they who were present might see the trial and truth of it 2. Scaliger mentions a noble Lady of Câ—umont whose Hair while it is kemb'd 't is his own expression seems to vomit â—ire 3. The very same thing often befel Petrus Io. Faber an excellent Chymist as he saith of himself and he adds that he saw a noble and beautiful Maid who kembing her Head in his presence the sparks â—â—ew from her Hair into her Lap as Stars falling from Heaven at which she was so much aâ—â—righted that the had fallen into a swound had they not dispell'd her fears by jesting with her about it 4. The Illustrious Prince Christian the Fiâ—th of that name King of Denmark and Norway when he kemb'd his head oftâ—n saw and shew'd to them that were present sparks of â—ire flying from his Hair 5. St. Augustine speaks of some Men who at their pleasure and without moving of their heads would bring all the Hair of their Head forward to their Fore-head and then put it all backward to the hinder part of their Head 6. Tâ—mberlanâ— wore the Hair of his Head long anâ—â—urled contrary to the manner of the Tartarâ— who shave their heads having the same always covered whereas he contrariwise was for the most part bare headed commanding his Son to be brought up so by his Tutors his Hair was of a dark colour somewhat drawing towards a Violet right beaâ—tiful to behold which his Mother coming of the raâ—e of Sampson as he gave it out commanded him to nourish in token of his descent this was one cause that made him to be more respected of his Men of War most part of them believing that in those hairs were some rare vertue or rather some fatal destiny an old practice of many great Commanders of former Ages to fill the Heads of their Soldiers with some strange opinion conceived of them as if something was in them extraordinarâ— 7. Câ—odion the Second King of France was called Le Chevelu or the Hairy for that he made a Law that none but Kings and their Children and the Princes of the Blood should wear long Hair in token of command this custom confirm'd by the Law of Clodion hath been long time observed in France so as by this mark Clodamire the Son of Clovis being slain in a Battle by the Boâ—rvigâ—oâ—s was known amongst the dâ—ad And in token of a degrading or dishonouring the French shaved such as they degraded from the Royal Dignity as appears by numerous examples Amongst which that of Queen Clotilda is memorable who chose rather to cut off the heads of her young Sons then to have their Hair poll'd or shaven that is to say she prefer'd an honest death before the dishonour of her Children for in cutting off their Hair they were depriv'd of all hope to enjoy their degree and were confin'd to a base estate unworthy of their greatness 8. Lucius Martius being about to set upon the Carthaginians under the leading of Asdrubal their General while he made a Military Oration to his Soldiers his whole Head seem'd to be encompass'd with a flame this was beheld by the Soldiers that stood about him to their great terrour but himself had no sense of it nor any damage by it 9. Herodian saith of the Emperour Comodus that his Hair was yellow and curl'd that as oft as he walk'd in the Sun it seem'd to sparkle with fire insomuch that some suppos'd that he powder'd it with dust of Gold others look'd upon it as an Argument of Divinity and that he brought the early marks of it on his Hair into the World with him 10. Osyris going from Aegypt upon an expedition into Aethiopia made a vow to nourish his Hair until his return into Aegypt again whereupon it hath been a custom and is continued unto these times that whensoever the Aegyptians travel into any other Countrey they also nourish their Hair till their return 11. The Caribbians are black hair'd as the Chineses are their Hair is not curl'd and frizzel'd as that of the Moors but streight and long as those of the Mâ—ldiveâ—es and the Women attribute the highest perfection of beauty to this black colour as to what concerns the Hair It is reported also that the Indian Women of Peru are so enamour'd of black Hairâ— that to make their own of that colour by Artifice when Nature does it not they are willing to endure incredible pains and torments 12. In Spain many Ladies to make their Hair seem to be of a golden yellow colour perfume it with Sulphur steep it in Aqua fortis and expose it to the Sun in the hottest time of the day nay in the very Dog-days and in Italy the same colour is much affected 13. Câ—esias saith there is a race or kindred of the Indians named Pandore inhabiting certain Valleys who live two hundred years and have this difference from other Men that in their youthful time their Hair is white upon their Heads but as they grow into Age it groweth into a farther degree of blackness 14. They of Iapan pluck oâ—f the Hairs from their Heads Children before the common people half way the Nobility almost all leaving but a little growing behind which grows long and is ty'd up in knots to touch which is by them conceived as great an indignity as can be offered to a Man 15. As Tacitus saith it is of the Germans so Boethius writes it was a Custom in France that if any Man accused his Wife of Adultery and had lawfully convicted her thereof he caused the Hair of her Head to be cut short and her garments to be also cut round in the middle and then the Woman was to be lead from street to street in this ignominious posture 16. The use of long hair both in Germany and France and other places by degrees and in the memory of our Fathers hath grown out of reputation and many are of opinion that the chief occasion thereof was this About the year 1460. Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy fell into a long and unknown kind of Disease and amongst variety of other remedies made use of for his recovery his Physicians advised him to cut off his Hair which in those days the Nobility wore very long When he had so done finding that by reason of the novelty of the thing he was laught at by his Friends and the Nobility about him he sent forth his Edict that all his Courtiers and the Nobility in his Dominions should have their Hair cut in such manner as he himself had Five hundred noble Persons were thus shorn at Bruxels in one and the same day and that all others should do the like Petrus Vasquembacchius a Noble Person was appointed to take the charge and care by this means both at Bruxels and in all the Towns and Cities of his Dukedom the Nobility were deprived of their long hair and were thereupon suâ—â—iciently
succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Anno Domini 918. 16. The Wife of Simon Knâ—uter of Weissenburgh went with child to the ninth month and then falling into Travail her pains were such as that they occasioned her death and when the assistants doubted not but that the child was dead also in the Womb they dispos'd of the Mother as is usual in the like occasion but after some hours they heard a cry they ran and found the Mother indeed dead but deliver'd of a little Daughter that was in good health and lay at her feet Salmuth saith he hath seen three several women who being dead in Travail were yet after death delivered of the Children they went with CHAP. V. Of what Monsters some Women have been delivered and of praeternatural births IT is the constant design of provident Nature to produce that which is perfect and complete in it's kind But though Man is the noblest part of her operation and that she is busied about the framing of him with singular curiosity and industry yet are there sundry variations in her mintage and some even humane medals come out thence with different Errata's in their Impressions The best of Archers do not always bore the white the working brains of the ablest Politicians have sometimes suffered an abortion nor are we willing to bury their accidental misses in the memory of their former skilful performances If therefore Nature through a penury or supersluity of materials or other causes hath been so unfortunate as at sometimes to miscarry her dexterity and Artifice in the composition of many ought to procure her a pardon for such oversights as she hath committed in a few Besides there is oftentimes so much of ingenuity in her very disorders and they are dispos'd with such a kind of happy unhappiness that if her more perfect works beget in us much of delight the other may affect us with equal wonder 1. That is strange which is related by Buchanan It had saith he beneath the Navel one body but above it two distinct ones when hurt beneath the Navel both bodies felt the pain if above that body only felt that was hurt These two would sometimes differ in opinions and quarrel the one dying before the other the surviving pin'd away by degrees It liv'd 28. years could speak divers Languages and was by the King's command taught Musick Sandy's on Ovid Metam lib. 9. p. 173. 2. Anno 1538. There was one born who grew up to the stature of a Man he was double as to the Head and Shoulders in such manner as that one face stood oppositâ— to the other both were of a likeness and resembâ—â— each other in the beard and eyes both had the â—ame appetite and both hungred alike the voice of both was almost the same and both loved the same Wife 3. I saw saith Bartholinus Lazarus Colloredo the Genoan first at Hafnia after at Basil when he was then 28. years of Age but in both places with amazement This Lazarus had a little Brother growing out at his breast who was in that posture born with him If I mistake not the bone called Xyphoides in both of them grew together his left foot alone hung downwards he had two arms only three fingers upon each hand some appearance there was of the secret parts he moved his hands ears and lips and had a little beating in the breast This little Brother voided no excrements but by the mouth nose and ears and is nourish'd by that which the greater takes he has distinct animal and vital parts from the greater since he sleeps sweats and moves when the other wakes rests and sweats not Both receiv'd their Names at the Font the greater that of Lazarus and the other that of Iohannes Baptista The natural Bowels as the Liver Spleen c. are the same in both Iohannes Baptista hath his eyes for the most part shut his breath small so that holding a Feather at his mouth it scarce moves but holding the hand there we find a small and warm breath his mouth is usually open and always wet with spittle his head is bigger then that of Lazarus but deform'd his hair hanging down while his face is in an upward posture Both have beards Baptista's neglected but that of Lazarus very neat Lazarus is of a just stature a decent body courteous deportment and gallantly attir'd he covers the body of his Brother with his Cloak nor could you think a Monster lay within at your first discourse with him He seemed always of a constant mind unless that now and then he was solicitous as to his end for he feared the death of his Brother as presaging that when that came to pass he should also expire with the stink and putrefaction of his body and thereupon he took greater care of his Brother then of himself 4. Lemnius tells of a Monster that a certain Woman was deliver'd of to which Woman he himself was Physician and present at the sight which at the appearing of the day fill'd all the Chamber with roaring and crying running all about to find some hole to creep into but the Women at the length stiâ—led and smother'd it with pillows 5. Iohannes Naborowsky a noble Polonian and my great friend told me at Basil that he had seen in his Countrey two little Fishes without scales which were brought forth by a Woman and as soon as they came out of her Womb did swim in the Water as other Fish 6. Not many years agoe there liv'd a Woman of good quality at Elsingorn who being satisfied in her count prepared all things for child-birth hired a Mid-wife bought a Cradle c. but her big belly in the last month seemed to be much fallen which yet not to lessen the report that went of her she kept up to the former height by the advantage of cloaths which she wore upon it Her time of Travail being come and the usual pains of labour going before she was deliver'd of a creature very like unto a dormouse of the greater size which to the amazement of the Women who were present with marvellous celerity sought out and found a hole in the Chamber into which it crept and was never seen after I will not render the credit of these Women suspected seeing divers persons have made us Relations of very strange and monstrous births from their own experience 7. Anno Dom. 1639. our Norway afforded us an unheard of example of a Woman who having often before been deliver'd of humane births and again big after strong labour was delivered of two Eggs one of them was broken the other was sent to that excellent person Dr. Olaus Wormius the ornament of the University in whose study it is reserv'd to be seen of as many as please I am not ignorant that many will give no credit to this story who either have not seen the Egg or were not present when the Woman was deliver'd of it In
concerning his Love to Truth 17. Euricius Cordus a German Physician hath this honour done to his memory It is said of him that no man was more addicted to truth than he or rather no man was more vehemently studious of it none could be found who was a worser hater of ing and falshood he could dissemble nothing nor bear that wherewith he was offended which was the cause of his gaining the displeasure oâ— some persons who might have been helpful to him if he would but have sought their favour and continued himself therein by his obsequiousness Thus much is declared in his Epigrams and he saith it of himself Blandire nescis ac verum Corde tacere Et mirare tuos displicuisse libros Thou canst not flatter but the truth dost tell What wonder is 't thy Books then do not sell. Paulus Lutherus Son to Martin Luther was Physician to Ioachimus the Second Elector of Brandenbuog and then to Augustus Duke of Saxony Elector It is said of him that he was verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of liberty and freedom of Speech far from â—lattery and assentation and in all points like unto that Rhesus in Euripides who saith of himself Talis sum et ego rectam sâ—rmonum Viam secans nec sum duplex vir Such a one am I that rightly can Divide my Speech yet am no double man The virtues of this Luther were many and great yet I know not any wherein he more deservedly is to be praised than for this honest freedom of speaking wherein he mightily resembled his Father 19. When I lived at Vtricht in the Low Countries the Reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of There came a Country-man of his out of Scoâ—land who desiring to be entertained by him told him that my Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentlemen his Cousin and Kinsmen were in good health Colonel Edmonds turning to his friends then by Gentlemen said he believe not one word he says My Father is but a poor Baker in Edinburg and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe that I am a great man born when there is no such matter CHAP. V. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace THere is a certain Fish which Aelian in his History calls the Adonis of the Sea because it liveth so innocently that it toucheth no living thing strictly preserving peace with all the offspring of the Ocean which is the cause it is beloved and courted as the true darling of the Waters If the frantick world hath had any darlings they are certainly such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the face of the Universe These are the men it hath Crown'd with Lawrels advanc'd to Thrones and â—latter'd with the misbecoming Titles of Heroes and Gods while the Sons of peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own vertues Notwithstanding which there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to Court her without the consideration of any additional Dowry 1. The Inâ—abitants of the Island Borneo not far from the Moluccas live in such detestation of war and are so great Lovers of peace that they hold their King in no other veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in peace but if he discover inclinations to war they never leave till he is fall'n in Battle under the Arms of his Enemies So soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as Men that fight for their liberty and such a King as will be a greater Lover of peace Nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the perswader and Author of a war but he was deserted by them and suffer'd to fall under the Sword of the Enemy 2. Datanes the Persian being employed in the besieging of Sinope received Letters from the King commanding him to desist from the Siege Having read the Letter he adored it and made gratulatory sacrifices as if he had received mighty favours from his Master and so taking Ship in the very next Night he departed 3. The Emperour Leo who succeeded Martianus having given to Eulogius the Philosopher a quantity of Corn one of his Eunuchs told him that such kind of largess was more fitly bestowed upon his Soldiers I would to God said the Emperour that the state of my Reign was such that I could bestow all the stipends of my Soldiers upon such as are learned 4. Constantinus the Emperour observing some differences amongst the Fathers of the Church called the Nicene Council at which also hmself was present At this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of one another All which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all But when he found that he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting that he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to peace and a Cordial Agreement amongst themselvrs 5. It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever perswade them to peace 6. At Fez in Africk they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any controversies amongst them both parties Plaintiff and Defendant came to their Alsakins or Chief Judge and at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the Cause is heard and ended It is reported of Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles in Rome under their own hands sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the peace through any apprehension that he lived suspected and should therefore be hated 8. Iames King of Arragon was a great enemy to contentions and contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an enemy 9. I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of
about with a stony bark CHAP. IV. Of such persons as have made their entrance into the World in a different manner from the rest of mankind MIlle modis morimur uno tantum nascimur saith Tully we die a thousand ways but we are born but one But certainly as there is a marvellous diversity of accidents through which Man arrives to his last end So also curious Nature hath in a various manner sported her self in the birth of some And howsoever she brings most of us into the World as it were in a common Road yet hath she also her by-paths and ever and anon singles out some whom she will have to be her Heteroclites and so many exceptions from the general rule 1. Zoroastres was the only Man that ever we could hear of that laughed the same day wherein he was born his brain also did so evidently pant and beat that it would bear up their hands that laid them upon his head An evident presage saith Pliny of the great Learning which he afterwards attained unto 2. M. Tullius Cicero is said to have been brought into the World by his Mother Helvia upon the third of the Nones of Ianuary without any of those pains that are usual in child-bearing 3. Such as were born into the World with their feet forward the Latines were wont to call Agrippae and Agripina saith Pliny hath left in writing that her Son Nero the late Emperour who all the time of his Reign was a very enemy to mankind was born with his feet forwards 4. Some children are born into the World with Teeth as M. Curius who thereupon was sirnamed Dentatus and Cn. Papyrius Carbo both of them great Men and right honourable Personages In Women it was look'd upon as of ill presage especially in the days of the Kings of Rome for when Valeria was born toothed the Soothsayers being consulted answered that look into what City she was carried to Nurse she should be the cause of the ruine and subversion of it Whereupon she was conveyed to Suessa Pomeria a City at that time most flourishing in Wealth and Riches and it proved most true in the end for that City was utterly destroyed 5. Some are cut out of their Mothers Womb such was Scipio Affricanus the former so also the first of those who had the sirname of Caesar thus saith Schenckius was that Manilius born who entred Carthage with an Army and so saith Heylen was that Mackduffe Earl of Fife who slew Mackbeth the usurping King of Scotlaâ—d and so Edward the Sixth of England 6. Anno 959. Buchardus Earl of Lintzgow Buchorn and Monfort a person of great bounty to the Poor chosen Abbot of Sangal and confirmed therein by Otho the Great was vulgarly call'd unborn because he was cut out of his Mothers Womb. 7. Gebhardus the Son of Otho Earl of Bregentz was cut out of his Mothers Womb and was consecrated Bishop of Conslantia Anno 1001. 8. I saw saith Horatius Augenius a poor Woman of a â—leshy and good habit of body who for nine months had an exulceration of the Ventricle and for twenty days space vomited up again all that she eat or drank as soon as she had taken it of this Disease she died and dissecting her womb we took out thence a living boy who by my direction had the name of Fortunatus given him at his Baptism and he is yet alive 9. I my self saith Cornelius Gemma have cut out of the Womb six living Children from six several persons 10. Amongst many strange examples appearing upon record in Chronicles we read of a Child in Saguntum that very year wherein it was forced and razed by Hanibal which so soon as it was come forth of the Mothers Womb presently returned into it again 11. Iohannes Dubravius hath observ'd of Lewis the Second King of Hungary and Bohemia that there were four things wherein he was over hasty That he became great in a very small time that he had a beard too soon that he had white hairs before he was past seventeen years of age and that he was over forward in his birth for he came into the World without any of that skin which is call'd Epidermis which yet he soon after got the Physiâ—ians lending their assistance to that which Nature had not time to finish he died in the 21. of his Age Anno 1526. August the 29. 12. When Spinola besieg'd the City of Bergopsoma a Woman who was near her count going out to draw water was taken off in the middle by a Cannon-bullet so that the lower part of her feâ—l into the water such as were by and beheld that misfortune ran to her and saw there a child moving it self in the bowels of the Mother they drew it forth and carried it into the Tents of Don Cordua kept it with all care being afterwards brought thence to Antwerp the Infanta Isabella caused it to be baptiz'd and gave it the name of Albertuâ— Ambrosius one of her Father's Captains 13. Anno 1647. Iacobus Egh in the City of Sarda in Bâ—lgia had a Bull which he fed tying him in a Close near his house but provok'd by the boys he brake his bonds and ran to the Cows the Herdsman endeavoured with his staff to return him to his former place the bull being incens'd with his blows ran upon him and with his horns bore him to the ground his Wife being now in the last month of her count seeing the danger of her Husband ran in to his assistance the bull with his horns hoisted her up into the Air the height of one story and tore the belly of the woman from the wound in her belly forthwith came the birth with its secundine and was thrown at some distance upon a soft place was carried home diligently look'd after by a Midwife and upon the first of September baptiz'd had his Fathers name given him and is yet alive the Man liv'd 36. hours the woman but 4. the bull was slain the day after by the command of the Magistrates 14. Gorgias a gallant Man of Epirus slipt from the Womb in the Funerals of his Mother and by his unexpected crying caused them to stand who carried the Bier affording thereby a new spectaâ—le to his Country having his birth and cradle in the Cossin of his Parent In one and the same moment a dead woman was deliver'd and the other was carried to the Grave before he was born 15. Fnâ—cho Arista the first King of Navarr being dead Garsias his Son succeeded who being one day in the Village of Larumbe was surprized â—y some Moorish Robbers assaulted and slain they wounded Vrracha his Queen in the Belly with a Lance the Thieves put to flight the Queen at the wound was deliver'd of a Son and died the child to all Mens wonder was safe and was nam'd Sancius Garsia he was well educated by a noble person prov'd a gallant Man and
were of a great growth not agreeable to their Age which was but six and thirty days Their feet were proportionably made like to the foot of a Camel round and cloven in the midst They receiv'd their food with an insatiable desire and continually mourn'd with a pitiful noise when one slept the other waked which was a strange disagreement in Nature the Mother of them bought dearly that birth with the loss of her life and as I was afterwards inform'd these liv'd but a small time after we had seen them 13. Ser. Fulvius Flaccus and Q. Calphurnius Piso being Consuls there was then in Rome a Maid Servant delivered of a child that had four feet and as many hands four eyes four ears and two members of virility 14. At Prague this Summer upon the 18. day of Iuly there was born a boy whose Liver Intestines Stomach and Spleen with the greatest part of the Mesentery hung out beyond the Navel who liv'd but a few hours the Mother being ask'd by Gregorius Horstius and Dr. Major if she knew any thing that might occasion such a birth answer'd with tears that three months before her delivery she was compelled to hold a Calf while he was kill'd and that standing by while he was opened at the falling of the bowels she felt a commotion within her unto which she imputed this accident 15. At Cracovia there was born of noble Parents a child that was terrible to behold with flaming and shining eyes the mouth and Nostrils were like to those of an Oxe it had long horns and a back hairy like a dogs It had the Faces of Apes in the brest where the Teats should stand It had Cats eyes under the Navel fastned to the Hypogastrium and they looked hideously and frightfully It had the heads of Dogs upon both Elbows and at the whirl-bones of each knee looking forwards it was splay footed and splay handed the Feet were like Swans feet and it had a Tail turned upwards that was crooked backwards about half an ell long It lived four hours from the birth of it and near its death it spake thus Watch for the Lord your God comes this was saith Lycosthenes in Anno Dom. 1543. 16. In the year 1573. there was a Monster born at St. Lawrence in the West Indies the narration whereof was brought to the Duke of Medina Sidonia from very faithful hands How that there was a child born there at that time that besides the horrible deformity of its mouth ears and nose had two horns on the head like those of young goats long hair on the body a fleshy girdle about his middle double from whence hung a piece of flesh like a purse and a bell of flesh in his left hand like those the Indians use when they dance white boots of flesh on his legs doubled down In brief the whole shape was horrid and diabolical and conceived to proceed from some fright the Mother had taken from the Antick Dances of the Indians amongst whom the Devil himself does not fail to appear sometimes At Boston in New England October 17. 1637. Mrs. Dyer was delivered of a Monster which had no head the face was on the brest the ears like Apes grew upon the shoulders the eyes and mouth stood far out the nose hooking upward the brest and back full of prickles the Navel and belly where the hips should have been instead of toes it had on each foot three claws upon the back it had two great holes like mouths above the eyes it had four horns and was of the Female Sex The Father and Mother of it were great Familists CHAP. VI. Of the Birth-day and what hath befallen some Men thereon also of such other days as were observ'd fortunate or otherwise to several persons THe Ancients us'd to celebrate the annual returns of their birth-day with feasting musick sports mutual presents and whatsoever else might serve to witness how desirous they were to entertain with highest solemnity the revisits of that light wherein they had first beheld the World And yet notwithstanding all their courtships it seems the Tragedian had truth on his side when he said Nulla dies Maerore caret sed nova fletus Causa Ministrat Senec. Troad No day from sadness so exempt appears As not to minister new cause of tears 1. For Antipater Sidonius the Poet throughout the whole space of his life every year for one only day that is to say the day whereon he was born was seized with a Fever and when he had liv'd to a great Age by the certain return of his wonted Disease he dy'd upon his birth-day 2. Iohannes Architectus every year at a set time that is upon his birth-day was taken with a Fever which proceeding of putrid choler keeping it's circle never exceeded the fourteenth day at last being spent with Age and his wonted Fever assailing him he was overcome by it and yielded to Nature upon his birth-day 3. Elizabeth eldest Daughter of King Edward the Fourth and eighteen years the Wife of King Henry the Seventh dy'd in child-bed in the Tower of London the eleventh of February the very day upon which she was born 4. I know a Man saith Amatus Lusitanus who every year upon that day in which he first entred the World is seiz'd with an evident fit of a Fever all the rest of the year he enjoys very good health Thomas a Veiga witnesses that he hath observ'd the same in another and also that he hath known a Man who every year had a Fever for three days and no longer 5. Alexander the Great is said to have been born upon the sixth day of the Month Targelion and also to have dy'd on the same that is to say on the sixth of February 6. Attalus the King of Pergamum and Cn. Pompeius the Great both died upon their birth-days 7. Caius Iulius Caesar was born in the Ides of March and by a conspiracy of the Nobles was slain in the Senate-house upon the same although he was fore-warned to take heed of them 8. Antonius Caracalla the Emperour was slain by Macrinus the Praetorian praefect at Carris near to Edessa in Mesopotamia upon his birth-day which was the sixth of the Ides of April the twenty ninth year of his Age and the sixth of his Empire 9. Pope Gregory the Great was born and died upon the same day to wit upon the fourth of the Ides of March. 10. Garsias the Great Grandfather by the Father's side to Petrarch having liv'd one hundred and four years died as also did Plato in the very day of his Nativity and in the same Chamber wherein he was born 11. The Emperour Charles the Great was buried at Aquisgrave upon the same day wherein he was born in the year of our Lord Anno Dom. 810. 12. Philip Melancthon died Anno Dom. 1560. in the sixty third year of his Age and upon the
day of his Nativity which was the 13 th of the Calends of May. 13. The Emperour Charles the Fifth was born on the day of Matthias the Apostle on which day also in the course of his Life was King Francis taken by him in battel and the Victory likewise won at Biccoque he was also Elected and Crowned Emperour on the same day and many other great Fortunes befel him still on that day 14. M. Ofilius Hilarus an Actor of Comedies after he had highly pleas'd the people upon his birth-day kept a Feast at home in his own house and when Supper was set forth upon the Table he call'd for a mess of hot broth to sup off and withal casting his eye upon the Visor he had worn that day in the play he fitted it again to his face and taking off the Garland which he wore upon his bare head he set it thereupon in this posture disguized as he sat he was stark dead and cold too before any person in the company perceived any such thing 15. Augustus Caesar had certain Anniversary sicknesses and such as did return at a stated and certain time he commonly languished about the time of his birth-day which was the ninth of the Calends of October a little before Sun-rise M. Tullius Cicero and Antonius being Consuls 16. On the contrary the birth-days of some Men have been very fortunate to them as was that of the great Captain Timoleon general of the Syracusans who obtained for them the chiefest of his Victories upon the day of his birth which thereupon was annually and Universally celebrated by the Syracusans as a day of good and happy fortune to them 17. It is said of Iulius Caesar that he had often found the Ides of Iuly to be very happy and auspicious to him at which time he was also born 18. King Philip of Macedon us'd to celebrate the day of his birth with extraordinary joy as the most favourable and fortunate to him of all other for once upon that day he had a triplicity of good tydings that he was Victor in the Chariot race in the Olympicks that Parmenio his General had gain'd a most important victory and that the Queen Olympias was delivered of his Son Alexander 19. Ophioneus was one amongst the Messenians had the gift of Prophecy and Pausanias says of him that immediately after his birth-day he was annually stricken with blindness nor is that less wonderful in the same person that after a vehement fit of the Head-ach he would begin to see and then presently fall from thence into his former blindness 20. It is a note worthy to be remembred that Thursday was observ'd to be a day fatal to King Henry the Eight and to all his Posterity for he himself died on Thursday the 28 th of Ianuary King Edward the Sixth on Thursday the sixth of Iuly Queen Mary on Thursday the seventeenth of November and Queen Elizabeth on Thursday the four and twentyeth of March 21. Franciscus Baudinus an Abbot a Citizen of Florence and well known in the Court of Rome died upon the Anniversary return of his birth-day which was upon the 19 th day of December he was buried in the Church of St. Silvester in Rome and it was the observation of him that made his Funeral Elegy that the number nine did four times happen remarkably in his affairs he was born on the 19 th day and died on the same being aged twenty nine and the year of our Lord being at that time 1579. 22. Wednesday is said to have been fortunate to Pope Sixtus the Fifth for on that day he was born on the same day made a Monk on that day created General of his Order on the same made Cardinal then chosen Pope and finally on the same inaugurated 23. Friday was observ'd to be very lucky to the great Captain Gensalvo on that day having given the French many notable overthrows Saturday was as fortunate to Henry the Seventh King of England CHAP. VII Of the Signatures and natural marks upon the bodies of some Men. IN Sicily there have been often digg'd up bones of a monstrous and prodigious bigness in all appearance resembling those of a humane body but whether they were the Skeletons of deceased Gyants whether bred and form'd in the Earth by some peculiar influx of the Stars and secret propriety of the Mould whether made by the Artifice of Man and there buried to beget wonder in after times or by the Devils to promote some of their malicious ends is yet variously disputed So concerning the causes of those impressions which some bodies bring upon them from the Womb and carry with them to their Graves there is not so great a clearness as not to leave us in some doubts For if the most of them are occasion'd through the strength of the Mothers imagination there have been others of so peculiar a Form so remote from being thought to leave such lively touches upon a Womans fancy so continued to the Descendants of the same Family and so agreeable with the after fortunes of the person so signed as may possibly encline unto farther enquiries Marinus Barletius reports of Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus that most terrible enemy of the Turks that from his Mothers Womb he brought with him into the World a notable mark of Warlike Glory for he had upon his right Arm a Sword so well set on as if it had been drawn with the pencil of the most curious and skilful Painter in the World 2. Among the people called the Dakes the Children usually have the Moles and Marks of them from whom they are descended imprinted upon them even to the fourth generation 3. Laodice the Wife of Antiochus dream'd that she received a Ring from Apollo with an Anchor engraven upon it Seleucus the Child that she then went with who afterwards was remarkable for his famous exploits was born with an Anchor impress'd upon his Thigh and so also his Sons and Grand-children carry'd the same mark upon the same place from the time of their birth 4. In the Race and Family of the Lepidi it is said there were three of them not successively one after another but out of order and after some intermission who had each of them when thâ—â— were born a little pannicle or thin skin growing over the eye 5. It is observ'd by Plutarch that the resemblance of the Natural properties or corporal marks of some Parents are continued in their Families for many Descents yea and sometimes not appearing in the second or third generation do nevertheless shew themselves in the fourth or fifth or others ensuing some Ages after whereof he brings an example of one in his time call'd Python who being descended of the Spartiatae the Founders of Thebes and being the last of that Race was born with the figure of a Lance upon his body which had been in former Ages a natural
as may appear by that Law in the twelve Tables wherein though it is forbiden to burn Gold with the Body yet there is added that such as have their Teeth fastned with Gold may be bury'd or burnt with it 17. The Negroes of Mosambico are extremely pleas'd to have their Teeth very sharp so that some use Files to make them such Among the Maldiveses they are no less desirous to have them red and to that end they are continually chewing of Petel Among the Iaponeses and the Cumaneses they are industrious to have them black and they purposely make them such because Dogs Teeth are white whom they hate to imitate or be like 18. Saint Augustine saith he saw upon the shore of Vtica a mans Tooth one of those which we call the Grinders of that huge bigness that if it had been cut into the form and magnitude that is usual amongst us in our times that Tooth might easily be judg'd to be an hundred times biger than any of ours 19. Phlegon Trallianus remembers that in the Reign of Tiberius the Emperour in a part of Sicily there were digg'd up some dead Bodies the Teeth were found to exceed in length the Foot of an ordinary man 20. In the days of Lewis Duke of Savoy the Lord Michael de Romagnano being then aged above ninety years cast his Teeth and had almost a complete new set that succeeded in the place of those that were fallen out And Anno 1372. when the Emperour Charles the Fourth abode above the Rhine one night in his sleep he had one of his Grinders that drop'd out and another immediately came in the room of it which was the greater wonder to those that were about him seeing the Emperour at that time was in the seventy first year of his age 21. In the time of King Edward the Third there reign'd a great Pestilence over most parts of the World and from that time all that ever have been born have two Cheek Teeth less than they had before Fullers holy State lib. 3. cap. 2. pag. 146. 22. Eurydamas a Cyrenian was Victor in the Olympick Game at Whorl-bats this man had his Teeth stroken out by a blow that was given him by his Enemy all which he immediately swallowed lest his Adversary being sensible of what had befallen him should thereupon take fresh courage CHAP. XV. Of the Tongue Voice and manner of Speech in several Persons SOme are of opinion that Nature hath shut up the Tongue with a double Port-cullis of Lips and Teeth on purpose that man by their manner of contexture might have a constant and silent kind of admonition that he should not be over hasty to speak It being too easie to pull great mischiefs upon our selves by an unwary indulgence to this little member I will not say that he that hath the longest Tongue is the greatest speaker But 1. Donatus tells that he knew one Iohn Fugacinas a Merchant of Mantua who had so long and flexible a Tongue that as oft as he pleased and with great falicity he could lick his Nostrils with it as an Oxe doth 2. Amatus Lusitanus relates of one Iames that he had long hairs growing upon his Tongue which he sometimes pull'd up by the roots with his own hands to whom he also shewed them and adds that although they were thus pull'd out they would nevertheless grown again 3. Schenkiâ—s propounds the Histories of divers out of whose Tongues were taken Stones from some one only from others more some of the bigness of a Pease others of a Bean and some that hindred the liberty of Speech which upon their removal was again restor'd 4. The Wife of Nausimenes the Athenian having found her Son and Daughter in the act of an incestuous copulation struck with the horror of a thing so unexpected she immediately became mute and utterly bereav'd of the use of her Speech 5. Maximilian the Son of the Emperour Ferdinand the Third was altogether mute and dumb to the ninth year of his Age but by the benefit of Nature he afterwards arrived not only to Speech but also to Eloquence the cause is suppos'd to be too great humidity which in process of time was wasted and consumed 6. Aegles a Samian wrastler was dumb from his Nativity but when the Honour and reward of his Victory was taken from him enkindled with rage he brake silence and spoke ever after 7. Atys the Son of King Croesus beholding a Persian Soldier rushing upon his Father to kill him being before altogether dumb struck with fear and anger he cry'd out Soldier do not kill Croesus by this means the strings of his Tongue being loosned he ever after had a free use of it 8. Thrasybulus the Admiral of the Athenian Navy excell'd all the Athenians of his time in the mighty strength and loudness of his voice 9. Carneades the Cyrenian an excellent both Philosopher and Logician had from his Youth so full and strong a Voice that his Master was constrain'd to call to him that he would not roar in that manner Prescribe me then said he the measure of my Voice Your Auditors said his Master 10. Basil the Great Bishop of Caesaria was ever of weak Smell and difficult Voice but at his last somewhat before he dy'd he spake more loud and strong And saith Nazienzen as dying Swans with words of Truth he fell asleep 11. Michael Balbus the Emperour was so exceeding slow in naming of Letters and composing of Syllables that another might with more ease read over a whole Book than he was able to pronounce all the Letters of his own name 12. Pescennius Niger so called because though very white in all the rest of his Body yet his Neck only was extremely black he is said to have had so strong and loud a Voice that when he spake in the Camp he might be heard at the distance of a mile unless the wind was against him 13. When Darius fled from the Scythians he came to the Bridge upon the Ister which he found broken down he had left Histieeus the Milesian there with some Ships to receive him at his coming Histiceus had withdrawn himself as far as to be out of the Scythian darts but being dark and at the dead of the Night they could not discern any of his Ships so that Darius thought himself betray'd yet caus'd an Egyptian who had the strongest Voice of all Mortals to stand upon the shore and call to him as loud as he could he invoked the name of Histiceus with that notable sufficiency that he was heard by him in his Ship at the first call so that he came and delivered Darius of his fears 14. Iohannes the Dumb had his Sirname given him upon the occasion of his misfortumes for in his Voyage to Italy he fell into the hands of Turkish Pyrates who upon his refusal to turn Turk endeavour'd to
hand to the work that not daring to look upon his face he struck sometimes upon his Neck at others upon his face and with multiply'd strokes had much ado at length to divide the head from the body 2. One of the chief Men amongst the Gauls confess'd to one of his Friends that he had fully resolv'd to pretend as he would have parlied with Augustus in his passage over the Alpes and that at his coming within him he would have tumbled him down headlong but that Augustus when he spake and when he was silent shew'd such an amiableness and Majesty in Face and Voice that he relented and was held back from his purpose 3. When the Emperour Charles the Fifth went up to the top of the Temple of Panthâ—on in Rome a certain Italian mov'd with desire of revenge or transported with some other passion resolved to throw the Emperour headlong from a Window which is the highest part of it but being amaz'd with the portly Majesty of the Emperour he desisted from this mischievous Act of which before he dy'd he made confession 4. Gabriel Fondulo Lord of Cremona confessed before his death that he had once resolved with himself to throw down headlong from the high Tower of Cremona the Emperour Sigismund Pope Iohn the 23. and Mocenigo the Venetian Embassadour who were gone up thither to see the City and the Country thereabouts but that he was frighted and terrified from his enterprise by the like means 5. The Emperour Trajan having besieg'd the Agarenians in a certain City of theirs and going about the same in a disguise that he might not be known was yet noted for his gallant Age and Majestical port how well soever he sought to dissemble so that the Enemy making full account that he was the chief Commander of the Army shot many Arrows at him one of which lighted upon him that followed the Emperour and kill'd him 6. Sir Thomas Egerton made Keeper of the Great Seal by Queen Elizabeth in the 38. of her Reign 1596. of him it is said that surely all Christendom afforded not a Person who carried more gravity in his countenance and behaviour than Sir Thomas Egerton insomuch that many have gone to the Chancery on purpose only to see his venerable Aspect and garb happy they had no other business and were highly pleased at so acceptable a spectacle 7. Ferdinand King of Naples being shut out both of Capua and Naples departed with twenty Galleys well appointed unto Aenaria an Island not far from Naples having in it a commodious harbour and a strong Castle where Fortune never firm but in misery seemed again to deride the poor remainder of his honour for coming thither the Captain of the Castle unworthily named Iustus forgetting his duty towards his Soveraign of whom he had before received many extraordinary favours most traiterously now in this his so hard distress shut the Gates of the Castle against him at his landing with which unexpected ingratitude the poor King was wonderfully perplex'd and almost abashed yet with earnest entreaty and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his Father and himself had in times past bestowed upon him he prevail'd so much with this unthankful Man that he was content to receive him into the Castle so that he would come himself alone of which offer when no more could be got the King seemed to accept so the Captain having opened a Port to receive him in was in the very entrance thereof suddenly stabb'd to the heart with a Dagger by King Ferdinand and slain in the midst of his Armed Soldiers which was done with such a countenance and Majesty that the Warders with their Weapons in their hands dismay'd with his look forthwith at his commandment opened the gate and receiv'd him in with all his Followers whereby it appears that in the countenance of Princes resteth a certain divine Majesty in all Fortunes above the common course of Nature which is of power to daunt the hearts of most disloyal Traytors in the performance of their unnatural Treasons 8. Darius the Son of Hystâ—spis that some Persians of great Authority had a Traiterous design upon him and a purpose to kill him as he hunted he unappall'd at the news commanded them to take their Arms and Horses then that they should draw and assault him and frowning upon them why do you not said he execute that for which ye are come hither But they observing the undaunted spirit and countenance of the King not only relinquish'd their purpose but were struck with such a terrour that they cast down their spears adored Darius and yielded themselves to be punish'd at his pleasure 9. It is recorded of Alphonsus Este the first Duke of Ferrara that when the Traytors who conspir'd against him had him often in their power and might have slain him yet as they afterwards confessed they were so affrighted with the Majesty of his countenance that all the strength of their hearts and hands did forsake them In this manner they delay'd till they were discovered by Hippolytus and underwent the punishment of their designed though not executed Treason 10. The Emperour Maximilian the First was made Prisoner by the Men of Bruges and treated unworthily by them yet in this solitude and extream danger of his Life he retain'd the Heroick greatness of his mind and neither did nor spake any thing that might misbecome him His greatest Enemies did revere his Visage and the seditious people were aw'd by his presence for which cause he was but rarely suffer'd to be seen by them for there sate in his countenance and eyes a Majesty worthy of a great Prince such as strangely mov'd and shook the consciences of the Rebels there was in him a gravity that extorted a due reverence from the most refractory amongst them all the lineaments of his body did so lively express a Royal and Imperial Dignity his habit and gate was so decent his motion so temperate and his words had such weight that he drew the affections of all that beheld him 11. Francis the First King of France after that unhappy Battle at Ticinum where he with the chiefest of his Nobility was taken Prisoner did yet remain undaunted carry'd himself with that Princely behaviour as if he being overcome had triumphed over the Conquerour He comforted the King of Navarr Francis Burbon Anne Mommorance and other great Persons who were in the same case with himself saying it was no wonder if some things fell out to Man contrary to his will and that Mars above all the Deities of the Heathen vanity was most mutable His whole demeanour was so perfectly Royal that his enemies rever'd him with the greatest observance His Illustrious Conquerours strove with emulation to administer to him Royal Furniture Provisions and Plate and scarce could Burbon Lanoy and Daualus be perswaded to sit down with him though they had his command so to
never more be seen Till More be there again 13. In Fabius Vrsinus a Child but of eleven years of age there was so rare a mixture of invention and memory that he could unto five or six several persons at the same time dictate the words and matter of so many several Epistles some serious some jocular all of different arguments returning after every short period from the last to the first and so in order and in the conclusion every Epistle should be so close proper and coherent as if it alone had been intended 14. Philip de Comines Knight and Lord of Argènton Privy Counsellour to Lewis the eleventh King of France was a person of those rare and quick parts that he often indited at one time to four Secretaries several Letters of weighty affairs with as great facility and readiness as if he had but one matter in hand 15. Anthony Perenot Cardinal Granvel was of so nimble a wit that he sometimes tired five Secretaries at once with dictating Letters to them and that in several tongues for he understood seven languages exactly none of that age surpassed him for eloquence he was Bishop of Arras at twenty four years of age and had audience in the Council of Trent for the Emperour Charles the Fifth where he made a quick and elegant Oration 16. Sir Thomas Lakes was born in the Parish of S. Michael in Southhampton and through several under offices at last preferred Secretary of Estate to King Iames incredible his dexterity in dispatch who at the same time would indite write discourse more exactly than most men could severally perform them Men resembled him to one of the Ships Royal of Queen Elizabeth called the Swiftsure such his celerity and solidity in all affairs He fell at last for the faults of others into the King's displeasure yet even then when outed of his Secretaries place King Iames gave him this publick Eulogy in open Court That he was a Minister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Europe 17. For vigour and quickness of spirit I take it that Caius Caesar Dictatour went beyond all men besides I have heard it reported of him that he was wont to write to read to indite Letters and withal to give audience to suiters and hear their causes all at one time And being employed as 't is well known in so great and important affairs he ordinarily indited Letters to four Secretaries at once and when he was freed from other greater business he would other whiles find seven of them work at one time 18. Henricus ab Heer 's mentions a young man of fourteen years of age who used to dictate to four of his School-fellows four different Verses and at the same time made a fifth himself He was called the youth with the great memory he afterwards applyed himself to Physick wherein he is a Practitioner saith he this year 1630. 19. It is said of Adrian the Emperour that he used to write dictate hear others discourse and talk with others at the same time and that he so comprehended all publick accounts that every diligent Master of a Family understood not so well the affairs of his own private house 20. King Henry the Seventh had occassion to send a Messenger to the Emperour Maximilian about a business that required haste he thought none more â—it for this employment than Mr. Thomas Woolsey then his Chaplain he call'd him gave him his errand and bade him make all the speed he could Woolsey departed from the King at Richmond about noon and by next morning was got to Dover and from thence by noon next day was come to Calis and by night was with the Emperour to whom declaring his message and having a present dispatch he rode that night back to Calis and the night following came to the Court at Richmond the next morning he presented himself before the King who blamed him for not being gone the matter requiring haste To whom Woolsey answered That he had been with the Emperour dispatched the business and shewed the Emperour's Letter The King wondred much at his speed bestowed presently upon him the Deanery of Lincoln and soon after made him his Almoner This was the first rise of that aâ—terwards great Prelate Cardinal Woolsey CHAP. XXIX Of the Fatness and Vnwieldiness of some Men and the Lightness of the Bodies of others ERasmus tells us of the Gordii that whereas other Nations were used to make choice of their Kings for some real excellency or virtue they had in them above others these people had a custom to advance him to the Throne of their Kingdom who was the fattest and most corpulent that could be found perhaps being of a peaceable disposition of themselves they would have their Princes whom they could no otherwise restrain to be clogged at least with Fetters of fiesh lest they should prove over active and more stirring than was conducing to their quiet I know not what ease can be expected from him who is become a burden to himself as some of the following persons were 1. Zacutus speaks of a young man who was grown to that huge thickness and fatness that he could scarce move himself much less was he able to go or set one step forward he continually sate in a Chair oftentimes he was oppressed with that difficulty of breathing that he seem'd to be choaked he was in perpetual fear of being suffocated or that he should speedily die of an Apoplexy Convulsion Asthma or Syncope How he was afterwards cured by Zacutus himself may be seen in that observation of his cited in the Margin 2. Polyeuctus Sphettius was a man of great corpulency he one time made a long Oration amongst the Athenians to perswade them to enter into a war with King Philip of Macedon In the speaking of which by reason of the heat and his own fat he had frequent recourse to a Bottle of Water which he had about him for that purpose When he had ended Phocion rose up And my Masters said he is it fit to give credit to this man concerning the management of a war What think you would become of him in the midst of a Battel when his Helmet and Brest-plate were on seeing he is in such danger of death with the bare labour of speaking 3. Dionysius the Son of that Clearchus who was the first Tyrant in Heraclea by reason of his voluptuous life and excessive feeding became so corpulent that by reason of his fat he was pressed with difficulty of breathing and in a continual fear of suffocation whereupon his Physicians appointed that as oft as he fell into any profound sleep they should prick his sides and belly with very long and sharp Needles he felt nothing while they passed through the fat but when they touch'd upon the sensible flesh then he awaked To such as demanded Justice he gave answers opposing a Chest betwixt him and them to cover
that in all that time there was nothing of his flesh consumed save only his lips and that but at the end of them and also his eyes were somewhat wasted 11. Kornmannus tells that in Valentia a City of Spain there was found the body of Adonizam the servant of King Solomon together with his Epitaph in Hebrew it appeared that he had lain buried above two thousand years yet was he found uncorrupted so excellent a way of conditure a rich embalming of the dead were those skilled in who lived in the Eastern Countries He also mentions the body of Cleopatra which had remain'd undamaged for an hundred and twenty five Olympiads viz. 500 years as appears by the Letter of Heraclius the Emperour to Sophocles the Philosopher I remember not to have read any thing like this amongst the Romans unless of the body as some say of Tulliola the Daughter of Cicero which was found entire and uncorrupted after as some have computed it one thousand and three hundred years 12. I have often seen in a well known place of Germany saith Camerarius a young Gentleman's Tomb who was buried in a Chappel where his predecessours lay He was the fairest young man of his time and being troubled with a grievous sickness in the flower of his age his Friends could never get so much of him as to suffer himself to be represented in sculpture or Picture to serve for posterity only this through their importunity he agreed unto that after he should be dead and some days in the ground they should open his Grave and cause him to be represented as they then found him They kept promise with him and found that the worms had half gnawn his face and that about the midriff and the back-bone there were many Serpents Upon this they caused the Spectacle such as they found it to be cut in stone which is yet at this present to be seen among the armed Statues of the Ancestors of this young Gentleman So true it seems is that of Ecclus. 10.12 When a man dieth he is the heritage of Serpents Beasts and Worms Of Bodies dead engender Worms of Worms a rotten stink And then as horrible a state as mind of man can think 13. To this may be annexed the ensuing Relation written by the pen of Mr. Thomas Smyth of Sewarstone in the Parish of Waltham Abbey a discreet person not long since deceased It so fell out that I served Sir Edward Denny towards the latter end of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory who lived in the Abbey of Waltham cross in the County of Essex which at that time lay in ruinous heaps And then Sir Edward began slowly now and then to make even and re-edifie some of that Chaos In doing whereof Tomkins his Gardiner came to discover among other things a fair marblestone the cover of a Tomb hewed out in hard stone This cover with some help he remov'd from off the Tomb which having done there appeared to the Gardiner and Mr. Baker Minister of the Town who died long since and to my self and Mr. Henry Knagge Sir Edward's Bayliff the anatomy of a man lying in the Tomb aforesaid all the bones remaining bone to his bone not one bone dislocated in observation whereof we wondred to see the bones still remaining in such due order and no dust or other silth besides them to be seen in the Tomb. We could not conceive that it had been an Anatomy of bones only laid at first in the Tomb yet if it had been the carcase of a man what became of his flesh and entrails For as I have said before the Tomb was all clean of filth and dust besides the bones This when we had well observed I told them that if they did but touch any part thereof that all would fall asunder for I had only heard somewhat formerly of the like accident Trial was made and so it came to pass For my own part I am perswaded that as the flesh of this Anatomy to us became invisible so likewise would the bones have been in some longer continuance of time Oh what is man then which vanisheth thâ—â— away like unto smoak or vapour and is no more seen Whosoever thou art that shalt read this paâ—â—â—ge thou mayst find cause of humility suâ—â—â—câ—ent â—4 It 's said that in the Isles of Arron in the Câ—nnachlio Sea the dead bodies of men do not putrefie but exposed to the air remain uncorrupted so that by this means the survivers come to know their Grandfathers great Grandfathers great great Grandfathers and a long order of their dead Ancestors to their great admiration Kornman de mirac mortuor lib. 3. cap. 4. p. 5. 15. The body of Alexander the Great lay for seven days together in a hot Country unburied and altogether uncorrupted 16. We know some saith Alexander Benedictus who have been laid in their Graves half alive and some noble persons have been disposed into their Sepulchres whose life has lain hid in the secret repositories of the heart One great Lady was thus entombed who was after found dead indeed but sitting and remov'd from her place as one that had return'd to life amongst the carcases of the dead she had pulled off the hair of her head and had torn her breast with her nails signs too apparent of what had passed and that she had long in vain called for help while alone in the society of the dead 17. Alexander Giâ—aynerius speaking of the old and great City of Kiovia near the Borysthenes there are saith he certain subterranean Caverns extended to a great length and breadth within ground here are divers ancient Sepulchres and the bodies of certain illustrious Russians these though they have lain there time out of mind yet do they appear entire There are the bodies of two Princes in their own Country habit as they used to walk when alive and these are so fresh and whole as if they had but newly lain there They lie in a Cave unburied and by the Russian Monks are shewed unto Strangers 18. Laurentius Mullerus tells us also that in this City there is a Temple with admirable Vaults in which divers bodies are kept uncorrupted as if they were boiled not livid and black but with a fresh and lively colour of the skin the tradition is that they are the bodies of some Martyrs and that the Tartars in their incursions presume not to touch them because it has prov'd dangerous to them heretofore to endeavour it He also remembers that in a vaulted Chappel there is to be seen the body of a woman wrapt in a thin and transparenâ—â—heet and so entire that the yellow hair and all the members of it will abide the touch It 's said to be the body of the Martyr Barbara 19. Such as write the History of the West Indies tell us that many of that Country-men upon the high Mountains at a certain time of the
the Books of Aristotle's Metaphysicks forty times and thereby so fixed them in his memory that he was able to repeat them without Book 2. Anthony Wallens by the help of the art of memory in six months space learn'd by heart the whole Epitome of Pagnine with such excellent success that thereby he was enabled well to interpret any place of the holy Scriptures and to give a reason for it 3. Mr. Humphrey Burton a Gentleman of good worth in the City of Coventry being at this time of my writing this viz. Sept. 10. 167â— of the age of eighty and three besides his many and other accomplishments can by the strength and firmness of his memory give the sum of any Chapter in the New Testament and of the Chapters in divers Books of the Old Testament in a Latine Distich with as much readiness and as little hesitation as if he had directly read them out of a Book I my self have frequently put him to the trial wherein though I have observ'd no order but nam'd hâ—â—e a Chapter at the beginning then one towards the end then again return'd to the middle and so on purpose prevented any assistance he might have from an orderly succession and dependance yet could I no sooner name the Chapter and Book whereof I desired the account but he was ready with his Distich 4. Cineas the Embassadour of King Pyrrhus the very next day that he came to Rome both knew and alâ—o saluted by their names all the Senate and the whole order of the Gentlemen in Rome 5. Franciscus Cardulus a learned man was able to write two pages entire which any other man should read in the same order he read them or if any of the company had rather he would repeat them backwards 6. I have heard it from one who was present at the discourse that in the presence of a Prince of Germany when mention was made of Tacitus that Iustus Lipsius did then say that he had the Golden Volume so firm and entire in his memory that nothing had ever slipt him therein he challenged any to make a trial of what he said And go to said he set one here with a Poynard and if in repeating of Tacitus all over I shall miss but in one word let him stab me and I will freely open my Breast or Throat for him to strike at 7. The Works of Homer are his Iliads and Odysses the former consists of twenty four Books and so also the latter His Iliads hath in it thirty one thousand six hundred and seventy Verses and I suppose his Odysses hath no less and yet it is said of Iosephus Scaliger that in one and twenty days he committed all Homer to his memory 8. Antonius the Aegyptian Eremite without any knowledge of Letters yet by the frequent hearing of them read had the whole body of the Scriptures without book and by diligent thinking of them did well understand them saith S. Augustine in his Prologue to his first Book de Doctrina Christianâ 9. Hortensius who for his Eloquence was called the King of Causes of him Cicero writing to Brutus There was saith he in that man such a memory as I have not known a greater in any It 's said of him that sitting on a time in the place where things were exposed to publick sale for a whole day together he recited in order all the things that were sold there their price and the names of the Buyers and by the account taken of them it appeared that he had not been deceiv'd in any of them Cicero comparing him with Lucullus saith Hortensius his memory was the greater for words but that of Lucullus for things 10. Lucius Lucullus a great Captain and Philosopher by an admirable strength of memory was able to give so ready an account of all affairs at home and abroad as if he had had them all at once presented before his eyes 11. Pompeius Gariglianus a Canon of the Church of Capua was of so great a memory as I remember not to have known his like he was so well and throughly known in all Plato Aristotle Hippocrates Galen Themistius Thomas Aquinas and others that as an admirable instance of his memory he would upon occasion not only repeat their sentences but the very words themselves 12. Age saith Seneca hat done me many injuries and deprived me of many things I once had it hath dulled the sight of my eyes blunted the sense of hearing and slackened my Nerves Amongst the rest I have mentioned before is the memory a thing that is the most tender and frail of all the parts of the soul and which is first sensible of the assaults of age that heretofore this did so flourish in me as not only serv'd me for use but might even pass for a miracle I cannot deny for I could repeat two thousand names in the same order as they were spoken and when as many as were Scholars to my Master brought each of them several Verses to him so that the number of them amounted to more than two hundred beginning at the last I could recite them orderly unto the first nor was my memory only apt to receive such things as I would commit to it but was also a faithful preserver of all that I had entrusted it with 13. Lippus Brandolinus in his Book of the condition of humane life reports of Laurentius Bonincontrius that at eighty years of age he had so perfect and entire a memory that he could remember all that had happened to him when he was a Boy and all that he had read in his youth and could recite them in such a manner that you would think he had seen or read them but that very day 14. Aeneas Sylvius in his History of the council of Basil at which himself was present tells of one Ludovicus Pontanus of Spoleto a Lawyer by profession who died of the pestilence at that Council at thirty years of age that he could recite not the titles only but the entire bodies of the Laws Being saith he for vastness and fastness of memory not inferiour to any of the Ancients 15. Fumianus Strada in his first Book of Academical Prolusions speaking of Franciscus Suarez He hath saith he so strong a memory that he hath S. Augustine the most copious and various of the Fathers ready by heart alledging every where as occasion presents it self fully and faithfully his sentences and which is very strange his words nay if he be demanded any thing touching any passage in any of his Volumes which of themselves are almost enough to fill a Library I my self have seen him instantly shewing and pointing with his finger to the place and page in which he disputed of that matter 16. Dr. Raynolds excelled this way to the astonishment of all that were inwardly acquainted with him not only for S. Augustine's Works but also all Classical Authors so that it
of so great a number of Ships as he thought might ply thereabouts 6. The melancholy Searchers after the Philosophers Stone never dote so much upon their project as then when it hath deluded them and never slatter themselves with stronger hopes to be enriched by their art than when it hath brought them unto Beggary CHAP. XVI Of the Scoffing aâ—d Scornful Dispositions of some men and how they have been rewarded AT Boghar a City of the Zagathian Tartars there is a River which causeth to them that drink thereof a Worm in the Leg which if not pulled out or pared away procures a certain death to him that hath it The intemperate use of the Tongue though it be but a little member hath been and ever will be the occasion of drawing down danger and death upon the heads of inconsiderate persons Some men dig their Graves with their tongues as effectually as others do with their Teeth and which is worst of all not only their own but others also while the petulant speeches and provocations of one man have involved thousands in a destiny as undeserved as unexpected 1. King William the First of England when he was in years was very corpulent and by that means much distempered in his body Once he had retired himself to Roan in Normandy upon that occasion the French King hearing of his Sickness scoffingly said That he lay in Child-bed of his great Belly which so incensed King William that he swore by God's Resurrection and his Brightness his usual Oath that as soon as he should be Churched of that Child he would offer a thousand Lights in France And indeed he performed it for he entred France in Arms and set many Towns and Corn Fields in fire 2. Henry the Fifth King of England had sent his Embassadours to France to demand the surrender of that Crown and to signifie that if he was denied he would endeavour to regain it by Fire and Sword It 's said that about that time the Dauphin who in the King of France's sickness managed the State sent to King Henry a Tun of Tennis Balls in derision of this youth as fitter to play with them than to manage Arms which King Henry took in such scorn that he promised with an Oath it should not be long ere he would toss such Iron Balls amongst them that the best in France should not be able to hold a Racket to return them Nor was he worse than his word as the Histories of that time do manifest at large 3. Antigonus a potent King of Macedonia had lost one of his eyes it fell out on a time that Theocritus the Chian was by some dragged along that he might come before the King his Friends to comfort him told him that no doubt but he would experience the King's clemency and mercy as soon as he should come before his eyes What then said he you tell me it is impossible I should be saved alluding to the King's misfortune Antigonus being informed of this his bitter as well as unseasonable scoff caused him to be slain although he had before sworn he would spare him 4. Narses the Eunuch was of the Bed-chamber to Iustinus the Emperour and from a Seller of Paper and Books arrived to the honour to succeed the famous Belisarius in the place of Generalissimo after he had renowned himself by a thousand gallant actions at last whether through envy or his ill fortune or the accusation of the people he fell into the hatred of the Emperour Iustinus and his Empress insomuch that the Emperour sent him Letters full of disgrace and reproach advising him also therein that he should return to the Spindle and Distaff Narses was so incensed hereat that he swore he would weave them such a Web as that they should not easily undo again and thereupon to revenge the injury he conceived to be done him he called in the Lombards to the invasion of the Roman Territories which they had been long desirous of but had hitherto been restrain'd by himself and was the occasion of many miseries 5. When the Flemmings revolted from Philip de Valois they out of derision called him the found King and advanc'd a great Cock on their principal Standard the device whereof was that when he should crow the found King should enter into their City This so exasperated the great courage of Philip that he waged them war gave them Battel and defeated them with such fury that Froysard assureth us that of a huge Army of Rebels there was not one left who became not a Victime of his vengeance 6. When Romulus had set up some part of the Walls of Rome his Brother Remus in derision of his Brother's Works and the lowness of those his Fortifications leaped over them whereat Romulus was so incensed that he made his life the price of that which he supposed so great an insolence 9. P. Scipio Nasica the same who being Consul decreed a war against Iugurth who with most holy hands received Mother Idaea passing from the Phrygian Seats to our Altars who oppressed both many and pestilent Seditions with the strength of his authority who for divers years was the Prince of the Senate this man when he was young was a petitioner for the office of the Edileship and as the manner of the Candidates is griping the hand of one who had hardened it with labour in the Country he jestingly asked him if he was accustomed to walk upon his Feet this scoff being heard by them that stood near was carried amongst the people and was the cause of Scipio's repulse for all the Rural Tribes judging they were upbraided with poverty by him discharged their anger upon him in refusing to give him their Votes 8. Tigranes King of Armenia came against Lucullus with so great Forces that when he saw the Romans marching up by way of scorn and derision he said to them about him that if they came to make war they were to few if as Embassadors they were to many yet those few Romans so distressed him and his numerous Army that he was glad to cut off his Tiara and cast it away lest thereby he should be known in his flight it was found by a Soldier and brought to Lucullus who soon after took Tigranocerâ—a it self from him 9. Monica afterwards the Mother of S. Augustin in her younger years began by degrees to sip and drink Wine lesser draughts by wedges widening her Throat for greater till at last she could fetch off her whole ones Now it happened that a young Maid formerly her partner in potting fell at variance with her and as malice when she shoots draws her Arrow to the head called her Toss-pot and Drunkard whereupon Monica reform'd her self and turn'd temperate Thus bitter Taunts and Scoffs sometimes make wholesome Physick and the malice of Enemies performs the office of good will 10. A Roman Legate returning out of Asia was carried in his
Pontius Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be Governour over the Jews caused in the Night time the Statue of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem covered which thing within three days after caused a great Tumult amongst the Jews for they who beheld it were astonished and moved as though now the law of their Country were prophaned for they hold it not lawful for any picture or Image to be brought into the City At their lamentation who were in the City there were gathered together a great multitude out of the Fields adjoyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Cesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the Law of their Country might remain inviolate When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselves before his house and there remained lying upon their faces for five days and nights never moving Afterwards Pilate sitting in his Tribunal was very careful to call the Jews together before him as though there he would have given them an answer when upon the sudden a company of Armed Soldiers for so it was provided compassed the Jews about with a Triple Rank The Jews were hereat amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receive the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a sign unto the Soldiers to draw their Swords The Jews as though they had agreed thereto fell all down at once and offered their naked Necks to the stroke of the Sword crying out that they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring their constancy and the strictness of that people in their Religion presently commanded the Statua's to be taken out of the City of Ierusalem When King Ethelred and his Brother Alfred had encountred the Danes a whole day being parted by the Night early the next morning the Battel was renewed and Alfred engaged in fight with the Danes sent to his Brother to speed him to their help but he being in his Tent at his Devotions refused to come till he had ended Having finished he entred the Battel relieved the staggering Host and had a glorious Victory over his Enemies Fulco Earl of Anjou in his old Age minding the welfare of his Soul according to the Religion of those days went in Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and having bound his Servants by oath to do what he should require was by them drawn naked to Christs Sepulchre The Pagans looking on while one drew him with a wooden yoke put about his Neck the other whipt him on the naked Back he in the mean time saying Receive O Lord a miserable perjur'd and run away Servant vouchsafe to receive my Soul O Lord Christ. 30. Pompey having taken Ierusalem entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum and although he found a Table of Gold a sacred Candlestick a number of other Vessels and odoriferous drugs in great quantity and two thousand Talents of Silver yet he touched nothing thereof through the Reverence he bore to God but caused the Temple to be purged and commanded the Sacrifices to be offered according to the Law 31. When the Duke of Saaony made great preparations for war against a Pious and Devout Bishop of Magdeburg The Bishop not regarding his defence applied himself to his Episcopal function in the visiting and the Well Governing of his Church and when it was told him that the Duke was upon his March against him He replied I will take care of the Reformation of my Churches and leave unto God the care of my Safety The Duke had a Spy in the City who hearing of this answer of the Bishops gave his Master a speedy account thereof The Duke having received this Information did thereupon dismiss his Army surceased from his expedition saying he would not fight against him who had God to fight for him 32. Hannibal having given a great overthrow to the Romans and slain the Consul Flaminius the people were extremely perplexed and chose Fabius Maximus Dictator who to lay a good foundation for his Government began with the service of the Gods Declaring to the People that the loss they had received came through the rashness and wilful negligence of their General who made no reckoning of the Gods and Religion and therefore he perswaded them to appease the Gods and to serve and honour them And he himself in presence of the people made a solemn vow that he would sacrifice unto the Gods all the encrease and fruits that should fall the next year of Sheep Sows Milch-kine and of Goats throughout Italy CHAP. IV. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood THe Persians and Indians had a Law that whosoever had been thrice convicted of speaking untruth should upon Pain of death never speak word more all his life after And Plato saith it is only allowed to Physicians to lye for the comfort of the Sick that are under their custody and care But all other men are obliged to a severe and strict observance of truth notwithstanding which there hath been so great a scarcity of the true Lovers of it that 1. It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told lye For which cause he was deemed capable and worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple of Truth 2. Epaminondas the Theban General was so great a Lover of Truth that he was ever exceeding careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it even then when he was most in sport 3. Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a person exremely devoted to Truth and gives him this threefold commendation Tâ—at he was never known to tell a Lye that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required 4. Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar friend to M. Cicero that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear any Related His uprightness was so apparent that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estates to his trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his charge 5. Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that fidelity and truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon oath yet the Athenians amongst whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge that his evidence should be lawful and good without being sworn 6. The Duke of Ossura as he passed by Barcelona having got leave of Grace to release some Slaves he went
aboard the Cape Gally and passing through the churms of Slave he asksd divers of them what their offences were every one excused himself one saying that he was put in out of malice another by Bribery of the Judge but all of them unjustly Amongst the rest there was one little sturdy black man and the Duke asking him what he was in for Sir said he I cannot deny but I am justly put in here for I wanted Money and so took a Purse hard by Sarragona to keep me from starving The Duke with a little Staff he had in his hand gave him two or three Blows upon the Shoulders saying you Rogue what do you amongst so many honest innocent men get you gone out of their company So he was freed and the rest remained still in statis quo prius to tug at the Oar. 7. The Emperour Constantius had besieged Beneventum when Romualdus the Duke thereof dispatch'd Geswaldus privily away unto Grimoaldus the King of Lombardy the Dukes Father to desire him to come with an Army unto the assistance of his Son He had prevailed in his Embassy and was by Grimoaldus sent away before to let his Son know that he was coming with some Troops to his Aid But in his return by misfortune he fell amongst the Enemies who being informed of the Auxiliary forces that were upon the march hoped to have Beneventum yielded to them before their Arrival if they could make Romualdus to despair of his Succours To this purpose having enjoyned Geswaldus to speak their sence they led him to the Walls but when he came thither he declared the whole truth to the besieged and gave them to understand that e're long Grimoaldus would be with them with a considerable Army This cost Geswaldus his Life and the Imperialists raised their Siege the next day after 8. King Lâ—dislaus was a great Lover of Truth and therefore amongst his Courtiers when any of them praised any deed of his or quality that was in him if he perceived that they said nothing but the truth he would let it pass by uncontroul'd But when he saw that a gloss was set upon it for his praise of their own making he would say with some heat I pray thee Good Fellow when thou sayest Grace never bring in Gloria Patri without a Sicut erat If thou make any report of an Act of mine report it as it was and no otherwise And lift me not up with Lies for I love it not It is written of our Henry the Fifth that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk And something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not that he would not be flattered 10. One who was designed for an Agent waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Went-worth for some direction in his conduct and carriage to whom he thus delivered himself To secure your self and serve your Country you must at all times and upon all occasions speak truth For saâ—th he you will never be believed and by this means your truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with who will still hunt counter to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings 11. The Emperour Tiberius had such an aversion to flatteries that he suffered no Senator to come to his Litter neither to wait upon him nor so much as about business When a Consular person came to him to appâ—ase his displeasure and sought to embrace his Knees he fled from him with that earnestness that he fell all along upon his face when in common discourse or in any set oration ought was said of him that was complemental he would interrupt the person reprehend him and immediately alter the form of his words when one called him Lord he commanded he should no more name him by way of reproach One saying his Sacred employments and another that he went to the Senate he being the Author he compellâ—d both to alter their expressions for Author to say Perswader and for Sacred to say Laborious 12. Pambo came to a Learned Man and desired him to teach him some Psalm he began to read unto him the thirty ninth and the first Verse which is I said I will look to my ways that I offend not with my Tongue Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point And having absented himself for some Months he was demanded by his Teacher when he would go forward he answered that he had not yet learn'd his old Lesson to spâ—ak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue 13. Albertus Bishop of Meâ—tz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Arch-Bishop answered I know not what this Book is but sure I am that all that is written therein is quite against us When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had wrote of his glorious Atchievements wherein he had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the Book threw it into the River Hydaspis and told the Author that it were a good deed to throw him after it The same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence because he had long lived with him and yet never reproved him for any of his vices or faults 15. Maximilianus the first Emperour of that name look how desirous he was to be famous to posterity for his noble Actions and Atchievements so much was he also aversâ— and afraid to be praised to his face When therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with immediate Praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer ex tempore and withal take heed said he that you praise me not for a mans own Praises from his own Mouth carry but an evil savour with them 16. Cato the younger charged Muraena and indicted him in open Court for Popularity and Ambition declaring against him that he sought indirectly to gain the peoples favour and their voices to be chosen Consul Now as he went up and down to Collect Arguments and Proofs thereof according to the manner and cuâ—tom of the Romans he was attended upon by certain persons who followed him in the behalf of the Defendant to observe what was done for his better instruction in the process and suit commenced These men would oftentimes be in hand with Cato and ask him whether he would to day search for ought or negotiate any thing in the matter and cause concerning Muraena If he said no such credit and trust they reposed in the veracity and truth of the man that they would rest in that answer and go their ways A singular proof this was of the reputation he had gain'd and the great and good opinion men had conceived of him
answer that the Bayliff was a rich man which the King not knowing how to believe considering the wretched Country his House was seated in he immediately sent for him and said unto him these words Come on Bayliff and tell me why you did not build your fine House in some place where the Country was good and fertile Sir answered the Bayliff I was born in this Country and find it very good for me Are you so rich said the King as they tell me you are I am not poor replyed the other I have blessed be God wherewithal to live The King then asked him how it was possible he should grow so rich in so pitiful a barren Country Why very easily replyed the Bayliff Tell me which way then said the King Marry Sir replyed the other because I have ever had more care to do my own business than that of my Masters or my Neighbours The Devil refuse me said the King for that was always his oath thy reason is very good for doing so and rising betimes thou couldst not chuse but thrive CHAP. XIII Of the Faithfulness of some men to their engagement and trust reposed in them THe Syrians were looked upon as men of no faith not fit to be trusted by any man and that besides their curiosity in keeping their Gardens they had scarce any thing in them that was commendable The Greeks also laboured under this imputation of being as false as they were luxurious and voluptuous It is strange that those who were so covetous after all other kinds of improvement in learning and knowledge should in the mean time neglect that which sets a fuller value upon man than a thousand other accomplishments I mean his fidelity to his promise and trust 1. Those of Iapan are very punctual in the performance of what they have promised those who desire their protection or assistance For no Iaponese but will promise it any one that desires it of him and spend his life for the person who hath desired him to do it and this without any consideration of his family or the misery whereto his Wife and Children may be thereby reduced hence it comes that it is never seen a malefactor will betray or discover his complices But on the contrary there are infinite examples of such who have chosen rather to dye with the greatest torment imaginable than bring their complices into any inconvenience by their confession 2. Micithus Servant to Anaxilaus Tyrant of the Rhegini was left by his dying Master to govern his Kingdom and children during their minority In the time of this his Viceroy-ship he behaved himself with that clemency and justice that the people saw themselves govern'd by a person of quality neither unmeet to rule nor too mean for the place yet when his children were come to age he resign'd over his power into their hands and therewithal the treasures by his providence he had heaped up accounting himself but their steward As for his part he was content with a small pittance with which he retired to Olympia and there lived very privately but with great content respect and serenity 3. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceas'd and left Iohn his Son a child of twenty two months age behind him entrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant He was a man of great vertue and merit and therefore the eyes of the nobles and people were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon But he was deaf to these proffers alledged the right of his infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it He could not prevail yet the assembly was adjourn'd for that time They meet again in hopes that having had time to consider of it he would now accept it who not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly There Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a sharp look and tone replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him upon his shoulders cryed out God save King John commanded the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like 4. King Iohn had left Hubert Burgh Governour of Dover Castle and when King Lewis of France came to take the Town and found it difficult to be taken by force he sent to Hubert whose Brother Thomas he had taken Prisoner a little before that unless he would surrender the Castle he should presently see his Brother Thomas put to death with exquisite torments before his eyes But this threatning mov'd not Hubâ—rt at all who more regarded his own loyalty than his Brothers life Then Prince Lewis sent again offering him a great sum of money neither did this move him but he kept his loyalty as inexpugnable as his Castle 5. Boges the Persian was besieged in the City Etona by Cimon Son of Miltiades the General of the Athenians and when he was proffered safely to depart into Asia upon delivery of the City he constantly refused it lest he should be thought unfaithful to his Prince Being therefore resolved he bore all the inconveniencies of a Siege till his provisions being now almost utterly spent and seeing there was no way to break forth he made a great fire and cast himself and his whole Family into the Flames of it concluding he had not sufficiently acquitted himself of his trust to his Prince unless he also laid down his life in his cause 6. Licungzus the conductor of the Rebel Thieves had seiz'd the Empire of China taken the Metropolis Peking and upon the death of the Emperour had seated himself in the Imperial Throne He displac'd and imprison'd what great officers he pleased Amongst the rest was one Vs a venerable person whose Son Vsanguâ—jus lead the Army of China in the confines of Leatung against the Tartars The Tyrant threatned this old man with a cruel death if by his paternal power he did not reduce him with his whole Army to the acknowledgment of his power promising great rewards to them both if he should prevail wherefore the poor old man wrote thus to his Son Know my Son that the Emperour Zunchinius and the whole Family of Taimingus are perished the Heavens have cast the fortune of it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a vertue of necessity avoid his Tyranny and experience his liberality He promiseth to thee a Royal dignity if
mind that with so true a generosity had preserved and yielded up the Kingdom to his Nephew 15. Titus Pomponius Atticus a Patrician of Rome would contribute nothing amongst those of his rank to Brutus and Cassius in their war upon Augustus but after that Brutus was forcibly driven from Rome he sent him one hundred thousand Sesterces for a present and took care that he should be furnished with as many more in Epirus contrary to the custom oâ— most other men while Brutus was fortunate he gave him no assistance but after he was expell'd and laboured under adverse fortune he administred to his wants with a bounty to be wondred at 16. Tancred the Norman was in Syria with Boemund his Uncle Prince of Antioch it fortun'd that Boemund was taken Prisoner in a fight with the Infidels Three Years Tancred governed his principality in his behalf in which time having enlarged his Territories and augmented his Treasure with a great sum he ransom'd his Uncle and resign'd up all into his hands 17. Ferdinand King of Leon by the instigation of some slanderous Informers was brought to make war upon Pontius Count of Minerba an old friend of his Fathers and had already taken divers places from him Sanctius the Third King of Castile and Brother to Ferdinand being inform'd hereof gathered a mighty Army and marched out with them against his Brother Ferdinand that least of any thing expected any such matter and terrified with the coming of so sudden and unlook'd for an Enemy mounting his Horse with a few of his followers came into the Camp of his Brother and told him he put himself into his hands to deal with him as he saw good as one whose only hope it was this way to preserve his Kingdom to himself but Sanctius that was a just King and a good Brother despising all the proffers he made him told him that he had not taken up arms for any desire he had to wrest his Kingdom out of his hands and annex it to his own but his sole design was that whatever had been taken away from Count Pontius should be restored him seeing he had been a great friend to their common Parent and had most valorously assisted him against the Moors This was gladly yielded to by Ferdinand and as soon as it was done Sanctius returned to his own Territories 18. Emanuel the first King of Portugal levied a most puissant Army with a design to pass into Africa where victory seemed to attend him when as being upon his march and just ready to transport his Army over those straits which divide Spain and Mauritania the Venetians dispatch Embassadors to intreat succours from him as their Ally against the Turk who had now declared war against them This generous Prince resolutely suspended his hopes of conquest to assist his ancient friends suddenly altered his design and sent his Army entirely to them deferring his enterprise upon Algiers to another season 19. The Venetians had leagu'd themselves with the Turks against the Hungarians they aided them to the ruine of that Kingdom and reduced that Country almost to a desolation and having been the cause of the death of two of their Kings of which the great Hunniades was the last yet notwithstanding seeing themselves afterwards all in flames by the Turks their Allies They sent Ambassadors to Hungary to implore succours from the famous Matthias Corvinus Son to Hunniades who after he had afforded them an honourable Audience and reproach'd them with their unworthy and hateful proceedings did yet grant them the succours which they had sought at his hands 20. Renatus Duke of Lorrain with fire and sword was driven out of his Dukedom by Charles the last Duke of Burgundy afterwards by the help of the Swissers he overcame and slew in Battel him from whom he had received so great a calamity With great industry he sought out the body of Charles amongst the multitude of the slain not to savage upon his Corps or to expose it to mockery but to bury it as he did at S. Georges in the Town of Nancy he and his whole Court followed it in mourning with as many Priests and Torches as could be procured discovering as many signs of grief at the funeral of his enemy as if it had been that of his own Father CHAP. XVI Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things THe Kings of India used to dry the bodies of their Ancestors which done they caused them to be hung up at the Roof of their Palace in precious Cords they adorned them with Gold and Jewels of all sorts and so preserved them with a care and reverence little short of veneration it self of the like ridiculous superstition are they guilty who make over-careful and costly provisions for those bodies of theirs which will ere long be breathless and stinking carkasses They are usually souls of an over delicate and voluptuous constitution and temper that are so delighted with this kind of luxury whereas the most worthy men and persons of the greatest improvements by reason and experience have expressed such a moderation herein as may almost seem a kind of carelesness and neglect of themselves 1. Of Lewis the Eleventh King of France there is found in the Chamber of Accounts Anno 1461. Two Shillings for Fustian to new Sleeve his Majesties old Doublet and Three Half-Pence for Liquor to grease his Boots I chuse rather to call it his Frugality than Covetousness in as much as no man was more liberal of his Coin than himself where occasion did require as Comine who wrote his History and was also of his Council doth frequently witness 2. Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany was very frugal especially once being to make a Royal Entrance into the City of Millain there was great preparation for his entertainment the Houses and Streets were beautified and adorned The Citizens dress'd in their richest Ornaments a golden Canopy was prepared to be carried over his head and great expectation there was to see a great and glorious Emperour But when he entred the City he came in a plain Black Cloth Cloak with an old Hat on his Head so that they who saw him not believing their eyes asked which was he laughing at themselves for being so deceived in their expectations 3. The meanness of the Emperour Augustus his furniture and houshold stuff doth appear to this day in the Beds and Tables that are left the most of which are scarce so costly as those of a private person It is said he used not to lye in any bed but such as was low and moderately covered and for his wearing Apparel it was rarely any other than such as was home spun and such as was made up by his Wife Sister Daughter and Grand-Children 4. Though the Ornament of the Body is almost a peculiarity to the Female Sex yet not only one woman but the whole family of
lively representing all the proofs which passion and interest put into his mouth The King sounded all passages to enter into the heart of the Lady and ask'd her whether she were not resolved to marry again she answered that if she met with a Man sutable to her she would do what God should inspire her The King reply'd behold him here since you have lodg'd this guest thirty days in your house and have acknowledg'd him so freely what is the cause why you may not marry him she answered he had not any means and that she her self was well worth a thousand Crowns which was a great riches in those times Well said Theodorick I will give this young Man as much for his Marriage on this condition that you shall marry him she much amazed began to wax pale blush and tremble seeking to excuse her self but faultering in her speech The King to affright her more swore deeply she should marry him presently or tell the lawful cause of impediment The poor Woman condemn'd by the voice of Nature which cry'd in her heart and having horrour of the crime proposed to her cast her self at the King's feet with tears confessing her loves dissimulation and mishap Then this great Prince taking the word from her Are not you a miserable Woman said he to renounce your own blood for a Villain who hath deceiv'd you get you to your house forsake those fond affâ—ctions and live in the condition of a good Widow taking unto you such support from your Son as he by Nature ought to aâ—ford you 6. About the third year of King Iames a strange fancâ— possessed the braiâ—s of a pâ—ofessed Physician one Richard Haidock of New Colledge in Oxford who pretended to Preach at night in his sleep in such sort that though he were call'd aloud or stirr'd and pull'd by the hands or feet yet would he make no shew of either hearing or feeling and this he did often in the presence of many Honourable Persons that came to hear him so as within a short time his Fame was spread through the Land by the name of the sleeping Preacher At length the King commanded him to be brought to the Court where His Majesty King Iames sate up the most part of a night to attend the event when at last Haidock making a shew to be a sleep began to Pray then taking a Text made his Division applying it to his purpose for in his Preaching his use was to inveigh against the Pope against the Cross in Baptism and against the last Canons of the Church of England and having ended his Sermon seemed to continue sleeping His Majesty having well observed the manner of his carriage after a few days called the said Haidock before him and in conference with him as indeed he had an admirable sagacity in the discovery of fictions made him confess that all that he did was but imposture and thereupon to fall upon his knees and ask forgiveness which the King granted upon condition that in all places he should openly acknowledge his offence because many were brought into a belief that his nightly Preaching was either by Inspiration or by Vision 7. Iosephus relates there was a young Jew bred at Sydon with the freed Man of a Roman Citizen who having some resemblance of Alexander the Son of Herod whom the Father had cruelly put to death feign'd he was the same Alexander saying those to whom Herod had recommended this barbarous execution conceiv'd such horrour at it that they resolved to save him and to conceal him till after the death of his Father in which time he remain'd at Sydon and now was come as from the Gates of death to demand his right as being the indubitate and lawful Heir of the Kingdom This Impostor had gain'd a subtle fellow a Servant of Herod's Houshold who taught him all the particulars of the Court the people embrac'd this false Alexander as a Man returned back from the other World When he saw himself strong in Credit and Coin he was so confident as to go to Rome to question the Crown against Herod's other Sons He presented himself before Augustus Caesar the distributer of Crowns beseeching him to pity a fortune so wretched and a poor King who threw himself at his feet as the Sanctuary of Justice and Mercy Every one seemed already to favour him but Augustus a Monarch very penetrating perceived this Man tasted not of a Prince for taking him by the hand he found his skin rough as having exercised servile labours Hereupon the Emperour drew him aside saying content thy self to have hitherto abused all the World but know thou art now before Augustus I will pardon thee on condition thou discover the truth of this matter but if thou liest in any point thou art utterly lost The Man was so amaz'd with the lustre of such Majesty that prostrating himself at his feet he began to confess all the Imposture Which done the Emperour perceiving he was none of the most daring Impostures saved his life but condemned him to the Galleys The Tutor of this Counterfeit being observ'd by the Emperour to be of a spirit more crasty and accustomed to evil practices was ordered speedily to be put to death 8. Hiero King of the Syracusians in Sicilia had caused to be made a Crown of Gold of a wonderful weight to be offered as a Tribute to the gods for his good success in the War In the making whereof the Goldsmith fraudulently took out a certain portion of Gold and put in Silver so that there was nothing abated of the full weight although much of the value diminished This came at length to be spoken of the King was much moved and being desirous to try the truth without breaking of the Crown proposed the doubt to Archimedes unto whose wit nothing seemed unpossible He could not presently answer it but hoped to devise some policy to detect the fraud Musing therefore upon it as he chanced to enter a Bath full of Water he observed that as his body entred the Bath the Water did run over Whereupon his ready Wit from small effects collecting greater matters conceived by and by a way of solution to the King's Question and therefore rejoycing exceedingly forgot that he was naked and so ran home crying as he ran I have found it I have found it He then caused two massy pieces one of Gold and another of Silver to be prepared of the same weight that the Crown was made of and considering that Gold is heavyer of Nature then Silver therefore Gold of like weight with Silver must needs take up less room by reason of its more compact and solid substance He was assured that putting the mass of Gold into a Vessâ—l brim full of Water there would not so much Water run out as when he should put in the Silver mass of like weight wherefore he tryed both and noted not only the quantities of Water at each time but also
the difference or excess of the one above the other whereby he learned what proportion in quantity is betwixt Gold and Silver of equal weight and then putting in the Crown it self into the Water brim â—ull as it was before marked how much the water did run out then and comparing it with the Water run out when the Gold was put in noted how much it did exceed that and likewise comparing it with the Water that run out when the Silver was put in marked how much it was less then that and by those proportions found the just quantity of Gold that was stollen from the Crown and how much Silver was put in instead of it By the which ever since the proportions of Metals one to another are tryed and found 9. Praxiteles that famous Artist in the making of Statues had promised Phryne a beautiful Courtezan the choice of all the pieces in his Shop to take thence some such single Statue as should be most pleasing to her but she not knowing which was most valuable devised this Artifice to be satisfied therein she caused one to come in as in great hast and to tell Praxteles that his Shop was on â—ire he startled at the news cryed out Is the Cupid and the Satyre safe By this subtilty she found out wherein the Artist himself believed he had expressed the most skill and thereupon she chose the Cupid 10. When the Duke of Ossuna was Vice-Roy of Sicily there died a great rich Duke who left but one Son whom with his whole Estate he bequeathed to the Tutele of the Jesuits and the words of the Will were when he is past his Minority Darete al mio Figlivolo quelque voi volute you shall give my Son what you will It seems the Jesuits took to themselves two parts of three of the Estate and gave the rest to the Heir the young Duke complaining to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-Roy he commanded the Jesuits to appear before him he asked them how much of the Estate they would have they answered two parts of three which they had almost employed already to build Monasteries and an Hospital to erect particular Altars and Masses to sing Dirges and Refrigeriums for the Soul of the deceased Duke Hereupon the Duke of Ossuna caused the Will to be produced and found therein the words afore-recited when he is past his Minority you shall give my Son of my Estate what you will then he told the Jesuits you must by Vertue and Tenour of these words give what you will to the Son which by your own confession is two parts of three and so he determined the business 11. A poor Beggar in Paris being very hungry staid so long in a Cook 's Shop who was dishing up of Meat till his Stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof The cholerick Cook demanded of him to pay for his Breakfast the poor Man denyed it and the controversie was referred to the deciding of the next Man that should pass by which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City He on the relation of the matter determined that the poor Man's Money should be put betwixt two empty dishes and the Cook should be recompensed with the gingling of the poor Man's Money as he was satisfied with the only smell of the Cook 's Meat and this is affirmed by credible Writers as no Fable but an undoubted truth 12. Antiochus the Son of Seleucus daily languished and wasted away under a Disease whereof the cause was uncertain to the great trouble and affliction of his Father who therefore sent for Erasistratus a famous Physician to attend the care of his beloved Son Who addressing himself with his utmost dexterity to find out the root of his infirmity he perceived it was rather from the trouble of his mind then any effect of his constitution But when the Prince could not be prevail'd with to make any such acknowledgement by frequent feeling of his pulse he observed it to beat with more vigour and strength at the naming or presence of Stratonica that was the beloved Concubine of his Father having made this discovery and knowing the Prince would rather die then confess so dangerous a love he took this course He told Seleucus that his Son was a dead Man for saith he he languishes for the love of my Wife and what said Seleucus have I merited so little at thy hands that thou wilt have no respect to the love of the young Man Would you said Erasistratus be content to serve the love of another in that manner I would the gods said Seleucus would turn his love towards my dearest Stratonica Well said Erasistratus you are his Father and may be his Physician Seleucus gave Stratonica to Antiochus and sixty thousand Crowns as a reward to the prudent Physician CHAP. XXVII Of the liberal and bountiful disposition of divers Great Persons THat is Tully's saying Nihil habet Fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec Natura bona melius quam ut velit bene facere quam plurimis A great Fortune hath nothing greater in it then that is able and a good nature hath nothing better in it then that it is willing to do good to many In the Examples that follow the Reader may find a happy conspiracy of great Fortunes and good natures several Illustrious Persons no less willing then they were able to do good who dispersed their Bountyes as liberally as the Sun doth his Beams such was 1. Gillias a Citizen of Agrigentum who possessed as I may say the very Bowells of Liberality it self he was a Person of extraordinary wealth but the riches of his mind excell'd the great plenty of his estate and he was ever more intent upon the laying out then the gathering of mony in so much that his house was deservedly look'd upon as the very Shop of munificence there was it that Monuments for publick uses were framed delightful Shewes presented to the people with magnificent Feasts prepared for their entertainment the scarcity of provision in dear years were supplied from thence and whereas these charitie 's extended to all in general he relieved the poverty of particular persons gave dowryes to poor Virgins entertained strangers not only in his City but also in his Country houses and sent them away with presents At once he received and clothed 500 Gelensian Knights that by tempest were driven upon his possessions To make short he seemed rather the Bosome of good Fortune then any Mortal whatever Gillias possessed was as the common Patrimony and therefore not only the Citizens of his own City but all persons in the countryes about him did continually put up Prayers and offer Vows for the continuance of his life and health 2. Frances Russel second Earl of Bedford of that sirname was so bountiful to the poor that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complain of him that he made all the Beggars and sure saith mine Author
of Poplicola who had long waited at the door for this occasion spake aloud Consul thy Son is dead of a Disease in the Army The Assistants were perplexed at this news but Horatius not moved in the least Dispose then said he of his Carcass as you please I shall not mourn at this time and so performed the rest of his dedication His news was not true but merely feigned by Marcus to divert Horatius from the Dedication in favour of his Brother But however the constancy of the man is memorable whether he in a moment discerned the fraud or whether though he believed it yet was unmoved 3. Pomponius a Knight of Rome was in the Army of Lucullus against Mithridates where upon some engagement he was sorely wounded and made a prisoner being brought into the presence of that King he was asked by him whether when he had taken care for the cure of his wounds he would be his friend Pomponius with the constancy worthy of a Roman replyed That if he would be a friend to the people of Rome he would then be his otherwise not 4. Sylla had seized upon the City of Rome had driven out his enemies thence and 〈◊〉 in Arms had called the Senate togâ—ther for this purpose that by them he might speedily have C. Mâ—rius adjâ—â—ged the enemy of the people of Rome Therâ— was no man amongst them found who had the courage to oppose him in this matter only Q. Sâ—aevola the Augur being asked his opinion herein would not declare his assent with the resâ— And when Sylla began to threaten him in a terrible manner Though said he you shew me all these armed Troops wherewith you have surrounded this Court and though you threaten me with death it self yet shall you never bring it to pass that to save a little old blood I should judge Marius an enemy by whom this City and all Italy it self hath been preserved 5. It was the saying of Xantippe concerning Socrates her Husband that although there were a thousand perturbations in the Common-Wealth yet did Socrates always appear with the same manner of countenance both going oâ—t and returning into his house For he had a mind equally prepared for all things and so well and moderately composed that it was far remote from grief and above all kind of fears 6. C. Mevius was a Centurion in the Army of Augustus in his war against Anthony wherein after he had done many gallant things he was at last circumvented by an unexpected ambush of the enemy taken prisoner and carried to Alexandria Being in the presence of Antonius he was by him asked how he should deal with him Cause said he my Throat to be cut for neither by the obligations of saving my life nor by the punishment of any kind of death can I ever be brought to cease from being Caesars Soldier and begin to be thine But by how much the greater constancy he shewed a contempt of lifeâ— by so much the more easily did he obtain it for Antonius in the admiration of his vertue preserved him 7. Modestus the Deputy of Valens the Emperour sought to draw S. Basil after many other Bishops into the heresie of Arrius he attempted it first with caresses and all the sugar'd words that might be expected from one that was not uneloquent Disappointed in his first essay he reinforced his former perswasions with threats of exile and torments yea and death it self but finding all these equally in vain he returned to his Lord with this character of the man Firmior est quam ut verbis praestantior quam ut minis fortior quam ut blanditiis vinci possit That is he is so solid that words cannot overcome him so resolute that threats cannot move him and so strong that Allurements cannot alter him 8. Dion the Son of Hyparinus and Scholar of Plato was busied in the dispatch of publick affairs when it was told him that one of his Sons was fallen out of the window into the Court-Yard and was dead of the fall Dion seemed to be nothing moved herewith but with great constancy continued in the dispatch of what he was about 9. Antigonus the second beheld when his Son was born dead upon the shoulders of some Soldiers that had thus brought him from the Battle he looked upon him without change of countenance or shedding a tear and having praised him that he dyed like a brave Soldier and a valiant man he commanded to bury him 10. When the aged Polycarpus was urged to reproach Christ he tells the pro-Consul Herod that fourscore and six years he had served him and never was harmed by him with what conscience then could he blaspheme his King that was his Saviour And being threatned on with fire if he would not swear by Caesars fortune he tells him that it was his ignorance that made him expect it For said he if you know not who I am hear me telling you that I am a Christian And when at the fire they would have fastned him to the Stake the brave Bishop cryes out to let him alone as he was for that God who had enabled him to endure the fire would enable him also without any chains of theirs to stand unmoved in the midst of flames so with his hands behind him unstirred he took his Crown 11. Valens an Arrian Emperour coming to the City of Edessa perceived that the Christions did keep their Assemblies in the fields for their Churches were demolished whereat he was so enraged that he gave the President Methodius a box on the ear for suffering such their meetings commanding him to take along with him a cohort of Soldiers and to scourge with Rods and knock down with Clubs as many as he should find of them This his order being divulged there was a Christian woman who with her Child in her Arms ran with all speed towards the place and was got amongst the ranks of those Soldiers that were sent out against the Christians and being by them asked whither she went and what she would have She told them that she made such hast lest she and her little Infant should come too late to be partakers of the Crown of Christ amongst the rest of those that were to suffer When the Emperour heard this he was confounded desisted from his enterprize and turned all his fury against the Priests and Clergy 12. Henry Prince of Saxony when his Brother Georgâ— sent to him that if he would forsake his faith and turn Papist he would leave him his Heir But he made him this answer Rather than I will do so and deny my Saviour Iesus Christ I and my Kate each of us with a staff in one hand will beg our bread out of his Countryes 13. Quintus Metellus Numidicus when he perceived whereunto the dangerous endeavours of Saturninus the Tribune of the people tended and of what mischievous consequence they would prove to the Common-Wealth unless
and it bestows those blows with that blindness and prodigality and oftentimes sullies the last hours of it very minious with that blackness that we count those happy men that have felt least of her frowns In which respect 1. Lucius Matellus may well pass for one of these fortunate persons for he was one of the Quindecimviri that is one of the fifteen men appointed for the keeping of the Sibylline Oracles and to see that sacrifice and all Ceremonial Rites were duely performed he was General of the Horse twice Consul chief Pontiff the first that shewed Elephants in his Triumph and a person in whom all those Ten Ornaments met which may befal a most happy Citizen In a most flourishing City for he was a stout warrior good Orator fortunate Leader performed great matters being personally present had ascended to the greatest honours was very wise a complete Senator had attained great riches by honest means left many Children and was most eminent in the most celebrious City 2. Quintus Metellus by incessant degrees of indulgent Fortune from the day of his birth to that of his death at last arrived to the top of a most happy life He was born in a City that was the Princess of the World and was born of noble Parents he had rare gifts of the mind and a sufficiency of bodily strength to undergo labour and travel he had a Wife conspicuous at once for her chastity and fruitfulness he had born the Office of a Consul been General of an Army and had gloriously triumphed he had three Sons of Consular degree one whereof had been Censor and also triumphant and the fourth was a Pretor he had three Dunghters bestowed in Marriage whose Children he had with him How many Births and Cradles how many of his Descendants at man's estate how many Nuptials what Honours Governments and what abundant Congratulations did he behold in his Family And all this felicity at no time interrupted with any Funeral any sighs or the least cause of sadness Look up to Heaven it self and you shall scarce find the like state in that place seeing our greatest men have assigned mourning and grief to the Gods themselves The last act of his life was agreeable to all the rest for having lived to a great age he expired by a gentle and easie way of death amongst the kisses and embraces of his dearest Relations and when dead was born upon the shoulders of his Sons and Sons in Law through the City and by them laid upon his Funeral fire 3. The very same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred up to himself there came a Messenger that brought him word of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Another brought him news that his Horse had won the Prize and Victory at the Olympick Games And then came a third to acquaint him that Olympias his Queen was delivered of a young Prince which afterwards proved the unconquerable Alexander 4. It is a rare happiness of the Family of St. Lawrence Barons of Hâ—ath in Ireland that the Heirs thereof for four hundred Years together have always been of age before the death of their Fathers Clarks Mirr cap. 104. pag. 493. 5. Polycrates of Samos was a petty Kieg but a Minion of Fortune had such a Series of Prosperity in all his Affairs that he was advised by Amasis King of Egypt and his Alley to apply some remedy to his over-great Fortune and that he might have some occasion of trouble exhorted him to cast away what he most esteemed in such manner as he should be sure never more to hear of He therefore threw into the Sea that precious Emerald of his which he used as his Signet but not long after it was sound in the belly of a Fish that was dressed for his Table 6. And to shew us that there is a kind of recurrency of remarkable Accidents one Anderâ—â— a Townsman and Merchant talking with a friend on Newcastle-Bridge and fingering his Ring before he was aware let in â—all into the River and was much troubled with the loâ—â— thereof until the same was found in a Fish caught in the River and restored unto him 7. It is said of the Emperor Antoninus Pius that his Affairs had so good success that he never repented him of any thing he did that he was never denyed any thing he asked and that he never commanded any thing wherein he was not obeyed And being asked by a Senator who marvelled at these things the reason of them Because said he I make all my doings conformable to Reason I demand not any thing which is not rightful I command not any thing which redoundeth not more to the benefit of the Commonwealth than to mine own profit 8. That was a marvellous happy Accident that fell out to a Rower in a Tyrian Vessel he was cleansing of the Deck when a Wave took him on the one side and struck him into the Sea and soon after a contrary Wave hoisted him up into the Ship again so the lamentations of his misfortune were mixed with congratulations for his safety 9. L. Sylla might well be sirnamed The Happy for whereas he had attained the Dictatorship with many hazards and therein had put to death two thousand six hundred Knights of Rome had slain ten Consuls proscribed and exiled so many and forbid so many others the Rights of Burial yet when he had voluntarily resigned the Dictatorship and devested himself of so great a Power all Rome beheld him securely walking in the Market-place and no man attempted to revenge upon him so great miseries as he had occasioned to that City 10. Arnulphus Duke of Lorrain when he had dropp'd his Ring into the Mosella had it restored to him again from the belly of a Fish 11. Matthias King of Hungary caused his Money and other things to be stamped with the Figure of a Crow carrying a Ring with an Emerald in her bill whereof I find this to be the reason having upon some occasion laid his Ring with an Emerald in it besides him a Crow came and snatched it away the King followed the Crow shot her with a Pistol Bullet and thereby became again the Master of his Ring 12. Timotheus a General of the Athenians had Fortune so favourable and propitious to him that in every War he had an easie and assured Victory So that his Rivals in Glory at that time envying his great prosperity painted Fortune casting Cities and Towns into his lap as he lay sleeping besides it Timotheus once beholding this Emblem said If I take Cities while I sleep what think you shall I do when I am awake 13. Xanthus writes of Alcimus King of the Lydians that he was a Prince of a singular both Piety and Clemency that thereupon he not only had an uncommon prosperity in the matters relating to his Person but
they had plotted upon a set night to set fire upon the whole City The Antiochians who for other causes had no kindness for the Jews gave credit to this accusation of his and were so exasperated against them that taking Arms they resolved upon a sharp revenge A great Tumult there was and therein many thousands of men Jews and others slain and amongst the rest the ungracious Accuser himself did miserably perish 2. L. Vibius Serenus was drawn out of the place of his exile and bound with Chains caused to attend in open Court where he was accused by his own son that he had conspired against Tiberius the Emperour and had privily sent such into France as might kindle a war against him and to put the better colour upon his accusation he added that Caecilius Cornutus a Pretorian person was conscious to the plot and had also lent out a considerable suâ—m for the advancement of the War Serenus hearing this grand accusation of his son not at all affrighted though in hazard of his life with a mind unappall'd and a threatening look beholding him began to shake his Chains and to call upon the revenging Deities That they would return him to his banishment and execute just punishment upon his ungrateful and wicked son All men thought the Accusation was false in regard he nam'd but one single man as the Associate in so great an enterprize the son then named two others Cneius Lentulus and Seius Tubero but in regard both of them were the intimate friends of Caesar and the one extreme old and the other infirm of body they were both adjudg'd innocent The servants of Serenus the father were put to torture wherein notwithstanding they gave contrary evidence so that the accuser stung with the sense of his villany and withal affrighted with the menaces of the people threatning the Gallows Stoning or the punishment of a Parricide fled out of the City but was fetcht back from Ravenna to prosecute his accusation The success was Serenus was banished to the Island Amorgus the son though he was in favour with Tiberius who too much indulged informers yet was he hated of all sorts and infamous amongst all persons so long as he lived Iustin tells us of a certain African called Cartallus who by the suffrage of the people was raised to an eminent degree of dignity and casually sent upon some solemn Embassy into a place where his Father with many others were banished He looking upon himself at that time like a Peacock gloriously furnished out with the rich ornaments of his Employment thought it was not suitable with his honour to admit that his Father should so much as see him though he sought it with earnestness The unfortunate father became so much enraged with this contempt of himself and the proud refusal of his son that he instantly raised a sedition and mustering together a tumultuary Army of Exiles he fell upon his son although a Magistrate took him and condemn'd him to death presently prepared a high Gibbet and attired as he was in Gold and Scarlet with a Crown on his head caused him to be fastned to this fatal Tree for a strange Spectacle 4. There was a young Duke of Gelders named Adolph who took his father Duke Arnold one night as he was going to bed and led him five Dutch Miles on foot bare-legg'd in a marvellous cold night and laid him in a deep Dungeon the space of six Months where he saw no light but through a little hole Wherefore the Duke of Cleves whose sister the old Duke being prisoner had married made sharp War upon this young Duke Adolph The Duke of Burgundy sought divers means to agree them but in vain In the end the Pope and the Emperour began to stir in the matter and the Duke of Burgundy under great Curses was commanded to take the old Duke out of Prison which he did accordingly the young one not able to withstand him I have often seen them both together in the Duke of Burgundies Chamber pleading their Cause before a great Assembly and once I saw the old man present the combate to his son saith Comines the Duke of Burgundy desirous to agree them offered the young Duke whom he favoured the Title of Governour of Guelderland with all the Revenues thereof save of a little Town near to Brabant called Grave which should remain to the father with the Revenues of three thousand Florens a yearly Pension of as much and the title of Duke as was but reason I saith Comines with others wiser than my self were appointed to make report of these conditions to the young Duke who answered us That he had rather throw his father head-long into a Well and himself after him than agree to such an appointment alledging that his father had been Duke forty four years and that it was now time for him to Govern Notwithstanding he said he would agree to give him a yearly Pension of three thousand Florens with condition he should depart the Country as a banished man never to return and such other lewd speeches he used Soon after the young Duke in disguise left the Duke of Burgundies Court to repair home to his own Country but as he Ferry'd over a water near to Namur he paid a Guildon for his passage whereupon a Priest there present began presently to mistrust him and soon after knew him so that he was taken and led to Namur where he remained a Prisoner till the Duke of Burgundies death after which by the men of Gaunt he was set at liberty and by them carried before Tournay where being weakly accompanyed he was miserably slain in a Skirmish in full revenge of his impiety towards his father 5. Tullia was the daughter of Servius Tullius King of the Romans she was married to Tarquinius Superbus and together with her husband conspired against her father who by his Son-in-law was one day in the Senate-house thrown from the top to the bottom of the Stairs he was taken up half dead and as they hasted with him towards his own house he was slain in the Cyprian Street In the mean time Tullia had been at the Senate to salute her husband with the name of King was sent home by him and chancing to return that way the Coach-man perceiving the dead Corpse of the King lie in the Street stopp'd his Horses in a terrible fright Tullia look'd out of her Charriot and being inform'd what was the matter she commanded him to drive the Wheels of her Charriot over the face and body of her own and slain father upon which that which by the Sabines in their first settlement at Rome had for lucks-sake been called the Cyprian that is the Good Street was from thence-forward called the wicked Street 6. Nero the Emperour had tried to poyson his mother Agrippina three times and still found she was fortified with Antidotes he then prepared false Roofs that being loosed with an Engine
to be men of a turbulent and contentious nature it was brought before King Philip that he might determine thereof according to his pleasure who is said to have passed this Sentence You said he to one of them I command immediately to run out of Macedon and you said he to the other see that you make all imaginable haste after him A good riddance of such Salamanders as delight to live in the fire of contention who commence quarrels upon trivial accounts and withall know no time wherein to end them 1. Gloucestershire did breed a Plaintiff and Defendant which betwixt them with many alternations traversed the longest suit that ever I read of in England For a suit was commenced betwixt the Heirs of Sir Thomas Talbot Viscount Lisâ—e on the one part and the Heirs of Lord Barkely on the other about certain possessions lying in this County not far from Woton Vnder-edge which suit began in the end of the reign of King Edward the fourth was depending untill the beginning of King Iames when and was it not high time it was finally compounded 2. There was in Padua an ancient House called de Limino two Brothers of this Family being in the Country on a Summers day went abroad after Supper talking of divers things together As they were standing and gazing upon the Stars that twinkled in the Firmament being then very clear one of them began in merriment to say to the other Would I had as many Oxen as I see Stars in that Skie The other presently returns And would I had a Pasture as wide as the Firmament and therewith turning towards his Brother where then said he wouldst thou feed thine Oxen marry in thy Pasture said his Brother But how if I would not suffer thee said the other I would said he whether thou wouldst or not What said he in despight of my teeth yea said the other whatsoever thou couldst do to the contrary Hereupon their sport turned to outragious words and at last to fuâ—y in the end they drew their Swords and sell to it so hotly that in the turn of a hand they ran one the other through the body so that one fell one and the other the other way both weltring in their blood The people in the House hearing the bustle ran in to them but came too late they carried them into the House where both soon after gave up the Ghost 3. An extraordinary accident hath of late happened saith Iustinianus in the Confines of Tuscany Iohn Cardinal de Medices Son to Cosmo Duke of Florence a young Prince of Great estimation got on Horseback to ride on hunting accompanied with two of his Brethren Fernand and Cartia attended with some others their Dogs having followed a Hare a long time in the Plains at last killed her The Brothers thereupon began to debate about the first hold each of them attributing the honour thereof to his Dog one speech drew on another and from bare words they fell at last to taunts the Cardinal not enduring to be set light by and being of a haughty nature gave his Brother Cartia who expostulated with him a box on the Ear Cartia carried away with his choler drew his Sword and gave such a thrust into his brother Cardinals thigh that he presently dyed A Servant of the Cardinals in revenge of his Master gave Cartia a sore wound so that with the Venison they carried home to Duke Cosmo one of his Sons dead and for Cartia his wound was also such as within a while after he dyed of it thus for a matter of nothing the Father lost two of his Sons in a deplorable sort 4. Sigebert was King of Essex and the restorer of Religion in his Kingdom which had formerly apostatized after the departure of Mellitus a Valiant and Pious Prince but murdered by two Villains who being demanded the cause of their cruelty why they killed so harmless and innocent a Prince had nothing to say for themselves but they did it because his goodness had done the Kingdom hurt that such was his proneness to pardon offenders on their though but seeming submission that his meekness made many Malefactors The great quarrel they had with him it seems was only his being too good 5. The Chancellour of Theodoricus Arch-bishop of Magdeburg was attending upon the Duke of Saxony and was sate down with him at his Table in the City of Berlin when the Citizens brake in upon them drew out the Chancellour by a multitude of Lictors into the Market place of the City and there sever his head from his Shoulders with the Sword of the publick Executioner and all this for no other cause but that a few dayes before going to the Bath he met a Matron courteously saluted her and jesting asked her if she would go into the Bath with him which when she had refused he laughing dismissed her but this was ground sufficient for the mad multitude to proceed to such extremities upon 6. In the reign of Claudius Caesar Cumanus being then President in Iewry the Jews came up from all parts to Ierusalem for the celebration of the Passover there were then certain Cohorts of the Roman Souldiers that lay about the Temple as a guard whereof one discovered his privy parts perhaps for no other reason than to ease himself of his Urine but the Jews supposing that the uncircumcised Idolater had done this in abuse of the Iewish Nation and Religion were so incensed against the Souldiers that they immediately fell upon them with Clubs and Stones the Souldiers on the other side defended themselves with their arms till at last the Jews oppressed with their own multitudes and the wounds they received were enforced to give over the conflict but not before there were twenty thousand persons of them slain upon the place 7. Fabius Ambustus had two Daughters the elder he married to Servius Sulpitius then Consul the younger to Licinius Stolo a gallant man but of the Plebeian order It fell out that the younger Fabia sitting at her Sisters House upon a visit to her in the interim came the Lictors and smote upon the door of the Consul as the manner was when the Consul came home The younger Fabia was affrighted at the noise as being ignorant of the custom for which reason she was mocked at and derided by her Sister as one ignorant of the City affairs This contempt of her was afterwards an occasion of great troubles in Rome For the Father vehemently importuned by his young Daughter ceased not though contrary to the Law and the mind of the greater part of the Senate till he had made his Son Stolo Consul though a Plebeian and extorted a Decree through his practise with the people that from thenceforth Plebeians might be Consuls 8. In the reign of King Edward the sixth there were two Sisters in Law the one was Queen Katharine Parre late Wife to King Henry the eighth and then marryed to the
to tell me of my faults and that publickly I am resolved to send one to take off his head The Queen took no notice of it but retired to her Apartment and put on a particular Garment proper only for Festivals and Visits and in this habit she came to the King who wondring at it asked her the cause of this novelty she answered Sir I am come to wish your Majesty much joy of what replied the King That you have a Subject said she that feareth not to tell you of your faults to your face seeing that a Subjects confidence in speaking so boldly must needs be founded upon the opinion he hath of the vertue and greatness of his Princes mind that can endure to hear him 3. Aratus the Sycionian who by his valour freed and restored his Country to its liberty was taken away from this life by King Philip with a deadly poyson and for this only cause That he had with too great a freedom reprehended the King for his faults 4. Anno 1358. Iohn King of Spain was extremely in love with a young woman his Concubine and it was to that degree that for her sake he committed things unworthy of a King killed some Princes of his own blood with his own hands and at last he was so besotted with the love of this woman that he would have all the Cities subject to his Crown to swear fealty unto her and to do her homage The Gentlemen of Sevil did much marvel at this Commandment so that having consâ—lted together they appointed twelve Gentlemen to go as their Embassadours to the King and gave them in charge modestly to reprehend the King to reprove him of those things which he did and to assay by all submission and humility to withdraw him from that humour of having homage done to his Minion saying They were bound by Oath to his Queen and could not transfer their fealty to another till they were absolved The Embassadours of Sevil went and modestly shewed the King of his imperfection the King gave ear and for answer taking his Beard in his hand he said By this Beard I certifie you that you have not well spoken and so sent them away Few daies after the King went to Sevil and remembring the reprehension which he received from the Embassadours he caused them all to be massacred in one night in their own houses 5. Vodine Bishop of London feared not to tell King Vortiger that for marrying a heathenish Lady Rowena daughter to Hengist he had thereby endangered both his soul and his Crown The King could not endure this liberty but his words were so ill digested by him that they shortly cost the Bishop his life 6. Cambyses King of Persia had slain twelve Persians of principal rank when King Croesus thus admonished him Do not O King said he indulge thine age and anger in every thing refrain your self it will be for your advantage to be prudent and provident and fore-sight is the part of a wise man but you put men to death upon slight occasions your Countrymen and spare not so much as young Children If you shall persist to do often in this manner consider if you shall not give occasion to the Persians to revolt from you Your father Cyrus laid his strict commands upon me that as often as occasions should require I should put you in mind of those things which might conduce to your profit and welfare Cambyses snatched up a Bow with intention to have shot Croesus through but he ran hastily away Cambyses thus prevented commanded his Ministers to put him to death but they supposing the King would repent himself and then they should be rewarded for his safety kept him privately alive Long it was not e're Cambyses wanted the Counsel of Croesus when his servants told him that he yet lived Cambyses rejoyced hereat but caused them to be put to death who had disobeyed his Commandment in preserving him whom he had condemned to death 7. Sabinus Flavius being one of the Conspiratours against Nero and asked by him Why he regarded the Military Oath so little as to conspire his death answered him That he was faithful to him while he deserved to be loved but he could not but hate him since he was his Mothers Brothers and Wives murderer a Waggoner a Minstril a Stage-player and an Incendiary of the City Than which speech saith the History nothing could have happened to Nero more vexatious for though he was prompt to do wickedly yet was he impatient and could by no means endure to hear of the Villanies he did 8. Ptolomaeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt marryed his own Sister Arsmoe at which time one Sotades came unto him and said You put your Aglet Sir thorow the Oilet that is not made for it For this saying he was cast into Prison where he remained a long time in misery and in the end there rotted 9. Telemachus a Monk when the people of Rome were intentively gazing upon the Sword-Playes which at that time were exhibited reproved them for so doing whereupon the people were so moved and exasperated against him that they stoned him to death upon the place Upon this occasion the Emperour Honorius in whose Reign this fell out put down for ever all Sword-playing in the Theatre at Sharps as they were formerly wont to do 10. Alexander the Great writing to Philotas one of his brave Captains and the son of the excellent Parmenio sent him word in his Letter how that the Oracle of Iupiter Hammon had acknowledged him to be his son Philotas wrote back That he was glad he was received into the number of the gods but withal that he could not but be sensible of the miserable condition of those men that should live under one who thought himself more than a man This liberty of speech and reproof of his Alexander never forgat till such time as he had taken away his Life 11. Iohn Bishop of Bergamum a grave and devout person did freely reprove a King of the Lombards for his wickedness the impious King could not endure it but caused him to be set upon a sierce Horse which used to cast his riders and to tear them in pieces In this manner he sent home the good Bishop expecting soon after to have the news of his death brought to him But no sooner was the holy Prelate mounted but the Horse laid aside his siereness and carried him home in safety 12. Oraetes Prefect of Sardis was reproved by Mitrobates that he had not added the Isle of Samos to the Kings Dominions being so near unto him and over which Polycrates then Tyrannized Oraetes by a wile first seized upon Polycrates and Crucified him and when Cambyses was dead mindful of this freedom he slew Mitrobates with his son Cranape CHAP. XLVII Of the base Ingratitude of some unworthy persons HIppocratidas received Letters from a Noble man his friend wherein he craved his advice
according to his sentence 7. Cicero flying for his life was pursued by Herennius and Popilius Lena this latter at the request of M. Caelius he defended with equal care and eloquence and from a hazardous and doubtful cause sent him home in safety This Popilius afterwards not provoked by Cicero in word or deed of his own accord asked Antonius to be sent after Cicero then proscribed to kill him Having obtained licence for this detestable employment with great joy he speeded to Cajeta and there commands that person to stretch out his throat who was not to mention his dignity the Author of his safety and in private to be entertained by him with little less than veneration There did he with great unconcernedness cut off the head of the Roman Eloquence and the renowned right-hand of peace With that burden he returned to the City nor while he was laden with that execrable portage did it ever come into his thoughts that he carried in his Arms that head which had heretofore pleaded for the safety of his 8. Parmenio had served with great fidelity Philip the father of Alexander as well as himself for whom he had first opened the way into Asia He had depressed Attalus the Kings enenemy he had alwaies and in all hazards the leading of the Kings Vanguard he was no less prudent in counsel than fortunate in all attempts a man beloved of the men of War and to say the truth that had made the purchase for the King of the Empire of the East and of all the glory and fame he had After he had lost two of his sons in the Kings Wars Hector and Nicanor and the other lost in torments upon a suspicion of Treason This great Parmenio Alexander resolved to deprive of life by the hands of murderers without so much as acquainting him with the cause and would choose out no other to expedite this unworthy business but the greatest of Parmenio's friends which was Polydamus whom he trusted most and loved best and would alwaies have to stand at his side in every fight He and Cleander dispatched this great man as he was reading the Kings Letter in his Garden in Media So fell Parmenio who had performed many notable things without the King but the King without him did never effect any thing worthy of praise 9. Philip King of Macedon had sent one of his Court to Sea to dispatch something he had given him in command but a storm came and he was shipwrack'd but saved by one that lived there about the Shore in a little Boat wherein he was taken up He was brought to his Farm and there entertained with all civility and humanity and at thirty daies end dismissed by him and furnished with somewhat to bear his charges At his return he tells the King of his Wrack and dangers but nothing of the benefits he had received The King told him he would not be unmindful of his fidelity and dangers undergone in his behalf He taking the occasion told the King he had observed a little Farm on the Snore and besought him he would bestow that on him as a monument of his escape and reward of his Service The King orders Pausanias the Governour to assign him the Farm to be possessed by him The poor man being thus turned out applied himself to the King told him what humanity he had treated the Courtier with and what ungrateful injury he had returned him in lieu of it The King upon hearing of the Cause in great anger commanded the Courtier presently to be seised and to be branded in the sorehead with these Letters Hospes ingratus The ungrateful Guest restoring the Farm to its proper owner 10. When the Enmity brake out betwixt Caesar and Pompey Marcellinus a Senatour and one of them whom Pompey had raised estranged himself so far from his party unto that of Caesars that he spake many things in Senate against Pompey who thus took him up Art thou not ashamed Marcellinus to speak evil of him through whose bounty of a mute thou art become eloquent and of one half starved art brought to such a plenty as that thou art not able to â—orbear vomiting Notably taxing his ingratitude who had attained to all his Dignity Authority and Eloquence through his favour and yet abused them all against him 11. Henry Keeble Lord Major of London 1511. besides other Benefactions in his life-time rebuilded Aldermary Church run to very ruines and bequeathed at his death one thousand pounds for the finishing of it yet within sixty years after his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Vault wherein they were buried his Monument plucked down for some wealthy Person of the present times to be buried therein Upon which occasion saith Dr. Fuller I could not but rub up my old Poetry which is this Fuller to the Church Vngrateful Church o'rerun with rust Lately bury'd in the Dust Vtterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keeble's cost A thousand pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lye But outed of his quiet Tomb For later Corpse he must make room Tell me where his dust is cast Though 't be late yet now at last All his bones with scorn ejected I will see them recollected Who fain my self would Kinsman prove To all that did Gods Temples love The Churches Answer Alas my innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse Whose Avarice his Ashes sold That goodness might give place to gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scatt'red up and down Seest a Church repaired well There a sprinkling of them sell. Seest a new Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt Oh that all the Land throughout Keeble's dust wâ—re thrown about Places scatt'red with that sâ—ed Would a crop of Churches breed 12. Anno 1565. upon the fifth of February one Paulus Sutor of the Village of Breswâ—il near the City of Basil came into the house of Andreas Hager a Bookseller he was then old and sick and had been the others Godfather at the Font and performed to him all the good offices that could be expected from a father Being entred his house he told him he was come to visit him as one that esteemed him as his father But as soon as the Maid was gone out of the Parlor that attended upon the sick man he caught up a hammer gave him some blows and then thrust him through with his knife As soon as the Maid returned with the same fury he did the like to her and then sâ—ising the Keys he searched for the prey intended he found eight pieces of plate which afterwards in want of money he pawned to a Priest of St. Blasms who suspecting the man sent the plate to the Senate at Basil by which means the Author of the detestable murder was known he was searched after taken at the Village of Hagenstall brought prisoner to Basil where he had his legs and arms broken
being once all together one of them stole from his Fellows and finding this Staff at the Door accused his Sister to his Father of adultery whereof by discovery of the truth she was cleared 9. Bassianus Caracalla the Emperour after he had slain the Son of Iulia his Mother-in-law did also take her to his Wife upon this occasion Iulia was a most beautiful woman and she one day as if through negligence or accident having discovered a great part of her body naked to the eyes of her Son Bassianus sighing said thereupon I would if I might Iulia replyed If you please you may know you not that you are Emperour and that it is your part to give and not to receive Laws Hearing this he publickly marryed her and kept her as his Wife Not long after being slain by the hand of Martialis Macrinus having burnt his body sent the reliques thereof in an Vrn to Iulia his Wife and Mother then at Antioch in Syria who casting her self upon the Urn slew her self and this was the end of this incestuous copulation 10. Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia fell in love with his own Daughter a beautiful Virgin called Atossa which his own Mother Parysatis perceiving perswaded him to marry her and so to take her for his Wife and though the Persian Laws forbad such incestuous Marriages yet by the counsel of his wicked Mother and his own lust he had her for his Wife after which time he never prospered in any thing he took in hand 11. Lucretia the Daughter of Pope Alexander the sixth not only lay with the Pope her Father but also with her Bother the Duke of Candy which Duke was also slain by Caesar Borgia for being his Rival in his Sisters Bed Of this Lucretia is this Epitaph extant Hic jacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri Filia Sponsa Nurus Here Lucrece lies a Thais in her life Pope Sixtus Daughter Daughter-in-law and Wife 12. When we came to the Court of the King of Queda we found that with a great deal of Pomp excellent Musick Dancing and largess to the poor he was solemnizing the Funerals of his Father whom he himself had stabbed on purpose to marry his own Mother after he had already gotten her with Child As a remedy in these evils he made proclamation that on pain of a most rigorous death no person whatsoever should be so daring as to speak a word of that which had passed and it was told us how for that cause he had already put to death divers principal personages of his Kingdom and a number of Merchants CHAP. LII Of such as have been warned of their approaching death who yet were not able to avoid it WHen Alexander the Great then in India had been told by an Oracle that he should dye by Poyson at Babylon and that within the compass of the next eight months he was importunate to know further who was the person that should give him that Poyson But he had no other answer than this That the Fates cannot be deceived So it seems for when the appointed time is come 't is easie to observe how some push on themselves by a wilful and presumptuous foolhardiness and to others their very caution and circumspection hath proved as fatal to them as any other thing 1. Advâ—rtisements were come from all parts both within and without the Realm from Spain Rome Lorrain and Savoy to give notice to Henry of Lorrain Duke of Guise in the reign of Henry the third of France that a bloody catastrophe would dissolve that assembly he had then occasioned of the Estates The Almanacks had well observed it it was generally bruited in the Estates that the execution should be on St. Thomas day the very Eve before the Dukes death the Duke himself sitting down to Dinner found a scrole under his Napkin advertising him of a secret ambush of the King and his but he writ underneath with his own hand They dare not and threw it under the Tabâ—e seeing therefore that no warning would abate his confidence nor awake his security his murder was performed on this manner Upon December 23. 1588. the King assembles his Council having before prepared seven of his Gentlemen that were near his person to execute his will The Duke of Guise came and attending the beginning of the Council sends for an Handkerchief Pericart his Secretary not daring to commit this new advertisement to any mans report tyes a note to one of the corners thereof saying Come forth and save your self else you are but a dead man But Larchant the Captain of the Kings Guard staid the Page that carried it and caused another to be given to him by St. Prix the chief Groom of the Kings Chamber The spirit of man doth often prophesie the mischief that doth pursue him the Duke in the Council feels strange alterations and extraordinary distemperatures and amidst his distrust a great fainting of his heart St. Prix presents unto him some Prunes of Brignolles and Raysins of the Sun he eats and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Revol one of the Secretaries of State as it were to confer with him about some secret of importance the Duke leaves the Council to pass into the Cabinet and as he lift up the Tapestry with one hand to enter they charge him with Swords Daggers and Partisanes and so he was slain 2. Certain it is that some good while before the Duke of Buckinghams death by the Knife of Felton Sir Clement Throckmorton a Gentleman then living advised him to wear a privy Coat whâ—se Council the Duke received very kindly but gave him this answer That against any popular fury a Shirt of Male would be but a silly defence and as for any single mans assault he took hiâ—self to be in no danger so dark is destiny 3. The night before King William the second was killed a certain Monk dreamed that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ cruciâ—ied with his teeth and that as he was about to bite away the legs of the same Image Christ with his feet spurned him down to the ground and that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire with abundance of smoak this being related to the King by Robert Fitz Mammon he made a jest of it saying This Monk would sain have something for his dream go give him an hundred Shillings but bid him look that he dream more auspicious dreams hereafter Also the same night the King himself dreamed that the veins of his arms were broken and that the blood issued out in great abundance and many other like passages there were by which it seems he had Friends somewhere as well as Iulius Caesar that did all they could to give him warning but that as Caesars to his malus Genius would not suffer him to take it for King William notwithstanding forewarned by many signs
he led an Army into Asia where he recovered the Possession of the Realm of Ierusalem At his return again Excommunicated not long after poyson'd 83. Contradus the fourth son of Frederick last Emperour of the House of Schwaben subdu'd his Rebels in Apulia and the Kingdom of Naples but he was soon cut off by his brother Manfred who caused him to be empoysoned after he had Reigned two years 84. Rodolphus the first by the joint consent of the Princes Electors Assembled at Frankfort was chosen Emperour he was the raiser of the Austrian Family had deadly War with Ottocarus King of Bohemia whom he overthrew and slew in Battel he Reigned eighteen years was buried at Spires his Motto was Melius bene imperare quam imperium ampliare 85. Adolphus Count of Nassau was chosen Emperour he was unfortunate in all things he went about and therewith so needy and poor that when he had received money of King Edward the first of England to aid him against the French he spent the money upon his Houshold and had not wherewith to fulfil his promise when time required He was overthrown by Albert Duke of Austria in the Fields of Spire and there slain having Reigned six years his Motto was Animus est qui divites facit 86. Albert son of Rodulphus the Emperour himself being Duke of Austria in his time happened seven things remarkable As 1. The removal of the Papal seat from Rome to Avignion 2. The subversion of the Knights Templars 3. The setling of the Knights of St. Iohn in the Rhodes 4. The Scaligers in Verona 5. Estei in Ferrara 6. The first Jubilee at Rome in the West And 7. The beginning of the Ottomans in the East He Reigned ten years and was slain by his brothers son his Motto was Quod optimum illud jucundissimum 87. Henry the seventh Earl of Luxemburg a pious prudent and valorous Prince having composed matters in Germany he hastened to do the like in Italy where he omitted no opportunity to give all content Yet he was tumultuously driven out of Rome by the Faction of the Vrsini and through hatred of the Florentines poysoned in the Eucharist by one Bernard an hired Monk that passeth for his Motto which he uttered upon the first feeling of the operation of the poyson Calix vitae Calix mortis 88. Lewis the fourth Duke of Bavaria Crown'd at Aix in the wonted manner he was opposed by Frederick Dâ—ke of Austria who was chosen by another Faction cruel Wars were between the Competitours wherein at last Lewis overcame took the other Prisoner then came to this agreement Both to keep the Title of Emperours but Lewis to have the right and power after which he was Excommunicated and the Electors commanded to chuse a new Emperour which they obeyed his Motto was Sola bona quae honesta 89. Charles the fourth son of Iohn King of Bohemia and Grandson to Henry the seventh against him were set up Edward the third of England Frederick of Misui and Gunter of Swartzburg whereof the first waved the dignity with such trouble the second was brib'd off with money the third made away by poyson Charles was Crowned with the Iron Crown at Millaine As he was Learned himself so was he a savourer of Learning Founded the University of Prague was the Author of the Golden Bull called Lex Carolina which requires Emperours to be good Linguists to confer themselves with Embassadours and prescribes the Solemnity of their Election he Reigned thirty two years procured at the hands of the Princes Electors That his son Wenceslaus should be proclaimed King of the Romans in his own life-time his Motto was Optimum est alieâ—â frui insaniâ 90. Wenceslaus granted divers Priviledges to the Norimbergers for a Load of Wine Executed Barthold Swartz for inventing Gunpowder a man very unlike his Father for he was sluggish and careless more inclin'd to riot excessive drinking and voluptuous pleasures than to any Princely vertue In his time Bajazet the Great Turk was enclosed in an Iron Cage by Tamberlain This Emperour for his beastliness was deprived of the Imperial Dignity by the Princes Electors he Reigned twenty two years his Motto was Morosophi moriones pessimi 91. Rupertus Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine was elected in his place and from him came the four Palatine Families Heidleberg Neuberg Simmeren and Swibrooke He passed into Italy for the recovery of the Dukedom of Millaine sold by Wenceslaus but was well beaten by Iohn Galeazzes and so returned In his time two Popes were deposed by the Council of Pisa his merciful Motto was Miseria res digna misericordiâ he Reigned ten years 92. Iodocus Barbatus Marquess of Moravia and Uncle to Wenceslaus of whom I find so little that by divers he is not so much as mentioned in the Series and Succession of the Emperours 93. Sigismund brother of Wenceslaus King of Hungary and Bohemia and Earl of Luxembourg was Crowned at Rome on Whitsunday 1432. He travelled exceedingly for establishing the Peace of Christendom distracted at that time with three Popes at once a great promoter of the Council of Constance He is reported nine times to have assailed the Turk but never with success for though he was a Prudent Witty Learned Noble Prince yet was he ever unfortunate in his Wars at home and abroad he Reigned twenty seven years his Motto was Cedunt munera fatis 94. Albertus the second Duke of Austria Son-in-law of Sigismund whom he succeeded in all his Estates and Titles excepting only Luxembourg for his liberality justice and manhood in Wars he was greatly renowned he subdued the Bohemians carried a heavy hand over the Jews and Hussites subdued Silesia and the people of Moravia Governed eight years his Motto was Amicus optima vitae possessio 'T is thought he â—urfeited upon Melons and died thereof in his time the Hungarians and other Christians received from the Turks that terrible blow in the Fields of Varna 95. Frederick the third Duke of Austria the son of Ernestus of Austria and next heir of Albert the second he procured the calling of the Council of Basil for the Peace of Christendom travelling for that cause to Rome he was there declared Emperour being a person of agreeable accomplishments to so high a Calling In his time Printing was Invented by Iohn Gutenberg at Mentz the Noble Scanderbeg defended with great valour his Dominions against all the Forces of the Turks Constantinople was taken by Mahomet and made the chief Seat of the Turkish Empire The Emperour Frederick Reigned fifty and three years his Motto was Rerum irrecuperabilium foelix oblivio 96. Maximilian son of Frederick Duke of Austria so great a Scholar that he spake Latine and other Tongues elegantly and in imitation of Iulius Caesar wrote his own Acts. Scaligers testimony of him was That he excelled all his Predecessours great stirs he had with the Venetians whom at last he brought to submit by his marriage with Mary of Burgundy
did arm his head with a privy Helmet and usually went with a two handed sword which he could skilfully manage But Coponus in the habit of a Porter came one time behind him and as he was putting his key into the lock of his door he struck him on the hinder part of his head with a Hatchet and slew him He afterwards confessed that he had no other cause of the commitment of this murder but only that Cocles had told him That shortly he would be a murderer 6. We learn out of Proclus that it was the manner of the Pythagoreans curiously and exactly to weigh and consider of such as came unto them and by signs imprinted on their bodies to judge of their aptitude and inclination to a better life Pythagoras did thus in his choice of his Scholars and such as he judged fit for Learning he admitted 7. Antiochus Tibertus was famous for his skill in Chiromancy and Physiognomy he foretold Guido Balneus that he should be slain by an intimate friend of his upon a conceived suspicion against him He also told Pandulphus Malatesta the Ariminensian Tyrant That he should be driven out of his Country and that being in exile he should perish in great want not long after Pandulphus caused Guido to be beheaded as being jealous of his valour and vertue and shuts up Antiochus himself in prison determining to expect at leisure the fulfilling of the rest of his presage Antiochus had so prevailed with the daughter of the Keeper of the Tower wherein he was inclosed that she furnished him with a Rope and by the help of that let him down into the Tower-ditch but being betrayed with the noise of his Fetters he was fetch'd back and both he and the over-kind Maid were beheaded together Pandulphus at length was forced to quit his Country and being an Exile and in great want he was deserted of all men and old as he was he died in a common Inn. Thus Antiochus was able to predict the fate of other men but could neither foresee nor prevent his own 8. That Aegyptian Philosopher that Plutarch saith was the constant companion of Marcus Antonius was well skilled in these observations especially if there was nothing of Magick therein He professed That he knew the different natures and Fortunes of men by looking upon their â—aces and he told his Patron Antonius That his fortune was splendid but withal he exhorted him to shun the Society of Octavius for that his Genius who of himself was great and high was yet inferiour to and afraid of the Genius of that other Prince 9. The Nobles of Muscovy gave their judgement of Iohannes Basilides while he was yet a Boy they observing that his speech was foolish and monstrous his manners malignant and perverse by these and the like discoveries they conjectured of his disposition for the future and believing that when he should ascend to the Imperial power he would prove a scourge and a heavy calamity to their Country they thereupon thought of taking him away betimes by poyson which if they had they had freed themselves of that bloody Tyranny which he afterwards exercised amongst them 10. Democritus had so great skill in this Art of Physiognomy that thereby he rendred Hippocrates an admirer of him When one day a Maid came to him he saluted her by the name of Virgin when she came to him the next day he called her woman for she had lost her honour over-night he also bought Diagoras the Milesian as knowing by Physiognomy that he would prove an excellent servant 11. When L. Sylla went in quality of a Legate into Cappadocia there was then there one of the Retinue of Orobasus the Parthian Embassadour who beholding the face of Sylla considering of the motions of his body and mind and comparing of his nature with the Rules of his Art he said it could not possibly be otherwise than that he should be a great man and that he wondered how he could yet bear it that he was not already the chiefest and first of all others 12. Titus Vespasian was bred up at Court with Britannicus the son of Claudine by Messalina had the same Tutors and instructions with the young Prince at which time it was that there came a Physiognomist who by the order of Narcissus the Freed-man of Claudius the Emperour was to consider of the aspect and countenance of Britannicus this man did then most constantly affirm That Britannicus should never be Emperour but he said of Titus who at that time stood by that e're long he should attain unto the Empire 13. Strepsiades the first time he saw his son when he was returned from the School of Socrates said of him by the view of his face and forehead that he would make a good pleader in a bad cause for that he seemed to carry in his visage something of the Attick subtilty and impudence 14. Isidorus the Hispalensian Bishop chanced to behold Mahomet in Spain before such time as he had raised so great a â—lame and even then by the Rules of Physiognomy he presaged That he would prove the pest and plague both of the Church and the Common-wealth and thereupon commanded him to be seised But Mahomet being warned by the Devil of the approaching danger consulted his own safety by a speedy flight 15. It should seem that C. Iulius Caesar had some knowledge in these matters for when Antonius and Dolabella were accused to him as if they intended to disturb the present state of things Caesar said he feared not such as were fat and had much hair on their head but such as were pale-faced and of a lean habit of body meaning thereby Brutus and Cassius who afterwards were the chief heads in the Conspiracy against him 16. The Sultan of Aegypt having heard of some Pilgrims of Ierusalem of great quality when he had admitted them to his presence and reached them his hand to kiss he easily apprehended that Frederick Duke of Saxony was the chief amongst them by the proportion and heroick make of his body CHAP. XII Of the Painters in former times and the principal Pieces of the best Artists FOr the reputation of this Art Pliny tells us That first in Sicyone and then throughout all Greece it was ordained That Gentlemens sons and free-born should be first sent to a Painting School there to learn before any other thing the way to Paint and Draw Pictures upon Box Tables It was also ordained That the Art it self should be ranged in the first degree of Liberal Sciences Certain it is That in former times it was had in that honour that none but Gentlemen and free-born might meddle with it as for Slaves by a strict and perpetual Edict they were excluded from the benefit of this mystery nor might they learn or be taught it By what degrees it attained to its height may be seen as followeth 1. Theon had many
concave Copper vast thick and double gilded its height is twenty four foot and would be more but that they have formed it kneeling his buttocks resting upon his legs after the usual mode of the Eastern Pagans his arms are stretched to the uttermost and at solemn times is inâ—lamed within and sacrificed unto by offering him a Child which in his embraces is fryed to death in an infernal torture 11. But more of note is another at Tenehedy Eastward thence where Satan visibly plays the Impostor The Fotique or Temple there is of rare structure and daily served by a multitude of hellish Bonzees or Priests not admitted to attend there except they be young well shaped and potent Disciples of Venus Every new Moon they solemnly betroth unto the Devil a Damosel whose Parents account the Ceremony happy and honourable if any be more fair or singular than another she is selected by the lustful Priests devoted and brought into the Temple and placed right against the Manada or Idol The room is first made glorious with Lamps of burnished Gold and a preparation by the burning of Lignum vitae Gums and Perfumes such as are most curious and costly by and by the Lamps extinguish by a kind of miracle and in a gross darkness the Prince of darkness approaches and abuses her so she imagines and it is the rather credited in that the Devil leaves behind him certain scales like those of fishes an argument of no Phantasm but by this hellish conjunction they swell not unless the Bonzee second it Satan is no sooner gone but she is saluted by the Bonzees who ravish her with Songs and pleasant Musick which ended she acquaints them with her fortune and resolves them in such questions as she by their instruction propounded to the Devil and he had satisfied her in She comes out from thence with applause and ever after is reputed holy and honourable 12. The Alani have amongst them no Temple nor Shrine nor so much as a Cottage with a covered roof is there any where to be seen but with barbarous Ceremonies they fix a naked Sword in the ground and this they religiously worship as the Mars or God of those Regions that they travel about in and where they make their abode 13. Moloch so called quasi Melech which in most of the Oriental Languages signifies a King was the God of the Ammonites to whom they offered their Sons and their Daughters not that this was his ordinary Sacrifice but only in extraordinary cases and distresses and being looked upon as a work more meritorious Generally they caused their children to pass through the fire to him that is betwixt two fires as a kind of februation for his Priests had perswaded them that their Sons or Daughters would die speedily that were not thus as it were hallowed The Carthaginians worshipped this Idol under the name of Saturn and indeed Baal and Saturn and Moloch are reputed to be all one The Image of this Idol was of Brass wonderful for its greatness having the face of a Bullock and hands spread abroad like a man that openeth his hands to receive somewhat from some other This Image was hollow having seven Closets or Apartments therein one for Wheat-flour of the finest a second for Turtles a third for a Sheep a fourth for a Ram a fifth for a Calf a sixth for an Ox and to him that would offer his Son or his Daughter the â—eventh Conclave or Chamber was opened and then while the Boy was burning in the Idol with the fire that was made under him the Parents and such as were present were to dance and to play upon Timbrels and beat upon Drums that they might not hear the sorrowful crys of their child while thus sacrificing Anameleck and Adrameleck the Gods of Sepharvaim mentioned 2 Kings 17. are supposed to be the same with this Idol whose Priests were called Chemarim from their blackness the place of this Idol amongst the Israelites was Tophet the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom that is of lamentation or roaring from the crys of them that were offered The Carthaginians being greatly distressed by Agathocles at one time offered or burnt unto this Moloch their Saturn no less than two hundred choice Youths of their Nobility This idolatrous custom continued to the days of Tiberius 14. In the Island of Ceylon there is a high Hill called Pico d' Adam or Adams Hill upon the top whereof standeth a great house as big as a Cloister In this place in times pasâ— shrined in gold and precious stones was kept the Tooth of an Ape which was esteemed the holiest thing in all India and had the greatest resort unto it from all the Countries round about it so that it passed St. Iames in Galisia and St. Michaels Mount in France by reason of the great Indulgences and Pardons that were there daily to be had For which cause it was sought unto with great devotion by all the Indians within four or five hundred miles round about in great multitudes But it happened An. 1554. when the Portugals made a road out of India and entred the Island of Ceylon they went up upon the Hill where they thought to find great Treasure because of the same that was spread abroad of the great resort and offerings in that place They diligently searched the Cloister and turned up every stone thereof and found nothing but a little Coffer made fast with many precious stones wherein lay the Apes Tooth This Relique they took with them unto Goa which when the Kings of Pegu Sian Bengala Bisnagar and others heard of they were much grieved that so costly a Jewel was in that manner taken from them Whereupon by common consent they sent their Ambassadors unto the Viceroy of India desiring him of all friendship to send them their Apes Tooth again offering him for a Ransom besides other Presents which as then they sent unto him 700000 Ducats in Gold which the Viceroy for covetousness of the money was minded to do But the Archbishop of Goa Don Gaspar disswaded him from it saying That they being Christians ought not to give it them again being a thing wherein Idolatry might be furthered and the Devil worshipped but rather were bound by their profession to root out and abolish all Idolatry and Superstition By this means the Viceroy was perswaded to change his mind and flatly denied the Ambassadors request having in their presence first burnt the Apes Tooth the ashes whereof he caused to be thrown into the Sea The Ambassadors departed astonished that he refused so great a sum of money for a thing which he so little esteemed Not long after there was a Beniane that had gotten another Apes Tooth and gave out that he had miraculously found the same Apes Tooth that the Viceroy had and that it was revealed unto him by a Pagod that is one of their Gods in a Vision that assured him it was the same which he said the
in the Judge or other circumstances as may lay no great imputation upon such as have not the gift of infallibility But when men that sit in the place of God shall through corruption or malice wilfully prevaricate and knowingly and presumptuously oppress the innocent in such cases the supreme Judge oftentimes reserves the decision of the Cause to be made at his own Bar and thereupon hath inspired the injured persons to give their oppressors a summons of appearance which though at prefixed days they have not been able to avoid 1. In the Reign of Frederick Aenobarbus the Emperour and the year 1154. Henry was Archbishop of Mentz a pious and peaceable man but not able to endure the dissolute manners of the Clergy under him he determined to subject them to some sharp censure but while he thought of this he himself was by them before-hand accused to Pope Eugenius the Fourth The Bishop sent Arnoldus his Chamberlain to Rome to make proof of his innocency but the Traitor deserted his Lord and instead of defending him traduced him there himself The Pope sent two Cardinals as his Legates to Mentz to determine the cause who being bribed by the Canons and Arnoldus deprived Henry of his Seat with great ignominy and substituted Arnoldus in his stead Henry bore all patiently without appealing to the Pope which he knew would be to no purpose but openly declared that from their unjust judgment he made his Appeal to Christ the just Judge there I will put in my Answer and thither I cite you the Cardinals jestingly replied When thou art gone before we will follow thee About a year and half after the Bishop Henry died upon the hearing of his death both the Cardinals said Lo he is gone beforâ— and we shall follow after their jest proved in earnest for both of them died in one and the same day one in a house of office and the other gnawing off his own fingers in his madness Arnoldus was assaulted in a Monastery butcher'd and his carcass cast into the Town-ditch 2. Ferdinand the Fourth King of Spain was a great man both in peace and war but something rash and rigid in pronouncing Judgment so that he seemed to incline to cruelty About the year 1312. he commanded two Brothers Peter and Iohn of the noble Family of the Carvialii to be thrown headlong from an high Tower as suspected guilty of the death of Benavidius a Noble person of the first rank they with great constancy denied they were guilty of any such crime but to small purpose When therefore they perceived that the Kings ears were shut against them they cryed out they died innocent and since they found the King had no regard to their pleadings they did appeal to the divine Tribunal and turning themselves to the King bid him remember to make his appearance there within the space of thirty days at the furthest Ferdinand at that time made no reckoning of their words but upon the thirtieth day his Servants supposing he was asleep found him dead in his bed in the flower of his age for he was but twenty four years and nine months old 3. When by the counsel and perswasion of Philip the fair King of France Pope Clement the Fifth had condemned the whole Order of the Knights Templars and in divers places had put many of them to death at last there was a Neapolitan Knight brought to suffer in like manner who espying the Pope and the King looking out at a window with a loud voice he spake unto them as followeth Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is now none left amongst mortals unto whom I may make my appeal as to that grievous death whereunto thou hast most unjustly condemned me I do therefore appeal unto the just Judge Christ our Redeemer unto whose Tribunal I cite thee together with King Philip that you both make your appearance there within a year and a day where I will open my Cause Pope Clement died within the time and soon after him King Philip this was An. 1214. 4. Rodolphus Duke of Austria being grievously offended with a certain Knight caused him to be apprehended and being bound hand and foot and thrust into a Sack to be thrown into the River the Knight being in the Sack and it not as yet sown up espying the Duke looking out of a window where he stood to behold that spectacle cryed out to him with a loud voice Duke Rodolph I summon thee to appear at the dreadful Tribunal of Almighty God within the compass of one year there to shew cause wherefore thou hast undeservedly put me to this bitter and unworthy death The Duke received this summons with laughter and unappalled made answer Well go thou before and I will then present my self The year being almost spent the Duke fell into a light Feaver and remembring the appeal said to the standers by The time of my death does now approach and I must go to Judgment and so it fell out for he died sooner after 5. Francis Duke of the Armorick Britain cast into prison his Brother Aegidius one of his Council who was falsely accused to him of Treason where when Aegidius was almost famished perceiving that his fatal hour approached he spyed a Franciscan Monk out of the window of the prison and calling him to confer with him he took his promise that he would tell his Brother that within the fourteenth day he should stand before the Judgment-seat of God The Franciscan having found out the Duke in the Confines of Normandy where he then was told him of his Brothers death and of his appeal to the high Tribunal of God The Duke terrified with that message immediately grew ill and his distemper daily increasing he expired upon the very day appointed 6. Severianus by the command of the Emperour Adrianus was to die but before he was slain he called for fire and casting Incense upon it I call you to witness O ye Gods said he that I have attempted nothing against the Emperour and since he thus causelesly pursues me to death I beseech you this only that when he shall have a desire to die he may not be able This his appeal and imprecation did not miss of the event for the Emperour being afflicted with terrible tortures often broke out into these words How miserable is it to desire to die and not to have the power 7. Lambertus Schasnaburgensis an excellent Writer as most in those times tells That Burchardus Bishop of Halberstadht in the year 1059. had an unjust controversie with the Abbot of Helverdense about the Tiths of Saxony these the Bishop would take from the Monks and by strong hand rather than by any course of Law sought to make them his own It was to small purpose to make any resistance against so powerful an Adversary but the injured Abbot some few days before his death sent to Frederick the Count Palatine and intreated him
him dead came upon him with a purpose to spoil him of his arms and ornaments Here it was that the Elephant made use of all his fury in the defence of his Master and having cleared the place of the most forward of the Assailants he took up the body of his Lord with his Trunk placed him again upon his back by which means the King was saved but the Elephant dyed of his wounds 3. This which followeth happened in our time and standeth upon record in the publick Registers namely in the year that Appius Iunius and P. Silus were Consuls Titus Sabinus and his servants were executed for an outrage committed upon the person of Nero the Son of Germanicus One of them that dyed had a Dog which could not be kept from the prison door and when his Master was thrown down the stairs called Scalae Gemoniae would not depart from his dead Corps but kept a most pitious howling and lamentation about it in the sight of a great multitude of Romans that stood round about to see the execution And when one of the company threw the Dog a piece of meat he straightways carried it to the mouth of his Master lying dead Moreover when the carcass was thrown into the River Tyber the same Dog swam after and made all the means he could to bear it up a float that it should not sink and to the sight of this spectacle and fidelity of the poor Dog to his Master a number of people ran forth by heaps out of the City to the water-side 4. In Patras a City of Achaia a Boy called Thoas had bought a young Dragon which he kept and nourished with great care and a notable familiarity there was grown betwixt these two But when the Dragon was grown to a considerable bigness the Citizens caused it to be carried into the Wilderness and left there It fortuned that this Thoas being grown up to a young man was returning with some of his Companions from certain sights they had been to see and in their journey were set upon by Robbers Thoas cryed out his voice was straight known to the Dragon who was lurking not far from the place who immediately came forth to his rescue frighted some and slew others and so preserved the life of his Benefactor 5. Centaretrius the Galatian having slain Antiochus in the War got upon the back of the dead Kings Horse but he had no sooner done so but that the Horse seemed sensible that it was his Masters enemy that bestrid him so that taking the Bit in his teeth he ran with all the speed that might be to the top of a Rock from when he threw both himself and his Rider head-long in such manner that neither could be taken up alive again 6. In the Reign of Augustus Caesar the Emperor there was a Dolphin entred the Lucrine Lake which loved a certain Boy a poor mans Son in a strange manner The Boy using to go every day from Baia to Puteoli to School about noon used to stay at the water-side and to call unto the Dolphin Simo Simo many times would give him the fragments of bread which he daily brought him to that purpose and by this means allured the Dolphin to come at his call I should be ashamed to insert this relation into my History but that Mecaenas Fabianus Flavius Alfius and many others have set it down for truth in their Chronicles Well in process of time at what hour soever of the day the Boy lured for him and called Simo the Dolphin though never so close hidden would come abroad and scud amain to this Lad and taking bread and other victuals at his hand would gently offer him his back to mount upon letting fall the sharp prickles of his Fins for fear of hurting the Boy when he had him on his back he would carry him over the broad arm of the Sea as far as Puteoli to School and in like manner convey him back again home and thus continued for many years together so long as the Lad lived But when the Boy was fallen sick and dead the Dolphin usually came to the place seemed to be heavy and mourn for the absence of his beloved and at last 't is presumed for very grief and sorrow himself was found dead upon the shore 7. Egesidemus writes that in the City of Iassoâ— there was a Boy called Hermias who having used likewise to ride upon the back of a Dolphin over the Sea chanced at last in a sudden storm to be overwhelmed with waves as he sate upon his back and so dyed he was brought back by the Dolphin dead as he was who as it were confessing that he was the cause of his death would never return again into the Sea but lanched himself upon the sands and there dyed upon the shore 8. In the great Cirque at Rome at a solemn Spectacle there were many persons condemned to be torn in pieces by wild beasts let loose upon them from Dens and Caves made for the purpose Amongst these miserable persons was one Androdus who had been Servant to a Consular person There was a Lyon let forth upon him the most terrible of all others to look upon both for strength and extraordinary fierceness who at the first stood still as one in admiration and then softly and mildly approaching the man moved his tail after the flattering manner of a Dog and then gently licked the legs and hands of the poor Slave that was almost dead with fear and defended him against all the wild beasts in the Cirque All the people saw this wonder not without great applause Androdus was therefore sent for by Caesar who inquired of him the reason why that terrible beast had spared him alone and had fawned upon him in that manner The Slave told him That being Servant unto the Proconsul of Africk by over-hard usage he had been constrained to run away into the sands and solitudes where while he hid and rested himself in a Cave there came to him this huge Lyon lame of one foot and bloody who seemed mildly and gently to crave his assistance that he took up his foot and having pulled out a long and sharp thorn gave him ease that from that day to three years end he lived with the Lyon in that Cave who ever brought him a part of his prey which he roasted in the Sun and eat After which weary of that bestial life in the Lyons absence he went his way and having gone three days journey he was seised upon by the Souldiers and brought out of Africa to Rome to his Lord and by him was condemned to be thus exposed to the wild beasts to be devoured but that it seems this Lyon being afterwards taken had again taken knowledge of him as he had seen Upon this the people universally interposed for the pardon of Androdus and that he might have the Lyon bestowed upon him it was granted and the Slave
the perswasion of Paulus the Patriarch of Constantinople made him a Deacon and afterwards caused him to be slain although he had received the sacred Mysteries at his hands After which oftentimes in his sleep he seemed to see his dead Brother in the habit of a Deacon reaching out to him a cup filled with blood and saying to him Drink Brother The unhappy Emperour was so afflicted and terrified with the apprehensions of this and the stings of his own conscience that he determined to retire into Sicily where also he dyed 10. Hermannus Bishop of Prague when he lay a dying with a heavy sigh complained that he had spent a far greater part of his life in the Courts of Princes than in the House of the Lord that he might have given check unto sundry vices but that with his Courtier-like life he had rather administred a further licence to sin while after the manner of others he endeavoured to seem to Princes rather pleasant than severe and this fault above others he earnestly desired that God Almighty of his mercy would forgive him 11. Memorable is the Example of Francis Spira an Advocate of Padua An. 1543. who having sinned in despite of conscience fell into that trouble and despair that by no endeavours of learned men he could be comforted he felt as he said the pains of Hell in his Soul Frismelica Bullovat and other excellent Physicians could neither make him eat drink nor sleep no perswasions could ease him Never pleaded any man so well for as this man did against himself and so he desperately died 12. Catullus Governour of Libya had fraudulenty and unjustly put to death 3000 Jews and confiscated their Goods now though neither Vespasian or Titus said any thing to him yet not long after he fell into a grievous disease and was cruelly tormented not only in body but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the Ghosts of them whom he had so unjustly slain ready to kill him so that he cryed out and not able to contain himself leapt out of his bed as though he had been tortured with torments and fire And this disease daily increasing his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died CHAP. XL. Of Banishment and the sorts and manner of it amongst the Ancients c. THE Nature of man is to rush headily and at all adventures upon that which is forbidden him and to account himself as a sufferer wherein he is any way infringed of his liberty although it be really to his advantage to be so restrained This was perhaps the reason why 1. The Emperour Claudius banished some persons after a new kind of fashion for he commanded that they should not stir beyond the compass of three miles from the City of Rome wherein they lived 2. Damon the Master of Pericles was banished by the Athenians by a Decree of ten years Exile for this only reason That he was thought to have a wisdom and prudence beyond what was common to others 3. The Ephesians banished Hermodorus the Philosopher for this only cause That he had the reputation of an honest man and lived in great modesty and frugality the Tenor of their Decree was That no man should amongst them be a good husband or excel others in case he did he should be forced to depart 4. Ostracisme was a form of Banishment for ten years so called because the name of the party banished was writ on an Oyster-shell it was used towards such who either began to grow too popular or potent amongst the men of service This device allowable in a Democracy where the over-much powerfulness of one might hazard the liberty of all was exercised in spight oftner than desert It was frequent amongst the Athenians and by virtue hereof Aristides Alcibiades Nicias and divers others were commanded to leave their Country for ten years 5. Petalism was a form of Banishment for five years from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a leaf it was practised chiefly in the City of Syracuse upon such of their Citizens as grew too popular and potent the manner was to write his name in an Olive-leaf and that once put into his hand without more ado he was thereby expelled the City and its Territories for five years yet could not this device so well secure them in the possession of their so much desired freedom but that this City fell oftner into the power of Tyrants than any one City in the World 6. The Carthaginians banished Hanno a most worthy person who had done them great services not for any fault but that he was of greater wisdom and industry than the State of a free City might well bear and because he was the first man that tamed a Lion for they judged it not meet to commit the liberty of the City to him who had tamed the fierceness of savage beasts 7. Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople was twice banished by the procurement of Eudoxia the Wife of Arcadius the Emperour and the chief if not the only ground of this her severity against him was because she was not able to bear the free reprehensions and reproofs of that holy man 8. In the Island of Seriphus as also amongst some of those Nations that live about the Mountain Caucasus no man is put to death how great soever the crime is that he hath committed but the severest of all punishments with them is to interdict a man any longer abode in his Country and to dispose of him into banishment where he is to continue all the rest of his life 9. Rutilius was so little concerned with his banishment that when he was recalled by one whose order it was death to disobey yet he despised his return and chose rather to continue in his Exile perhaps it was for this reason That he would not seem in any kind to oppose the Senate or even the unjust Laws of his Country or whether it was that he would be no more in such condition wherein it should be in the power of others to banish him his Country as oft as they pleased CHAP. XLI Of the wise Speeches Sayings and Replys of several persons A Wise man has ever been a scarce commodity in all places and times whole Greece it self could boast no more of this sort than only seven and a Cato and a Laelius was almost the total sum of the Roman Inventory in this kind Being so few they must needs be the harder to be found and seeing that the wisest men are commonly the least speakers hereupon it is that there is almost as great a penury of their Sayings as of their persons and yet of these too every man will determine according to his own pleasure a liberty which the Reader shall not be refused to make use of in these few that follow 1. Cardinal Pompeius Colomne being imployed used such means
Olympick devised by Hercules in honour of Iupiter The Exercises were much the same and the reward no other than a Garland of Oaken boughs yet drawing yearly a mighty confluence of people to them These Games were first celebrated by Sisyphus in honour of Melicerta and the Masteries were performed in the night but being intermitted through the robberies of Scyron and Sinnis for fear of whom all strangers feared to come they were renewed and restored by Theseus who had overcome the Robbers by him they were ordered to be in the day They were celebrated every fifth year say Pliny and Solinus but Pindar himself saith they were kept every third year 4. The Pythian Games were instituted in honour of Apollo and celebrated not only at Delphos but also amongst the Magnetes Sicyonians and others They were of great reputation amongst the Greeks more ancient than the Isthmian and not so old as the Olympick The death of the Serpent Python is supposed to administer the first occasion of them The Assembly to them was in the beginning of the Spring at first every ninth year and afterwards every fifth The same Exercises were here as in the Olympick the reward various at first a Laurel Theseus made it a Garland of Palm Eurylochus appointed it should be of Money 5. The Scenick Plays at Rome so called from Scena The first institution of them was occasioned by reason of a great pestilence which by no medicinal help could be removed The Romans then superstitiously conceiting that some new Games or Sports being found out the wrath of the Gods would thereby be averted They thereupon about the 400. year from the building of Rome sent for certain Stage-players out of Hetruria which they call Histriones from the Hetrurian word Hister which signifies such a Player 6. The Ludi Compitales in Rome were such as usually were solemnized in Compitis that is in the croâ—s-ways and streets Servius Tullus who succeeded Tarquin in the Kingdom was the first that instituted these solemn Games in honour of the Houshold-Gods or familiar Spirits he himself being thought to be begotten by one of these Genii or Goblins 7. The old Romans at the expulsion of their Kings annually solemnized the Fugalia according to which pattern the joyful English having cleared their Country of the Danes instituted the annual Sports of Hock-Tide the word in their old Tongue the Saxon importing the time of scorning or triumphing This Solemnity consisted of the merry Meetings of the Neighbours in those days during which the Festival lasted and were celebrated by the younger sort of both sexes with all manner of Exercises and Pastimes in the streets even as Shrove-Tide yet is But now time hath so corrupted it that the name excepted there remaineth no sign of the first institution 8. Lactantius speaking of the Plays called Floralia They are made saith he with all dissoluteness and fitly correspond with the memory of the infamous Harlot that erected them For besides the lasciviousness of words in which all villany overfloweth at the request of the people the common Harlots are stript stark naked and brought upon the Stage where in open view they exercise all the wanton gestures and motions of their Trade till the beholders have glutted their lustful eyes with such shews 9. The Athenians having overcome the Persians under the Conduct of Themistocles did ordain by a particular Law that from thenceforth annually upon a certain day there should be a fighting of Cocks exhibited in the publick Theatre the occasion of which was this When Themistocles had drawn out the City-forces to fight against the Barbarians he saw two Cocks fighting which he beheld with earnâ—stness and having shewed them to his whole Army Yet these said he do not undergo this danger either for their Houshold-Gods or for the Monuments of their Ancestors they â—ight neither for glory nor for liberty nor the safety of their children but only because the one will not be inferiour or give place to the other By this means he mightily confirmed the minds of the Athenians and thereupon what had once been to them so strong an incitement to vertue they would preserve the memorial of against the like occasions 10. The Argives had certain solemn Games in their City called Sthenia where there was Wrastling and their Musick was that of Hautboys These Games were by report instituted at first in honour and mâ—mory of their King Danaus and were afterwards consecrated to the honour of Iupiter sirnamed Sthenius 11. The Ludi Seculares were so called because they were to be exhibited but once in an Age at the proclaiming of which the Cryer used to invite Spectators in such terms as these Come to those Plays which no man now living hath yet seen or shall see again Claudius Caesar pretending that Octavianus Augustus had anticipated the time and had celebrated them before the just return of them resolved to exhibit them himself He therefore placed in the great Cirque for the Racers Pillars of Marble from whence they were to set out and the Goals or ending places of their Races were gilt over He appointed proper places for all the Senators where they might behold what was done whereas before they sate intermixed with the Commons Besides the contentions of Charioteers he exhibited the Games of Troy There were also appointed Thessalian Horse-men who hunted wild Bulls all along the Cirque who leaped upon their backs when they were weary and by their horns drew them down to the earth Besides these there was a Troop of Pretorian Horse-men who had Tribunes for their Leaders and these hunted and killed a number of Panthers and Leopards This sort of Play was also celebrated by Philip the Emperour at his return from the Persian Expedition 1000 years after the building of Rome there was then a notable Hunting performed and there were given to be killed thirty two Elephants twenty Tygers sixty tame Lions an hundred Hyenae one Rhinocerote ten Archoleontes ten Camelopards forty wild Horses thirty tame Leopards and besides all this theâ—e were appointed a thousand pair of Fencers or Sword-players at sharps to delight the câ—uel eyes of the people with their blood and wounds 12. The Quinquennalia Decennalia Vicennalia and Tricennalia were solemn Games Plays and Spectacles exhibited by the Roman Emperours in honour of their arrival to the fifth tenth twentieth and thirtieth year of their Reign All these were performed with great magnificenceâ— and vast expences and that successively by the Emperour Constantine the Great CHAP. XXVI Of such persons as have made their Appeals to God in case of injury and injustice from men and what hath followed thereupon IT was the Saying of the Emperour Maximilian Fiat justitia ruat coelum Let Justice be done and it matters not what shall come after The Tribunals of men may sometimes fail in the distribution of Justice through such intricacy of the Cause want of discerning