which they had gathered togeather Seuerus slewe some with some reason others vpon smal occasion but all these which followe he killed without all reason or occasion that is to say Munius Sellius Claudius Bitalius Papianius Elius Iulius Lolius Aurelius Antoninus Posthumius Sergius Fabius Nenius Amussius Casperius Seyonius Sulpitianus Coceyus Eructus Assilonius Claudius Honoratus Petronius Pessenius Cestus Aurelianus Materius Iulianus Albinius Cerelius Faustinianus Herenius Valerius Nobius Arabianus Marcus Fabatus These men were glorious both of bloud also for noble déedes riches for they were either Consuls Censors Pretors Senatours Ediles Tribunes or capteines whose goods he imployed not vnto the publique treasurie but did incorporate vnto his patrimonie for him selfe to inioy the dayes of his own life to leaue vnto his children after his death Seuerus defamed Cincius an auncient Consul affirming that he had procured poyson to kill him wherfore he commaunded him to be slaine but the trueth being knowen as Seuerus afterward reported but the Cincius did much delight to goe on hunting had a fine yeark to kill the Bore other venerie in the mountaines He commaunded also Narcissus to be cast vnto the Lyons who at the request of Martia choked Commodus it was nothing to commaund them to be slaine but that with his owne eyes he would behold them executed which was wont to be so straunge vnto Romaine princes that they neuer vsed to sée any person put to deth neither so much as in the citie to be resident but they vsed if any suffered to ride or go foorth on hunting CHAP. XIII ¶ Howe Seuerus returned into Asia and conquered many prouinces AFter that Seuerus had conquered and slaine thrée Emperours that is to saye Iulianus in Rome Niger in Asia and Albinius in Fraunce it séemed vnto him that since he had chasticed and triumphed ouer the Romans he ought also to make his name glorious amongest the Barbarians because all the warres that he helde vnto that daye were more to make him selfe Lorde of the common wealth then to magnifie his name Seuerus aduised him selfe to go in his owne person to make warres with the Parthians the occasion of which enterprise was for that the king of Atrenoes had fauoured the parcialitie of Niger but had deferred the reuengement thereof to make conquest of Albinius being in great Britain If Seuerus in this case had taken the opinion of the people either the counsell of the Senate he woulde neither haue taken those warres in hande or made accompt of the iniurie because at that time those kingdomes were neither friendes or foes with Rome And as the Romans were fatigated tyred with warres so they were contented for the time to ceasse the recouering of them for their vassals to obtein them for quiet enimies Seuerus departed vnto Asia and in the way would first take the kingdōe of the higher Armenia whereof the king of Armenia being aduertised and that he came with an armie of so greate power and so determined to take his kingdome met him vppon the way not armed as a man of warre but clad with the garments of peace his truce being set downe with Seuerus presently he gaue him much money and offered to sende him succour for the accomplishment wherof he deliuered vnto Seuerus his two sonnes in pledge Seuerus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also tooke him vnder his protection The affaires of Armenia being dispatched Seuerus departed towardes the kingdom of Hosdroenos whose king was named Anguaro bothe crooked and same but yet no foole for he had such skill to recouer the good will of Seuerus that he neither admitted him as a vassall tooke no money demaunded no hostages or did his countrie hurt but receiued him to his familiar friendship and made him a confederate with the people of Rome Hauing passed the kingdome of Hosdroenos Seuerus entred the landes and countries of Albanos and being then the moneth of April and spring time he founde the fieldes full of flowers and grasse and commaunded his horsses for the space of fiftéen dayes to be fedde and his armie to be recreated and refreshed because his horsses were growen leane and his men tyred Seuerus beeing departed from the fieldes of Albanos entred the countrie of Arabia Felix where they found that which they found not in all the kingdomes of the worlde namely the trées that hare the precious Aromatike spices and the boughes whereof they gathered the most fine and excellent baulme Seuerus sacked all the townes of Arabia Felix cut downe their fieldes spoyled and oppressed all people and as he afterwardes saide he would not haue entred therein for that being as it was so riche so ioyfull pleasant and delectable but because he found him selfe in greate cumber to withdrawe his souldiours from thence for that they felt them selues more delighted with the vices of Arabia then with the hazardes and daungers of the warres Hauing passed the delectable countrie of Arabia Felix Seuerus entred the countrie and kingdom of Athrabanos against whose king principally he made that iourney Athras was a great citie situated vpon the top of a most high hill and chiefest citie of all the kingdome and for that cause was named the kingdome of Athrabanos Seuerus went presently to the siege thereof but as the king had inclosed him selfe therein with great readinesse and prouision the wall being strong the citie rockye the people warrelike and furnished with munition and victuals small was the hurte that Seuerus did vnto them within but which the Romans receiued was very greate And as Seuerus gaue foorth no other bruite when he came from Rome but to be reuenged of the Athrabanos he perfourmed that warre so exactly that there was no daye but he battered the citie of Athras and occupied his warlike engins deuised and practised all manner fights and offences that might be against the enimie and the moste notified Romans that there did not notifie them selues but in the ende might neither take the same either as much as a capteine or ouerthrow one windowe Those that were besieged within that citie to iest with their enimies tyed very subtily little earthen pottes vnto a kinde of byrdes like vnto Crowes which flying ouer the armies of Seuerus let fall their pottes vpon their pates by which iest many had their heades broken but much more were the Romans despighted to consider howe little they did estéeme them not fighting with them in armour but with pottes and tankardes The ayre of that mountaine was verie subtile the waters verie thinne fruites in great aboundaunce and the Sunne verie hoat and the grounde somewhat moyst by which occasion Seuerus his whole campe fell into the disease of the fluxe and there died amongest the rest seuen notable capteines two of Seuerus cousins and a little bastarde sonne which all men likewise thought to be his cousin but by his greate sorrowe teares he discouered the childe to be of his owne proper fleshe
what to spend and not to learne to keepe audit It is a loue disordinate for the prince to folow the direction of his owne proper will bicause it is impossible but he should fayle to perfourme that which hee ought that alwayes executeth his owne wilfull minde Loue is disordinate when the Prince imployeth his loue in fewe being Lord of many bycause Princes in such wise ought to loue and be bountifull vnto their priuate and fauoured seruaunts that they disgrace not the nobles of their kingdome Loue is disordinate when Princes in vanities and trifles do consume their times bycause the curious gouernour in such wise diuideth time betwixt him and the common wealth that he neither wanteth for affaires or hath too much to imploy in vices Loue is disordinate when the Prince is orgulous quarellous ambitious and proude for notwithstanding that as a Prince they ought all to serue him it followeth not that as a God they shoulde adore him Loue is disordinate to hazarde the giuing and diuiding of rewardes not as euerie man deserueth but according to the wil of him that gouerneth for there is no equal infamie vnto the prince as it is to chastice vice not to remunerate seruice Loue is disordinate when of will he taketh away frō another that of right apperteineth not vnto him self bicause to the greatnes sinceritie of princes it is iust conuenient that in their rewardes gifts they shew their franke liberalitie in receiuing they stande with all men in iustice The case standeth thus that the Prince which is indued with these loues affections may not escape many trauels and also many souden assaults and perils for that euerie disordinate affection she her self with her self bringeth griefe and displeasure Plutarche in his bookes of cōmon welth persuadeth the Emperour Traiane that hee hath his will at libertie and his loue subiect to no man for that according as hee sayeth It little profiteth that a Prince be Lord of many kingdomes if on the other part he become bondman to many vices The diuine Plato saide that for a prince to be good hee ought to giue his heart vnto the common wealth his rewardes vnto such as serue him his desires vnto the Gods and his loue vnto his friendes his secretes to his priuie counsell and the time to affaires Oh how happy were that prince that according to this Platonicall sentence should diuide and repart his person bicause he being diuided for all the whole should be ioyned together with and for him ¶ The authour applyeth all that which is sayd vnto the end wherfore he did speake the same All that which we haue aboue sayde by writing most souereigne Prince wee will vtter and declare by example for according to the saying of Eschines the Philosopher Words well spoken do awake and reuiue the iudgements but great and manifest examples persuade the heart For to leade or intice a man to be vertuous and to do vertuous woorkes it maketh muche to the matter to persuade with discrete reasons sweete words but in conclusiō for much credite which we giue to that which he sayth much more is giuē to that which he doth The Poet Homer said that it is a thing verie easie to write acts of great prowesse and verie difficil to performe them For whiche cause it is necessarie for such as deale with princes to shewe them by example all which they persuade thē by writing to the end they see most cleare that the great and mightie deedes done by other Princes in the worldes they want not force to performe them but a minde to vndertake them No Prince hath to holde of him selfe so small estimation that he doubt to performe that which another Prince hath done in time past for after this manner Theodosius should be dismaide by the remembraunce of Seuerus Seuerus of Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius of Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius of Traiane Traiane of good Titus Titus of Caesar Augustus Caesar Augustus of Iulius Caesar Iulius Caesar of Scipio Scipio of Marcus Marcellus Marcus Marcellus of Quintus Fabius Quintus Fabius of Alexander Magnus and Alexander Magnus of Achilles the Greeke The heartes of these so high Princes did not reade and inquire of the deeds of their forefathers to feare them but to imitate them surely they had great reason bicause None amongst the mortal hath done any deed so glorious that by another man may not be beautified and made better Princes be boūd to do such and so high deedes and enterprises that of them selues be worthy praise and very honourable for others to folow for the same it is not more necessarie to haue a noble minde to giue the enterprise thē after wards to haue the aduenture to finish the same Plutarche saieth that Agesilaus the Greeke said that Fortune did neuer shew her selfe noble but vnto a minde that was generous and noble and surely he said most truth bicause men lose many things not bicause they may not attaine them but for that they dare not attempt them The Prince ought to straine and enforce him self to be good and to imitate the vertuous since with lesse cost mē be vertuous thē vitious milde then ouerthwart valiant then cowards patient thē furious and sober then gluttons for the theefe doth need as desperate a minde to scale an house as a noble minde is due to a captein that foloweth the wars Dionysius the tyrant Gorgius the tyrant Bias the tyrant Macrino the tyrant Catiline the tyrant if we might commend them and they of thē selues giue reason they would sweare and affirme that they passed more trauell and found thē selues in more perill in defending their tyrannies then Scipio and Cato in conseruing their cōmon wealthes Oh what great reason and how much occasion haue Princes to be good and to fauour the good since they haue authoritie to commaunde and riches to giue whereof if they haue skyll to take the aduauntage with their potencie they frame them selues to be serued and with their giftes they bring to passe to be loued Ioyntly with this I admonishe and also aduise Princes and great lordes to be magnificent in their giftes and verie attemptiue in their commaundements For notwithstanding a Prince may do what he list it is not conuenient he do what he may Although the authoritie of the prince be free absolute and without measure to him it is conuenient in all thinges to vse measure and moderation for that euery gouernement that is absolute hath a taste or relishe of tyrannie Many Princes haue lost thē selues by their vices which they vsed and many more haue beene cast away by executing their will and power for princes in perfourming all that they can and all which they will it followeth that their affection maketh them stumble passion their eyes to dazell But moste souereigne Prince speaking more particularly by the imitation of Plutarche and Suetonius Tranquillus I thought good to translate compile and to
that notwithstanding any did mutine or rebell againste the Prince vntill in Rome he were declared an enimie they might not make warre either against him or his countrie Traiane once more determined in his owne persone to goe to the warres of Datia neither woulde he take with him any Consul or Captaine that was notable in Rome saying that since king Decebal to him onely had broken his worde to him onely it did apperteine to reuēge the iniurie King Decebal howe soeuer he had made experience of the forces of Traiane he would not as in the former warres abide him in the fielde but retired into the most strong holdes of his kingdome to his small profite for Traiane had sworne before he departed from Rome to remaine dead in Datia or bring king Decebal either dead or aliue vnto Rome Many of the Hunnes which now are named Hūgarians many of the Rhenes which are the people inhabitant neare vnto the riuer Rhene were come vnto the succour of king Decebal al which people when they vnderstoode that Traiane came with so great a power and so determined they forsooke king Decebal in the plaine field notwithstanding would he not forsake his wilful purpose for that his condition was to beginne his attemptes with great rashnesse and no lesse stout to prosecute them King Decebal was then of the age of two and fourtie yeares a Prince most certainly in body of perfect proportion gratious in conuersation magnificent in spending valiaunt in armes diligent and carefull in the warres although in the same most vnfortunate the whiche lost both him and his countrie bicause little auaileth diligence where good hap is contrarie King Decebal was a Prince most vnfortunate to match in contention with Traiane whoe was a Prince most fortunate bycause vnto the one all thinges did happen vnto his owne liking and to the other all things contrarie to that he did desire After fiue monethes that the warre was begun as the one Prince did increase the other decrease King Decebal retired vnto a certain castel with the most valiaunt men of his armie where Traiane did vtter expend the vtterest of his skill deuice policie to take him and king Decebal his greatest force and fortitude to defend him selfe By a Decebal counsel on a certaine night they conueyed ouer the wall sixe young men fayning to be fled which came vnto Traianes campe with myndes determined to kill him eyther with weapō or poison King Decebal had inuented this treason for that wanting as he wanted strength he would profite and prouide for him selfe by treason and guile And as Traiane was of a sincere condition and nothing malicious had no suspicion of that malice and guile but rather receiued thē with great pitie and conferred with them a great parte of the day inquiring and demaunding them of the armies and conditions of king Decebal and wherefore he had broken his promise and othe There wanted not in Traianes campe that could discerne by their countenance gesture and silence that those young men were traitours or else théeues and one of them being taken and examined did confesse that by the counsell and commaundement of king Decebal they were come to murther Traiane And as king Decebal was disappointed of this treason and deuice and the traitours chastised according to their demerites he determined another deuice and the case was thus Vpon a truce he craued to speake with Longinus a famous capteine and much beloued of Traiane who being come vpon assurance was taken and bound Traiane was not a little offended when he vnderstoode that Longinus was detained as prisoner no lesse displeased with Longinus that had giuen too muche confidence to the assurance of king Decebal saying that the person which is a promise breaker with men and periured vnto the Gods by no meanes might deserue credite King Decebal gaue Traiane to vnderstande that except he might receiue pardon for him selfe and all his knightes Longinus shoulde continue prisoner to this Traiane made answere that if he had taken Longinus in good war he wold do any thing to giue libertie vnto his person but since Longinus gaue trust where he ought not vnto his worde he was bounde to conserue his life for that good Princes be more bound to mainteine that whiche they promise then to procure that which they desire Althoughe Traiane spake these wordes openly he did geatly trauell to deliuer Longinus eyther for exchange or else for money but Longinus vnderstanding thereof dranke poyson wherof he dyed sent word vnto Traiane that the Gods had neuer to cōmaund that for the giuing of his life they shuld capitulate with king Decebal any thing that were vile or against honour This Romaine straūge act of Longinus gaue great admiration vnto friends and confederats and did yeald great feare vnto the enimies bycause he deliuered Traiane of care and thought and for him selfe obteined perpetuall fame King Decebal perceiuing the greatest part of his kingdome to be taken and lost without all hope to recouer the same eyther able to defende that which remained determined to make slaughter of him selfe some say with poyson some affirme that he drowned him selfe in water other affirme that he hanged him selfe finally he was found dead without any wounde whose head Traiane commaunded to be cut off and to be sent vnto Rome CHAP. XIII Of the great buildings that Traiane made in the kingdome of Datia THe vnfortunate king Decebal being dead and all the whole lande in Traianes power he made it a Prouince which is to say he did take away the title of kingdom and the preeminence of gouernement by Consuls and gaue order to be gouerned by Pretors and to be called a Prouince Traiane remoued a greate number of the inhabitants of Italie in that countrie but many more he brought out of that countrie to be placed in Italie and this he did as a man of great iudgement bycause in displacing the one he obteined sure possession of the kingdom and remouing the other of necessitie they must liue as others did liue in the Romaine Empire When the capteine Longinus dyed he left a brother yonger of age but equall in force and valiauntnesse whome Traiane made Pretour of Datia and gaue vnto him for euermore the castle where his brother dyed saying vnto him of two causes the one is for thyne owne vertue and valiauntnesse and the other bycause thy brother Longinus did serue me Traiane caused great search to be made for the body of his capteine Longinus vnto whome he caused to be erected such and so sumptuous a sepulchre that it was to be douted whether he would haue giuen him so great riches for seruice if he had liued as he spent in making that sepulchre In all the kingdome of Datia there was no knight or Gentleman that had any rents but only the king whereof the king gaue vnto euerie man as he did serue and deserue whereof it followed that the kingdome being
so opulent the king obteined great riches welth and power Whē Traiane came the second time into Datia king Decebal had great riches both of gold siluer not only for the great rents which he receiued throughout his kingdome but that also he exacted of his subiectes great sūmes of money King Decebal being doubtfull vnto what destinies he and his kingdome were committed determined to burie all his treasure in a riuer which he remoued out of his naturall chanell and in the greatest depth therof he made sepulchres of stone to burie his saide treasure whiche being done he returned the riuer into his olde chanell which was named Sargetia and to the end that no man shoulde discouer this secrete he commaunded to murder all that were present at the hiding thereof But to small purpose for that a fisher which at that time did fish the riuer discouered the whole matter vnto Traiane in suche manner that there is nothing so much hidden that humaine couetousnes doth not discouer Those treasures being brought into Traianes power he diuided thereof amongest his armies vnto euerie man according to the merites of his seruice and of his owne share the first that he commaunded was to builde a most sumptuous temple vnto the God Iupiter wherein he left prouided that for him selfe and the people of Rome yearely sacrifice to be offered He reedified there also the royall house that is to say where the kings of Datia did vse to be resident whiche for the antiqutie thereof was somewhat decayed and through continuall warres not well repayred a worke most certeinely delectable to behold and pleasant to dwell in He repaired also many decayed bridges and mylles vpon high wayes he renued their broken calseys in all places he did build newe houses and reedified others infinite that were burnt He brake and made plaine many wayes vpon the sharpe moūtaines and raysed many newe fortes and renued the old finally you might hardly trauell a league throughout all the kingdome wherein shoulde not be found some notable worke of Traiane Not yet all satisfied he built vpon the riuer of Danubie a bridge of stone which was so curious in the building and so costly in the making that fewe works did match it but none did passe it That bridge contained twentie arches in length and euery piller of one square stone and the arches were of the height of an hundred and fiftie foote wrought without cymet and the distaunce betwixt the pillers were a hundred thréescore and two foote and the breadth of the arches aloft was fortie foote and aboue all the rest the singularitie of the mould and fashion was to be considered and the richnesse of the stone to be regarded bycause the stone was of such glosse that in iudgement it deserued to be set in plate It séemed incredible to mans iudgement for a bridge to be made vpon that riuer bicause the streame was broad déepe in course very swifte and aboue all the rest on no side it might be turned out of his chanell to the end it might be drie at any time to lay the cymet That building was so extreme or to say better so monstrous that it néeded to make experiēce of al high iudgements and capacities and the Romaines there to shewe their strengthes and Traiane there to spend his treasure bicause in the worke there required great potencie and in the order thereof great industrie it is verie small that the penne can magnifie in respect of the wonder which he séeth that beholdeth the same for the better credite therof at these dayes the pillers giue a muster vpon the fierce waters declaring the pryde of his power and the riches of the emperour Traiane would with that edifice giue terrour vnto the liuing and admiration to his posteritie to giue manifest argument that any thing may not be so impossible eyther so hard that with mans hand may not be enterprised and with the riches of Rome might not be finished The cause that moued Traian to build this costly bridge so monstrous was as they say to the end the barbarous people on the other side Danubie might come to fight with the Romaines although the riuer were ouerflowen and also that the Romaines that remained there shuld not giue them selues to pleasure and idlenesse when they considered them selues to be in the eye of the enimie The Emperour Domitian had no suche mynde and valiantnesse whiche for feare that the barbarous people should come to fight with the Romaine hoast cōmaunded the arches of that bridge to be ouerthrowne in such wise that the one made a bridge to prouoke the enimie to fight and the other did raze the same for feare of battell CHAP. XIIII Of the seconde entring of Rome by the Emperour Traiane and the notable thing which he did in the same IN finishing the warrs in giuing order for the Prouince in diuiding the countries and in yealding perfection vnto all his workes and buildings Traiane was deteined in Datia more then thrée yeares in which as he after did report great were the trauels and perils wherein he did sée his person and not small were the expences that he made of his goods The victories that Traiane had obteined being knowne vnto the Barbarians that did inhabite the other side of Danubie the mightie buildings that he had made the great rewardes that he had giuen and the clemencie that with prisoners he had vsed sent their ambassadours vnto Traiane who with verie good will did set down with him a perpetual peace amitie bound them selues to kéepe and defend for him the kingdome of Datia Incredible was the loue that all those nations did beare vnto Traiane which was well knowne when he departed from that countrie to goe vnto Rome in that by all cities where he did passe and by all wayes where he did trauell so great were the teares and cries vttered by all persons that it séemed the grounde to tremble In respect of the great largesse and prowesse that Traiane had perfourmed in those Prouinces it was no maruell that his departing was so be wailed bicause with his great benefites he had won their hearts and with his great and sumptuous buildings he had ennobled his people Vniuersally of al friends and enimies neuer prince as Traiane was so much feared in warres either loued in peace The cause wherby Traiane obteined so great loue and to be so well liked and in such especial grace with al men was that with his frends he neuer vsed negligence and also in readinesse and straite reckoning with his enimies in such wise that such as stood in his disgrace by his wordes they had to vnderstand therof but vnto such as did bende to serue him both in worde and déede he did manifest the same They were infinite that praised Traiane in that he had ben pitiful with them but none did cōplaine that he had found him ingrate Ennius Priscus a noble aunciēt Romaine demaūded of the
emperour Traiane by what meanes more then all other Princes past of all men he had obteined so speciall loue and lyking Traiane did answere for that naturally I delight to pardon such as do offende me and neuer forget such as do serue me And truly Traiane saide most truthe that loue and hatred haue their beginning of thankfulnesse and ingratitude bycause there is no enimie so fierce or cruel as he which in time past we held for a friend being remoued by vnkindnesse All things as concerning Datiâ—…a being dispatched Traiane returned to Rome If the triumphes of the first warres were great when king Decebal was ouercome muche greater were the triumphes of the second warres when he was slaine The feasts of the triumphes of Datia endured an hundred and twentie dayes in which were slaine an hundred Lions and of other wilde beastes an hundred thousande which is to vnderstande Deare red and vallo Tygres Bulles Leopards Wolues Beares Vnicornes Boares Panthers Eliphants Camels Ounces and many other such straunge beastes taken brought from the deserts of Africa and the great India The feastes of the triumphe being finished presently Traiane commaunded to be made great sacrifices vnto the Godds in remuneration of the great perils froÌ„ which they had deliuered him and for the great triumphs which they had giuen him He commaunded newe temples to be made one vnto the vnknowne God to the Romaines another vnto the God Mars whiche was the God of the Datians He commaunded greate summes of money to be giuen to the Priestes of the temples vnto the end they should offer daily sacrifice vnto the Gods for the health and prosperitie of his kingdomes and also to repaire ennoble their temples At his coÌ„ming froÌ„ Datia wheÌ„ Traiane passed the riuer Rubicon being detained an whole day for want of passage imediately vpon his coÌ„ming to Rome he sent money workemen to make a bridge ouer that riuer whiche was more profitable although not so sumptuous as the bridge made ouer Danubie In the marishes of Pontaine Traiane did rayse and make a calsey both long and large of stone a worke right profitable and necessarie although not a little costly for where as afore there was but water and myre there succéeded houses and inhabitants In those dayes there dyed in Rome a certaine Physician named Suras Lycinus in whose death Traiane did vtter great sorrowe vnto whom he commaunded his picture to be aduaunced in the place and a riche sepulchre to be erected in the field of Mars There was in Rome two speciall men learned in letters and vertuous in manners whiche were perfect friendes of Traiane and in the common wealth much estéemed the one was named Palma and the other Celsus vnto these he gaue many and great offices of honour and in the place did erect vnto them pictures of Alabaster Traiane made in Rome many and great Libraries wherein he did place bookes of al sciences and of all languages where strangers might reade and citizens learne Where so euer Traiane entered were it within the Empire or in a straunge kingdome he was alwayes curious in causing search for fiue things that is to say horses of good race learned men of good inclination newe armour faire women and auncient bookes All these things or which soeuer of them were neyther lost by any negligence or left vnbought for any money In the place named Datia Traiane erected a certaine most highe piller a worke most certainely being of one stone right stately and to behold in breadth and height of great wonder It is not written from whence that piller was brought vnto Traiane neyther for what intent he did raise the same in that place but as some doe gesse he ment vpon the toppe thereof to haue placed his sepulchre others sayde to no other ende but to perpetuate his memorie CHAP. XV. Containing what Traiane did in Sicyl in Africa and in Spaine TRaiane being soakte with delight in the buildinges of Rome Rufus Galba Pretour of Africa did aduertise that all Africa was escandalized by meanes of cruell warres betwéene the Numidians and the Mauritans These newes being hearde in the Senate they say that Traiane sayde The warre grieueth me but the occasion to passe into Africa doth muche please me for that many dayes past I haue desired to sée the famous fieldes of Carthage where Scipio in so shorte space obteined for him selfe immortall renoune and Hanibal lost that in one day whiche he had gotten in sixtéene yeares in Italie Traiane departed from Rome by the waye of Sicyl where he stayed al the Winter and to auoyde idlenesse he scarsely lefte any place in the whole Islande personally vnuisited none that were then aliue in Sicyl might remember to haue séene any Romaine Prince within the same for whiche cause Traiane founde many thinges to be repayred in the walles and muche more to be amended in their customes and manners Traiane being infourmed that many straunge shippes did lurke in the hauen of Mecina to spoyle and many pyrates barkes did haunt and retyre vnto the same to execute their robberies in his owne person went to the viewe thereof and at his owne coste commaunded thrée bulwarkes to be made at the mouth of the hauen whiche eyther for want of diligence of the one part or too muche malice on the other side the case was thus that before it coulde be finished the pyrates had ouerthrowne it Amongest the Panormitains whiche be they of Palermo and the inhabitaunts of Mecina of olde time had continued great contention betwixt whome Traiane not without great trauell determined finished all quarelles and debates and brought to passe that from thence foorth they continued in great friendshippe To the ende to perpetuate that peace and to roote vp all passions and vnkindnesse of that Islande by the rootes to the principall both of the one and the other Traiane gaue pensions out of his owne house and daily did cause them to eate at his owne table In Palermo Mecina and Tatania Traiane commaunded seuerall temples to be made and the Gods to whom those temples should be dedicated the inhabitaunts to make choice Traiane renued in Sicyl the kinde and race of good horsses reedified the decayed walles melted all counterfet money erected newe castles builded stately temples set peace and established quietnesse amongest the mutined cities gaue many great rewardes although no liberties vnto the people Traiane being demauÌ„ded why he gaue no liberties vnto the Sicylians as he gaue vnto other kingdomes answered bycause seruitude doth conserue them and libertie destroy them The Winter being past and the Spring come Traiane passed into Africa and did lande in the hauen where olde Carthage in time past was situate not finding one stone vpon an other to giue testimonie of the foundation thereof they say that he sayd It grieueth me that Carthage so greatly resisted Rome but it more forethinketh me that Rome shoulde not be satisfied but with the totall destruction
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
and promise for from that day wherein Princes shal vnable thē selues to punishe vice and sinne from thenceforth their vassals shal followe wickednesse In the yere that Adrian entred Rome all thinges were deare and the people not sounde or in health who vsing greate magnificence commaunded much money to be giuen to the poore of the common wealth in such wise that it was not founde that any died for hunger either suffered any extreme necessitie There were many that had béene banished and diuerse in prison for debt due vnto the Fiscall that is to saye vnto his chamber Adrian gaue commaundement by publique proclamation that all such debtes should be absolued and that for any such debte none should be runnagates either kept in prison Adrian did derogate the law custome of his predecessours which is to wéet that the goods of the condemned should be for the Prince which he commaunded from thenceforth to be imployed not to his chāber but to the comfort of the common wealth for he saide and helde opinion that the Iudge should neuer be grieued to punishe offendours when he should remember to inherite a share of the offendours goods He extremely delighted when any person came to craue and much more did reioyce if he had to giue but if by chaunce he had not to satisfie his demaund at the least he gaue him a friendly aunswer From the time that Adrian was in possession of the Empire he was neuer heard to say or name Traiane but my Lord Traiane CHAP. VIII ¶ Of the good conditions and inclinations of Adrian WIth much diligence and no lesse secrecie Adrian inquired what life the Senatours did leade and what exercise they vsed and such as he found poore and vertuous he augmented their patrimonie and such as he found riche and vicious he found meane to depriue them from the Senate Adrian was a Prince verie skilfull and muche considerate in punishing his officers and seruauntes that is to saye he kept secrete from the people the causes why he remoued any person from his office And further if he displaced any person from his commoditie he did not forget otherwise to recompence him in such maner that if he did chastice them he did not dishonor them Many times did Adrian speake these woordes Whome I shal see esteemed and worshipped in the common wealth I wil rather determin to take away his hed then his honour The rēts which the good Traiane left in many partes of Italie for the bréeding of children the sustaining of widowes the marriage of Orphans he did not only confirme but also made better All the seruants of Traiane he did aduaunce to better offices such as were not méete for offices he gaue thē money Adrian commaunded serch to be made how many noble men were falne into pouertie such as were decayed by mischaunce he relieued such as procured pouertie by vice he gaue them leaue to endure necessitie He gaue help to al the Romaine widowes to marrie their daughters he was not more boūtiful in giuing relief vnto the daughters then he was an enimie to succour the sonnes for he helde opinion that that young man deserued not to be married that with his handes did not obteine a marriage By thrée dayes space he did celebrate the feast of the god Genius that is to saye the daye of his birthe and commaūded vpon those dayes to giue pitances vnto all the people and he with all the Senatours and nobles did eate and banquet in his imperiall palace the cost whereof did not amount vnto so little but as they were thrée if they had béene sixe the rentes of the whole Empire had béen spent and parte of their treasure By the space of sixe continuall dayes he did cause them to represent the game of swoorde players and the people craued certeine other playes which he would not consent not for that he delighted not therein but to giue them to vnderstand in Rome that it appertained vnto Princes as much to moderate their pleasures as to giue order for thinges of importance Before Adrian was Emperour he was thrise Consul for which cause he made diuers Romaines thrée times Consuls and whereas some were offended for want of like fauour he did aunswer Such as did exceede mee in merite ought to be equall with mee in dignitie Within the compasse of Rome neuer before the dayes of Adrian were permitted more then two Consuls the one to gouerne the common wealth the other to go to the warres but Adrian did adde and create a thirde Consul for that if the one should be sicke and the other resident in the warres the common wealth shoulde not remaine without an head Tutinus a noble knight of Rome Adrian did create Senatour and gaue him the ensignes of Consul whereat the whole Senate was offended affirming that the Emperour ought or might not create in such manner partely because Tutinus was not of deseruing and partly for that the aduise of the Senate should haue béene vsed therein Adrian was displeased with these wordes of the Romaines and from thence foorth did vse more libertie in reparting offices and lesse companye in determining causes He helde Seuerianus in greate veneration which had married his sister vnto whome he gaue both honour and great rewardes and at all times when Seuerianus came vnto his chamber to conferre and to vnderstand his pleasure Adrian came foorth to méete and receiue him at the doore Although Seuerianus came to visite Adrian and Adrian came foorth to receiue Seuerianus yet auncient and very mortall was the hatred betwixt them for in this case either of them did vtter and discouer to be possessed with a moste vile intent for that Seuerianus did trauaile to depriue Adrian from Empire and honour and Adrian with no lesse facilitie did take away his life When Adrian was in Rome at the least he went thrise a wéeke vnto the Senate and if he were either sicke or muche busied they did repaire vnto his presence in such maner that nothing of importance did passe in the Senate wherein they did not vse his iudgement Adrian was of familiar conuersation with his speciall friendes and with his particular seruaunts with whome he went to eate in their gardeines to fishe at riuers to hunt in the fieldes and all other such like pastimes Naturally he was giuen to haue compassion of the sicke and herein he did neither consider whether they were friends or foes for that indifferently he did visite them and at his owne charges did prouide for them He did not onely visite the sicke but also the olde men decrepite with age of whome at large he woulde inquire of the yeres that they had liued the kingdomes they had trauelled the daungers they had passed the enimies which they had helde the necessities that they had endured in suche wise that many times of the things which they had saide of times past he tooke example for the time
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
perills and so made vnto trauels that if they them selues had not warred destroyed them selues al the world had not bene sufficient to haue defeated theÌ„ Aboue it is said how Seuerus came to Rome to take the Empire and howe Pessenius was ouercome in Asia there resteth nowe to speake of Albinius who was in Britaine a man in his life righte venturous and in his deathe no lesse vnfortunate Albinius was natiue of Rome and as soone as he was of age sufficient he was made a Senatour being of most auncient linage and did inherite of his predecessours greate wealth whiche he wanted no skill to conserue as also to increase and excellently to inioy for notwithstanding his degree was but a Senatour yet in seruice of his house and behauiour of his person he was after the manner of an Emperour In the dayes of the empire of Pertinax Albinius was sente as captaine and gouernour vnto greate Britaine in whiche gouernement hee was very well loued and no lesse feared for by his greate iustice he was feared and with his greate liberalitie he was beloued When Seuerus departed vnto Asia to warre with Pessenius vnderstandinge how renouned the name of Albinius was throughout all the worlde and howe well liked of the Romaine Empire hee greatly doubted to aduaunce him selfe with the Romane Empire and the rather for that he perceiued the principall Romanes to fixe their eyes vpon Albinius Seuerus aduised him selfe to vse a certaine cautele with Albinius which was before he departed froÌ„ Rome to write vnto him into Britaine aduertising him that he would haue his felowship in the Empire from thence forth intituling him Augustus since his departing to the warrs of Asia requesting him to take the charge of the gouernement of the common wealth With these and suche like wordes whiche hee sente him and with a letter written vnto him and certaine iuells whiche hee gaue him Albinius did endure to be deceiued though voide of all misstrust to be deceiued Albinius had with him an auncient knight named Cypro Albo who as it is reported saide vnto Albinius thou art not so neare a kinseman either so deare a friende vnto Seuerus that without thy request hee will with thee diuide the Empire for that truely euen betwixt the father and the sonne it were verie muche but that I thinke hee will nowe be assured of thee to the ende when hee returneth from the warres to destroy thee because from a man so noble as Seuerus is so amorous letters and iuells so precious may not proceede but wrapt in malice Albinius woulde giue no credit vnto Cypro Albo but openly did reade his letters and shewed his iuells whiche when Seuerus vnderstoode hee receiued greate pleasure thereof and the better to finishe his guile hee made money in both their names placing Albinius his picture in the Senate The minde of Albinius being wonne and obtained to the ende to holde safe and sure the kingdomes of Europa hee departed into Asia and sundry times did write vnto Albinius and not vnto the Senate giuing accompt of that whiche hee had donne and demaundinge counsell in that whiche hee mente to do Fifteene monethes Seuerus stayed in the warres with Pessenius whome after hee had ouercome and slaine he determined to destroy Albinius and because hee had no occasion either greate or small to make him publike warre hee aduised to kill him by guile Many Senatours and noble Romanes did write him letters and also persuaded Albinius in woordes that hee shoulde aduaunce him selfe with the Empire and to the same ende they did sweare and affirme vnto him that although Seuerus were farre from his countrie yet without comparison hee was muche more distante from their willes The case was thus the warres of Asia béeing finished Seuerus in greate secrecie conferred with certaine Purseuantes by whome hee was accustomed to write letters whome he commaunded to departe vnto greate Britaine and to presente their letters openlye vnto Albinius and further to giue him to vnderstande howe they had secretly to say vnto him and that if with them hee shoulde seperate him selfe presently to kill him promising them that if they perfourmed that enterprise hee should make them the greatest men of Rome Hee gaue them also a boxe of fine poyson therew t this instruction that if they might not by chauÌ„ce dispatch kil Albinius by such meane they shoulde trauell in some meate to giue him of that poyson Albinius was gro 〈…〉 â—â—mewhat suspicious of Seuerus partely for that so rarely hee did write vnto him and also because hee was aduertised that in secrete hee vsed euill speach of him wherefore he liued more warely not onely with suche as hee had talke but also of his meate whiche hee shoulde eate These Purseuaunts béeing arriued in greate Britaine deliuered their letters openly vnto Albinius saying that they had to tell him in secret and being nowe in doubt and suspicion of Seuerus his matters he commaunded these Purseuauntes to be taken and grieuously tormented which presently confessed that Seuerus sente them for none other purpose but either with yron or with poyson to take away the life of Albinius Presently Seuerus was aduertised that Albinius had taken tormented and put to death his Purseuantes where vppon followed that the one did publishe the other open enimies and for suche they exclaymed them selues in woordes defied in letters and also vttered in workes Seuerus had greate sorrowe for that Albinius had manifested him selfe his enimie and the greater was his griefe for that his enimies made common reporte that he would haue slaine Albinius as a cowarde and not deale with him openly as a man of a valiant minde Seuerus also had greate griefe of the generall reporte of Albinius boaste before all men that woulde heare the same of the greate numbers of people and armies of men that did obey him in greate Britaine and muche more that did loue and wish him in Rome Seuerus not able to endure with patience the reports that ranne of Albinius aduised to assemble his armies vnto whome hee did speake after this manner CHAP. X. Of a famous speach that Seuerus vttered vnto his armies to bringe them in hatred with his 〈◊〉 Albinius IT were not iuste that any prince shoulde be noted vnstable if by chaunce they be seene to abhorre at one time that which they did loue at an other time for that subiects changing their custoÌ„es it is not much that Lordes alter their opinions As much as a friend shal be vertuous so muche and no more he shall be loued of his friendes for if it be a thing commendable to loue the good it is no lesse vituperable to loue the euill Admitting that princes deale hardly with some and fauour others neither for the one are they to be praised either blamed for the other because rewarde or punishmente is neither giuen or ought to be giuen conformable vnto princes wills but agreeable vnto the subiects merite Ye all vnderstand how
for he vsed to say that fooles set neighbours at variance but men that were wise malicious brought kingdomes together by the eares He was also inclined to read books and to vnderstand antiquities if he might not by his important affaires read himselfe he made others to read and further if he chaunced to be so busied that he might not read himselfe either heare reading at such times they read vnto him when he was eating or whē he went to bed He himselfe did write his owne life did write it as truly as if he had béen a chronicler that is to say praising his victories reprehending his vices and also most truly made report of all men that he kild but not of the smal reason that he had so to do Seuerus was much blamed for his great couetise of goods for want of care negligēce of his honour for that his wife Iulia was a cōmon adulteresse whom he did neither chastice or put away neither is it written that euer he did aduise or blame her It was sufficient for Seuerus to know his wife to be euil to be named Iulia whiche name was euer infamous amongest the womē of Rome Although he were an enimie of vices and of vicious mē much more was he enimie of théeues aboue all other kinde of wicked people and so is it said and found of him that he did beare with many malefactors but neuer pardoned any théefe In his apparel he was not curious or costly but alwaies was apparelled as a man of great sobernes especially much cōmended that in his Empire he neuer beheld any person in Rome clad with silke or purple Also in his féeding he was not disordinate yet truly of certaine fruits of Africa giuē to féede somewhat ouermuch and vsed to say that they had a better relishe then others for that being a child hee was bred with them Hée delighted also more to eate fishe then flesh and sometimes passed an whole moneth without the tast of any flesh the flesh that he best loued was mutton of fish the Trout In many cities of the Empire they made by his comaundement very notable woorkes especially in the citie of Tripol in Africa where he was borne he made there a fort an house compassed it with a very stronge wall He was a prince very careful that the citie of Rome should alwayes be well prouided which was manifested at his death at what time they found vij yeares prouision in wheat and oyle CHAP. XVIII ¶ How Seuerus passed into great Britaine where he died SEuerus being settled in securitie and intending certaine buildinges in Rome receiued letters from the gouernour of great Britaine which now is named England that a great part of the Island was reuolted from the seruice of Rome and to appease force them to obedience his presence was right necessarie because the Prefect himselfe was not only denied al obedience but they sought meanes also to kill him Seuerus was not displeased with this newes although he were both old and sickly for that he alwayes desired the offer of great things to magnifie his fame and perpetuate his memorie Seuerus also was pleased with those warres to haue occasion to withdraw his sonnes from the vices of Rome and so it came to passe that his elder sonne Bassianus he made captaine of the armie that he led by land to his younger sonne Geta he gaue the charge of his armie nauie that passed by sea Seuerus at the soudeine and vnprouided assailed the Britaines who at that instāt they vnderstoode of his arriuall in the Isle sent their Ambassadours partly to yéeld accompt and partly to discharge themselues of their rebellion as also to set downe betwixt them a certeine concord which Seuerus would neither yéeld vnto or abide to heare off for he vented rather to obteine the renoune of Britaine then for any reason to make them warre His armies being disimbarked the Ambassadours dispatched euery man prepared the one to offend and the other to defend Seuerus first prouided bridges wheruppon his horsemen might passe his foote men auoyd occasion to swim The Britaine 's of that part of Britaine in those dayes had a custome in time of warre to encounter their enimies in lakes waters where they did place themselues vp vnto the arme pits and from thence did fight and shew their skil when their enimies did shoote or whirle their dartes they would stoope or diue vnder water in such wise that it chāced thrée sundrie times that neuer happened in any part of the world which is to witt that 100. naked men ouercame 1000. armed persons Whē at any time they would fight in the field they vsed certaine targets after the maner of bucklers halfe swords girt vppon their bare flesh All matters apperteining vnto the warres brought vnto perfection Seuerus confirmed his younger sonne Geta gouernour of a certaine place of the Island that had not rebelled and kept his elder sonne Bassianus néere vnto his owne person executing cruel warres vppon the Barbarians who vppon determination to doe hurte or offend their enimies dyed with great hardinesse and vppon other determination would put themselues to flighte in whiche flight their enimies alwayes had the woorsse The warres being trauersed after this manner the gowt did grieuously increase vppon Seuerus in such manner that he could neither go out of his campe either sitt in counsel with his capteines in so much that he was constrained to commende the whole charge of the armie vnto his sonne Bassianus who more did practise secreately to frame hatred amongest the armies vnto his brother Geta then to make conquest of the enimies Bassianus so much reioyced of his fathers griefe and had so great care to inherite that he sawe no houre wherein he wished not his fathers death Not meaning to leaue any euil vnperfourmed that touched an euil nature adding euill vnto euill he suborned the Physicians that did cure him and the seruaunts that serued him in such wise the one to serue him and the other cure him that if the gowte did not finish him poison shoulde dispatche him Although no man said vnto Seuerus any one woorde he did well perceiue what his sonne Bassianus desired and so it came to passe that beholding the disobedience which his sonne did beare him howe euil his seruaunts serued him and howe slenderly his Physician did visite him although he were olde and sickely he died of pure sorrowe and melancholy The last wordes which Seuerus saide before he dyed they saye were these When I tooke the Empire I founde the common wealth throughout the worlde in trouble and nowe I dye I leaue it in peace and although I dye without power to testar ny firmar yet I leaue the Empire firme vnto my two sonnes Antonines if they shal proue good they remaine exactly made princes and if they shal be euil I leaue them nothing Before Seuerus dyed he
stopt with multitudes of people he began by force to make his way and teare and treade the people who made resistance for their safetie adding thereunto woordes ouer furious as people passioned And as the Emperour then being placed in the same chariot although they said no word to his offence he receiued the cochemans iniurie as his owne presently cōmaunding al his Pretorians which there did guard his person to make slaughter at their libertie And as al persons there present were more deckt and trimmed for the feast then armed either in redinesse for battel so great cōpassion was it to behold the multitudes of people that died there without any offence and sheading of bloud of so many innocentes for if tenne or twelue had offended they were more then 15. thousād that were there executed The Romanes did neither eate drincke sléepe or doe any thing but with great trembling not doubting when they should be accused but when Bassianus shoulde commaunde them to be slaine for neuer tyrant did execute that which he ordinarily perfourmed in Rome which is to wéete without any accusement of fiscall or complaint of enimie or wante of seruice to commaunde any man to be slaine CHAP. VIII Of the prouinces whiche Bassianus did trauell and the thinges which he did therein AFter that Bassianus had slaine his brother Geta and his enimies as also manie of his friendes and infinite others that were neither friends nor foes he departed from Rome iourneying towardes Germanie whiche nowe is named high Almaine with determination to visite those Prouinces and to refourme his armies whiche by continuance of peace were growne to greate negligence in matters of warre A whole summer hee lodged neare vnto the riuer of Danubie where he exercised hunting fishing playing running torneying and sometimes sate in iudgmente and a matter wherein he made all men to woonder was that in hearing anie cause at the instant he gaue sentence wherein he neuer erred and also iudgmente according to iustice He had greate delectatiō of that countrie and the people of the same makinge choyce of the valiauntest and gallantest personages of the youthe of Germanie for the guarde of his person The prouinces adioyning vnto Danubie being set in order he passed into Thracia and from thence into the lande of Macedonia with determinatiō to visite the natiue countrie of Alexander the greate All thinges wherein the actes of Alexander were grauen or painted hee repaired renewed and made better manie other thinges he did both adde and inuente in such wise that in al the kingdome of Macedonie there was neither citie or temple where he did not erecte some edifice or place some picture or counterfeite Bassianus perfourmed manie notable things in Macedonia right worthy praise and some other thinges no lesse to be derided because in manie places he caused a bodie with two heads to be painted and also grauen whereof one he intituled vnto him selfe and the other vnto Alexander The Macedonians did not a little scorne this acte that Bassianus woulde compare with the greate Alexander for they estéemed their kinge in suche possession and estate that they say and affirme neither anie in this life to be equall vnto him either in the other worlde surmoūted of none of the Gods. Bassianus grewe so proude when he sawe him self so generally praysed for his woorthy actes done in Macedonia that he cōmaunded al his househoulde not to call hym Bassianus but Alexander and commaūded al the captains of his armie to intitule thē selues with the names of Alexanders auncient captaines whereof the Romanes receiued no small griefe and al the aunciente seruaunts of his father were not a little disgraced for it séemed vnto them that since he did not trust them with the garde of his person he woulde not loue them either deale with them according vnto his accustomed manner Hee woulde ofte put off all his Romaine apparrell and cladde him selfe after the Flemmish fashion and further the more aptly to resemble them he woulde weare counterfeite red haire and howe muche the more he vsed these thinges so muche the greater was the griefe vnto the Romaines Also he obserued a custome both in eating and drinking in his apparrell and seruice as in all other trauels which all wayes followe the warres but as a common souldiour It happened manie times that if a trench were to be made he firste woulde digge carrie forth earth marche on foote grinde breade corne for his owne diet and bake it vnder the asshes Hee delighted in base lodging to resemble the common soldiour and woulde not drinke in golde or siluer but in woodden tankards finally he did not onely abhorre all thinges that séemed superfluous but also manie times that which was right necessarie Hee commaunded also that none shoulde attende him except he were commaunded or call him Emperour but companion all whiche hee did to obtaine their loue and to seeme admirable in his trauels He commaunded his armie to be diuided into three partes and the one to be called Macedonike the other Laconike and the thirde Spartanike in memorie of three famous prouinces of Grecia whiche folowed the greate Alexander in all his wars and the people which he estéemed most valiaunt and warlike From Macedonie hee tooke his way vnto Pergamus a famous citie in Asia to viewe the temple of Esculapius the father and founder of physicke in which temple he slept manie nights and as he afterwardes saide receiued there manie aunswers of the God Esculapius many coūsels as well for conseruation of his health as the gouernemente of his cōmō wealth From Pergamus Bassianus departed to the citie Ilion that in times paste had beene head of the kingdome of Troy where greate warres were long continued betwixt the Greekes and the Troyans whiche hee founde not onelie destroyed but also plowed and sowen Bassianus did there greately desire to burie some persone after the fashion as in times past they had buried Patroclus and for accomplishment of his desire he commaunded poyson to be giuen vnto Festus his priuate and fauoured seruaunt whome after he was deade he buried there according to the fashion whiche the Troyans vsed with Patroclus whiche fact of his some excuse affirming that Festus died without Bassianus his commaundemente Before that Bassianus entred high Almaine he would visite Gallia Transalpina after a fewe dayes of his entraunce therin commaunded the Proconsul of Narbona to be slaine of which déede as also of others which he executed he fel into the hatred of that cōmō people deserued the name of a tyrant In his nauigatiō frō Germanie into Asia he foūd him self in so great danger that the ship it selfe wherin he sailed did rent sinke he escaped in a litle barke He was strikē with so greate feare on sea that after he had escaped that daunger he woulde oftentimes say I knowe not what man hauing breade to eate and garments to weare and couer him selfe on lande woulde to become an
clearely see that amongest all the trauels of men to be an Emperour is the greatest Neither merueile either be escādalized O ye fathers conscript to see me so vntractable and with so many teares to refuse the Empire for if I thought to vse my selfe therein as a tyrant I would not caste it off but would rather procure the same but as my meaning is to liue gouerne more to the profite of the common wealth thē to the aduancement of mine owne house respecting my small strength the Empire is to mee a great burthen Being as I was most truly satisfied with the acquaintance and conuersation of the trauels of the Empire there were no reason to think I should desire the Empire because there is none so foolish as the man that with the hope of a remedie would offer himselfe vnto an hazard Vnto this day I haue beene esteemed in possession of great wealth but now that I am an Emperour I am forced to become poore for that a prince in respect of such with whō he hath to deale and accomplish hath fewe thinges to giue and hath a thousand necessities that constreine him to bribe and robbe Vntil this day I haue had some quietnesse but from henceforth I shal be constreined to liue discontented because from the trauel and disquietnes of the prince peace and quietnesse doeth proceede vnto the common wealth The office of the prince is not to sleepe but to watche not to be idle but to trauell for that euerie excessiue recreation which his person taketh forthwith redoundeth to the offence of the common wealth From my birth vntill this day of any thing I haue not had greater experiēce then to see heare read suffer and experiment trauels wherof many I beheld farre off but alas of my selfe that nowe am inuironed therewith because the appetite of the vulgar people is so feeble and variable that if to day they giue and elect a good prince to morrow they would relishe and haue a taste of the gouernement of some other Naturallie all men in all thinges and at all houres desire to heare and see nouelties and much more desire the same in the estate of gouernement then in all other thinges for that no prince gouerneth so well but that they conceiue an other should gouerne better Vntill this day I haue beene well liked serued and reuerenced but from henceforth al men for the most part shal beare me enuie and hatred because the estate of princes is so enuied that hee shall want sand in the Sea to reckon his enimies but the number of his fingers of one hand shal exceede to point out his friends All this I haue said fathers conscript to the end ye shall not merueile why I haue refused the burthen of the Empire but rather am escandalized knowing what I know to see my selfe charged and ouer laden with the Empire because to renounce it a thousād thinges do moue me to attempt it nothing inuite me But since the gods haue so willed my destinies so permitted ye also haue so ordeined I determin to lode my selfe with this burdē although I am assured it wil cost me my life but I yeld it al for wel imployed if it perfourmed to the benefite of the common wealth These woordes being said by Pertinax the Senate receiued great pleasure and chiefly praised him for that hée forbad all men to speake euill of Commodus knowing as they all did knowe that hée had béene his mortall enimie The Senat receiued Pertinax in the midst amōgest them and did accompany and attend vpon him vnto all the temples and euery temple did offer vnto the Gods notable sacrifices And most truly this was a notable and also a laudable custome amongest the Romans which is to witt that princes newly elected did first visite the Gods before they permitted themselues to be visited of men As Pertinax had his person in so great authoritie and being elected by the armie and the Senat with so great concord and further being old and hoarie headed and so long time knowen in Rome it was a monstruous thing to behold when he came forth into Rome how al men hasted to sée his face for truly it seemed litle vnto euery man to obey him as a prince but to loue and serue him as a father CHAP. VI. ¶ Of many thinges which he did after he was Emperour THe first thing that Pertinax commaunded or prouided was that the men of warre were very wel payed and therwith practised great discipline in which matter more then in any other he presently gaue reformation for that in the Empire of Commodus the armie was abandoned vnto great libertie Cōmodus consumed so great summes of monie in vices that there was not sufficient to pay the men of warre by this occasion they did filche by night rob on high wayes sacke houses spoile corne oppresse the poore and were bribers with rich men finally they were desperate and so flesht that for feare of any paine they neuer absteyned from offence Not many dayes after that Pertinax was published Emperour and with great seriousnes on a certeine day vsed familiaritie with Letus and Electus a Consul named Falcus said vnto him what an Emperour O Pertinax thou shalt proue thy workes begin to make demonstration since thou leadest after thee Letus and Electus which as traytours did kill their Lord Commodus doing what thou doest and consenting to that wherto thou didst consent it may be no lesse besides the euill example which thou yéeldest vnto Rome thou giuest also such scruple vnto thy fame whereby we thinke that if thou wert not the inuentour of his death at the least thou delightest to cloke the same Vnto this Pertinax made aunswere it well séemeth that although thou be a Cōsul thou art but a yongling since thou knowest not to make difference of times It maketh no great matter that I doe with Letus and Electus as they did with their Lord Commodus that is to say they obeyed him and followed him and that whiche they most desired they most dissembled and at the houre of opportunitie they dispatched him of his life The same day that hée was created Augustus and Emperour hée was intituled Pater patriae this excellencie vnto none either since or before was giuen vppon that day His wife was named Flauia Titiana vnto whome likewise on the same day that he was inuested Augustus she was intituled Augusta The Emperour Pertinax did greatly trauell to allowe all thinges that his Lord Marcus Aurelius did fauour to finish that which hée had begon to susteine that which hée had left to repaire that which he had built and to imitate all that which hée had done for hée said it was impossible to erre in following the stepps of the good Marcus Aurelius The fame being diuulgate thoroughout the Empire howe Commodus was dead and Pertinax chosen Emperour the countries cities prouinces and kingdomes gaue very large rewards vnto the messengers thereof no
lesse for the death of Commodus then for the election of Pertinax As hée had béene in so long time in so many prouinces Pretor Censor Quirite Edil Consul Proconsul and Censor Pertinax was one of the most famous Romanes in the Empire whereof succéeded that after the Barbarians were aduertised that Pertinax was Emperour of Rome such as were rebelles left their armour and such as had taken truce made peace Pertinax had a sonne whome the Romanes would haue created Augustus to the end hée should succéede him after his dayes in the Empire which he could neuer like off or consent vnto saying The Gods neuer graunt that with the hope of the Empire my sonne should be nourished vnto vice and idlenesse Commodus had laide intollerable impostes and tributes vpon his people which Pertinax commaunded to be made frustrate affirming that of the will of princes in charging their kingdomes with vniust tributes there succedeth a wilful denial of due and most iust paiments False witnesses hee commaunded to be punished according vnto the lawe named Pena del talion that is to say they should be executed by Iustice wherein they had accused others by malice Hée ordeyned that the testament which had béen made by the husband wise ioyntly might not be altered by the suruiuer Also he did ordeyne that any man dying intestate should not forfett his landes or goods vnto the fiscall but that his sonne or most néere kinsman should inherite the same saying there were no reason or iust lawe where the dead for want of speach should loose his goods The Senators on a day said vnto Pertinax how the Questors of the treasurie and the officers of the fiscal had murmured at him for the law that he made in the fauour for the dead intestate vnto whom hee aunsweared Fathers conscript I may safely say there are not so many that complaine of this lawe as there be that praise and alowe it but I recke not whether the one doth praise or the other mislike but in my iudgement it is no worke of Romanes but the inuētion of tyrants of robberies briberies rapines to fill the treasurie with riches He made a lawe that no fiscall should sue anye person for landes or goodes that were doubtfull saying that the fiscall ought to remoue nothing that clearely were not his owne and that in case of doubt more sure and more conformable vnto iustice were it to remaine with him that doth possesse it thā with the fiscall that doth demaunde it He commaunded all things vniustly taken by his predecessour Commodus to be restoared vnto the owners When the Secretarie came to firme this lawe to be proclaimed and Pertinax reading the same wherein it was said Wee commaunde that all thinges which our predecessour Commodus hath robbed which word robbed he blotted out with his pen and enterlined this woord gotten saying it is sufficient that the lawe be in the fauour of the liuing without iniuring with foule woordes Princes that be dead All that which was knowen manifestly to be Commodus debt he commaunded to be payed and all which he had promised to be giuen and besides all this the wheat oyle and other things which particularly were vsed to be giuen and diuided amongest the people of Rome he caused with great diligence to be brought from all kingdomes and in great abundance and liberalitie commaunded it to be bestowed Many vniust tributs being takē away by Pertinax there succéeded a great necessitie for the paiment and reliefe of the armie of Africa whereby he was constreyned to exact new impositions of his common wealth whereuppon the Consul Gelianus toke occasion to say that he had done contrary to that which he had begon in the Empire against that which he had said in the Senat Pertinax aunswering said When I was Consul as thou art I did meruaile at the déedes of princes and now that I am an Emperour I meruaile of that which you Consuls do speake thus much Gelianus I say to this end because thou shalt vnderstand that Emperours at times make lawes as they ought and at other times not as they would but as they may CHAP. VII ¶ Of many thinges which he did ordeine and reforme in the common wealth THere was in Rome and in the confines of Italie much roughe ground for corne which being barren for want of manuring Pertinax commaunded proclamation to bée made that if any man would grub manure or till the same hée should fréely for tenne yeares take the profite thereof Before Pertinax vsed this diligence in Italie frō Aegypt Spaine and Sicyl they brought wheat to furnish the same for which cause Traiane did vse to say that Rome was more tributarie then any place of the world for that they could not eate but if it were giuen them from other kingdomes There were many particular thinges said to be the Emperours namely hills heards gardēs riuers palaces and houses which hée commaunded to be altered naming them hils gardens and riuers not of the Emperour but of the common wealth for hée affirmed that on that day in which any whatsoeuer was made Emperour hée might haue nothing proper vnto himselfe and said further that if this name Prince be well vnderstoode it giueth no other dignitie to the person that vseth the same but to make him defender of the territories of the countrie and procurer of the common wealthe In the dayes of his predecessours they had attempted new impositions that is to say in ports of the sea at the ports of cities for passage of high wayes of barkes vppon riuers and for baking in ouens al which were to the great detriment of the common wealth and the auncient libertie of Rome the collection whereof Pertinax from thence forth commaunded to ceasse Being demaunded of the Consul Tortelius why he made frustrat lawes so profitable aunsweared because without comparison much more are the displeasures which they giue me then the money which they bring me and as mée séemeth we may not saye that that money is verie cleanely that comes imbrewed with displeasures He commaunded that in criminall causes offendours should be verie well hearde and if in case any should dye fourtie dayes to be expired before he should suffer It was a matter verye monstruous and scandalous that was consumed in expences in the dayes of Commodus wherein Pertinax in suche wise prouided that they murmured no lesse against him for his frugalitie then against Commodus for his prodigalitie They muche blame Pertinax who set before his guestes whiche did eate at his table halfe pigges and halfe géese and many times sent two soppes betwixt two plates for a present and sometime the legge of a Phesant at other times the wing of a capon and reserued also in the morning somewhat to be eaten at night Princes ought verie muche to consider and also to auoyde not to be noted miserable at their table for it is verie small that in such trifles may be saued and verie much that they