practiseth to make him away: the Britains begin a new rebellion, the
cruell commandement of Seuerus to kill and slea all that came to
hand without exception, his age, his death, and sepulchre: Bassianus
ambitiouslie vsurpeth the whole regiment, he killeth his brother Geta,
and is slaine himselfe by one of his owne souldiers_.

THE XXIJ. CHAPTER.


The emperour Seuerus receiuing aduertisment from the lieutenant
of Britaine, that the people there mooued rebellion, & wasted the
countrie with roads and forraies, so that it was néedful to haue the
prince himselfe to come thither with a great power to resist the
enimies, he of an ambitious mind reioised not a little for those
newes, bicause he saw occasion offered to aduance his renowne and
fame with increase of new victories now in the west, after so manie
triumphs purchased and got by him in the east and north parts of the
world. Héerevpon though he was of great age, yet the desire that he
had still to win honour, caused him to take in hand to make a iournie
into this land, and so being furnished of all things necessarie, he
set forwards, being carried for the more part in a litter for his more
ease: for that beside his féeblenesse of age, he was also troubled
with the gout. He tooke with him his two sonnes, Antoninus
[Sidenote: Antoninus and Geta.]
Bassianus and Geta, vpon purpose as was thought, to auoid occasions
of such inconuenience as he perceiued might grow by discord mooued
betwixt them through flatterers and malicious sycophants, which sought
to set them at variance: which to bring to passe, he perceiued there
should want no meane whilest they continued in Rome, amidst such
pleasures & idle pastimes as were dailie there frequented: and