hammers readie to strike began to remember himselfe and his guiltie conscience which as the wise man saieth is a hundreth witnesses would not suffer him to walk with so great confidence yet least feare should be suspected in him whose good fortunes and life wholie depended on his courage hee oftentimes lookt abroad but attended by such a band of base companions as if it had béene the proude Changuis leading his legious of Tartars thorow Europe But when the day of his appearance came he was backt with such a number of mechanicall rebels that Hubert in stead of attempting him with vpbraids was faine to temper him with flattering persuasions yea the stoutest councellor though neuer so considerate were faine to intreat him whom they had resolued to threaten and imprison William séeing them abasht wared bold and in these wordds saluted them Honorable Fathers and graue Councellors according to your Honourable summons and the dutie of a subiect I present my self before you attended in this sort as you sée not to violate lawes by lewd insurrections but both to present my seruice to my Prince and your Honors and to drawe my friendes and wel willers to that dutie wherevnto in soule I am deuoted to this state If therefore you haue ought to command me or if my seruices in times past be any waie suspected I stand readie to satisfie you in the one or answre to the other Hubert that knew well that soft drops in time pierce harde stones and that the Diamond though not tainted by the hammer is tempered in strong vineger began to coulour where he might not command and flatter where he coulde not inforce and thus he said Being assured William that good subiects tied by no bountie to their prince yet yéelde him all obseruance wee cannot persuade our selues that you who haue béene authorised by your prince to counterchecke iniustice will be the pattern of iniurious insolence for which cause we haue called you not as condemners of your faith but commenders of your forwardnesse neither haue we so bad an opiniâ—…on of thâ—…se good men that follow you that either they would be drawne to violate iustice or you could be induced to violate and al ter their honest and christianlike duties Our onelie request to you in the kings behalfe is to cast off this Lordlie traine and suffer these poore men to follow their professions least being vnawares assailed by want they shall at laste desparatelie attempt wickednes As for these good fellows who in their lookes promise no losenesse I beséech them in his Maiesties name to kéepe their houses promising them in generall that if any one of them be wronged they shall haue remedie Nay we will haue remedie in spight of you said they as long as William liues And this said without all reuerence they departed the place carrieng with them their captaine commander scoffing at the fainthartednes of the Archbishop for full well was he assured that greater seueritie was concluded vpon then he there would insinuate for which cause he continuallie stood on his guard spoiling all such men as hee thought were abettors of the Bushop The Bailifes of London according to their authoritie séeing matters were growne to such extremitie kept diligent and strong watch drawing some of the commons from him by faire words and some by guifts This notwithstanding William was neuer vnattended The Councell who euerie waies were vigilant to roote out this viper from the common weale what they could not by proues they aduentured by pollicie animating diuers valiant men with huge promises to marke his manners and when the occasion was offered to apprehend him at such time as he little suspected But long was it yer they either could finde oportunitie or catch the Fore in his forme yet at last when he least suspected they caught him tardee in Breadstreat attended onlie by ten or twelue at which time they drawing their swordes assailed him valiantlie But he who in all conflicts of Fortune was both confident and couragious first animated his retinue to the fight and after that wresting himselfe by maine force out of their hands he tooke him to flight towards the hart of the Cittie and ranne intâ—… Cheapside They who were busâ—…ed against his poore followers séeing him fled gaue ouer fight and earnest lie pursued him By this time the cittie was in an vprore the poorer sort laboured to rescue William the Bailifs with the best Cittizens armed them to back the kings officers so that the cittie was altogither vp in armes William long beard séeing himselfe hotlie pursued and knowing no mean to escape stept to a poore Carpenter who staid in Cheape for worke and taking his Axe from him desperatlie assailed his pursuers and with his owne hands valiantlie siue some of them but when he perceiued the factions of his enimies to be great and his friends wel nigh tired he betooke himselfe at last into Bow church not for his sanctuarie but for a bulwarke of his safetie Thither repaired all the poore commons some with bats some with spittes and such weapons as they had driuing awaie all the kings officers in despight of their friendes and determining with themselues rather to dy than to lose their William Long beard amongst the rest Maudline his minion knowing that his wracke was hir ruine came vnto him where wéeping mild teares from hir immodest eies shee so mollified his marbell heart that as some testifie he was more moued therewith then with the threats and terrors of his greatest enimies but sée impietie where it preuaileth how it worketh That church which was sacred to praiers was now made a den of rebels those places which were reserued to holie vses were now soiled with dishonest abuses where before our Ladie was praied to lewdnesse was plaid withall But to bring these causes to their Catastophe sufficeth it that darknes for this time ended the discention and the comming on of the night wrought also the conclusion of the fight How William with the long beard after long trouble was taken by the kings officers and executed for his misdemeanors NO sooner gan the howers draw forth the brunisht chariot of the sun and the star that beau tifieth the morninges breake shut vppe her beames in the bowels of the hidden Hemisphere but Richard and his councell assertained of that which was happened comanded the Bailifes of the citie by expresse letters to ferret him out of his hole and cease the tumultes by their authorities for which cause â—…he Bailifes attended by a bolde troope of men in harnesse came into Cheape The eldest of whom being called Gerard de Antiloche handled himselfe with such grauitie and vsed so effectuall persuasions that the commons for the most part withdrew them to their owne houses and after assurance of pardon from his Maiestie bâ—…tooke them to their labour As for the rest in the Church when neyther persuations could allure them nor threats intenerate their harts the Bailifes fell to armes and
presented hir therewith Ye braine-begotten dieties agree you Nurst by transparant christall of chast eies Least she that gaue you life on sudden see you And frowning kil you both who causde you rise From hir you came yong Cupids from no other And but for her if enuious you shal wrastle I feare you both wil lose a louely mother Hir brow your bower hir bosome is your castle There gree you both there both togither go you And suck the Aprill ritches of hir brest Then I who long haue serued and loue to shew you How much I loue the bosome where you rest Will come and kisse and blesse you little wantons And feed you kindly wantons if you want once Another in respect of the occasion I could not find in my hart to forget for being at supper once in hir companie where were manie that discoursed of loue shewing all the idolatrie of their pens in exemplifieng that vnchast deitie he at last when the table was taken vp remembring him of a sonnet in an ancient French Poet on sudden wrote this imitation As soone as thou doost see the Winter clad in colde Within September on the Eaues in sundry formes to fold Sweet Swallow farre thou fliest till to our natiue clime In pleasant Aprill Phaebus raies returne the sweeter time But Loue no day forsakes the place whereas I rest But euery houre liues in mine eies and in my hart dooth nest Each minute I am thrall and in my wounded hart He builds his neast he laies his egges and thence wil neuer part Already one hath wings soft downe the other clads This breakes the skin this newly flegd about my bosome gads The one hath broke the shel the other soares on hie This newly laid that quickly dead before the dam come nie Both day and night I heare the smal ones how they crie Calling for food who by the great are fed for feare they die All wax and grow to proofe and euery yeare doo lay A second neast and sit and hatch the cause of my decay Ah Maudline what reliefe haue I for to remoue These crooked cares that thus pursue my hart in harboring loue But helpelesse of reliefe since I by care am stung To wound my hart thereby to slaie both mother and hir yong At another time being absent from his mistresse by reason that he had a poore mans cause in Essex to be heard he wrote this briefe fancie to hir after the manner of the Italian rimes Oh faire of fairest Dolphin like within the riuers of my plaint With labouring finnes the waue I strike whose flouds are honored by my saint Withouten hart or gall I spring And swim to heare thee sweetly sing All like the fish when natures art Hath reft of â—…ate and tender hart And in the sea for loue I burne As for Arion did the fish At euerie note I skip turnes I harke I praise I like I wish But out alas with better chaunce The friendly fish did him aduance He bare Arion on his back Where I thy sweet imbracements lack These ofher twoe for their shortnesse and strangenesse I could not finde in my hart to pretermit knowing that the better sort that are priuie to the imitation and method will haue their due estimate My mistresse when she goes To pull the pinke and rose Along the riuer bounds And trippeth on the grounds And runnes from rocks to rocks With louely scattered locks Whilst amarous wind doth play With haires so golden gay The water waxeth cleere The fishes draw hir neere The Sirens sing hir praise Sweet flowers perfume hir waies And Neptune glad and faine Yeelds vp to hir his raigne Aâ—…ther When I admire the rose That nature makes repose In you the best of many More faire and blest than any And see how curious art Hath decked euery part I thinke with doubtfull vieu Whether you be the rose or the rose is you An Ode he wrote amongst the rest I dare not forget in that the Poesie is appertinent to this time and hath no lesse life in it than those of the ancient the rather because hereby the learned may sée how euen in those daies Poecy had hir impugners and industrie could not be free from detraction His Oade Since that I must repose Beyond th'infernal Lake What vailes me to compose As many verses as Homer did make Choice numbers cannot keepe Me from my pointed graue But after lasting sleepe The doomb of dreadful iudge I needs must haue I put the case my verse In lieu of all my paine Ten yeares my praise rehearse Orsomewhat longer time some glorie gaine What wants there to consume Or take my lines from light But flame or fierie fume Or threatning noice of war or bloudy fight Excell I Anacrion Stesicores Simonides Antimachus or Bion Philetes or the graue Bacchilides All these though Greekes they were And vsde that fluent toong In course of many a yeare Their workes are lost and haue no biding long Then I who want wits sap And write but bastard time May I expect the hap That my endeuors may ore-come the time No no tis farre more meet To follow Marchants life Or at the iudges feet To sell my toong for bribes to maintaine strife Then haunt the idle traine Of poore Calliope Which leaues for hunger slaine The choicest men that hir attendants be These and such like fruits of his fancie may sufficientlie testifie vnto you both the high spirite and déepe inuention of this craftie Citizen who flourishing thus in the verie fulnesse of loues ioy and reuelling in the chiefest pallaces of pleasure at last recalled to mind the ambitious desires that were wont to accompanie him which hauing the nature of fire which no sooner catcheth hold of drie matter but presentlie it consumeth it from a light smoke at last fell to so huge a flame that himselfe was confounded therewith and all his hopes made frustrate and thus it fell out The kings Maiestie hearing of his continual assemblies and comparing his purposes with his practise began vnder no small grounds to conceiue his curssed intention for considering with himselfe the manner of his life the businesse of his braine the 〈◊〉 eloquence of his toong and the mightinesse of his mind he imagined as afterward it fell out that so great meanes of quick and capeable fuell would at last breake out to an vnquenchable flame wherevpon the K. with considerate iudgement called him to court commanding him to cease his disordered assemblies least in séeking to exterminate the iniuries of the rich he shuld reuiue the in solence of the poore For said he William whoe séeth not whereto these routes tend whoe thinketh not that riot will follow them The labouring men that were kept from innonations by their worke are now capable of all chang and nouelties in their idlenesse In liuing as they doo they rather are drawne to detest labor then to follow it wherthrugh the offices and mechanicall crafts in the citiie doo
cease and by the omission of industrieriseth the pretermission of dutie For this cause as you haue care of my loue incite them not to too much libertie Further them what you may if they be wronged but let not iustice be a coulour to winne them to wickednes With these or such like admonitions kinge Richard attempted him and so wrought him that for a while the commotions and motiues of trouble were laide apart so that he walked London stréets with lesser troops and wholie adicted himselfe to play with his faire Maudeline whose vnchast life was abi-word in the cittie How William with the long beard slew Arthur Brown who deceiued him of his Maudline WHilst William was conuersent in the affaires of state intending euerie waie to inlarge his own power and attending daselie vppon the kinges pleasure it fortuned that one Arthur Browne fur me red by his youth and fitted by occation fell in with Maudline Willams wanton concubine and hauing welth sufficient and wit no lesse subtill he so craftilie handled the cause that he won the yoong woman to stoope to a seconde lure and to accept his loue Manie and often times had they entercourse so that at last the rumor passing in euerie place it coulde not choose but light at laste in Williams hearing who moued beyond measure to sée himselfe outfaced by one who had so long time béene feared by all he frowningly prepared reuenge resoluing with himselfe that no means were too meane to giue a tragicall sauce to his corrupt meaning Wherevpon breaking his mind with certaine of his faction he a gréed to watch an oportunitie to reuenge impietie and for that cause watching verie craftilie when Arthur his riuall should repaire vnto his lawlesse lemman he at laste surprised and encountred him and causing some of his train to muffle him in his cloake and to stopp his mouth for fears of crieng he stabbed him with a dagger in diuers places and in the last wound left the same sticking fastening the poore caitifes owne hande with his owne dagger which he had purposelie to auoid all meanes of suspition and to raise an opinion that he had murthered himselfe sheathed in Arthurs owne bodie This doone he departed vnespied and vnsuspected and the bodie being founde according to the censure and verdict of the Iurie which behelde the same was thrust thorowe with a stake and so buried as if he had béene guiltie of his owne murther William thus deliuered of a supplanter of his pleasure after some vnkindnesse past and calmed betweene him and his Maudline finallie fell to an accord accustoming hir as he was wont vnder promise of more constancie in affection and to the intent she should remember hir of the iniuries offered he wrot this with a poin ted Diamond in hir glasse Thinke what I suffred wanton through thy wildenesse When traitor to my faith thy losenesse led thee Thinke how my moodie wrath was turnde to mildnesse When I bad best yet baser groomes did bed thee Thinke that the staine of bewtie then is stained Whenlewd desires doo alienate the hart Thinke that the loue which will not be contained At last will grow to hate in spight of art Thinke that those wanton lookes will haue their wrinkles And but by faith olde age can merit nothing When time thy pale with purple ouer-sprinkles Faith is thy best thy beautie is a woe thing In youth be true and then in age resolue thee Friends wil be friends till time with them dissolue thee But leauing these his effeminate follies of youth wherin he so vngratiouslie passed his time let vs draw to the consideration of his traitorous practises and finallie as the fruits of such sinister follies conclude with his tragicall end After he had for a time vntill the princes minde were otherwise withdrawne with more waightie matters ceased both his routs and riots the old ranckled venome of his ambition began more fréelte to breake forth so that what before time he colored vnder conscience now at last he manifested with audacious considence The mightie in court that maligned him he ouermaistered by his attendants swashing out in open streats vppon euerie light occasion for himselfe hee thought no man sufficient to suppresse him â—…or of sufficiencie to braue him for at a beck Coblers Tinkers tailors and all sortes of the hare-brainde multitude attended him fought for him supported him and made him Lorde of their factions where-through the better sorts neither were Lords of themselues neither commanders of their owne liueliehoods From some he extorted wealth by corrupt witnesses sparing no meanes to inrich his followers by racking and wresting the kinges authoritie and no sooner did he heare that the kinge had giuen order to his councell to sensure on his bad demeanors but gathering to himselfe a huge multitude he openlie vsed this discourse vnto them beginning his exhortation with this place of Scripture Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris Which is as much to say as You shal drawe waters with Ioy out of the fountaines of our Sauiour For quoth he my worthie and faithfull friends whoe haue more courage than coine and abilitie in armes then possibilities of wealth I am the sauiour of you that are poore and the soueraigne of such as are penilesse you that haue assaied the hard hand of the rich shall be succoured by the happie hande of the righteous Now therefore draw your happie fountaines of councell out of my words and turne the troubles you haue to assured triumphs for the daies of your visitation is at hande I shall depart waters from waters I mean the proud from the poore the mercilesse from the mercifull the good from the euill and the light from the darkenesse I will oppose my selfe against all dangers to preuent your domage and loose my life but you shall haue liuing Be confident therefore and bolde for such as haue courage are sildome conquered Let the greatest vpbraid they shall not bite we haue weapons to withstand as well as wordes to perswade we are as couragious as our enimies are craftie Stick therefore vnto me who will striue for you let me be supprest you are subdued let me flourish you are fortunate but if finister chance threaten whie Alea iacta est vnasalus victis nullam sperare salutem Thus dailie and hourelie animated he the ill minded sorte and although the king did oftentimes summon him and by letters disuaded him from his ill demeanour yet was hee enforced to vse violence or otherwise that stripe which at first séemed to be but a fillip would at last haue growne vnto a Fistula For which cause Hubert then Bishop of Canterburie soundlie resoluing in his thoughts that forbearance would be the meanes of further mischiefe by the aduise of others of the Priuie councell called him in question summoning him against an appointed day to come and yeelde a reason of those his factions tumults William that saw the iron readie to war hot and the
of Genowaies Megollo was inforced to giue him the lie but seethe other little moued the rewith his countrey dishonoured and the court laughing at him he sought his remedie at the Emperors hands from whom he could get no redresse in repaire of his honor For which cause Megollo hotlie discontent though for a purpose he smothered his displeasures a space a fewe daies after vpon a lawfull cause tooke occasion to craue the Emperours licence and departing to Genua altogither inflamed to reuenge he furnished himselfe by meanes of some parents and friends and rigging out two warlike Gallies he sailed with them into the great sea and there indeuored him selfe to spoile all the coast and ransacke euerie shippe belonging to the Emperour whomesoeuer hee tooke in waie of great disdaine he cut off their noses and eares and though there were manie ships set out against him yet in spight of all he neuer desisted from endangering him and this might he the better performe in that his ships were verie swifts and when he found himselfe at any disaduantage he coulde both leaue and take how and when it pleased him It chanced amongst manie other preparations that were set out to intrap him foure stout Gallies were rigged who vpon consultation as soone as they had discouered him deuided themselues apart thinking to inclose him in the midst of them so all at once to assaile him Megollo that quicklie perceiued their pollicie suddenlie fained to flie whom when their swiftest Gallie had long time pursued and ouer-wrought all hir consorts Megollo made hed againste them and slewe them and serued them all after the same sauce to the woonderfull amaze and discontent of the Emperor Amongest one of these Gallies there was an olde man wish his two sonnes whoe fearing the like fortune which had befalne others should light on him and his sonnes humblie prostrating himselfe at Megollos féet he humblie intreated him for mercie The old mannes teares were gratious and had such power ouer the generous mind of Megollo that he forgaue both him and his sonns with the rest that were aliue in his Gallie and sent him back vnto the Emperor with a vessell full of Eares and Noses willing the olde man to let the Emperor vnderstand that he would neuer cease to indemnifie him vntill such time as he hadde sent vnto him the man who had so disdainfullie and dishonorablie iniured him in his court The Emperor asserteined hereof determined with himselfe as the lesser euill to go himselfe in person vnto the sea and carrie with him as he did the yong man who had occasioned all this trouble Megollo hearing thereof thrust his Gallies néerer the shore when as the Emperor presently in a light boat sent him the yoong Noble with a rope about his necke whoe hauing his eies proude with teares humbled himselfe at Megollos féet beséeching mercy Megollo compassionate therewith bad him get him thence telling him that it was not the fashion of the Genowaies to tyrannize ouer effeminate milksops The parents of the yong man seeing him returne againe beyond their expectation receiued him wish great ioye diuers offers were made by the Emperor to Megollo who refusing them all returned this answer That he came thither not for desire of riches but for honors sake and to eternise the name of the Genowaies admitting no other couenantes but this that in memorie of those his actions a pallace shuld be reared in Trabisond for the commodity of the Genowaies wherein he would that by a curious hand and cunning work man those his actions shoulde be eternized which being afterwards fullie obserued by the Emperor they whoe traffiqued there followe their marchandize with more honor then they were accustomed Megollo after this worthie acte returned home to Genoua where he was receiued and gratified with great honors by the Cittizens The memorable deeds of Ualasca a Lady of Bohemia whoe causing all other Ladies to kill their husbands Brethren and sonnes raigned seuen yeares in Bohemia I Read in the Bohemian historie written by Pope Pius that this Valasca of whom I héere meane to intreate was a woman of great mind bolde in all attempts and highlie fauored by Fortune and to the end you may the better vnderstand hir historie I will first of all begin with hir cause of hatred You haue therefore to consider that Crocus second Duke of Bohemia dieng without issue male his daughter Libussa held in those daies in as great account as one of the Sibils with the fauour of the people and good liking of the better sort was placed in hir fathers seate and gouerned that Prouince manie yeares with the generall good liking of all men Finallie hauing giuen a iust sentence in right of certeine possessions against a mightie man in that countrey he being there with incensed prouoked vp the people against hir saieng that it was an oprobrious scandalous thing for such a people as they were and so great a Nobilitie as was resident in that place to suffer the kingdome causes of iustice to be vnder a woman Libussa hauing intreated silence at their hands for a time said vnto them that she knew their new desire and was not ignorant of their firme determination disabling her selfe to satisfie their expectations praieng them to assemble the next daie which according as she willed them they perfourmed The morning began noe sooner to pushe forth his blushinge beawties but the people repaired to the iudgement seat in great multitudes and as soone as the pallace was filled euerie waies by them Libussa began to speake vnto them on this maner You know Bohemians that to this present day I haue beene your peaceable and bountifull Ladie according to womens custome whoe are audatious in nothing but in offering curtesies Hitherto haue I not béene offensiue to any of you either chargeable by reason of Pompe shewing my selfe rather a mother vnto you then a mistresse but ingratefullie vnkind men as you are requite you my gouern ment But at these your actions woonder not I at all because you accustome your selues to the common fashions of men who are neuer content but are more skilfull to desire a iust and mercifull Lord then hauing him they haue knowledge to kéepe him As touching mine owne title I wholie surrender it into your hands and as you haue desired one who shal gouerne you and order your lawes as he list so am I contented you shall haue him Therefore go ye and take me a white horsse and bridle him with all his other apparell and ornamentes and afterwards lead him to such a plaine where he may take that waie which best likes him Which doone let him trot as he list and follow you him by his footsteps as he turnes so turne you and as he returneth so returne you finallie when you shall see him staie before a man that foedeâ—…h at an iron table then assure your selues he is the man forpointed to be my husband and your prince This his
speeche pleased them all so that taking with them the horsie as Libussa had instructed them they let him freelie goe and followed him But scarselie had they trauelled ten miles when as the horse staied at a riuer called Bieli and arrested himselfe before a countrey fellow called Primislaus shewing manie signes of humanitie and obseruance toward him The Bohemians as well the nobles as commons behoulding this ran with all hast vnto him and after their salutations said thus vnto him Mount vppon this horsse and goe with vs Libussa hath chosen thée for his husband and the Bohemians admit thee for their prince Primislaus although he were a poore countrey clowne not incapeable of the generall desire of rule which attainteth all men gaue vnto them a homelie salutation after his manner and tolde them that he was addressed to doo whatsoeuer pleased them and vnder standing that he was to goe to Libussa as if hee had a longe voiage to make he fastened his bottle to his saddle bow and grasping his bread and chéese in his hand he rode on féeding like a rusticke king which was a verie sufficient euidence of that which Libussa before time had declared and told vnto them As soone as his guttes were full and his bottle emptied he mended his pace and they conducted him with great pomp and honnour into the cittie where he tooke Libussa to wife and during all his life time was wholie ruled and gouerned by hir counsels and perswasions But after she had submitted hir selfe to the destinies the gouernment remained wholie in Primislaus hands and the authoritie of Ladies ceased which euen vnto that hower was both maintained and augmented by Libussa After this Valasca which whilst Libussa liued was hir secretarie being a Ladie of great valour and no lesse resolution then an Amazon not induring or abiding that the authoritie of women should be thus annihilated assembling one daie in a priuie place all those that were of her faction she said thus vnto them My sisters we haue lost our good Ladie who alwaies defended vs from the outrages of men neither could she euer endure that we should be ouer borne by them so that she her selfe hâ—…ld the Emperie and we wish hir were in respect held and accounted for Queenes You see now how inforced we indure a hard and miserable seruitude liuing vnder the gouernment of our husbands after the maner of slaues except of our selues we shall gather head and courage to recouer our former liberties Wherefore if your thoughtes be as mine is let vs ioine like heroick Ladies and we will easily recouer our estates I as you know was secretarie vnto Libussa of whom I learned that which she knew I am skilfull in inchantments and the nature of hearbes is not vnknowne vntome if therfore you haue any meaning or will to followe me assure your selues that you shall be once againe lords ouer men Upon these words the whole assemblie of women condiscended to Valascas words and mutuallie conspired against men During this time Primislaus dreamed one night that a virgine gaue him bloud to drinke for which cause he being a notable soothsaier and willing to preuent a mischiefe which as he imagined might verie easilie be impugned hee conuocated all the chiefe nobles of his Prouince vnder intention to prohibit the ouer-great licence and libertie which women had in the common weale namelie the women were accustomed to ride and run the race on horssebacke to tournay shoote and followe the chace and brieflie to exercise themselues in all warlike discipline which as he thought were matters manageable by men and vnfit tasks for women But the Barons scoffed at him when he told them ther of and said that they rather deserued loue and reuerence for their agilitie and hardines then reproofe and dishonor Valasca meane while desisied not neither daie nor night to exhort hir confederates and often with drinks inchatments turned away their affections from the loue of men and daie by daie drewe more and more into this her League of conspiracie Finallie when she perceiued that she hadde gathered a sufficient power both of married wiues maids in one night she caused euerie one of hir faction to kill their fathers husbands brethren and sonnes in their beddes and afterwards taking armes with great expedition they all of them marched togither to a place appointed them by Velasca not farre distant from Prage and subduing some that had them in chace they made a roade to Vissigrade whereas Primislaus aboad intending there to surprise him but séeing they could not take the fortresse they retired themselues into a mountaine a place naturallie impregnable and there building a castle they called it Deiuizo that is the place of virgines bicause that in their toonge a virgine is called Deiuize This action of theirs seemed abhominable to all the inhabitants of the countrey as wel in respect of the great slaugh ter they had made as also because they had a great suspition of further mischéefe for which cause they generallie gaue Primislaus to vnderstand that they were addrest to bidde these new Amazons battell and that if it pleased him to marche forward with his hoast they also were in a readinesse to follow him The K. certified them that at that present he could not come by reason that the Gods had admonished him that all those who were addicted to indemnifie the virgines were to die certifieng them that it was behouefull to go another time But they who set light by his counsell leuieng by them selues a great armie marched toward Deiuizo and striking battell with Valasco were ignominiouslie ouerthrowne and put to flight with the slaughter of the greater part of the armie and whereas in this seruice Malada Nodea Suaâ—…acia Vorasta Ragda Zastana and Tristana had behaued themselues valiantlie in rewarde of their seruice they had coâ—…ars and chaines of golde giuen them and amidst that vnmeasureable pray which they had euerie one was rewarded acording to their desart Valasca slue with hir owne hand seuen of hir enimies and after that time was held and estéemed for a goddesse so that neuer aâ—…ter that time the Bohemians had the courage to troble or molest them But they euerie daie ranged about the confines spoiling robbing and burning and daie by day inforced greater dread and feare in the harts of their enimies and being now Ladies and soueraignes of the better part of Bohemia they were constrained to haue the companie of men by reason that other wise by course of time and warres they were likelie to be reduced and brought to nothing for which cause marrieng themselues they made a lawe that those maidens who were borne by them should with all dilligence bee tenderlie and carefullie brought vppe as for the males they commanded that their right eies should be pulled out and their middle fingers cut off to the ende that hauing attained Mans estate they should be disabled to shoote in the bowe or to handle warlike weapons
saith she your worship as I remember ought to be a patron of these poore infantes for I haue oftentimes heard my husband saye when I had a motherlie care what should become of my children that he had prouided for them charging me to remember that till euer when I needed to vse you as a father for these infants whose honestie as he sware he would builde his soule vppon for which cause giuing him the writings I beséech your Wor. quoth she to pervse all his secrets to stand my good friend in this my miserable widdowhood Maister Besaunt touched to the quicke changed coulour verie often and receauing them at hir hands with a quiuering feare procéeding by reason of his earnest combate betwéene conscience and couetousnesse he at last after long perusing found his own bill which he carelessie tearing tolde hir that all of it was but wast paper and therevpon blushinglie departed giuing hir but colde comfort for hir great hope The good woman animated by some diuine power and â—…spieng the scales of his shame shadowed in his blushing browes tooke hold of his gowne sléeue praieng him to staie a little while and not to leaue hir so suddenlie for said she good sir if you thus leaue vs you shall proue that you little loue vs besides your hast makes me to misdoubt your honestie pardon good sir I praye you if I mistake for thus to wreak your selfe on paper and to shew by your suspectful lookes your apparant misdoubts makes me imagine you haue deceiued my Peters hope besides these papers which you haue torne may perhaps be some testimonies which I will gather as she relikes of your rage and therewithall she stooped and tooke them vp But aboue all good maister Besaunt remember God quoth she and if there be ought that concerneth these little ones in your conscience cloake not in that behalfe for God who gaue them me will not suffer their innocencie to be vnreueâ—…ged Maister Besaunt sore incensed with these words and suspitious least his councell should be disclosed by the broken and scattered papers at firste by smooth spéeches began to persuade hir to restore him them but when reason and intreatie inioyed no place for the more he moued hir the more she suspected he began to vse violence When as she poore children seeing their mother iniured beyond measure cried for helpe for hir whom motherlie care had animated alreadie euen to the triall of death rather than to leaue hir papers The noise in the house and the crie of the children called in the neighbors whoe seeing Robert Besaunt a man of such reputation as he was held not daring to inforce began to intreat his forbearance who dreading his owne discredit beyond measure left hir for that time puffing sweating and swearing that he would be reuenged on hir whoe had in this sort wrought his discontent to be short he neuer desisted till she were imprisoned vowing neuer to graunt hir libertie till suche time as she restored to him the torne writings The miserable Widdowe in this peck of troubles gathering a verie confident boldnesse vnto hir denied the restitution And finallie after the councell of some poore Cittizens put vppe a supplication or a supplantation as the sillier sort of people called it vnto William with the longe beard presenting him likewise with the broken and torne pâ—…ces of paper neuer ceasing in most humble and pittifull manner to intreat a mercifull and tender compassion towardes the reliefe of hir selfe and hir poore children William that pretermitted no occasion whereby he might insinuate himselfe amongest the poorer sort and winne the credit of a good Iusticer at his princes handes began to examine euerie circumstance and to leaue no meane vnsought wher by he might get himselfe glorie and doo the poore widdowe good First therefore he ioyned the papers and conferred the manner of the iniurie with the other circumstances and at last he euidentlie found and therewithall certified others that these torne papers was the bill of debt for forty marks Finallie comparing the estate of the poore man with that of Besaunts the time the money had béene in the defendants hands and the corrupt intention of the riche man whoe by renting the bill thought to race out the remembrance of his due debt he called him before him charging the officiall to bring the widdow and hir children before him in open sessions where after long debating and trouble on both sides Besaunt standing on his credit the widdow on hir innocencie William willing to catch the cat with his owne clawe began thus Maister Besaunt you are called into iustice not that we suspect your honestie or detract from your estimate but for this cause are you called that if you will be deposed that all allegations which may be alledged against you by this widdow are false you may see hir punished and iustice executed Besaunt little suspecting the snare that was laide and the subtiltie intended began with huge oathes to protest that he neither stood any waie indebted to the poore Coblerlatelie deceased neither was in any sort liable to the false suggestions of the widdowe William perceiuing euidentlie she vngodlie intent of the man to defraud and how gratious a déed he should doo to speak in the innocents defense First commanded Besaunts Oath to be taken and after that rowsing himselfe in a maiesticall manner he began thus I sée well my countreymen that iustice had need of a patron when those that should maintaine hir séeke to maime hir Ah what a world liue we in when trust shall be betraid when simplicitie shall be vndermined with subtletie and pouertie ouertopped by power Behold saith hee my contreymen and therewithall he caused the two children to bee placed by him two harmelesse infants for whom the poore father laboured in his life time both left to begge after his death Alas that corruption should blind iudgement so farr that where we ought in charitie to succour these men make no conscience to supplant them The Cedar though a tall trée lets the little shrub prosper vnder him the Eglantine flourisheth by the Oake the Goldâ—…nch féedeth by the Griffin but the prouerbe is true among vs nowadaies Homo homini Demon. We liue as we should know no lack we flourishe as if we feare no fall we purchase as if life could not perish to win the world we make shipwracke of our soules and in suche a world where corruptions are so rife iustice must not sleepe for if it should the weake should to the walles and the peny father by his power should ouerpresse the penilesse in their pouerties Now therefore countreymen giue eare and hea ring pittie and pittieng patronize these poore soules This Besaunt wrongeth them making his credit the countenance of his craft and his goods the coulour of his vngodlinesse behold his hand writing wherein he thinking to extinguish the memorie of his debt hath renewed the meanes of his owne destruction which said he
publikelie shewed the papers and after that turning him to M. Besaunt he expostulated thus Well sir since your corruption is found out and your vngodlie oathes haue doubled your offence by that authoritie which I haue receiued from his maiesty I condemn you to pay the summe of fortie marks with the vse thereof for ten yeares vnto this widdow and hir children next for your periurie wherein you haue offended God especiallie and next your countrey I adiudge you to paie in waie of a fine to his Maiestie two hundreth poundes sterling aduising you hereafter to vse your conscience more vprightlie and to deale by the poorer sort more iustlie Besaunt who highlie stood on his reputation was so amazed at his so sudden conuiction before the assemblie of the citie that he knew not what to say his owne hand he coulde not denle and if he should there were some in the companie well acquainted therewith To be adiudged thus of by his inferiour as he thought it was no small disgrace for which cause smothering vnder faire lookes his false hart he appeled to the king and his Councell assuring William that he would not be discredited in that sort and that it shoulde cost him a thousand pounds but he would be reuenged With these and such like spéeches the court brake vp the widdow the children were dismissed with giftes and William with a thousand Cittizens at his taile was with great triumphe conuaied to his lodging But Besaunt for all his braues was committed and enforced to pay the penaltie yea so did William worke with the king and his councell as had not this corrupt marchant with great sommes got himself frée no doubt he had béene brought within the compas of a Premunire such subtill suggestions had William practised against him How William with the long beard behaued himselfe towardes the Courtiers and of his loue to his faire Lemman Maudeline WIlliam hauing by this means insinuated himselfe into the fauour of the king and by that reason brought the cittizens in feare of him like the vntoward childe whoe hauing an inche stealeth an elle began to presume aboue the latchet as the prouerbe is setting light by all men animating the baser sort against the better so that the Nobilitie put vp much iniurie at his hands the clergie were badlie vsed by him and the officers of the cittie highlie offended The earle of Durham then Chancellor and bishop taking the parte of a chapleine of his who was iniuried by a meane and mechanicall townesman was braued by him in Cheape side beaten of his horsse and had not the Bailifes of the cittie rescued him the common spéeches went he should neuer haue courted it more A gentleman in court at another time vpbraiding William of his base estate and birth told him that the worst haire in his beard was a better gentleman than hee was for which cause William mightilie agréeued and watching opportunitie of reuenge at last incountred him braue lie mounted on his foot cloth in Friday stréet where taking him forceably from his horsse he carried him into a Barbers shop and caused both his beard and head to be shaued close pleasantlie giving at him in this sort Gallant now haue I cut of the whole traine of of the best gentlemen you durst compare with me the last daie and if hereafter you bridle not your toong as base a Gentleman as you make me Ile haue you by the eares The king informed héereof grew highlie offended but William who wanted neither money friends nor eloquence so ordered the matter as his maligners might barke but not bite him But for that all his minde was planted on ambition and his greatest feare was least by ouer forward thrusting himselfe into state his cloaked aspiring shoulde be discouered he began for a while to leaue the court to intend onelie the causes of the poore and complot those meanes whereby labouring for mightines without suspect he might attaine the same without counterchecke and first to make shewe how much his mind was altred from high climing he craftilie pretended a new conceited loue and but pretending it at firste at laste was inforced to practise it and thus it fell out An honest and well disposed Merchant of London had by his wife a faire and amiable yoong mayden to his daughter being the onely hope of his age and the fruit of his corage This louelie Mawdelin as the lesser starres are in respect of the sunne or Mercurie in regarde of the Orbe of Venus amongst our London damosels was the A perse for beautie â—…d the parragon of perfections hir looks full of quickening puritie were able to animate loue in Marbel nature could doo no more but wonder at hir owne handiworke art had nought but shadowes in respect of such a substance Al eies that beheld hir wondred all pens that praised hir were quickened by hir excellence To be short hir least worth was of so great consequence as the best writer might be abashed to conceit or imagine them with this faire damosell William Long beard traffiqued his fancies summoning hir yéelding affections with so manie earnest sutes and seruices that he at last conquered that fort wherein fancie himselfe tooke delight to tyranize and as the Iet draweth Amber the Load stone the Stéele of the compasse so hir beautie assaulted his sences that all of them had no power of their offices but were fatallie assigned to subscibe to hir sorceries And where as authoritie and countenance are wrested the bulwarke of chastitie though otherwise impregnable is oftentimes impugned and not onelye assaulted but at laste subdued William by his friends and followers so wrought that what by his friends and faire words he won hir for his Lemmon sparing no cost to trick hir out in brauerie to the end he might by that meanes giue a foile and glasse to her beawtie This Maudelin thus compassed hir paramour began to pranke it in the brauest fashion wresting his wits to make an idoll of hir worth whose amorous passions since they are of some regard I haue heer set downe for the courtliest care to censure of Amidst the maze of discontented mind The royall trophey of ioy-breeding loue A happy holde and resting place did find Within that brest which earst earthes hel did proue Since when my long-enfeebled eies haue reard Their drooping sight to gaze vpon the sunne Since when my thoughts in written lines appeard Reioycing at that Palme my faith had wunne Ennobled thus by that thrice-nobled passion Which hath the power all worldly cares to banish I flie sweet-seeming leures of false occasion And let al thoughts but loue-sweet vade vanish The fruits I reape in spight of Fortune froward Makes me suppose no torment too vntoward Another he made vpon this occasion Maudelin his mistresse had a faire Iewell wherein the twoe Cupids of Anacreon were painted wrastling the one with the other with this Motto Pro palma for which cause he wrote this sonnet and
for the space of foure houres continued a bloudie and desperate fight But when they perceiued the Traitors were desperate and the Church was sufficientlie strong to keep them out they at last found out this worthie pollicie They caused some chiefe men to bring them great store of straw which they fâ—…ered in diuers parts about the Church in euerie corner whereas the wind might worke the smoake anie entrance which so smothered and stifeled them in the Church that they were all of them for the libertie of a shorte time of life to submit themselues to the iudgement of succéeding death Herevpon after manie wofull plaints powred out on euerie side by William his Maudline and other malefactors they were all inforced to leaue the church and submit themselues to the hands of the Bailifes who according to the kings command picking out William with nine other his confederats committed them vnto warde for that time dismissing the rest vnder the kings generall pardon whoe certified hereof was not a little solaced For which cause he sent some of his Councel and Iudges the next day who ascending the iudgment seat called forth William with the Long beard with his confederates arraigning them of high treason against God the king and countrey Among all the rest William shewed himselfe most confident for neither did the taâ—…nts of the Iudges extennuate his courage neither could the bonds he was laden withall abash him any waies but that with a manlie looke and inticing eloquence he thus attempted the iustices You lords and Honorable Iudges though I knowe it a hard thing to striue against the obstinate or to extort pittie there where all compassion is extinguished yet will I speake vsing the officer of nature to worke you although I know I shall not win you I am here called and indighted before you for hie treason a hainous crime I confesse it and worthie punishement I denie it not but may it please you with patience to examine circumstances I haue imboldened the poorer sort to innonation to fight for libertie to impugne the rich a matter in the common weales of Greece highlie commended but héere accounted factions and whie there subiects made kings here kings maister subiectes and why not say you and whie not think I yet am I faultie vnder a good president and the ambition which hath intangled mee hath not beene without his profit To offend of obstinate will were brutish but vnder some limits of reason to defaulte can you my Lords but thinke it pardonable I haue raised one or two assemblies and what of this peace was not broken onely my safetie was assured and were it that the Law had béene iniured might not the righting of a hundred poore mens causes merit pardon for two vnlawfull assemblies But you will saie I haue animated subiects against their prince I confesse it but vnder a milder title I haue councelled them to compasse libertie which if nature might be equall iudge betwéene vs I knowe should not be so hainoustie misconstred For my last tumult I did nothing but in mine owne defence and what is lawfull if it be not permitted vs Vim vi repellere But whie pleade I excuses knowing the lawes of this Realme admit no one of my constructions If it be resolued I must die doo me this fauour my Lords to protract no time execute your iustice on my bodie and let it not pine long time in feare thorowe supposall of extreames For my soule since it is deriued from a more immortall essence I dare boast the libertie thereof knowing that eternitie is prepared for it and mercie may attend it But for these poore ones who haue defaulted thorough no malice but haue béen misled through vaine suggestions howe gratious a deede should your honnors do to exemplifie your mercie on them poore soules they haue offended in not offending and but to enthrone me haue ouerthrowne themselues for which cause if consideration of innocent guiltines guiltie innocence may any waies moue you grant them life and let me solie enact the tragedie who am confirmed against all Fortunes tyrannies These latter words were deliuered with so great vehemencie of spirit and attended with so quickening motions and actions of the bodie that euerie one pittied that so rare vertues should be rauished by vntimelie death or accustomed with so manie vngodlie practises The Iudges whoe were Socratical in all their spéeches shewing their Rhetorique in their vpright iudgements not quaint discourses after the examinations indictments verdicts of the Iurie and suche like at last gaue finall and fatall iudgement That William with the long beard with his confederates should the nexte daie be hanged drawne and quartered and so after some other worthie exhortations to the people to mainteine peace and that they should shew themselues more dutifull and after thanks to the Bailifes and good cittizen for their faithful and good seruice to his Maiestie the assemblie broke vp and the prisoners till the next daye were committed to the dungeon No sooner was the gaie mistresse of the daie break prepared in hir roseat coatch powdering the heauens with purple but the Bailifes repaired to the prison leading foorthe William and those his other confederates to their execution Then flocked about them diuers sorts of people some to sée those who were so much searched after others to lament him whom they had so loued at laste arriued at the place where they should finish their daies all stood to beholde their death William as principall in his life time of seditious practise was to enact the first and fatall part in the tragedie for which cause boldlie climing vp the ladder and hauing the rope fitlie cast about his neck after some priuate praiers he spake after this manner vnto the people My good countreymen you are repaired hither to sée a sorie spectacle to beholde the follie of life paid with the fruits of death to marke how sinister treasons ende with condigne torments if you applie what you here see and beholde to your owne profits I shall be glad whoe now euen at this my last hower desire rather you shuld reconcile your selues from all wickednes then be dismaied ormoued with my wretchednesse Oh my déere friends I now protest before God vowe before men that mine owne presumptuous climing hath béene the iust cause of my confusion I haue had more desire of glorie then respect of God more regard of dignitie then of dutie déeming it better to be a famous Traitor then a faithfull and true subiect For which my inestimable sinnes I crie God hartilie mercie I beseech his Maiestie to forgiue me and pray you all by your praiers to implore Gods grace for me Neither deserue I death only for the offence I haue made the king but my conscience accuseth me and I heere doo openlie confesse it that I was he who murthered Anthonie Browne in that he was a riuall in my most lewde loue This this if nought else my countreymen
him to bed he discouered vnto them howe the king had resolued to kill him for which cause Vnulfe winding him about the necke with the shéetes of the bedde and laieng the couerlet and a Beares skin vpon his backe leauing him without capp as if he were some rusticke or common drudging fellowe began to driue him out of the chamber dooing him manie iniuries and villannies so that he verie oftentimes fell to the ground Grimoalds guard whoe were appointed vnto the watch seeing al these outrages asked Vnulfe what he meant Why said he my maisters this rascal slauehath made me my bed in the chamber of that drunken palliard Partharithus which is so full of wine that he sléepeth as if he were dead without stirring and this is the cause whie I beat him and I praye you dooth he not deserue it They hearing these words and beléeuing them to be true did all of them laugh verie hartilie to heare the tidings and giuing both of them licence to depart Partaritus hasted to the cittie of Hasti and from thense went into France praising God for his happie deliuerie As soone as they were gotte awaie the faithfull page locked the door verie diligentlie remaining all that night alone in the chamber and when the messengers of the king came with commission to bring Partaritus to the pallace the nexte daie they knocked at the doore whome the page in humble maner saluted praieng them to haue patience for a while for saith he my Lord being wearie of his last iourney sleepeth now verie soundlie The messengers returning to Grimoald told him the pages answer who all inraged charged them presentlie to bring him to his presence who repairing againe to the chamber doore were in like sort once more solicited by the page to vse forbearance but they admitting no delaies cried out hastilie and hartilie tut tut the droonkard hath now slept enough and therevpon bearing the doore of the hinges they forceablie entered the chamber and sought Partaritus in his bed but found him not wherevpon they asked the page what was become of him who answered them that he was fled The messengers all amazed herewith furiouslie laieng hands on the childes bushie lock and buffeting him pitiouslie brought him to the pallace and conducting him to the presence of the king saide Mightie Prince Partharitus is fled and this caitife boy helpt to conuey him and for that cause meriteth death Grimoald commanded them to laie hands off him and willed him with a friendlie countenance to discouer vnto him the manner and meanes how his maister had escaped awaie The page told him euerie thing as it had past whose faithfulnes when the king had considered vpon he royallie offered him to make him one of his pages assuring the lad that if he would be as faithfull to him as he had shewed himselfe towards his old maister he should both be rewarded and regarded After this he made search for Vnulfe who being brought before his presence was pardoned by him and not only pardoned but commended But as where affection is rooted there no fauors can supplant it nor promises suppresse it so these two louing their maister Partarithus verie deerelie took no delight but onelie in desire they had to sée and serue him for which cause a few daies after they repaired to Grimoald beséeching him of license to séeke out their maister Whie my friends quoth he had you rather séeke out your necessities then liue with me héere in all pleasures By God replied Vnulfe I had rather die with Partharithus than liue in all other worldlie contents and delights What saied the king to the page wilt thou also rather séeke out a bannished man then serue a king I my Lorde saide he for they are bad seruants that will leaue their maisters in miserie Grimoald wondering at their confidence praising both their faithes dismissed both of them with all fauour giuing them both horsse and money to furnish and further them on theyr iourney The two faithfull seruants humblie thanking the kinge tooke their waie into France hoping to finde their maister in that place according as was appointed But Partaritus fearing least by reason of a peace latlie capitulated betwixt Dogobert kinge of France and Grimoald he shoulde be there surprised suddenlie by some sinister subtletie tooke shipping for England and hauing alreadie sailed from the shore the voice of a man was heard among the rocks which asked for Partaritus and whither he were in that ship Whereto when answer was made that there he was the voice replied Then will him presentlie repaire vnto his countrey for Grimoald a three daies hence is departed this life Partaritus suddenly returned backe commanding the marriners to reenter the harbour and as soon as he was landed he diligently sought out the messenger that had thus informed him but finding him by no meanes possible he supposed it to be some messuage sent from God For which cause poasting towards his countrey and arriuing amongst the confines of Italie hee found there a great number of Lombards who expected him with whom he entered Pauia and driuing out a little son of Grimoalds from the kingdome he was by generall consent created kinge of Lombardie thrée monethes after the death of Grimoald For which cause he presentlie sent vnto Beneuent for his wife Rhodolinde and his sonne Cunibert And being a godlie Catholike and iust man a liberall patron of the poore and father of the innocent as soone as he hadde quiet possession of the kingdome in that place from whence he fled which is on the other side of of Tesinus he buil ded a monasterie to the honor and glorie of God his sauiour and onelie defender wherein there were diuers Nunnes inclosed whom he alwaies enriched with manie very goodlie possessions The Quéene likewise builded a church in honour of our Ladie without the cittie wals adorning it with maruelous rich ornaments his page and trustie seruant returning to his court as soon as they had tidinges of his establishment were by him fauourablie intertained and richlie rewarded Finallie after he had reigned eighteene yeares he departed this life not without the generall lament and teares of the whole inhabitants of Lombardie The wonderfull dreame of Aspatia the daughter of Hermotimus the Phocencian a verie poore man who afterwards thorow hir wonderful vertues became the wife of Cyrus king of Percia and was afterwards married to Artaxerxes ASpatia was the daughter of Hermotimus of Phocis who after the death of hir mother was brought vp and nourished in great pouertie yet was not hir pouertie so gréeuous as her continencie was gratious in her infanâ—…ie she had vnder hir chin a great swelling which disâ—…igured hir face and was a great disgrace to hir fairenesse For which cause hir father desirous to haue hir cured carried hir to a physitian who promised to heale hir for a certeine summe of money The good olde man hauing no money tolde the Physitian of his little meanes beséeching him
was slaine by the commandement of the Tyrant Phalaris Anaxarchus by the iudgement of Nicocreon finished his life with manie tortures Archimedes the Philosopher an excellent Mathematisian was slaine by Marcellus souldiers Pythagoras with his threescore schollers was put to the sworde Anacharsis died suddenlie Diodorus burst thorough harts gréefe by reason he could not answer a question which Stilbo the Philosopher had propounded him Aristotle after he had lost the fauour of Alexander being in Calcide drowned himselfe in the floud Euripus Calistines his scholler was cast hedlong out of a window Marcus Tullius had his ears and hands cut off and set vp in the publike place where the Drators declaimed Seneca was put to death by his scholler Nero whoe had first caused his vaines to be opened in a bathe of hot water Iohannes Scotus reading in England by a sudden conspiracie of his schollers was with his best fauorites put to death but if I should vndertake to repeat all the haplesse endes of these ancients whoe were excellent in learning it were too long for me to write or you to read For which cause I will begin to let you vnderstand the death of some moderne learned Petrach died suddenlie Domitius Caldarinus perished through the sicknesse of the plague Consiliator was burned aliue Angelus Politianus finished his daies by hauing his braines dasht out against a wall Peter Leo of Spoletum was drowned in a ditch the Lorde Francis Pico was slaine by his tenants Fisher and Thomas Moore were beheded Cranmer and Latimer burned the rest since fresh in memorie I néed not to trouble you with I onelie set these down for the learned to consider vppon and examine themselues by circumstances cunninglie canuase in their conscience an argument a comparatis Howe kinge Rodorigo the last of the Royall house of the Gothes lost his kingdome and life thorough his incontinence IN the yeare 712. Roderigo raigned in Spaine who earnestlie enamored of a daughter of Iulians Countie of Cantabre and desirous to gather the fruite of his loue because otherwise he might not in that the maiden was verie honest and vertuous he sent hir father embassadour into France by that oportunitie enforcing hir he satisfied his lewd and dissolute lust Iulian returning into Spaine and vnderstanding the heauie case and estate of his daughter made shew before the king that he was vtterlie ignorant thereof and after a few daies he fled into Affrica with all his familie taking vppe his house in the cittie of Lepte and seeking out Muca the gouernour of Affrica hee tolde him of the outrage doone him by the king and howe for that cause he was come vnto him First to offer him a great rich and faire empire next to profer him his seruice and moreouer said he the time is come to reuenge the Arabians which were slain a few yeares past in the hoast of king Bamba To the performance whereof I will backe you with the greater part of the Lords of Spaine whoe will be readie to assist you in this enterprise bycause the king is deadlie hated of them both for his crueltie and lawlesse corruption Muca sent him vnto king Mulit in Arabia whoe hearing Iulianos purpose dispatched him with letters to Muca wher in he wrote that he should fauour him with all reasonable helpes Muca gaue him an hundreth horsse and foure hundreth men on foote vnder the conduct of a famous captaine called Tariffe with this power they passed the Seas landed in Spaine and to the end they might the more securelie beard the enimie they builded a cittie which they called by the name of Tariffe captaine of the Barbarians And assoone as Iulio had giuen notice to his confederates for what occasion he was come what desire he had to reuenge him of the iniurie doone vnto him by the king many of them vnited themselues with the Arabians and ouerran al the contrey of Algazera which the said Iuliano had in gouernement vnder the said king The Arabians of Africa séeing the great progresse and fortune the countie had and assured of his faith sent him twelu thousand horsse and a great multitude of footmen by reason that they had intelligence that the king had sent against him his cosin Ignicus with a huge host who fighting many times vnhappilie with the Moores at the last was himselfe slaine all his followers cut in péeces wherevpon the Moores being rid of this impediment ouerran and spoiled a great parte of Spaine For which cause the king leuied a greater army than the first and comming himselfe to wage the fight with the Moores there fell a terrible and dreadfull battell betwéene both the armies which continued eight continuall daies saue onlie the intermission of night but by reason of the rebellion of the two late kings sonnes called Detifa the king had the worst and perished in the field with many other valiant persons and the Moores like couragious victors possessed the spoiles This defeat was on sunday being the xi of Septēber in the yeare 719 The Moores attaining victorie had the dominion of Spaine Of many famous men whoe leauing the gouernement of the Commonweale gaue themselues ouer to a priuate life CAto the Censor was the most vertuous and best reputed Romaine that flourished in that time for during al the daies of his life there was neuer man that saw him commit anie light action neither lose or diminishe any one inch of his seuere grauitie This man after he had liued fifty and eight yeares leauing the trauailes of the common wealth went and spent the remnant of his life in the kingdome of Naples in a village called at that daie Picenio and in this time Pozzuolo liuing vpon his owne liuelihoods and reuenews And whilest thus this good and vertuous Cato liued sequestred from all others sometimes reading his bookes some other times trimming his vines there was one of his neibours who wrote vpon his gate with a coale O fortunat Cato thou only amongst al others knowst how to liue in this world Lucullus the Consul and Romaine captaine remained in the Parthian warres and continued the same for the tearme of sixteene yeares in which he acquired much honor to Rome many laudes for the common weale much fame for himself and as great riches for his house This man after he returned from Asia to Rome and found the commonweale altogither swarming with dissentions by reason of the factions of Scilla and Marius purposed with himselfe to leaue Rome and to build him a certaine place of pleasure néere Naples vpon the riuer of the sea at this daie called Castello di Lupo in which place he reposed ten yeares entitled to all kind of pleasures and quietnesse of mind frée from all trauailes and troubles till suche time as he finished his wearied age with a contented and worthie death Dioclesian after he had gouerned Rome and the emperie for the space of eighteene yeares vtterlie refusing all the Empire departed Rome and
repaired to Salona in Dalmatia where he was borne But two yeares after that he had refused the Romain empire an honourable embassage was sent by the Senate vnto him praieng him earnestlie that he would haue pitie on the commons and content himselfe to returne to Rome It chanced that at such time as the said Embassadors came into his poore and homelie cottage hee himselfe was in a little garden he had setting of Lettises and diuers other hearbes and assoone as he had heard the discourse of that they were to deliuer him he returned them this answer Séemeth it a requisite matter vnto you my freendes that he who hath planted cut and watered lettice as these be should leaue them to seeke royalties and not to eate them in repose and quiet in his owne house yes my friends it is better eating these in quiet then gouerning of Rome with care Moreouer he said vnto them Now haue I proued howe much it auaileth to commande and howe healthfull it is to plough and dig Leaue me therfore I pray you in my house for why I rather desire to get my liuing in this village with my handes than to haue the charge of the Romaine empire accompanied with hate Porides the Athenian hauing in great iustice gouerned his common weale for the space of sixe and thirtie yeares at laste growing olde and fatiate of publike affaires departing Athens he went vnto a certein Lordship of his left him by his auncestors in a certeine village without the cittie in which plieng his booke by night and labouring his fields by day he liued fiftéene years more Aboue the doores of his house these words were written In veni portum spes fortuna valete Nil mihi vobiscum est ludite nunc alios Scipio the Affrican was one of the best beloued and honored captaines that euer Rome had for in the space of sixe and twentie yeares wherein he continued warre in Spaine in Affrica and Asia he neuer committed anye dishonost action neither lost any battell he neuer denied any man Iustice neither was there euer one obscure or base thought knowne in him he subingated Africa ruinated Carthage ouercame Hannibal destroied Nununtia and also restored Rome which after the battell of Cannas was almost forsaken and abandoned This man in the two and fiftie yeare of his age departed Rome and retired himselfe vnto a little farme of his which was betwixt Pozzuolo and Capua in which as Seneca witnesseth he had no other reuenewes but certeine fields wherein he liued a house wherein he ledged a barne wherein he bathed and one of his Nephues who serued him And with so great affection retired hee himselfe to the farme house that for eleuen yeares space which he liues he went not once to Capua or set foot towardes Rome All these excellent men of whom we haue spoken with manie infinite others also left their kingdomes Consulships gouernments citties pallaces fauourites cares and ritches for no other intent but a quiet life intending after worldlie affaires to reconcile themselues to a more straight order hauing respect to that which insueth after death A most subtill dispute made in Antioch in the presence of king Ptolomey by seuen seuerall Ambassadors which of their Common-weales had the best lawes and most notable Customes PLutarch writeth in his booke De exilio that king Ptolomey being in Antiochus there were vpon an appointed day at dinner with him manie embassadors from the Romaines Carthagenians Scicilians Rhodians Athenians Lacedemonians and Scicilians whoe falling into disputation amongst themselues euerie one began to praise and extoll their countries Lawes and customes as the best and moste exquisite The dispute was handled with great feruencie betwéene them and with manie reasons each one endeuoured himselfe to dignifie his state for which cause Ptolomey destrous to know the truth and to bring all contentions and discords to an exigent commanded them that euerie one should write or speake their customes or perfect Lawes which they had in their common weales for by that means it might be easilie iudged which prouince best deserued the Palme of iustice The Embassadors of Rome began and said We hold our Temples in wonderous great honor and reuerence we yeeld great obseruance to our gouernors and rulers we gréeuouslie punish the wicked offenders and malefactors The Embassadors of Carthage saied in the Common-weale of Carthage the nobles cease not to fight the commons and mechanicall persons to labour the Philosofers and learned to instruct They of Scicilie said In our lande we obserue intire iustice we traffique with vpright conscience and generallie imbrace equalitie They of Rhodes said In our common weale the olde people are honest the yonger sorte shamefast the Ladies and women solitarie and silent The Athenian Embassadors said In our common weal the rich are not permitted nor allowed to be partiall the poore to be idle neither those that gouerne are suffered to be ignorant The Lacedemonians said in our State enuie raigneth not because all are egall nor auarice because our goodes are in common nor any suffred to be idle but euerie one doth labour The Scicionians saied In our common weale we permit nor maintaine any trauailer least returning home againe he shoulde bring vs matters of noueltie neither admit we Physitians who spoile and kill the whole nor Orators who maintaine publike contentions Assoone as Ptolomey had heard all the seuen Ambassadors he praised all their common weales saieng that they were iustlie and worthilie gouerned commendinge their customes and holding their lawes praise worthie where vpon with great honors euerie one returned to his lodging glorifieng and reioycing in their credit and satisfied in his iustice Strange Lawes of Tirzus the Tyrant where-through he withstood Conspiracies TRizus the Tyrant indeuouring to preuent the coniurations and tresons which might be imagined and wrought against him by his cittizens forbad them by an especiall and prescript law to surcease their priuate and publike conferences tyranizing aswell ouer their toongs as their tresure But his cittizens enuieng and hating this his commandements kept their consultations by becks gestures and eager countenances when they were agréeued and smiling and pleasant lookes when they were contented if dangers threatned them they frowned if Fortune fawned they were not froward by this meanes expressing and shewing the affections of their minds and de luding the pollicie of the tyrant Tirzus séeing and beholding this varietie in the faces of his cittizens began to feare and for that cause forbad them such like significatiue and mute consult whervpon one of his cittizens amongst the rest repining at his tyrannie inuented a new meanes and entering the pallace with other friends wept and cried out verie bitterlie The Tyrant vnderstanding héereof hasted him with some of his guard to depriue the eies of their naturall libertie in like manner as he had reduced the toong and gestures into seruitude but the people amazedlie hating his insolence drew the weapons out of the hands of his guard and murthered both him and all his followres FINIS