Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	burn_v	day_n	house_n	2,389	4	5.4502	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02294	A chronicle, conteyning the liues of tenne emperours of Rome Wherin are discouered, their beginnings, procéedings, and endings, worthie to be read, marked, and remembred. Wherein are also conteyned lawes of speciall profite and policie. ... Compiled by the most famous Syr Anthonie of Gueuara, Bishop of Mondonnedo, preacher, chronicler, and counsellour to the Emperour Charles the fift: and translated out of Spanish into English, by Edward Hellowes, Groome of her Maiesties Leashe. Hereunto is also annexed a table, recapitulating such particularities, as are in this booke mentioned.; Decada de los diez Cesares y emperadores Romanos. English	Guevara, Antonio de, Bp., d. 1545?; Hellowes, Edward.	1577 (1577)	STC 12426; ESTC S103534	315,538	500

for many things ought to be reprehended yet onely for one thing he deserueth praise namely that he had rather die a gentleman then liue a slaue CHAP. XI ¶ The report of a fire which descended from heauen and burnt in Rome the temple of peace ONe of the most notable exāples wherin fortune hath discouered the inconstancie of her whéele was in the discourse that she had vsed wyth Cleander and his house whoe in short space of a slaue made a fréeman of a fréeman a Steward of a Steward a Pretour of a Pretour a Chamberlaine of a Chamberlaine in effect a Monarche of the world and afterwards in one day and in one houre was vtterly destroyed whereby wée haue to learne that While wee liue in this life with suretie wee possesse nothing Hee ought not to be dismaide that from an high estate is descended vnto a poore degree neither ought he to glorie or grow proud that from a base estate is aduanced to honour for ther is none in so wretched condition that hopeth not to growe better either is there any so set a loft that needeth not to doubt to catch a fall The present day that Cleander was put to death Commodus repaired vnto his imperial Palace neuer more returned vnto his garden neither to dwell either as much as to solace and if in times past hee had bin cruell from thence forth hée was much more cruell and also suspicious for hée conceyued that popular sedition procéeded not to take vengeaunce of Cleander but for deuice to dispatch him of his life His friends his kinsefolks his counsellers his seruaunts his natural subiects and also strangers hée held them all his vtter enimies because he doubted that all maner of men that came to speake with him came to deceiue him and such as repaired to visite him that by treason they would kill him In the xij yeare of his Empire on the xvij day of March at noone the heauen was séene full of starres as if it had béene midnight and that which was most meruell and neuer read in bookes or séen with eyes that on the euening when the Sunne naturally was accustomed to be séene to sett in the Weste they beheld rising in the East In the moneth of Iuly next following a Comet appeared in heauen as large as a great beame and so flamed with fire directing his sparkles vnto the citie of Rome On the xx day of the moneth of August soudenly the heauens being cleare neither raynie or cloudie in Rome there strake an horrible clap of thunder and after the thunder there came a globe of fire which burned the temple named the temple of peace This tēple in authoritie was most auncient in buildinges most stately in riches most wealthie with priestes most published and in deuotion most estéemed because in all other Churches the Romanes might pray vnto their Gods sitting or standing but there were forced to pray on their knées All men which had monie treasure iewels or rich stuffe layd it all vp in the temple of peace not onely thinking them most safe by the stronge building of the Church but also of deuotion to commende and offer their goodes vnto the God of peace to obteine permission to enioy quietnes The losse which the Romanes receiued by those flames of fire did excéede all reckoning for that in a maner all rich men had there their riches burnt consumed in such wise that no heart might endure either yet dissemble to heare the cries of men and the exclamation of women euery man recounting his losse vnto his neighbour ioyntly bewayling the burning of the temple Now when the temple of peace was burnt visibly they did sée it passe vnto the temple of the vestall virgins which wholy it consumed leauing no signe of any building thereof And yet notwithstanding better order was taken for the remedie thereof then in the other temple for presently vppon the kindling of the fire they tooke out the vestall virgins whiche there were inclosed and the reliques which the Romanes had there reposed And for as much as wée haue said of reliques it is to vnderstand that the Romanes had in that temple the Palladium that is to say the image of the goddesse Pallas which fell from heauen vpon the walls of Troy and from thence was brought to Rome which was holden in as great veneration as the arke of the Lord amonges the Israelites The Romanes held that Image of the Goddesse Pallas so shut vp inclosed and hidden that long time after shée was brought from Troy of mortall man being neuer séene either of Consul Emperour or priest for they had a prophecie that in the yeare in which that Image should be séene there should be great chaunge in the prosperitie of Rome The Romanes remoued their vestall virgins and the Image of their Goddesse Pallas vnto the house of Commodus and so great was the lamentation amongest the Romanes to behold their vestall virgins set at large and their Palladium discouered that without comparison they did much more bewaile the burning of their temple of reliques then the other temple that conteyned all their riches After this globe of fire had burned the temple of Peace and the temple of Reliques it burned also many other sumptuous buildinges not burning alongest after the manner of other fire but amongest many houses burnt one and farre off from thence would burne another wherof the Romanes did gather that it was not the fire in vse amongest men seruing onely to burne but a fire sent from the Godds to consume and chastice These terrible fireinges and prodigious spectacles of the Romanes being cōsidered if vntil that time they did wishe the Emperour euill from thenceforth they could neither endure to behold him either abide with patience to heare his name for they held it for certeintie that all those euill signes wherwith the Godds did threaten the Common wealth were all sent for his foule and filthie life This globe of fire continued by the space of a xi dayes in all which time it ceased not to burne temples and houses On the xij day Commodus rode out of the citie and at the instante that he went out at the gates soudainely the fire ceased which confirmed the Romanes in their opinion namely that during the life of Commodus the Romane people of the gods should alwayes be scourged CHAP. XII ¶ Of many cruelties and not a fewe phantastical practises of Commodus AS it hath béene said Commodus continued certaine dayes very sad and pensiue when he considered how traytors sought occasion to take away his life and the terrible flames and burninges of Rome but in short time after hee both forgat the chastisement of the Gods and conspiracies of men and this manifestly appeared for that he so stoutly returned to all his vices as if he had neuer beene vitious Cleander being dead hée made Niger Prefect and after sixe houres hee did reuoke his power and commaunded him to be

in so great feare of the hazard of his life that he ceased that day to execute so desperate a déed and being demaunded why hée would burne his mother Rome aunsweared that he would not burne Rome but his Commodian Colonell because at that time it was named Rome These prodigies following did precede his death There came out of his house certeine little birds of the fashion and colour of turtles which were neuer séene either in Rome or in any the confines of Italie and remained iij. dayes vppon his house neither flying or remouing to any other house and their note and songe which they vsed did rather giue motion of wéeping then of mirth Soudeinly the ports of Ianus did open the copper Image of the god Mercurie was séene to sweat the Image of Hercules without approch of any person was séene to moue and vppon his chamber where hée slept the skrich owle nightly ceased not to houle Commodus cōsidering these causes departed to remaine at mount Celius affirming that he was feared by night might not sléepe On the next day being demaunded for the celebration of certeine feastes games which were to be done before the gates of his Palace what garmentes his guard should weare hée aunswered and commaunded them to be clad with hooded capes for the raine a garment much vsed in Rome for mourners in such wise that on the other day hée was in such maner accompanied that it seemed rather they wente to honour his obsequies then to celebrate or magnifie his feastes CHAP. XIIII ¶ Howe Commodus was slaine by the deuice and counsel of his Courtisane Martia THe time approching wherein the follies and wickednesses of the Emperour Commodus should finish and the sorrowfull Rome obteine libertie from the seruitude of so cruell a tyrant the occasion both of the one and the other was after this maner The first day of the moneth of Ianuary the Romanes did celebrate the feast of the God Ianus on which day Commodus determined to shewe himselfe in the habite not of an Emperour but of a sword player whereof Martia his cōcubine being aduertised with great instāce did humblie pray him and with many teares no lesse request and béeseech him that it might please him to take some other order both to auoyde the perill that might happen vnto his person as also the blemishe vnto his authoritie This Martia was so loued and so tenderly cherished and honoured of the Emperour Commodus that notwithstanding shée did serue him as a concubine yet hée brought to passe that all men did serue her as Empresse To restraine Cōmodus from that feast in the shewe and forme of a sword-player neither were the abundant teares powred forth of Martia sufficient either her humble sute so instantly requested either the feare and hazard of his person so flatly informed either the amorous intisementes so exactly performed remoue his purpose the which Martia considering forgat not to request others to be assistant in that sute for as afterwardes shée reported her heart did giue her that Commodus that day should passe great perill At that time Letus was his Chamberlaine and Electus Capiteine of his guard whoe were priuate and in great fauour with the Emperour Commodus friendes vnto Martia these both shée requested to be humble furtherers in her former sute But Commodus was so obstinate and determined to celebrate that feast of Ianus in forme of a fenser that he was not onely vnwilling to heare them but also grew to be offended with them On the eues eue of the great feast of the God Ianus Commodus cōmaunded the Capiteines of the sword players to prepare him the armes ensignes of a sword player for that hée would celebrate those feasts not as an Emperour but as a swoord player This done and prouided Commodus cōmaunded Letus and Electus to depart to their lodging to the end he might repose and séeing himselfe alone in his chamber inclosed with doores shut he tooke paper and incke and did write with his owne handes the names of all such persons which he determined on the next day should be slaine with the swoord players for his meaning was not principally to adorne those feastes and to honour them but to dispatch manye men of their liues This memorial being made of al such persons as the nexte day shoulde be slaine partely of excesse and partely of wearinesse in writinge he was taken with deade sleape laying his memoriall vnder his pillowe not doubting that any person should encounter therewith Commodus had in his chamber a little boye sufficiently faire named Pugius whome he did loue and fauour aboue all the rest not for his seruice but for delight he had of him in bedde As Pugius was but childishe and in so greate fauour comming and going alwayes into Commodus chamber fortune would or to say better God so ordayned that he shoulde take that paper in hande wherein were contained the names of al such as were appointed to the slaughter and came forth vnto the lodging where Martia receiued him to play according vnto the custome vsed with children and finding the paper in his handes suspecting it to be some writinge of importance tooke the childe into her armes imbracinge kissinge and dallying with the childe Pugius and giuing him another iuell wherewith to play tooke the paper into her hands without all suspicion to finde that which therein was conteined Martia coulde both write and reade and vnderstoode the Gréeke and spake the Latine toung and presently begane to reade the contents thereof written by Commodus his owne handes wherein shée founde firste her owne proper name as appointed amongst the reste to be slaine the seconde was the chamberlaine Letus the thirde the captaine Electus and so consequentely the most auncient wealthy the most noble personages of Rome Martia being astonnied and terrified to find what she foūd in that libell began to sobbe and wéepe and saying with her selfe what is this may it be that I am Martia that reade this writing and shal be executed to morrowe Oh Commodus ioy take no care for whereas thou hadst thought to haue done vengeaunce vppon thine enimies this daye they shal be reuenged of thee in suche wife as men shall praise it and the Gods allowe it that in thy rigorous chasticements all tyraunts shall obteine and recouer both warning and example If thou euer in all thy life didest committ or perfourme any good deede it hath beene to place mee amongst suche persones as thou hast appointed to be slaine to morowe for that shee deserueth moste iustly to dye that abandoneth her conuersation vnto so vile a person Since the Gods haue so permitted and my good fortune woulde that this matter should be discouered full contrarie to thy purpose it shall haue successe because thou thoughtest to haue slaine mee and all other vertuous noble and most wealthie of the Empire but the case shall be thus that this daye thou shalt see the ende of thy wicked

yere in the whole land there was great scarsitie of bread wherby Traiane was constrained to shorten his iourney and to hasten his imbarkage in such manner that the pestilence draue him out of Africa and hūger out of Spaine Traiane departed Spaine with determination not to stay vntill his arriuall in Asia and there to take the way vnto the greater Armenia would neuer take land in any porte of Italie but passing like pylgrimes made no stay but onely to renue their victuals All those whiche trauelled with Traiane were astonied to sée him passe the portes of his kingdomes as if it had bene the lande of enimies Traiane had a capteine named Valerius Gracchus vnto whom the Emperour did beare speciall affection and did estéeme him as a kinsman vnto this man they say that Traiane sayd in great secrecie If I had found warres in Sicyl Africa or Spaine as I found in Datia whereby I might haue obteined some victorie I woulde not haue passed without landing in Italie but since it is thus come to passe I sweare by the immortall Gods to set no foote a land in Italie vntil I deserue to enter triumphing into Rome High verie high were these wordes worthy and right worthy to be written in the hearts of Princes to beholde this Prince that banished him selfe from the delightes of his own proper kingdomes to séeke fame in straunge landes With great determination Traiane did enterprise the voyage into Armenia wherin he entered making cruell war taking occasion of the king of Armenians which refused to confesse to haue receiued his kingdome from the Romaines but of the king of Parthians Traiane not satisfied to make war vpon the Armenians but also entered the landes and territories of the Parthians bicause in the most principall Prouince of Trapa he deteined his armie more then thrée monethes Parthurus king of Parthians a man of great yeares beholding the warres offered him by the enimie determined to present peace vnto Traiane who being demanded of his Parthians why he discouered so great feare within his owne kingdome he made answere If the wars were but armie against armie the Parthians woulde not feare the Romaines but we fight with the Emperor Traiane vnto whome the Gods haue giuen so great fortune that it farre exceedeth our great power Without consuming of many dayes or imploying of many armies the Parthians made peace with Traiane and the Armenians did yeald them selues as ouercome From Parthimisires king of Armenians the kingdome was remoued and both crowne and kingdome Traiane gaue with his owne handes vnto his sonne and this he did bycause king Parthimisires had sayd that of the Parthians and not of the Romaines he was crowned king in suche wise that the good Traiane in remouing the kingdome frō the father did execute iustice and in giuing it to the sonne gaue a shewe of his clemencie Traiane was not satisfied that the Parthians shoulde haue peace and become tributaries vnto the Romaines but that king Parthurus by the handes of Traiane must be crowned and so it came to passe that knéeling vpon his knées he receiued his crowne kissed his hande and consented to pay tribute Traiane did marche through all those Prouinces and kingdomes and vnto the kinges that did yeald obedience benignly he did intreate them and in their kingdomes did confirme them and vnto suche as did vse resistaunce vnto others he gaue their kingdomes and sent them prisoners vnto Rome Traiane helde for custome that in all principall cities of kingdomes or Prouinces that he had taken by force of armes he did commaunde to erect a most strong castle wherevnto his armies did repayre and a right sumptuous temple wherein to worshippe the Goddes of Rome As Traiane did passe and trauell visite and conquere all the thrée partes of the world that is to say Asia Africa and Europa in all which countries he did trauell to leaue of him selfe immortall fame the testimonie wherof maketh it credible that all the Romaine princes ioyntly haue not erected so many buildings as Traiane onely did performe Traiane did leade his armies verie well furnished ordered corrected and also in great subiection this procéeded that alwaies in his own person he did accōpany the same and helde them both paide and rewarded for as he did vse to say The hoast that of his owne proper Prince is not visited and paide is sildome or neuer in subiection When Traiane was in the warres in his féeding and apparel he did rather séeme a companion then an emperour of Rome for that sildome he went vnarmed and many were the dayes wherein he did eate standing Hauing a bodie somewhat drie and of great sinowes he was moste patient in tedious trauaile of warres that is to say in suffering hunger colde thirste wette snowe heate perils whiche he refused not as a cowarde but sought thē out as one of a valiant mind for that in all hazardes perils he neuer saide vnto his captaines go but let vs go do but let vs do fight but let vs fight He gaue in charge vnto his armies not to attempt to burne houses set fire in corne ouerthrowe milles or cut downe orchardes affirming that these thinges are to be obteined but not destroyed Whē Traiane would take any citie he did not imploye his force in any thing more then to depriue the enimies of their waters In the campes of his enimies he did cause to be sowen false newes that is to wite that if he had victuals to saye that he wanted that if he had money to saye it was spent that if he had muche people that they were gone that if he would shortly giue an assault to saye that he would departe and by this meanes he brought his enimies into negligence while in meane time he did fortifie his armies Traiane was of greate liberalitie vnto such as discouered the enimies secretes and ioyntly therewith of no lesse prouidence for the entering of spies within his campes When he helde warre with any citie or countrye he did not permitt his souldiers to spoile the borders thereof for he helde opinion that smal profit might rise to spoile the poore villages and greate hurte and offence vnto the armies by want of victuals Vnto a captaine that tooke a ploughman kilde his two Oxen at the ploughe Traiane commaunded to be banished with great ignominie and to giue the ploughman his horse his armour and all his wages that was due For no fault Traiane commaunded any man to be slaine in the warres but onely him that slept being of the watche or the captaine that ranne awaye out of the battel or did rauishe any woman Traiane was so pitifull that vsually he did pardon all negligences especially in the warres except two faultes which he did neuer remitt that is to say such as blasphemed the Gods and rauished women Traiane was verie diligent and careful in visiting his camps and to kéepe a reckoning of all his armies and this he did to the ende

that no vagabonds should wander amongest them in such wise that no man went to the warres that did not beare armour and go to the battell Traiane held in his armies maisters of all exercises to teache the young men the arte of knighthood that is to saye howe to playe at the swoorde to shoote in the crossebowe to runne an horsse to skale a wall to mine a castell to wrastle with the enimie to swimme ouer a riuer finally the greatest of Traianes exercise was to augment and nobilitate his armie and knighthood CHAP. XVII ¶ Of the honourable titles that the Romaines sent vnto Traiane and of the earthquake of Antioche THE Romaines did much desire that when Traiane did saile from Spaine into Asia that he should haue landed in Italie but when they vnderstoode of the great victories and prosperities which he had receiued in Asia great was the ioye and sportes which were done at Rome In times past some Princes ouercame the Parthians and others of them were ouercome but neuer prince as Traiane did make them by feare yeald vp their kingdome and that of his owne will knéeling vppon his knées would by a Romaine Prince be crowned The Parthians were a people so vntameable to be subdued that they saide of thē selues the Gods could absolutely confound them but impossible for men to ouercome them Many dayes they were debating in the Senate vpon determination of the manner of thankes which they should write vnto Traiane and what ensignes of honour they should sende vnto him since by his vertue they were all honoured and by his valiant actes feared throughout the worlde All the Senate came to consent to one aduice the which in déede was very generous and noble that is to vnderstande that all maner of coyne should be melted within the Empire and made a certeine newe money in the name of Traiane wherein Traiane was ingrauen and in the compasse thereof these letters were written Imp. Vlp. Tr. Opti Da. Parth. P. P. Tr. P. Con. 2. Sem. Aug. Which is to saye this is the Emperour Vlpius Traianus which was verie good and right fortunate he ouercame the Parthians triumphed ouer the Datians father of the countrie tribune of the people two times Consul his memorie shal be immortal Great was the ioy the Traiane receiued when he sawe that money which the Senate had made and when he read the writing therin conteined but of all the titles whiche they gaue him he gloried in none so much as to intitle him Imperator optimus that is to saye best Emperour for he affirmed that all other titles he had obteined by armes but this other with vertues For defence of colde prouision of victuals Traiane retired in Winter vnto the citie and prouince of Antioche where whiles he remained suche so fierce an earthquake happened as neuer in the worlde past was euer heard or séene The chaunce was thus that on the 22. day of October before the breake of the day soudenly there rose such winde storme so extreme importune that puld vp trées beate downe birdes threw down tiles shooke the houses forthwith it began to lighten and thunder did so sparckle and flame that being night it séemed to be broade daye After the thunder and lightening presently did followe so terrible tempestes and flashinges of fire which with their furious violence brake downe statelye houses set hilles on fire kild men at the soudeine finally it seemed not but that all the world was on fire and that the earth did open And if the earth were afflicted no doubt but the Sea was cruelly tormented for the waters began to swell the windes to alter fishes to be troubled the ayre to be darkened and that which séemed moste terrible the waters did so yell roare braye and rage as if they had béene wilde fierce moste cruell beastes presently vppon the souden there followed suche and so straunge a heate that it constrained al men to giue aire vnto their breastes vnbuckle their gyrdle to throwe off their cloathes to mount into galleries their bodies to sweate and that which was woorste of all that if they went foorth into the ayre the violence thereof did ouerthrowe them if into the sea the rage therof did drowne them As the windes did vse their furie so straunge or neuer séene and the earth so parched and dryed by the drought of the Summer they raised so sharpe a dust that the ayre séemed to be farsed or compound with dust The matter was marueilous monstruous and terrible to beholde the ayre so thicke with dust the Seas to yell and roare the windes in so furious combat that one might not sée another that they durst not open their mouthes neither drawe breath at their nostrils for so greate was the dust that they did swallowe and receiue into their bodies that soudeinly they fell downe dead vppon the earth All these calamities and marueilous wonders were no doubt verie fearefull but vniuersally not so daungerous for although many did perishe many also were saued Then presently began the earth to quake so strangely and vnusually that olde houses did fall walles did open towers did cleaue the monuments did rent and stones did encounter eche other In some places the houses were vtterly ouerthrowne in other partes halfe throwne down in other places walles opened in other some places trées pulde vp by the rootes domesticall beastes slaine finally there was no stréete in the whole citie wherein the earthquake had not vsed his violence If such destruction was executed amongest trées and stones howe great was the calamitie that passed amongest men the case was right lamentable to heare men crye women scriche children waile beastes howle and braye one crossing and encountering another some dead some with broken heades some with broken legges some lamed in their armes and some striken cleane through the bodie At suche time as these thinges did chaunce great numbers of people were come from all the partes of the worlde vnto Antioche some to sée Traiane some to aske iustice some that went to the warres some brought prisoners and others that were straungers and in so great a multitude there was no man that escaped either deadly wounded or hurte except one woman and one slaue Vppon that night of the earth quake Traiane was lodged in a place of pleasure without the citie who leaping out at a windowe not with such spéede but that he was hurte on his right arme not able to saye of the cause whether it procéeded of timber tile or stone Traiane was so terrified with the earthquake that all the time in which he staide at Antioche he would not remaine in any house but in the fieldes in a tent wherein he did eate and sléepe Many dayes after these thinges did passe certeine persons walking to behold the falne houses heard the voice of a woman and digging very déepe they found a woman and her childe that vnder the hollownesse of a vawt were escaped

Homer in great estimation whereof Adrian did take so great enuie that he gaue streight commaundement that none shoulde reade Homer eyther openly or secretly but the workes of Anthimachus who was a Philosopher most obscure Adrian had condition curiously to inquire of common and small matters whereof he was both noted and murmured bicause Princes being giuen to make search of trifling causes proue variable in prouiding for matters of importance Also Adrian was of fickle disposition for that at the souden he woulde determine to perfourme some enterprise and after growe colde and incontinent omit the same of this as of the rest with great reason he was noted and accused bycause graue Princes ought to haue a reposed deliberation and a diligent execution Adrian was in two things most extreme that is to say he vsed no measure or weight in his loue or hatred for vnto whom he did loue he gaue all his heart and where he did abhorre he did imploy all his strength Admitting that this manner of loue or hatred is tollerable in others yet most truely of vertuous Princes not permitted bycause if they be vnbridled in loue in others which they loue not they cause enuie and if they be absolute in hatred they séeke vnto them selues great infamie wherefore it is conuenient in loue to be discrete and in hatred prouident and aduised He was likewise most extreme that if he praised any thing he did aduaunce it to the cloudes and if it fell not into his fauour he dispraised it to the déepest bottome in such manner that all sayd of Adrian that in praising he was verie gracious and in nippes tauntes and gyrdes not a little malicious Adrian had great delight in faire women who was so absolute and also so dissolute in that vice that he did not onely inioy virgins persuade married women but also in the houses of his verie friendes he had his secrete loues Of the one part considering his iniustice and of the other parte the great iustice that he did execute the historiographers would not place him amongest the pitifull Princes neither condemne him that were tyrannous bycause most truly if he did chastice some by iustice also he siue others by enuie CHAP. III. Of the friends and enimies which Adrian had ADrian being of the age of ninetene yeres Traiane conceiuing the abilitie and towardnesse of the yong man as well in letters as in armes sent to Spaine for him to come to Rome with whome he did so behaue himselfe that for entertainment he did receiue him into his chamber and in his loue did place him as a childe The naturall bountie and great abilitie of Adrian being in apparance Traiane from thence foorth did so regard and fixe his eyes as well to honour him all the dayes of his life as also to leaue him Emperour after his death Adrian being in so great fauour with the Emperour Traiane there folowed thereof in processe of time no small displeasures to his person and perils vnto his life for his enimies by enuie with the Emperour procured his disgrace and with their malice did maligne him with the people It is an auncient pestilence in the courtes of Princes that the Prince being pleased to beare affection or to honour any person forthwith they ioyne to murmur procure to persecute the same As Seuerianus being husband vnto a sister of Adrian did murmur of him vnto Traiane saying that it was a wonder vnto all men in Rome to sée Adrian to priuate so far in fauour that they presumed that after his dayes he should leaue him the Empire vnto whome Traiane made answere Who hath to succéede me in the Empire only the Gods be acquainted therewith but admitting that it were my will and the Goddes permitting that Adrian shoulde succéede me in the Empire I can say vnto thée that to gouerne the same he will proue no foole neyther a cowarde to defende it The answere that Traiane made was very good and yet not without a secret taunt for that the Consul Seuerianus had neyther praised him for valiaunt eyther held him for wise This Seuerianus was alwaies a great enimie of Adrian did not cease trauelling to disgrace him with the Emperour wherby Adrian hapned at times to be both in fauour and disfauour in suche manner that Adrian burned betwixt two fiers whiche is to wit eare to resist his enimies and solicitude in conseruing his frends The first office that Adrian had in Rome Traiane being Consul and Domitian being emperour he was made a Decem viriato that is to say he was appointed for one of the ten men that were deputed to determin contentions amongst the people Adrian gaue so good account of his office and recouered in Rome so good fame that he séemed sufficient vnto al men alone and in his own person to gouerne a common wealth and so it came to passe that in the yeare folowing he was deputed Tribune of the second legion that is to say that he had charge to gouerne and correct the seconde capteinship of the armies that were in the wars bycause it was a custome in Rome that euerie capteinship should haue a capteine to fight and a Tribune to rule and gouerne The yeare of the tribune office being past he was sent vnto the inferiour Misia gouerning that Prouince with so great prudence and was of suche readinesse and skill amongest those Barbarians that some delighted to obey him the others durst not resist him Adrian was in no small perplexitie for the doubt he had to be remoued from Traianes fauour which he suspected to sée him selfe in Misia his enimie Seuerianus with Traiane in Rome that vppon any report that might be made of him there the malice of his enimie had place to aggrauate and he for him selfe being farre distant not able to answere Traiane had in his chamber one whome he much fauoured named Gallus a most speciall friend vnto Adrian and Adrian being aduertised that Gallus his most faithfull friende was deade made for him great obsequies and wept for him many teares There succéeded in fauour vnto this Gallus another named Surus a man sufficiently wise and prudent and also this as Gallus was most special friend vnto Adrian and the very cause wherby he obteined the fauoured to be his friends was for that in his giftes he was very liberall and to doe for his friend no lesse determined Also Adrian gaue him self to content serue and please Plotina Traianes wife and vsed therein so great skill and came so farre into fauour with Plotina that out of that so narrowe friendship he gathered more profit then she did honour Traiane had in his house a néece named Sabina whiche was to marrie and requested for wife of many noble Romaines but Plotina and Surus trauelled and persuaded Traiane to marrie her vnto Adrian affirming that with this marriage he was excused of two marriages that is to say to séeke a wife for Adrian

and rulers of the people should not aduenture to spende the goods of the common wealth in matters eyther vnprofitable or superfluous but to the defence of enimies or repayring of fortifications eyther else for prouision of the common wealth in time of deare yeares There was in Rome certaine stipendarie interpreters of all languages to manifest the meaning of straunge ambassadours whose fée and office Antoninus commanded to be forbidden and taken away affirming it to be verie conuenient vnto the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome that al nations and kingdomes should learne to speake their speache and that it were abasement for them to learne any straunge toung Also he did ordeine that al the old impotent blind people in Rome should be susteined at the charges of the common wealth but such as were younger and more able shoulde be constrained eyther to boult meale at the bakers or to blowe the bellowes at the smythes By chaunce on a certaine day he founde an olde seruitour whiche he had knowne long in the warres rubbing and clawing him selfe against the pillers of the Churche Adrian demaunding why he did so rubbe him selfe and weare out his clothes the olde man made answere I haue no garments to clothe my selfe neyther any man giueth me to eate yet if it may please thée Adrian I haue founde meane to rub my selfe Adrian tooke great compassion of that whiche he did sée but much more of that which he heard and presently he commaunded goods to be giuen him and slaues to serue him And as enuie is naturall vnto the poore as pryde is common among the riche The next day other two poore men came before Adrian rubbing them selues amongst the pillers in hope to receiue the like liberalitie whom he willed to be called vnto him commaunding the one to scratch the other and by turne to ease each other of his itch Vnto king Pharasmaco of the Parthians Adrian gaue great giftes that is to say fiftie Eliphants armed with their towers and thrée hundred men of Hiberin in the countrie of Spaine which were of his guard CHAP. XI Of the prodigious and monstruous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus MAny trauels and hard aduentures followed the Emperour Antoninus while he liued and also in all his kingdomes in the time of his reigne bicause Fortune is so variable that she neuer stayeth her wheele or euer ceaseth to be turning thereof In the second yeare of his reigne hunger was so great so sharpe and so generall throughout all Italie that thereof there dyed no lesse then if it had bene of a fierce pestilence There was in Asia so cruell and so generall an earthquake that many houses and buildings were subuerted many people slayne and not a fewe cities disinhabited for the repayring of which great hurtes he sent not onely money from the common wealth of Rome but also plentifully sent his treasure out of his owne coffers In the moneth of Ianuarie there was in Rome so furious a fire that it burnt ten thousand houses wherein there perished of men women and children more then tenne thousande In the same yeare was burnt the stately place of Carthage the one halfe of Antioche and in a manner the whole citie of Narbona In the moneth of August there was at Rome great floudes and besides losse of their corne both reapt and vnreapt The riuer Tyber did so swell and ouerflowe that one dayes losse was not repayred in thrée yeares On the fourth of the monethe of Maie there appeared a starre ouer Rome conteyning the quantitie of the whéele of a myll which threw out sparkes so thicke and so continuall that it séemed rather the fire of a forge then the shining of a starre In the sixt yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in Rome was borne a childe with two heades the one like a man the other like a dogge but the straungenesse of the matter did more excéede in that with one head he did cry and barke as a whelpe and with the other did wéepe as a childe In the citie of Capua a woman was brought a bed and deliuered of fiue sonnes At that time was séene in Arabia a great and a most huge serpent which being séene of many persons vpon the height of a rocke did eate halfe his owne tayle in which yeare there was throughout all Arabia maruellous greate pestilence In the ninthe yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in the citie of Mesia barley was séene to growe in the heads of their trées in such wise that no trée bare fruite that yeare but eares of of barley In the same yeare there happened in the kingdome of Artenitos in a citie named Triponia foure wilde and vnknowne Lions to lye downe in the market place which became so tame that they made them packehorsse to the mountaines for wood and boyes became horssemen vppon their backes In the kingdome of Mauritania a childe was borne which had the heade turned backwards which liued and was bred vp and also suche as would eyther sée or speake with him most conueniently did place them selues at his backe which notwithstanding coulde both sée speake and go but with his hands might not féede him selfe There died in Rome a Senatour named Rufus a man of great wealth and credite whiche after his death did many times come to the Senate sitting in his wonted place and clad with garments after his olde fashion but was neuer hearde speake one worde and this vision continued in the Senate full two yeares CHAP. XI Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes IT chaunced vnto no Romaine prince as it did vnto Antoninus which alwayes remaining within the bounds of Italie and commonly within Rome was so beloued feared and serued of all straunge kings and kingdomes as if personally he visited had conquered thē In the fourth yeare of his empire king Pharasmaco came to Rome but onely to sée Antoninus and brought and presented vnto him so muche and so maruellous thinges that the eyes of men were not satisfied in beholding eyther their hearts in wishing them The king of Parthians had taken awaye much landes from the king of Armenia who sent to complaine vnto the Romaines as vnto their friends alies and confederates for whome the Emperour Antoninus did write his letters vnto the king of Parthians to cease to do wrong and also to make restitution vnto the Armenians whose letters being receiued and read was presently obeied and perfourmed King Abogarus one of the mightiest and most notable kinges of the Orient the Emperour Antoninus did force to come to Rome bycause that owing a great summe of money vnto one of his vassals he would not come to account The good Emperour Traiane had constrained the Parthians to receiue their seate and royall crowne at the handes of the Romaines which subiection the Parthians both denyed and refused but Antoninus not only by letters but also by apparant threatnings did force them to yealde

banished and prouided also Galba Rufus for his Chamberlaine whom after foure houres he discharged of his office and sent him in exile and when Niger Rufus complained of their griefes Commodus aunsweared hée did not banishe them for that which they had done but for that which they might doe He created Prefect Marcus Dulius a man most certaine right generous and auncient whome after thrée dayes hée remoued from his office and comaunded him vntill his death in his house to be prisoner the occasion whereof was for that as hée affirmed Marcus was very old and spente and therefore it were no reason he should be troubled of any person and also that if any man should request any thing hée mighte aunsweare him that hée was a prisoner and might not go out of his doores to doe him pleasure He gaue the Senate to vnderstand that hée would go into Africa and had necessitie for his nauie by sea his army by land of a great summe of monie although the Senate did suspect it but a collusion they durst not but open the treasurie and diuide with him the treasure for otherwise he would both make hauoche of their liues and treasure In April the Senate gaue foorth their monie and when Commodus was in possession thereof he bruted his departing vnto Campania to take men of warre where hée remayned ail that Summer and also parte of the next winter eating drinking fishing hunting playing wrastling running leaping dauncing swimming and such other vanities All the Senate was much ashamed and all the Romanes not a litle touched after they vnderstood the monie which was giuen out for the warres of Africa to be so vitiously consumed by Commodus in Campania After his returne to Rome Commodus was aduertised that Motilenus Prefect for that yeare had murmured more at him then any other person and for very griefe and despight did wéepe to sée their monie prouided for the warres spent in so wicked vses Commodus confected certaine figgs and inuited Motilenus to dinner who being fed with figs died the third day following One day he clad himself as a priest right pontifically and placed himselfe aloft on a choche of 4. furious horses the Romanes supposing he would offer sacrifices at the temple he mounted certeine rockie cliftes mountaines and there against all reason ran his charriot where his horses happened to be all to torne his chariot rent all to péeces and hée brake his head and wrenched his foote finally he made a narrow misse in repayment of his follie that day to haue lost his life On a day he went to the Senate and said that hee would not haue Rome named Rome but Cōmodiana and the Senate aunswered they were both pleased to call Rome Cōmodiana and the Senate Cōmodiano That which the Senators supposed to be demaunded in iest also consenting in iest Commodus did accept in earnest from thenceforth the letters which were written the prouisions which were made the seals therto ioyned in al such instruments Rome was intituled Cōmodiana the Senate Cōmodiano and if by negligēce any man happened to be obliuious therof to vse the name of Rome presently he was banished from thence to séeke Rome for that was not but Cōmodiana The priests of the Goddesse Isis were commanded to come into his presence and said vnto them that shée had reuealed vnto him that their heads should be shauen and that hée was commaunded as high priest to performe the same and with a blunte knife hée cutt their nailes and blunting his knife vppon stones would drie shaue their heades in such wyse that as their haire was drie and his knife blunt it might more truely be said that hée did rather fley them then trimme or dresse them Such as garded the temple of the Goddesse Bellona hée caused their right armes to be thrust out of ioynte alledging that since they painted the Goddesse with a broken arme her priestes ought not to haue their armes whole and sound The Romanes painted their Goddesse Isis with naked brestes and Commodus on a day visiting that temple and beholding the image of Isis painted with brestes discouered hée caused the brestes of the priests to be scrat with combs of yron in his presence affirming that it were vniuste for their Goddesse to haue naked brestes and they to hold their entrailes hidden Commodus commaunded all men to call him Hercules which to the end hée would resemble hée made a coate of Lions skinnes and tooke in hand an huge clubb wherwith hée wente day and night killing men breaking doores and ouerthrowing pillers with such other vanities in so much that a fierce cruell Lion would not haue done so great hurtes as Commodus committed as a Lion but counterfect With many other vaine and wicked déedes vnworthie to be written CHAP. XIII ¶ A discourse of the prouinces that rebelled in his reigne and the prodigies of his death THere rebelled against the Romane Empire in the reigne of Commodus the Mauritanes the Datians the Sarmatians and the Germaines all which were onely come by the Romane capiteines for that Commodus did rather imploy his valiauntnesse in vices then in resisting enimies Hée was not onely in his woordes and workes vaine and friuolous but also in his letters which hée wrote for the Empire for that many times being aduertised frō countries and prouinces of causes of great importance he would answeare them with matters of vanitie and sometimes would sende an whole shéete of paper sealed and firmed conteyning onely one Latine woord that is to say Vale. Notwithstanding the dayes of his reigne were the most vnfortunate dayes yet would hee néedes commaund them to be termed the golden world Most heynous offences hée would pardon for monie if any person being absent were condemned to die hée would finde out some other of his age and name to be executed for his offence affirming that since he did resemble him in age and name hée should not varie in the maner of his death in such wise that this tyrant did kill innocents for the wicked and let offenders escape for monie If any man had an enimie of whom he would take vengeaunce hée néeded no other meane to performe the same but to bargaine with Commodus for a summe of monie which being agréed he neuer wanted occasion to rid him of his life At all the vile and filthie déeds which Commodus committed he was not gréeued but delighted in the publication thereof in so much that he was not onely euil but also boasted himselfe to be euill for that he entred so great follie or madnes that all thinges which hée either did or said whether allowed or misliked of himselfe or all other men expressely hee commaunded them to be written in the registre Capitoline On a certeine time he determined to burne the whole citie of Rome and being prest to giue fire to many parts Letus a Consul came vnto him and said vnto him so many things and put him