had in charge. Galienus voyde of all obedience sauing
of the Italians and Lombards, the first that rose vp against him
were Posthumus in Fraunce, Lollians in Spayne, Victorinus in
Affrica, Marius in Britane, Ingenuus in Germanie, Regillianus in
Denmark, Aureolus in Hungarie, Macrianus in Mesopotamia, and
Odenatus, in Syria. Before Odenatus rose against Valerian,
Macrianus enioied Mesopotamia and the greatest part of Syria,
whereof Odenatus hauing intelligence, he marched with his power
agaynst him and killed him, and discomfited all his army. The
death of the Tyran Macrian being knowen, and that Galienus was
so vicious, the armies in Asia assembled and chose Odenatus
Emperour: which Election although the Senate publickly durst not
agree vpon, yet secretly they allowed it, bycause they receyued
dayly newes, of the great Exploytes and deedes of armes done by
Odenatus, and saw on the other side the great continued follies
of Galienus. Almost three yeares and a halfe was Odenatus
Emperour and Lord of all the Orient, duringe which time he
recouered all the Lands and Prouinces lost by Galienus, and
payde the Romane army all the arrerages of their wages due vnto
them. But Fortune ful of inconstancy, suffred not this good
Prynce very long to raygne. For hauing in hys house a kinsman of
hys, 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
Enuy and couetousnesse: it chaunced vpon a day as they two rode
on huntinge, and gallopinge after the pursute of a wylde Bore,
with the very same Bore Speare which Meonius caried to strike
the beast, he killed by treason his good Cousin Odenatus. But
that murder was not long time vnreuenged. For the Borespeare
wherewith he had so cruelly killed the Emperour his Cousin, was
incontinently known by the hunters which folowed Odenatus:
whervpon that day the head of Meonius was striken of. And
Galienius vnderstandinge the death of Odenatus, gaue great
rewardes and presents to them that brought him the newes, beinge
so ioyfull as the Romans wer angry to vnderstand those pitiful
tydings, bycause through the good ordre which Odenatus vsed in
Asia, they had great tranquillity and peace throughout Europa.
Now after the death of thys good Emperour Odenatus, the Armies
chose one of his two Sonnes to be Emperour of the Orient: But
for that he was younge, they chose Zenobia to be Protector of
hir sonne, and gouerner ouer the sayd O