conceditur Tac. or other saying it was but reason to give those men meanes of life who were suffered to live Cruell pity He was willing the commodities of life should serve for the continuance and entertainment of the miseries of affliction It was permitted to the most wicked to accuse the most honest to revile them with injuries and give affronts Masters durst not threaten servants either with word or finger There was no exorbitancy Religion gave to the Temples of the Gods liberty and flattery to the statues of Princes which was not dissembled for those who could shelter themselves under Caesars Image The same liberty which incouraged the criminall gave also confidence and occasion to commit the crime The custome was thereof in Rome from the time of Iulius Caesar This great reverence done to Tiberius was shewed in other places as well as Rome his statues being had in as much veneration as Olympique Iupiter Capitale circa Augusti simulacrum servum occidisse in such sort that a master was condemned of impietie because hee had strucken his servant bearing a peece of coyne insculped with the image of Caesar Annia Rufillia had been falsly condemned by the Senate at the suit of Cestius She vexed thereat expected him at the Palace gate neere unto Tiberius statue from whence as a place of malediction shee thundred against him all manner of calumnies which are the weapons of weake spirits The place where Theseus cursed the Athenians in the Burg of Gargettus was called Araterion the place of malediction Plut. Cestius durst not demand reparation because shee had reproached him through favour and neere the statue of Tiberius Hee made complaint and spake in full Senate these memorable words Princes possesse the place of Gods Principes instar deorum suut sed noque à diis nisi justae supplicum preces audiuntur Tac. but the Gods heare none but just prayers of suppliants There is not any one hath recourse to the Capitoll or the other Temples of the Citie as to a Sanctuarie to commit an outrage but thy Lawes are abolished turned up-side downe since in a publique place at the entrance of the Palace wee are enforced to suffer wrongs Non licet jus experiri ob effigiem Imperatoris oppositam Tac. to heare menaces without hope of justice for respect given to the Emperors statue Had the Historie said nothing else to represent the state of the miserable reigne of Tiberius this would bee enough to manifest violence and disorder and who understandeth the carriage of Sejanus cannot bee ignorant how the State was governed Pitifull then was the condition of a Roman Citizen it was dangerous to speake Crimen ex silentio ex voce Tac. or to be silent only thoughts passed without mulct or perill so that the countenance made not appeare either joy for Agrippina or malice against Sejanus This absolute power which hee had over the wealth of the Romans made some say it were good to dwell in Rome and have their estate out of the extent of the Roman Empire Vacia nulla re alia quam otio notua consenuit ob hoc unum foelix habebatur Sen. Vacia a wealthy man and who had beene Pretor retired to his Countrey house finding no freedome against violence but solitude It was a difficult matter for men of these times to make any resolution for it was supposed who di◠so of his owne accord was so farre alienated from nature that hee stood exalted above it with the Gods
or was cast under it among bruit beasts As often as the friendship of Asinius Gallus a kinsman of Agrippina's or the malice of Sejanus had ruined any the men of this age cryed lowdly our O Vacia solus scis vâ—vere Sen. O Vacia there is none but thou who knowes how to live The solitarie life was the most secure Vita ruftica parsimoniae jusâ—itiae ac diligentiae magistra-Cic the civill most perilous and the rustique most acceptable so is it likewise the mistresse of frugalitie diligence integritie and simplicitie It was not attended with so much honour nor gave such contentment as heretofore when the great Captaines went from Triumph to the Cart from Tillage to Armes Attilii manus rustico opere attritae salutem publicam stabilicrunt Vol. and from Harvest to the Senate The earth in those times tooke delight to yeeld fruits in abundance Gaudebattellus vomere laurea to Plin. and acknowledge the labour of those victorious hands which tilled her with a Coulter crowned with Lawrell Sejanus this torrent of pride and insolency overflowed all There was not a creature stayed him all bee encountred were utterly ruined It is not safe to commit so many and so great charges to the fortune of one Par. de Fab. Tiberius was blamed for submitting the fortune of the Empire to the discretion of one sole man and his will to the power of his servant Ambition is oft times put blinde Evill enterprises succeed against the undertakers when it should bee cleare sighted and thinking to walke the right way wanders It ruin'd Sejanus and caused his designes to succeed otherwise than he hoped Hee promised himselfe that Germanicus being dead nothing could hinder him but Drusus hee poysoneth him and behold the succession doubtlesse stands for Germanicus his children It is necessarie for establishment of his tyrannie that hee overthrow it which he undertakes and that the more boldly Ferox scelerum quia prima provenerant Tac. because his precedent outrages succeeded so prosperously that the father neglecteth to revenge the death of his sonne He makes him beleeve his enemies will derive profit from this losse that Agrippina is resolved to reigne He needeth no great art to perswade him Nun dubia Germanici liberorum successio Tac. for hee saw the succession open and this woman thorowly resolved to bite the apple He is determined to cause the mother and her children to perish Sejanus herein findes himselfe much perplexed For to thinke to corrupt Agrippina as he had done Livia there was no likelyhood she being of a chastitie invincible Sparga venenum in tres non poterat egregiâ custodum fide pudicitiâ Agrippinae impenetrabili Tac. and impenetrable To give poyson unto three at once was impossible and severally difficult so great was the fidelitie and vigilance of their servants Besides this Lady could not bee treated withall as other women All the Citie was for her the most confident and shamelesse calumny durst not seize on her shee walked firmely betweene the jealousie of Tiberius and ambition of Sejanus who found no shorter way to ruine her than to animate the Emperour against her by causing him to observe her courage and her hopes He lost no time herein but in a short space met with a fit occasion to make his wicked designe breake into action In the beginning of the yeare Solennia vota pro incolumitate tuâ quá salus publica continetur suscipimus solvimus Plin. they used to sacrifice to Iupiter an Oxe with gilded bornes for the Safetie of the Prince which is the weale of the State The Pontiffes and other Priests by their example recommended to the same Gods Nero and Drusus sonnes of Germanicus not so much for the love of them as to please Tiberius thereby to let him know how much they desired to perpetuate the Empire in his house Good manners were so much forgotten Adulatio moribus corruptis perinde ancepa si nulla ubi nimia est Tac. that it was not more dangerous to flatter too much than not at all Tiberius was perplexed to see their youth hold way with his age Primores modicè perstringendi Tac. for which cause hee asked the Pontiffes whether they had done it at the instant entreaties or threats of Agrippina and they answering no he rebuked them but temperately for they were for the most part either Allies of Agrippina or of the prime men of the Citie He hastens presently to the Senate on this occasion frames a large discourse to shew them that henceforward The mindes of weake and mutable young men should not be thrust into pride Mobiles adolescentium animi praematuris honoribus ad superbiam non extollendi Tac. by honours immaturely conferred upon them Yea Sejanus made more noyse hereupon than Tiberius saying All would run to ruine since no more difference was made betweene the Prince and his kinsmen That the Citie of Rome would fall into division as in the civill broyles Facta tribuâ— dominis communis Roma Lucan when it had three Lords Caesar Pompey and Crassus That the authoritie of the Emperour would be the least That the desire of ancient liberty was awakened That the faction of Agrippina would bee set up which not resisted their number would bee the greater Nullum aliud gliscentis discordiae remedium si unus alterve maximè prompti subvertantur Tac. That no other remedy could bee found for the discord which began to advance and multiply but by causing one or two of them presently to be put to death Amicitia Germanici pernitiosa utrique Tac. He threatned only two and aimed at many but he supposed that these two C. Silius and T. Sabinus should fall from so high an eminence that all the rest would be warned by their ruine Their noble affection to the house of Germanicus had in no degree degenerated from the nature of true friendship although it were not only barren but unfortunate to them Turpe aliis gratificari per dede cus proprium Tac. Varro the Consull wickedly accommodating his conscience and honour to the passion of Sejanus accuseth Caius Silius and Sosia Galla his wife T. Sabinus was reserved for another time and although they made it appeare this pursuit was violent and that Varro ought to stay till he were out of his Consulship yet processe was framed as in case of treason though they were accused for nothing but to have converted the moneys of the common wealth to their owne use and of which sums no man required restitution Proprium Tiberio scelera nuper reperta priscis verbis obtegere Tac. But Tiberius was so wary that he gave the titles of most odious crimes to the slightest faults Silius seeing that makes no defence and when â—e speakes it is but to shew the pursuit is too potent but foreseeing it was not in his power to save himselfe Immineus damnatio
coniuring them not to leave them to the inhumanities wherewith they were threatned They speake of nothing but stones and spared not to carry many to the top of the wals to knocke downe the approachers Peter of Arragon entreth into Sicily under the title of occasion and opportunity For he had not any but that of Constantia his wife who had the title of Manfredus her father and Manfredus Priuate houses only think how to preserve their owne Princely how to invade others of invasion Private thefts are punished It is a Kingly worke to invade another and in great power strength usurpes the place of reason Messina is succoured Charles inforced to retire with much sorrow not to have tempered his anger accepted the offer which had assured him of the whole Iland without a blow strucken Then was the time his tongue did him ill service for had it not discovered his heart all Sicily would have stooped to his obedience The Sicilians found the Catalonians harsh proud and untractable Other Cities fearing the like punishment having done the same fault followed the resolution of the Messinians and opened the gates to the Arragonians who presently handled these people so harshly and haughtily that they wished for the French againe Gaultier of Calatagirona declares against the Arragonians who tooke him and hanged him Those of Calatagirona tooke armes against them and Alaimus Leontinus chiefe Iustice wrote to Charles that if he sent him but ten Gallies he would restore Sicily unto him but he would not trust them who were dishonoured with so notorious a treachery Charles seeing Fortune with one so violent a kick of her foot had throwne downe all his designes sought pretence of reason He who will not be angry for the losse of a Crown will not be troubled at any thing and finding no cause of anger or quarrell more iust than the invasion of a Kingdome besought the Pope to admit he might combat with Peter of Arragon in single Duell to determine by the death of one a difference which might be the death of many The Pope seeing Peter of Arragon would not submit to reason left him to the hazard of armes Simon Leontinus a Dominican Frier carried the letter of challenge Charles sent him the lye and defiance Peter refused not to measure his sword with Charles They agree to take Bourdeaux for the place of Combat and the King of England for Iudge an hundred Captaines of either part for spectators and Sicily for Trophey of victory The King of England at that time held Guyen Charles testified his courage by shewing himselfe twice in the field and Peter his prudence by accepting the combat to withdraw his enemy The Combat appointed in the moneth of May in the yeare 1283 Charles retireth out of the field upon notice that Peter was so farre off he could not come the next day yet arrived the same day and put his army and launce into the hands of the English Marshall who in Sicily drew neare unto him He came to Tours but it was after he knew Charles was departed leaving registred with the Marshall of England that he had expected his enemy from morning untill night He complaineth to the Pope that Peter of Arragon put a scorne upon him and that he will neither plead nor restore The Pope excommunicateth him as an Vsurper upon the rights of the Church gives his Kingdome to Charles proclaimes open warres against him and begins it with more reputation than prosperity Peter of Arragon surpriseth the I le of Malta and his Admirall the Gallies of Naples with Charles Prince of Salerno the Kings son whom he sends prisoner to Barcellon drawes neare to Naples terrifies and amuseth minds so much that if Cbarles had not speedily hastened thither the gates had been opened to him His presence gives confidence to honest men The defeat and taking of Charles on the fifth of August 1284. and terrour to the seditious he caused a hundred and fifty of them to be hanged and had he not considered that there is not any man so miserable who is not a member of the State It is written that he in his anger commanded to put fire amongst the Neapolitans Gerrard of Parma the Popes Legate appeased him and shewed that how much the more faults were great so much the more clemency is commendable punishment had taken away a much greater number which had he omitted he should have made a new world through the difficulty of distinction betweene good subjects rebels children from servants for as those are not chastised by blows so are the other so refractary they cannot be appeased with sweetnesse Fortune being now wholly turned against him his army was discomfited before Rheggio and he raising another to recover Sicily the sorrow of his forepassed losses staied him dissolved his designe and ended his life Fortune exacted so rough interests from the contentments she had given him that in these his last agonies seeing the precipice inevitable If I must needs fall said Charles I pray God it may be handsomely he sought nothing but to descend into it after his owne manner without either being urged or forced He as having wilfully concurred to his owne unhappinesse He who is the cause of his owne suffering may only thanke himselfe endevoured not to seeke out elsewhere than in himselfe the causes of his suffering It is impossible to live in the world without adversity but it much importeth to understand for what cause we suffer In the same army died Pope Martin the fourth Charles the first King of Naples Peter of Arragon Philip the Hardy what the expectation is and to what purpose we endure for if it be not innocently patience is difficult and comforts are superfluous He died at Foggia the seventh of Ianuary 1284. Charles the first King of Naples caused the head of Conradinus grandchild of the Emperour Frederick to be cut off on the 26. of October 1269. Charles the second losing the King his father must of necessity part both with life and Kingdome The Queene Constantia was counselled to let him dye under the hands of an executioner to revenge the death of her Nephew so that upon this advice she on a Friday sent him word he must prepare himselfe to the same punishment which his father had inflicted on Conradinus He answered I am most ready to dye for the love of him who upon the same day suffered for me This generous and Christian answer touched the Queenes heart who replied For the same respect he would dye I will have him live But to qualifie this inveterate choler and violent thirst to revenge the death of Conradinus Cruelty is an inveterate anger she commanded the heads of two hundred gentlemen prisoners to be cut off At foure yeares end he was freed from captivity left there three of his children Lewis Robert and Iohn for hostages and regaining
with his liberty one Kingdome accounted as lost he found another which he expected not Hungary was miserable under Ladislaus and the Nobility enforced to till the ground The Hungarians having put Ladislaus their King to death for his libidinous life and cruelties Charles Martell was crowned King of Hungaria as sonne of Mary sister of Ladislaus But because the sweetest contentments are steeped in the roughest acerbities Charles Martell son of Charles the 2. King of Naples and Mary daughter of Stephen King of Hungary and for that strange accidents succeed unexpected events a Neopolitan Gentleman named Faelix the only Privado in the secrets favours of Charles undertook not to share with him Soveraigne authority which is not divisible All ambition is insatiable for it begins where it should end but to bereave him both of Crowne and life to possesse it himselfe wholly so hard a thing it is for a great fortune to containe it selfe within the limits of reason and to find contentment in ambition An attempt upon the King of Hungary at Villegrad on Easter day pressed on by this fury he assaileth the King on an Easter day sets his sword to his throat and wounds him in the arme Clementia Queene of Hungary daughter of the Emperor Rodolphus the first and mother of Clementia married to Lewis Hutin his couragious wife daughter of the Emperour Rodolphus diverting the blow had foure of her fingers cut his children were saved for the conspiracy was to raise a new house This miserable creature is punished with his complices children and allies in the detestation of so execrable an impiety There cānot too many tortures nor tormentors be mustered up together to punish these horrible assassinates Rigor of punishment in ruining the wicked should terrifie others It is fit the punishment be such that in ruinating the culpable by stroks it may humble the rest by astonishment After the death of Alfonsus King of Arragon Iames and Frederick his brothers sought peace with the Church by the mediation of Charles King of Naples Martin the fourth excommunicateth Peter of Aragon and gives his Kingdome to Charles of Valois offering the confirmation of former treaties They could not make choice of a more powerful intercession for all the Councels of Charles were much esteemed at Rome and his advises honoured yea even in the election of Popes He laboured their absolution It is much more easie to treat with a simple and ignorant man than a wise and a wary and proposed it to Pope Caelestine the fifth who hearing speech of absolving an enemy of the Church refused it as a great scandall because indeed it was a long time since this thunder stroke fell upon the house of Arragon Election of Calestine in a conclave at Peruge in the yeare 1294. He so much feared to erre that he acted nothing but in feare which proceeded from his disproportion to affaires For the truth is the most feasible and facile ever present themselves as rough and obscure to such as understand them not It was the blessed man Petrus Moronus whom Charles had drawen from the Cell He accepteth it by the solicitation of Charles King of Naples to replenish the vacant See the Cardinals having beene two yeeres unable to fall upon an accord in the election But he better understood himselfe than they who had chosen him God requires the greatest account of him to whom hee gives the greatest charge For being much troubled with the care of his owne soule and unwilling to undergoe the charge of others hee tooke his profession into consideration weighed his owne dutie and represented the justice of his Master who being offended is not more sharply displeased with any than him to whom he committeth the mannage of his affaires and of whom he requires a most strict accompt This Example is single There is none but Celestine hath forsaken that which so many thirst after For which cause he pulled off the Myter and threw himselfe into his Hermitage He had beene haled from the port into the storme and now returnes out of the tempest into the haven Hee who cannot live in the day light must abide in the shadow Charles caused him to come to Naples to divert him from this retirement but could not For Cardinall Cajetan of a more unresistable and prevailing spirit making him beleeve hee incurred the hazard of his owne salvation to entertaine a charge any longer whereof he found himselfe uncapable thrust himselfe into his place Cardinall Benedict of Anagnia deceived Pope Celestine and put himselfe into his place at Naples and fearing hee would reassume it againe deprived him of life in prison possessed the See a whole yeare at Naples where during his abode Charles accomplished his negotiation of restoring Iames and Fredericke into the communion of the Church Pope Boniface the eighth consented unto it so they would wholly and without hope of regaining forsake Sicily Princes leave but it is ever with a purpose to have againe They thereunto accorded upon promise made by Charles that he should procure the Count of Valois to renounce the right hee had to the Kingdome of Arragon The fruit of this treatie was the restitution of Sicily the returne of three Princes left Hostages and the marriage of Blanch Princesse of Naples to Iames King of Arragon King Charles conducted his daughter to Barcellon there to behold her husband and to take his three sonnes away with him but of three he had but two Prince Lewis taketh the habit of Saint Francis at Barcellon for the eldest being of the age of one and twentie forsooke both the world and Court and in the midst of the universall joy for peace and solemnities of marriage tooke the habit of Saint Francis in the presence of the King of Naples his father the King of Arragon his father in law Queenes and Princesses It was impossible to divert him from this resolution and that hee might not bee charmed by the Syrens of Court Seneca saith that voyce must be avoyded which Vlysses would not heare but whilst he was fastned to the mast of a ship hee affixed himselfe to the Standard of the Crosse Everie one was much amazed at this alteration for hee was the eldest of his brothers the Crowne of Naples infallibly belonged to him they would have married him to the Princesse of Majorica he left Roses to make a conserve of I hornes Delights for Austeritie and the Court for a Cloyster Hee raised his heart to God upon two wings Simplicitie and Puritie the one is in the intention the other in affection Simplicitie seeketh for God puritie findeth him In this habit After the yeare of probation he presented himselfe to the Convent of Mompelier who refused him lest they might offend the King his father hee on the feast of all Saints made a Sermon shewing all prosperities of the world were but trifles and counterfet gems
of losing the rights of Sicily The Florentines notwithstanding so well liked his government that they demanded his son and chose him their Prince for ten yeares Whilst they expected his comming hee sent them the Count Brennus his kinsman shortly after went thither with his wife who was there delivered of a son whom the Signory of Florence named Charles Martel in memory of the brother of King Robert of Hungary But the joy of this birth lasted but eight dayes For the child died on the ninth She had yet another daugther named Mary the abode he made at Florence much availed the Catanian who grew dexterous by conversation with the subtile and wary wits of Italy Lewis of Bavare entreth into Italy causeth himself to be crowned at Rome the 17. of Ian. 1328. deposeth Iohn the 22. who was at Avignon and putteth into his place a Cordelier called Peter Corbieres He remained there about some three yeares but hearing the Emperour Lewis of Bavare entred into Italy and had a plot upon the territories of King Robert his father he departed from Florence and went to Naples where he soone after deceased His government was so just and temperate Death of Charles Duke of Calabria in the yeare 1328. No justice but for them who have money that the Florentines never bewailed those that went before Such care he had of Iustice to have it exercised towards all his subjects that perceiving the difficulty of accesse of the poore to him he caused a bell to be hanged at the gate of his palace so that he who rung it was sure in that instant to be brought before the Prince or to have some officer sent out to heare him King Robert undertook the ruine of the Duke of Athens because he began to alter and trouble the government of the City The Florentines unable to agree in their government had likewise recourse to King Robert who assigned them the Duke of Athens but he thought not long to continue there upon notice given he had put the Signory out of the Palace where they usually assemble so that he sent him word if he could not content himselfe with his sonnes lodging he should not make any long abode in the City Gaultier Duke of Athens Count of Brenne enterpriseth upon the liberty of Florence He gave up an unfortunate account of his fidelity reputation in going about to make that power perpetuall which was given him but limited he seised on the forces of the City and such as might hinder his plot Those who conspired against the common wealth to raise him had a new plot to ruine him and seeing it was discovered not willing to expect till punishment should be inflicted He who is discovered casts himselfe into despaire tooke armes The designe which was but of some particulars caused a generall insurrection against him to enforce him to forsake the Fortresse to put into the hands of the executioner those who had assisted him in his Tyranny which lasted but nine moneths It were ill with the common wealth if the wicked should alwaies prosper King Robert deploring the death of his sonne spake these words Cecidit Corona capitis mei vae mihi vae vobis It is the interest both of the particular and publike that the wicked perish and the good prosper Nothing could happen to King Robert which more sharply afflicted him than the death of his sonne he incessantly said The Crowne is fallen from my head woe bee to mee woe bee to you If sorrow had power enough to kill it had throwne him into his grave his courage made resistance and although griefe had banished vivacity of Spirit from his heart Constancy in an instant made it returne againe but the evill was reiterated with it He found no comfort but in his little Inheritrix He sadly prunes the tree from which no fruit can be expected the precious pledge of the Kingdomes hope who was in the hands of her governesse omitting nothing in the sollicitous care of exact education by manuring her as a plant that was to perpetuate her house but with this griefe that he could not have the contentment to see the fruit she should bring forth To oblige her governesse to be careful in the service of this Princesse O ridiculum vidisse ex ergastulo servili ac nidore popinae Aethiopem Roberto Regi regalia obsequia exhibentem he created her husband great steward of Naples and thereupon Boccace who relateth this story cryeth out aloud What a mockery is it to see a Moore drawne from the misery of a gally-slave and smoake of the kitchin to supply with King Robert the prime services of the Crowne to take place of the greatest Lords to become a President in the Court and to administer justice to Suitors but what shall we say Fortune raiseth whom she list So inconstant is she that she suffered Marius to beg his bread at Carthage in his sixt Consulship and created him chiefe generall in the seventh The liberty of a Prince in the choice of servants is absolute The choice a Prince makes of men whom he advanceth to great imployments is not subject to any mans censure and were it bad yet ought it to be approved lest his judgement be questioned and reputation wounded But it is a hard matter to be silent therein The Romanâ— permitted not new purchasers of noble houses to change the Images or furnitures which upbraided their unworthinesse For honours weepe over those who have not deserved them and the Images of Noble houses upbraid the slender merit of the new purchasers Raymond Cabanes continued not long in this charge for death freed him from the envy and hatred she would have cast upon him had he lived any longer King Robert witnessed in his death the account he made of his life appointing funerall obsequies for him as for a Prince of his owne bloud and protesting he had long time made use of his favour Wise men make use of favour and abuse it not but never abused it It is true Fortune raised his house but vertue had a share in it and prudence furnished out the Oeconomie It was as great a glorie for him to have raised it It is better to begin than end an house as it is a disgrace for others to ruine what they finde already framed Some through their owne errours deface the images of their Ancestors others transmit theirs over to posteritie with admiration Those not having preserved what was given them are despicable these having out of themselves framed that which they received not from any man deserve to be honoured Agathocles King of Sicily had a Potter to his father Iustinian a Shepherd Gratian a Rope-maker There is a beginning in everie thing the greatest houses were heretofore but Cabarets the Capitoll was at first covered with thatch There are divers things verie great which would not so have beene had
Devils sent them with her packets like Posts and held them to the chaine as slaves Hee changeth the batterie Evill counsell to stay the fire by burning and ruine by destruction sends word to Lewis King of Hungary the Crowne of Naples is lost to Andrew and that it is in him to preserve the inheritance of his Ancestors and for that purpose it was fit he married Marie sister of Ioane according to King Roberts intention and that comming with good troopes to marrie her he may also gaine the Crowne Had this religious man and the Catanian Ambition will see nothing which exceedeth or equalleth it well understood one another the State being at their discretion they had done at Naples what Cleon and Clitophon did at Athens Cleon and Clitophon ruined and overthrew the State of Athens to mannage a Kingdome at their pleasures but both of them sought to have superioritie Rome will rather suffer two Masters than either Pompey or Caesar endure a Rivall Charles of Durazzo A plot discovered is easily dissolved eldest sonne of Iohn Prince of Morea eighth sonne of Charles the second smelt out this plot and was too hard for the Friar For he entred into Castle d'Ovo by intelligence of the houshold servants hee seized on the Princesse Marie carried her away to his owne house and married her in his garden on the last day of April 1343. Hee did not discover his purpose to any man nor askt the Queenes consent who was infinitely distasted therewith verie well perceiving this Match was made upon her Tombe The actions of him who is to succeed are suspected by him that reigneth As the hope of succession makes him impatient who pretends so it ever keepes his heart full of jealousies and distrusts who is in possession Ambition thinkes Nature is too slow in her carreere This is he shall cause Ioane to be strangled in the yeare 1382. At the same time his younger brother Lewis Count of Gravine married Margarite daughter of Robert of St. Severine Count of Cavillan and from this marriage came Charles the third King of Naples Duke of Durazzo who seized on the Kingdome Charles of Durazzo and Marie his wife tooke such content in fomenting this violent enmitie betweene the Queene and her Husband and blew with all the strength of their lungs that fire from whence they expected their light Who profiteth by ruine counselleth it confidently For it cannot goe ill with the Queene but it must be well with them and should the Crowne fall from her head they are ready at hand to gather up the peeces The Catanian walkes by the same path to another plot Conspiracies are encouraged by hatred interest or revenge and meets with them in the resolution to vindicate the Queene from captivitie and the Kingdome from confusion by the banishment and extirpation of Forraigners The most trusty servants of the Queene consent thereto Those who feare to bee looked after in the matter of conspiracie against the crowning of Andrew pressed her to resolve and execute in an instant An execrable crime ever disguiseth it selfe when one proposeth it who if he should see it in his manner would abhor it The Catanian spake of ridding her of the Hungarians yet onely meant the King But the most notorious mischiefes are never so plainly proposed they are disguised and the intelligent understand with halfe a word About this time the Queene is with childe and that which should re-unite her heart with her Husbands augmenteth the dis-union for the Catanian supposing the King might bee the more authorized by seeing himselfe a father and that Friar Robert might procure his resolution to banish all those who abused the youth and goodnesse of the Queene To take ill counsell upon faire shewes is to drinke poyson in a golden cup. caused her to swallow the poison of an horrid counsell in the sweetnesse of her libertie saying Heaven would doe her a great favour if hee made her a widdow before she were a mother In mine opinion this Lady was too well borne and her courage too noble to consent to the death of her Husband But perhaps she let the Catanian doe what she would who had wholly ruled her from her Cradle For indeed her soule darkned with the fogs of hatred she bare towards Andrew no more served her than her eyes which passion had blinded Who resisteth not evill consents thereto and who hinders it not countenanceth it She was advised to suffer her selfe to bee led by Fortune which rather favoured great confidence than vertue that preached cowardly patience The resolution of killing the King is undertaken betweene the Catanian the High Steward her Sonne her Daughter her Sonne in Law Charles Duke of Durazzo and the Duchesse Marie his wife all who agreed upon this point that their own safetie the Queenes contentment and the good of the Kingdome depended upon this act Some Cabinet Lords participated therein It is a great unhappinesse for a stranger to be prosperous in a forraine Countrey not being able any longer to endure the harsh and proud predominance of the Hungarians It is a great unhappinesse for a stranger to be in grace out of his Countrey for hee is enforced Envie must be tamed or you must suffer your selfe to be mastered by the envious either to suffer himselfe to be oppressed by en vie or commit unspeakable outrages to free himselfe from the envious There was no great distance of time betweene the plot and the execution The night which preceded it thus sayes Collenutius but affirmes it not the Queene twisted a cord of gold and silke Andrew asked her what shee meant to do with it she answered It is to hang thee It may be hate suggested such a thought to this woman but there is little probabilitie that she spake it Many things come into the thought which the tongue uttereth not For either she had no part in the plot of her Husbands death and this word made her culpable or shee was in the conspiracie and that sufficed to discover and convince her at that time of an execrable wickednesse having undertaken it and of extreme impudence having pronounced it But wee must speake no more of it lest wee thrust suspition into an heart lesse sensible and distrustfull than Andrew's was It would not have beene forgotten in the letters and declarations the King of Hungarie his brother wrote to the Pope and Christian Princes Many had knowledge of this impious complot The discoverie of the conspiracie advanceth the effect Macrinus finding himselfe to be discovered by Maternianus executeth by Martialis what he had conceived against Antonie But a secret is not long concealed when a third man knowes it Those who were embarqued therein fearing to be discovered hastned execution saying In matters of such importance nothing must be done to halves Great crimes never ought to enter into the imagination but when they are resolved