The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of those that are both cruell and disloyall.
NOw if it be a thing so unworthy and evill beseeming a Prince, as nothing more, to be stayned with the note of cruelty, how much more dishonourable is it, when with cruelty, disloyalty and falshood is coupled? and when he is not ashamed not onelyonly to play the Tyran, but also the traitour, dissembler, and hypocrite; to the end hee may more freely poure out the …ome of his rage against those that put confidence in him. This is one of the foulest and vilest blots that can be, wherewith the honour and reputation of a man is not onelyonly stayned, but blasted and blotted out, not ever to be recovered: for what perswasion can one have of such? Or who is so fond as to put affiance in them?
This was one of the notorious vices of King Saul, when maligning the prosperity of David, he cunningly promoted him to be Generall of his Army, and married him to one of his daughters, to this end, that by exposing 2 Sam. 18.him to the hazards & perils of warre, he might bring him to speedy destruction; seeking besides other unlawfull means to put him to death by▪ but what was the end of this unjust murderer, we have declared in the former Chapter.
But above all that by treason and deceit made way unto their cruelty, the Emperour Antonius, surnamed Caracalla, was the chiefe▪ who to revenge Herodian.himselfe more at full upon the Citizens of Alexandria in Aegypt, feyned as if he would come see their City, built by Alexander, and receive an Oracle from their god: Which when he approached neere unto, the Alexandrians prepared to entertain him most honourably: and being entred, he went first to visite their Temples where to cast more colours upon his treachery, hee offered many sacrifices, & in the mean while perceiving the people gathered together from all quarters to bid him welcome, finding opportunity fitting his wicked and traiterous enterprise, he gave commandement, that all the young men of the Citie should assemble together at one place; saying, That hee would acquaint them to range themselves in battell after the manner of the Macedonians, in honour of King Alexander. But whilest they thus assembled together in mirth and bravery, hee making as though he would bring them in array by going up and down amongst them, and holding them in talke, his army enclosed them on all sides: then with drawing himselfe with Kis guard, he gave the watch-word, that they should rush upon them; which was performed with such outrage, that the poor credulous people being surprised at unawares, were all most cruelly massacred. There might you see the most horrible, barbarous, and incredible butchery of men that ever was heard of: for besides those that were actors in this bloody tragedy, there were others that drew the slaine bodies into great ditches, and very often haled in them that were scarce dead, yea and sometimes that were altogether alive; which was the cause that divers souldiers perished at the same time, when those that having some strength of life left, being haled to the ditch, held so fast by the halers, that divers times both fell in together. The bloud that was shed at this massacre was so much, that the mouth of the River Nilus, and the sea shore were died with the streams thereof, that ran downe by smaller Rivers into those plain places. Furthermore, being desirous to obtain a victory over the Parthians, that he might get himselfe fame and reputation thereby, he passed not at what rate he bought it: he sent therefore Embassadours with Letters and Presents to the King of Parthia, to demand his daughter in marriage, though he never intended any such thing, and being nonsuted at the first with a deniall, yet pursued he his counterfeit purpose with much earnestnes, and with solemne Oath protested his singular good affection and love that he bore unto her; so that in the end the match was condescended unto by all parties, whereof the Parthian people were not a little glad, in hope of so durable a peace, which by this marriage was like to be established betwixt them. The King therefore with all his subjects being ready to entertain this new Bridegroom, went out with one consent to meet him in the mid-way: their encounter was in a fair plain, where the Parthians having sent backe their horses, being unarmed, and prepared, not for a day of battle, but of marriage and disport, gave him the most honourable welcome they could: but the wicked varlet finding opportunity so fit, set his armed souldiers upon the naked multitude, and hewed in pieces the most part of them; and had not the King with a few followers bestirred him well, he had been served with the like sauce. After which worthy exploit and bloudy stratagem he took his voyage Treason, lib 2. cap 3backeward, burning and spoiling the townes and villages as he went, till he arrived at Charam, a City in Mesopotamia; where making his abode a while, he had a fancy to walke one day into the fields, and going apart from his company to unburden nature, attended upon by one onelyonly servant, as he was putting downe his breeches, another of his company ran in and strucke him through with his dagger. Thus God blessed the World, by taking out of it this wicked Tyran, who by treason and treachery had spilt so much innocent bloud.
Seturus Galba, another bird of the same feather, exercised no lesse perfidious cruelty upon the people of three Cities in Lusitania: for hee assembled them together, in colour of providing for their common affaires: but when hee had gotten them into his hands unarmed and weaponlesse, he took nine thousand of the flower of their youth, and partly committed them to the sword, and partly sold them for bondslaves.
The disloyall and treacherous dealing of Stilico towards the Gothes, Iornand. Paul. demil.how dear it cost him and all Italie beside, Histories do sufficiently testifie: for it fell out, that the Gothes (under the conduct of Allaricus) entered Italie with a puissant and fearfull Army, to know the cause why the Emperor Honorius with-held the pension which (by vertue of a league, and in recompence of their aid to the Empire in time of war) was due unto them: which by riper judgement and deliberation of the Councell was quieted; and to preserve their Countrey from so imminent a tempest, offer was made unto them of the Spaniards and French-men, if they could recover Treason, lib. 2 cap. 3.them out of the hands of the Vandales; which usurped over them; so that incontinently they should take their journey over the Alpes towards them, and depart their Coasts. Which offer and gift the Gothes accepting, did accordingly fulfill the condition, and passed away, without commiting any riot or any damages in their passages. But as they were upon mount Cinis, making toward France, behold Stilico, Honorius his father in law (a man of a stirring, stubborne, and rash spirit) pursueth and chargeth them with battell unawares, and dreaming of nothing lesse: whereat they, being at the instant amazed, quickly gathered their spirits together, and putting themselves in defence, fought it out with such courage and eagernesse, that the traitors Army was wholly discomfited, and he himselfe with one of his sonnes, slain. The Gothes having gotten this victory, broke off their voyage to France, and turned their course backe again to Italie, with purpose to destroy and spoil; and so they did; for they laid waste all the Countrey of Piemont and Lumbardy, and elsewhere, and besieged Rome it selfe: so that from that time Italie never ceased to be scourged and tormented with the Gothes for the space of eighteen yeers. Moreover, whosoever else have been found to follow the steps of these truce, peace, and promise-breakers (void of truth and regard of reputation) alwayes underwent worthy punishment for their unworthy acts, and fell headlong into confusion and ignominy, making themselves subjects worthy to be curst and detested of all men.