, graces
euerlastyng wee render to the immortall Gods, for that thou art
in health, which wee desyre and pray may be perpetual. We
signified vnto thy maiesty the death of Nerua Cocceius, our
soueraigne Lord, and thy predecessor, a man of sincere lyfe,
a fryend of his Common Wealth, and a zealous louer of Iustice,
wherein also we aduertised, that like as Rome did weepe for the
cruell lyfe of Domitian, so mutch the more bitterly doth she
bewayle the death of thine vncle Nerua, whose councel (although
hee was very olde and diseased) which he gaue vs lyinge on his
Bedde, we loued better, and imbraced with greater comforte, than
all the enterpryses and deedes don by his predecessors, when
they were in health and lusty: and besides the ordinary mourning
vsed to bee done in Rome for Prynces, wee haue caused all
recreation and pastime to cease, so wel in the common wealth as
with euery of vs particularly. We haue shut vp the Temples and
made the Senate vnderstand, how displeasantly we accept the
death of good men. The good old gentleman Nerua dyed in hys
house, and was buried in the fielde of Mars: he died in debte,
and we haue payd hys debtes: he dyed callyng vppon the Gods, and
we haue canonized him amongs theyr numbre, and that which is
most to be noted, hee died commending vnto vs the common wealth,
and the Common wealth recommending it self vnto him: and a
little before his latter gaspe, to the principall of the holy
Senate, and many other of the people, standing about his
bedside, he sayde: "O ye fathers, I committe vnto you the common
wealth and my selfe also vnto the Gods: vnto whom I render
infinite thankes, bicause they haue taken from me my children,
to bee mine heires and haue lefte mee Traiane to succede." You
do remembre (most dread soueraign lord) that the good Empereour
Nerua had other successours than your maiesty, of nearer
alyance, of greater frendship more bound by seruice, and of
greater proofe in warfare: notwithstandyng amongs other noble
personages, vpon you alone he cast his eyes, reposinge in you
such opinyon and confidence, as to reuiue the prowes and
valyaunt facts of the good Emperor Augustus, he suppressed in
oblivion the insolent facts of Domitian. When Nerua came vnto
the Crowne, he found the treasure pilled, the Senate in
dissentyon, the people in commotion, Iustice not obserued, and
the Common wealth ouerthrowen: which you likewyse presentlye
shall finde, although otherwyse quiet and wholy r