himself yet he rated the Bassa with sharp language What saies he dost thou think it handsome to complain thus grievously of my Son Knowest thou not that both thy self and this Wife of thine are my Slaves and accordingly at my dispose If therefore my Son has imbraced her and followed the inclinations of his mind he has but imbraced a Slave of mine and having my approbation he hath committed no fault at all think of this and go thy way and leave the rest to my self This he said in defence of his absolute Empire but being unsatisfied in his mind and vexed at the thing he first sends for his Son examines him touching the Fact and he having confessed it he dismissed him with outragious Language and threatnings three days after when paternal love to his Son and Justice had striven in his Breast love to Justice having gained the Superiority and Victory he commanded his Mutes to strangle his Son Mustapha with a Bowstring that by his death he might make amends to injured and violated Chastity Turkish Hist p. 411. LXXXIV King Henry the second of France commanded that an Italian Lacky should be put into Prison without telling why whereupon the Judges set him at liberty having first delivered their opinion to the King who again commanded that he should be put to death having as he said taken him faulty in a foul and heinous Crime which he would not have to be divulged yet the Judges for all this would not condemn him but set open the Prison doors to let him go forth it is true that the King caused him to be taken afterwards and thrown into the River Seine and drowned without any form of Law to avoid Tumult but the Judges would not condemn a Person where no proof was made that he was guilty Camerarius Medit. p. 472. LXXXV Otho the first Emperor of Germany being upon a Military expedition a Woman threw her self at his feet beseeching a just revenge according to the Laws upon a Person who had committed a Rape upon her the Emperor being in hast referred the hearing of the cause till his return But who then replied the Woman shall recall unto your Majesties mind the horrid injury that hath been done to me The Emperor looking up to a Church there by This Church saith he shall be a witness betwixt me and thee that I will do thee Justice and so dismissing her he with his retinue set forward at his return seeing the Church he called to mind the Complaint and caused the Woman to be summoned before him who at her appearance thus bespake him Dread Soveraign the man of whom I heretofore complained is now my Husband I have since had a Child by him and have forgiven him the injury not so said the Emperor by the head of Otho he shall suffer for it for a collusion among your selves doth not make void the Laws And so he caused his head to be struck off Lonic Theat p. 475. LXXXVI Chabot was Admiral to King Francis the first of France a man most nobly descended of great Valour and in high favour with his Prince but as in other men the Passion of love grows cold and wears out by time so the Kings affection being changed toward the Admiral had charged him with some Offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Piemont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Tryal hereupon the King gave commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the Kings Advocate to question the Admirals life the Chancellor being an ambitious man and of a large conscience hoping to please the King wrought so cunningly upon some of the Judges threatned others so severely and drew in the rest with fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the Kings displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his Life But the King hating Falshood and though to any that should bewail the Admirals Calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be Indicted Arraigned Degraded and Condemned Rawleighs Hist World p. 471. LXXXVII Totilas King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Lifeguard had ravished his Daughter upon which the accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as the Fact deserved but the Soldiers came about him desiring that their Fellow-Soldier a man of known Valour might be delivered back to them Upon which Totilas sharply reproved them What would you have said he know you not that without Justice neither any Civil nor Military Government is able to subsist do not you remember what slaughters and Calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of Justice we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one Villain Look to your selves ye Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud being careless of what shall happen thereupon that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved to do so then first strike at me behold a Body and a Breast ready for your stroke The Soldiers were so moved at this Speech that they deserted their Client the King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated Woman Lipsius Monit p. 250. LXXXVIII In the Reign of King James 1612. June 25. the Lord Sanquer a Nobleman of Scotland having upon private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther John Turner a Fencing Master thought by his greatness to have carried it off but the King respecting nothing so much as Justice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter to Villany but according to the Law upon June 29. the said Lord Sanquer having been Arraigned and Condemned by the name of John Creighton Esquire was executed before Westminster-Hall Gate where he died very penitent Bakers Chronicle p. 464. LXXXIX The Chronicle of Alexandria relateth an admirable passage of Theodorick King of the Romans Juvenilis a Widow made her complaint that a Suit of hers in Court was drawn out for the space of 3 years which might have been dispatched in few days The King demanded who were her Judges she named them they were sent unto and commanded to give all the speedy expedition that was possible to this Womans Cause which they did and in two days determined it
despoiled of all and turned out a begging yea all Persons were forbid to harbour or relieve him Acts and Monum Vol. 1. XXXIV St. Jerom discovered his Christian Resolution by this Speech If said he my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behind and all my Brethren Sisters Children Kindred and Kinsfolks howling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground despise all my Kindred run over my Father and tread him under my feet that I might run to Christ when he calleth me After his Condemnation by the cruel Papists he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your Consciences and a Nail in your hearts and I here cite you all to answer to me before the high and just Judge within an hundred years when he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Devils which when he beheld throwing away his Hood he put on this Miter upon his head saying Our L. Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me the most wretched Sinner did wear a Crown of Thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap As he went to his suffering he sang some Hyms and coming to the place of Execution he was bound to the stake and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valour for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behind him he bid him kindle it before his face For said he if I had been afraid of it I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his Christian Courage and Resolution At his giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This Soul of mine in flames of fire O Christ I offer thee XXXV Many Christians being assembled together in a Church Maximinus the Tyrant Emp commanded it to be surrounded with armed Men and set on fire but first proclaimed that whosoever desired life should come forth and worship the Idols whereupon one stepping up into a Window answered in the name of all the rest We are all Christians and will do service to none but the true God Upon which speech the fire was kindled and there were burnt many Thousands of Men Women and Children In Thebaide so many Christians were slain that the Swords of the Tormentors grew blunt and they were so tired that they were fain to sit down and rest them while others took their places and yet the Martyrs were no whit discouraged but to the last gasp sung Psalms of Praise unto God Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVI Theodosius the Great a Christian Emperor having in Aegypt abolished their Heathenish Sacrifice and Worship upon pain of Confiscation and death the People fearing that the omission of their accustomed Superstitions would make the River Nilus which they honoured as a God keep in his streams and not water the Land as formerly they thereupon began to mutiny whereupon the President writ to the Emperor beseeching him for once to gratify the People by conniving at their Superstition to whom he Heroically answered That it was better to continue faithful and constant to God than to prefer the over flowing of Nilus and the fertility of the Earth before Piety and Godliness and that he had rather Nilus should never overflow than that they should make it rise by Sacrifices and Inchantments Sozomen XXXVII Benevolus was offered preferment by Justina the Empress an Arrian if he would be an instrument of some vile service What saith he do you promise me an higher place for a reward of Iniquity nay take this away that I have already with all my heart so that I may keep a good conscience And thereupon he threw his Girdle at her feet which was the Ensign of his Honour Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVIII It is said of Luther that he alone opposed all the world he used to say Let me be counted proud or passionate so I be not found guilty of sinful silence when the cause of God suffereth Madness in this case is better than mildness Moderation here is meer sottishness yea it is much worse He being cited by an Herald of Arms to appear before the Coun. at Wormes many of his Friends persuaded him not to adventure himself to such a present danger to whom he answered That he was resolved and certainly determined to enter into Wormes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ although he knew that there were as many Devils to resist him as there were Tiles to cover the Houses in Wormes His Christian Courage was extraordinary and therefore when Melancthon knowing the rage of the Papists and the Emperors threats to subvert the Gospel was much troubled at it gave himself wholly up to grief sighs and tears Luther writ thus to him In private conflicts I am weak and you are strong but in publick conflicts you are found weak and I strongâ—r because I am assured that our cause is just and true if we fall Christ the Lord and Ruler of the world falleth with us and suppose he fall I had rather fall with Christ than stand with Caesar I extreamly dislike your excessive cares with which you say you are almost consumed that these reign so much in your heart it is not from the greatness of your dangers but from the greatness of your incredulity if the cause be bad let us recant it and flie back if it be good why do we make God a Lyar who hath made us these great promises cast thy care upon the Lord c. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the Conqueror of the world why should we fear it as if it would overcome us A man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from Rome to Jerusalem be not afraid be couragious and cheerful sollicitous for nothing the Lord is at hand to help us When King Henry the Eighth of England had writ bitterly against Luther Let the Henries says he the Bishops the Turk and the Devil himself do what they can we are Children of the Kingdom worshipping and waiting for that Saviour whom they and such as they spit upon and crucify Erasmus writes thus If saith he Luther commending the Kings good intention had proceeded by strong Arguments without violating Kingly Majesty in my judgment he had taken a better course for the defence of his cause for what made Luther use these words in his Book come hither my Lord Henry and I will teach you to this Luther replies If any man saith he be offended at my sharpness against the King let him know that in that Book I deal with senseless Monsters who contemned my best and most modest writings and by my Humility and Modesty were more hardned in their Errors Besides I abstained from bitterness and Lies with
is but a poor Baker in Edenburgh and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe I am a great man born when there is no such matter Peachmans Compleat Gentleman p. 5. LXVIX 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 a Lie for which cause he was judged to be capable worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar Friend to Tully that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear one related his uprightness was so remarkable that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estate to his Trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his Charge Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a Person extreamly devoted to truth and gives him this threefold commendation That he was never known to tell a Lie 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 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 among whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge That his Evidence should be lawful and good without swearing Laert. Vit. Philos LXX One who was designed for an Agent and Ambassadour waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Wentworth 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 alloccasions speak Truth for saith he you will never be believed and by this means your speaking Truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with to a great loss who will still act contrary to what you declare in all their inquiries and undertakings Albertus the Popish Archbishop of Mentz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Archbishop answered I know not what this Book is but I am sure that all which is written therein is quite against us Luther Coll. p. 11. LXXI When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had writ of his Glorious Archievements 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 in 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 and Faults Maximilian the first Emperor of Germany though he might be desirous to be famous to Posterity for his Noble Actions and Atchievements yet he was very averse and afraid to be praised to his face when therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with mighty praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer extempore 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 It is written of our Henry 5. 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 Cambdens Remains p. 228. LXXII Pambo came to a learned man and desired him to teach him some Psalm who began to read unto him the 39th Psalm and the first verse I said I will look to my ways that I not offend 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 learned his old Lesson to speak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue Sueton. Hist LXXIII Some men have been also famous for being great Lovers and Promoters of Peace for though the frantick world hath generally made Darlings of 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 though these are the men it hath Crowned with Lawrels advanced to Thrones and flattered with the misbecoming Titles of Hero's and Gods while the Sons of Peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own Virtues yet 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 For we read that Otho the Emperor when he saw that he must either lay down the Empire or else maintain himself in the possession thereof by the blood and slaughter of a number of Citizens he determined with himself to die a voluntary death and when his Friends and Soldiers desired him that he would not so soon begin to despair of the event of the War he replied That his life to him was not of that value as to occasion a Civil War for the defence of it who can chuse but admire that such a Spirit as this should be found in an Heathen Prince and he too not above thirty years of Age. Erasmus Apotheg LXXIV The Inhabitants of the Islands of Borneo not far from the Molucca's in the East-Indies 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 fallen in Battel 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 for such a King as will be a great lover of Peace nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the persuader or Author of a War but he was deserted by them and suffered to fall under the Sword of the Enemy Dinoth Memor p. 76. LXXV Constantius the Emperor observing such differences among the Fathers of the Church called the Council of Nice at which also himself was present at this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of each other all which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all but when
success in his Affairs was grown up to an abundance of wealth while he was at Florence a young man presented himself to him asking him an Alms for Gods sake Frescobald beheld the ragged stripling and in despight of his tatters reading in his countenance some significations of Virtue was moved with pity and demanded his Country and name I am said he of England my name is Thomas Cromwell my Father meaning his Father in Law is a poor man a Clothshearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the French Army who were overthrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot Soldler odrrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald partly in pity of his condition and partly in love to the English Nation amongst whom he had received some Civilities took him into his House made him his Guest and at his departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and sixteen Duckets of Gold in his Purse Cromwell giving him hearty thanks returned into his Country where in process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eighth that he raised him to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor of England In the mean time Fresbobald by several great losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Duckets he came to London to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwell and him but travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellor as he was riding to Court as soon as the Lord Cromwell saw him he thought he should be the Merchant of Florence of whose liberality he had tasted in times past immediately he alights imbraces him and with a broken voice scarce refraining from Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine yes Sir said he and your humble Servant my Servant said Cromwell no as you have not been my Servant in times past so will I not now account you any other than my great and especial Friend assuring you that I have just reason to be sorry that you knowing what I am or at least what I should be yet would not let me understand your arrival in this Country had I known it I would have certainly paid part of that debt which I confess I owe you but thanks be to God that I have yet time Well Sir in conclusion you are heartily welcome but having now weighty affairs in my Princes Cause you must excuse me that I can stay no longer with you therefore at this time I take my leave desiring you with the faithful mind of a Friend that you forget not to dine with me this day at my House Frescoblad wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him to be the same whom he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little rejoyced and walking in the outward Court attended his return the Lord Cromwell came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again imbraced him with so friendly a countenance as the Lord Admiral and other Nobles then in his company much wondred at he turning back and holding Frescobald by the hand Do you not wonder my Lords said he that I seem so glad to see this man this is he by whose means I have attained to my present Degree and therewith related all that had passed betwixt them then holding him still by the hand he led him to the room where he dined and seated him next to himself the Lords being departed he desired to know what occasion had brought him to London Frescobald in few words truly opened his case to him to which Cromwell returned Things that are already past Mr. Frescobald can by no power or policy of Man be recalled yet is not your sorrow so peculiar to your self but that by the bond of mutual love I am able to bear a part therein whereby in this your distress you may receive some Consolation it is fit I should repay some part of that debt wherein I stand bound to you as it is the part of a thankful man to do and I further promise you upon the word of a true Friend that during this life and state of mine I will not fail to do for you in any thing wherein my Authority may prevail Then taking him by the hand he led him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he locked the door then opening a Chest he first took out sixteen Duckets and delivering them to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money you lent me at my departure from Florence here are ten more bestowed upon mine Apparel with ten more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon but considering you are a Merchant it does not seem honest to me to return your Money without some consideration for the long detaining of it take you therefore these four Bags in every of which is four hundred Duckets to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend The modesty of Frescobald would have refused them but Cromwell forced them upon him this done he caused him to give him the names of all his Debtors and the Sums they owed the List he delivered to one of his Servants and charged him to find out the men if they were within any part of the Kingdom and strictly to charge them to make payment within fifteen days or else to abide the hazard of his displeasure the Servant so well performed the command of his Master that in a very short time the whole Sum was paid in during all this time Frescobald lodged in the Lord Chancellors House who gave him the entertainment he deserved and oft-times persuaded him to continue in England offering to lend him sixty Thousand Duckets for four years if he would stay and make his Bank in London but he desired to return into his own Country which he did with the great favour of the Lord Cromwell and there richly arrived but he enjoyed his wealth but a short time for the first year after his return he died Clarks Lives p. 42. CXVII Not many years since in the Kingdom of Naples a young Merchant named Oliverio fell desperately in love with the Countess of Castelnovo and laid siege to her Chastity for a good while and the Count going to his Country House and taking his Countess and Family along with him the Marquess being still more inflamed goes into the Country one day hard by a Hawking and le ts fly his Hawk into Count Castlenovo's Garden where it chanced that he and his Countess were walking the Marquess made bold to follow his Hawk and the Count with very high Civilities did welcome him and caused a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertained him when he was gone the Count began to commend him telling his Wife That he was one of the most hopeful Noblemen and of the most excellent accomplishments of any in the whole Kingdom of Naples These
continued there eight months before he was Absolved at the end whereof he said to one about him Truly I will go and see what Pennance my Pastor will lay upon me for mine offence and so he went to the Church door where St. Ambrose was and intreated him to absolve him But what Repentance have you shew'd said the Bishop for so hainous an Offence And with what Salve have you healed so mortal a wound You said the Emperor are to instruct and shew me what I am to do and you shall see I will accomplish what you shall prescribe The Bishop seeing the Emp. Mildness and Humility and judging it sufficient pennance that he had been so long Excommunicated courteously replied Your Pennance Theodosius shall be this that seeing in your hasty fury you committed such an horrid Murther you shall presently establish a Law that no man whom you shall adjudge to die shall be executed within thirty days after you have pronounced the Sentence at the end of which time you shall either ratify or disannul your Sentence as you shall see cause The Emperor immediately caused this Law to be written and proclaimed which he ever after observed and whereof much good ensued and so being absolved he came into the Church prayed and received the Sacrament and ever after loved St. Ambrose very dearly and used his Council in many matters and for his Companies sake he continued in Millain the remainder of his life Clarks Lives p. 20. XXXVII It is reported by Gualter Mapes an old Historian of ours who lived four hundred years since that King Edward the first of England and Leoline Prince of Wales being at an interview at or near Aust upon Severn in Glocestershire and the Prince being sent for but refusing to come the King would needs go over to him which Leoline perceiving went up to the Arms in water and laying hold on the Kings Boat would have carried the King out upon his Sholders adding That his Humility and Wisdom had triumphed over his pride and folly and thereupon was reconciled to him and did his homage Burtons Melanch p. 307. XXXVIII After what manner Humility and Compassion doth sometimes meet with unexpected rewards methinks is prettily represented by Vrsinus Velius in the following Verses A Fisher angling in a Brook With a strong line and baited Hook When he for his wish'd Prey did pull It happen'd he brought up a Skull Of one before drown'd which imprest A Pious Motion in his Breast Thinks he since I such leisure have Vpon it I 'le bestow a Grave For what did unto it befal May chance to any of us all He takes it wraps it in his Coat And bears it to a place remote To bury it and then digs deep Because the Earth it safe should keep And lo in digging he espies Where a great heap of Treasure lies For Heaven do's never prove ingrate To such as are Commiserate XXXIX Alphonsus the most noble King of Arragon Naples and Sicily as he passed through Campania lighted by accident upon a Muleteer whose Mule overladen with Corn stuck in the Mire nor was he able with all his strength to deliver her thence the Muleteer beseeched all that passed by to help him but in vain at last the King himself dismounts from his Horse and was so good an help to the poor man that he freed his Beast when he knew it was the King falling on his knees he begged his pardon the King with courteous words dismist him this may seem a thing of small moment yet hereby several People of Campania became reconciled to the King This same Prince being informed by his Vice-Roy at Naples that in his absence one of those two mighty Ships which he had built and which seemed like Mountains by the negligence of the Seamen had taken fire and was burnt down he told the Messenger That he well knew that Ship though great and magnificent would yet after some years be corrupted or perish by some accident or other and that therefore the Vice-Roy if he were wise would bear that misfortune with an equal mind as he himself did By this may be discovered the humility and patience likewise of this great Personage which are both very excellent Accomplishments but especially when they have been improved so far as to repress our rising Passions in the midst of injurious Provocations and under great losses and injuries received in bearing patiently reproofs from Inferiors and likewise in supporting men in the midst of the most exquisite torments and hardships of all which we have divers instances in History and shall relate some of each particular XXXIX Philip King of Macedon had one Nicanor that went about rayling against him whereupon his Courtiers persuaded him to punish him severely for it to whom Philip answered Nicanor is none of the worst of my Subjects I must rather therefore observe and see whether I have not committed any evil whereby I have given him cause to speak so evil of me And making serious inquiry he found that there was a certain poor man who had deserved well of him to whom he had never given a reward whereupon he made him large satisfaction and the poor man did every where extol his goodness and bounty then said Philip to his Attendants You see my Friends it is in our own power either to be spoken well or ill of The Peleponesians who had received many and great favours from King Philip yet hated him spoke evil of him and when he came to the Olympick Games hissed at him whereupon his Friends stirred him up to revenge but he mildly answered them saying If they do thus when I do them good what would they do if I should do them hurt At another time the Athenians sending Ambassadors to request some favours of him he entertained them courteously and granted their requests asking them if there were any thing else wherein he might gratify the Athenians to which one of them answered Yes truly if thou wilt hang thy self This exceedingly inraged Philips Courtiers but he without being moved sent them away courteously only bidding them tell the Athenians That they who spake such things were far weaker than those who could hear and bear them patiently He used to say That he was beholding to the Athenian Orators who by their reproaches made him better whilst he was forced by his Actions to confute their slanders and make them Lyars As King Philip besieged the City of Methon and was walking about to view the Walls one shot an Arrow at him from thence whereby he put out his right Eye which yet he took so patiently that when the Citizens a few days after sent out to treat with him about the surrender he gave them honourable terms and after they had put the City into his hands took no revenge on them for the loss of his Eye In one Battle having taken a considerable number of Prisoners he was himself in Person to see them sold as he sate in
to her good liking which done Theodorick called them again they supposing it had been to applaud their excellent Justice now done hastned thither full of joy being come the King asked of them How cometh it to pass you have performed that in two days which had not been done in three years They answered the recommendation of your Majesty made us finish it How replies the King when I put you into Office did I not consign all Pleas and proceedings to you and particularly those of Widdows You deserve death so to have spun out a business in length three years space which required but two days dispatch and that instant he commanded the heads of all the Judges to be struck off Causins Holy Court p. 90. XC In the Reign of the Emperor Constantius Acindinus the Praefect of Antioch had a certain Person under custody for a pound of Gold to be paid into the Exchequer threatning him That in case he paid it not by a certain day he should aie the death The man knew not where to have it and now the fatal day drew near he had a beautiful Wife to whom a rich man in the City sent word that for a nights lodging he would pay in the Gold She acquaints her Husband who for the safety of his life readily gave her leave she renders her self up to the rich man who at her departure gave her only a pound of Earth tyed up in a bag instead of the promised Gold she inraged at her injury together with this cheat added thereto complains to the Praefect and declares to him the truth of the whole matter who finding that his Threats of her Husband had brought her to these extremities pronounced Sentence on this manner The pound of Gold shall be paid out of the goods of Acindinus which was himself the Prisoner shall be free and the Woman shall be put into the possession of that Land from whence she received Earth instead of Gold Lonic Theat p. 476. XCI The Emperor Leo Armenus going out of his Pallace was informed by a mean Person that a Senator had ravished his Wife and that he had complained of his injury to the Praefect or Judge but as yet could have no redress The Emperor commanded that both the Praefect and the Senator should be sent for and wait his return in his Pallace together with their accuser being come back he examined the matter and finding it true as the man had represented he displaced the Praefect from his Office for his negligence and punished the Crime of the Senator with death Lipsius Monitor p. 250. XCII King Turquin being banished Rome for the rape of Lucretia Brutus and Collatinus Husband to Lucretia were chosen Consuls and in the time of their Consulship Tarquins Agents had corrupted two of the most ancient Families in Rome the Aquilians who were Nephews to Collatine and the Vitellians who were allied to Brutus and two of his Sons were drawn into this Treason by them the Conspiracy being at last discovered the Consuls met in the publick place and sent for the Conspirators and there before all the People discovered the Treason the People being much amazed hung down their heads only some few of them thinking to gratify Brutus moved that they might be banished but Brutus calling his Sons by Name asked them what they could answer for themselves and when being confounded they held their peace he said to the Serjeants They are in your hands do Justice then did the Serjeants tear off their cloths bound their hands and whipt them with Rods which sad spectacle moved the People to pity so that they turned away their faces but the Father never looked off nor changed his severe countenance till at last they were laid flat on the ground and had their heads struck off then did Brutus depart and left the Execution of the rest to his Fellow Consul but Collatine shewed more favour to his Kindred being solicited thereto by his Wife and their Relations Valerius a Nobleman of Rome seeing this partiality exclaimed against him for it saying That Brutus spared not his own Sons but Collatine to please a few Women was about to let manifest Traytors to their Country escape Hereupon the People called for Brutus again who being returned to his Seat spake thus For mine own Children I judged them and saw the Law executed upon them but for these others I leave them freely to the Judgment of the People whereupon they all cried out Execution Execution and accordingly their heads were presently struck off Plutarchs Lives XCIII The love of Queen Elizabeth to her People in general and her tender care over the poor and oppressed in particular was admirable and incomparable Fler Ears were always open to their Complaints and her Hands stretched forth to receive their Petitions her manner was always to recommend their Causes to her Council and Judges whom she used thus to charge Have a care of my People you have my Place do you to them what I ought to do they are my People yet every one oppresseth them and spoileth them without mercy They cannot help themselves nor revenge their own quarrel see to them I pray you see to them for they are my charge them therefore I charge you with even as God hath committed them to me I care not for my self my life is not dear unto me my care is for my people if you knew the care I have for them you might easily discern that I take no great Joy in wearing a Crown Clarks Mirrour p. 370. XCIV An English Merchant had sold a great quantity of Cloth to one of the Turks the next year when the Merchant came again the Turk told him That he was mistaken in the measure of his Cloth and that there was so much over-measure as came to fifteen pounds more and that he had put it into a bag that it might be ready against he came next the Merchant told him that he had got enough by him and said much good may it do you the Turk replied Sir take it or else I will otherwise dispose of it for it is none of mine XCV When Sysamnes one of the chiefest of the Persian Judges had given an unjust Judgment Cambyses the King caused him to be flead alive and his skin to be hung over the Judgment Seat and having bestowed the Office of the dead Father upon Otanes the Son he willed him to remember That the same partiality and injustice would deserve the same punishment Rawleigh's Hist World p. 37. XCVI Neither ought we to forget nor conceal the names of those who have discovered such a signal Love to their Country that they have not valued to redeem the lives of their Countrymen and Fellow Citizens at the price of their own of which the following relations are very considerable instances The Town of Calice during the Reign of Philip de Valois of France being brought to those streights that now there was no more hope left either of