OF WHAT LYNAGE THE EMPEROVR ALEXANDER was , and the sygnes betokenynge his Empyre . Capi . i .

AVRELIVS ALEXANder sommetyme Emperour of Rome , was borne in the royalme of Siria , in the Cytie of Arcene , whose father had to name Uarius , whiche was lyneally descended from the noble hous of Metellus the Romayne , called Metellus the vertuouse . Albeit some writers suppose , that Seuerus , before he was emperour , was amorous of a woman in Siria , and by the arte of Astronomie fyndynge in her natiuitie , that she shuld be an emperours mother , he toke her to wyfe , and had issue by her , Uarius the father of Alexander : but fynally the progeny of this Emperour is very vncertayn : wherfore in myne opinion his lyfe and actes be the more to be honored and meruayled at , consyderynge that beinge come of soo vncertayne a lynage , and borne so ferre from the citie of Rome , and in so barbarous a countrey , he could so well gouerne the empire of Rome , whiche before his tyme was with pryde and other detestable vyces extremely corrupted .

¶ The mother of Alexander was called Mammea , a woman of notable wysedome , as it shall hereafter appere by the bryngynge vp of her sonne , and preseruynge of hym as well from the vyces , whervnto he was not onely prouoked , but also wel nygh constrayned , by that moste beastely emperour Uarius Heliogabalus , his cousyn germayne and predecessour , not withstandyng there was in that noble woman Mammea , a great spyce of auaryce in gatherynge and kepynge of treasure , whiche fynally was the only cause of the deathe bothe of her and her sonne . The sayde Mammea was doughter of a woman called Mesa , which was borne in Phenicia , in a towne called Emesa , and was syster of Iulia , wife of the emperour Seuerus . This Mesa lyuing , Seuerus and Bassianus his sonne , was contynually abydynge in the courtes of those emperours : and after the deceasse of Bassia●us , she was commanded by Macrinus than emperour , to departe to her countrey , albeit the emperour graunted that she shulde take with her suche tresure , as she had gathered , which was abundant . She had also two doughters , the one called Semiamira , the other Mammea . Semiamira had a sonne named Bassianus , which was of excellent beaultie . And bicause he was prelate in the temple of the sunne , whome the Phenices do calle Heliogabalus , he was semblablye called by that name , hauyng added thereto the name of Uarius , whiche is in englishe diuers , forasmoche as some men suppose , that he was conceyued of the sede of dyuers men , his mother Semiamira beynge incontinent , and as it were commune to many men , durynge the tyme that she abode in the emperours court with her mother . Not withstanding her sonne Heliogabalus , by the crafty meanes of his grandame Mesa , was declared to be the sonne of the emperour Bassianus , and by the fauour of the men of warre of the Romayns , who than murmured and had in hatrede the pryde and crueltie of Macrinus ( who was emperour after Bassianus ) and his sonne Diadumenus , the sayde Uarius Heliogabalus was aduanced vnto the empire , who with voluptuous and monstruous lyuyng , in such wise corrupted the citie of Rome , that therein vnneth remayned any steppe of vertue or honestye .

¶ Contrary wyse the other daughter of Mesa called Mammea , of whom I intende nowe to write , induced rather by nature and reason , than by the example of her viciouse mother , so nourished and trayned her sayd sonne Alexander in vertue & lernyng , that partly by her education , but moche more by his owne inclination naturall , he became one of the most perfecte princis that euer gouerned .

¶ The education of Alexander , and howe he profyted in vertue and doctryne . Capit . ii .

TOVCHYNGE THE EDVCATION in chyldhode of Alexander , his noble mother Mammea failed not to prouide with all diligence and circumspection , that hir son mought be nouryshed in vertue , and amonge honest company , and that fro the tyme that he issued out of his infancy , he were contynually instructed in all maner of doctrine , both ciuile and marciall : so that afterwarde he of his owne courage neuer suffred any daye to passe , without exercysyng him selfe eyther in letters , or in faictis marciall . In the fyrste parte of his chyldehode he hadde instructours . Ualerius Cordius , Titus Ueturius , and Aurelius Philippus : whiche afterwarde wrate his lyfe . Also in his countrey he was taught in greke by Nebo the grammarian , and the rhetorician Serapio , and Stilio the philosopher . At Rome he had teachers in the latine tounge , fyrste in grammer Scaurinus a famous master , in rhetorike he was instructed by Iulius Frontinus , Bebius Macrinus , & Iulianus Gramanus . Al be it he dyd not soo moche delyte in latine eloquence , as in the greke , ne dyd therin profyte soo moch : but he loued all men that were lerned , and fea●ed them also , lest they shulde wryte of hym any thing sharpely , or to his rebuke .

¶ Moreouer he sent often tymes for those excellente personages , communicatynge with theym thynges whiche were done as well priuily as also openly : willynge them , that all that they founde to be true , they shulde put it in wrytynge : suffrynge also them to rep●oue hym whan they seemed conuenyent . Often tymes he made verses in greke very pleasant , and was moch inclyned to musike . In the mathematical scien●es , that is to say , Arithmetike , Geometry , and Astronomy , he was very well lerned . And therfore dyuerse tymes by his commandment , the professours of those sciences purposed openly questions . In diuination he was so excellent , that he therin surmounted the diuynours of Gascoyne , Spayne , and Hungry . He pain●ed also excellently . Also he dyd synge very pleasantly , but neuer in the presence of any other , but onely of his seruauntes and pages of his priuy chaumber . He wrate the lyues of good princes in verses eloquently , and sange them vnto the harpe and organes , ryghte swetely , but that dyd he onely for recreatynge his spicites , whan they were troubled with vehement study : as it often tymes hapned by incomparable laboure about the great affayres of the weale publyke . He was of visage fayre , and well proporcioned in body : large and goodly of personage , and therwith was stronge and durable to susteyne peynes , as he that knewe his owne strength , and in the preseruyng therof was not founde negligente . Therto he was amiable , and towarde euery man gentyl , and easy to be spoken vnto . Also there was in hym so moche humanitie and beneuolence , that he wolde often tymes vysite not onelye the beste and the seconde of his frendes and seruauntes beinge sicke , but also them that were inferiours and of base hauyour , desyryng them to tell to him frely what they thought of hym , whom he wolde attentifely here . And whan he had herde them throughly , than as the thyng , which was spoken of , did require , he wold diligently amende and correcte it . And whan his mother wolde saye often tymes to hym , Sir ye be to familiar and easye , and therfore ye shall cause the imperiall astate to be the lasse sette by , he aunswered thus , But yet shall it be more sure , and contynue the longer . This was his disposition , procedyng as wel of the perfection of his moste gentylle nature , as of the education of his good and circumspect mother .

¶ Nowe wil I procede to write of his excellent wisedome and vertue , experienced in his authoritie imperiall , wherin was declared the moste perfect forme of gouernance that euer was practised by any prynce ( as I suppose ) whiche shall appere the more manifestly , yf fyrst I treate somewhat of the moste myserable astate of the weale publyke , and as it semed incorrigible , at the tyme that he receyued the gouernance therof , he than beinge but of the age of .xvi. yeres , whiche being consydered and kepte in remembrance , this history shall be to the reders therof ( excepte I be deceyued ) bothe plesant and meruaylous , and no lasse profytable to gouernours that do preferre their publyke weale before wilful appetite and particular plesures .

¶ Of the monstruous lyuyng of the emperour Varius He●ioga●a●●● , wherby the cytie of Rome was corrupted . Ca . iii .

MACRINVS the emperour for his auarice and tyrannye beinge abandoned ( or rather betrayed ) of his owne people , and slaine with his sonne Diadumenus , who in beaultie and goodly stature excelled al men of his tyme , Uarius Heliogabalus , of whom I late spake , was aduaunced vnto the empire , by the hole consent of the Senate and people of Rome , who gaue hasty credence to all reportes that were made to the honour and praise of their newe princis . ( Such is the appetites of men , which be meued anon with credulitie : for suche thynges as they desyre , they coucyte to here of , and do delite in new tydinges , though it be falsely reported . ) But Heliogabalus as soone as he was come vnto Rome , out of the countrey of Siria , he immediately declared his beastely nature , by insuynge vices moste abhomynable , and aduauncyng the fauourers and haunters of the same vices , and inforcynge with all his study and puissance , to exterminate out of the citie of Rome all vertue and honestie , from whens a lyttell before , all the world receyued doctrine and example of honour , concernynge as well vertuous maners , as marciall prowesse .

¶ Fyrste in lechery this Heliogabalus was so insaciable , that not onely he exercysed that vyce openly , in common baynes and bordell houses , with sundry women of diuerse degrees and countreys : but also he ordeyned a senate of common harlattes , amonge whom were dyuerse noble matrones and damsels of Rome , theyr husbandes or parentes not beinge so hardye to let or rebuke them , vnto whom often tymes , after he and his ribauldes had saciate with them theyr lecherous appetites , he made a solemne contion or proposition , callynge them his companions , and exhortynge them to set al theyr study and wytte to induce al other women vnto the fourme of theyr lyuynge : declaring expressely , that he aboue all other thynges moste desired , that all men and womenne of the citie of Rome shuld be semblably disposed as he was . I holde it not conuenient to be wrytten in any vulgare tunge , howe he transformed and abused his proper kynde , in such wyse , as I suppose the mooste vicious man nowe lyuynge wolde be ashamed , not onely to beholde it , but also to here it , and that dyd he not onely secretely or in his house , but also openly , all men that wolde , beholdyng and lokinge on hym . I omitte the residue , whiche in myne opynion oughte neuer to haue ben wrytten for abomination therof , moch more neuer to haue ben of any man knowen .

¶ He also promoted to the greattest dignities of the publyke weale , common bawdes , notable ribauldes , solicitours and furtherers of dishonest appetites , often tymes cokes and deuisats of lecherous confections and sawces : Semblably by such persons he sold dignities , auctorites and offices in the publike weale . He also elected into the Senate , and to the roumes of great capitaynes , dukes , and gouernoures of countreys moste vyle personages , not hauynge regard to any age , gentylnesse of bloud , meryte , possessions or substaunce . He had of his priuye counsayle in all his actes , two Carters , the one named Protogenes● and the other Cordius . His glotonye was almoste equall vnto his lechery : in so moch as he therin vanquished Uitellius , of whom it is written , that at one supper he was serued with seuen thousande fysshes , and fyue thousande foules . Heliogabalus whan he soiourned nygh to the see , he wold neuer be seruid with sea fishe : but beinge in places far distante from the sea , he caused all his houshold to be serued with mooste delycate sea fyshe . It abhorreth me to expresse his beastely lyuynge , but to the intent that the excellent vertues of his moste noble successour shal be more apparant and commendable ( lyke as al thyng that is vile or course , doth set forthe more pleasantly that thynge whiche is precious and fyne ) it is requisite that I describe this monster in some parte as he was . All be it I doo not 〈◇〉 euery thynge that I haue redde of hym , as well for that it shall be to good men odious to here , as also it mought happen to incend the wanton and lewde co●rages of some readers , inclined to semblable qualities , whiche ( god knoweth ) is moche contrary vnto my purpose .

¶ But to retourne to this monstruous Emperour , whiche consumed dayes and nyghtes in lecherye and glotony , hauynge some daye all his company serued with the braynes Ostriches , and a straunge foule called Phenocopteri : an other daye with the tunges of Popingayes , nightyngales , and other sweete syngyng byrdes , oftentymes with the myltes of most delycate fyshes . I omytte other lyght fantasyes , wherof I haue written in my boke called the gouernour , where I treate of sobrietie . Fynally it is remembred , that he was neuer two days togyther serued with one meate , nor ware twyse one garmente , nor companyed twyse with one woman , excepte his wyse . As often as he remoued in progresse , there folowed hym .vi. C. chariottes laded only with bandes , common harlottes , and rybauldes . This companye had he in stede of counsaylours , and so delyted in this forme of lyuyng , that he sayd oftentymes , that if he had a sonne , he wolde ordeyne for hym maisters , that shulde compell hym to lyue in semblable facion . To these monstruous vices he added to crueltie , in puttyng to deathe dyuerse noble senatours . Also vsynge the counsayle of wytches and inchanters , he made his sacrifice with yong children : And violently rauyshynge from the noble men and women of Italy , their yonge infantes , he caused in his presence their bodies to be opened they lyuyng , and most cruelly serched in their tender bowelles for his moste damnable desteny . He had in speciall fauor one named Zoticus , who for familarite vsed betwene them , was taken of all the chiefe officers for the emperours husbande . This Zoticus vnder the colour of the sayd familiaritie , solde all the sayinges and doinges of the emperour , intendyng to accumulate abundance of rychesse , by promisynge fayre to many men , but fynally deceyuynge all men . for commynge out of the emperours priuy chamber , after that he had herd euery man speake , that suyd vnto him , to som he wold say , thus sayd I to themperour of you , vnto an other Of you I herde the emperour saye thus to daye . To dyuers he wold say , Your matter or request shal come this to passe . As is the facion of suche maner of persones , whiche beinge from a base condicion admitted of princis into ouermoche familiaritie , they selle the fame and renome of their masters . Such as I haue rehersed were the counsaylours of Heliogabalus . for al wyse and vertuous men he deedly hated . Wherfore he banished the noble man Sabinus , vnto whom Ulp●anus the great lawyer wrate his bookes . And semb●ably he put out of the citie the sayde Ulpian , onely bycause he was named a good manne , and caused Siluinus the noble oratour , whom he had made master to Alexander , to be put to dethe . And he ordeyned a tumbler to be great maister of his housholde , a carter named Gordius he made capitayne of his garde . An other tumbler he made chefe captayn of an army . The greattest rouines and affaires of the empyre , he commytted to mynstrels , players of enterludes and dysardes . To his bondmen and most vyle seruantes as they excelled in abhomination , so preferred he them to the gouernance of realmes and prouinces . Also of his rabell of brothelles , to some he gaue the rule and gouernance of the youth of the citie : som he made rulers of the senate , to other he gaue preeminence and souerayntie ouer al them that were gentilmen , finally he intended to distroy all vertue , and to constrayne all men to lyue beastely as he dyd . And for that cause he commanded that the noble Alexander his auntes sonne shulde be slayne , either violently or by some poyson : forasmoche as he perceyued hym to declyne from his appetite : but Alexander was alwaye preserued by the prouidence of god , who inclyned the mindes of the senate & people to his preseruation . for nothing auaileth the malice of tyrantes agaynst innocentis & good men , wher almyghty god wyl not haue thē to perysh . Wherfore this monstruous emperour , desyryng the destruction of Alexander , procured his owne deth , agreable with his abhomi●able lyuing . for his owne seruantes and souldiours , whiche were prepared for the garde of his person , dreadynge leste the people makyng insurrection , that they shuld be parteners of his mischeuous ende , being also tedious of his abhominations , conspired to delyuer the common weale of hym . And sodaynly apprehended his adherentes and familiars , and with sundry tormentes dyd put them to dethe . Finally pursuyng Heliogabalus to a priuie or draught , wherevnto he fledde , there they slewe hym , and his mother Semiamira , and afterwarde his horrible carayn being drawen throughout the citie with hookes , was of all the people defyled with ordure , and other matter foule and stynkyng , & at the last was brought with all kyndes of reproche , to the common draughtes of the citie , wherinto they wolde haue throwen hym , but for as moch as the hole of the draught coulde not receyue hym , they tyed him to a stone of great weight , and threwe hym into the ryuer of Tyber , to the intent that he shulde neuer be buryed . This was the worthy and conuenient ende of this most beastly and vnclene monster , who with the emperors Nero , Caligula , Domitian , and Commodus , his predecessours , was a notable and commodius example to all princis succedynge , to declare , that not withstandynge their maiestie and puissance , they for their vices abhominable , were fyrste hated , and afterwarde slayne , and dishonoured by their propre subiectes .

¶ And in this hystorie it is to be specially noted , that not withstandynge that he not onely permytted , but also wylled his subiectes to lyue in a licence , and with out correction , for synne , moreouer vsed toward them suche lyberalitie , that he fedde them with moste delycate and exquisite meates , gaue vnto theym money in habundance , and also to them , whiche dyned or supped with hym , he gaue all the vessel and plate , were it of golde or syluer , wherwith he was serued , and made many other distributions to the hole people wonderfull sumptuous : Yet the Romayns not withstanding abhorrynge in hym their owne propre vices , or rather beyng therwith saciate or tedious , they fynally slewe hym , as is before written , after that he hadde reygned syx yeres , & being than but in the .xxi. yere of his age .

¶ ●●we Alexander was made emperoure , and of his wonderfull tem●●●ance in ●e●●●●ynge diuerse great honour● . Cap. iiii .

IMMEDIATELY after the death of Heliogabalus the senate and people of Rome beinge surprised with incredibie ioye , vsed all diligence and spede , that Aurelius Alexander , whom they had defended frome death , mought forthwith as very emperour receyue all auctoritie and honour , that parteyned to the imperyall maiestie . Wherfore they contended amonge them selues , whiche of them moughte applye to hym moste titles and names of dignitie . wherfore he was the fyrste that receyued at one tyme all ornamentes and tokens of honour , aydynge therto the name of Cesar , which a fewe yeres before he had receyued , but moche rather his honeste lyfe and vertuous maners , wherby he obteyned suche fauour of all menne , that whan Heliogabalus wold haue slayne hym , he could not brynge it to passe , the men of armes resisting , and the senate obstynatelye refusynge : but all these were but trifels in regarde that he approued him selfe worthy , whom the senate ought to saue harmelesse , whom the men of warre desyred to be in saufegarde , and generally by the sentence and opinion of all good men , was electe to be Emperour , beynge than but of the age of .xvi. yeres . Notwithstandynge he was than of suche a wonderfull sobernesse , that where the senate wolde haue gyuen to hym the surname of Antonine ( which name for the incomparable vertues that were in Antoninus Pius , and Antoninus the philosopher late Emperours , was vsurped of other Emperours folowynge , for a pryncipall title of honour ) he humbly refused it : semblably dyd he the name of great Alexander , sayinge openly vnto the senate .

¶ I beseche you honorable fathers , do not cal me vnto this necessitie , that I shuld be compelled to satisfy you in the merites of so hygh a name as Antonine is . For if ye seke for goodnesse in a prynce , who was better or more vertuouse than Antoninus Pius ? If ye seke lernynge , who was more wyse or cunnynge than Marcus Antoninus ? And who was more harmelesse than Uerus Antoninus ? Noble fathers , these hyghe names of honour be bourdonous and to greuouse for my youthe to susteyne . For who wyll gladdely here a dumme man called Tully , an idiote Uarro , a tyrant Metellus ? And as touchynge the name of greate Alexander , it is moche more incongruent , consydering that with better reason I moughte haue taken the name of Antonine , induced by colour either of affinytie , or els of equall astate in the imperial maiestie . but the name of great Alexander , wherfore shuld I haue it ? What gret thinges haue I yet done to deserue that name , whiche Alexander the greke after great enterprises , Pompei the Romayne after many triumphes , had gyuen vnto them ? Cease therfore honorable fathers , to conferre to me honours aboue my merytes . and sens ye wyll haue me called great , suffre me to be one of you , who in very dede be great in honour and perfyte magnificence .

¶ This moderate and sobre aunswere of so yonge a prynce , inflamed immediately the hartes of the senate and people moche more to honour hym , than if he had receyued those straunge names : and from that tyme he had the renoume of Constance and grauitie . More ouer for his great Austeritie agayne the presumption and lightnesse of his souldiours and seruauntes , he was named of them Seuerus , which betokeneth constante or sharpe in punishemente . whiche name in his tyme gat hym moche reuerence , and afterward great fame and renoume amonge his successours . Fynally this moste towardly prynce with incredible ioye was triumphantly conuayed by all the Senate and people , to the imperial palaice : where beinge left , he prepared hym selfe to the reformation of the hole empire , than beinge in ruine .