the building of the City His first eleven Books are all that are extant in which he reaches to the two hundred and twelfth year of the City He â—lourished in the time of Augustus Caesar and is said to have lived in the Family of M. Varro 10. Polybius of Megalopolis was the Master Councellour and daily Companion of Scipio the younger who in the year of the World 3800. razed Carthage he begins his Roman History from the first Punick War and of the Greek Nation the Achaeans from the fortieth year after the death of Alexander the Great of forty Books he wrote but five are left and the Epitomes of twelve other in which he reaches to the Battel at Cynoscephale betwixt King Philip of Macedon and the Romans 11. Salustius wrote many Parts of the Roman History in a pure and quaint brevity of all which little is left besides the Conspiracy of Catiline oppressed by the Consul Cicero sixty years before the birth of Christ and the War of Iugurth managed by C. Marius the Consul in the forty fourth year before the Conspiracy aforesaid 12. Iulius Caesar hath wrote the History of his own Acts in the Gallick and Civil Wars from the 696 year ab V. C. to the 706. and comprized them in Commentaries upon every year in such a purity and beautiful propriety of expression and such a native candour that nothing is more terse polite more useful and accommodate to the framing of a right and perspicuous expression of our selves in the Latin Tongue 13. Velleius Paterculus in a pure and sweet kind of speech hath composed an Epitome of the Roman History and brought it down as far as the thirty second year after the birth of Christ that is the sixteenth year of Tiberius under whom he flourished and was Questor 14. Cornelius Tacitus under Adrian the Emperour was Praefect of the Belgick Gaul he wrote a History from the death of Augustus to the Reign of Trajan in thirty Books of which the five first contain the History of Tiberius the last eleven Books from the eleventh to the twenty first which are all that are extant reach from the eighth year of Claudius to the beginning of Vespasian and the besieging of Ierusalem by Titus which was Anno Dom. 72. He hath comprised much in a little is proper neat quick and apposite in his stile and adorns his discourse with variety of Sentences 15. Suetonius was Secretary to Adrian the Emperour and in a proper and concise stile hath wrote the Lives of the twelve first Emperours to the death of Domitian and the ninety eighth year of Christ he hath therein exactly kept to that first and chief Law of History which is That the Historian should not dare to set down any thing that is false and on the other side That he have courage enough to set down what is true It is said of this Historian That he wrote the Lives of those Emperours with the same liberty as they lived 16. Dion Cassius was born at Nice in Bythinia he wroâ—e the History of nine hundred eighty one years from the building of Rome to Ann. Dom. 231. in which year he was Consul with Alexander Severus the Emperour and finished his History in eighty Books of all which scarce twenty â—ive Books from the thirty sixth to the sixty first and the beginning of Nero are at this time extant 17. Herodianus wrote the History of his own time from the death of M. Antoninus the Philosopher or the year of Christ 181. to the murder of the Gordiani in Africa Ann. Dom. 241. which is rendred purely into Latin by Angelus Politianus 18. Iohannes Zonaras of Byzantium wrote a History from Augustus to his own times and the year of our Lord 1117. the chief of the Oriental Affairs and Emperours he hath digested in the second and third Tomes of his Annals from whence Cuspinianus and others borrow almost all that they have Zonaras is continued by Nicaetas Gregoras and he by Chalcâ—ndylas 19. Eutropius wrote the Epitome of the Roman History in ten Books to the death of Iovinian Anno Dom. 368. He was present in the Expedition of Iulian into Persia and flourished in the Reign of Valens the Emperour 20. Ammianus Marcellinus a Grecian by birth War'd many years under Iulian in Gallia and Germany and wrote the History of the Romans in thirty one Books the fourteenth to the thirty first are all that are extant wherein at large and handsomely he describes the acts of Constantius Iulian Iovinian Valentinian and Valens the Emperours unto the year of Christ 382. 21. Iornandes a Goth hath wrote the History of the Original Eruptions Families of their Kings and principal Wars of the Goths which he hath continued to his own time that is the year of our Lord 550. 22. Procopius born at Caesarea in Palestine and Chancellour to Belisarius the General to Iustinian the Emperour being also his Councellour and constant companion in seven Books wrote the Wars of Belisarius with the Persians Vandals and Goths wherein he also was present 23. Agathias of Smyrna continues Procopius from the twenty seventh of Iustinian Anno Dom. 554. to the end of his Reign Anno Dom. 566. the Wars of Narses with the Goths and Franks with the Persians at Cholchiâ— wherein he recites the Succession of the Persian Kings from Artaxerxes who Anno Dom. 230. seised on the Parthian Empire to the Reign of Iustinian Anno Dom. 530. and in the end treats of the irruption of the Hunnes into Thrace and Greece and their repression by Belisarius now grown old 24. Paulus Diaconus of Aquileia Chancellour to Desiderius King of the Lombards Writes the entire History of the Lombards to Ann. Dom. 773. in which Charles the Great took Desiderius the last King and brought Lombardy under his own power 25. Haithonus an Armenian many years a Souldier in his own Country afterwards a Monk at Cyprus coming into France about the year of Christ 1307. was commanded by Pope Clement the fifth to write the Empire of the Tartars in Asia and the Description of other oriental Kingdoms 26. Laonicus Chalchondylas an Athenian wrote the History of the Turks in ten Books from Ottoman Anno 1300. to Mahomet the second who took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453. and afterwards continued his History to Ann. 1464. 27. Luiâ—prandus of Ticinum wrote the History of the principal Affairs in all the Kingdoms of Europe in his time at most of which he himself was present his History is comprised in six Books and commencing from Anno Dom. 891. extends to Ann. Dom. 963. 28. Sigebert a Monk in a Abby in Brabant wrote his Chronicon from the death of Valens the Emperour or Anno Dom. 381. to the Empire of Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1112. wherein he hath digested much of the French and British Affairs and acts of the German Emperours 29. Saxo Grammaticus Bishop of the Church of Rotschilden wrote the Danish History from utmost Antiquity to his
fallen a sleep she call'd in her complices and casting a long Towel about his neck caus'd the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from struggling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his breath Having thus dispatched the work they carry'd him into another room where a Close Stool was placed upon which they set him An hour after the Maid and Groom were got silently away to palliate the business she made an out-cry in the house wringing her hands pulling her hair and weeping extremely pretending that missing him some time out of bed she went to see what the matter was and found him in that posture By these feigned shews of sorrow she prevented all suspicion of his violent death and not long after went to London setting so high a value upon her Beauty that Robinson became neglected But within two years following this woful deed of darkness was brought to light in this manner The Groom before mentioned was entertained with Mr. Richard Smyth Son and Heir to the murder'd Knight and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants became so sensible of his villany when he was in his cups that out of good nature he took his Master aside and upon his knees besought his forgiveness for acting in the murder of his Father declaring all the circumstances thereof Whereupon Mr. Smyth discreetly gave him good words but wished some others he trusted to have an eye to him that he might not escape when he had slept and better consider'd what might be the issue thereof Notwithstanding which direction he fled away with his Masters best Horse and hasting presently into Wales attempted to go beyond Sea but being hindred by contrary winds after three essays to lanch out was so happily pursu'd by Mr. Smyth who spared no cost in sending to several Ports that he was found out and brought prisoner to Warwick as was also the Lady and her Gentlewoman all of them with great boldness denying the fact and the Groom most impudently charging Mr. Smyth with endeavour of corrupting to accuse the Lady his Mother-in-law falsly to the end he might get her Joynture but upon his arreignment smitten with the apprehension of his guilt he publickly acknowledged it and stoutly justified what he had so said to be true to the face of the Lady and her Maid who at first with much seeming confidence pleaded their innocency till at length seeing the particular circumstances thus discovered they both confessed the fact for which having judgment to die the Lady was burnt at a stake near the Hermitage on Woolvey Heath towards the side of Shirford Lordship where the Country people to this day shew the place and the Groom with the Maid suffer'd death at Warwick This was about the third year of Queen Maries Reign it being May the 15.1 Mariae that Sir Walters murder so happened The end of the First Book of the Wonders of the Little World THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. Of the Imagination or Phantasie and the force of it in some persons when depraved by melancholy or otherwise IMagination the work of Fancy saith Dr. Fuller oftentimes produces real effects and this he confirms by a pleasanter instance than some of these that follow 1. A Gentleman had lead a company of children into the Fields beyond their wonted walk and they being now weary cryed to him to carry them The Gentleman not able to carry them all relieved himself with this device he said he would provide them Horses to ride home with and furnished himself and them with Geldings out of the next Hedge the success was saith my Author that mounted fancy put metal into their Legs and they came cheerfully home 2. There was one who fell into a vain imagination that he was perpetually frozen and therefore in the very Dog-days continually sate near the Fire crying out that he should never be warm unless his whole body should be set on fire and whereas by stealth he would cast himself into the fire he was bound in chains in a seat near the fire where he sate night and day not able to sleep by reason of this foolish fancy when all the counsels of his Friends were in vain I took this course for his cure I wrapped him in Sheepskins from head to foot the wool was upon them which I had well wetted with Aqua Vitae and thus dressed I set him at once all on fire he burnt thus for half an hour when dancing and leaping he cryed out he was now well and rather too hot by this means his former fancy vanished and he in a few days was perfectly well 3. A Noble Person in Portugal fell into this melancholy imagination that he continually cryed out God would never pardon his sins In this agony he continued pensive and wasted away various prescriptions in Physick were used to no purpose as also all kinds of Divertisements and other means At last we made use of this Artifice his Chamber door being locked about midnight at the Roof of his Chamber we had stripped off the tile for that purpose there appeared an artificial Angel having a drawn Sword in his right and a lighted torch in his left hand who called him by his name he straight rose from his Bed and adored the Angel which he saw cloathed in white and of a beautiful aspect he listned attentively to the Angel who told him all his sins were forgiven and so extinguished his Torch and said no more The poor man overjoyed knocked with great violence at the door raises the House tells them all that had passed and as soon as it was day sent for his Physicians and relates alâ—â—â— them who congratulated his felicity calling him a righteous person He soon after fell to his meat slept quietly perform'd all the offices of a sound man and from thence forth never felt any thing of his former indisposition 4. Anno Dom. 1610. attending upon my Prince at Prague as his Physician it fell out that upon the eighteenth of Iuly there was born a boy whose Liver Intestines Stomach Spleen with a great part of the Mesentery hung out all naked below his Navel He lived but a few hours and then with misery enough exchanged that life for death which he had newly begun If any demand the reason of so monstrous a deformity he shall find no other than the imagination of the Mother who being asked by Doctor Major and my self whether happily she had not given some occasion to such a Birth she answered with tears that three Months before her delivery she was constrain'd by some Soldiers to be present at the killing of a Calf at the opening of it she felt an extraordinary motion in her self when she saw how the bowels came tumbling down from the Belly 5. In the same City of Prague much about the same time there was the like if not a greater miracle of nature a woman was delivered of a Son who was born with
Soldiers that were they all alive were enough to subdue all the Barbarians round about us 10. Publius Scipio Africanus when he saw Carthage quite overthrown he wept much and being mindful of the mutability of humane affairs with tears he repeated that of Homer Iamque dies aderint quo concidat Hioningens Et Priamus Priamique ruat plebs armi potentis And time shall come when stately Troy shall fall With warlike Priam and his people all Polybius as it fortuned at that time stood by him his Guide and companion in his Studies and he enquired if he had any peculiar respect to any thing in those Verses Yes said he I mean it of Rome concerning which I cannot chuse but be solicitous as oft as I think of the inconsistency of all humane affairs 11. Titus Vespasianus at the overthrow of Ierusalem and the memory of its former Glory could not abstain from shedding tears cursing the perverseness and obstinacy of the seditious Jews who had compelled him against his will to lay in ruines so great a City and so famous a Temple as there was 12. C. Pompeius in one of his Consulships at the Dedication of the Temple of Venus exhibited in the Theatre twenty Elephants in fight encountred by divers Getulian Archers The Elephants seeing there was no way for slight began to move the compassion of the people with such unspeakable signs and lamentation that the people were so mov'd with it that they all rose up departed the Theatre bestowing many curses upon Pompey in lieu of this his Bounty and Magnificence CHAP. XXII Of the deep Dissimulation and Hypocrisie of some men MAud the Empress being besieged by the Forces of King Stephen in Oxford there happened to fall a great snow the Empress took the advantage hereof and by arraying her self and her followers in white she made her escape thence There are but too many that walk in white till their ends be attained make shew of much simplicity friendship and virtue for no other purpose than to train men within the compass of their privy snares then off goes the Angel that the Devil may appear 1. Caius Iulius Caesar was a great dissembler for whereas he pretended to be a mighty lover and admirer of Cn. Pompeius he did not only not love him but withal he privily sought to render him odious to the people by reason of the multitude of his honours When Cicero had several times taunted and reproached him he never so much as made answer to him that he might not seem to be offended with him in the least but privately he stirred up Clodius against him by whose means he got him banished from Rome And this was a quality ever inherent in Caesar that if any man had created him any trouble he would seem out of greatness of mind to despise him but then he would be revenged of him by others The same person as soon as he heard that Pompey was sled into Aegypt he also pursued him thither certainly for no other end but that in case he could any way get him in his power he might make sure of him And yet this man as soon as he saw the head of Pompeius brought unto him shed tears and said It is the Victory and not the Revenge that pleases me 2. Charles the Ninth of France was well practised in this art â—or a little before the massacre at Paris when he had invited the Admiral Coligni thither he was honourably entertained by the King who called him Father protested he would be ruled by his counsel and often averred that he loved him c. Yet shortly after he caused him to be basely murdered and unworthily insulted over him after his death 3. Richard Duke of Glocester was so cunning a Dissembler that he would accompany most familiarly and jest pleasantly with such as he hated in his heart and would pretend to refuse even the Kingdom it self when proffered whereas he had used all means to compass it and resolved to gain it at what rate soever 4. Tiberius the Emperour was also well skilled herein when Augustus was dead though he immediately possessed himself of the supreme command acted as a Prince and assured the Soldiers to himself yet with a most impudent mind he refused the Government when his Friends requested him to take it upon him he sharply took them up telling them that they knew not how great a Monster Empire was When the whole Senate entreated him and fell at his feet thereby to move him to accept it he gave them ambiguous answers and with his crafty ways of delay he left them in suspence insomuch that some grew out of patience to be thus dallied with and one in the Throng cryed out Let him take it or leave it Another told him to his face that others did slowly perform what they had promised but he on the other side did slowly promise that which he would perform At last as if he had been compelled and enforced and complaining that a miserable and burdensome servitude was imposed upon him he accepted of the Empire and yet no otherwise than as a man that pretended he would some time or other lay it down again His own words were Till I come unto that time when you shall think it meet to allow some rest and ease unto my old age The end of the Second Book of the Wonders of the Little World THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. Of the early appearance of Virtue Learning Greatness of Spirit and Subtlety in some young Persons URaba in Peru is of so rich a soil that the Seeds of Cucumbers and Melons sown will bear ripe fruits in twenty eight days after the Seeds of Virtue arrive to a marvellous improvement in the souls of some in a short time in comparison of what they do in others Indeed those persons who have been most remarkable in any sort of Virtue have been observed to give some early specimen and instance of it in their youth and a man that had considered of the dawning and first break might easily predict an illustrious day to succeed thereupon 1. Aemilius Lepidus while yet a youth did put himself into the Army where he slew an enemy and saved the life of a Citizen of Rome of which memorable act of his Româ—'s Senate left a sufficient witness when they decrâ—ed his young statue should be placed in the Capitol girt in an honourable Vest for they thought him ripe enough for honour who was already so forwardly advanced in virtue 2. M. Cato in his childhood bewrayed a certain greatness of spirit he was educated in the house of Drusus his Uncle where the Latine Embassadors were assembled about the procuring of the freedom of the City for their people Q. Popedius the chief of them was Drusus his Guest and he asked the young Câ—to if he would intercede with his Uncle in their behalf who with a constant look told him he would not
his Tiara and Robe of State for the Bishops Miter But his Courtiers prevented him saying that he was a meer Impostor and Enchanter instead of an Ambassador All Greece made vows for his safe return from thence but he never came back again 17. C. Iulius Caesar learned of Apollonius Molon at Rhodes he is said to be admirably fitted for the City Eloquence and had so improved his parts by his diligence that without all question he merited the second place in point of Eloquence the â—irst he would not have as one that intended rather to be the first in Power and Armes Cicero himself writes to Brutus that he knew not any to whom Caesar should give place as one that had an Elegant Splendid Magnificent and Generous way of Speaking And to Cornelius Nepos Whom saith he will ye prefer before this man even of those who have made Oratory their busineCâ—ess who is more acute or frequent than he in sentences who more Ornate or Elegant in words He is said to have pronounced his Orations with a sharp voice and earnest motion and gesture which yet was not without its comliness CHAP. VIII Of the most famous Greek and Latine Historians BY the singular providence of God and his great goodness it was that where the prophetick history of the Holy Scriptures breaks off there we should have an immediate supply from elsewhere and we may almost say that in the very moment where they have left there it was that 1. Herodotus the Halicarnassian began his History who relates the Acts of Cyrus and the affairs of the Persian Monarchy even unto the War of Xerxes the Histories of the Kingdoms of Lydia Media and especially of Aegypt are set down by him An account he gives of the Ionians the City of Athens and the Spartan and Corinthian Kings excelling all prophane Writers of History both in the Antiquity of the things he treats of the multitude of Examples and the purity and sweetness of his Stile His History is continued for the series of two hundred and thirty years from Gyges the King of Lydia the contemporary with Manasses King oâ— Iudah to the flight of Xerxes and Persians out of Greece which was in the year of the world 3485. Herodotus himself flourished in the beginning of the Peloponnesian war which was about the year of the world 3540. 2. Thucydides the Athenian immediately succeeds him who imbraceth in his History the space of seventy years that is from the flight of Xerxes unto the twenty first year of the Peloponnesian war for although he professedly describes only that war betwixt the Athenians and Peloponnesians wherein himself was a General yet by way of digression he hath inserted an account of those fifty years that are betwixt the end of Herodotus his History and the beginning of this war Here he explains the affairs of Cities as the former had done of Monarchies and hath framed so illustrious and express an Image of all those things that usually happen in the government of a Common-wealth hath so lively represented the miseries that attend upon war especially a civil and intestine one hath composed his many Orations with that artifice and care that nothing can be thought more sinewy and agreeable unto all times in the world than his History 3. Xenophon the Attick Bee whose unaffected sweetness and elegancy of Stile is such that Antiquity admiring thereat said the Graces had framed and directed his Speech He beginning at the end of Thucydides hath in seven Books comprehended the events of forty years wars betwixt the principal Cities of Greece as far as to the battle of Mantinea and the year of the world 3600. 4. Diodorus Siculus hath set forth his Bibliotheque or an universal history of almost all the habitable world accurately distinguished by times and years in forty Books In the five first of which he discourses the original of the world the Egyptian Assyrian Libyan Greek Antiquities and the affairs of other Nations before the Trojan War The other thirty five contain a Series of years no less than 1138. from the Trojan War to Iulius Caesar of all these there are but fifteen Books extant his sixteenth Book almost immediately follows Xenophon in which he treats of Philip of Macedon who began to Reign Anno Mumd 3604. From thence he passes to Alexander and his Successours and in the end of his twentieth Book which is the last of his extant he reaches to the year of the World 3664. which year falls directly into the tenth Book of Livy and upon the four hundred fifty second year from the building of Rome 5. Titus Livius born at Padua was the Prince of the Latin History excelling all Latin Writers in the admirable gravity copiousness and beauty of his Speech He hath written a continued History of seven hundred forty six years from the building of Rome in the year of the World 3212. to the fourth year before the birth of Christ which was the thirty seventh year of Augustus Now although of fourteen Decades or one hundred and forty Books of Livy there are only three Decades and half a fifth left yet the Arguments of the rest of the Books and the Series of the principal Histories may easily be observed from Florus his Epitome Livy died the twenty first year after the birth of Christ. 6. Câ—esias Gâ—idius a famous Historian of the Assyrian and Persian Affairs about the year of the World 3564. in the Expedition of Cyrus the younger against his brother Artaxerxes was taken Prisoner and for his skill in Physick was received into the Kings House and Family where out of the Royal Commentaries and Records he composed the ancient History of the Kings of Assyria Babylon and Persia in twenty Books having brought it down from Ninus as far as the seventh year after the taking of Athens by Lysander 7. Plutarchus of Cheronaea flourished about the year of our Lord 100. the ample Treasury of the Greek and Latin History he wrote about fifty Lives of the principal men amongst the Greeks and Romans full of the best matter wise sentences and choice rules of life The Greek Lives he begins with Theseus King of Athens and ends with Philopoemenes General of the Achaeans who died one hundred and eighty years before the birth of Christ. The Roman Captains he describes from Romulus as far as to Galba and Otho who contended for the Empire in the seventeenth year after the birth of Christ. 8. Arrianus of Nicomedia flourished Anno Christi 140. and in eight Books wrote the Life and Acts of Alexander the Great his Affairs in India are handled most copiously by him of all other the whole is wrote in a singular sweetness and elegancy of stile 9. Dionysius Halicarnassaeus wrote accurately the Roman History the Original of the City Magistracy Ceremonies and Laws are faithfully related by him and his History continued to the beginning of the first Punick War and the four hundred eighty ninth year from
This Work cost three hundred millions of Sesterces Certainly if a man consider the abundance of water that is brought thereby and how many places it serveth as well publick as private the Bains Stews and Fish-Pools Kitchens and other Houses of Office for Pipes and little Rivulets to water Gardens as well about the City as in Mannors and Houses of Pleasure in the fields near unto the City besides the mighty way that these waters are brought the number of Arches that must of necessity be built to convey them the Mountains that are pierced and wrought through the Vallies that are raised and made even and level he will confess that there never was any design in the whole World enterprised and effected more admirable than this CHAP. VI. Of the choicest Libraries in the World their Founders and number of Books contained in them AS Treasures both publickly and privately are collected and laid up in the Republick to be made use of when necessity requires and the greater and rarer they are the more precious they are accounted So the Treasures of Learning and of all good Arts and Sciences which are contained in Books as so many silent Teachers are worthily collected by publick and private persons and laid up amongst the choicest goods of the Common-wealth where they may be made use of to all sorts of persons as their studies incline them or as necessity shall require at any time whether in peace or war The most famous Repositories of Books were as followeth 1. Ptolomaeus Philadelphus the Son of Ptolomaeus Lagus reigning in Egypt and also by the concurrent and laborious endeavours of Demetrius Phalareus there was an excellent Library founded in Alexandria the noblest City of all Egypt in the year before Christs birth 280. and of the World 3720. This Library saith Baronius was enriched with more than 200000 Volumes brought out of all places in the World with exquisite care and diligence Amongst these were also the Books of the Old Testament translated by the LXX After which Translation the King also procured so many Greek Chaldee Egyptian Books and Latine ones translated into Greek as also of divers other Notions that at last he had heaped up therein saith Gellius seven hundred thousand Volumes But alas in how short a time did the splendour of so much vertue suffer an Eclipse for in the 183 Olympiad from the building of the City Caesar fighting in Alexandria that fire which burnt up the Enemies Navy took hold also of this burnt the greatest part of the City saith Orosius together with four hundred thousand Books so that from the founding of it to its destruction there were elapsed only 224 years 2. Eumenes the Son of Attalus and Father of that Attalus who was the last King of Pergamus and who dying made the people of Rome â—is Heir was the Founder of that excellent Library at Pergamus in the year from the Creation 3810. wherein were contained above twenty thousand choice Books 3. Queen Cleopatra about the year of the World 3950. and thirty years before the Birth of Christ gathered together such Books as had escaped the fire of Caesar in Alexandria built a place for them in the Temple of Serapis near to the Port and transferred thither 200000 Books from the Attalick or Pergamenian Library 4. M. Varro by the appointment of Iulius Caesar had the peculiar care committed to him of erecting a publick Library but it had come to nothing but for the helping hand of Augustus who succeeded him It was he that erected a famous Repository for Books in the Hill Aventine adorned it with Porticoes and Walks for the greater convenience of Students and enriched it with the spoils of conquered Dalmatia this was a little before the Birth of Christ and in the year of the World 3970. Nor did the bounty of this great Prince rest there but always aspiring to greater things he opened two other little inferiour to that in the Aventine one whereof he called the Octavian from the name of his Sister and the other the Palatine from the Mount or Hill on which it was erected Over the Keepers of which by his Imperial Order was C. Iulius Hyginnius an excellent Grammarian 5. Fl. Vespasianus about the sixth year of his Empire the seventy seventh from the Birth of Christ and of the World 4050. founded a Library in the Forum at Rome and contiguous to the Temple of Peace as if he thereby intended to shew that nothing was so requisite to advance men in Learning as times of peace 6. The Emperour Trajanus in the tenth year of his Reign one hundred and eight years after the Birth of Christ and from the Creation of the World 4092. built a sumptuous Library in the Market-place of Trajan which he called after his own sirname the Vlpian Library Dioclesian afterwards being to edifie some and adorn other Baths translated this Library unto the Viminal Hill which at this day hath the Gate of St. Agnes opening upon it 7. Domitianus the Emperour erected another near to his own house which he had built upon the Capitoline Hill which yet soon after was reduced to ashes in the Reign of Commodus which happened as Eusebius Dion and Baronius witness in the eighth year of Commodus his Empire the 189. year from the Nativity of Christ and from the Creation of the World about the four thousand one hundred sixty and third 8. Gordianus Senior about the two hundred and fortieth year after Christ built a Library which contained sixty and two thousand Books the greater part whereof were left as a Legacy to the Emperour by Geminicus Gammonicus 9. Constantinus the Emperour by the testimony of Baronius erected a sumptuous Library in the Province of Thrace at Byzantium called New Rome which was enriched with an hundred and twenty thousand Volumes he called that City Constantinople in the year from the Birth of Christ 324. but through the discord of his Sons about the year of the World 4321. and from the Birth of Christ 340. to wit of Constantinus Constantius and Constance the Emperours in the deplorable declination of the Empire and much more by fire it lost its fame and name being burnt by the people in hatred of Basilius the Emperour as saith Zonaras and Cedrenus which happened about the year from the Nativity of Christ 476. but being repaired and increased by the accession of three hundred and three Volumes Leo Isaurus in hatred of sacred Images burnt both it and its Keepers who were Counsellors of great renown This happened about the year of Christ 726. as witnesseth Zonaras Cedrenus and others In this Library was as is reported the gut of a Dragon 120 foot long upon which was written Homers Poems Iliads and Odysses in Letters of Gold 10. The Sâ—ptalian Libâ—aâ—y now in the possession of Manfrâ—d Septala a Patâ—ician of Mâ—llâ—ine 1664. contains seven thousand two hundred ninety Volumes amongst which are many
Solon Solon Cyrus admiring caused him to be asked what God or man it was whom he invoked in this his extremity he replied That Solon came into his mind who had wisely admonished him not to trust to his present fortune nor to think himself happy before he came to his end I laught said he at that time but now I approve and admire that saying so did Cyrus also presently commanding Croesus to be freed and made him one of his friends CHAP. IX Of such as have left places of highest Honour and Employment for a private and retired Condition GReat Travellers who have fed their eyes with variety of prospects and pleased themselves with the conversation of persons of different Countries are oftentimes observed upon their return to retire themselves and more to delight in solitude than other men The like sometimes befals men of great Honours and Employments they retreat unto a private life as men that are full and have taken a kind of surfeit of the World and when they have done so have enjoyed more of contentment and satisfaction of mind than all their former noiseful and busied splendour could afford them 1. Doris the Athenian having governed the Common-wealth six and thirty years with much sincerity and Justice became weary of publick Negotiations he therefore dislodged from Athens and went to a Country-house or Farm which he had in a Village not far distant and there reading Books of Husbandry in the night time and practising those rules in the day time he wore out the space of fifteen years Upon the Frontispiece of his House these words were engraven Fortune and Hope adieu to you both seeing I have found the true entrance to rest and contentment 2. The Emperour Charles the Fifth after he had reigned as King forty years and had thirty six of those years been possessed of the Empire of Germany that Charles who from the sixteenth year of his age wherein he first bore a Scepter to the fifth sixth year of his age wherein he surrendred all had been a great and most constant Favourite of Fortune after he had made 300 Sieges and gained the Victory in more than twenty set Battels he whose whole life and adventures were nothing else but a concatenation of Victories and Triumphs and a glorious continuation of most renowned successes after he had made nine Voyages into Germany six into Spain seven into Italy four into France ten into the Low-Countries two into England two into Africa and eleven times traversed the main Ocean who yet in all these his various and great Enterprises met with no check nor frown of Fortune except in the Siege of Marcelleis and the business of Algiers I say this illustrious Prince in the pitch and height of all his glory did freely and of his own accord descend from his Thrones resigned his Kingdom of Spain to his Son Philip his Empire to his Brother Ferdinand withdrew from a Royal Palace and retired first to a private house at Bruxels and thence descended to an humble Hermitage in the Monastery of St. Iustus seven miles from Placentia attended only with twelve Servants forbidding that any should call him other than Charles disclaiming together with the Affairs the pompous Names of Caesar and Augustus 3. Diocletianus the Emperour of Rome being filled and laden with worldly Honours which he had acquired to himself both in Peace and War even to the making himself to be worshipped for a God This great Person seeing no constancy in humane affairs and feeling how full his Imperial charge was of travels cares and perils left off the Managing and Government of the Empire and chusing a private life retired himself to Salona where he spent his time in Gardening and Husbandry and although after he had continued there some years he was earnestly importuned by Maximianus and Galerius his Successors to resume the Empire yet could he never be perswaded to quit his solitude till he parted with that and his life together 4. Sâ—atocopius King of Bohemia and Moravia having received an overthrow in a Battel by the Emperour Arnolphus withdrew himself secretly out of the Fight and unknown as he was saved himself by the swiftness of his Horse Being come alone to a Mountain called Sicambri he left there his Arms and Horse and began to walk on foot when entring into a vast Wilderness he framed himself like a poor Pilgrim to feed upon Apples and Roots until he had met with three other Hermits to whom he joined himself abiding with them unknown till his last When his time drew near that he should dye he calls the three Eremites You know not yet said he who I am the truth is I am King of Bohemia and Moravia who being overthrown in a Battel have sought my refuge here with you I dye having tryed both what a Royal and a private life is There is not any Greatness of a King to be preferred before the tranquillity of this solitariness The safe sleeps which we enjoy here make the roots savoury and the water sweet unto us on the contrary the care and dangers of a Kingdom make all meat and drink taste bitter to us That part of my life which remained I have passed happily with you that which I led upon my Regal Throne deserveth more the title of death than of life Assoon as my Soul hath parted from my body ye shall bury me here in this place and then going into Moravia ye shall declare these things to my Son if he yet lives and having thus said he departed this life 5. The Captain Similis was Prefect of the Palace to Hadrian the Emperour and after he had procured leave at last to quit himself of his employment and to retire into the Country he lived there in rest with privacy and content for the space of seven years and when he found himself near unto death he ordained by his last Will this Epitaph to be inscribed upon his Tomb. Similis hic jacet cujus atas quidem multorum annorum fâ—it septem tamen dunt axat annis vixit That is Here lyeth Similis who was indeed of a great age yet lived only seven years 6. Lucius Sylla having with great labours and infinite perils arrived unto the Dictatorship in Rome than which there is no power more absolute and having therein governed with such severity as to put to death two thousand six hundred Roman Knights slain ten Consuls forced thousands from their Country into Exile and prohibited unto divers all Funeral Honours yet without fear of accounting for any of his past actions and not being in the least enforced thereunto by any necessity of his affairs he voluntarily deposed himself from that high Seat of Magistracy and retired to a life of privacy in Rome and whereas one day as he passed along in the Market-place he was reproached and insolently treated by a young man he contented himself to say with a low voice to some
THE WONDERS OF THE Little World Or a General HISTORY of MAN IN Six BOOKS WHEREIN By many thousands of Examples is shewed what MAN hath been FROM THE First Ages of the World to these Times In respect of his Body Senses Passions Affections His Virtues and Perfections his Vices and Defects his Quality Vocation and Profession and many other particulars not reducible to any of the former Heads Collected from the Writings of the most approved Historians Philosophers Physicians Philologists and others By Nath Wanley M. A. and Vicar of Trinity Parish in the City of Coventry Quicquid agunt Homines Votum Timor Ira Voluptas Gaudia Discursus nostri est farrago libelli Juvenal Satyr 1. Conamur tenues grandia Hor. lib. 1. ode 6. LONDON Printed for T. Basset at the George in Fleet-street R. Cheswel at the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard I. Wright at the Crown on Ludgate-hill And T. Sawbridge at the three Flowers de Luce in Little Britain 1678. TO THE HONOURABLE Sir Harbottle Grimstone KNIGHT and BARONET MASTER of the ROLLS SIR THose who have done good offices for other men may forget them if they please and by how much the less they insist upon them the greater certainly is their Generosity But he who hath been on the receiving hand or any way assisted by the Goodness of another is bound to preserve the obligations he is under in everlasting remembrance Besides if when opportunity favours him he do not some way express his Gratitude and shew at least his willingness to be thankful he betrays abaseness utterly unworthy of a second Benefactor Sir many years ago it was my happiness to have you my Friend and then I had frequent experience of a Steadiness and Constancy a Humility and Integrity which I have met with but in few of those persons that are of a quality like unto that of yours You were pleased to do for me more than ever you had made me the promise of and much more than a man of my slender merit might reasonably expect from you or any other These things I have many times delightfully considered of and since I am not likely to render you any other compensation or return I was willing to make you this Address wherein I might give some publick testimony how sensibly I find my self affected with the memory of your manifold kindness towards me a great addition to which will be the acceptance of this mean Present which I here lay at your Feet and then cease to give you a further trouble from Coventrey Iune 17 1677. Honourable Sir Your most Obliged Humble Servant NATH WANLEY THE PREFACE TO THE READER THE first thoughts I had about the Entrance upon such a Design as the History of Man were occasioned by some passages I met with in my Lord Verulam's Book of the Advancement of Learning where I found him saying That Touching the matter of Man's Prerogatives it is a Point that may well be set down amongst Deficients He adds I suppose it would much conduce to the Magnanimity and Honour of Man if a Collection were made of the Vltimities as the Schools speak or Summities as Pindar of Humane Nature principally out of the faithful Reports of History that is what is the last and highest pitch to which Man's Nature of it self hath ever reached in all the Perfections both of Body and Mind It is evident goes he on what we mean namely that the Wonders of Humane Nature and Virtues as well of Mind as of Body should be collected into a Volume which might serve as a Calender of Humane Triumphs For a Work of this nature we approve the Purpose and Design of Valerius Maximus and C. Plinius but it could be wished they had used more choice and diligence When I had read thus far I considered what had been done already in this matter by the two forenamed Writers and in the issue was well satisfied that they had not performed so much herein but that there was yet Field-room enough left for any such as had the leisure and inclination to exercise themselves further upon this Subject As for my self I was sufficiently sensible that I lay under too many Discouragements to adventure upon a Work of this nature For whereas it requires variety of Books great Judgment vast Reading and a full Freedom and Leisure to attend upon it In respect of all these I knew my own Poverty and thereupon that I had no reason to intermeddle in an Affair wherein I could expect to meet with little or no success But whereas my first intentions were to make some such little Collections and References in this kind as might some way be serviceable to my self only I know not how by degrees I found I had enlarged far beyond my own purposes and then was perswaded by some such persons as I have reason to esteem that this Collection such as it now is might not be unuseful nor unacceptable to some sorts of Men in case I should make it publick as I have now done I must confess that in the whole of this Book there is little of my own besides the Method and way of its Composure and therefore if some of these Examples which I have set down may seem utterly incredible or at best but improbable let it be remembred that I am not the Inventor but Reciter not the Framer but only the Collector of them wherein too I have usually laid the Child at the Father 's own Door or however have cited those Authors from whence I received the report and the intelligence thereof I impose nothing upon any Man's belief but leave every Reader at his full liberty for the degree of his Faith in these matters And if I have cited more than one or two Writers for this or that Example it is not of mere vanity but for some such reasons as these sometimes I have â—ssisted my self with some Circumstances from one which were not to be met with in the other Author Or it may be it was partly to shew that I am not the only Man who have thought fit to gather up such trifles as some it may be will be ready to call some of these I have here concerned my self with The Marginal Citations are made to the very Pages for the purpose that such as have any of those Editions which I followed may immediately turn to what they desire to peruse And for others whose Editions are different they have at least the Book Chapter and Section for their Guide to further them in their speedy finding of what they look for If any man find fault that the several Heads I treat of are not so orderly placed and disposed as they might have been I shall say it is not unlikely but withal it may be considered that a Book of this Volume is too much to write over often and that the exactness as the matter now is would not answer the labour nor quit the cost To as
how they have been rewarded 119 Chap. 17. Of the envious Nature and Disposition of some men 120 Chap. 18. Of Modesty and the Shame-faced Nature of some men and women 122 Chap. 19. Of Impudence and the shameless Behaviour of divers persons 124 Chap. 20. Of Iealousie and how strangely some have been affected with it 125 Chap. 21. Of the Commiseration Pity and Compassion of some men to others in time of their Adversity 127 Chap. 22. Of the deep Dissimulation and Hypocrisie of some men 128 The THIRD BOOK CHap. 1. Of the early appearance of Virtue Learning Greatness of Spirit and Subtlety in some Young Persons 130 Chap. 2. Of such as having been extream Wild and Prodigal or Debauched in their Youth have afterwards proved excellent Persons 132 Chap. 3. Of Punctual Observations in Matters of Religion and the great regard some men have had to it 134 Chap. 4. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood 137 Chap. 5. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace 139 Chap. 6. Of the signal Love that some men have shewed to their Country 140 Chap. 7. Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives 142 Chap. 8. Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands 144 Chap. 9. Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children 147 Chap. 10. Of the Reverence and Piety of some Children to their Parents 149 Chap. 11. Of the singular Love of some Brethren to each other 152 Chap. 12. Of the singular Love of some Servants to their Masters 154 Chap. 13. Of the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagement and Trust reposed in them 157 Chap. 14. Of the exact Obedience which some have yielded to their Superiours 159 Chap. 15. Of the Generosity of some Persons and the Noble Actions by them performed 161 Chap. 16. Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things 164 Chap. 17. Of the Hospitality of some men and their free Entertainment of Strangers 165 Chap. 18. Of the blameless and innocent Life of some Persons 167 Chap. 19. Of the choicest Instances of the most intire Friendship 168 Chap. 20. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what returns they have made of Benefits received 171 Chap. 21. Of the Meekness Humanity Clemency and Mercy of some men 174 Chap. 22. Of the light and gentle Revenges some have taken upon others 177 Chap 23. Of the Sobriety and Temperance of some men in their Meat and Drink and other things 179 Chap. 24. Of the Affability and Humility of divers Great Persons 181 Chap. 25. Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein 182 Chap. 26 Of the Subtilty and Prudence of some men in the Investigation and discovery of things and their Determinations about them 184 Chap. 27. Of the Liberal and Bountiful Disposition of divers Great Persons 186 Chap. 28. Of the Pious Works and Charitable Gifts of some men 189 Chap. 28. Of such as were Lovers of Iustice and Impartial Administrators of it 192 Chap. 30. Of such Persons as were Illustrious for their singular Chastity both Men and Women 195 Chap. 31. Of Patience and what power some men have had over their Passions 199 Chap. 32. Of such as have well deported themselves in their Adversity or been improved thereby 200 Chap. 33. Of the willingness of some men to forgive Injuries received 201 Chap. 34. Of such as have patiently taken free Speeches and Reprehensions from their Inferiors 203 Chap. 35. Of the incredible strength of Mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of Torments and other Hardship 205 Chap. 36. Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some famous Men. 207 Chap. 37. Of the fearless Boldness of some Men and their desperate Resolutions 210 Chap. 38. Of the immoveable Constancy of some Persons 213 Chap. 39. Of the great Confidence of some Men in themselves 214 Chap. 40. Of the great reverence shewed to Learning and Learned Men. 216 Chap. 41. Of the exceeding intentness of some Men upon their Meditations and Studies 218 Chap. 42. Of such Persons as were of choice Learning and singular Skill in the Tongues Chap. 43. Of the first Authors of divers famous Inventions 222 Chap. 44. Of the admirable Works of some curious Artists 224. Chap. 45. Of the Industry and Pains of some Men and their hatred of Idleness 229 Chap. 46. Of the Dexterity of some men in the instruction of several Crâ—atures 230 Chap. 47. Of the Taciturnity and Secrecy of some men instrusted with privacies 232 Chap. 48. Of such who in their raised Fortunes have been mindful of their low beginnings 233 Chap. 49. Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable poverty of some illustrious persons 234 Chap. 50. Of such Persons as have preferred Death before the loss of thâ—ir Liberty and what some have endured in the preservation of it 237 Chap. 51. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of humane frailty 238 Chap. 52. Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity 239 Chap. 53. Of the Gallantry wherewith some Persons have received death or the message of it 241 The FOURTH BOOK CHap. 1. Of Atheists and such as have made no account of Religion with their Sacrilegious actions and the punishments thereof 361 Chap. 2. Of such as were exceeding hopeful in youth but afterwards improved to the worse 363 Chap. 3. Of the rigorous Severity of some Parents to their Children and how unnatural others have shewed themselves towards them 364 Chap. 4. Of the degenerate Sons of illustrious Parents 366 Chap. 5. Of undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents 368 Chap. 6. Of the Affectation of divine Honours and the desire of some men te be reputed Gods 370 Chap. 7. Of unnatural Husbands to their Wives 372 Chap. 8. Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them 373 Chap. 9. Of the deep hatred some have conceived against their own Brethren and the unnatural actions of Brothers and Sisters 374 Chap. 10. Of the Barbarous and Savage Cruelty of some men 376 Chap. 11. Of the bitter Revenges that some men have taken upon their enemies 379 Chap. 12. Of the great and grievous oppressions and unmercifulness of some men and their punishments 382 Chap. 13. Of the bloody and cruel Massacres in several places and their occasions 384 Chap. 13. Of the excessive Prodigality of some Persons 385 Chap. 14. Of the Prodigious Luxury of some men in their Feasting 387 Chap. 15. Of the Voraciousness of some great Eaters and the Swallowers of Stones c. 390 Chap. 16. Of great Drinkers and what great quantities they have swallowed 391 Chap. 17. Of Drunkenness and what hath befallen some men in theirs 393 Chap. 18. Of the Luxury and Expence of some Persons in Apparel and their Variety therein and in their other Furniture 395 Chap. 19. Of Gaming
and some mens Expensiveness therein together with the woful and dreadful Consequences of it 397 Chap. 20. Of the oversights of some Persons of great Abilities and their Imprudence in their Speeches or affairs 398 Chap. 21. Of the Dangerous and Destructive Curiosity of some men 400 Chap. 22. Of the Ignorance of the Ancients and others 401 Chap. 23. Of the Slothfulness and Idleness of some men 403 Chap. 24. Of the blockish Dulness and Stupidity of some Persons 404 Chap. 25. Of the Treacherous and Infirm Memories of some men and what injuries have been done thereunto through Age Diseases or other Accidents 406 Chap. 26. Of the Absurd and strange Follies of divers men 407 Chap. 27. Of such as have been at vast expences about unprofitable attempts and wherefrom they have been enforced to desist or whereof they have had small or no benefit 409 Chap. 28. Of false Accusers and how the Accused have been acquitted 410. Chap. 29. Of Perjured Persons and how they have been punished 412 Chap. 30. Of the Inconstancy of some men in their nature and disposition 414 Chap. 31. Of the Covetous and Greedy Disposition of some men 416 Chap. 32. Of the Tributes and Taxes some Princes have Imposed upon their Subjects 418 Chap. 33. Of Cheats and the extraordinary boldness of some in their Thefts 420 Chap. 34. Of Persons of base Birth who assumed the names of illustrious persons 424 Chap. 35. Of the huge Ambition of some men and their Thirst after Soveraignty 425 Chap. 36. Of the great desire of glory in some Noble and other Ignoble Persons 429 Chap. 37. Of the intollerable Pride and haughtiness of some Persons 426 Chap. 38. Of the Insolence of some men in Prosperity and their abject Baseness in Adversity 431 Chap. 39. Of the vain-glorious Boasting of some men 433 Chap. 40. Of the unadvised Rashness and Temerity of some Persons 443 Chap. 41. Of such Persons as were discontented in their happiest Fortunes 434 Chap. 42. Of Litigious Persons and bloody Quarrels upon slight occasions 436 Chap. 43. Of such as have been too fearful of Death and over desirous of Life 437 Chap. 44. Of the gross Flatteries of some men 404 Chap. 45. Of such as have been found guilty of that which they have reprehended or disliked in others 441 Chap. 46. Of such Persons as could not endure to be told of their Faults 442 Chap. 47. Of the base Ingratitude of some unworthy Persons 444 Chap. 48. Of the Perfidiousness and Treachery of some men and their Iust Rewards 447 Chap. 49. Of Voluptuous and Effeminate Persons 451 Chap. 50. Of the Libidinous and unchaste Life of some Persons and what Tragedies have been occasioned by Adulteries 452 Chap. 51. Of the Incestuous Loves and Marriages of some men 453 Chap. 52. Of such as have been warned of their approaching Death who yet were not able to avoid it 455 Chap. 53. Of such as have unwittingly or unwarily procured and hastned their own Death and Downfal 458 Chap. 54. Men of unusual Misfortunes in their Affairs Persons or Families 459 Chap. 55. Of the Loquacity of some men their inability to retain intrusted Secrets and the Punishment thereof 461 The FIFTH BOOK CHap. 1. The Succession of the Roman and Western Emperors 463 Chap. 2. Of the Eastern Greek and Turkish Emperors 469 Chap. 3. Of the Bishops and Popes in Rome and their Succession 493 Chap. 4. Of such men as have been the Framers and Composers of Bodies of Laws for divers Nations and Countries 482 Chap. 5. Of Embassadors what their Negotiations and after what manner they have behaved themselves therein 484 Chap. 6. Of such as were eminent Seamen or Discoverers of Lands or Passages by Sea formerly unknown 486 Chap. 7. Of the Eloquence of some men and the wonderful power of perswasion that hath been in their Speeches and Orations 488 Chap. 8. Of the most Famous Greek and Latin Historians 489 Chap. 9. Of the most Famous and Ancient Greek and Latine Poets 492 Chap. 10. Of Musick the strange efficacy of it and the most famous Musicians 496 Chap. 11. Of such as by sight of the Faâ—e could judge of the Inclinations Manners and Fortunes of the Person 497 Chap. 12. Of the Painters in former Times and the Principal Pieces of the best Artists 491 Chap. 13. Of the most eminent Artists for making of Statues and Images in Clay Marble Ivory Brass c. 493 Chap. 14. Of the most applauded Acters upon Theaters and the Name Riches and Favour of Great Persons they have thereby attained unto 494 Chap. 15. Of men notably practised in Swimming and how long some have continued under water 504 Chap. 16. Of the most famous Philosophers Academicks Stoicks Cynicks Epicureans and others 505 Chap. 17. Of the most Famous Printers in several Places 510 Chap. 18. Of such men as were of unusual Dexterity in shooting with the Bow or otherwise 510 Chap. 19. Of the Hereticks of former Ages and the Heresies maintained by them 511 Chap. 20. Of the most Famous Magicians Witches and Wizards and their mutual Contests their Diabolical Illusions and Miserable Ends. 515 Chap. 21. Of the Primitive Fathers and Doctors of the Church 518 The SIXTH BOOK CHap. 1. Of Dreams and what have been revealed to some Persons therein 545 Chap. 2. Of such Presages as have been to divers Persons and Places of their good and evil Fortune also of Presages by men to themselves or others by casual Words or Actions 549 Chap. 3. Of the Famous Predictions of some men and how the Event has been conformable thereunto 554 Chap. 4. Of several Illustrious Persons abused and deceived by Predictions of Astrologers and the equivocal Responses of Oraracles 558 Chap. 5. Of the Magnificent Buildings sumptuous and admirable Works of the Ancients and those of later Times 561 Chap. 6. Of the Libraries in the World their Founders and Number of Books contained in them 564 Chap. 7. Of such Persons who being of mean and low Birth have yet attained to great Dignity and considerable Fortunes 566 Chap. 8. Of Wonderful and sudden Changes in the Fortunes and Conditions of many Illustrious Persons 569 Chap. 9. Of such as have left Places of highest Honour and Employment for a private and retired condition 575 Chap. 10. Of Persons advanced to Honour through their own Subtlety some Accident or for some slight occasion 577 Chaap 11. Of sundry Customs that were in use and force with different Nations and People 580 Chap. 12. Of the several things that the several Persons and Nations have set apart and worshipped as their Gods 584 Chap. 13. Of the manner of Food which hath been or is yet in use amongst divers Nations and People or Persons addicted to some Idolatrous Sect. 588 Chap. 14. Of some Persons that have abstained from all manner of Food for many years together 589 Chap. 15. Of such as refused all Drink or to tast of any liquid thing or else found no need thereof 591 Chap. 16. Of
such men as used to walk and perform other strange things in their sleep 592 Chap. 17. Of the long sleeps of some and of others that have been able to subsist for Months and Years without it or were difficultly brought to it 594 Chap. 18. Of such as have fallen into Trances and Ecstasies and their manner of Behaviour therein 595 Chap. 19. Of extraordinary things in the Bodies Fortunes Death of divers persons c. 598 Chap. 20. Of matters of Importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents 600 Chap. 21. Of such as have framed themselves to an Imitation of their Superiours or others with the force of Example in divers things 601 Chap. 22. Of the Authority of some persons amongst their Soldiers and Countreymen and Seditions appeased by them divers ways 603 Chap. 23. Of such Princes and Persons as have been fortunate in the finding of hid Treasures and others that were deluded in the like expectation 604 Chap. 24. Of the Election and Inauguration of Princes in several places and Nations 605 Chap. 25. Of the Games and Plays of sundry Nations by whom they were instituted and when 607 Chap. 26. Of such Persons as have made their Appeals to God in case of Injury and Injustice from man and what hath followed thereupon 608 Chap. 27. Of the apparition of Demons and Spectres and with what courage some have endured the sight of them 611 Chep 28. Of the Imprecations of some men upon themselves or others and how they have accordingly come upon them 614 Chap. 29. Of the Error and Mistakes of some men and what hath fallen out thereupon 615 Chap. 30. Of Retaliation and of such as have suffered by their own devices 620 Chap. 31. Of such persons as have been extremely beloved by several Creatures as Beasts Birds Fishes Serpents c. 622 Chap. 32. Of the extraordinary honours done to some great persons in their life-time or at their death 624 Chap. 33. Of the strange and different ways whereby some persons have been saved from death 626 Chap. 34. Of such persons as have taken Poyson and quantities of other dangerous things without damage thereby 629 Chap. 35. Of such as have been happily cured of divers very dangerous Diseases and Wounds c. 630 Chap. 36. Of Stratagems in War for the amusing and defeating of the Enemy and taking of Cities c. 633 Chap. 37. Of the secret ways of Dispatch and the delivery of Messages by Letters Cyphers and other ways 637 Chap. 38. Of the sad Condition and deplorable Distresses of some men by Sea and Land 638 Chap. 39. Of Conscience the Force and Aesfects of it in some men 643 Chap. 40. Of Banishment and the sorts and manner of it amongst the Ancients c. 645 Chap. 41. Of the wise Speeches Sayings and Replies of several Persons 646 Chap. 52. Of such persons as were the first Leaders in divers things 647 Chap. 43. Of the witty Speeches or Replies suddenly made by some persons 659 Chap. 44. Of Recreations some men have delighted in or addicted themselves unto at leisure hours or that they have been immoderate in the use of 651 Chap. 45. Of such People and Nations as have been scourged and afflicted by small and contemptible things or by Beasts Birds Insects and the like 652 Imprimatur June 25. 1677. Guil. Jane R. P. D. Hen. Episc. Lond. a Sacris Dom. THE WONDERS Of the little WORLD Or a General and Complete HISTORY of MAN BOOK I. CHAP. I. Of such Infants as have been heard to cry while they were in the Womb of their Mothers THat which Mr. Beaumont wrote in his Elegy upon the Lady Rutland may very well be pronounc'd upon every of the Sons and Daughters of Men. But thou had'st e're thou cam'st to use of tears Sorrow laid up against thou cam'st to years So true is that of the sacred Oracle Man is born to trouble It seems trouble is his proper Inheritance and that as soon as he enters into Life he is of Age sufficient to enter upon the troubles of it also Yet as if this were somewhat with the latest there are some who seem even to anticipate their birth-right and as if the World was not wide enough to afford them their full measure of sorrow they begin their lamentations in the Womb. Or whether it is that provident Nature would have them to practise there in the dark what they shall afterwards seldome want occasion for so long as they enjoy the light The Histories of such little Prisoners as have been heard to cry in their close Apartments take as followeth 1. A poor Woman in Holland being great with child and near unto the time of her delivery the child in her Womb for the space of fifteen days before that of her Travail was heard almost continually to cry and lament many worthy persons went daily to hear so great a novelty and have testified upon their own knowledge the unquestionable verity of it 2. When I was of late at Argentina with my Brother saith Leonardus Doldius it was credibly reported that the Wife of a Taylor in that Neighbour-hood together with divers others did hear the child cry in her Womb some days before the time of her Travail He adds to this the History of another in Rotenburgh 3. In our Town saith he Anno 1596. November 12. which was the forty second day before the Birth the Parents heard the cry of their Daughter in the Womb once and the day following twice the Mother died in Travail the Daughter is yet alive 4. Anno 1632. In the Town of Wittenberg on the Calends of March there was a Woman who had been big with child more then eleven Months This Woman together with her Husband have sometimes heard the child cry before she was deliver'd of it which she was afterwards very happily 5. I my self together with the Learned Salmasius will be witnesses of such like cryings in the Womb I liv'd 1640. in Belgia when it was commonly affirmed of a Woman near Vessalia who then had gone three years entire big with a child that that child of hers was heard so to cry by many persons worthy of credit 6. A noble Person at Leyden used to tell of her Brother's Wife that lying in Bed with her Husband near her time she heard the child cry in her Womb amaz'd with which she awakened her Husband who put his head within the cloaths and listening did also hear the same the Woman was so affrighted that few days after she fell in Travail 7. Anno 1648. Thâ—re was a Woman the Wife of a Seaman near to the Church of Holmiana who had been big for eight Months she was of a good habit of body and not old this Woman upon the Eve of Christmas-day upon the Calends of the year following and in Epiphany all those several times heard the child that was in her Womb who
the one was born in Asia and the other beyond the Alps But when Antonius came after to the knowledge thereof and that the fraud was bewray'd by the Language of the Boys he sell into a furious sit of choler rating Toranius that he had made him pay two hundred Sesterces as for Twins and they were none such The wily Merchant answer'd that it was the cause why he held and sold them at so dear a rate For said he it is no marvel if two brethren Twins who lay in the same Womb resemble one another but that there should be any sound born as these were in divers Countries so like in all respects as they he held it as a most rare and wonderful thing Antonius at this was appeased and well contented with his Bargain 10. Anno 1598. There were with us at Basil two Twin-brothers who were born at one Birth in the seventh Month 1538. they were so like to one another in the features of the Body that I have often spoke to the one instead of the other though both were very well known to me and that they had been frequently conversant with me Nay they were so like in their natural inclinations that as they often have told me what the one thought has secretly come into the mind of the other at the same time if the one was sick the other was not well as it fell out when one was absent and sick in Campania the other at the same time was sick at Basil. 11. Martinus Guerre and Arnoldus Tillius in features and lineaments of the Face were so exceedingly alike that when Martinus was gone abroad to the Wars Tillius by the near resemblance of his form betray'd the chastity of Martinus his Wife and not only so but impos'd upon four of his Sisters and divers others both Neighbours and Kindred who were not able to discover the difference betwixt them and which is the strangest of all he liv'd with this Woman as her Husband for some years together the companion both of her board and bed 12. Sporus the freed-man of Nero the Emperour was very like unto Sabina a most beautiful Lady beloved also by the same Emperour he so resembled her in all lineaments that Nero caused him to be cut that so instead of Sabina he might filthily use him as his beloved Lady 13. Medardus and Gerardus were Twin-brothers and French men they were not only born one and the same day but also both of them in one day preferred to Episcopal Dignity the one to the See of Rhotomage and the other to that of Noviodunum and lest any thing should be wanting to this admirable parity they also both deceased in one and the same day So that the Philosophers Hypoclides and Polystratus are no way to be preferred before these remarkable Twins one of these Twins instead of Gerhardus is call'd Chiladius by Kornmannus 14. Lucius Otho the Father of Otho the Emperour one of very Noble Blood by the Mothers side and of many great Relations was so dear unto and not so unlike unto Tiberius the Emperour that most men did verily believe he was begotten by him 15. Even in our days we have heard of two young Children which were Brothers at Riez an Episcopal City of Provence in France who being perâ—ectly like one another if one of them was sick the other was so too if one began to have pain in the Head the other would presently feel it if one of them was asleep or sad the other could not hold up his Head or be merry and so in other things as I have been assured by Mr. Poitevin a very honest man and a Native of that City 16. At Mechlin there were two Twin-brothers the Sons of Petrus Apostolius a Prâ—dent Senator of that place and at whose House Vives had friendly entertainment the Boys were both lovely to look upon and so like that not only strangers but the Mother her self often erred in the distinction of them whilst she liv'd and the Father as often by a pleasing errour calling Peter for Iohn and Iohn for Peter 17. Babyrtus a Messenian was a man of the meanest degree and of a lewd and silthy life but was so like unto Dorymachus both in the countenance all the lineaments of the Body and the very voice it self that if any had taken the Diadem and Robe of State and put it upon him it would not have been easie to discover which was which whence it came to pass that when Dorymachus after many injuries to the Messenians had also added threats to the rest of his insolence Sciron one of the Ephori there a bold man and lover of his Country said openly to him Dost thou Babyrtus suppose that we matter either thee or thy threats at which he was so nettled that he rested not till he had rais'd a War against the Messenians 18. That in the two Gordiani is a most memorable thing that the Elder of them was so very like unto Augustus that he not only resembled him in the Face but also in Speech behaviour and stature The Son of this man was exceeding like unto Pompey the Great and the third of the Gordiani begotten by him immediately before mention'd had as near a resemblance to Scipio Asiaticus the Brother of Scipio Affricanus the Elder so that in one Family there were the lively pourtraiture of three illustrious persons dead long before 19. I have seen saith Fulgosus amongst the Soldiers of Franciscus Sfortia the Duke of Millain a young man who did so resemble that countenance of his then which nothing was more amiable to look upon nor more worthy of a Prince that by the general consent of the whole Court he was call'd the Prince Franciscus himself as he was most courteous in all things not without pleasure did sometimes contemplate his own Image in him as in a Glass and in most things beheld and acknowledged his own gestures and voice 20. Io. Oporinus the Printer at Basil was so like unto Henry the Eighth King of England in the Face but especially to Albertus the Marquess of Brandenburgh that they might well seem to be natural Brothers there was also this further similitude betwixt them that as one fill'd all Germany with Wars so the other replensh'd all the Christian World with Books 21. Sigismundus Malatesta Prince of Ariminum was so very like in all the features of his Face to Marchesinus the Mimick that when he went to Millain this Marchesinus was sent away elsewhere by Franciscus Sfortia Duke of Millain and Father-in-law to Sigismundus as being ashamed of him for Marchesinus in his prattle by reason of this resemblance used to call Sigismond his Son 22. A certain young Man came to Rome in the shape of his body so like unto Augustus that he set all the people at gaze upon that sight Augustus hearing of it sent for the young man who being come into
might be truly said of him that which hath been applyed to others that he was a living Library or a third University Upon occasion of some Writings which passed to and fro betwixt him and Dr. Gentilis then our Professour of the Civil Laws he publickly confess'd that he thought Dr. Raynolds had read and did remember more of those Laws than himself though it were his Profession 17. Carmidas a Grecian or Carneades as Cicero and Quintilian call him was of so singular a memory that he was able to repeat by heart the contents of most Books in a whole Library as if he had read the same immediately out of the Books themselves 18. Portius Latro had so firm a memory by nature and that so fortified by art it was at once so capacious and tenacious that he needed not to read over again what he had written it sufficed that he had once wrote it and though he did that with great speed yet did he in that time get it by heart Whatsoever he had entrusted with his memory in this kind could never be erased whatsoever he had once pronounced without Book he still remembred Enjoying the happiness of such a Memory he needed not the assistance of Books he gloried that he wrote down all in his mind and what he had there written he ever had in such readiness that he never stumbled at the calling to mind of any one word He spake as if he had read out of a Book if any man propos'd the name of any great General such a Memory had he as to History that immediately he could recount all that he had done and would relate his exploits in such a manner not as if he repeated what he had before read but as if he read what he had newly written 19. The Memory of the famous Iewel Bishop of Salisbury was rais'd by Art and Industry to the highest pitch of Humane Possibility for he could readily repeat any thing that he had penn'd after once reading of it And therefore usually at the ringing of the Bell he began to commit his Sermons to heart and kept what he learn'd so â—irmly that he used to say That if he were to make a Speech premeditated before a thousand Auditors shouting or fighting all the while yet could he say whatsoever he had provided to speak Many barbarous and hard names out of a Kalender and fourty strange words Welsh Irish c. after once reading or twice at the most and short meditation he could repeat both forwards and backwards without any hesitation Sir Francis Bacon reading to him only the last clauses of ten lines in Erasmus his Paraphrase in a confused and dismembred manner he after a small paâ—se rehearsed all those broken parcels of sentences the right way and the contrary without stumbling 20. Petrarch speaks of a certain Soldier a friend of his and his companion in many a Journey that he had such a Memory that though he was afflicted with publick and private calamities which are wont either to destroy or at least to disturb and weaken the Memory he could yet faithfully retain all that he had seen or heard even to the observation also of the time and place wherein the thing was said or done he was most desirous of And those things which he had heard many times before if they were again spoken of and that any thing was added or diminished he was able to correct it By which means it came to pass that while he was present Petrarch was the more cautious and circumspect in speaking 21. Ierome of Prague the same that was burnt alive in the Council of Constance had it appears a most admirable Memory whereof Poggius in his Epistle to Leonardus Aretinus produces this as an argument that after he had been three hundred and forty days in the bottom of a stinking and dark Tower in a place where he not only could not read but not so much as see yet did he alledge the Testimonies of so many of the Learnedst and Wisest persons in favour of his Tenets cited so many of the Fathers of the Church as might have suâ—â—iced and been more than enow if all that time he had been intent upon his study without the least molestation or disturbance 22. Nepotianus cousin to Heliodorus the Bishop by his Sister was of that notable Memory that in disputations and familiar conference if any man cited a Testimony he could streight know from whence it was as suppose this was Tertullians this Cyprians that from Lactantiâ—s c. to conclude with continual reading he made his bosome the Library of Christ. 23. Theodorus Metochites who in the Reign of Andronicus Paleologus was an eminent person by the excellency of the Memory had attain'd to the very height of Learning If you ask'd him of any thing that was new or of Antiquity he would so recount it as if he recited it out of some Book so that in his discourses there was little need of Books for he was a living Library and as it were an Oracle where a man might know all that he had desired 24. Christopherus Longolius had such a Memory that scarce any continuance of time was able to remove those things from his mind which he had once fixed there Being often ask'd of many different things concerning which he had read nothing of many years yet would he answer with as much readiness to each of them as if he had read them but that very day If at any time a discourse chanced to be of such things as were treated on by divers and different Authors when the things were the same yet would he so distinguish of them in his discourse reciting every Author in his own words that he seemed to speak them not by heart whereby mistakes may arise but as if he had read them out of the Books themselves When he did this often he so rais'd the admiration of Auditors that they thought he made use of some Artifice and not of his natural Memory 25. In Padua near unto me dwelt a young man of Corsica of good birth and sent thither to study the Civil Law In the study of which he had spent some years with that diligence and attention that there was now raised amongst us a great opinion of his Learning He came often almost every day to my house and there going a report that he attain'd to an Art of Memory by assistance of which he was able to perform that which another could not believe unless he beheld it When I heard this I had a desire to behold these wonderful things as one that am not very credulous of such matters as come by hear-say I therefore desir'd him to give me some such kind of instance of his Art as he should think fit He told me he would do it when I pleas'd Immediately then said I and when he refus'd not all we who were present went into the next room
of and know them that stood by him and also used then to read Books as Photius in his Bibliothica witnesses of him 13. The Illustrious Count Gaspar Scioppius the honour of his age assured me for a certain truth that Io. Mich. Pierruccius a person of known abilities in Padua when he was young used in the night time to compose very elegant Verses and write them down exactly by that light which issued out of his own eyes 14. An excellent and very discreet person was relating to me that some time since whilst she was talking with some other Ladies upon a sudden all the objects she look upon appear'd to her dy'd with unsual colours some of one kind and some of another but all so bright and vivid that she should have been as much delighted as surprized with them but that finding the Apparition to continue she feared it portended some very great alteration as to her health as indeed the day after she was assaulted with such violence by Hysterical and Hypochondriacal distempers as both made her rave for some days and gave her during that time a bastard palsie 15. Being a while since in a Town where the Plague had made great havock and enquiring of an ingenious man that was so bold as without scruple to visit those that were sick of it about the odd symptoms of a disease that had swept away so many there He told me that he was able to tell divers patients to whom he was called before they took their beds or had any evident symptoms of the Plague that they were indeed infected upon peculiar observations that being asked they would tell him that the neighbouring objects and particularly his cloaths appeared to them beautiâ—i'd with most glorious colours like those of the Rain bow oftentimes succeeding one another And this he affirm'd to be one of the usual as well as early symptoms by which this odd Pestilence disclosed it self and when I ask'd how long the Patients were wonted to be thus affected he answer'd that it was most commonly for about a day 16. I know a Lady of unquestionable veracity who having lately by a desperate fall received several hurts and particularly a considerable one upon a part of her face near her eye had her sight so troubled and disorder'd that as she hath more than once related to me not only when the next Morning one of her servants came to her bedside to ask how she did his clothes appear'd adorn'd with such variety of colours that she was sain presently to command him to withdraw but the Images in her Hangings did for many days after appear to her if the room were not extraordinarily darkned embelished with several offensively vivid colours which no body else could see in them And when I enquired whether or no white objects did not appear to her adorn'd with more luminous colours than others and whether she saw not some which she could not now describe to any whose eyes had never been distemper'd She answer'd me That sometimes she thought she saw colours so new and glorious that they were of a peculiar kind and such as she could not describe by their likeness to any she had beheld before or since and that white did so disorder her sight that if several days after her fall she look'd upon the inside of a Book she fancy'd she there saw colours like those of the Rain-bow and even when she thought her self pretty well recover'd and made bold to leave her Chamber the coming into a place where Walls and Cieling were whited over made those objects appear to her with such glorious and dazling colours as much offended her sight and made her repent her venturousness and she added that the disâ—emper of her eyes lasted no less than five or six weeks though since that she hath been able to read and write much without finding the least inconvenience in so doing CHAP. IV. Of the Sense of Hearing and the quickness or dulness of it in divers men MR. Peacham speaks of a great Lady here in England whose cheek would rise up in a blister at the tenderest touch of a Rose It is no easie matter to assign the true reason of so strange an Antipathy nor can I tell whether it was the exquisiteness of the Sense or some peculiarity in the contexture of the Ear or otherwise that occasioned some sort of sounds to be so unpleasant and even intolerable to some more than others 1. Wenceslaus the Third King of Bohemia was not able to endure the noise of Bells when they were rung so that at the first sound of them he used to stop both his Ears with his Hands by reason of which when he came to Prague they were constrain'd to abstain from ringing especially the bigger Bells 2. Petrus Carrera a Spaniard and Governour of Guleta in Affrica could not bear the smell of Gun-powder nor indure the report of great Guns so that as oft as they were to be discharg'd upon the enemy he ran into subterranean caverns and vaulted places under the ground stopping up both his ears with pieces of silk by which means the taking of the City was made the more easie to Sinan Bassa which fell out Anno 1574. 3. When Sybeni in Italy was destroy'd the noise of that Battle was heard by them upon the same day that it was fought who then were spectators of the Olympick Games in Greece 4. Those who live near unto the place where Nilus hath its fall and where that impetuous River rushes headlong from the high and steep Rocks have their ears so beaten upon with continual noise that they utterly loose their hearing or rather hereby they are brought to that pass that without any trouble they are able to bear those sounds which are intolerable to other men nor can they hear unless they are call'd upon with extreme loudness and vehemency The same thing we may daily observe doth befal Millers and such men as continually live within the noise of a Water-Mill 5. Histiaeus the Milesian Tyrant with his men was left by Darius to defend a Bridge upon Ister against the Scythians in his absence for he was gone upward into the Country Histiaeus had cut off some part of it to secure himself and his party against the Darts of the Scythians and so lay off from it with his Ships when therefore Darius return'd and found him nor his Ships there he commanded an Egyptian with a loud voice to call Histiaeus who was the first of all others that heard the call and that at the first sound of his name whether it was that he was more watchful and intentive than others or that he was more sharp and acute in his hearing than the rest but so it was that he immediately return'd at the summons and joyning his Ships to the Bridge where it was broken he thereby delivered Darius out of the hands of the Scythians who were in
tells of one Cresin who manured a piece of ground which yielded him fruit in abundance while his neighbours Lands were extremely poor and barren for which cause he was accused to have inchanted them otherwise said his accuser his inheritance could not raise such a revenue while others stand in so wretched a condition But he pleading his cause did nothing else but bring forth a lusty Daughter of his well fed and well bred who took pains in his Garden also he shewed his strong Carts and stout Oxen which ploughed his Land his various implements of Husbandry and the whole equipage of his tillage in very good order He then cryed out aloud before the Judges Behold the Art Magick and Charms of Cresin The Judges did acquit him and doubted not but that his Lands fertility was the effect of his Industry and good Husbandry 2. There was one Mises who presented the great King Artaxerxes as he rode through Persia with a Pomegranate of a wonderful bigness which the King admiring demanded out of what Paradise he had gotten it who answered that he gathered it from his own Garden The King was exceedingly pleased with it and gracing him with Royal gifts swore by the Sun that the same man with like diligence and care might as well of a little City make a great one 3. The Emperour Theodosius the younger devoted the day to the Senate to military judicial and other affairs but a considerable part of the night to his studies and Books having his Lamp so made that it would pour in oyl of it self to renew the light that so he might neither lose time nor occasion an unseasonable disturbance to his Servants 4. Cleanthes was a young man and being extremely desirous to be a hearer of Chrysippus the Philosopher but wanting the necessary provisions for humane life he drew water and carried it from place to place in the night to maintain himself with the price of his labour and then all day he was attending upon the doctrines of Chrysippus where he so profited and withal so retained that industry he had while young that he read constantly to his Auditors to the ninety and ninth year of his Age others say Zeno was his Master and that wanting wherewith to buy paper he wrote memorials from him upon the bones of Cattel and the broken pieces of Pots Thus fighting in the night against poverty and in the day against ignorance he became at last an excellent person 5. St. Ierome saith that he himself had read six thousand books that were written by Origen who daily wearied seven Notaries and as many boys in writing after him 5. Demosthenes that afterwards most famous Orator of all Greece in his youth was not able to pronounce the first letter of that Art which he so affected but he took such pains in the correction of that defect in his pronunciation that afterwards no man could do it with a greater plainness his voice was naturally so slender and squeaking that it was unpleasant to the Auditory this also he so amended by continual exercise that he brought it to a just maturity and gratefulness the natural weakness of his lungs he rectified by labour striving to speak many verses in one breath and pronouncing them as he ran up some steep place he used to declaim upon the shores where the waters with greatest noise beat upon the Rocks that he might acquaint his Ears with the noise of a tumultuating people and to speak much and long with little stones in his mouth that he might speak the more freely when it was empty Thus he combated with nature it self and went away Victor overcoming the malignity of it by the pertinacious strength of his mind so that his Mother brought forth one and his own industry another Demosthenes 7. Iohannes Fernandas of Flanders though born blind and pressed with poverty yet by his sole industry attained to rare skill in Poetry Logick Philosophy and such a sufficiency in the Art of Musick that he was able to compose a song of four parts memoriter which others can difficultly do by setting all down in writing 8. Elfred a King of the West Saxons here in England designed the day and night equally divided into three parts to three especial uses and observed them by the burning of a Taper set in his Chappel eight hours he spent in meditation reading and prayers eight hours in provision for himself his repose and health and the other eight about the affairs of his Kingdom 9. Almost incredible was the painfulness of Baronius the compiler of the voluminous Annals of the Church who for thirty years together preached three or four times a week to the people 10. A Gentleman in Surry that had Land worth two hundred pounds per Annum which he kept in his own hands but running out every year he was necessitated to sell half to pay his debts and let the rest to a Farmer for one and twenty years Before that term was expired the Farmer one day bringing his Rent asked him if he would sell his Land Why said he will you buy it If it please you saith the Farmer How said he that 's strange tell me how this comes to pass that I could not live upon twice as much being my own and you upon one half thereof though you have payed rent for it or able to buy it Oh saith the Farmer but two words made the difference you said go and I said come Whaâ—'s the meaning of that said the Gentleman You lay in bed replyed the Farmer or took your pleasure and sent others about your business and I rose betimes and saw my business done my self 11. Marcus Antoninus the Emperour as he was a person of great industry himself so did he also bear so great a hatred unto idleness that he withdrew the salaries of such men as he found to be slothful and lazy in their imployments saying that there was nothing more cruel then that the common wealth should be gnawn and fed upon by such as procured no advantage thereunto by their labours 12. Ioanes Vischerus Rector of the University of Tubing when in the sixty third year of his age so dangerous a year to humane life though weak in body and thereby at liberty in respect of the statutes of the University from his office of teaching yet as alwayes before so then in the last act of his life he so followed his business that so long as he had any strength or ability so long as his voice and spirits permitted he was constant in his meditations comments and teaching And when by reason of the inclemence of the air he could not perform his part in the publick auditory of Physitians he strenuously continued to profess in private at his own house When his wife oftentimes advised and besought him that he would not do it but have some regard to his own health as a man that could
the time you went from me my life hath been so odious to me that I long for nothing so much as death and since it is the Queen's pleasure I am most willing to undergo it 7. Rubrius Flavius being condemned to death by Nero and brought to the Block when the Executioner spake to him that he would boldly stretch forth his neck Yes said he and I wish thou wouldst as boldly strike off my head 8. Ludovicus Cortesius a rich Lawyer of Padua commanded by his last Will and a great Mulct if otherwise upon his Heir that no Funeral should be kept for him no man should lament but as at a Wedding Musick and Minstrels to be provided and instead of black Mourners he took order that twelve Virgins clad in Green should carry him to the Church His Will and Testament was accordingly performed and he buried in the Church of St. Sophia 9. Cardinal Brundusinus caused this Epitaph in Rome to be inscribed upon his Tomb both to shew his willingness to die and to tax those that were loath to depart Excessi è vitae aerumnis facilisque lubénsque Ne pejora ipsâ morte dehinc videam With ease and freedom I resign'd this breath Lest I should longer see what 's worse than death 10. The words of dying Plotinus saith Caelius are worthy to be writ in Letters of Gold or if there be any other thing that is more precious than it in as much as they prescribe each of us what to do in the like case He lay as I said a dying when Eustochius went to Puteoli to visit him Hitherto said Plotinus I expected thee and even now I am labouring to return that which is divine in us unto that Divinity that informs and enlivens the whole Vniverse And having said these words he gave up the Ghost The End of the Third Book of the Wonders of the Little World THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I. Of Atheists and such as have made no account of Religion with their Sacrilegious actions and the punishments thereof THat was a worthy Law which was made by Numa Pompilius amongst the Romans viz. That men should not serve the gods in transitu as they passed by nor when they were in haste or were about any other business but that they should worship and pray to them when they had time and leisure and had set all other business apart He thought that the gods could never be attended upon with reverence and devotion enough whereas many of those that follow were so much of the contrary mind that they would abstain from no kind of affronts and abuses both in word and deed towards them whom they esteemed as their Deities most of these have been made as exemplary in their punishments as they had been presumptuous in their impieties 1. A young Florentine Anno 1527. esteemed a man very brave and valiant in arms was to fight with another young man who because he was melancholy and spake little was called Forchebene they went together with a great company to the place appointed which was without the Port of St. Gal whither being come a friend to the former went to him and said God give you the Victory the proud young man adding blasphemy to his temerity answered How shall he chuse but give it me They came to use their weapons and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God gave him a thrust in the mouth with such force that having fastned his tongue to the poll of his neck where the sword went through above the length of a span he made him fall down dead the sword remaining in his mouth to the end that the tongue which had so grievously offended might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin 2. When Cambyses King of Persia had conquered Egypt seeing the Ox that is consecrated to Apis he smote him into the Hip so that he died The more wicked in this that what he did to that Idol Beast he did as he supposed to the true God in contempt of all Religion But not long after the counterfeit Smerdis rebelling against him and having seised the greatest part of Persia as Cambyses was mounting his Horse with a purpose to march against him his sword fell out of the scabbard the same sword with which he had before slain the Ox by this he received a wound in his Hip in the same place wherein he had given one to the Ox and of this wound in a short time he died 3. Vrracha the Queen of Arragon made War with her son Alphonsus and when she wanted money she determined to rifle the Shrine of St. Isidore at Leons in Spain such as went with her feared to touch those Treasures she therefore with her own hands seised upon many things but as she was going forth of the Temple she fell down dead So dangerous it is to adventure upon that which our selves are perswaded is Sacriledge though it should not be so in it self 4. Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracuse having rifled the Temple of Proserpina in Locris and sailing thence with a prosperous wind See said he smiling to his friends what a good Voyage the gods grant to them that are sacrilegious From Iupiter Olympius he pull'd off a garment of Gold of great weight which King Hiero of Syracuse had dedicated out of the spoiles of the Carthaginians and instead thereof caused a woollen one to be put upon him saying That a garment of Gold was too heavy in Summer and too cold in Winter but a woollen one was convenient for both seasons He caused the golden Beard of Esculapius at Epidaurus to be taken off saying It was not fit that he should have a Beard when his father Apollo was beardless He took out of the Temples also the tables of Gold and Silver and thereon being wrote according to the custom of Greece That these were the Goods of the gods he said he would make use of their goodness Also the golden Goblets and Crowns which the Statues held out in their hands he took from thence saying He did but receive what was given and that it was great folly to refuse what was proffered from their hands to whom we pray that we may receive 5. Heliogabalus would needs be married to one of the Vestal Virgins he caused the perpetual fire which was ever preserved burning in honour of Vesta to be put out and as one that intended to wage war with the gods he violated indifferently all the Rites and Ceremonies of Religion in Rome by which impiety he so provoked gods and men against him that he was assaulted and slain by his own Souldiers 6. Alphonsus the tenth King of Spain would usually blame Providence and say That had he been present with Almighty God in the Creation of the World many things should have been better ordered and disposed than
a speedy dismission from that Province which had fallen to him as Questor that he might seek out occasions for great Enterprizes as soon as might be 12. Pericles was cited to the Assembly by the angry Athenians for that he had spent so much Treasure upon publick Works and Ornaments in the City he mildly replied Doth it therefore repent you O Citizens I shall then make you this Proposition Let my name be inscribed upon each of these Works and I will defray the expences therein at my own cost and charge At this all the Assembly cryed out That he should go on in the name of the gods and that he should not desist from expences upon that account behold an honourable contest for Glory betwixt him and the people 13. Trajanus the Emperour did openly and almost every where aim at this for whether he made any new Work or repaired any that was old even upon the most inconsiderable things he caused his name to be inscribed insomuch that thereupon some in a scoffing manner termed him the Wall Flower or Pellitory on the Wall 14. Alexander the Great took Calisthenes along with him a man famous for wisdom and eloquence on purpose to write the History of his Exploits and by his writings to spread abroad the glory of his Name He also cherished Aristotle upon the same account and gave him a most liberal and magniâ—icent allowance of eighty Talents towards the compleating of that one Book of his History of Animals hoping his Name would thereby be perpetuated When he came to Sigaeum and beheld there the Tomb of Achilles he sigh'd and cry'd out O fortunate young man who hadst a Homer to Trumpet out thy fame So also meeting with a Messenger who by his gesture and countenance seemed to have some joyful matter to relate What good News hast thou said he is Homer alive again By that saying expressing his ardent desire to have had the most excellent Writer to have been the describer of his Acts and the publisher of his Praises 15. Commodus that blemish of the Empire was yet desirous of a great name and fame abroad so that he called the City of Carthage after his own name Commodiana He took off Nero's head from the Colossus and set his own upon it instead of the other He also caused some Months to be called after him But we find that fortune hath still opposed them that have sought Glory in an oblique line For though in brave persons such as Alexander Iulius Augustus their names do yet continue in Cities and Months Yet not so to Nero Caligula Commodus and others their like For soon after their death all those things were extinguished from whence they hoped for an eternity 16. Pausanias one of near attendance upon the person of Philip King of Macedon on a time asked Hermocles which way a man might suddenly become famous Who replied If he did kill some Illustrious Person for by this means it would come to pass that the glory of that man should redound to himself hereupon he slew Philip and indeed he obtained what he sought for he rendred himself as well known to posterity by his Parricide as Philip did by his vertue 17. There went a fame of a certain Indian that he had such a peculiar skill in shooting that he could at pleasure pass his Arrows through a Ring set up at a convenient distance this man was brought Prisoner and presented to Alexander the Great who desired him to give him an instance of his Art in that kind The Indian refused whereat Alexander was so incensed that he commanded he should be led away and slain while he was leading on to the place of his intended punishment he told the Souldiers That he had for some time disaccustomed himself from shooting and that fearing through want of exercise that he should not perform what he desired he had therefore refused the Emperours command This was told again unto Alexander who thereupon not only commanded he should be set at liberty but also gave him many gifts admiring the greatness of his Spirit that had rather die than lose any of that reputation he had formerly gained 18. Nero the Emperour was possessed with a desire though an inconsiderate one of eternity and perpetual fame and thereupon abolishing the old names of many things and places he gave them others from his own name The Month April he would have called Neroneus and he had determined to have named Rome it self Neropolis or Nero's City 19. Aelius Adrianus the Emperour was of an eager but various disposition he covered the impetuousness of his mind with a kind of Artifice feigning Continence Courtesie and Clemency and on the other side dissembling and concealing as he could that burning desire that he had after Glory He envyed great Wits both living and dead he endeavoured to extenuate the glory of Homer and gave order to celebrate the memory of Antimachus in his stead whereas many had not so much as heard of his name before He persecuted even such Handicrafts men as excelled in any particular thing many of which he depressed and crushed and many of them he caused to be slain For whereas he himself was desirous to be accounted superexcellent in all things he hated all others that had made themselves remarkable in any thing Having bought peace of divers Kings by private presents he boasted that he had done more sitting still than others by their Forces and Arms. 20. Pompey the Great pursued the Pirates in the Piratick War into Creet where when he found they were opposed by Metellus the Pretor in that Island inflamed with an over desire of Glory he defended them against Metellus with his own Forces that he might have no Roman copartner with him in the Piratick Victory CHAP. XXXVII Of the intolerable Pride and haughtiness of some Persons THe Pride of the Jesuites is as generally as justly taxed who being the youngest of all other Orders and therefore by Canon to go last will never go in Procession with other Orders because they will not come behind them An unworthy tumour of the soul this vice is and such a misbecoming blister that seldom or never is observed to rise upon those minds that are truly noble and generous at least not till they are intoxicated and put besides themselves by an over-liberal draught out of the luscious cup of fortunes Continued prosperity and affluence of all things has indeed unhinged the souls of many that were otherwise brave men and made them do things that signified they had no sentiments of mortality left within them so that Memento â—e esse hominem might seem no more than what is necessary to some that are mentioned in the following Examples 1. Dominicus Sylvius Duke of Venice marryed a Gentlewoman of Constantinople she was plunged into sensuality with so much profusion that she could not endure to lodge but in Chambers full of delicious
Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 26. Quenstedt dial p. 382. Quintil. de Instit. orator l. 10. c. 1. p. 472. 10. Publ. Ovidius Naso was born at Sulmo an old Town of the Peligni in Italy thus saith he himself Trist. lib. 4. Eleg. 10. Sulmo mihi patria est gelidis uberrimus undis Millia qui novies distat ab urbe decem He excels all others in Elegy and therefore by Dempster is called The Prince of Elegy in the judgement of Seneca he is a most ingenious Poet had he not reduced that plenty of wit and matter into childish toyes his Medaea saith Quintilian shews how much that man was able to perform had he chose rather to govern than indulge his wit he died in his banishment and is buried near the Town of Tomos he flourished Anno Dom. 4. Quintil. de Instit. orator lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 473. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 29. Senec. nat Quaest. cap. 27. p. 11. C. Valerius Catullus was born at Verona of no obscure Parentage for his father was familiar with Iulius Caesar and he himself was so accepted at Rome for the facility of his wit and learning that he merited the Patronage of Cicero as he himself acknowledges with thanks He loved Clodia whom by a feigned name he calls Lesbia Martial prefers him before himself he died at Rome in the thirtieth year of his age and that was commonly said of him Tantum parva suo debet Verona Catullo Quantum magna suo Mantua Virgilio He flourished Olympiad 180. Anno Dom. 40. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 1. p. 14. Gell. noct Attic. lib. 7. cap. 20. p. 220. 12. Albius Tibullus of an Equestrian Family in Rome a Poet famous for his Elegies in which he was the first amongst the Romans that excel'd saith Vossius he was in familiarity with Horace and Ovid. He loved Plancia under the feigned name of Delia whereas he was very rich by the iniquity of the times he complains he was reduced to poverty he composed four Books of Elegies and died young for the elegancy of his Verse it is said of him Donec erunt ignes arcusque Cupidinis arma Discentur numeri culte Tibulle tui He flourished A. ab V. C. 734. Quenste dt dial p. 369. Petr. Crinit de Poet. Lat. lib. 3. p. 71. 13. Sex Aurel. Propertius was born in Mevania a Town in Vmbria as he himself somewhere saith Vt nostris tumefacta superbiat Vmbria libris Vmbria Romani patria Callimachi He complains that he was put out of his fathers Lands in that division that was made amongst the Souldiers of the Triumvirate The true name of his Cynthia was Hostia saith Apuleius We have four Books of his Elegies some write that he died in the forty first year of his age he flourished with Ovid Catullus and Tibullus Petr. Crinit de Poet. Lat. lib. 3. p. 71. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 31. 14. Cornelius Gallus born at Forojulium was an Oratour and famous Poet from a mean fortune he was received into the friendship of Augustus and by him made the first President of Aegypt when it was become a Roman Province Through his discourse in his Wine at a Feast he came into suspicion of a Conspiratour and being turn'd over to the Senate to be condemn'd for very shame he slew himself in the sixty third year of his age he wrote four Book of Elegies his Lycoris was one Cytheris a freed Maid of Volumnius most of his Writings are lost he flourished Olympiad 188. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 25. 15. Decius Iunius Iâ—venaliâ— was born at Aquinum in Italy he spent his studies in writing Satyres following the examples of Lucilius and Horace in which kind he hath gained no mean reputation amongst the learned The Prince of Satyrists saith I. Scaliger his Verses are far better than those of Horace his Sentences are sharper and his phrase more open having offended Paris the Pantomime at eighty years of age in shew of honour he was made Prefect of a Cohort and sent into Aegypt he flourished Anno Dom. 84. Quenstedt dial p. 372. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 41. 16. A. Persius Flaccus was born at Volaterra an ancient and noble City in Italy seated by the River Caecina He wrote Satyres wherein he sharply taxes the corrupted and depraved manners of the Citizens of Rome sustaining the person of a Philosopher while he severely reprehends he is instructive much he borrowed out of Plato saith Chytraeus by some he is under censure for his obscurity he flourished in the Reign of Nero Anno Dom. 64. died in the twenty ninth year of his age about the 210 Olympiad Quenstedt dial p. 322. Voss. de Poâ—t Lat. cap. 3. p. 41. 17. N. Valer. Martialis was born at Bilbilis in Celâ—iberia in the Reign of Claudius the Emperour At twenty years age he came to Rome under Nero and there continued thirty five much favoured by Titus and Domitian He was Tribune and of the Order of Knights in Rome after Domitian's death he was not in the like honour and therefore in Trajans time return'd into his own Country and there having wrote his twelfth Book of Epigrams weary of his Country and Life as being ill treated by his Country-men he deceased Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 46. 18. Statius Papinius born at Naples lived under Domitian he left five Books Sylvarum twelve Thebaidos five Achilleidos Martial liked not that he was so much favoured and in his Writings never mentions him Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 45. 19. Ausonius the Poet and also Consul at Rome was born in Gascony at Burdigala now called Burdeaux at he tells us himself thus Diligo Burdigalam Roman colo civis in illa Consul in ambabus cunae hic ibi sella curulis Scaliger saith of him That he had a great and acute wit he Stile is somewhat harsh he flourished Anno Dom. 420. Quenstedt dial p. 36. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 4. p. 55. 20. Marcellus Palingenius wrote the Zodiack of like that is of the right way of institution of the life study and manners of men in twelve Books a Work of great Learning and Philosophical he flourished Anno Dom. 1480. Quenstedt dial p. 392. 21. Baptista Mantuanus Sirnamed Hispaniolus a Monk and excellent Poet to whom Mantua gave both birth and name he was accounted the almost only Poet in his age and another Maro he taxed with great freedom and liberty the corruption of the Roman Church the impiety and villanies of the Popes amongst others he thus writes of the Simony and Covetousness of the Popes Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae Ignis Thura preces coelum est venale Deusque He wrote divers Verses in praise of the Saints and other excellent Books and flourished Anno Dom. 1494. Quenstedt dial p. 300. CHAP. X. Of Musick the strange efficacy of it and the most famous Musicians THere are four sorts of
Greek Authors and six hundred Manuscripts they are set upon three hundred shelves â—itly disposed with that peculiar order as the study of every particular Science doth require First such as tâ—ach the first Elements of humane Life and the more polite Learning Secondly not a few that contain the Greek Latine Italian Histories and those of other Nations Thirdly such as contain the Precepts of Ethicks the Politicks and the Axioms of Moral Philosophy Fourthly such as pertain to Astronomy Geometry Musick Arithmetick and the Mathematicks Fifthly Philosophy and Physick the prints of living Creatures the History of Minerals and such like Sixthly the Books of both Laws Seventhly School and Practical Divinity Greek and Latine Fathers Commâ—ntaries upon Scripture and the General and Provincial Councils and Synods of the Church 11. The Vatican Library taking its beginning by very mâ—an degrees through the officious propensity of some Popes of Learning who enjoyed peace began so to increase that now it even labours under its own greatness and singularity For it is plain that Sixtâ—s the Fourth and especially Sixtus the Fifth did studiously endeavour the increase of it and withal Clemens the Eighth shewed out his great clemency and love of vertue when he took care upon the intreaties of the most learned Cardinal Baronius that the precious Library which Anarcas Fulvius Vrsinus a most lâ—arned person had heaped together as also all those Manuscripts collected by the most eminent Odoardus Farnesius should be transferred to the Vatican Pope Paulus the Fifth also brought hither the select Manuscripts of Cardinal Altemps to which he adjoined the Library of Heideâ—berg At such time as the Palatine of the Rhine was expelled it then received an accession of three hundred Greek Volumes in Manuscript Also Pope Vrban the Eighth enriched it with divers Greek Copies and when he had appointed Leo Allatius a man exactly skilled in the Greek Learning to be the Keeper thereof there were numbred six thousand Manuscipts an absolute Index of which was expected at the intimation of Cardinal Rusticutius but by what chance or misfortune it came not to light is yet altogether uncertain 12. The Escurial whereof Philip the Second the most potent King of Spain was the Founder hath in it a most noble Libâ—ary in which there are to be numbred seven thousand Greek and Latine Manuscripts which he had collected from several Libraries in Spain and Italy To this Library Cardinal Sirletus a most learned person gave all his Books It is also reported that two otâ—er Libraries did conspire to enrich this that of Antonius Augustuâ— Archbishop of Tarracon and the other of Don. N. the Ambassaâ—our of the King of Spain to the Republick of Venice for this last disposed all his Books to the King by his Will It hath also three thousand Arabick Books teaching the Secrets of Physick Astrology and Chirurgery and such as represent the Instruments subservient to the two last mentioned Facuâ—tiâ—s graphically described which Books it fell to the lot of Philip the Third by his Ships to take from the King of Tunis at such time as fear of a War from the King of Algier perswaded him to convey them to â— know not what Castle in hope of greater â—â—curity 13. Mâ—llaine hath a sumptuous Library the fiâ—st founding of which it owes to Cardinal Charles Borromâ—us who gave his own noble Library unto it and that the nobler in respect of Annotations upon divers Books of the Fathers which he lâ—ft to it written with his own hand Soon after Cardinal Frederick Borromaeus Archbishop also of the same Mâ—llaine assisted it with his endeavours and gave it not the name of his Family but from St. Ambrose who was once Aâ—chbishop there and the Patron of Mâ—llaine he gave it the title of the Ambrosian Library and being resolved to replenish it with Exotick Books he sent forth divers learned and vertuous men furnished with Chalices Patens and such other things as were for Church furniture into Asia to the Monks and Greek Bishops that by exchange or other price they might purchase Greek and Arabick Copies those espâ—cially of the Fathers nor was he disappointed In this Library were twelve thousand Manuscripts forty six thousand printed Volumes in the year 1645. Afterwards being yet increased and the former place too strait another was added as a supplement to it An. 1660. 14. In the higher part of the Palace of the Barberini in Rome the Cardinal Franciscus Barberini Nephew to Pope Vrban the Eighth by his Brother erected a Library in which is contained twenty five thousand choice Books of which number there are no less than five thousand Manuscripts 15. The Augustan Library is enriched with a multitude of Books and contains almost innumerable Greeks Copies in Manuscript if at least we may believe that Index of it which was imprinted at Augusta An. 1595. 16. That at Paris was founded by the most eminent Cardinal Iulius Caesar Mazarini in the endowing of which with a most precious Furniture of Books he neither spared gold or diligence Hither he caused to be transferred from the Archbishop of Trevers forty Chests replete with Manuscripts besides those other Books which he brought thither from the Library of Cardinal Richelieu and from some Provinces of France Of this Library there is an imprinted Index that gives a distinct account both of the number of the Books and names of the Authors in a very faithful relation 17. At Florence near to the Church of St. Laurence there is a Library that owes its founding to the Medicaean Family the Nurse of all kind of Vertues It was built by that Laurence Medices who in his Son gave the World that mild and meek Pastor of the Catholick Flock Pope Leo the Tenth The singularity of the Books in this Library may make amends for their multitude as will appear by the Index of it imprinted at Antwerpe 18. At the University of Leyden the choicest Monument of it is the Library there enriched with many manuscript Copies brought thither out of the East To this so flourishing an Academy Ioseph Scaliger the Son of Iulius Caesar Scaliger who was called the very Soul of Sciences left his own Manuscripts amongst which were divers Hebrew Syriack Greek and Latine ones the Index of which was published at Paris An. 1630. by Iacobus Golius a most excellent Linguist in that University 19. The famous Library at Oxford now called the Bodleian had a good Benefactor of King Henry the Eighth who employed persons into divers parts of the World to collect Books and from Constantinople by means of the Patriarch thereof he received a Ship laden with Arabick and Greek Books together with divers Epistles of the Fathers amongst which was that Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians which Baronius in the second Volume of his Annals so lamented as lost and which An. 1657. was printed and illustrated with Notes by N. the Prefect of this Library The
three years entire and afterwards by degrees returned to her food and to a laudable habit of body 11. Gulielmus Fabritius tells of a Marsiacensian Maid that she lived above fifteen years without either meat or drink and that she was then living when he wrote his Book which was An. 1612. and promised a large account of it at further leisure to Paulus Lentulus 12. Licetus tells of a young Maid of Piedmont that An. 1601. being then a great Girl was by the command of the excellent Prince Auria brought to Genoa and there kept almost two months under strict guards nothing came into her mouth but water or diluted wine and confirmed by undoubted experiment that fame that had gone of her fasting for divers years together 13. I my self saith Wierus I speak it without boasting have lived four days entire without food or drink and could have continued longer were it not that I apprehended something worse from continual watchings My Brother hath persisted to the eighth day fasting without hurt taking only a morsel of Quince 14. An. 1470. Franciscus Nicholaus Petra Vnderus an Helvetian after he had had five children by his Wife betook himself to a solitary life far from any Town where he dyed after he had lived full fifteen years without any manner of food or drink he predicted several things that came to pass and by his austere life made the belief of his fasting unquestionable Certain it is that the Bishop of Constantia in whose Diocess he lived went to him on purpose to see him and after diligent observation confirmed the truth of the report by his Letters and withal for the greater certainty he compelled him upon his obedience to taste some food though very little which caused him to have extreme pain in his stomach for three days after the which Nicholas told him before-hand was his fear nor had only the Bishop this tryal of him but divers Princes of France and Germany went to him to make experiment of the reality of his fasting and found it accordingly he himself spake but sparingly of it and attributed it rather to his nature than to any thing that was miraculous Thus far Fulgosus and saith Zacchias I chanced to see the Picture of this Helvetian not long since as it was drawn to the life he was of a squalid aspect and extenuated in a wonderful manner so that his Image would strike a kind of horrour into those that looked upon it He lived seventy years and died upon the day of St. Benedict An. 1470. after he had fasted saith he twenty years 15. In the Popedom of Eugenius the Fourth there was one Iacobus a French man who was an Amannensis in the Court of Rome this man falling sick of a disease vowed a pilgrimage to Ierusalem in case he should recover he performed it accordingly and returned to Rome when Nicholas the Fifth was Pope It was the admiration of all men that he was observed neither to eat nor to drink any thing and he solemnly swore that he had not done either for two years together last past 16. In the Reign of the Emperour Lotharius say the Writers of the French Chronicles there was a Girl in Agro Tullensi of about twelve years of age who lived three whole years without any kind of meat or drink viz. from the year 822. to 825. when about the beginning of November she began again to take to her meat and drink as is usual with others to do Fulgosus says this was An. 1320. and that her fasting came upon her after she had been at Church and received the Sacrament Gault Tab. Chron. p. 595. 17. An. Dom. 1595. a Maid of about thirteen years of age was brought out of the Dukedom of Iuliers unto Collen and there in a broad street at the Sign of the White Horse exposed to the sight of as many as desired it The Parents of this Maid affirmed that she had lived without any kind of food or drink for the space of three years and this they confirmed by the testimony of divers persons such as are worthy of credit I viewed her with great observation she was of a sad and melancholy countenance her whole body was sufficiently fleshy except only her belly which was compressed so as that it seemed to cleave to her back-bone Her liver and the rest of her bowels might be perceived to be scirrhous by laying the hand upon her belly As for excrements she voided none and did so far abhor all kind of food that when one that came to see her privately conveyed a little Sugar into her mouth she immediately swounded But that which is most wonderful is that this Maid walks up and down plays with other Girls dances and does all other things that are done by Girls of her age neither has she any difficulty of breath speaking or crying out The original of this was thus related by her Parents being recovered of a disease about seven years past she fell into a loathing of food so that sometimes for three or four days she would eat nothing then she took a little new milk afterwards for six or seven days would neither eat nor drink and when she had lived in this condition for four years she altogether abstained from and loathed all manner of food and so hath continued to do for the last three years in which she hath neither eaten nor drunk 18. In St. Augustines days one lived forty days without eating any thing Another in the time of Olympiodorus the Platonist who for so long as he lived neither fed nor slept but only stood in the Sun to refresh himself The Daughter of the Emperour Clotarius fasted eleven years and Petrus Aponus saw one that had fasted full eighteen years 19. From Essere in Ethiopia we made towards Bigan having taken in provision because we had four days journey thither the way is something dangerous by reason of certain Cafies Assassines who murder the Passengers These can subsist three or four days together without eating any more than a little Butter and two Dates a day They are of a large size by a good span taller than the ordinary but very meagre and lean and they never lye down 20. Charles the Seventh King of France having a jealousie that those about him by the instigation of his Son did intend to poyson him abstained from all food so long that when he would have eaten he could not his passages being shrunk up with too much abstinence and so he died miserably of famine 21. Amongst the Mahometans there is a superstitious Sect called Dervises whose sharp and strict Penances far exceed those of the Papists Some of them live upon the tops of Hills remote from any company there passing their time in contemplation and will rather famish than remove from their retired Cells where they would undoubtedly be pined to death but that the people who dwell nearest to them
himself a Subject to the King of Spain he was executed at Tyburn where being cut down half dead after his privy members were cut off he rushed on the Executioner and gave him a blow on the ear to the wonder of the by-standers 5. It is said of Crassus Grandfather to that Crassus who was slain in the Parthian War that he was never known to laugh all his life time and thereupon was called Agelastus or the man that never laught 6. Antonia the Wife of Drusus as it is well known never spit and Pomponius the Poet one that had sometimes been Consul never belched 7. It is memorable which is recorded of a King named Wazmund and was the Founder of Warwick Town that he had a Son named Offa tall of stature and of a good constitution of body but blind till he was seven years old and then saw and dumb till he was thirty years old and then spake 8. In the first year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth died Sir Thomas Cheney Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports of whom it is reported for a certain that his pulse did beat more than three quarters of an hour after he was dead as strongly as if he had been still alive 9. George Nevil fourth Son of Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury was consecrated Bishop of Exeter when he was not as yet twenty years of age at twenty five he was made Lord Chancellor of England and discharged it to his great commendation his ability supplying the luck of age in him 10. When I was in Italy that Paradise of the World the outward skin of a Lady of Verona though lightly touched did manifestly sparkle with fire This spectacle so worthy of the research of the inquisitive and curious is faithfully exposed to the World by the publick Script of Petrus à Castro the learned Physician of Verona in his Book de Igne lambente whom I shall follow in the relation of this story The illustrious Lady Catherina Buri the Wife of the noble Io. Franciscus Rambaldus a Patritian of Verona of a middle age indifferent habit of body her universal temper hot and moist her liver hot and dry and so abounding with bilious and black blood with its innate fervour and an age fit for adustion increased by vehement grief This noble Lady the Creator endued with so stupendous a Dignity and Prerogative of Nature that as oft as her body was but lightly touched with linen sparks flew out plentifully from her limbs apparent to her domestick Servants as if they had been struck out of a flint accompanied also with a noise that was to be heard by all Oftentimes when she rubbed her hands upon the sleeve of her smock that contained the sparkles within it she observed a flame with a tailed ray running about as fired exhalations are wont to do insomuch that her Maids were oftentimes deluded supposing they had left fire in the bed after warming of it in Winter in which time also fire is most discernible This fire was not to be seen but in the dark or in the night nor did it burn without it self though combustible matter was applied to it nor lastly as other fire did it cease within a certain time but with the same manner of appearance of light it shewed it self after my departure out of Italy 11. I have read saith Rossâ— of one who had a horn grew upon his heel a foot long which being cut off grew again and would doubtless have still renewed if the tough and viscous matter had not been diverted and evacuated by Issues Purges and Phlebotomy 12. Fernelius saith he saw a Girl that lived in near neighbourhood to him the ligaments of whose joynts were so very loose that you might bend and turn any of them this or that way at your pleasure and that it was so with her from the time of her birth 13. Sir Iohn Mason born at Abington bred at All souls in Oxford died 1566. and lies buried in the Quire of St. Pauls I remember this Distick of his long Epitaph Tempore quinque suo regnantes ordine vidit Horum à Consiliis quatuor ille fuit He saw five Princes which the Scepter bore Of them was Privy Counsellor to four That is to Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth 14. Thomas Bourchier successively Bishop of Worcester Ely and Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal by the Title of St. Cyriacus in the Baths being consecrated Bishop of Worcester An. 1435. the fourteenth of Henry the Sixth he died Archbishop of Canterbury 1486. the second of King Henry the Seventh whereby it appears that he wore a Miter full fifty one years a term not to be parallel'd in any other person he saw the Civil Wars of York begun and ended having the honour to marry King Henry the Seventh to the Daughter of King Edward the Fourth Nor is it the least of wonders that he lost not himself in the Laâ—yrinth of such intricate times 15. Sir Thomas Frowick was made Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the eighteenth year of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh four years he sate in his place accounted the Oracle of the Law in his Age though one of the youngest men that ever enjoyed that Office He 〈◊〉 reported to have died floridâ juventute before full forty years old so that he was Chief Justice at thirty five he died 1506. Octob. 17. 16. That was great and excellent in Socrates that whatever fell out of joy or otherwise he returned with the same countenance he went forth with and was never seen to be more merry or melancholy than at other times in any alteration of times or affairs 17. In the Reign of King Iames in the year 1613. on the 26. of Iune in the Parish of Christ-Church in Hampshire one Iohn Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with a young child by him was himself and the child burnt to death with a sudden Lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yet lay burning for the space of almost three days till he was quite consumed to ashes 18. Lucius Fulvius being Consul of the Tusculani who at that time rebelled he deserted them and was thereupon made Consul at Rome and so it fell out that in one and the same year in which he was an Enemy to Rome he triumphed at Rome and a Consul over those to whom he had been Consul 19. It is said of Charles Earl of Valois that he was the Son of a King Brother to a King Uncle to a King and Father to a King and yet no King himself 20. There was amongst the Magnesians one Protophanes who in one and the same day won the Prize in the Olympick Games both at Wrastling and other Games when he was dead certain Thieves opened his Sepulchre and went into it hoping to have found something to prey upon after which