The second tome of the Palace of pleasure conteyning store of goodly histories, tragicall matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors: by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. Anno. 1567.

Zenobia Queene of Palmyres.

¶ The life and gestes of the most famous Queene Zenobia, with the letters of the Emperour 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the sayd Queene, and hir stoute answere therunto.

The. xv. Nouel.

ZENOBIA Quéene of Palmyres, was a right famous gentlewoman, as diuerse historiogra∣phers largely do report & write. Who although she was a gētle quéene, yet a christian princesse so worthie of imitati∣on, as she was for hir vertues & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 facts of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praise. She by hir wisdome & stout∣nesse, subdued all the empire of the Orient, & resisted the inuincible 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And for that it is méete and requisite to alleage and aduouche reasones by weight, & wordes by measure, I will orderly beginne to recite the histo∣rie of that most famous Quéene. Wherefore I say, that about the. 284. Olimpiade, no long time after the death of the vnhappie Emperour Decius, Valerian was chosen Emperour by the Senat, and (as Trebellius Pollio his hi∣storian doth describe) hée was a well learned prince, in∣dued with manifolde vertues, that for his speciall praise,

these wordes be recorded. If all the world had bene assem∣bled to chose a good Prince, they would not haue chosen any other but good Valerian. It is also written of hym that in liberalitie hée was noble, in words true, in talke wa∣rie, in promise constant, to his frendes familiar, and to his enimies seuere, and which is more to bée estemed, he could not forgette seruice, nor yet reuenge wrong. It came to passe that in the. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. yeare of his raigne, there rose such cruell warres in Asia, that forced hée was to goe thither in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 persō, to resist Sapor king of the Persians, a very valiant man of warre and fortunate in his enterprises, which happinesse of his not long time after the arriuall of Valerian into Asia, hée manifested and shewed. For being betwene them such hot & cruell warres, in a skyrmish, throughe the greate faulte of the Generall, (which had the conduct of the armie) the Emperour Valerian was taken, and brought into the puissance of King Sapor his enimie, which curssed ty∣rant so wiekedly vsed that victorie, as hée would by no meanes put y^e Emperour to raunsome, towardes whom hée vsed such crueltie, that so ofte and so many 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as hée was disposed to gette vp on horsebacke, hée vsed the bodie of olde Valerian to serue him for aduantage, setting his féete vppon the throate of that aged gentle∣man. In that miserable office and vnhappie captiuitie serued and dyed the good Emperour Valerian, not with∣out the greate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that knew him, and the ruefull compassion of those that fawe him: which the Romans considering, and that neyther by offre of golde, siluer or other meanes, they were able to redéeme Va∣lerian, they determined to choose for Emperour his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sonne called Galienus: which they did more for respect of the father; than for any mynde or corage they knewe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bée in the sonne. Who afterwardes shewed him selfe

to bée 〈◊〉〈◊〉 different from the conditions of his father Valerian, being in his entreprises a cowarde, in his pro∣misses a lyer, in correction cruell, towardes them that serued him vnthanckfull, (and which is worse,) hée gaue hymselfe to his desires, and yealded place to sensualitie. By meanes wherof, in his time the Romaine Empire, more than in any other raigne, lost most prouinces and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatest shame. In factes of warre hée was a cowarde, and in gouernement of common wealth, a ve∣rie weake and séeble man. Galienus not caring for the state of the Empire, became so miserable, as the Go∣uernors of the same gaue ouer their obedience, and in the time of his raigne, there rose vp thirtie tirantes, which vsurped the same. Whose names doe followe, Cyriades, Posthumus y^t yonger, Lollius, Victorinus, Ma∣rius, Ingenuus, Regillianus, Aureolus, Macrianus, Ma∣chianus the yonger, Quietus, Odenatus, Herodes, Moe∣nius, Ballista, Valens, Piso, Emilianus, Staturninus, Tetri∣cus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the yonger, Trebelianus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Timo∣laus, Celsus, Titus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Claudius, Aurelius, and Quintillus, of whom eightene, were captens and serui∣ters vnder the good Emperour Valerian. Such delighte had the Romanes, in that auncient worlde, to haue good Capteins, as were able to bée preferred to bée 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Nowe in that tyme the Romanes had for their Captein generall, a knight called Odenatus, the prince of Palmerines, a man truelie of greate vertue, and of passing industrie & hardinesse in factes of warre. This Captain Odenatus maried a woman that descended of the auncient linage of the Ptolomes, sometimes kings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, named Zenobia, which (if the historians doe not deceiue vs) was one of the most famous Women of the worlde. She hadde the hearte of Alexander the greate, she possessed the riches of Croesus, the

diligence of Pyrrhus, the trauell of Haniball, the warie foresight of Marcellus, & the iustice of Traiane, When Zenobia was maried to Odenatus, she had by hir other husband, a sonne called Herodes, & by Odenatus she had two other, wherof the one was called 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the other Ptolomeus And when the Emperour Valerian was vanquished and taken, Odenatus was not then in the Campe. For as all men thought, if he had bene ther, they had not receued so great an ouerthrow. So sone as good Odenatus was aduertized of y^t defaict of Valerian, in great haste he marched to y^t Roman Campe, that then was in great disorder. Which with greate diligence hée reassembled, and reduced the same to order, and (holpen by good Fortune,) 〈◊〉〈◊〉. dayes after he recouered all that which Valerian had loste, making y^e Persian king to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by meanes wherof; and for that Odenatus had ta∣ken charge of the armie, hée wanne amonges the Ro∣mans great reputation, & truely not without cause: For if in that good time hée had not receiued the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the name and glorie of the Romans had taken ende in Asia. During all this time Galienus liued in his delightes at Millan, without care or thought of the common wealth, consuming in his wilfull vices, the money that was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the men of warre. Which was y^e cause that the gouernours of the prouinces, and Captens generall, se∣ing him to be so vicious and negligent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and armies which they had in charge. Galienus voide of all obedience sauing of the Italians & Lombards, the first that rose vp against him were Posthumus in Fraunce, Lollianus in Spaine, Victorinus in Africa, Ma∣rius in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Ingenuus in Germanie, Regillianus in Denmark, Aureolus in Hungarie, Macrianus in Mesopo∣tamia & Odenatus in Syria. Before Odenatus rose against Valerian, Macrianus enioyed Mesopotamia, & the grea∣test part

of Syria, wherof Odenatus hauing intelligence, hée marched with his power against him and killed him, and discomfited all his armie. The death of the Tyran Macrian being knowen, and that Galienus was so vici∣ous, the armies in Asia assembled and chose Odenatus Emperour: which election although the Sonate publick∣lie durst not agrée vpon, yet secretlie they allowed it, by∣cause they receiued dailie newes, of the great exploites and dedes of armes done by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sawe on the other syde the great cōtinued follies of Galienus. Almost thrée yeares and a halfe was Odenatus Emperour and lords of all the Orient, during which time hée recouered all the landes and prouinces lost by Galienus, and paide, the Romane army all the arrerages of their wages due, vnto them. But Fortune full of inconstancie, suffred not this good Prince very long to raigne. For hauing in hys house a kinsman of his, named Meonius, to whom he bare great good will, for that he sawe him to be a valiant man of warre, although ignorant of his enuie and coue∣tousnesse: it chaunced vpon a daye as they two rode on hunting, & galloping after the pursute of a wilde Bore, with the verie same bore speare which Meonius caried to strike the beast, hée killed by treason his good cousin Odenatus. But that murdre was not long time 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For the borespeare wherwith he had so cruelly killed y^e Emperor his cousin, was incōtinently knowne by the hunters which folowed Odenatus: whervpon that daye the heade of Meonius was striken off. And Galie∣nus vnderstanding the death of Odenatus, gaue great re∣wardes & presents to them that brought him the newes, being so ioyfull as the Romans were angrie to vnder∣stand those pitifull tydings, bycause through the good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which Odenatus vsed in Asia, they had great trā∣quillitle

& peace thorowout Europa. Now after the death of this good Emperour Odenatus, the Armies chose one of his two sonnes to be Emperour of the Orient: But for that hée was yong, they chose Zenobia to bée Protec∣tor of hir sonne, and gouerner ouer the said Orient Em∣pire. Who séeing that vpon the decease of Odenatus cer∣tain of the East Cuntries began to reuolt, she determi∣ned to open hir Treasure, reassemble hir men of warre, and in hir owne person to march into the fielde: where she did such notable enterprises, as shée appalled hir eni∣mies, and made the whole worlde to wonder. About the age of. xxxv. yeares Zenobia was widow, being the Tu∣trix of hir children, Regent of an Empire, and Captain general of the armie. In which weighty charge she vsed hir selfe so wiselie and well, as she acquired no lesse no∣ble name in Asia, than Quéene Semiramis did in India. Zenobia was constant in that which she toke in hande, true in wordes, liberall, myide, & seuere where she ought to be, discrete, graue, and secrete in hir enterprises, albeit she was ambicious. For, not content with hir title of Gouernesse or Regent, she wrote and caused hir selfe to bée called Empresse, she loued not to ride vpon a Mule, or in a littor, but greatlie estemed to haue greate horse in hir stable, and to learne to handle and ryde them. When Zenobia went forth of hir Tent to sée the order and go∣uernement of hir Campe, she continually did put on hir Armure, and was well guarded with a bande of men, so that of a woman, she cared but onely for the name, and in the facts of Armes she craued the title of valiant. The Captains of hir Armie, neuer gaue battell, or made as∣sault, they neuer skyrmished or did other enterprise of warre, but she was present in hir owne person, and at∣tempted to shewe hir selfe more hardie than any of all

the troupe, a thing almost incredible in that weake and feble kynde. The sayde noble Quéene was of stature, bigge and well proporcioned, hir eyes black and quicke, hir forehedde large, hir stomake and breastes fayre & vp∣right, hir face white and ruddy, a litle mouth, hir téeth so white, as they semed like a rancke of white pearles, but aboue all things she was of such excellent spirit and co∣rage, as she was feared for hir stoutnesse, & beloued for hir beautie. And although Zenobia was indued with so great beautie, liberalitie, riches, & puissance, yet she was neuer stayned with the blemishe of vnchaste life, or with other banitie: and as hir husband Odenatus was wont to say, that after she felt hir selfe with childe, she neuer suffred him to come nere hir, (such was hir great chasti∣tie) saying that women ought to marie rather for chil∣dren than for pleasure. She was also excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latine tong. She did neuer eate but one meale a day. Hir talke was verie litle and rare. The meate which she vsed for hir repaste, was ey∣ther y^t hanch of a wilde Bore, or else the syde of a déere. She could drinke no wine, nor abyde the scent thereof. But she was so curious in good and perfect waters, as she would gyue so great a price for that, as is ordinarilie gyuen for wyne: bée it neuer so excellent. So sone as the Kings of Egipte of Persia, and the Greekes, were aduer∣tized of the death of Odenatus, they sent their Ambassa∣dours to Zenobia, as well to visite and comforte hir, as to bée hir confederats and frendes. So much was she fea∣red and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for rare vertues sake. The affaires of Zenobia being in such estate in Asia, the Emperour Galienus died in Lombardie, and the Romanes chose Aurelianus to bée Emperour, who although hée was of base & obscure lineage, yet hée was of greate valiance

in factes of armes. When Aurelianus was chosen 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he made great preparacion into Asia, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 warres vpon Quéene Zenobia, and in all his tyme hée neuer attempted greater enterprise for the Romanes. When hée was arriued in Asia, the Emperour proce∣ded against the Quéene, and she as valiantlie defended hir selfe, continually being betwene them greate alarms and skirmishes. But as Zenobia and hir people were of lesse trauell and of better skyll in knowledge of the Cū∣trie, so they did greater harme & more anoiāce vnto their enimie, and therof receiued lesser damage. The Empe∣rour seing that hée should haue much adoe to vanquishe Zenobia by armes, determined to ouercome hir by gen∣tle wordes and faire promisses: for which cause he wrote vnto hir a letter, the tenor wherof ensueth.

Aurelianus Emperour of Rome & lord of al Asia, to thée y^e right honorable Zenobia sēdeth greting. Although to such rebellious women as thou art, it shold séeme uncomely and not decent to make request, yet if thou wilt séeke ayde of my mercie, and rendre thy selfe vnder mine obedience, bée assured that I will doe thée honor, & gyue pardone to thy people. The golde, siluer, and all other riches, within thy Pallace I am content thou shalt en∣ioye, together with the kingdome of Palmyres, which thou maiest kepe during thy life, & leaue after thy death to whom thou shalt think good, vpon condition notwith∣standing, that thou abandone all thine other Realmes and Cuntries which thou haste in Asia, and acknow∣ledge Rome to bée thy superior. Of thy vassals and subiects of Palmyres, we demaund none other obedience, but to bée confederats and frendes, so that thou breake vp thy Campe, wherwith thou makest warre in Asia, & disobeyest the citie of Rome, we wil suffer thée to haue a

certain number of men of warre, so wel for the tui••ion of thy person, as for the defense of thy kyngdome. And thy two children which thou haddest by thy husband Odena∣tus: He whom thou louest best shal remaine with thée in Asia, and the other I will carrie with me to Rome, not as prisoner, but as hostage & pledge from thée. The pri∣soners which thou haste of ours, shal bée rendred in ex∣change for those which we haue of thyne, without ran∣some of eyther parts. And by théese meanes thou shalt remaine honored in Asia, and I contented, will retorne to Rome. The Gods bée thy defense, & preserue our mo∣ther the citie of Rome from all vnhappie fortune.

The Quéene Zenobia hauing reade the letter of the Emperour Aurelianus, without feare of the contentes, incontinently made such answere as followeth.

Zenobia Quéene of Palmyres, and Ladie of all Asia, and the kingdomes thereof, to thée Aurelianus the Em∣perour, helth and consolation &c. That thou doe intitle thy selfe with the Emperour of the Romanes I do agrée, but to presume to name thy selfe lorde of the East king∣domes, I saye therein thou doest offende. For thou knowest well, that I alone am Lady Regent of all the Orient, & the onely dame & maistres of y^e same. The one part wherof descended vnto me by lawfull inheritaunce from my predecessors, and the other part I haue wonne by my prowesse and dedes of armes. Thou sayest that if I rendre obedience vnto thée, thou wilt doe me greate honor: To that I answere, that it were a dishonest part of me, and a déede moste vniust, that the Gods hauing created Zenobia to comaunde all Asia, she should nowe begyn to be slaue & thrall vnto the citie of Rome. Sem∣blablie, thou sayest that thou wilt gyue and leaue me all the golde, siluer, and other riches which I haue: Wher∣vnto

I answer, that it is a wicked and fonde request, to dispose the goodes of another as they were thine owne. But thine eyes shall neuer sée it, ne yet thy handes shal touch it, but rather I hope in the Gods aboue to bestow and crye a larges of that which thou haste at Rome, be∣fore thou finger that which I haue & possesse in Asia. Truely Aurelianus, the warres which thou makest a∣gainst me, and thy quarell, bée most vniust before the su∣pernall Gods, and verie vnreasonable before men, and I for my part if I haue entred or doe take armes, it is but to defend my selfe and myne. Thy comming then in∣to Asia is for none other purpose, but to spoyle & make hauocke of that which an other hath. And thinke not that I am greatly afrayde of y^t name of Roman Prince, nor yet of the power of thyne huge armie. For if it bée in thy handes to gyue battell, it belongeth onely to the gods to giue eyther to thée or me the victory. That I re∣maine in field it is to me greate fame, but thou to fight with a widdowe, oughtest truely to bée ashamed.

Ther be come vnto myne ayde and Campe the Persians, the Medes, the Agamēnonians, the Irenees, & the Syrians, and with them all the Gods immortall, who bée woont to chastice such proude princes as thou arte, and to helpe poore widows as I am. And if it so come to passe, that the Gods doe permit & suffre my lucke to bée such, as thou doe bereue me of life and dispoile me of goods, yet it wil∣be bruted at Rome, and published in Asia, that the wo∣full wight Zenobia, was ouerthrowne and slaine, in de∣fense of hir patrimonie, and for the conseruation of hir husbandes honor. Labor no more then Aurelianus, to flatter and pray me, nor yet to threaten me: require me no more to yelde and become thy prisoner, nor yet to sur∣render that which I haue: for by doing that I can, I ac∣complish

that I ought. For it will be saide and noysed through the world, (may it so come to passe as Fortune doe not fauor me) that if the Empresse Zenobia bée cap∣tiue, she was not yet vanquished. The sonne which thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to carie with thée to Rome, truely that re∣quest I cannot abide, and much lesse doe meane to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same, knowing full well that thy house is stored full of manyfolde vices, where myne is garnished with ma∣ny notable Philosophers: Wherby if I leaue vnto my children no great heapes of goodes, yet they shalbe well taught and instructed: For the one halfe of the day they spende in Learnyng, and the other halfe in exercise of Armes.

For conclusion of thy demaunde, and finall answer ther∣vnto, I pray thée trauell no more by letters to write vn∣to me, ne yet by ambassage to spende any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 talke, but attend vntill our controuersie bée decided rather by force of armes than by vttered wordes. The Gods pre∣serue thée.

It is said that Aurelianus, receiuing that answere, did reioyce, but when he had redde it, hée was greatly offen∣ded, which incontinently hée made to bée knowne, by ga∣thering together his Campe, and besieging the Citie wherin Zenobia was. And Aurelianus, wroth and out∣raged with that answere, although his armie was werie and halfe in dispaire (by reason of the long warres,) yet hée vsed suche diligence and expedition in the siege of that place, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was taken and the citie rased: which done, the Emperour Aurelianus retourned to Rome, carying wyth hym Zenobia, not to doe hir to death, but to tryumphe ouer hir. At what tyme to sée that noble Ladie goe on foote, and marche before the tri∣umphing Chariot bare 〈◊〉〈◊〉, charged wyth y^t burden of

heauie chaūce, and hir two children by hir side: truly it made the Roman Matrons to conceiue great pitie, being well knowen to all the Romanes, that neither in valo, rous dedes, nor yet in vertue or chastitie, any mā or wo∣man of hir time did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hir. The dayes of the triumph being done, al the noble Ladies of Rome assembled and repaired to Zenobia, and vsed vnto hir greate and hono∣rable enterteinement, giuing hir many goodly presents and rewardes. And Zenobia liued in the companie of those noble matrones the space of. x. yeares béefore she dyed, in estimation like a Lucrecia, and in honor lyke a Cornelia. And if Fortune had accompa∣nied hir personage, so well as vertue and magnanimitie, Rome had felt the egrenesse of hir displeasure, and the whole world tasted the swetenesse of hir regiment.