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land_n	find_v	great_a	king_n	3,579	5	3.5272	3	true

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

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

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

a thing admirable how the mother without meate so long time might haue milke to nourishe her childe In reedifying of other houses they found a dead woman and a liue childe sucking the brest At the time of the earthquake in Antioch the mountaine Caucasus did so open and tremble that all the cities adioyning doubted to be ouerwhelmed with the fal therof Running riuers of immortall memorie became drye Springs neuer séene or heard of did flow remaine and olde fountaines for euermore dried vp many hilles made plaine and many vallies made euen Finally there was no house in Antioche or within the compasse of the territories therof that was not totally destroyed or changed after a maner into some other order or fashion CHAP. XVIII ¶ Howe Traiane subdued Assyria and what he did in Babylon NOwe when Summer was come Traiane prepared to departe the confines of Antioche towardes the iourney of Assyria to conquer that countrie if that by peace they did not yeald the same and being arriued at the great riuer Euphrates he found the ships burnt all the bridges broken and all the Barbarians in armes with a minde to dye or to defend their countries The Barbarians vnderstanding of Traians approche made an vtter spoile of all their woods to remoue all meanes of renuing their nauie or to reedifie bridges Traiane had intelligence that farre from thence certeine shippes vppon the hill Nisibin were a making whiche presently he sent for and brought in cartes and in very shorte space a flote vppon Euphrates rigged and armed The riuer Euphrates being passed Traiane founde another riuer named Pessin ioyning vnto the hill Cardius which also was of great strength and almost impassable but Traiane brake vp his shippes and once more by land did carrie the same vnto that riuer wherin he fought with the Barbarians that defended their bankes And as they after reported vtterly determined rather to dye then to submitt themselues to subiection But that they conceiued Traiane to be no mortall man which would fight against them but some of the immortall Gods that came to destroye them moued thereunto in beholding Traians readie carriage for shippes by lande as they had by Sea. That countrie was named the prouince of Adiabena which being all ouerrunne brought vnder subiection he passed vnto Arbela and vnto Anguaguemela two most opulent prouinces in whose fieldes in the olde worldes past the greate king Darius was ouercome of Alexander Magnus Traiane spent all that Summer in conquering those prouinces whiche although they differ in names yet differ not in seignorie because they be alwayes annexed vnto the kingdome Assyria whiche the Barbarians changing the S. into T. do call the same Attyria And nowe when Summer began to decline Traiane determined to winter at Babylon in all which way he neither found enimies that did resist him either friends to accompany him because those desertes be so solitarie and drye that hardly bruite beastes be found in the same Before Traiane did enter Babylon he would first personally sée the lake of Bytamin the water whereof hath this propertie that bricke tile sande lime or chalke that is tempered therewith maketh a cyment thereof so harde and strong that yeldeth not vnto stone or yron With this water the tiles and brickes were made and all other mater tempered that did erect all the walles of Babylon Also Traiane went to sée the caue where the water came soaking foorth whereout procéeded a stench so pestilential that kilde all cattel that came neare thereunto and all birdes that did flye ouer the same Men that passe that waye dare not venter the viewe thereof muche lesse to approch the smell except the Eunuches that be gelded which feare not to beholde neither are indaungered by the sauour Traiane might not be satisfied with the view and contemplation of Babylon muche delighting to viewe the infinite antiquities therein conteined and had thereof great compassion and also saide it many times howe many and howe renowned Princes had consumed there their treasure and imployed the chiefest parte of their life to perpetuate their fame which were nowe forgotten and their stately buyldings vtterly ruinated and falne downe Traiane attempted a certeine woorke within that lande which did not onely excell all that he had done in Rome Italic Sicyl Datia and Spaine but also all that Ninus Belus Semyramis and Alexander had made in Babylon Traiane was of so high thoughtes and so singular in his conceites which he attempted and in his buyldings which he erected he was not satisfied that others should thinke him equall with Princes past but iudge and confesse him to be singular amongest the rest The case was thus he opened the mother of the riuer Tygris and of the riuer Euphrates made from the one to the other a great a déepe chanell to vnite them both into one streame a thing for the present easie to be written but at that time verie terrible to beholde because the chanell that Traiane caused to be made from the one riuer to the other was so high so large and so déepe that verie greate shippes might turne saile and ride at anchor Vppon that chanell Traiane did builde a moste stately and a right loftie bridge a strong castell a riche and sumptuous palace and certeine gardeines and orchardes most pleasant and on either side the riuer he built faire houses to dwell in and store houses for merchaunts and to place there his perpetuall memorie did name the same Traianicall Babylon This buylding endured not long and the cause thereof procéeded that the riuer Euphrates had his channell more high then the riuer Tygris whereby Tygris did increase and Euphrates diminish and the Babylonians doubted the one for want of water to be lost and the other with the furie of the water to be destroyed From Babylon Traiane departed to the citie Tesiphont being the head of that prouince which although some dayes it stoode in defence of it selfe in the ende it came to be yealded and there it is said that Traiane found so greate summes of money that he had sufficient to pay his armies to raise vp newe buyldings and also to furnishe his treasurie Greate were the newes that daily came to the Senate of the marueilous victories which Traiane obteined throughout the worlde and howe beyond all Princes past he had augmented the Empire of Rome The inhabitants of Tesiphont were ignorant to sacrifice vnto the Gods or to obserue feastes and holy dayes whereupon Traiane commaunded to erect a temple vnto the greate God Iupiter and gaue them instruction what feastes they shoulde obserue and howe they should sacrifice vnto their Gods. CHAP. XIX ¶ Howe Traiane after great trauaile to passe into the Indiaes was constreined to retire ALl these countries being ouercome and sett in order Traiane determined to saile by the read Sea which is very great and runneth from the Ocean of the Indiaes vnto Arabia and is otherwise named the Sea Eritrean in

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

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

Emperour go to Sea. CHAP. IX Of an horrible crueltie that Bassianus committed in Alexandria AFter that Bassianus had séene the greate Ilion and the moste parte of Asia and Bithynia he came vnto the citie of Antioche wher he was receiued with great ceremonie and all the time that he remained there no lesse feasted From Antioche he tooke his way into Alexandrie with greate desire to sée that famous citie which the greate Alexander had builte whereof the citizens beeing aduertised they made moste solemne costly preparation wherewith to receiue him which neuer had beene done to anie prince either Greeke or Romaine chiefly moued there vnto because it was saide that he was a friende vnto Alexander Manie leagues before Bassianus came vnto the citie they repaired the bridges amended the high wayes furnished all places with victuales made manie summer houses with boughes and scattered all the wayes with flowers and further all his traine did take all thinges at their owne pleasure without paymente of anie money But when he arriued in the citie generally the Alexandrines came foorth to receiue him in moste gorgeous apparell accompanied with instruments and manie kindes of musick Presently at his entrie into Alexandrie he went on foote vnto the temples where he offered verie greate sacrifices and burned therein great quantities of incense myrrhe aloes and suche other fumes This beeing done hee went to visite the sepulchre of the greate Alexander where he vsed an imperiall magnificence that is to wéete he put off a most rich robe wherewith he was clad he tooke from his cappe a brooch of greate price a curious collar from his necke from his breste a stone of value inestimable and from his fingers all his rings knéeling vpon the ground did offer the same vpon the sepulchre of the greate Alexander Incredible was the ioy that the Alexandrines conceiued to behold a liuing prince of Rome to haue a Greeke prince which was deade in so greate veneration in respect whereof they loued him with all their hartes and serued him with all their power All whiche thinges Bassianus performed not of intente to honour Alexander or to pleasure the Alexandrines but with more certintie to assure him selfe of them all and afterwardes ioyntlie to kill them all Manie dayes had past since Bassianus had borne greate hatred vnto the Alexandrines and the occasion of his vnkindnesse was because it was saide that they scorned him with words and also derided him in enterludes saying it was a scoffing matter for him to make cōparison with Alexander to name himselfe Achilles and to imitate Hercules Also Bassianus vnderstoode howe they had muche despised him for the death of his brother Geta laide their toungs vpon his owne mother notinge her vnchastitie which iniuries hee wanted not skill to dissemble manie dayes after to reuenge the same at an instant The case was thus the feasts beeing finished he commanded proclamation to be made that al the lustie young men either straungers or natiues of the countrie shoulde muster in a fielde to the ende he would see viewe and also arme them after the olde manner saying that frō thence foorth his will was that al his men of warre should fight not after the order of the Romanes but according to the fashion of the Greekes Greate glorie and also vaine glorie possessed the Alexandrines when they hearde these proclamations and he that might soonest came first into the fielde conceiuing that such as were the wordes of the crier such should be the workes of the Emperour All the youth of Alexandria remaining in the fielde Bassianus with all his armie in armour issued forth to beholde them and he commaunded to bring them selues into a square to the end that one by one shoulde passe before him of whome he woulde take his choyce and presently after giue them armour Nowe when the miserable Alexandrines stoode all as sheepe together vnarmed Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his soldiours to giue the charge as vpon enimies who in their slaughter made so great haste that within an houre those fieldes were all couered not with flowers but with dead bodies Greate was the hurte that Bassianus committed that day vpon the Alexandrines for that he lefte the widowes without sonnes graundfathers without nephues vnckles without cousines brethren without brethren and neighbours without friends in such wise that none remained that was not slaine or else tormented with the death of others The place where Bassianus committed this greate treason and so inhumaine crueltie was in a broade plaine fielde neare vnto the greate riuer Nilus and the number was so greate of them which were slaine that the bloude by streames ranne through those fieldes and stayned and died that riuer Nilus in such extreme manner that that so stately a riuer semed not to runne with water but with bloude The Alexandrines may not be excused of their faulte in speaking euill of Bassianus defameing his mother representing his vile factes in enterludes Admitting that of euil we can speake but euill yet princes enter not into this reckoning whose workes we haue licence to iudge onely in our hartes but not with the toung to blaspheme and despise them And albeit the offence of the Alexandrines was verie great yea though it had béene much greater yet without comparison muche more vehement was the crueltie that Bassianus did execute on them which if he had bene as he ought to haue bene the contrarie he would haue perfourmed for In the houses of heroycall and excellent princes chastisement is giuen by ounces and clemencie without measure CHAP. X. Of a letter which Bassianus did write vnto the kinge of Parthians to haue his daughter in marriage IT séemed vnto Bassianus that to robbe temples to sacke townes to subuert walles and to kill the whole neighbourhood of Alexandrie was but a smal matter in respect of his vile and cruell conditions wherwith he was inclined and to this ende he determined to attempt so rare and odious a treason that all men which should heare or reade therof might counte his crueltie past but a trifle Euen as amongst such as be vertuous one vertue awaketh another vertue so amongst the wicked one euill or mischiefe draweth with it another mischiefe in such wise that there are some persons so vowed vnto euill and mischiefe that without delaie fall into the profunditie of all manner of vice and mischiefe The case was thus that Bassianus séeing himselfe in the Easte partes had a desire to make a conquest of the Parthians and for that he durste not make them warre openly he remembred to deuise a treason for them in secreate So much more vile was the facte as small was the occasion which moued him to commit the same for at that present the Parthians with the Romanes the Romanes with the Parthians were in greate friendship and confederacie Without aduice of parentes friends or counselers Bassianus sente a greate Ambassage vnto Arthabanus king of Parthia sending