they did not a litle persuade Traiane to take peace or to make some honest truce and without peril to return to Rome Traiane to this made aunswer our weakenesse should be great and with great reason they would blame vs in Rome if so soudēly we should ceasse to make warre without first making proofe to what ende their forces do extende and also vnderstande what our destinies do containe bycause it may be that if their power be great our fortune may be much greater King Decebal had taken fortified all the daungerous passages and broken all bridges barkes botes of all the riuers and had taken spoiled all the victuals where the Romaines should passe and all these thinges were occasions to increase trauaile vnto Traiane but not of power sufficient to remoue his enterprise for that Traiane was of so valliant a minde that where he sawe fortune most doubtfull from thence he did hope of victorie moste certeine Traiane did take possesse the height of the rockes and mountaines and thereon with all his armie did trauaile many nights and dayes king Decebal did neuer conceiue that Traiane would trauaile by those thornie mountaines for that he thought it impossible for men to trauaile where beastes could not escape King Decebal was constrained to returne vnto the plaine countrie and to fortifie him selfe in strong cities to this ende Traiane did purpose not to fight in mountains that be daungerous but in fieldes that be plaine for he saide that they came not to fight with the mountaines whiche bred bruite beastes but to tame cities which susteine seditious men In very short space Traiane had taken fiue cities seuen castels and many prisoners among which Mirto was taken being vnckle tutour and captaine of king Decebal a man of greate grauitie and of no lesse authoritie Traiane was so rigorous with them that did resist him and so pitifull vnto such as did yelde them that some for loue and others for feare began secretely to practise throughout the kingdome totally to yeald them selues vnto Traiane because they sawe euery day Traians force to increase and the power of king Decebal to decay and growe very weake Traiane besieging a certeine citie named Myrtha holding the captaine therof in great distresse king Decebal forgate not to sende him reliefe succour of great power against whome Lucius Metellus a captaine of Traianes did march and aduaunce him self who at that instant fought so valiantly and manlike that he lest not of all the enimies one onely person that was not either taken or slaine And as in that battaile manye Romaines were slaine and many more wounded lacking clothes to binde vp their woundes Traiane tare his owne shirt to supply their want in that behalfe Being knowne within the citie howe their succorour was discomfited and howe Traiane to cure his wounded had rent his own shirt they did feare the victorie and were amazed at a worke of so great clemencie and bothe these things were not a litle preiudiciall vnto king Decebal chiefely for that he was proude and disdainfull for the good Traiane if with his engins he ouerthrewe their castels with the fame of his good woorkes he did robbe and steale the mindes of his armie The citie of Myrtha beeing taken and rendred into the handes of Romaines presently king Decebal sent Ambassadours vnto Traiane aduertising that he woulde become subiect vnto the Romaine Empire vppon suche condition that the thinges whereon they should capitulate were reasonable and suche thinges as they shoulde commaunde to be perfourmable for otherwise he and his were determined rather to dye with libertie then to liue in bondage The conditions that Traiane sent to demaund were these That he should leaue all armour discampe his armie subuert his castels yelde his engines restore that which was robbed become a friende vnto the friendes and an enimie vnto the enimies of the Senate render suche captaines as came to his succour and giue 100000 pesants of golde to paye the armie and giue one of his sonnes in pledge for suretie of all promises All these conditions king Decebal was contented to sweare and obserue except the rendering of the captaines which came in his fauour to succour him saying that so vile a déede did not agrée with the clemencie of Traiane to demaunde it neither vnto his royall fidelitie to graunt it for that he yelded him selfe and his countrey but to preserue the life of his friendes and alies King Decebal came vnto the presence of Traiane and knéeling vpon the grounde did take off the crowne from his head and kissed the knée and the hand of Traiane the which lifting him from the grounde and againe placing the crowne vpon his head saide vnto him I admitt thee to kisse my knee for the rebellion which thou hast committed and I gaue thee my hande to kisse for the vassalage whiche thou owest mee nowe I giue thee place to sitt by mee as a friend I returne thy crowne vnto thee as vnto a king and therefore learne to vnderstande thy faulte past and to conserue this present benefite for otherwise thou shalt put mee to muche trauaile and thy selfe in great peril CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Traiane triumphed of the Datians and refourmed his common wealth MAny castels being furnished and others ouerthrowen and subuerted and the armies being paide with king Decebals money Traiane departed vnto Rome leading with him the kinges sonne for pledge and other noble men for Ambassadours because it was a lawe much vsed and also obserued amongest the Romaines that it were of no value which was capitulate in the wars if it were not confirmed in the Senate at Rome The Ambassadours of king Decebal arriued at Rome before the Emperour Traiane who bareheaded their armour throwne downe and their hands ioyned and lifted vp did humbly beséeche the Senate that it might please them to pardon kinge Decebal the rebellion which he had committed against them and to confirme all that which the Emperour Traiane had capitulate bycause for that which had passed he did repent him and for time to come did offer amendes With readie disposition the Romaine senate did approue allowe and confirme all actes agréed vppon betwixt Traiane and the Datians and presently commaunded their armour to be restored them to walk in the citie at their libertie bycause it was a lawe inuiolable that the Ambassadours whose Princes helde warres with the Romaine people might weare no kinde of armour either walke the stréetes at libertie without licence Many and most extreme were the feastes wherewith the Romaines did receiue the Emperour Traiane very great was the riches that he bestowed in his triumph admitting that the Romains did much reioyce to see their Empire riche in great power but it did muche more please them to beholde Traiane returned whole safe and aliue for it is incredible what affection and loue all men did beare him and the sacrifices beyonde all valure that for him they did
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
memorie of king Eritreus which in old time reigned there The riuer Tygris in the discourse of his currant maketh an Ilande conteinining xxx miles in bredth and lx in length wherein reigned Athabilus a Prince both proude and warlike whome without armes Traiane brought vnder his Empire The ayre of those Seas being different in nature from other Seas and being then in the greatest heate of Summer Traiane in that nauigation passed much trauaile and perill and being persuaded by certeine to forsake the Sea and take the land aunswered the vicious go from hence to Rome to séeke delight and the vertuous come from Rome hither to séeke trauailes bycause our predecessours in exchaunge of great trauailes receiued great and glorious triumphes wherefore I will neuer cease fighting for feare either nauigation for perill or daunger At the mouth of those Seas there was a people named Sipassinos so called of certeine fieldes whiche they helde whether from manye partes they brought their heards to féede these Sipassinos were subiects to king Athabilus who vnderstanding of his submission vnto the Romaines ioyntly with great good will came foorth to receiue Traiane Passing along those Ilandes and all the cities along the Sea coasts on either side being subdued Traiane entred the Ocean Sea and therewith vnderstanding the wracke decaye of his shippes the darkenesse of the ayre his pylots to want experience vpon those coasts he arriued to land to renewe his nauie Traiane was informed that those Seas were of such condition that they endured not shippes made of straunge timber but of wood of the Indies for otherwise they did consume or at times drowne them The sorrowe of Traianes harte might not be expressed for that to passe into the great Indies he had no preparation because of the insufficiēcie of his own ships and want of timber of the Indies And when Traiane saw his voyage to be frustrate without remedie they saye that he saide with a great sigh Of all Princes past onely vnto Alexander I giue the preeminence for that he passed into the Indies but if fortune had not hindered mee him as others I woulde haue excelled for I had a wil not only to conquer all the Indies but therein to haue erected a nowe Rome All the time that Traiane stayed there he gaue him selfe particularly to vnderstand of the state of al thinges in the greate Indiaes that is to saye what Gods they worshipped what temples they helde what kinges they obeyed what dyet they vsed what garmentes they did weare howe they did fight in what cities they did inhabite wherein they were exercised and howe muche the greater things they did report so muche the more the sorrowe of his heart did augment From thence Traiane sēt certeine messengers vnto Rome with great riches for the treasurie Also a memoriall of all the prouinces kingdomes Ilandes nations and people that he had subdued and takē and brought vnder the Empire of Rome Great ioy was receiued in Rome vpon the manifestation of these newes no lesse wonderfull vnto the Romaines to read so many and so variable people to be ouercome by Traiane because it was affirmed amongest them in the Senate of Rome that none had séene them either as muche as to haue heard of them Presently they erected in Rome vnto Traiane an arche triumphant wherin was grauen the names of the kingdomes that Traiane had subdued and the principall prouinces that he had taken for if they shuld haue placed them all conformable vnto his memoriall they should want marble to be wrought and workemen to graue the same When Traiane might not passe into the great Indies he came vnto the house of Alexander the greate where as it was saide he died and there did buylde all that by antiquitie was decayed falne downe also did adde other newe buyldings thereunto offered riche sacrifices vnto the Gods in memorie reuerence of Alexander Traiane sayling on the Ocean Sea towardes the Indians the Tesiponts supposing that he should neuer returne into that prouince determined to rebel and therwith slewe all the Romaines that remained in garrison brought all their countrie in armes Against these other people that rebelled Traiane sent Maximinus and Lucius with an armie of greate power who fought most vnfortunatly for that the one fled the other died He that escaped was Lucius who to refourme all faultes past tooke the citie of Nisibin Edessa which he destroyed burnt with fire wherof Traiane was not a little offended because in the warres he would not any spoile to be made by fire Eritius Clarus Alexander Seuerus two Romaine Pretours made their entrie by Seleucia whiche they totally did sacke destroy being aduertised the Traiane was drowned at Sea they rebelled slewe the Romaine magistrates Traiane doubting the rebellion of the Parthians entred their countrie hauing intelligence of the death of Parthurus their king the alteration of their kingdom Traiane commaunded all the principals of Parthia to appeare before him who assēbled in the fields of Tesipont where Traiane being aduaunced did aduertise thē of his determination which if they did admitt consent vnto they might safely hold him for a pitifull father and otherwise they should finde him a most cruell enimie The Parthians ioyntly aunswered that their desire was much more to hold him as a father then an enimie and did yeld them selues both to beléeue and to obey him making their humble suite to giue them no king except he were a natiue of their kingdome for that a straunger should want both loue and obedience Presently Traiane tooke a crowne in his handes and set it vppon the heade of Persnapate declaring him to be their king and lorde of which prouision they helde them selues marueilously wel pleased for that he was not onely of their kingdome and well knowen vnto them but also bothe vertuous and warlike CHAP. XX. ¶ Howe Traiane comming from Asia to triumph in Rome was staide by death in Sicyl THE land of Parthians being stayed pacified Traiane was in disposition to go to Rome partly to rest and to cease from traueile and chiefely to triumph ouer so many nations and kingdomes but being aduertised of the rebellion of the Agarens and that the Romaine pretours were fledd presently Traiane departed vnto the lande of Agarens which is in Arabia hauing a citie as principall of their prouince very little but marueilous strong the destinie whereof was such that being sieged by infinite Princes was neuer taken or ouercome For defence of that citie the nature and situation of the countrie did not a litle helpe for that the assailants had neither wood or timber to aduaunce their engins either water or forage for reliefe of them selues or cattel the same vnto straungers not vsed thereunto did rather séeme to burne then to giue light Traiane commaunded an assault to be giuen vnto the citie the most valiant captaines being mounted vpon the wall at
succéede him in his Monarchie answered Vnto the most worthy Traiane made a memoriall of all the most vertuous wise and of most worthinesse within the Empire and ioyntly therewith caused to be written of them seuerall Orations in Gréeke and Latine and he him selfe did adde with his owne hande what he thought agréeable to their conditions and abilities To the ende that after his dayes the Senate might open and reade the same and from thence to make election not of him that did most procure but that did best deserue At one time a certaine Consul named Neratius Priscus was greatly in his fauour vnto whom he had thought to haue left the Empire in so much the one day Traiane said vnto him Neratius Priscus from hencefoorth I comend the Empire vnto thée if any sorrowfull or souden destinie shall happen vnto me All such as did withstande the adoption of Adrian did fauour the election of Neratius Priscus but Fortune that should haue framed the effect brought Neratius into Traianes great hatred not a little to the profite of Adrian bycause from thence foorth although their remained enimies to hinder his intent none as an opposite durst demaunde the same When Traiane passed from Spaine into Asia to the wars of the Parthians Plotina and Surus made great suite that Adrian might be sente as Pretour into Syria whoe being in Antioche was aduertised by a messinger from Traiane which in times past had bene his tutor how he was elected to be Traianes sonne and assigned his successour in the Empire Excéeding was the ioy that Adrian receiued with that newes which he did vtter in such excessiue manner and degrée that presently he did celebrate with great games and feastes the day of his natiuitie and not only vpon that day but euery yeare all the dayes of his life bicause it was the thing that his heart most desired and for the attainement whereof he had imployed his greatest skill and strength At that time were Consuls Sosius and Pretorius with whome Adrian entered newe friendshippe and the ende wherefore he did vndertake this newe affection was that as Plotina Surus did solicite procure the Empire with Traiane so those two Consuls shuld subsist him in the Senate in such wise that if he did watch to obtaine it he did ouerwatch to sustaine it Not long after that Adrian was adopted that is to say after fourtéene monethes Traiane dyed presently Plotina his wife and the Consul Tatianus being chiefe friendes vnto Adrian did take order and vse great diligence that Adrians admission vnto the Empire might first be notified and knowne in Rome before the death of the Emperour Traiane whiche was concealed and couered for certaine dayes saying that he was so sicke that he would not be visited vntill they were possest of the power of the armies and had obteined the good will of the Senate Adrian did write vnto the Senatours giuing them to vnderstand that Traiane was at the point of death and that also he was assigned and adopted to be his successour and heire in the Empire and did right instantly request them to take the same in good parte and therevppon did promise and sweare vnto them to diuide or giue offices but at their owne liking and consent CHAP. VI. Howe at Traianes death Adrian was declared Emperour THe newes of Traianes death being arriued at Rome presently it was published that the succession of the empire was cōmitted vnto Adrian vpon the confirmation or refusal of this election there arose no smal contention in the Senate and the matter so far argued prosecuted by his friendes and so resisted by his enimies that it gaue no small doubt of intestine warrs no lesse cruell then the warres betwixt Caesar and Pompey The seruaunts of Traiane the friends of Plotina and the kinred and alies of Tatian did vse suche diligence in this case that within thrée dayes they confirmed Adrian in the Empire and the greatest cause to moue the Senate therevnto was that they had intelligence that Adrian was in Syria in full power possession and authoritie of the whole armie and might haue bene constrained to yealde by force which they refused to perfourme by good will. Presently after Adrian was confirmed in the Empire he did write vnto the Senate gratifying their friendly fact and requesting that Traiane might be collocate amongst the Gods since he had bene a Prince so diuine whereto the Senate gladly consented saying that although Traiane had finished his life for euermore in Rome his fame shoulde indure In memorie that Traiane had ouercome the Parthians they ordeined that euery yeare the Parthik playes should be celebrated in Rome which indured amongst the Romains many yeres but in fine they and their playes had an end Before all thinges Adrian gaue order that the body of Traiane might be brought into Italie where it shoulde be giuen a generous sepulchre and to effectuate the same commanded his ashes to be inclosed in a boxe of Vnicorne which also was inclosed with golde and placed in a piller of most excellent marble lyned with most rich purple all which being ladē into a gallie he sent Tatian and Plotina with the body vnto Rome al Rome went foorth to receiue the body of Traiane and as it is sayd and written there was neuer so muche ioy vttered for any man that entered being aliue but muche more sorrowe was discouered for Traianes comming deade Adrian stayed in Antioche whiche is the heade of Syria partly to assemble the whole armie and partly to recouer money for being then winter he could neyther campe for coldenesse of the weather eyther marche or iourney for want of money Adrian was there aduertised howe the Mauritans did defie him the Sarmatians did mutinate the Britans did rebell the Palestines resist the Aegyptians disobey and that all the Barbarians were in commotion Finally it is to be vnderstoode that vpon the death of Traiane al people and nations were so escandalized that it séemed not but that he left the world without a maister or an owner Adrian perceiuing the greater part of the Empire in commotion determined to make them no war but to intreate them by peace and for this cause he refused and forsooke al those kingdomes and Prouinces that lay beyond the riuer Euphrates and the riuer Tygris which the good Traiane had wonne and conquered in which conquest he imployed his noble person and gaue ende vnto his honourable life Vnto all kingdomes and Prouinces Adrian sent Embassadours to confederate with some and to confirme peace with others and with some he did capitulate thinges so slaunderous and with so great disaduauntage that it had bene much better to haue raysed warre then to haue procured a peace so infamous Parsnapate king of the Parthians came to complaine vnto Adrian saying that the good Traiane had giuen him that kingdome and crowned him with his owne hands and now vpon the death of Traiane they would neyther obey him or suffer
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
inherite You haue great reason in minde to be satisfied and in harte contented since ye haue a prince not deliuered by the hands of strangers but borne in your owne houses I confesse that to proue good it auaileth muche to desire and also procure to be good but ioyntly herewith I saye that to be a prince it necessarily requireth to haue the fauour of his kingdome for otherwise if straungers do repugne and subiects do not succour it may be in his owne handes to be a good man but not in his power to be a good Prince My father was olde and I am yong wherof it foloweth that more glorie redoundeth vnto you by yealding obedience vnto me then vnto my father bicause obedience done vnto him proceeded of the merit of his authoritie but that which yee shall yealde vnto mee proceedeth of your owne pure vertue All the rewardes honours and offices that my father gaue in time of his life from henceforth I confirme them vnto such as hold them for that being as he was both holy and vertuous the Gods aproouing all his actes it were not iust they should be disalowed of men Neither in the dignities of the Senate the captainshippes of the armies the offices of my house there is nothing to be sayd much lesse to be altered only one thing remaineth betwixt my father and mee which is that I confirme his good works change my vnreformed maners Let vs ioyntly put on noble minds to giue good end vnto the warres whiche my father hath so happily begunne which being finished wee will all goe to our ease and solace and inioy the pleasures of Rome whiche warres if wee should leaue vndone although the hurte should redound to mee the faulte should proceede and be imputed vnto you I will not saye more vnto you my friendes companions but that I request and desire you alwayes to commend vnto your memorie the great loue that my father hath borne you and the good dealing he alwayes vsed with you that from his antiquitie my tender yeres and your greate vertue ye maye frame a Prince good for your selues and profitable for the common wealth Finally I saye that if ye haue my father in remēbraunce ye will neuer forget or disobey mee his sonne for comparing his vertue with my libertie doubtlesse and without comparison ye shal be much more persuaded by his noblenesse then altered by my youthfulnesse This talke being finished much money was throwen out amongest the armyes because on such dayes it was amongest the Romaines muche vsed The Romaine Princes did not muche varie from reason to giue and promise muche money in the beginninge of their Empires for as muche as the malice of man is greedie and couetous they are more persuaded withe a little money which is giuen then with many wordes that are spoken vnto them CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of a certeine famous and notable speeche vsed by one of his tutours for that he would leaue the warre of Panonia vnfinished ALl the officers of the Senate and all the captaines of the armie did marueilously mitigate their sorrowe for the death of their moste louing Lorde Marcus Aurelius when they hearde his sonne Commodus talke with so greate singularitie not onely for that he confirmed whatsoeuer his father had done but also because he promised by imitation most naturally to resemble him But what and howe great difference was betwixt the wordes of this Prince at that instant the workes which after he perfourmed in his life was muche too muche for nothing was more aparant then that al his good words and woorkes vppon that day did finishe and take an ende because from that day he did not onely speake euil and do euill but that which is woorst of all it was neuer séene that euer he had any motion or desire to do good Many be wicked and desire to amende but this person so vnhappie and solde to sinne was not to day so euil that he desired and procured not to morrowe to be woorse Certeine dayes after he had vsed this talke vnto the army he permitted to be gouerned by the aduise of his tutours but euen shortly after he both forgate the commaūdement of his father and his promise made vnto his men of warre for that he lost not onely the feare of his tutors but also the loue and shame vnto his friendes Commodus when he did inherite the Empire was weake delicate and of tender yeares but notwithstanding did vse such licence and libertie of life that decayed his person and damnified his inclination and manners His tutors and gouernours finding the offence that insued therof aduised to remoue the mischiefe by information and counsel in secrete but so peruerse was his condition that for their gentle admonition he did presently abhorre them Nowe when Commodus had publiquely lost his feare vnto tutors his obedience vnto gouernours and reuerence vnto his friendes he woulde neither beholde the one or speake with the other but that all his communication and conuersation was with persons light young and vicious vnto whome he committed all his secretes who began to persuade him to leaue the warres to go to Rome renuing his memorie with the opulencie of Italie and the beautie of Rome and ioyntly did murmur at the land of Panonia saying it was barren drye colde poore and contagious and that to drinke a pitcher of water they were first constrained to breake the Ice With these and suche like woordes Commodus was easily persuaded to leaue the warres of Panonia and take his waye into Italie and to bring the same to effect calling his tutours and gouernours into his presence fained to haue greate suspicion that while he remained in the warrs some others should cōspire rebel in Rome in respect whereof to avoyde the woorste he was determined first to assure him selfe of his owne countries before hée conquered straung kingdoms So greate sorrowe entred the harts of the gouerners and capteines that were present at that assemblye that heauily castinge their countenaunces on the grounde they were not able to aunswere one woord A Senatour named Pōpeyanus being present at that counsell who had married Lucilla daughter vnto Marcus Aurelius and elder sister vnto Commodus besids his aliance in marriage he was a man both rich wise valiaunte and aunciente and therewithall had greate boldnesse in that which he did and no lesse credit in that which he saide This Consul Pompeyanus beholding all the assembly in great silence thought good to take in hand to aunswere the Emperour Commodus after this manner The Oration of Pompeyanus to Commodus Oh my sonne and my Lord for thee to haue desire to see Rome to go into Italie is no meruel for the same which thou desirest all we haue longe wished but folowing and imbracing reason we endure not to be ouercome or carried away with sensualitie I call thee sonne because I haue bred and nourished thee from thy youth and I call thee Lord because thou
not greater daunger either more safetie then soundly to consider in to whose hands they commende their causes The Pretorian bands being euill intreated and worse payde great was their ioy when they hearde that Heliogabalus was the sonne of Bassianus for whom the grandmother craued the Empire whome they all accepted and bound them selues to receiue for their Emperour not only to be reuenged of the tyrant Macrinê° but also to possesse the money For so much as the temple where he was Priest was without the citie agréement was made betweene the matrone Mesia and the armie that presently the same night notwithstanding it were verie late both her nephue and also her owne person by streÌ„gth and deuise should be conueyed ouer the wall into the citie that at the breake of day they shoulde seaze the citie and aduaunce Heliogabalus vnto the Empire Neither was the matrone Mesia slack to acomplish their request either was there anie wante in the promise made by the Pretorians but that Mesia and her nephue approching to the foote of the wall with purposed engins mounted them ouer into the citie the young man being placed amids the Romaine captaines beléeuinge him to be the sonne of Bassianus by resemblance of his face and by a marke in his hande as Bassianus had The Romane armies receiued greate ioy to beholde Mesia and her nephue Heliogabalus chiefly to see the young man so comely faire and towarde and in beholding they would all say that since he had so good a face necessarily it followed that his déedes shoulde be vertuous but his inclination beeing discouered there was no vice wherein he was not noted either any vertue wherefore to be praised The great matrone Mesia as a woman that dealt in affaires both daungerous and escandalous would first assure the Empire vnto her nephue before shée departed from her treasure and the case was thus Shée framed all the principals of the armie presently to sweare vnto Heliogabalus as their onely Emperour to kisse his hande as their naturall Lorde A matter most truely verie marueilous and no lesse worthie to be commended vnto memorie namely the dispatche and diligence vsed by Mesia in one night moste manifestly apparant that within sixe houres shée brought forth her nephue from the temple passed him ouer the wall did yeald him credite to be the sonne of Bassianus obteined their othes as vnto their Emperour kissed his hand as loyall subiectes diuided her treasure amongst the armies fortified them selues in the fortes of the citie and brought the whole hoste into armour At the breake of daye in euery tower they did sound their trumpets placed their Standards and Pendons bothe on bulworkes and corteines and with loude voices exclaimed through all streates Viua viua el Emperador Heliogabalo hiio del buen Bassiano that is to saye happie and long life vnto the emperoure Heliogabalus sonne to the good Bassianus This béeing done proclaymed Heliogabalus came foorth into the citie neither on foote or on horse backe but vppon the shoulders of the moste auncient and honourable of the armie wearing the imperiall crowne vppon his head and holding the royall scepter in his hande and haueing vppon his shoulders the ensigne of Augusta before him the pendon of the Eagle because these were the ensignes whereby the emperours of Rome were knowen And now after the standards were placed and the strength of the citie possessed the armie publiquely proclaimed and receiued the Emperour Heliogabalus for their lorde and Emperour presently the renowmed matrone Mesia did yelde vnto them all her treasure both siluer and golde without breache of any promise or reseruing of any one Iewell The Romanes were so contented with the matrone Mesia that there they did both sweare and vowe to estéeme her as a mother to hold Heliogabalus for their Lorde and to persecute the tyrant Macrinus euen to death CHAP. IIII. ¶ Howe Macrinus did write a letter vnto the renowmed Mesia after he vnderstoode his depriuation of the Empire THE tyrant Macrinus was settled with greate securitie in the citie of Antioche when they remoued him from the Empire in Phoenicia for so it hath béene is and shal be that when Princes moste greedily doe prosecute vices then their enimies are weauing some webb of most deadly daunger Heliogabalus was not the full age of seuentéene yeres when he was aduaunced to the Empire when Macrinus in Antioche heard the newes of that whiche was don in Phoenicia he fell into a great laughter made a iest of it chiefely being certified to be so very a childe framed by his grandmother Mesia whome he helde bothe for a woman ambitious and also contentious Those persons that remained with Macrinus after they hearde of a newe Emperour that the Romane hosts had don him homage and fealtie aduised also prayed him that he would not estéeme the matter ouer light but with better and riper counsell should thinke and consider for the remedie thereof for it might come to passe by conceiuing it to be but a iest that the other might remaine Emperour in earnest As Macrinus naturally was both ambitious orgulous and disdaineful so he demaunding ynke and paper presently did write a cholerike letter with his own hands vnto the famous matrone Mesia after this maner Macrinus Ancius onely Emperour and vniuersall Lord to the matrone Mesia her person small health and lesse grace with the Gods. Here I am aduertised that in the offence of the Gods vnto my great want of reuerence thou hast attempted with mine armies to establish a newe Emperour which deede exactly declareth thee to be as in deede thou art a woman both seditious and also ambitious since thou knowest that by meanes of thy toung and mutinie in the common wealth I did banishe thee my house Also they saye that the emperour which thou hast made is a boye a priest a bastard and thy nephue whereunto there is no more to be aunswered but that I shal chastice thee as a woman and him as a childe that is to saye commaund him to be whipt thy selfe to spinne I sweare vnto thee Mesia by the immortall Gods that if thou driue mee to take my lance in hand I will force thee to put thy distaffe vnder thy girdle for vnto women such as thou it were more honestie to be spinning then to practice mutinies amongst souldiours Also it is saide vnto me that thou hast giuen infinite treasures vnto mine armies to moue them to reuolt from mee and to elect thy nephue Emperour these with the rest be the fruites of thy guyle for that only of thee and neuer of any other it is saide or shall be saide that thou hast robbed the Empire to buy the Empire If all princes past had knowen thee as I do knowe thee neither would they haue giuen credite vnto thy woordes or faith vnto thy fained workes but as by thy guileful diligence in their seruice and presuming attempts in their affaires thou didst
good Prince howe perfect the refourmation thereof was established for surely whether their affaires were eyther with the Prince or with the Senate neyther did they beginne their suit with feare or were dispatched with iust cause to murmur The officers of his house and also of the Senate by whose handes matters were dispatched some he aduaunced and to others he gaue double fée to no other ende but to remoue them from aduenturing to take any bribe Being as he was a great friend vnto the common wealth and not a little delighted to be in the grace thereof and to this ende with the good he vsed great liberalitie and with the euill great clemencie in such wise that of all men he was beloued and also praysed as well for that he pardoned the one as gaue vnto the other All that euer he sayde or wished to be vsed of good Princes the same did he perfourme after he was Emperour and refourmed all things that he thought were to be amended In the third yeare of his Empire Faustine his dearely beloued wife dyed in whose death he did vtter so great sorrowe that it exceeded the authoritie of his estate and also the grauitie of his person In the memorie of Faustine he placed hir picture in all the temples and perfourmed with the Senate that she should be recounted amongest the Goddesses which was as to canonize hir all whiche was truely agréed by the Senate more at the request of Antoninus then for the deseruings of Faustine CHAP. VIII Of certaine notable buildings erected by Antoninus THe buildings which he made were not many but excéeding stately and sumptuous for in them appeared and were represented the greatnes of his estate and the magnanimitie that he had in spending He built a temple in the reuerence of his Lorde Adrian wherein he erected a picture of siluer with a Coronet of golde and a chaplet of Nacre a worke most certainly no lesse curious then costly He reedified a certaine building called Gregostasens which serued to lodge all straunge ambassadours bycause the Romaines did vse to giue ambassadours an house to dwell in and a stipend for their dyet He did amplifie and nobilitate the sepulchre of his Lord Adrian wherevnto none durst approch but on their knées The greatest session house of al Rome was burnt in the time of Domitian which the good Antoninus built from the foundation He built the temple of Agrippa and indued and dedicated the same in the reuerence of the Goddesse Ceres Ouer the riuer Rubicon he built a sumptuous and a stately bridge and also not a little necessarie bycause afore time many were there daungered and aftewardes that way muche victuall and prouision was carried Not farre distant from the port of Hostia neare vnto the sea he built a right strong tower for the safetie and defence of the ships of Rome which a foretime might not bring in any victuall or other prouision but were distressed of pyrates The hauen or port of Gaieta whiche had bene long through great antiquitie forsaken he freshly reedified that is to say built newe houses erected a mightie tower made a strong wall placed inhabitants and gaue them great priuileges in such wise that whereas afore time it was a thing vtterly forgotten it was from thence foorth most estéemed That whiche he did in Gaieta he perfourmed in a porte of Spaine named Taragon whiche he reedified amplified with great buildings and priuileges A myle from the port of Hostia he built a sumptuous and a curious bathe and indued the same in suche manner that in all Italie it was the onely bath that was vnto all men frée without charges A myle without Rome he built thrée temples naming them Laurianos for that many bay trées grewe there to this ende that the dames and matrones of Rome walking according vnto their manner should encounter with some Church to pray in CHAP. IX Of certaine lawes which the Emperour Antoninus Pius made IT was a law amongst the Romaines that such as were put to death by iustice might make no testament but that in loosing their life they lost also their goods Antoninus moued with pietie did ordein that none for any fault what so euer should ioyntly loose both life and goods but if any were put to death he might frankly make a testament of his owne proper goods Where he had placed any good and sound Iudge in any common wealth he did not onely permit him not to be remoued but also with giftes and requestes he did susteine him This good Prince made a law that none should presume to sue to the Prince or Senate for the office of iustice vppon paine to be banished Rome There was in Rome a Iudge named Gaius Maximus who in Rome continued a iudge twentie yeares of whom Antoninus wold oft say that he had neuer séene heard or read of a man more cleare of life eyther right in iustice In the place of Gaius Maximus there succéeded Tatius Succinus a man surely of many hoare haires and of muche learning but the office of Pretour being so tedious and he of yeares so auncient dyed immediately vpon the burthen thereof Antoninus being infourmed that the good olde Tatius dyed with the burthen of his office diuided the same betwixt Cornelius and Repentinus but after the Emperour being infourmed howe the Senate had giuen the same vnto Repentinus not for his deseruing but at the suite of a Gentlewoman of the Courte he commaunded him publikely to be banished declaring by the voice of a cryar throughout all Rome that he was banished for obteining the office of a Iudge by the suit of a woman This was the first officer of Rome that in the dayes of Antoninus suffered punishment which correction gaue so greate feare throughout the Romaine Empire that from thencefoorth the Emperour Antoninus was as muche feared of the euill as beloued of the good A mightie Senatour named Tranquillus confessing to haue procured his fathers death of extreme desire to inherite he commaunded to be remoued into an Island onely to passe his life with the breade of sorrowe and the water of teares All the time of his Empire he gaue wheate and oyle vnto the citizens of Rome The people of Rome in those dayes being giuen to drinke wine without measure he commaunded that none shuld presume to sel wine but in Apothecaries shops for the sicke or diseased He established a lawe for him self and his successours that openly thrée dayes in the wéeke they should shewe them selues in Rome and if by any weightie cause there happened some impediment that on suche dayes their gates should stand wide open without porters that fréely the poore might repaire to follow their suits In deare yeres he did ordeine through Italie that no gardener should dare to sowe in his garden any féede but wheate and barley whereby the poore of the common wealthe might be relieued of their penurie He made an vniuersall lawe throughout the Empire that gouerners
tooke the names of all persons that he might haue with him out of Italie commaundinge them to prepare and to pay his officers that all thinges should be done with moste spéedie diligence for his intent was to enter with so greate haste into Asia that his arriuall and the newes thereof at one instant might appeare vnto Pessenius All the armies of Illyria which he had left in Thracia he commaunded to passe into Asia and all the Senatours all the warrelike officers of Rome all the riche men and all the sonnes of mightie and greate Lordes that were in Italie he ledde with him in that warre He armed in the Sea Mediterrane an hundred galleys and also rigged foorth two hundreth shippes fiftie barkes and innumerable foystes all which went laden with men armour and victuals in such wise that in respecte of his greatnesse and potencie there was none that woulde encounter with him by lande either abide at the Sea. Onelie xxx dayes Seuerus was in Rome dispatchinge with the Senate he departed vnto the porte of Hostia to beholde his nauie and from thence he departed to Nola in Campania where his armye was assembled where he added many thinges that wanted and also remoued many thinges that were superfluous because in thinges of greate importance he was not satisfied to giue them in charge to men of experience but that he woulde see and beholde them with his owne proper eyes When Pessenius Niger heard the newes howe Seuerus came against him by sea and lande they say that he saide these woordes If the destinies be bente against me small may it auaile me that men fauour mee and if Gods be pleased to help me mē may little hinder me And further he saide Seuerus is not satisfied to haue slaine his Lorde Iulianus and to vsurpe the Empire but hath made mee an enimie vnto the people of Rome but I beseche the immortall Gods that if it shal not please them to giue me victorie in this warre that Seuerus may bee conquered when hee moste desireth to ouercome Although Pessenius commended his fortune into the handes of God not withstanding he left not to seeke the aide of men to this ende he did write and send Ambassadours vnto the kinge of the Parthians to the king of the Arthabanes and to the king of the Armenians to succour him with men money because Seuerus came with a determinate minde to destroy them all The kinge of the Armenians aunsweared the Ambassadours of Pessenius Niger that he woulde neither helpe the one or offende the other but defende and conserue his owne kingdome moued therevnto for that Pessenius was his friende and Seuerus not his enimie The kinge of Parthians presently sente his letters throughout his kingdome commaunding them to repaire vnto Pessenius and refuse Seuerus which he did not for the narrowe friendship that he helde with Pessenius but for the auncient enimitie that he did beare vnto the Romane Empire The king of Arthabanes sent vnto Pessenius ten thousand archers with crossebowes all natiues of the prouinces of Bersezana which throughout the worlde were much renowmed and in the warres no lesse feared because they were of valiant mindes in fight and excéeding readie in shooting Further Pessenius Niger commaunded his armie to be renewed with twentie thousand footemen and sixe thousand horsemen whereof the moste parte being taken out of Antioche where the people be most féeble their names being registred and receiuing paye neuer afterwardes came to the warres Vnto all them that vsed this guyle Seuerus afterwardes gaue great punishment not for that they had béene traytours vnto Pessenius but for example to terrifie others Vpon the mount Taurus parte of Cappadocia and Sicyl Pessenius as a man of experience in martiall affaires prouided that the woodes were feld vpon the toppes of mounteines and in streightes and most perillous places made strong watche and warde in such wise that no enimie might approche that was not séene or passe that were not slaine In those dayes there was not in all Thracia a citie more opulent then was Byzantio nowe named Cōstantinople which in buildinges did excéede all cities of Asia and in fertilitie was equall with the best in Europa Amongest other thinges conteined therein that was faire to beholde and much to be praised were the walles the stones whereof were brought from Mylesius curiously squared as if it had béene timber sawen with a sawe which was the cause that the wall being made of many stones the whole wall séemed but one stone Although with the calamities of time the walles be nowe ruinated yet notwithstanding of the same there remaineth some steppes and signes in the viewe whereof there is none but wil praise the witt of them that made it cursse the handes of them that did subuert it When Pessenius sawe him selfe a Lorde so absolute of all Asia and accompanied with so many so noble men of warre he thought him selfe sure of the victorie but as in such cases that which Fortune guydeth is farre differēt from that which the person desireth so very cōtrarie to his former purpose it afterwardes succéeded CHAP. VII ¶ Of the warres that passed betwixt Pessenius and Seuerus in Asia IT was great griefe vnto Seuerus when he vnderstoode howe Pessenius was in so greate redinesse that thought not onely to defende but publiquely to offende Seuerus being certified that Pessenius was in possession of the greate citie Byzantio marched with more spéede with intent to batter the same before Pessenius might come to the succour thereof for that by secrete practises Seuerus had within the citie newe friendes and Pessenius in gouernement had recouered some enimies Neither the intelligences which Seuerus practised secretely either the diligences whiche he vsed publiquely might profite him to obteine Byzantio which when he vnderstoode he traueiled to recouer another citie not farre from thence named Cyzica which was both rockie and compassed with marrishes that is to saye it stoode vppon a rocke inuironed with a riuer Pessenius had for his capteine generall of all his hostes a certeine knight named Emilianus in whome he reposed confidence not onely for matters of warre but also for expedition of causes of peace for that he had bothe wisedome for the one and fortitude for the other The capteine Emilianus put him selfe into the citie of Cyzica whē presently after the souldiours of Seuerus came to besiege it There was betwixt both the armies at diuers times diuers encounters repulses wherin Fortune indifferētly discouered her selfe vnto either partie for at all times when they fought at the wall Seuerus side had the woorse but when they fought in the field Pessenius bandes had that repulse Two monethes after the citie of Cizica was besieged they made a salle and as they would haue retyred Seuerus capteines pursued and entred pelle melle with the capteines of Pessenius and notwithstanding there was betwixt them greate slaughter for
tedious complaintes vnto Seuerus but in the end hée gaue eare vnto the complaints of Plautianus as vnto a seruaunt but vnto Bassiaaus as vnto a sonne Seuerus considering the continuall displeasure giuen him by Plautianus the tyrannies hee executed in the Empire the enimitie betwixt him and Bassianus and that also with his great fauour he estaéemed him litle conceiued that some day he might rise with the Empire wherefore from thenceforth hée neither shewed him good countenaunce either gaue him so great authoritie in the common wealth Plautianus did well perceiue that he had not onely Bassianus vnto his enimie but also stoode in disgrace of Seuerus and thought with himselfe that to escape best cheape either they would take away his life or cast him out of fauour and to deliuer himselfe of so great an infamie he determined to kill them to quite himselfe CHAP. XVI ¶ Of a certaine treason that Plautianus had ordeined against Seuerus and how it was discouered THe order that Plautianus vsed or to say better the disorder that he practised to kill Seuerus and Bassianus procéeded as from a passioned tyraunt and not as a man aduised and so it afterwards redounded to his losse and destruction The case was thus there was in Rome a Tribune named Saturninus natiue of Assyria who was the greatest friend that Plautianus had with whome hée did most communicate to whom he did most commend his secretes and also for whom he did most pleasure Plautianus sending for this Saturninus an houre within night and inclosing themselues within a chamber said in great secrecie these wordes following Plautianus his Oration to Saturninus Saturninus thou knowest how great loue I haue borne thee and how many good deedes I haue done to thee thy house wherof there needeth no other token but the beholding of thee so highly aduaunced in the Court so accepted in my seruice many with me be offended at thee al men haue enuie Friends parents acquaintance recommended and seruaunts I had for whome to haue done vnto some of whom I was much beholding of others I was to haue coÌ„sidered for seruice all these notwithstanding on thee onely I fixed mine eyes to magnifie thee and in thee I imployed my hart to loue thee I sent now for thee to recompt vnto thee my trauels and sorrowes to the end thou shouldest helpe to deliuer mee from them and herein thou shalt perceiue the affectionate loue which I beare thee in that I repose my confidence in thee wherein I would not trust mine owne proper sonne for sonnes thincke not but howe to inherite their fathers goods but verie friendes haue care to deliuer their friendes from griefe and sorrowe Thou well knowest Saturninus what great seruice I haue done to Seuerus and since my youth haue followed him in the warres I say I serued him so young that I alone am his most auncient seruaunt although I bee now the most forgotten and abhorred Setting a part all seruices which I haue done for him and all great daungers that I haue passed to deliuer him from perill I haue borne so tender affection vnto my Lord Seuerus that I left to like him as a man and did adore him as a God and that this is true it appeareth most cleare in that I gaue my daughter vnto his sonne Bassianus and my selfe to be his perpetuall slaue After I spent my youth in his seruice followed the father throughout the world his sonne Bassianus nourished in my armes from his infancie I did yeeld him my goods I gaue him my onely daughter I gouerned his common wealth in peace of his euill life I framed in al men an opinion of great vertue his cruelties and tyrannie I made all men beleeue to be zeale of iustice in such wise that they neuer committed vile deede that I soldered not either at any time commaunded any difficult matter that I accomplished not The matter is thus come to passe the Gods permitting or my sorrowfull destinies procuring I am fallen into so great hatred of Seuerus and in so cruel contempt and enimitie with Bassianus that in recompence of al my seruice which I haue done them all the dayes of my life they are nowe determined to take away my life Thou seest now Saturninê° whether it be reason that I endure the same whereunto if I should giue place I should perish my house should be lost the gods vnserued the whole Empire escandalized and therefore it is coÌ„uenient that I execute on them that which they would execute vppon mee for that it is more consonant vnto reason that the euil be corrected of the good then that the vertuous should come vnder the power of the wicked Behold Saturninus what affection I beare thee that haue layd vp in thy breast so great a secrete this terrible deede I will put into thy handes therefore presently thou must depart vnto the Court and go into his chamber where Seuerus sleepeth and cut off his head from Bassianus his sonne also thou shalt take away his life Thou shalt say vnto the guard at Court that euen nowe there came vnto mee a post out of Asia and art sent by mee to giue Seuerus intelligence thereof and goest at such an houre for that daunger dependeth thereon And since thou hast not beene abashed to heare it be not terrified to performe it for that I sweare vnto thee by the immortal gods that after Seuerus is dead and I in the possession of the Empire conformable vnto the great perill wherein nowe thou doest aduenture thy selfe shall be thy rewards that then thou shalt receiue These and such other thinges Plautianus said vnto Saturninus who aunsweared that hée was readie to do his commaundement vppon condition that hée would giue him in writing in what manner he would haue him to kill Seuerus and Bassianus his sonne which he desired to this end that if in time he should forget the recompence of so great a seruice he might shewe him that writing both to remeÌ„ber the seruice past as also the reward vnperformed Plautianus doubted not to giue Saturninus a writing signed with his owne hand wherein hee commaunded to kill Seuerus and Bassianus his eldest sonne the contents of the writing was thus J Plautianus do request as a friend and commaund as a Censor that thou Saturninus Tribune do kill the Emperour Seuerus and Bassianus his elder sonne and for the same I promise thee and by the immortall Gods sweare vnto thee that as thou art onely in perill so to make thee singular in the Empire Saturninus as a man skilfull and subtile for more assuraunce vnto Plautianus vppon his knées kist his hand as though alreadie he had béene sure of the Empire and then being in the déepe of the night he departeth vnto the Court the guard presently giuing place and the chaÌ„berlaines in like maner who placing himselfe directly before Seuerus as he lay in his bed said these words O Seuerus how carelesse art thou of
iuels of gold or stone â—ut all persones were there clad in white for that all white apparell in Rome was counted mourning The Senatours and matrones were placed and sett at the risinge of the sunne and did not rise vntill the sunne was set there might they neither speake or gaze about but all that time was consumed in sighing wéeping and wayling From houre to houre Physicians came and went to visite that Image and so did raise beholde and féele his pulses as if the Emperour him selfe had béene there aliue and alwayes at their parting would report vnto the Senatours and ladies that the sicke person drewe on to death At which newes the matrones did grite and shriche and the Senatours did wéepe and waile This order they vsed seuen dayes together but first vpon the sixt day the Physicians did forsake the sicke person and finally on the seuenth day manifestly would publish his death presently after he was denounced for dead placeing the handles of the baire whereon the Image of the dead was laide vpon their shoulders the chiefest and moste honourable Senatours on horssebacke did beare the same and after this maner went vnto the place named Vaieia and might not go by any other way but by the sacred waye whiche was a tracke where no man durst passe but Emperours that were dead and priestes that were aliue In that place named Vaieia there was another buylding made of stone after the manner of a Throne hauing on bothe sides degrées and staires to mount aloft where they did place the Image of the dead Emperour vpon the one staires stoode children the sonnes of the gentlemen of Rome and on the other parte stoode the damsels and virgins of Rome and there did singe many sorrowfull songes and hymnes published in the praise of the dead From thence they remoued the baire with the Image of the dead vnto the fielde of Mars where also was made another scaffold all of drie woode vnder the vaut whereof was laide stubble stalkes and strawe and other kindling matter to burne the outside was brauely painted and hanged with rich tapestrie and aloft vpon the highest parte thereof they placed the Image of the dead Emperour On the day in which this ceremonie was perfourmed in Rome they did concurre to beholde the same from all partes of Italie and euerye Lord and ladie that was present did throwe vppon the degrées of that Throne Myre incense aloes amber roses and other thinges of fragrant sauours When all men had offered their swéet perfumes the Senatours did skirmish on horsseback and presently after them the two CoÌ„suls gaue a boylt aloft on their chariots gorgeously adorned and after them there followed on foote all the auncient Romanes and neighbourhood of Rome and all such as had béene captaines of the warres all which after they had gone a turne about the Throne fel downe groueling exclaming very lowde against the ground After the thrée processions were done which is to wéete of the Senatours of the Consuls and of the capteines came he that did inherite the Empire who with a burning torche gaue fire to that Throne whiche being all of drye stuffe presently was consumed Before the beginning of this great ceremonie the Senate sought out against that day a braue Eagle which was placed betwixt the handles of the baire where the Image of the dead was laide with great skill and subtiltie at the time that the Image burnt the Eagle was loosed and flewe away and as her proper nature is to flye vpwarde all men saide with loude voices that it was the soule of the dead Emperour that was gone to the Goddes vp to heauen As oft as ye shall finde these words written of any Prince or notable personage namely Inter diuos relatus est that is they haue placed him with the Gods all these ceremonies were done vnto him vnto such a one from thenceforth they might sacrifice adore make temples and place Priestes in such manner they had to honour him as a God and not to talke of him as of a man. CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the mortall hatred betwixt Bassianus and Geta his brother AFter the two brethren had accomplished the funerall office of their father Seuerus they went bothe to lodge in the sacred palace not ioyntly but parting the lodging betwixt them euery one placing porters by them selues and their gard to attende vpon them Although their lodging was one yet their willes and dispositions were diuers and suche as had to deale in matters of importance conferred not with them but with their mother who tooke the opinion of the one and so of the other whiche afterwardes was perfourmed by aduise and consent of the Senate because otherwise the common wealth shoulde haue runne at randon and be lost These two Princes neuer ioyntly came foorth but when they went to the Senate or to visite the temple of the greate Emperour Marcus Aurelius for Seuerus had commaunded that weekely they should offer sacrifices in that temple and monethly his heires should visite that sepulchre Bassianus and his brother Geta had small care to visite temples offer sacrifices go to the Senate reforme the comon wealth either prouide necessarie matter for the warres but all their bent and studie was the one to beguyle the other to winne the willes of the people to the ende that one being dead the other might reigne without contradiction Both the brethren being thus diuided and bothe leading the Empire into handes notwithstanding that bothe had enimies and friendes yet alwayes the greater parte of the common wealth were more affectionate to the younger sonne which was Geta. Geta was white and redde high sharpe milde nimble of groase lightuesse and of verie good condition and yet in respect of reigning he was as proude as Bassianus Bassianus his brother was a falowe blacke cholerike adust little of bodie broade forehead muche skinne on his handes hollowe and hoarse of voice preignant subtile diligent and a iyar for if he néeded anything he would flatter all men with faire words and after enuen all things in lies The diuisions euery day proceedinge from euil to woorse it was beyonde all mennes powers to bring them agreed or make them friendes they bothe deuised without aduertisement of any person to diuide the Empire the manner was that all kingdomes should equally be diuided in two partes that the name of Emperour should be indifferent vnto them both There was allotted vnto Bassianus all Europe vnto Geta his brother the kingdoms of Asia and the end wherfore they diuided the Empire was not to be friendes from thenceforth but to haue libertie men and riches to rise with Rome and he that might do most to dispatche the other of his life When this agréement was made they determined to call their mother Iulia and all the auncieÌ„t seruauntes and friendes of the house of Seuerus their father vnto whome Bassianus gaue to vnderstand how his brother and he had agréed and were
conformably vnto iustice it had beene more reason ye should haue diuided your owne proper mother then the landes countries of others O immortal Gods vvhy haue ye taken away my Lord Seuerus vnto your selues and left me placed in so many daungers and trauels since ye haue giuen me two children why was not giuen me two heartes and if I craue two hearts it is but to loue them but two thousand hearts wil not suffice to endure their vnkindnesse O my children although no children of my counselles for that though ye be mine by birth yet are ye become straungers by disobedience I knowe not my childreÌ„ what to say more vnto you but since ye be twaine and my heart but one that ye pull it foorth open it in the middest and diuide it as ye haue diuided the Empire and yet by the vestall mother I sweare vnto you that if ye opened my heart and made search therein ye shoulde finde in the same the greatnesse of my loue but much more that I suffer and am tormented CHAP. V. ¶ Howe Bassianus to obteine the Empire vnto him selfe slewe his brother in his mothers armes JT was lamentable to heare the Empresse Iulia but much more to beholde her who séeing her children so extremely diuided and so farre from fraternitie at euery woorde which shée saide the Heauens did cleaue with sighes and the ground was watered with teares At the instant shée finished her talke shée rose from her chayre going to her sonnes â–ª with the right hande shée taketh Bassianus and Geta with the left imbraceing them with her selfe traueiling to cause them to imbrace and to be reconciled and ioyning all their thrée faces together with the aboundaunt teares of the mother the faces of her sonnes were all wett and bedewed Many Romanes that were present began to mourne in hearing what Iulia saide and afterwardes howe with her children shée did behaue her selfe no man replyed or spake more woordes in as much as all men did allowe that which the mother saide and improued the diuision of the Empire which the sonnes had made The heartes of these two Princes were so muche passioned and ioyntly therewith of nature so indurate that when the mother did talke vnto them it seemed not but that they were thinking of some other matter which had most perfect apparaunce because at that time they were neither moued with compassion of her teares either afterwardes did take any profite of her counsell The mother only profited not in her traueile to reconcile them but that from thenceforth thâ—y ceased not to discouer greter hatred that is to saye in that either of them sought to corrupt each others bloud promising greate wealth in Rome to be giuen vnto him that would confect his lordes meate with poyson When Bassianus perceiued that he might not by any meane dispatche his brother Geta with poyson and ioyntly therewith that the Romanes were somewhat inclined vnto him by affection determined on a daye when all persons were moste inclined to sléepe at after noone to go vnto the lodging of his mother Iulia with whome Geta remained and finding them at their rest he gaue Geta so many stabbes with a dagger that he was bereft of his life When Bassianus set vpon his brother Geta the mother to saue him cast her selfe vppon him notwithstanding he ceased not to wound him and kill him The case was thus that with one blowe he both wounded his brother and imbrewed the garment of the mother and finally the brother remained dead and the mothers garments defiled This done Bassianus goeth foorth through al the court exclaming with a loude voyce and with greate feare and trembling treason treason my brother Geta would haue slaine me by treason in my bed and if I had not leapt out at a windowe and the destinies beene fauourable vnto mee at that instant I had not escaped with life and not satisfied with that which was saide he commaunded his garde to conduct him out of the court and to garde and attende him vnto mount Celius where the Pretorian bands were lodged infourminge that in the palace there was no safetie for that his brother had attempted to murther him All men that heard the exclamation that Bassianus made did beléeue that all things had passed as he had said and the Esquiers of the bodie did accompanie and attende him vntil they had brought him amongest the Pretorians and entring the tent where they had their armour and pendons knéeling vppon his knées hee gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods that had preserued him vnto that place and also vnto his garde that had succoured him in time of so great néede To beholde Bassianus go at suche an houre with so greate an heate through the middest of Rome and that with so great furie all that beheld him were escandalized and did imagine amongest them selues that he had slaine his brother or done some vile déede vnto his mother in lawe Assoone as he sawe him selfe amongest the Pretorians he diuided amongest them two thousande fiue hundreth drachmes of golde according to the weight of Athens â–ª further promised to giue them yerely wheate to furnish their families besides their ordinarie wages The fame being divulgate throughout Rome and the trueth knowen of the great treason which Bassianus had committed Geta his friends ioyned to séeke him with a determined purpose extremely to haue reueÌ„ged Geta and as the matter was put to armes and came to hande gripes Geta his friendes being the fewer in number were soone ouercom which although they were subdued yet truely deserue no dispraise being but fewe in number séeing their Lorde dead and Bassianus in possession of the armie they wanted no hardinesse to fight no lesse courage to dye but what shall we saye but that if their quarell were iust their fortune was verie crosse Small aduantageth it that the minde be generous and the bodie warlike if he that taketh armes be vnfortunate for that one houre of happie fortune is more woorth then all policies of warre Greate was the compassion that all men conceiued of the cruell death of Geta and no lesse was the hate which they did beare vnto Bassianus not only to kill him vppon so greate assurance but also to murther him in a place of so great priuiledge that is to saye within the sacred palace imbraced within the breastes of his mother When Bassianus sawe that his brother Geta was dead all his alies and seruaunts ouercome that whatsoeuer he had attempted with temeritie succéeded with great prosperitie he went vnto the temples and tooke from thence all their treasure in such wise hee tooke away in one daye that which manie princes had giuen in many yeres A greate quantitie of those treasures Bassianus diuided amongest his Pretorians who seeing themselues riche in money and that their enimies were subdued went into Rome began to enter into the houses and killed all persons with whome they had vnkindnesse
also manie and rich iuels and writinge with his owne hande a letter after this manner Bassianus Antoninus onely Emperour of the Romanes to Arthabanus the greate king of Parthians health and good fortune ⸫ The famous auncient Romanes and many of the principall of my predecessours came from the West into Asia onely to make warre vppon this thy kingdome but I come not to make thee warre but to seek peace and to this peace both thou I haue to search a meane that it may be perpetuall for otherwise a iust warre were more safe for princes then a fayned peace As wee read in bookes and heare of our forefathers there is not a more briefe and sounde waye for greate enimies to growe to bee faithfull friendes then by recouering newe aliance by the waye of marriage for in true and faithfull marriages as the married be ioyned in bodies so be they lincked and confederate in heartes and mindes Although some Princes haue married with the daughters of Consuls and Senatours and admitting they haue so done I will not so doe for that I was borne a prince and am a prince and will dye a prince wherefore I will not marrie but with the daughter of a Prince When congruently or aptly it may be done it agreeth not with the maiestie of the Empire that the Prince this day should holde him for his father in lawe whome he helde yesterday for his vassall Although the wiues of Princes vse not to commaunde and gouerne yet we must graunt that when Princesses be the daughters of high Princes and desscended of royall bloud the people and subiectes are more honoured satisfied and pleased and such bring foorth children more noble and generous The Empire of the Romanes and the Empire of the Parthians are two the moste renoumed Princes throughout the whole worlde for notwithstanding the one at times hath subdued the other yet neuer intirely had the one lordship of the other I am prince of the Romanes and thou art Prince of the Parthians if thou wilt marrie thy daughter with mee with greate good will I would matche with her and after this manner of two diuided Empires wee shall make one in concorde These two Empires beeing ioyned may there be any kingdome that will disobey them or any king that shall dare to saye against them I demaunde not thy daughter for her beautie for there are others muche fairer in mine Empire neither doe I request her for thy richesse for I haue sufficient neither doe I craue her to recouer more vassals for I haue kingdomes ynough subiecte vnto mee But I do it because of auncient enimies wee might frame our selues immortall friendes in such wise that as hitherto we haue had you in contempt as barbarians from hencefoorth wee shall behaue our selues as brethren Thincke not that I write thus vnto thee by thy fauour to be reuenged of mine enimies or for that my kingdomes haue rebelled against mee as thou shalte vnderstande by these mine Ambassadours which my father lefte vnto mee so plaine and their Princes so dedicated to obedience that they doe not onely accomplishe what I commaunde them but also request mee to inioyne them more If in this which I write to thee thou thinkest there be deceipte thou oughtest also to conceiue that I shal bee most deceiued partely for that beeing as I am a Romane Prince and partely because I am the person whiche sueth for that in this marriage thou aduenturest not more then thy daughter but I committe vnto Fortune mine honour goods and person Herein I will saye no more but I praye thee to receiue these iewelles which I sende thee in good parte and to that which mine Ambassadours shall saye giue credite The king of the Parthians after he had read this letter and hearde the Ambassadours what they had to saye in the behalfe of Bassianus did aunswer him after this manner CHAP. XI ¶ Of another solemne letter wherein the king of the Parthians aunswered Bassianus Arthabanus king of the auncient kingdome of the Parthians to Antoninus Bassianus the onely Romane Emperour health prosperitie Before all thinges I giue thankes vnto the immortall Gods because they haue put into thy heart that which thou hast written and that which thou with thy Ambassadours hast sent to saye vnto vs By that which I haue read in thy letters and hearde of thy Ambassadours I knowe that thou beleeuest in the Gods and hast not taken counsell of men for men alwayes giue counsell vnto Princes to make warre but the Gods alwayes persuade them to keepe peace Thou sayest that the Romane Princes thy predecessours alwayes passed into Asia with a minde determined to make warre with the Parthians ▪ but ioyntly herewith I would thou shouldest consider that as the warre which ye tooke in hand against vs was vniust so fortune was vnto them alwayos vnfortunate for it is not the will of the Gods that by an vniust warre an entire victorie should be obteined Ye Romanes tooke the enterprise to be Lordes of the whole worlde and to prosecute the same ye rigged foorth many nauies and fleetes ye ioyned greate armies conquered straunge prouinces destroyed many kingdomes killed much people robbed infinite treasures and aduentured your selues into great and immeasurable daungers and in the ende that which they had obteyned they lost yea the conquerours also lost them selues because whatsoeuer is gotten to the preiudice of another man is lost to the greate hurte offence of him that obteined the same That which thou promisest in thy letter and in thy name thy Ambassadours offer mee I am not onely bound to accepte but also deserued greate displeasure if I durst denie the same beecause it is a thinge moste iuste that the Goddes make warre vppon that prince which refuseth the request of men in peace Thou sayest that the chiefest meane to cōfirme peace is for princes to practise marriage betwixt thēselues I denie not but that in some persons it is moste true but it is no generall rule for all men for we daily see betwixte moste neare kinred and alies moste greate quarelles and scandals to arise My greate graundfather was father in lawe vnto kinge Arsacidas and afterwardes the one slewe the other in the fielde and the verie same we heare reported to haue chaunced amongst you Pompey married with the daughter of Iulius and afterwardes Iulius ouercame and destroyed Pompey his sonne in lawe in suche wise that the marriages which they made to conserue peace did awake and inflame them to more cruell warre The Prince that hath feare of the Goddes and is naturallie giuen to peace may not finde a better meane to obtaine the same thē to be quiet in his owne realme for speakinge the verie trueth the prince that is satisfied with his owne proper estate needeth not to seeke affinitie in straunge kingdomes Vnto my father were offered greate noble and mightie mariages frō straunge kingdomes whereunto he woulde neuer consente either hardely indure to
bred manie wilde beastes he woulde remaine in the thickest thereof for that he was more giuen to chase in mountaines then to hawke in fieldes The captaines of Bassianus armie were two Romanes named Audentius and Macrinus Audentius was a rustical person as concerning maters of the cōmon wealth but verie expert valiaunt in warrelike affaires Macrinus contrarywise in gouerning the common wealth was wise and skilfull but in martiall affaires somewhat negligent and not ouer fortunate Bassianus did like very well of Audentius and no lesse euill of Macrinus and did not only wishe but also said of him much euill murmuring that hée was negligent a coward vitious an epicure a glutton that did eate much and drincke not a litle and that at his comming to Rome he would remoue him from all charge in matters of warre Macrinus was a man very wel learned and in his speach no lesse reformed and in all thinges that they said vnto him touching that which Bassianus should speake of him he aunswered that whatsoeuer his good lord had said of him was spoken of great affection not to the end to defame him as an enimie but to correcte him as a sonne Although Macrinus vsed this speach openly yet he had other matter in his hart secretly as afterwards in the successe of affaires it manifestly appeared for at such time as Bassianus would haue remoued Macrinus from his honour and estate Macrinus dispatched him of his life The case was thus that Bassianus being inclined of his owne proper nature to knowe secretes not onely of men but also of Gods and diuels alwayes fearing himselfe that by practise of some treason they would take away his life hée was neuer void of the conuersation of Sorcerers sothsayers and inchanters to aduertise him how long hee should liue and what death hee should die Not satisfied with such Magicians sothsayers sorcerers and inchaunters as did attend on his person in the warres hee would send vnto the Prefect of Rome named Maternianus to whome Bassianus committed the credite of his secretes writinge a letter vnto him with his owne proper hande commaunding him with great diligence and secrecie to assemble Magicians Sorcerers Sothsayers Inchaunters and Astrologians to know of them not onely how long he should liue and how he should die but also to demaund of them if there were any person within the Empire that desired or procured to be Emperour Maternianus performed all that which his Lord Bassianus had written vnto him whether it were any magician or sothsayer that said it either any enimie of Macrinus finding opportunitie for his purpose Maternianus did write and aduertise Bassianus that he had assembled all the sorcerers inchanters diuiners magicians sothesayers astrologians and augurs and that the resolution of their counsell was that if hee would enioy the Empire it were conuenient that Macrinus were slaine At the instant when the post returned with his letters from Rome Bassianus was placed in his coche to go foorth on hunting not remēbring what he had written either presuming what might be writtē said vnto Macrinus that he should open and read them all and if that he found therin matter of great importance to consult therin and al other smal matters that he himselfe should prouide aunswere and dispatch Macrinus reading these letters as wel such as were written vnto Bassianus as vnto himself came also to read the letter of Maternianus wherin he aduertised Bassianus of the aunswere which the magicians had giuen him which is to say that presently it were conuenient that Macrinus should be put to death whereof he was not a litle abashed holding it for great good hap that this secrete had chaunced into his onely handes before any other person for at the instant that Bassianus might haue read this letter he would haue cōmaunded Macrinus his head to flée from his shoulders Macrinus doubting that Maternianus might returne to write of the former matter vnto Bassianus and that were it but for cōcealing that letter hee would shorten him by the shoulders aduised to practise the death of Bassianus before he should experiment the same on him Amongest them that garded the person of Bassianus there was one Martianus who accordingly had a brother also of his guard him for a small displeasure Bassianus commaunded to be slaine and with Martianus vsed woords of great despite in such maner that Martianus with those woords remayned disgraced of his brothers death gréeued and afflicted After Macrinus vnderstoode this passion to reigne in Martianus against Bassianus hee first entered with him in familiaritie and gaue him siluer and gold receiued him into his friendship and euery day lead him into remembrance of the vniust death of his brother to the ende hee should not growe cold but hote in hatred against Bassianus Now when Macrinus felt that by his benefits he had recouered Martianus for his faithful friēd and brought him into great disdaine and mortall hatred of Bassianus he grew to cōposition to depriue him of his life for which déede his reward should be great whereof Martianus did take great delighte and bound himselfe to performe the same partly to reuenge the death of his brother as also to condescend vnto the request of his friend Macrinus Bassianus being resident in Careuca a citie of Mesopotamia came foorth to visite a temple of the Goddesse Luna two miles distant from the citie and being constrayned vppon the way to vnburden his bellie hee entered the thickest of the couert accompanied but with one seruaunt and Martianus that attended but opportunitie to accōplish his promise entered vppon Bassianus being withdrawen into the thickest of the shrubs prosecuting his necessitie al alone Martianus strake him with a launce downe flat vppon the ground which wound was so mortall that without more woordes or strength to moue where the launce went in the life came out After that Martianus had slaine Bassianus he toke his horse and fled but as the imperiall guard was at hand within a leage he was ouertaken and slaine with launces in such wise that after hee had taken reuengmēt of his enimie he enioyed his life but one hour This was the end of the vnhappie Emperour Bassianus whose life did merite a slaunderous death for that it was not vnreasonable that he which had kild so many friends by treason should be slaine with enimies CHAP. XIIII ¶ How Macrinus excusing himselfe of the death of Bassianus did aduaunce himselfe with the Empire ON the selfe same day that Antoninus Bassianus was borne which was the eight of April he was slaine xliiij yeares of his age being accomplished and vj yeares of his Empire and reigne expired The first man that came vnto him after he was slaine was Macrinus who bewailed his death with so great dissimutation as if he had not béene the mā that procured so vile a déede Macrinus was right fortunate that Martianus was slaine when hee was taken for all men thought and also said that Martianus had
wherewith to whirle and bulworkes to defend and further gaue commaundement that the moste valiante persons and most cheyst capitaines should remaine within the same not onely to resist but also to offend When Macrinus read the letter that Mesia had written and was aduertised by his messengers how patiently and without alteration shee read his letter he was not a little gréeued therewith for he had opinion of the matrone Mesia that shee had skill to dissemble iniuries and after in processe to reuenge the same The Prefect of Macrinus armie was a valiaunt Capitaine named Iulianus whom he sent with his greatest power vnto the citie which Mesia and her nephue Heliogabalus did possesse giuing commaundement that he should trauel to take them aliue to performe his promise whiche he had sworne which is to witt to set Mesia to spinne and her nephue to bee whipt Iulianus was a Capitaine bold and valiaunt who beséeging the citie which he thought to be in distresse more then it was and giuing a furious assault hauing skarcely mounted on the topp of the wall the souldiours of the citie by plaine strength pulled him ouer cut off his head and hanged it out on a tower The morrowe after that these thinges had passed Mesia commaunded certaine of Macrinus Capitaines to be called into her presence who vpon assurance approching vnto the foote of the wall said vnto them these woords that which I haue to say vnto you my friends is that ye behold and consider vppon this turret the head of your sorrowfull Capitaine Iulianus and say vnto your maister Macrinus that the distaffe wherewith I spinne is that launce that head is the call which I doe weaue and knit When Macrinus heard the newes of the misfortune that had happened vnto his Capitaine Iulianus and what woordes the matrone Mesia had said vnto the souldiers of his armie hée said as it was reported with a roring voyce my destinies be finished my houre is come and my fortune is ended Macrinus with feare had his courage so daunted that secretely he began to practise with the matrone Mesia to diuide the Empire with her nephue Heliogabalus but being as shée was in so great readinesse no lesse passioned she would in no wise accept either as much as giue eare thereunto and that if the Empire were to be diuided it should be with an Emperour and not with a Tyrant Macrinus perceiuing his offers to be reiected his words despised and his presents nothing regarded determined to make a proofe of fortune which with the whirle of her variable whéele many times doeth wound without threatening and sometimes threateneth without wounding Macrinus gathering and also paying his armie which hée had in the confines of Antioche departed vnto Phoenicia where hee camped very néere vnto the citie which Mesia and her nephue Heliogabalus defended who presently sent to giue Macrinus to vnderstand that hee should not neede to take the paine to assault the towne for that within very fewe dayes they would issue to giue him battell in the field Two Romane armies and two Romane Emperours were in Phoenicia one against another Macrinus partie euery day diminishing and the other not only increasing but also preuailing for that daily the souldiers parted from Macrinus vnto Heliogabalus vnderstanding that hee was sonne vnto Bassianus and did acknowledge him for their Emperour kissed his hands as their natural Lord and souereigne By the number that daily fledd from him in their double speach which they vsed with him in the fickle seruice which they did him by his bands which daily diminished and by their weake courage in fighting Macrinus did clearely perceiue that hee might not obtaine victorie but sawe himselfe to be in daunger of a sale vnto his enimies Macrinus counterfected a shew vnto his souldiers of courage to fight and yet was in great readinesse to flye for that at all times when he issued to encounter or skirmish he was mounted vpon an horse of great swiftnes and likewise disguised Mesia being aduertised that Macrinus had greater regard to the safetie of his life then his honour or goods prouided to issue at the soudeine to giue him battel the which although on both sides was throughly imbrued in bloud and not a litle daungerously contended yet in the end Macrinus was put to flight and staied in a village but with the losse of his head This was the end and conclusion of the tyrant Macrinus which vsurped the Romane dominion xiiij monethes and tenne dayes who was so cruell besides all other vices that amongest his owne souldiers he was termed not Macrinus but Macellinê° which is to say butcher for that in respecte of the humaine bloud whiche hee shedde hee more séemed a butcher then a Romane Prince CHAP. VII ¶ Of a notable letter written by the matrone Mesia vnto the Senate of Rome crauing the confirmation of the Empire vnto Heliogabalus her nephue THe tyrant Macrinus being dead and beheaded presently the two armies ioyned in one and notwithstanding the one part had followed Heliogabalus the other Macrinus yet the matrone Mesia thought it not méet to moue disputatioÌ„ who had béene traytours or who had béene loyall affirming it to be more conuenient time to win minds then to reuenge iniuries Although the matrone Mesia in al other matters past had discouered her great wisedome yet in this case aboue the rest she made a shew of her great prudence for that to say the truth in rebellious times amongest mutinous people princes ought not to occupie themselues in chastisements but in reconcilementes All the capitaines of Macrinus that escaped the battell conceyuing howe Mesia commaunded by publicke proclamation that no man should presume to call them traytours either vse them with foule woordes ioyntly assembled of their owne francke minds to confesse her to be their souereigne Lady and to kisse the handes of Heliogabalus for their Emperour The matrone Mesia vowed her selfe to ioy for obteyning reuenge of the tyrant Macrinus and to behold the armies ioyned in one yéelding due obedience to her nephue Heliogabalus that from the yeares of lxvj she discouered a gesture and countenaunce but of xl yeares of age Although the matrone Mesia held the Empire of her nephue Heliogabalus safe and established partly to sée the enimie slaine as also for the obedieÌ„ce receiued of both the armies yet she prouided that Heliogabalus should not intitle himselfe Vniuersal Lord or Onely Emperour vntill the Romanes had receiued him and the Senate confirmed him Not sixe dayes after these thinges had passed in Phoenicia the matrone Mesia sent a solemne embassage vnto Rome and secretly gaue vnto the Embassadors many Iewels to diuide amongest the Senatours and for time to come in her behalfe to make them great offers to the end with iewels to trayne them to her purpose and with hope to enterteine them This being done Mesia wrote vnto the Senate a letter sufficiently well indited after this maner Mesia Phoenicia vnto the sacred Romane
in processe the one shall destroy the other One vicious with another that is vicious may neuer long continue in friendship for presently vpon the decay of vice at the instant their friendship faileth Being as I am your prince according to iustice and your brother in loue how would ye that I should suffer you to rauish women play your wages away at dice spoile orchardes with other such like vile heynous deeds Admitting that now I would passe and dissemble the same yet doubtlesse your selues before others would blame condemne the same because this tribute the good haue ouer the euill that if they bee greeued with the chastisement giuen vnto the euill in the end they shall some day praise him that did iustice Vnderstand ye not that ye are gentlemen of Rome and that on the day in which any man taketh the name of a Romane hee bindeth himselfe to bee vertuous Because this name of Romanes was not so much magnified of our predecessours by killing enimies in Asia as by weeding vices out of oure common wealthes Wee call the Persians Barbarians because they haue taken that which was ours and doubt ye that of Romanes they shall not intitle vs tyrantes that haue spoyled others I am named Alexander and would imitate Alexander the great of whome and of his father king Philip it is said that when they brought foorth their armies to fighte they seemed more a Senate in the common wealth then men of warre If they had done what ye nowe haue done neuer might those princes haue obteined so great victories of their enimies either writers so largely to haue registred their noble and glorious deedes either might I haue praysed them with so good wordes whereof foloweth that the chiefest effecte to ouerthrowe enimies is to holde armies verie well disciplined Princes vse to lose manie victories not for want of iustified war but because their men of warre are wicked and admittinge that some times euill men do conquere yet in the end they shal be vanquished or else of the gods cruelly chasticed Let them be certeine that are either present or absent if anie one will be euill either let him returne vnto his house or else we shal chasten him if he remaine vnder our standard because it is not iuste that wee comminge to recouer that whiche is vsurped from the common wealth by bearinge with your woorkes shoulde defame our mother Rome If we suffer so manie trauels aduenture our selues in so manie perills and consume our treasures it is not for wante of oyle wheate wine plate or golde but to magnifie the renowme of the Romaine Empire and since it is so howe is it possible for the Gods to permitt that by the handes of infamous persons we should obteine honour or renoune Numa Pompilius Quintus Cincinnatus Marcus Marcellus Paulus Emilius Quintus Fabius Cneus Fabricius and Scipio Africanus brought to passe with the Gods that the Romaine empire was accepted and that through the worlde the name of Rome was reuerēced we read not in histories that these glorious and noble men in their persons were tyrants and muche lesse woulde consente their armies to be vicious Beleeue me friends and companions Princes that will mainteine the fame of good Princes and not recouer the reproche of tyrantes ought to haue as greate care to preserue their armies from vice as to auoyde the treason of enimies for that men do incurre greater daunger by secrete vices then by open enimies That whiche ye haue done is either good or euill and if robbinge of fieldes raysinge of mutinies and forceing of women be good then by this accompt to honour temples defende orphans sacrifice vnto the Gods and to vse iustice with all people is wicked since the lawes whiche condemne the one allowe the other whiche of all you is neither to be beleued either so muche as once to be thought for not withstandinge of euill we can say but euil yet is it muche worse to defende then do it If these insolencies whiche I haue rehearsed and you haue committed ye holde for euill why conceiue ye not the chasticemente giuen for the same to be good If vertue and rewarde be cousines who wil denie that the trespasse the punishment are brethren He that ordeyned the conquerour to triumph hath he not appointed the theefe to be hanged Will ye be paide before hande for seruice vnperfourmed and will ye neither pay or restore that whiche ye haue purloyned Notwithstanding Princes haue greate libertie in the cōmon wealth yet are they not exempted or free frō iustice and will men of warre only be priuileged The wordes whiche ye haue vttered and the threatninges which ye haue thundered neither do I take them as iniuries or yeald my self to anie grieuous agonie for in killinge me ye shall kill but one yet in the ende there shall not wante in the Empire one to succeede mee and also to chastice you That whiche I presently requeste and commaund you is to amende that whiche is past presentely to imbrace quietnesse and to be aduised in time to come whiche if ye refuse I shall be forced to vse rigour because I am not to supporte mine Empire by relieuing vicious souldiours but in maintenance of all men by iustice These and such wordes beeing saide they became al milde and pacified and further all armour beeing laide a parte in token of obedience and their heades caste downe in signe of sorrowe euerie man departed vnto his charge Hereby the greate authoritie of Alexander in his commaundements is to bee gathered and the force whiche he had in his persuadinge speache to be pondered The bande and capteineship which he dismissed after xxx dayes he did bothe pardon and admitte them because hee sawe in them greate repentaunce for that which was past and readie mindes to serue him in time to come and so it came to passe that afterwardes in battell they proued men most notable and such in déede as to whome greatest glorie was giuen CHAP. XI ¶ Of the victorie that Alexander obteined against the Persians and of his triumph as some writers do report WHen Alexander departed from Rome because of the warres in Asia a great part of Summer was past for which cause it was necessarie for him to Winter in Antioche admitting the delay increaseth cost yet was it profitable for perfourmance of his warlike attempts for that in mene time he reformed his armies prouided victuals repayred high wayes recouered manie daungerous passages and also remoued from his enimie manie confederates When summer began Alexander marched with his armie after whose entrance into the lande of Persia he perfourmed al exploites accustomed in suche a iourney which is to wéete brake bridges ouerthrewe fortes burned houses sacked townes spoyled fieldes killed men and did captiuate women whereof we haue not to meruell for that notwithstandinge warre be iustified and all thinges iuste therein demaunded yet alwayes the déedes thereof be moste vniuste Certeine dayes beeing past wherin
him to liue within the kingdome Adrian would not or else durst not make warres with the Parthians but gaue vnto Parsnapate the Seigniorie of certaine countries and Prouinces of Syria being vacant at that time as Lorde to inioy the fruites thereof and as Romaine Pretour to gouerne the people When Adrian had obteined the Empire presently he published and sayd vnto all men that he wold become a pitifull Prince and truly in some pitifull causes he did shew him selfe to be the sonne of Traiane but in some rigorous matters he séemed to be the brother of Nero. A certaine man named Bebius was Prefect in Rome who was contrarie vnto Adrian in all thinges that eyther touched his honour or profite and being counselled to kill Bebius for that he ceased not to be his aduersarie made answere I will not onely permit Bebius to liue but also the office of Pretour which hee helde but for a yeare I will confirme vnto him during his life Laberius and Frugius two Romaine Senatours were banished vnto the Isle of Pontus whom he commaunded to returne to their houses and their goodes to be restored them but the Consul Frugius being mutinous mouing commotion betwixt Adrian and the Senate he commaunded to be throwne aliue into Tyber and obteined no lesse honour in the executing of the one then in pardoning the other Vnto certaine Gentlemen of the armie that sayde vnto Adrian in times past that he should be Emperour he gaue double rewardes affirming that he gaue them not for their aduertisement but for their good will. CHAP. VII Of his entrie into Rome NOwe when Summer was come Adrian parted from Antioche to come to Rome and lefte for Preposite of Syria Catalius Seuerus and tooke his way throughe Illyria and determined to make warre with the Sarmatians which would not receiue the Ambassadours of peace Lucius Turbon that had béene Pretour tenne yeares in Mauritania came foorth to méete him vpon the waye with whome Adrian had great friendship being a young man and in house with his Lorde Traiane presently he made him Pretour of the Prouince of Datia and Panonia At that time Lucius Turbon was in Africa maister of the horsse men of whome Adrian was aduertised that he was verie riche and in greate power throughout the kingdome and that he had not obteined all that riches in the time of warre but by briberie in time of peace Adrian was not a little grieued of that which was sayde by Lucius Turbone bycause he was his friende and also seruaunt vnto Traiane but all this notwithstanding he applyed all that he had vnto the common treasure and disarmed him of his knighthoode As muche as Adrian did increase in potencie so much did his enimies increase in enuie in suche manner that they coulde neyther incline their harts to loue him eyther yeald their strēgth to serue him The case was thus that Palma Celsus Sobaius and Lucius Adrian going on hunting were determined in the middest of the chace to rid him of his life wherevpon they were agréed that in his swiftest pursuit of any wild beast they would attend him in the most thickest pace or track there vnder the colour to misse their leuell at the beast would shoote and kill the Emperour All these foure were men of noble bloud and rich in goods and were called Cōsulares bycause at other times they had bene Consuls but as their treason was discouered first by iustice they were beheaded before Adrian went on hunting Great was the murmuring and mutinie throughout all Rome when they vnderstoode howe Adrian had executed so cruell iustice vpon these foure Consulares or noble men partly for that they helde opinion that Adrian had raised that quarell againste them and partly for custome and manner for that fewe were the chastisements whiche the good Traiane did execute but great was the number that receiued pardon Adrian being aduertised that for the death of the foure Consulares all Rome was escandalized and that for a man reuenging and cruell his person was defamed determined with all spéede to come to Rome to excuse him selfe of that fault The affaires of Adrian stood not in so euill estate as vpon the way they gaue him aduertisement which did well appeare in that the Senate did offer him the triumph due vnto Traiane being cut off by death to inioy the same but Adrian refusing gaue order that the Image of Traiane shoulde be placed in the triumphant chariote to the ende that good Traiane shoulde not want a triumphe although but after his death Presently when Adrian came to Rome he went to visite the Sepulchre of his Lorde Traiane where his eyes did shed many teares and for him did offer vnto the Gods most sumptuous sacrifices All the Senate being ioyned and also all the most principal of the people vnto whome Adrian made a long oration wherin he gaue them to vnderstand of the state of the Empire and did excuse him selfe of the death of the aforesaide foure Consulares because the officers of the Senate had made searche and inquisition of the cause and the Pretors of the armies did execute the sentence The Senate did offer Adrian the title of Pater patriae but he would not receiue it affirming it to be one of the titles of his lord Traiane and since he had been a good father it were great reason he should proue a good sonne It was a custome in Rome and throughout all Italie that when their Princes came newely to gouerne the Empire that all cities and other people should furnishe him with a certeine summe of golde and siluer with the golde to make a crowne and the siluer for the seruice of his house and sometimes they did present so much golde to make the crowne that the remnant was sufficient to mainteine the warres Adrian refused not onely this seruice to be demaunded but also returned that which was brought him saying that his crowne should be riche when his subiectes should be in wealth The officers of the treasurie that is to saye suche as had the collection and kéeping of the masse of Rome had raised greate rentes daily inuenting newe manner of tributes in the common wealth which being knowen vnto Adrian he commaunded all newe impositions to be remoued from the common wealth and the inuentors thereof to be displaced from their offices Generally the Romains complained vnto Adrian of the dearth of victuals foorthwith he prouided for prouision of wheat from Sicyl wines from Candie and oyle from Spaine and further gaue such prices vnto the same and all other victuals that the poore might féede with the riche He did promise and sweare in the Senate to put no Senatour vnto death although he were culpable without the accused should first be heard and his cause considered by all the Senate and truely this othe did excuse Adrian of many executions and was no lesse occasion that the Senatours committed many faultes Princes haue to consider what they sweare
man that although the state be finished and the goods cōsumed notwithstanding folly remaineth Thus stoode the case Commodus was after married vnto a Romaine ladie named Crispina vnto whome from thence foorthe honour was done that was accustomed to be vsed vnto Lucilla that is to say in the Theatre or open place to sitt in the chiefest seate to receiue giftes presents of frée men and by the ways to haue torchlight and to be recited by name in prayers made in Temples Mortall was the enuie that Lucilla receiued to beholde the honour imperiall whiche shée had once in possession to be remoued and passe vnto her sister Crispina and from thence foorth all her deuice practise and speach tended but to ridde her brother Commodus of his life and Crispina her sister in lawe of her honour There was at courte with the prince a young gentleman of Rome of noble bloude of face beautifull with whom it was bruted Lucilla vsed vnhonest loue his name was Quadratus the sonne of a very riche father vnto whome shée discouered the secrete of her intent to kill her brother Commodus because he persecuted her husbande Pompeyanus the Empresse Crispina did deadly hate her Quadratus desirous to do Lucilla a pleasure consented to performe that act the order which he vsed therin was that he ioyned in counsell with the sonne of a Senatour named Quincianus a yong man both doughtie valiaunt who shoulde vpon the soudaine with a swoord drawne enter vpon Commodus in his chamber with these words This present the Senate sendeth thee and at the instante to cutt off his life Quincianus accepted this enterprise that is to say to kill the Emperour Commodus but failed at the time of the execution thereof for notwithstanding he had courage sufficiēt to enter the chamber with a sword drawen yet to performe the dede his hart was dismaide in such wise that the treason was vttered and the déede vnperformed Quincianus was presently taken and discouered the conspiracie that Quadratus and Lucilla had deuised for the destructiō of the Emperour Commodus And for as much as Quincianus was sonne vnto a Senatour Commodus did beare so mortall hatred vnto the Senate that from thence forth whosoeuer named him selfe a Senatour he helde him for a traitour Immediately after Commodus beganne to reigne a warrlike capteine named Perennius fell into his fauour who in martiall affaires was verie experte and of inclination and condition no lesse peruerse for his pride was intollerable his couetousnesse insatiable The fauour conuersation and credite that Perennius had with Commodus was to the greate preiudice of al the Romaine people because if Commodus were cruell Perennius was most cruell if Commodus had yre Perennius did persuade to take vengeance and beyonde al the rest did not disuade from vice but inuented new deuises to leade vnto wickednesse Pompeyanus being a mā both honourable and aunciente and husband vnto Lucilla sister vnto Commodus the Emperour did beare him some reuerence and ioyntly therewith Lucilla had the fame of great riches in money iewells wherof procéeded no small displeasure vnto Perennius whoe hardely indured the estimation of others in the courte of the Emperour Commodus Where vpon the treason being discouered he with greate impatience did incite the Emperour Commodus on Pompeyanus and Lucilla to execute cruel iustice which he incessantly persuaded not for iustice sake but to finish the fauour which the Emperour did beare vnto Pompeyanus and to gette vnto him selfe the treasure of the ladie Lucilla When princes be in yre and furious they haue much to consider of whome they demaunde counsell because not a fewe but manie times it hapneth that the priuate and fauoured courtiour giueth counsell vnto the prince not so muche for the fauour he beareth to the execution of iustice as for the reuengement of his owne cruell and damnified harte The tyrant Perennius beholding Cōmodus inflamed with yre did knowe to take the profite and benefite of time that is to say Pompeyanus Lucilla Quadratus Quincianus and al their affinitie brothers friends seruants he caused to be slaine put to death their goods to be confiscate in such wise that he was not onlie reuenged of all his enimies but also applied vnto him selfe all their treasure After the death of these persons all the affaires of the Empire were gouerned at the will wisedome pleasure of Perennius who grewe to be a lord so absolute of the Empire that al ambassages that came to Commodus he only heard them and all letters missiue he reade and answered them in such manner that Commodus bare the name of Emperour Perennius did enioy the empire All offices and rewards being giuen by the handes of Perennius procured seruice and diligence from all men that in as much as he that might do most saued most but he was so harde of condition and of golde and riches so cruel and couetous that of méere grace he gaue no office but by the weight of pure money alwayes did sell the same and to him that woulde not buy hee gaue presentes more deare then the money which he demaunded Perennius had enrolde the names of all the moneyed men in Italie which if they did not present him some riche iuells hee procured them to be placed in offices wherein he did séeke quarells to spoile them of their liues and to robbe them of their goods CHAP. VIII Of a conspiracie that Perennius wrought against the Emperour Commodus IN verye shorte time Perennius became very riche but his presumption and riches being examined and laide together without comparison muche greater was the pride whiche he did shewe then the treasures which he possessed Commodus had suche confidence in Perennius that he not onely committed vnto him the gouernement of the whole common wealth but also the order and honour of his house in so muche that Perennius was of the one and the other so absolute so dissolute that he was not contented to robbe Cōmodus of his riches but also vsed vnlawfull companie with his owne especiall courtisans by whōe he had both sonnes and daughters Perennius had sonnes growne to mans estate whiche were in the armies and when any notable déede was done in the warres he would reporte at the Emperours table that it was perfourmed and atchiued by his sonnes in such wise that frō them the were in peace he bereft their goods and them that died in the warrs he spoiled of their honour In the fifte yeare of Commodus reigne the Senate sent an huge armie against the Britaines whereof Perennius was admitted both Consul and capteine in whiche iourney he was not satisfied to be serued as one in fauour and obeyed as Consul but would bee reuerenced as a prince and adored as a God. Perennius prospering in his martiall affaires and holding the whole common wealth in his owne handes and possessing wealth aboue all reckoning he then immagined to want nothing but the
attainement of the Romaine empire for the accomplishement whereof he throughly determined to kill his Lorde and maister Commodus placing his sonnes Pretors ouer all the armies to be readie at hande in time vppon the newes of the death of the Emperour Commodus Perennius also had drawne vnto his parcialitie certeine Senatoures and other the welthiest neighbours and citizens of Rome by giftes and rewardes in secret but in especiall by aggrauating the wicked life of Commodus On the fourth day of May the Romaines did celebrate the greate feast of Iupiter Capitoline whereunto not onely the whole people of Rome but also of all cities of Italie did concurre and when the Emperour on that day was resident in Rome alwayes in his owne person went to authorize and sée the feast The Emperour Commodus beholding the playes and pageants prouided for that triumph and Crispina his wife being placed on the one hande and Perennius the priuate and greately fauoured courtier set on the other hande they behelde a carte comming al couered with boughes crying continually for roome and audience And when they were come vnto the presence of the Emperour Cōmodus and all persons by his commaundement vsing silence the people thinking they would haue vttered some pageant or matter of disporte soudeinly there appeared a man aloft vppon the carte which had a long bearde a shéepeheardes hooke in one hande and a sling in the other and from the girdle vpwarde all naked his other garments very poore and after the manner of a Philosopher and directing his woordes vnto Commodus saide The Oration to Commodus O Commodus it well seemeth that thou arte a Prince and that verie young whiche arte in these playes and delightes so carelesse and negligent which thou oughtest not to doe because Princes of thy age estate and condition runne muche more in perill in their excessiue pleasures then in their meane trauailes Being as thou arte rigorous with thine owne and furious and vnbridled with straungers thou oughtest to consider and not to be vnmindfull that thou hast enimies for the Prince that is feared of manie hath iust cause also to feare manie The greatest riches and the best treasure in this world is trueth whereof Princes be moste poore of all people for that their eares being fild and led away with lyes may take no taste in matters of trueth Thou Commodus and other Princes do not euil gouerne your common wealthes of any prepenced malice to destroye the same but because ye giue not either delight your selues to heare the poore that be grieued and oppressed when they complaine neither the good godly and vertuous when they giue aduisement of the greate and horrible vices of briberie extortion and violent robberies committed by officers by the priuate and fauoured by the mightie and men of power Great is the fault of Princes for the vices which they committ but much greater is their offence in dissembling the offences of their fauoured seruaunts because ye offend not but onely the Gods but they both offende the Gods vexe and trouble men are traitours to your own persons Although Commodus thou be licentious dissolute wilfull also not very honest it is impossible but if the hurtes and mischiefes scandals and robberies committed by thy officers fauoured seruants were notified giuen thee to vnderstand thou wouldest commaund them to be amēded also to be remedied for in the ende there is no Prince so euill that desireth not his common wealth to flourish At these dayes trueth in Princes houses is so odious that who so aduentureth but to make reporte therof of death he must haue determination and if any such do escape with life it proceedeth of some conceite to be spoken of madnesse That which at this present I will say discouer I protest vnto the immortal Gods it proceedeth not of madnesse for that my natural iudgement is confirmed with reason either do I say it of malice to be reuenged of any person but onely Oh Commodus to deliuer thy life of great peril and to franchise Rome from seruitude of a tyrant for that which I presume to saye and aduenture to discouer I am assured before my tale be ended my life shal be taken away But O Commodus I giue thee to vnderstande that if thou wilt not giue faith vnto my woordes the time will come when thou shalt vnderstand the trueth of all that I haue saide when thy mischiefe may haue no remedie Thou Commodus art there set placed with the Empresse Crispina on thy right hand on thy left hand thy priuate fauoured Perennius but hadst thou certeine intelligēce what he hath ordeined against thee with thine owne hands thou wouldest burie him quick Perennius hath not been satisfied to put to death all good men to be reuenged of his enimies to haue destroyed all thy seruants to haue robbed all thy treasures but that nowe he practiseth to take away thine owne life to aduaunce and exalt him selfe to the whole power of this citie and common wealth O Commodus if thou knowe not I giue thee to vnderstand that the sonnes of Perennius by fraud haue incēsed thy armies of Illyria agaīst the. Perēnius him selfe ceaseth not to corrupt the Senate and secretly seketh to winne the mindes of men giuing giftes and large rewardes vnto the people and all to the ende that vpon the first newes of thy death without contradictiō he may possesse the whole estate of the Romane Empire And think not that Perennius doth now be gin to attēpt this treason for that of great certeintie I do assure thee that many dayes past he hath put the same in practise is vpon the point at this instant to haue it to be executed in so much that if on this day I had not aduentured to giue thee warning be thou assured that on this present day before this feast had bene finished thy life had here bene ended Vntil that poore man had saide that on that day Commodus death was prepared not onely the people gaue eare but also Perennius whoe presently rose out of his chayre with greate furie commaunding the swoord players to kill that presumptuous and rashe dizarde who was presently slaine drawne cut in péeces and burnt Perennius of all men so deadly hated by this poore mannes tale sunke into suspicion of the people and also Commodus conceiued against him some scruple but that Philosopher béeing there slaine and Perennius in so greate power although they had all suspicion of his treason yet no man there durst speake a worde The matter remaining certeine dayes more suspicious then cleare there came gentlemen from Illyria and brought certein péeces of golde wherein bothe the name also the Image of Perennius was ingrauen whiche money Perennius commaunded his sonnes in greate secrecie to be made The coyners thereof being aduertised what the Philosopher had saide and being in greate doubt in processe of time to be discouered came vnto Commodus and