own time and King Canutus the sixth almost to the year of Christ 1200. but more like a Poet than Historian commonly also omitting an account of the time 30. Conradus Abbot of Vrsperga a Monastery in Suevia as worthy of reading as any of the German Writers hath described the Affairs of Germany beginning two hundred years after the Flood and carrying on his relation to the twentieth year of Frederick the second that is Anno Dom. 1230. 31. Iohannes Aventinus wrote the Annals of the Boii and memorable matters of the Germans in seven Books beginning from the Flood and continuing his History to Ann. 1460. 32. Iohannes Nauclerus born not far from Tubinga hath an intire Chronicon from the beginning of the World to his own time and the year of our Lord 1500. in two Volums 33. Albertus Crantzius hath brought down the History of the Saxons Vandals and the Northern Kingdoms of Denmark Sweden Gothland and Norway to Ann. 1504. 34. Iohannes Sleidanus hath faithfully and plainly written the History of Luther especially and the contests about matters of Religion in the Empire of Germany the Election and Affairs of Charles the fifth Emperour and other of divers of the Kings of Europe from Anno Dom. 1517. to Ann. 1556. 35. Philippus Comineus wrote five Books of the Expedition of Charles the eighth into Italy and Naples and eight Books of the Acts of Lâ—wis the eleventh and Charles Duke of Burgundy worthy to be read of the greatest Princes 36. Froisardus wrote the sharp Wars betwixt the French and English from Anno 1335. to Ann. 1400. 37. Hiâ—ronymus Osorius wrote the Navigation of the Portugals round Africa into India and the Acts of Emanuel King of Portugal from Anno 1497. to his death in twelve Books 38. Antonius Bonfinius in four Decades and an half hath wrote the History of the Hungarian Kings to the death of Matthias the son of Huniades and the beginning of the Reign of Vladislaus 39. Polydor Virgil hath wrote the History of England in twenty six Books to the death of Henry the seventh 40. Iustinus flourished Anno Christi 150. and wrote a compendious History of most Nations from Ninus the Assyrian King to the twenty fifth year of Augustus compiled out of forty four Books of Trogus Pompeius a Roman Ecclesiastical Writers I have here no room for but am content to have traced thus far the steps of David Chytraeus in his Chronology whose help I have had in the setting down of this Catalogue CHAP. IX Of the most famous and ancient Greek and Latin Poets THE Reader hath here a short account of some of the most eminent of Apollo's old Courtiers as they succeeded one another in the favour of the Muses not but that those bright Ladies have been I was about to say equally propitious to others in after-times nor is it that we have given these only a place here as if our own Land were barren of such Worthies Our famous Spencer if he was not equal to any was superiour to most of them of whom Mr. Brown thus He sung th' Heroick Knights of Fairy Land In lines so elegant and such command That had the Thracian plaid but half so well He had not left Eurydice in Hell But it is fit we allow a due reverence to Antiquity at least be so ingenuous as to acknowledge at whose Torches we have lighted our own The first of these Lights 1. Orpheus was born in Libethris a City of Thrace the most ancient of all Poets he wrote the Expedition of the Argonauts into Colchis in Greek Verse at which he was also present this Work of his is yet extant together with his Hymns and a Book of Stones The Poets make him to be the Prince of the Lyricks of whom Horace in his Book De Arte Poeticâ Sylvestres homines sacer interpresque deorum Caedibus foedo victu deterruit Orpheus Dictus ob hoc lenire Tygres rabidosque leones His Father was Oeagrus his Mother Caliopea and his Master was Linus a Poet and Philosopher Orpheus is said to have flourished Anno Mundi 2737. Vid. Quenstedt Dial. de Patr. vir illustr p. 453. Voss. de Nat. Constit. artis Poet. cap. 13. sect 3. p. 78. Patrit de Instit. reipub l. 2. tâ— 6. p. 83. 2. Homerus the Prince of Poets born at Colophon as Cluverius doubts not to affirm but more Cities besides that strove for the honour according to that in Gellius Septem urbes certant de stirpe illustris Homeri Smyrna Rhodos Colophon Salamis Ios Argos Athenae Many are the Encomiums he hath found amongst learned men as The Captain of Philosophy The first Parent of Antiquity and Learning of all sorts The original of all rich Invention The Fountain of the more abstruse Wisdom and the father of all other Poets à quo cen fonte perenni Vatum Pieriis ora rigantur aquis Of him this is part of Quintilians Charaâ—ter In great things no man excelled him in sublimity nor in small matters in propriety In whom saith Paterculus this is an especial thing that before him there was none whom he could imitate and after him none is found that is able to imitate him He flourished Anno Mund. 3000. Vid. Quenstedt dialog p. 483. Gell. Noct. Attic. lib. 3. cap. 11. p. 104. Quintil. instit orator lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 466. 3. Hesiodus was born at Cuma a City in Aeolia bred up at Ascra a Town in Boeotia a Poet of a most elegant genius memorable for the soft sweetness of his Verse called the son of the Muses by Lipsius the purest Writer and whose labours contain the best Precepts of Vertue saith Heinsuis Some think he was contemporary with Homer others that he lived an hundred years after him I find him said to flourish Anno Mundi 3140. Vid. Quintil. instit orat lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 466. Vell. Pâ—tercul hist. lib. 1. ...... Voss. de Poet. Graec. cap. 2. p. 9. Quenstedt dial p. 478. 4. Alcaeus a famous Lyrick Poet was born in the Isle of Lesbos in the City of Miâ—ylene whence now the whole Isle hath its name what Verses of his are left are set forth by Henricus Stephanus with those of the rest of the Lyricks Quintilian saith of him That he is short and magnificent in his way of speaking diligent and for the most part like Homer he flourished Olymp. 45. Vid. Quenstedt dialog p. 433. Quintil. instit orat lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 468. 5. Sappho an excellent Poetress was born in the Isle of Lesbos and in the City of Eraesus there she was called the ninth Lyrick and the tenth Muse she wrote Epigrams Elegies Iamâ—icks Monodies and nine Books of Lyrick Verses and was the Invetress of that kind of Verse which from her is called the Sapphick she attained to no small applause in her contention first with Stesichorus and then with Alcaeus she is said to flourish about the 46 Olympiad Voss. Instâ—t Poet. lib. 3. cap. 15. p.
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
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
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
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
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
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