The image of gouernance compiled of the actes and sentences notable, of the moste noble Emperour Alexander Seuerus, late translated out of Greke into Englyshe, by syr Thomas Eliot knight, in the fauour of nobylitie

¶Howe the correctours of maners, called Lenfores, were e∣l••cted, and with what rygour they executed their offyce by the commandement of Alexander. Cap. xi. (Book 11)

THE SAYDE oration of the emperour Alexander beinge fynysshed, a wonder∣full reioysing entred into the hartes of the senatours, whych were vertuous & honorable, and being replenished with ioye, they all spake on hygh with one voyce, saying, ¶Emperour Alexander,* 1.1 god euer preserue the. God sent the vnto ••s. God euer defende the. God hath de∣lyuered the frome the vncleane Heliogabalus. God

kepe the perpetuallye. Thou dyddest longe tollerate that myscheuous tyrant, thou doest lament his abho∣minable liuing. and at the last god hath delyuered the and vs also of hym, and to this hath brought the.

¶After these and many mo congratulations made to the emperour, he gyuynge to the senate condigne thankes, departed to his palaice. And shortely after there were chosen by the cōmon consent of the senate & people,* 1.2 foure Censores, two to remayne in the citie, & other two for Italy, & the prouinces vnder the name of latines: from whens were electe for the more part senatours, iudges, and other chiefe offycers, whiche had iurisdiction and authoritie to gyue any sentence. The Censors for the cite were Fabius Sabinus, and Catilius Seuerus, men of excellent wysedome and grauitie. And for the prouynces were made Quinti∣lius Marcellus, and Caius Manlius, men of aunci∣ent nobilitie and great seueritie.

¶The office of Censores was to note the maners of euery person,* 1.3 whiche was in any degree of honour, that is to say, aboue the astate of the common people, wherin was shewed suche rygour, that no man was spared, so that if a knyght, a iuge, or a senatour, had vsed any vnsemely thyng, appayryng or staynyng the estimation of the degree, whych he represented, it was in the authoritie of the Censores to degrade hym or dyscharge hym of his office or dignitie.

¶Sone after the sayde election, they made Alexan∣der consul: who with al diligence procured, that Ae∣lius Gordianus, of whome I late spake, was made his companyon in the Consulate, wherat some of the people grudged, fearynge leste the sturdynesse and

haulte courage of Gordiane, shulde chaunge the in∣comparable gentylnes of Alexander into crueltie and pryde: but it succeded all other wise, for the wyse em∣perour, by the exquysite grauitie of his companyon, refourmed so his nature, whiche was in wyse mennes opinion more easy and simple than apperteyned to the imperiall estate, that by all mennes iudgement he be∣came in moderation of vertues of all other incompa∣rable.

¶The Censores immediately after that they were e∣lected, vigylantly and sharply executed theyr offyces. For fyrste they discharged oute of the Senate all su∣che whyche by Heliogabalus, for theyre abhomyna∣ble lyuynge or flatterye, were thereto promoted. Semblably they pourged the order of knyghtehode, disgradynge all knyghtes, whiche were shameles le∣chours, maynteyners of theues, or they theym selues robbers. In lyke wyse all those which of baudes, ruf∣fyanes, carters, cookes, and other lyke reprocheable persons were by Heliogabalus put in authorite. The same industry they vsed in refourmyng Iudges, and other heed offycers, as well in the citie as about in the prouinces. Finally none astate or degree escaped their rebuke or correction. Ne the emperours palaice was exempt from their iurisdiction: In so moche as Au∣relius Philippus, who was sometyme a bondeman, not withstandyng that he was manumysed, and had ben the emperours scholemaister, and after wrate his lyfe, forasmoche as he dyd ryde in a charyot, and wold be saluted as a senatour, the Censores caused hym to be ladde to pryson, and prohybyted hym for cōmynge to the emperours palaice, but onely on foote, and his

copped cappe on his head, whiche fascion onely was vsed of them that were infranchised. And althoughe for his good lernynge and honestie, some noble men aduised the emperour, that he shulde require the Cen∣sores, that they shoulde withdrawe theyr rygour in correctynge Philippe, consyderynge that he had ben sometyme his scholemaster: He nothynge wolde doo, to let or restrayne the sharpe correction of the Censo∣res, but moch extollyng theyr constance, he answered:

If the common weale maye haue euer suche officers, in shorte space there shall be founde in Rome mo men worthy to be Emperours, thanne I at my commynge founde good Senatours.

¶And immediately he ordeyned, that there shoulde neuer lybertine, that is to saye, any man of a bonde auncetour be of the Senate, sayinge: That the order of kynghthode was the place frome whense were fet∣ched the plantes of the Senate, that is to saye: frome whense the Senatours were elected. Not with stan∣dynge he purchased a goodly mancion, with sufficy∣ent reuenues, not ferre from Rome, whiche he gaue to the sayde Philippe, sayinge to hym: Before I was Emperour, I disdeyned not to folowe thy doctryne: Nowe be thou as well contented, for the encreas of myn honour & of the weale publike, to obey to myn or∣dynance. And although the maiestie of the Citie may not permytte the to be openly receyued in the numbre of our familiares, yet priuy resorte shall approue our fauour towardes the, not loste, but increased.

¶Of suche meruaylous seuerytie was this Empe∣rour, that noo kynde of affection or pryuate appetite mought reflecte hym from the sharpe execution of his

lawes or lawdable customes of the citie, as more yet shall appere in the chapiter folowynge.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.2

  Marius Maximus
• * 1.3

  Offyce of Censores.