for the space of foure houres continued a bloudie and desperate fight But when they perceiued the Traitors were desperate and the Church was sufficientlie strong to keep them out they at last found out this worthie pollicie They caused some chiefe men to bring them great store of straw which they fâ—…ered in diuers parts about the Church in euerie corner whereas the wind might worke the smoake anie entrance which so smothered and stifeled them in the Church that they were all of them for the libertie of a shorte time of life to submit themselues to the iudgement of succéeding death Herevpon after manie wofull plaints powred out on euerie side by William his Maudline and other malefactors they were all inforced to leaue the church and submit themselues to the hands of the Bailifes who according to the kings command picking out William with nine other his confederats committed them vnto warde for that time dismissing the rest vnder the kings generall pardon whoe certified hereof was not a little solaced For which cause he sent some of his Councel and Iudges the next day who ascending the iudgment seat called forth William with the Long beard with his confederates arraigning them of high treason against God the king and countrey Among all the rest William shewed himselfe most confident for neither did the taâ—…nts of the Iudges extennuate his courage neither could the bonds he was laden withall abash him any waies but that with a manlie looke and inticing eloquence he thus attempted the iustices You lords and Honorable Iudges though I knowe it a hard thing to striue against the obstinate or to extort pittie there where all compassion is extinguished yet will I speake vsing the officer of nature to worke you although I know I shall not win you I am here called and indighted before you for hie treason a hainous crime I confesse it and worthie punishement I denie it not but may it please you with patience to examine circumstances I haue imboldened the poorer sort to innonation to fight for libertie to impugne the rich a matter in the common weales of Greece highlie commended but héere accounted factions and whie there subiects made kings here kings maister subiectes and why not say you and whie not think I yet am I faultie vnder a good president and the ambition which hath intangled mee hath not beene without his profit To offend of obstinate will were brutish but vnder some limits of reason to defaulte can you my Lords but thinke it pardonable I haue raised one or two assemblies and what of this peace was not broken onely my safetie was assured and were it that the Law had béene iniured might not the righting of a hundred poore mens causes merit pardon for two vnlawfull assemblies But you will saie I haue animated subiects against their prince I confesse it but vnder a milder title I haue councelled them to compasse libertie which if nature might be equall iudge betwéene vs I knowe should not be so hainoustie misconstred For my last tumult I did nothing but in mine owne defence and what is lawfull if it be not permitted vs Vim vi repellere But whie pleade I excuses knowing the lawes of this Realme admit no one of my constructions If it be resolued I must die doo me this fauour my Lords to protract no time execute your iustice on my bodie and let it not pine long time in feare thorowe supposall of extreames For my soule since it is deriued from a more immortall essence I dare boast the libertie thereof knowing that eternitie is prepared for it and mercie may attend it But for these poore ones who haue defaulted thorough no malice but haue béen misled through vaine suggestions howe gratious a deede should your honnors do to exemplifie your mercie on them poore soules they haue offended in not offending and but to enthrone me haue ouerthrowne themselues for which cause if consideration of innocent guiltines guiltie innocence may any waies moue you grant them life and let me solie enact the tragedie who am confirmed against all Fortunes tyrannies These latter words were deliuered with so great vehemencie of spirit and attended with so quickening motions and actions of the bodie that euerie one pittied that so rare vertues should be rauished by vntimelie death or accustomed with so manie vngodlie practises The Iudges whoe were Socratical in all their spéeches shewing their Rhetorique in their vpright iudgements not quaint discourses after the examinations indictments verdicts of the Iurie and suche like at last gaue finall and fatall iudgement That William with the long beard with his confederates should the nexte daie be hanged drawne and quartered and so after some other worthie exhortations to the people to mainteine peace and that they should shew themselues more dutifull and after thanks to the Bailifes and good cittizen for their faithful and good seruice to his Maiestie the assemblie broke vp and the prisoners till the next daye were committed to the dungeon No sooner was the gaie mistresse of the daie break prepared in hir roseat coatch powdering the heauens with purple but the Bailifes repaired to the prison leading foorthe William and those his other confederates to their execution Then flocked about them diuers sorts of people some to sée those who were so much searched after others to lament him whom they had so loued at laste arriued at the place where they should finish their daies all stood to beholde their death William as principall in his life time of seditious practise was to enact the first and fatall part in the tragedie for which cause boldlie climing vp the ladder and hauing the rope fitlie cast about his neck after some priuate praiers he spake after this manner vnto the people My good countreymen you are repaired hither to sée a sorie spectacle to beholde the follie of life paid with the fruits of death to marke how sinister treasons ende with condigne torments if you applie what you here see and beholde to your owne profits I shall be glad whoe now euen at this my last hower desire rather you shuld reconcile your selues from all wickednes then be dismaied ormoued with my wretchednesse Oh my déere friends I now protest before God vowe before men that mine owne presumptuous climing hath béene the iust cause of my confusion I haue had more desire of glorie then respect of God more regard of dignitie then of dutie déeming it better to be a famous Traitor then a faithfull and true subiect For which my inestimable sinnes I crie God hartilie mercie I beseech his Maiestie to forgiue me and pray you all by your praiers to implore Gods grace for me Neither deserue I death only for the offence I haue made the king but my conscience accuseth me and I heere doo openlie confesse it that I was he who murthered Anthonie Browne in that he was a riuall in my most lewde loue This this if nought else my countreymen
speeche pleased them all so that taking with them the horsie as Libussa had instructed them they let him freelie goe and followed him But scarselie had they trauelled ten miles when as the horse staied at a riuer called Bieli and arrested himselfe before a countrey fellow called Primislaus shewing manie signes of humanitie and obseruance toward him The Bohemians as well the nobles as commons behoulding this ran with all hast vnto him and after their salutations said thus vnto him Mount vppon this horsse and goe with vs Libussa hath chosen thée for his husband and the Bohemians admit thee for their prince Primislaus although he were a poore countrey clowne not incapeable of the generall desire of rule which attainteth all men gaue vnto them a homelie salutation after his manner and tolde them that he was addressed to doo whatsoeuer pleased them and vnder standing that he was to goe to Libussa as if hee had a longe voiage to make he fastened his bottle to his saddle bow and grasping his bread and chéese in his hand he rode on féeding like a rusticke king which was a verie sufficient euidence of that which Libussa before time had declared and told vnto them As soone as his guttes were full and his bottle emptied he mended his pace and they conducted him with great pomp and honnour into the cittie where he tooke Libussa to wife and during all his life time was wholie ruled and gouerned by hir counsels and perswasions But after she had submitted hir selfe to the destinies the gouernment remained wholie in Primislaus hands and the authoritie of Ladies ceased which euen vnto that hower was both maintained and augmented by Libussa After this Valasca which whilst Libussa liued was hir secretarie being a Ladie of great valour and no lesse resolution then an Amazon not induring or abiding that the authoritie of women should be thus annihilated assembling one daie in a priuie place all those that were of her faction she said thus vnto them My sisters we haue lost our good Ladie who alwaies defended vs from the outrages of men neither could she euer endure that we should be ouer borne by them so that she her selfe hâ—…ld the Emperie and we wish hir were in respect held and accounted for Queenes You see now how inforced we indure a hard and miserable seruitude liuing vnder the gouernment of our husbands after the maner of slaues except of our selues we shall gather head and courage to recouer our former liberties Wherefore if your thoughtes be as mine is let vs ioine like heroick Ladies and we will easily recouer our estates I as you know was secretarie vnto Libussa of whom I learned that which she knew I am skilfull in inchantments and the nature of hearbes is not vnknowne vntome if therfore you haue any meaning or will to followe me assure your selues that you shall be once againe lords ouer men Upon these words the whole assemblie of women condiscended to Valascas words and mutuallie conspired against men During this time Primislaus dreamed one night that a virgine gaue him bloud to drinke for which cause he being a notable soothsaier and willing to preuent a mischiefe which as he imagined might verie easilie be impugned hee conuocated all the chiefe nobles of his Prouince vnder intention to prohibit the ouer-great licence and libertie which women had in the common weale namelie the women were accustomed to ride and run the race on horssebacke to tournay shoote and followe the chace and brieflie to exercise themselues in all warlike discipline which as he thought were matters manageable by men and vnfit tasks for women But the Barons scoffed at him when he told them ther of and said that they rather deserued loue and reuerence for their agilitie and hardines then reproofe and dishonor Valasca meane while desisied not neither daie nor night to exhort hir confederates and often with drinks inchatments turned away their affections from the loue of men and daie by daie drewe more and more into this her League of conspiracie Finallie when she perceiued that she hadde gathered a sufficient power both of married wiues maids in one night she caused euerie one of hir faction to kill their fathers husbands brethren and sonnes in their beddes and afterwards taking armes with great expedition they all of them marched togither to a place appointed them by Velasca not farre distant from Prage and subduing some that had them in chace they made a roade to Vissigrade whereas Primislaus aboad intending there to surprise him but séeing they could not take the fortresse they retired themselues into a mountaine a place naturallie impregnable and there building a castle they called it Deiuizo that is the place of virgines bicause that in their toonge a virgine is called Deiuize This action of theirs seemed abhominable to all the inhabitants of the countrey as wel in respect of the great slaugh ter they had made as also because they had a great suspition of further mischéefe for which cause they generallie gaue Primislaus to vnderstand that they were addrest to bidde these new Amazons battell and that if it pleased him to marche forward with his hoast they also were in a readinesse to follow him The K. certified them that at that present he could not come by reason that the Gods had admonished him that all those who were addicted to indemnifie the virgines were to die certifieng them that it was behouefull to go another time But they who set light by his counsell leuieng by them selues a great armie marched toward Deiuizo and striking battell with Valasco were ignominiouslie ouerthrowne and put to flight with the slaughter of the greater part of the armie and whereas in this seruice Malada Nodea Suaâ—…acia Vorasta Ragda Zastana and Tristana had behaued themselues valiantlie in rewarde of their seruice they had coâ—…ars and chaines of golde giuen them and amidst that vnmeasureable pray which they had euerie one was rewarded acording to their desart Valasca slue with hir owne hand seuen of hir enimies and after that time was held and estéemed for a goddesse so that neuer aâ—…ter that time the Bohemians had the courage to troble or molest them But they euerie daie ranged about the confines spoiling robbing and burning and daie by day inforced greater dread and feare in the harts of their enimies and being now Ladies and soueraignes of the better part of Bohemia they were constrained to haue the companie of men by reason that other wise by course of time and warres they were likelie to be reduced and brought to nothing for which cause marrieng themselues they made a lawe that those maidens who were borne by them should with all dilligence bee tenderlie and carefullie brought vppe as for the males they commanded that their right eies should be pulled out and their middle fingers cut off to the ende that hauing attained Mans estate they should be disabled to shoote in the bowe or to handle warlike weapons
repaired to Salona in Dalmatia where he was borne But two yeares after that he had refused the Romain empire an honourable embassage was sent by the Senate vnto him praieng him earnestlie that he would haue pitie on the commons and content himselfe to returne to Rome It chanced that at such time as the said Embassadors came into his poore and homelie cottage hee himselfe was in a little garden he had setting of Lettises and diuers other hearbes and assoone as he had heard the discourse of that they were to deliuer him he returned them this answer Séemeth it a requisite matter vnto you my freendes that he who hath planted cut and watered lettice as these be should leaue them to seeke royalties and not to eate them in repose and quiet in his owne house yes my friends it is better eating these in quiet then gouerning of Rome with care Moreouer he said vnto them Now haue I proued howe much it auaileth to commande and howe healthfull it is to plough and dig Leaue me therfore I pray you in my house for why I rather desire to get my liuing in this village with my handes than to haue the charge of the Romaine empire accompanied with hate Porides the Athenian hauing in great iustice gouerned his common weale for the space of sixe and thirtie yeares at laste growing olde and fatiate of publike affaires departing Athens he went vnto a certein Lordship of his left him by his auncestors in a certeine village without the cittie in which plieng his booke by night and labouring his fields by day he liued fiftéene years more Aboue the doores of his house these words were written In veni portum spes fortuna valete Nil mihi vobiscum est ludite nunc alios Scipio the Affrican was one of the best beloued and honored captaines that euer Rome had for in the space of sixe and twentie yeares wherein he continued warre in Spaine in Affrica and Asia he neuer committed anye dishonost action neither lost any battell he neuer denied any man Iustice neither was there euer one obscure or base thought knowne in him he subingated Africa ruinated Carthage ouercame Hannibal destroied Nununtia and also restored Rome which after the battell of Cannas was almost forsaken and abandoned This man in the two and fiftie yeare of his age departed Rome and retired himselfe vnto a little farme of his which was betwixt Pozzuolo and Capua in which as Seneca witnesseth he had no other reuenewes but certeine fields wherein he liued a house wherein he ledged a barne wherein he bathed and one of his Nephues who serued him And with so great affection retired hee himselfe to the farme house that for eleuen yeares space which he liues he went not once to Capua or set foot towardes Rome All these excellent men of whom we haue spoken with manie infinite others also left their kingdomes Consulships gouernments citties pallaces fauourites cares and ritches for no other intent but a quiet life intending after worldlie affaires to reconcile themselues to a more straight order hauing respect to that which insueth after death A most subtill dispute made in Antioch in the presence of king Ptolomey by seuen seuerall Ambassadors which of their Common-weales had the best lawes and most notable Customes PLutarch writeth in his booke De exilio that king Ptolomey being in Antiochus there were vpon an appointed day at dinner with him manie embassadors from the Romaines Carthagenians Scicilians Rhodians Athenians Lacedemonians and Scicilians whoe falling into disputation amongst themselues euerie one began to praise and extoll their countries Lawes and customes as the best and moste exquisite The dispute was handled with great feruencie betwéene them and with manie reasons each one endeuoured himselfe to dignifie his state for which cause Ptolomey destrous to know the truth and to bring all contentions and discords to an exigent commanded them that euerie one should write or speake their customes or perfect Lawes which they had in their common weales for by that means it might be easilie iudged which prouince best deserued the Palme of iustice The Embassadors of Rome began and said We hold our Temples in wonderous great honor and reuerence we yeeld great obseruance to our gouernors and rulers we gréeuouslie punish the wicked offenders and malefactors The Embassadors of Carthage saied in the Common-weale of Carthage the nobles cease not to fight the commons and mechanicall persons to labour the Philosofers and learned to instruct They of Scicilie said In our lande we obserue intire iustice we traffique with vpright conscience and generallie imbrace equalitie They of Rhodes said In our common weale the olde people are honest the yonger sorte shamefast the Ladies and women solitarie and silent The Athenian Embassadors said In our common weal the rich are not permitted nor allowed to be partiall the poore to be idle neither those that gouerne are suffered to be ignorant The Lacedemonians said in our State enuie raigneth not because all are egall nor auarice because our goodes are in common nor any suffred to be idle but euerie one doth labour The Scicionians saied In our common weale we permit nor maintaine any trauailer least returning home againe he shoulde bring vs matters of noueltie neither admit we Physitians who spoile and kill the whole nor Orators who maintaine publike contentions Assoone as Ptolomey had heard all the seuen Ambassadors he praised all their common weales saieng that they were iustlie and worthilie gouerned commendinge their customes and holding their lawes praise worthie where vpon with great honors euerie one returned to his lodging glorifieng and reioycing in their credit and satisfied in his iustice Strange Lawes of Tirzus the Tyrant where-through he withstood Conspiracies TRizus the Tyrant indeuouring to preuent the coniurations and tresons which might be imagined and wrought against him by his cittizens forbad them by an especiall and prescript law to surcease their priuate and publike conferences tyranizing aswell ouer their toongs as their tresure But his cittizens enuieng and hating this his commandements kept their consultations by becks gestures and eager countenances when they were agréeued and smiling and pleasant lookes when they were contented if dangers threatned them they frowned if Fortune fawned they were not froward by this meanes expressing and shewing the affections of their minds and de luding the pollicie of the tyrant Tirzus séeing and beholding this varietie in the faces of his cittizens began to feare and for that cause forbad them such like significatiue and mute consult whervpon one of his cittizens amongst the rest repining at his tyrannie inuented a new meanes and entering the pallace with other friends wept and cried out verie bitterlie The Tyrant vnderstanding héereof hasted him with some of his guard to depriue the eies of their naturall libertie in like manner as he had reduced the toong and gestures into seruitude but the people amazedlie hating his insolence drew the weapons out of the hands of his guard and murthered both him and all his followres FINIS