whom he beste loued his father or his mother who aunswered his mother where at thei meruailyng demaunded againe why for that my father said he with small regarde begatte me of parte a Thracian and soonne of á poore mother but she on the other side hath borne me of part an Athenian the sonne and heire of an excellent capitaine Concerning the beautie of women leauyng to speake of those that counsaile vs to refuse bothe the faire the foule prefarryng onely those whom mediocritie commendeth my aduise is that man chuse euermore the beste that he possible maie finde the fairest I meane and of cleareste complexion so that she bee vertuous as we before haue saied otherwise wishe I that he chuse the hardeste fauoured chaste with all and honeste rather then the faireste of leude and lighte demainure My reason is that wee should alwaies preferre the faireste if for none other yet for generation and cause of the posteritie onely to the intente our children bee suche as we would wishe of moste perfecte I meane and amiable complexion Virgil remembreth that the goddes Iuno desirous to gratifie her beloued Eodus promised to giue hym one of her faireste Nimphes to the ende she should beare hym children in beautie resemblyng her self We reade againe that Archiadamus kyng of the Athenians was condemned in a pecuniall paine for that he had married a wife of small stature his counsaille hardly chargyng hym that he mente to leaue the race roiall of little thinne wretched and impotente bodies as if thei were but halfe men To conclude therfore what so is in any place aboue remembred mine aduise is that it bee taken as counsaile and no commaundemeÌ„t which you maie execute at your pleasures without daunger or difficultie as also without all exception of persones For Matrimonie contracted with the harder fauoured is as holie as that other with the moste faireste as good with the poorest as also with the riche with the widdowe also as with the maide or virgin for that euery of them is lawfull verteous and honeste groundyng on loue whiche in greateste differentes and cases of inequalitie woorketh euer more a perfecte conformitie and vnion Of the cordiall and hartie loue that should be in maerriage with diuers examples seruyng to that purpose Chap. 4. THE mutuall loue and affection betwixt man and his wife bothe is and ought to bee for iuste cause commended for that marriage of it self is a thyng so excellent as well for respect of hym whiche firste did institute it God with the place also of that institution Paradis as also that thence procedeth th' onely propagation and continuance of mankinde with remedie sufficient against all sensuall appetites and concupiscencie of the fleshe All other amities incident in mannes life with whom or in what sorte so euer thei happen are loues improper and affections lesse perfect â–ª in respect of this so holy â–ª and diuine This is that same that ioineth bothe bodie and soule together this is that that is confirmed and sealed vnto vs by a sacred miracle neither is there any thing betwixt the married in particularitie proper for that betwixt the honest couple the body and will is one that whiche neuer happeneth in any other kinde of amitie whiche for small cause oftentymes is dissolued and broken and that also whiche worste is the moste assuredste of these affections continueth but for a tyme for gaine or aduauntage for proofe whereof wee rarely haue heard of any that without chauÌ„ge haue still helde on and neuer broken vntill death For so daintie and obnoxious to all chaunges is mannes minde that commonly we see newe friendes to remoue and dispossesse for little cause the olde but that loue holdeth still whiche is betwixte man and his wife neither maie it be sundred by any aduerse fortune by infirmitie pouertie mishappe or chaunge of beautie onely death hath power to cutte this knotte in sunder Some tymes it also liueth and continueth after death as we haue seen in certaine widdowes of whiche wee could remember infinite examples emongest whom aboue all others we maie consider of the mutuall loue or affection betwixte our first parentes Eue and Adam vnto whom the fruite of life vnder paine of death was prohibited Adam notwithstaÌ„dyng to gratifie his wife refused not to hassarde hymself by breache of that commaundemente When Paulina the wife of the sage and learned Seneca of Cordoua vnderstode that cruell Nero had doen to death her husband who by openyng all his vaines in a bathe gaue vp his spirite would not onely dye to accompanie hym by death but also did chuse to ende her smart by the said maner of tormente for more better accomplishemente whereof the did her self to bee prickte as did before her Seneca Whereof Nero with spede aduertised and knowyng that it proceded of assured loue onely caused her with greate diligence to bee saued from the daunger of death for beyng euen then on the poincte of passage he caused her vaines skilfully to be bounde carefully attendyng on her that she to her self did none other kinde of violence by meanes whereof this chaste and verteous matrone paste the reste of her life in greate paine and miserie paie coulerlesse in signe of loiall loue that she beare to her husbande In the life of the Emperours we also reade that Lucius Vitellius brother to the Emperor Vitellius beyng on a nighte in a perillous battaile his wife whiche hight Triata by the greate and inspeakable force of loue onely came thrustyng in emong the souldiars to aide and assiste Vitellius mindyng in that straite to liue or dye with hym where she then so did her painfull indeuour that she vtterly forgatte all feminine debilitie with small accompte of her life or safetie without her husbande Q. Curtius reciteth that the kyng of Aira vanquished by Alexander spoiled and depriued of a greate parte of his realme paciently bare it with a valiaunt and manly courage without any shewe of pain or anguishe but when newes was broughte hym that his wife was dedde in token that he more loued her then he did his kyngdome brake out into teares and wepte verie bitterly Ouide Iuuenal and Marcial with others affirme that the wife of kyng Adâ—…etus chose willyngly to dye to saue her sicke and diseased husbande for hauing receiued aunswere from thoracle that the kyng should liue if any of his dearest frendes would vouchsafe to dye for hym Notwithstandyng for the little credite that menne commonly giue to Poetes I had hereof saied no thyng had not saincte Hierome hymself recoumpted it Plinie the younger in a letter of his writeth that a certaine Fisher beyng sicke of an incurable disease or maladie by meanes whereof he daiely indured suche tormentes and paines as was almoste impossible for man to sustaine where at his wife moued with meruailous compassion as she that intierly and hartely loued hym seyng no hope of healthe or recouerie nor any where could finde any kinde of
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
trées he founde an Oke halfe cliuen or sundred by force of Wedge and Bitle in whiche somme Wedge also was leaft then déepely fastened who incontinently desirous to perfecte the saide woorke laide handes on the trée righte againste the saide Wedge and with sutche force assayed to sunder it that it to him a little yéelded by meanes whereof the saide Wedge slipte out But immediately were it for so mighte it be that his force fayled him or that he lesse supposed any daunger in the matter he yéelded a little as though he would haue arested him by meanes whereof the Oke incontinently reioyned agayne bothe his handes faste lockte within the trée in sutch sorte that not being able thence to escape nor any man there passinge to healpe him in that daunger with payne and hunger died a prisoner miserable a fitte or fatte praye to the Wilde and Sauage beaste If the deathe of this Milo maie séeme to any man straunge no lesse straunge also was the Deathe of the Poete Eschilus for on a time goinge foorthe out of a certaine Towne in Sicile of pourpose onely to take the ayre and sunne him the weather then hauinge benne sommethinge sharpe and colde This poore vnfortunate man whose heade was eche where either balde or hearlesse after hauinge made somme litle shorte walke arested him on a Hil for his most aduantage in the Sunne where pruninge him selfe with open heade shininge an Egle by happe flewe ouer him in the ayre which hauing in her pawes a greate and heauie Tortois espyinge the glitteringe balde heade of the poore Poete Eschilus supposed it to haue benâ—e somme harde Stoane or Rocke wherefore lettinge fall her Tortois with minde theron to haue broken it for her present néede or dinner threw it so right that shée nothing failed of her desired marke but strake the sely Poete and sundred therewith his heade whence he fell downe suddainely deade a thinge right straunge and marueilous considerings he was then mounted euen to the toppe of the Hill assuringe him selfe that from aboue nothinge at all mighte gréeue him Baptista Fulgosius in a certaine pretye Booke of his written of examples remembreth emonge many other thinges the infortunate Death of Charles Kinge of Nauarre who being olde very sickly féelyng incesâ—ant insupportable paines créepinge and runninge through all the vaynes of his bodye to whiche that his disease his learned Phisitions coulde finde or frame none but this sole and onely remedie whiche was to folde him in a Shéete bedewed with Aqua Vitae which when it was sowed vp or stichte on euery side in defaulte of a Knife to cutte the thréede of one tooke in hande the Candle the flame whereof as soone as it had touched the Shéete sette all on fire suddainely in sutche sorte that before they coulde shape him any kinde of remedie the sicke Kinge was scorchte and burnte almoste to ashes Which was for his Vaynes and all other maladies his sole and laste remedie in this worlde The Deathe againe of Philemon mighte appeare to moste menne marueilous whiche beholdinge on a time an Asse eatinge Figges of from a Table brake into sutch and so extreame a laughter that he in that sorte there ended his life CoÌ„sider wée then if any where Man maye assure him of his beinge if Laughing and in iolitie Death gayne of him the maisterie Somme also affirme the same of Philistion a Poete Comicall as also of sundrie others who with extreame ioye made suddaine chaunge of life Emonge whom wée reade of Denis the Tyrante of Sicilia of Diagoras also and of that famous woorthy Romishe Matrone which beholding her Sonne returned whom shée supposed to haue benne slayne in Battaile with ioye in excesse fell straight into an Extasye whereof againe shée neuer after warde recouered The aduenture also of the Shéepehearde Cratis was in manner semblable rare and marueilons who beinge asléepe on a Mountain in the middle of his charge was slayne of a Maale Goate ielous of his mate with whiche Cratis moste abominably had subuerted the Lawes of Nature Whose strange happe deserued notwithstandinge Ludouicus Celius and Volateranus alleaginge also to that pourpose sundrye Greeke Authours in many confirme for assured truthe and veritie Infinite sutche others I leaue here to remember as Pope Bonifacius who throughe hunger onely miserably sterued in fowle and stinkinge Pryson The Archebishop of Magonce slayne and deuoured of a troupe of Rattes that eche where pursued him The Emperoure Decius of whome Emilius Victor reporteth that hauinge vanquished his enemies was founde deade drowned in a little small lake In manner semblable in our time died Lewes Kinge of Hungary and Sforce Father of that most famous Capitaine Duke Fraunces Sforce who bowynge him selfe somethinge to haue ayded his Page was as the other most miserably infortunately drowned Andrew Kinge of Prouace was by his owne Wife somme other Dames healpinge her as not to be boughte with price or Prayer in cruellest manner that thei might most dispitefully strangled The Emperoure Tiberius was also impoysoned of his wife Agripina Whence wée conclude that Kinges Princes and greate Personages are as well subiecte to these straunge deathes and infortunes as are any their poore Vassaules or subiectes although perhappes they make propte vp with swellinge and pompous pryde small reckeninge or accompte of these forepassed daungers ¶ What speache was vsed in the beginninge of the Worlde and how firste began the diuersitie of Languages Chap. 10. IN the firste Age or beginninge of the Worlde euen vntill the Fludde and many yéeres afterwarde men generally throughout had féelinge but of one Language al diuersitie then hidde and vnknowen manner of speakinge No man then spake with tongue or straunge or lesse familier no voice was from other in any thinge then different no newe deuise in speakinge was then knowen or thought on The diuersitie then firste or confusion of tongues the Mother of eche mischiefe cause of all annoye the sole Nurse of litigious and impacable debates was for mans sinne and pryde as a iuste scourge on him layde Moyses in the Historie of Genesis recordeth that Nemrod Nephewe to Noë by the lyne of Cain with others more lyke proude and of like ambitious nature were then borne when firste amonge men presumption and malice raigned without al reason At that time this Nemrod with his vnaduised companye determined togeather to frame or builde a Tower whiche from the Earth might reache to the face of Heauen it selfe Whiche thinge they onely did hauing in memory yet the late forepassed Fludde to escape the hande of God if he at any other time shoulde washe the Earth againe Iosephus in the first Booke of his Antiquities saithe that he from all partes had sutch syéedy healpe for the erection of his buildinges that in shorte time it grewe bothe marueilous prowde and pompous And againe he saithe that they layde the Fundations thereof so déepe and so broade that though it were of so incredible height as the Scriptures
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
surnamed Numidicus in reward of his victory which he obtained against Iugurth kyng of Numidia receiued vnkinde and harde sentence of exile onely for that he woulde not accorde vnto a certeine lawe whiche some others at that tyme desired to establishe Hannibal after that he had painfully in sudry daungers well serued his countrie and although besides he was the most honourable and most renoumed Capitaine of his tyme yet might he not inioye the liberties of his countrie but banished was forste to range an vnhappie pilgrime about the world Camillus was also vniustly exiled from Rome at which time the Gaules helde it in besiege and tooke it and finally as they assaulted the capitoll it self he beyng chosen againe in his banishment Dictatour and Capitaine general of all his countrie entered flewe and discomfited theim restored the Citie deliuering theim out of prisō that before had exiled him Seruilius Halla after hauynge preserued the libertie of Rome from the ambitious oppression of Spurius Emilius Capitaine of the horse men whiche by all meanes possible affected the croune and had also doen him openly to die in fine receiued in steede of iuste guerdone through banishment to liue an exiled Romaine No coūtrie any where reade I of more bound vnto a man then was Lacedemonie vnto Licurgus especially for his lawes which he so prouidently gaue theim And although he also were of moste holy and vertuous conuersation courtuous and of a gentle spirite and nature of whom as of hym reporteth Valerius Maximus the oracle of Apollo Pithius this doubtfully aunswered that he knewe not whether he might accompte him either in the number of the gods or els of mortall men notwithstandyng he often tymes was pursued of the citisens with stones beaten and driuen by force out of their toune and in the ende hauyng pluckte one of his eyes out of his heade banishte hym also out of their lande territorie The semblabe was also doen to Solon by the Atheniens whiche also gaue them like lawes and ordinaunces as th' other whiche if they had as was his will continuallie obserued their Empire by all presumption had yet still continued Besides that he also conquered and recouered the Citie of Salamina vnto theym with the same also aduertising theym of the rebellious coniuration of Pisistratus which by vsurpation and tyrannie busily sought and affected the Croune was yet notwistandyng in his olde and stoupyng yeres with moste rigour exiled not able by any meanes at their handes to obtaine any one extreme coruer or ende hpon their frontires wheresoeuer it should please them there to make ende yet of his werie life but to cōclude inexorable thei exiled him into the Isle of Cyprus Scipio Nasica whiche was reputed for the moste vertuous and worthiest manne in Rome whiche also neither merited lesse honoure in the administration and gouernemente of the weale publike then the other Scipioes by their prowes and courage in the field he notwitstandyng after he had deliuered Rome from the malice and tyranny of the Grekes vnderstandyng of the enuie and sinister opinion that diuers Romaines had conceiued of his vertuous dimerite fainyng that he wente some where in imbasie withdrwe hymself of purpose and willingly into Pergama wherwithout malising againe his vngrate countrie ended the reste of his daies there in peace In like maner Publius Lētulus after he had with honour defended his countrie repressyng also the furious attemptes of the Gréekes was with like curtesie for his paines exiled howbeit before his departure thence into Sicelie besought the gods immortall in the presence of the multitude that they neuer woulde permitte that he retourned againe to so vnkinde as were they and so vnthankfull a people Boecius Seuerinus a man to the aboue remembred in no poincte inferiour was by Theodoricus the vsurper dishonourably expulsed onely for that he supposed he would paine hymself to restore his countrie againe to libertie For this cause also Denis that execrable tyranne exiled that most worthie Capitaine Dion of Siracusa who by his exile afterwarde became so puissant that he againe reentred and banished the tyranne depriuyng hym of that hys seignorie for euer restoryng his countrie to the pristinate and auncient libertie The verie semblable happened to Trasibulus a Capitaine Athenian which by the fatall malice of thirtie tyrauntes that then held the whole countrie in miserable subiection was also vnnaturallie and vnkindlie exiled But he notwithstanding to reuenge himself on them assembled together diuers others before expelled with whom as with the helpe also of Lisander a Lacedemonian retourned in armes against Athens and deliuered it from seruitude Publius Rutilius Consull of Rome banished by the fauorites or fauters of Silla though after desired to returne again refused saiyng I will that Rome rather take shame that she hath so vniustly exiled me then thanke her to returne again that so rageth with tyrannie Terquinins rhe proude though not without cause in déede but for his leude demainoure caste out of Rome lost his honour and royalme for the vnchaste rape doen by his soonne on Lucretia Milo Patricius an honourable Romaine somewhat susspected touchynge the death of Claudius whose cause though it were of Cicero defended was notwitstandyng exiled into Marseilla Clistines was the firste that instituted the lawe of banishment in Athens and the first that by the lawe was thence exiled Eustachius Pamphilius Bishoppe of Antioche was banished for that he reproued the schismaticall secte of the Arians in the tyme raigne of Constantine the greate Paulus Diaconus that famous historiogripher writeth that Pope Benedictus the firste was contrarie to Gods lawes and mans lawes driuen out of Rome by his ennemie the Emperour Auton The saide Auton vanquished the Emperour Beringerius with his soonne Albert and sente theim bothe into perpetuall erile Hence wee learne now that infinite greate personages haue been expelled from their countries and in Rome it was estéemed for so greate a punishment that none was thence banished before all the people had throwly consulted of the matter And assuredlye the affections that man beareth or ofte to beare to his countrie is continually such and so vehemente that wee can not exile without extreame paine and languishe For the consolation therefore of all suche as shal be banished Plutarche hath writen a singuler treatise as also Erasmus to the saide purpose a notable Epistle Seneca in like maner in his booke of consolation dedicated to Paulinus touchyng the saide subiecte discourseth verie learnedlie Of a straunge aduenture betide a certaine prisoner and how after his weary imprisonment he was in the ende made free and deliuered Chapt. 10. AS thinges straunge and miraculous should not to lightlie for any cause bee remembred so neither minde I in this place to passe or to reporte any thing not lefte vs by some other of sufficient warrant Alexander of Alexandria a man as is aboue saide well skilled in the sciences writeth this among other things as a truth most certaine There
force or puissuance of infinite their capitaines affectioned also to studie and to learnyng aswell remembreth Robartus Valturinus in his hooke of the stratagemmes of warre ¶ Of a straunge medicine where with Faustine the wife of M. Aurelius was cured languishing and consumyng with infinite and extreame passions of vnchaste and disloiall loue as also of some thynges remediyng the saied passions Chapt. 9. THat that affection or prison of the minde whiche ordinarily wée terme by the name of loue is a passion so vehement and of so greate force wee nede onely to consulte but with those that haue felt it with those I meane whose examples are notorious honorable greate and stately personages whiche so farre herein suffered theimselues to bee caried awaie that some of theim haue languished and died of that follie Iulius Capitolinus amōg many other examples remembreth that which chaunced to Faustine doughter to Antonius wife to the Emperour M. Aurelius whiche became inamored of a certaine sworde plaier or fensor in such sorte that for the only desire that she had to vse his companie wasted and consumed death euen at hande with herre Whiche thing vnderstoode as also the cause thereof by Aurelius he assembled greate numbers incōtinently as well of Phisicians as also of Astronomers with theim to consulte if it were possible for some remedy Amonge whom in fine this was the conclusion that the Fensor secretly should bee doen to die of whose bloodde a good draught was presented vnto Faustine so couertly that she nether knewe whence it was or what with this determination that immediatly after she had receaued it the Emperour should acquaint hymselfe in wonted maner with her This remedy as it séemeth very straunge and meruailous so cleane did it alter her fonde and foolishe phantasie in suche manner that she neuer after at any tyme remembred him and as it is in the saide historie recorded at that tyme he begate on her Antonius Comodus whiche after proued so cruel and bluddy that he more resembled the aboue saide sworde plaier whose blooodde the mother drancke at the tyme of her conception then the Emperour whose soonne he was by meanes wherof also the fore saide Comodus would euer more bee conuersante and in companie with Fensors whiche also witneseth Eutropius in the life of this Commodus The Phisicians of Grece as also of Arabia accompte this disease or torment of loue among th 'others the moste daungerous infirmities of mans bodie prouidyng sundry salues remedies therefore for it Cadmus the Milesian as reciteth Suydas hath written one whole boke of the only remedies to chase remoue loue Ouide also hath well saide in his bookes de remedio amoris And among other healpes whiche the Phisicians haue prescribed against this franticke maladie one is that vnto those troubled with these passions greate weaghty matters and affaires of importaunce be offered suche as equally concerne both their profite and their honour to the intent that the minde busied aboute these matters may alienate and straunge it self from the imagination that offendeth they also geue in rule that suche shoulde abstaine from all wanton toies of ether daintie or dalliyng damsels Plinie saith that against this passion it shal be good to take that duste or powdre whereon a Mule hath in any place waltered or soiled her selfe sprinckling or casting the same on the amorous or as Cardanus wil in his booke of subtilties to rubbe hym with the sweate of a Mule heate and well chafete The Phisicians also learne vs how we shall know the partie on whom the amorous is at any tyme inamored and the same rule is it by whiche Erasistratus Phisician to the king Seleucus vnderstoode of the disordinate loue of Antiochus towardes his mother in law the Quéene Stratonica For being extreame sicke and in meruailous daunger hauing chosen rather to die then in any wise to vtter the cause of his tormentes proceadyng of loue onely whiche he bare to his fathers wife who then enteryng in to the chamber when the Phisician felte the pulse of his vnhappie patient whiche so vehemently on the soden moued a◠the comming of the Quéene that Erasistratus forthwith perceiued that he on her was inamored and she the onely and sole cause of his grief By meane where of he did his busie paine in good ordre to aduertise the kyng here of whiche matter how he handled would be long here to write and the historie besides is well knowen and common which thing as soone as it was once knowen to the father seing the daunger be presently was in if no remedie were then prouided contented hym selfe though it farre was beside the intention of the sonne whiche rather did wishe or chuse any shameful death then by the detriment of his father to purchase hym health to forgoe and leaue the Quéene geuyng her for wife to his tormented soonne And here also to speake the trueth both the age and beautie of this dame as also the mariage whiche after followed was muche more comformabie in the sonne thê in the father By meanes wherof Antiochus liued many yeres afterwarde in greate ioye wealth with his dearelibeloued Stratonica The history is very pretie written by Plutarche in the life of Demetrius whence it is that in suche cases Phisicians geue in commaundement to féele the pulce of the passionate partie rehearsing and remembryng the names of many and among theim the partie also beloued whose name when so euer it shall in anie sorte be vttered the pulce of the amorous will then more busily skippe or daunce then at any other tyme and this easely may you finde still the partie so beloued By many other signes it also is euident either when one loueth as also where or whom whiche I leaue to speake of as sufficientlie knowen to all men Who first did sette or plante the Vine who also did first to drike water in wine to whom also and how the Romaines firste af all forbadde the vse of wine with some other thinges concernyng this purpose Chap. 10. OF all kinde of fruictes whiche the yearth produceth these I vnderstande where of wee make lycors none is so profitable in mine aduice as is the Vine so that he be moderatlie and with discretion vsed For whiche cause onely Anacrases saide that the Vine geueth or presenteth vnto vs thrée grapes the first of pleasure the seconde of dronkennesse the thirde of teares mournyng and sorrowe in suche sorte that who so passeth the first grape to wete a litle wine moderatly and seldome in takyng it receaueth greate shame and domage Our prophane authors that neuer were acquainted with or euer hearde of the scriptures deuise and imagen sundry inuentors of wine Diodorus Siculus in his fourthe boke attributeth as well the inuention of wine as also that he first founde to plante or sette the Vine to Denis the soonne of Iupiter called otherwise Bacchus and pater liber so termed for the liberty and force of wine For whiche cause
scatteryngly a loofe and farre of followed hym Whiche thyng Elanicus perceiuyng and thinkyng that occasion was then well offered not giuyng the signe betwixt them appoincted lifted vp his handes to the heauēs and with a loude voice said what longer abide you ye valiaunte and couragious Why shewe you not your prowes in the middle here of your Citée Then Cilon immediately draweth out his sworde and slue one of theim that in haste was come to waite on the tyranne out of the palace And on the other side Aristotimes seyng bothe Trasibolus and Lampidus assailyng hym and supposyng to escape theim fled to the Temple of Iupiter where he was slaine by the multitude pursuyug hym and his bodie drawen out thence in the sight of all men libertie beyng proclaimed throughout the whole Citee The multitude in heapes incontinently then assēbled but fewe yet came to see or behold that lothsome carrion before these women were deliuered whiche hastenyng to that place ioiously honoured them that by the death of the tyrāne had deliuered their countrie In the meane tyme the people running in hast to the palace where the Queene aduertised of the death of her housebande dreadyng muche that whiche in déede insued lockte her self vp in her closet secretly where she strangeled herself without the helpyng hande of any Now had this tyranne twoo very faire doughters bothe of ripe yeres and readie to bee married whiche vnderstādyng of the faule of their father withdrewe theimselues in all haste aparte into their cabinette whence thei incontinentely were drawen out by force of the people and diuers readie violently and without more to haue slaine theim Megestena with the reste of the imprisoned women skilfully appeased that their ragyng furie hesechyng theim to abstaine from the yonge gentle women consideryng the tyranne though other wise fell and cruell had neuer yet thei all beyng his prisoners imbrued hymself in the bloud of any one of thē At the request thē of these dames eche weight was sone appeased whiche after cōsultation resolued on this poinct that with their owne handes thei should doe themselues to dye chusyng what death so euer was to theim beste likyng Then were thei bothe shutte into a chamber togither the elder neither in gesture nor in woorde shewyng any kinde of sorrowe tooke from her waste her girdle fastenyng it to a poaste and beyng readie therein to dye exhorted her sister with manly courage to doe also the semblable but the yongest then taking her sister by the hande besought her moste humblie that she might dye first to whom the other aunswered euen as since our cradles hauyng still liued and continued togither I neuer yet denied you any your demaunde so am I contented to accorde you againe this your laste and fatall sute whiche is that I liue vntill you bee dedde although of all others this assuredly will goe nighest me to see thee myne owne sister to bee strangled here before me Now tooke then the youngest in hande her girdle whiche with trēblyng fingers moste pitifully she knotted the other aduisyng her well to fasten it aboute her necke that she more quickly and more easily might paie the tribute due vnto nature ▪ which she sone after her fare well giuen to her sister dolefullie accomplished When she now was this paste and gone the other stretched foorthe her bodie in moste reuerent maner possible semblablie coueryng it as appertaineth to the dedde After which she tourneth about to Megestena moste humblie intreatyng her that after her death she would not permitte her bodie to lie naked on the yearth whiche her requeste being easily graunted she tourning strangleth herself in the same girdle of her sister ¶ Why and for what causes men rarely aspire to the assured perfection of thynges in this life Chapt. 9. FIue principall thynges are there that distourne manne from the ripe and mature cognition of thynges in this life whiche if he well knewe he then might repute himself for perfecte and wise The firste is the ignorauncie or not knowyng of his ende to wette his not knowyng to what ende he is borne For assuredly if he well knewe it he would no thyng lesse pain hym self to attaine there vnto then he presently doeth to aspire to pompe and honour in whiche appetite rulyng hym his onely felicitie semeth to consiste But in this case I maie compare manne to a kynges soonne in his infancie of whom if you will aske whiche he loueth better the succession of a kyngdome or els an aple or a cherie whiche presently you shall offer hym it maie not bee doubted but he will refuse to bee kyng to plaie with or tast of the aple or cherie and that for that tofore he percase thereof hath tasted So fareth it with manne who if he be demaunded whiche he moste affecteth or riches or learnyng he at firste will desire to be maister of money ignoraunt and lesse wetyng that the learned onely and he alone is riche and father that it also is necessarie that the sage still order and gouerne his countrie and that also without knowledge honour is not honoured but rather becometh a note of ignominie and slaūder and that greate wealthe also without good letters is the true pathe to senslis brutalitie the roote of presumption and accomplishemente of rusticitie but the wise sufficeth to directe hymself and others posseste of these threasures that neuer maie faile hym But this all happeneth vnto manne for not knowyng to what ende he is borne The second is the immoderate vse of pleasures of the minde as well as also of the bodie whiche bothe annoye and droune no lesse the exteriour motions to vertue then the interiour also and these of the spirite So that manne so folded in the filthe of this worlde maie well bee resembled to the doughter of a Prince faire and beautifull to whom also appertained after her father the kyngdome but for hauyng committed fornication with a bond man deformed and odious is depriued thereof to her eternall infamie The thirde issueth of the euill disposition in mānes bodie whence manne of learnyng and good letters for the moste parte is incapable and this some tymes is caused by the place of his birthe whence he taketh to be of an imperfecte and impure complexion as in certaine countries in the East where as in partes of Africa men are borne so senslis and bestiall by meane of the extremitie of heate in these soiles that thei liue as brute beastes incapable of reason and on the other side in the coūtries Septentrionall or Northe in other some places by extreame coldnes are menne borne so wilde and sauage that some of them refuse not to feede on mannes fleshe suche are the Gothes and Ostrogothes with others And these people maie be compared to an Egle in whose foote there is fastened a stone of some waight whiche letteth her there to flie where by nature she desireth to wete aboue the cloudes in the supreme and higheste region of the aire
also in very small quantitie Eubolus the Greke Poete bringeth in Bacchus speaking to the Elders or Sages of that age I will geue you to drinke of wine but thre times at your refection the first for health the seconde for the good smell there of the third to inforce sleape how oftē so euer you more drinke it al sauoureth of disorder and dronkennes Apuleus Paniasis the same that wrote of the diuersitie of meates is with the other of one and the same iudgement saiynge that ye may once drinke incontinently after grace the seconde cuppe moueth or quickeneth in vs Venus the thirde is cause of shame and dishonor Iulius Caesar verie sildome woulde taste or drincke of wine which thinge Suetonius reporteth by the testimony of Cato the same I meane that was ennimie vnto Caesar The excellente Demosthenes also or fewe times or neuer dranke of any wine Apollo Tianeus of whom so many thinges are so famously written as hee neuer did eate any kinde of fleashe so also did hee neuer drinke any droppe of wine And among all Christians in these daies temperancie in drinkyng is highly commended Saincte Iames the lesse neuer dranke in his life ether wine or Ale nether would he eate of any kinde of fleashe imitating there in Sainct Ihon the Baptiste The semblable finde we of Fulgentius the Bishoppe of Emerys also the soonne of Steuen kinge of Polonia Iosephus in his antiquities highly extolleth that vertuous modesty of the Esseiens whiche were one of the three sectes that were among the Iewes the Pharasies and Saduces the other two whiche as he saieth neuer dranke wine In a certen Epistle Saincte Hierome sharpely reproueth Preestes bousinge or pleasinge any thing at all in wine addyng that Sainct Paule aduiseth theim to the contrarie and farther saieth that in the old lawe these that had charge or office in the Churche neuer dranke either wine or other kinde of licour that coulde or might force theim any waie to lightnes Good potte men in these daies and gallant tasters approue their wines by these fower qualities he must be delectable in mouth to please the taste he must smell well and farre of to content their riche Noses he muste bee well coloured pure and neate to please the eye and in fine it must haue his commendation of the soile to wéete that it came from a hoate and high countrie and of this good wine they quickly can make vinegar but of the commodities or discōmodities herof I presently leaue to speake more in this place Of infinite discommodities whiche take their springe of wine immoderatly vsed as also what Phisicians they were that thought it good and medicinable some tymes to be dronke Chap. 11. THough Wine in some diseases bothe healpe and comforte nature yet thence rise so manie mischiues if it immoderatlie be taken that the discommodities thereof passe and surmoūt the commodeties in suche sort that it might séeme better wée neuer had séen or knowen it contentyng our selues with water whiche in the beginnyng was onely geuen vs of parte for that we can imagen nothing to be better of parte also that all other creatures content theim selues with the same Consider wee also that by wine sundrie haue loste the vse of their senses some their liues some also all hope of saluation and their soules And although men well knowe the greate inconueniences that betide theim by wine yet so farre of be they from any intention to eschwe it that they nothing so much séeke as continuall occasions to bouse and drinke incessantly in suche sorte that fewe houres in the daie may passe theim in whiche they kisse not the cuppe at least fiue or sixe tymes not slightly and for facions sake but with staryng eyes gladly and with right good deuotion Plinie writeth that where as many eftsones drinke nether for any néede or thirst thereto prouoking theim that wine amōg al other licours hath this nature or proprietie that with ease it will be dronke ye though you nothing nede it But afterward it handleth those accordyng to their demerites paiyng theim the paine of that sinne and excesse the vapours thereof mountyng alofte in to the braine depriuyng theim incontinentlie of the vse of eche their senses resemblyng for the tyme some dull and brutishe beaste and after thei at times by vse haue learned well to abuse theim selues this infirmitie then taketh holde and full possession of theim and ordereth theim as doeth the hungrie Catte the Mouse I meane it either killeth theim or at leaste it chargeth them with infinite discommodities and ineuitable infirmities tormentes muche worse then present death in déede as the Goute the Palsie both in handes and féete the dropsie the eies stand staring full of blooddy humors the Liuer inflamed the face full of fier and verie richely coulered the Nose ful of rubies with many other honest and pretie commodities of very good grace and much to be desired Cato saied that dronkennes was a voluntary folly Plinie saieth that it dulleth and weakeneth the memory prouoking dreames very terrible and fearful Seneca writyng to Lucullus affirmeth that it meameth and féebleth both the armes and legges prouokyng men to lasciuious thoughtes and venerie Deonisins Areopagita alleageth out of Plato drounkennes to resemble some lustie yong daunser whose thighes in the beginnyng are sore hardly able to beare hym néedyng some staffe or croache to rest or staie on she also is well skilled to alure and drawe vnto her with frēdly face reioysing her dronken Souldiars daily Sainct Paule writing to the Ephesians aduertiseth theim to flie and to forsake wine the spring and beginnyng of all vnchaste liuynge Salomon also who so drinketh wine in abundance and excesse neuer keepeth counsell or secrette what so euer Whence grewe for iuste cause this olde and auncient Prouerbe wine runneth without showes to wéete secretly priuely pleasantly hardly séen or perceiued shamefully discoueryng mans foule and vitious apetites To this purpose the Poete Eschilus also saide that as in a glasse is sien the true fewture of the body so also is sien in wine the affections of the minde Plato saieth that wine maketh plaine and euidente demonstration of the manners and conditions of all menne Hence haue wee good exāples in Noe both and in Loth for the one beyng dronke discouered his secrete partes whence he became infamous to al men and Sodome against Loth had at all no powre whom wine notwithstandyng not hardly after conquired blindyng hym to abuse his owne naturall doughter Beholde here the fructes then and forces of wine Among the lawes of Solon one of the seuen wise men or sages of Grece it was ordained that what prince so euer was founde or knowen dronke should therefore immediatly be executed to death Pitacus also decréed an other of the saied sages that who so beyng dronke committed any offence shoulde assuredly receiue double punishement there fore once for the trespas and fault by hym committed and the seconde tyme for his
dronkennes the cause of the wrong doen. Aristotle in his problemes geueth a reason why such as are geuen to wine are lesse able in the acte of generation as also an other why among suche as are dronke some be pleasant some sory some ioyous some terrible Some Phisicians also are there among whom I onely remember Auicenna and Rasis whiche affirme it to be a thyng very medicinable and holsome at times to be dronke though not ordinarily and commonly but their reasons wherfore nothing at all content me by meanes whereof I vtterly refuce to be of their opinion And where as diuers honourable personages haue been subiect to wine had they assuredly forsaken that there wonted vse in bousing their glory and renoume had so muche been the greater Alexander the greate was taxed of this vice so that as some good writers haue least vs plainly of hym he did in these his cuppes sundry his frendes to death and afterwarde repenting him of that his rage and malice would for reuenge haue slaine also hym selfe and surely it maie be thought that by meanes of these hys tyrannies he in the ende also was traitrously impoisoned Marcus Antonius one of the three pillers of the Romaine empire hauyng espoused the sister of Octauian pleasing to muche as the other also in wine coÌ„sequently acquainted himself with Cleopatra Quéene of Egypte by meanes where of in fine hee both lost his life and also the empire first vanquished by wine and after by Octauian The Emperour Tiberius as in hym were many and sundry greate defaultes yet none so much annoied hym as that he to much loued excesse of wine drinking wheÌ„ce in place of his name Tiberius was eftsones in derision of many called Biberius endyng at the laste an infortunate and wretched miser Denis the yonger tyranne of Sicilia so much was geuen to excessiue drinking that he became blinde in both eies vnprofitable Cleomedes King of the Spartiens practising to immitate the Scithians in bousing and did so valiantly by his lusty quaffing that he proued in the ende a senlis and lothsum monster It is reported that the Philosopher Archesilas died of dronkennes and no other maladie The Poete Anacreon was also a greate drinker and in drinkyng was chockte with the Pepin of a grape whiche entered by the wrong waie or passage through hys throate The Bishoppe Flauius renoumed for his learning reporteth that Bonosus so pleased in wine that Aurelius would saie of him that he was not borne to liue but to drinke and herein he farre exceaded all others for when so euer he dranke or els in what quantie he neuer thence was séen or drounke or lesse aduised But it maie be supposed that he paste it againe in vrine as fast as he receiued it how be it in the ende he escaped not the pain of his excesse and malice for that beeyng vanquished of Probus was in moste shamefull and lothsome maner haÌ„ged Some also write that the king Antiochus which was maugre his bearde subdued by the Romaines so muche giuen to strong wines and feasting that he spent the greater parte of his tyme in sleapyng by meanes whereof he committed almoste the whole gouernment of the Empire to twoo his chosen and very trustie dearâ—ynÌ„ges hymself banquettyng and disportyng still with a certaine yonge damosell so that when after he should mete in field with the Romaines his armie was straight disordered he an effeminate captiue Eschilus the poete also did please in drincke by meanes whereof Sophocles left not to saie vnto hym Eschilus these thynges that thou hast saied and doen haue onely paste thée by happe and by fortune and by no knowledge that thou haste or ought that thou vnderstandest ¶ Of certaine greate personages whiche died called heÌ„ce by those whiche before them selues vniustly had caused to be executed euen in the instante and tyme to them assigned as also some what of the Archebishoppe of Magonce or Ments Chap. 12. WHen the aide of man faileth those to whom by man some wrong and grief is doen God assuredly notwithstandyng neuer leaueth to assiste theim and although it chaunce not at suche tymes so sone and so apertly as percase some would or could in harte desire yet God that knoweth when and howe he shoulde auenge hym on those that haue vniustly opprest or wronged the innocente so woorketh that at tymes suche trecheries come to lighte and eke mannes falce iudgementes to his heauie condemnation Whereof wée could remember many true straunge examples emong which we reade of a certaine knight of the house of the Templiers executed as is supposed very vniustly this knight an Italian borne in Naples beholding as he paste to the place of execution Pope Clement the fifte of that name aduaunced in a windowe as pleasyng in this spectacle whiche onely did this sentence to passe againste hym wrongfully and nigh to hym Philippe surnamed Bellus kyng then of Fraunce saied to hym with a high and loude voice incontinently O thou cruell and merciles Clement for as muche as in the worlde none other iudge is to whom from thy vniust sentence I might appeale I appeale yet from thée and from thy greate iniustice vnto him that all séeth that true and vpright iudge Iesus Christe the rightuous before whom I thee assomen as also the kyng there at whose sute thou hast sentensed me to death to appere in persone bothe before his tribunall seate there to receiue as ye by me haue deserued without fauour or perciallitie without respecte of persones and that also within the space of one yere followyng And so it came to passe that as he there had cited them the Pope died iuste at the tyme appoincted as also the kyng to holde theother companie Whiche thing assuredly onely proceded from the inscrutable iudgemeÌ„tes and iustice of god The semblable also happened to Ferdinande the fowerth kyng of Castile whiche also did to death twoo other worthie knightes of pretensed malice not hauyng any shadowe or pretexte at all of iustice whom no sorowfull teares or often supplications could or might deliuer from the blouddie miser In fine therefore arrestyng without more on this extremitie cited the king in like maner as before within thirtie daies folowng to appere before that iudge the laste of whiche in déede he made chaunge of life for death and so departed hence Suche was the happe also of a capitain of certain gallies of the toune of Genua of whiche Baptista Fulgosius in this sorte reporteth that he tooke a little Boate or Barke of Catelongna in whiche also was an other or capitaine or gentleman which neuer had dooen to the inhabitaÌ„tes of Genua any wroÌ„g or iniurie neuerthelesse for that priuate malice that this Capitaine of Genua bare to the Catelanes coÌ„maunded that he should incoÌ„tinently be hanged who mournfully besought hym not to do him that or any so greate vilanie for that he neuer had offended nor hym ne yet his countrie but findyng in the ende no kinde of