to be men of a turbulent and contentious nature it was brought before King Philip that he might determine thereof according to his pleasure who is said to have passed this Sentence You said he to one of them I command immediately to run out of Macedon and you said he to the other see that you make all imaginable haste after him A good riddance of such Salamanders as delight to live in the fire of contention who commence quarrels upon trivial accounts and withall know no time wherein to end them 1. Gloucestershire did breed a Plaintiff and Defendant which betwixt them with many alternations traversed the longest suit that ever I read of in England For a suit was commenced betwixt the Heirs of Sir Thomas Talbot Viscount Lisâ—e on the one part and the Heirs of Lord Barkely on the other about certain possessions lying in this County not far from Woton Vnder-edge which suit began in the end of the reign of King Edward the fourth was depending untill the beginning of King Iames when and was it not high time it was finally compounded 2. There was in Padua an ancient House called de Limino two Brothers of this Family being in the Country on a Summers day went abroad after Supper talking of divers things together As they were standing and gazing upon the Stars that twinkled in the Firmament being then very clear one of them began in merriment to say to the other Would I had as many Oxen as I see Stars in that Skie The other presently returns And would I had a Pasture as wide as the Firmament and therewith turning towards his Brother where then said he wouldst thou feed thine Oxen marry in thy Pasture said his Brother But how if I would not suffer thee said the other I would said he whether thou wouldst or not What said he in despight of my teeth yea said the other whatsoever thou couldst do to the contrary Hereupon their sport turned to outragious words and at last to fuâ—y in the end they drew their Swords and sell to it so hotly that in the turn of a hand they ran one the other through the body so that one fell one and the other the other way both weltring in their blood The people in the House hearing the bustle ran in to them but came too late they carried them into the House where both soon after gave up the Ghost 3. An extraordinary accident hath of late happened saith Iustinianus in the Confines of Tuscany Iohn Cardinal de Medices Son to Cosmo Duke of Florence a young Prince of Great estimation got on Horseback to ride on hunting accompanied with two of his Brethren Fernand and Cartia attended with some others their Dogs having followed a Hare a long time in the Plains at last killed her The Brothers thereupon began to debate about the first hold each of them attributing the honour thereof to his Dog one speech drew on another and from bare words they fell at last to taunts the Cardinal not enduring to be set light by and being of a haughty nature gave his Brother Cartia who expostulated with him a box on the Ear Cartia carried away with his choler drew his Sword and gave such a thrust into his brother Cardinals thigh that he presently dyed A Servant of the Cardinals in revenge of his Master gave Cartia a sore wound so that with the Venison they carried home to Duke Cosmo one of his Sons dead and for Cartia his wound was also such as within a while after he dyed of it thus for a matter of nothing the Father lost two of his Sons in a deplorable sort 4. Sigebert was King of Essex and the restorer of Religion in his Kingdom which had formerly apostatized after the departure of Mellitus a Valiant and Pious Prince but murdered by two Villains who being demanded the cause of their cruelty why they killed so harmless and innocent a Prince had nothing to say for themselves but they did it because his goodness had done the Kingdom hurt that such was his proneness to pardon offenders on their though but seeming submission that his meekness made many Malefactors The great quarrel they had with him it seems was only his being too good 5. The Chancellour of Theodoricus Arch-bishop of Magdeburg was attending upon the Duke of Saxony and was sate down with him at his Table in the City of Berlin when the Citizens brake in upon them drew out the Chancellour by a multitude of Lictors into the Market place of the City and there sever his head from his Shoulders with the Sword of the publick Executioner and all this for no other cause but that a few dayes before going to the Bath he met a Matron courteously saluted her and jesting asked her if she would go into the Bath with him which when she had refused he laughing dismissed her but this was ground sufficient for the mad multitude to proceed to such extremities upon 6. In the reign of Claudius Caesar Cumanus being then President in Iewry the Jews came up from all parts to Ierusalem for the celebration of the Passover there were then certain Cohorts of the Roman Souldiers that lay about the Temple as a guard whereof one discovered his privy parts perhaps for no other reason than to ease himself of his Urine but the Jews supposing that the uncircumcised Idolater had done this in abuse of the Iewish Nation and Religion were so incensed against the Souldiers that they immediately fell upon them with Clubs and Stones the Souldiers on the other side defended themselves with their arms till at last the Jews oppressed with their own multitudes and the wounds they received were enforced to give over the conflict but not before there were twenty thousand persons of them slain upon the place 7. Fabius Ambustus had two Daughters the elder he married to Servius Sulpitius then Consul the younger to Licinius Stolo a gallant man but of the Plebeian order It fell out that the younger Fabia sitting at her Sisters House upon a visit to her in the interim came the Lictors and smote upon the door of the Consul as the manner was when the Consul came home The younger Fabia was affrighted at the noise as being ignorant of the custom for which reason she was mocked at and derided by her Sister as one ignorant of the City affairs This contempt of her was afterwards an occasion of great troubles in Rome For the Father vehemently importuned by his young Daughter ceased not though contrary to the Law and the mind of the greater part of the Senate till he had made his Son Stolo Consul though a Plebeian and extorted a Decree through his practise with the people that from thenceforth Plebeians might be Consuls 8. In the reign of King Edward the sixth there were two Sisters in Law the one was Queen Katharine Parre late Wife to King Henry the eighth and then marryed to the
Coelius where they hid themselves in a Cave and though diligently sought after could not be found at last animating themselves to undergo Martyrdom after they had taken meat by the Providence of God they fell asleep and slept to the thirtieth year of Theodosius the younger which was for the continued space of 196 years from their entrance into the Cave Then which was upon the day of the Resurrection being awaked they went as they were wont to the City as if they had slept only for one day where the whole matter was discovered by the different habit and speech of the men and the monies they had about them of a different stamp c. 8. In the utmost Bounds of Circium the Northern parts of Germany in the very shore of the Ocean under a steep Rock there is a Cave to be seen where as Methodius and Paulus Diaconus in the beginning of his History of Lombardy do testifie there are five men uncertain from what time who rest seised with a long sleep so indemnified as to their bodies or garments that upon this very account they are worshipped by the Barbarians These for as much as appears by their habit are discovered to be Romans and they say that when one out of a covetous desire would needs strip one of them both his arms dryed up the punishment of whom so terrified the rest that no man from thenceforth hath been so bold as to touch them 9. That is beyond all exception which was witnessed to Henry the Third when he was in Poland by several Princes most worthy of credit there were present at the same time divers Nobles of France many Physicians of the Court amongst whom was D. Iohannes Piduxius famous not only for his skill in Physick but his knowledge in all kind of natural History The story is also related by Alexander Guagninus of Verona Colonel of Foot in the Castle of Vitebska in the Frontiers of Moscovy he in his Description of Moscovy writes thus There is a certain people that inhabit Lucomoria a Country of the further Sarmatia who yearly upon the 27. day of the month November after the manner of Swallows and Frogs by reason of the intenseness of the Winters cold seem to dye Afterwards at the return of the Spring upon the 24. day of April they again awake and arise These are said to have commerce with the Grustentzians and the Sperponoâ—ntzians people that border upon them in this manner When they find their approaching death or sleep ready to seise upon them they then stow up their Commodities in certain places which the Grustentzians and Sperponountzians fetch away leaving an equal value of their own behind them in their stead The Lucomorians upon their return to life if they are pleased with the change they keep them if otherwise they redemand their own of their neighbours By this means much strife and war doth arise amongst them Thus Guagninus and the very same History hath Sigismundus Liber a Baron in Heiberstein which is also set down by Citesius 10. Fernelius speaks of one who lived without sleep fourteen months but this man was possest with madness and his brain it should seem being heated with melancholy did beget animal spirits without much wasting of them 11. Arsenius the Tutor to Arcadius and Honorius the Emperours being made a Monk did satisfie Nature with so sâ—ort a sleep that he was used to say that for a Monk it was enough if he slept but one hour in a night 12. Augustus Caesar after supper betook himself to his Closet where he used to remain till the night was far spent and then went to bed when he slept most it was not above seven hours and those also not so continued but in that space he usually waked three or four times and to provoke sleep had water poured long and constantly by his Beds head into a Cistern 13. George Castriot commonly called Scanderbeg the same who forsook Amurath King of the Turks and seised upon the Kingdom of Epirus as his own by right of Inheritance This Prince was a person contented with so little sleep that it is reported of him that from the time that he entred into Epirus to the day of his death he never slept above two hours in one night yet he died in his climacterical year of 63. 14. A Woman at Padua lived fifteen days without sleep nor could by any means be brought to it through the weakness of the Ventricle and penury of vapours for she eat no supper only contented her self with a dinner at last using to eat a Toast steeped in Malmesey towards night she returned to her wonted sleep 15. Seneca reports of Mccaenas that great Favourite of Augustus that he lived three years entire without any sleep and was at last cured of his distemper with sweet and soft Musick 16. It is reported of Nizolius that painful Treasurer of Cicero's Words and Phrases that he lived ten years without sleep 17. We read of a noble Lady that for thirty and five years lived without harm and in good health as both her Husband and whole Family could and did witness without sleep 18. Some young men in Athens having made themselves drunk in the Apatarian Feasts are said to have out-slept four days of that Solemnity as Simplicius recites out of Eudemus 19. Smyndyrides the Sybarite was used to say That for more than twenty years he had never seen the Sun either rising or setting which also Histieus Ponticus was used to report of himself saith Athenaeus 20. Publius Scipio is said to be over-much devoted to sleep so that the people of Rome were used to upbraid him with his somnolency as Plutarch saith in his Politicks 21. C. Caligula was exceedingly troubled with want of sleep for he slept not above three hours in a night and in those he seldom took any quiet repose but was scared with fearful and strange illusions and fantastical imaginations as who once dreamed that he saw the form and resemblance of the Sea talking with him Hereupon for the greatest part of the night what with tedious watching and weariness of lying one while sitting up in his Bed another while roaming and wandring to and fro in his Galleries which were of an exceeding length he was wont to call upon and wish for the morning light 22. Perseus King of Macedon being taken Prisoner by Aemylius and led Captive to Rome was guarded by some Souldiers who kept him from sleep watching him narrowly when he was overtaken therewith not suffering him so much as to shut his eye-lids or to take the least rest till such time as Nature being exhausted by this strange cruelty he gave up the ghost CHAP. XVIII Of such as have fallen into Trances and Ecstasies and their manner of behaviour therein SInce the Soul is the instrument and means by which we come to the knowledge of all those things
somewhat black and that of his left was grey 9. Olo the Son of Syward King of Norway by the Sister of Harold King of the Danes had so truculent an Aspect that what others did with Weapons that did he with his Eye upon his Enemies frighting the most valiant amongst them with the brandishes of his Eye 10. Apollonides tells that in Scythia there are a sort of Women which are call'd Bythiae that these have two sights in each Eye and that with the Eye they kill as many as they look upon when they are throughly angry 11. Theodorus Beza as was observ'd in him by those of his Family had Eyes of such a brightness that in the night time when it was dark they sent out such a light as form'd an outward Circle of it about the rounds of his Eyes 12. Mamertinus in his Panegyrick Orations saith thus of Iulian the Emperour while he warr'd upon the Barbarians Old men saith he have seen the Emperour not without astonishment pass a long life under the weight of Arms they have beheld large and frequent sweats trickle from his gallant Neck and in the midst of that horror of dust which had loaded both his Hair and Beard they saw his Eyes shining with a Star-like light 13. The Soldiers of Aquileia by a private sally set upon Attila being at that time attended with a small company they knew not then that Attila was there but they afterwards confess'd that nothing was so great a terrour to them as those fiery sparkles that seemed to break from his Eyes when he look'd upon them in the fury of the sight 14. It may seem incredible that there should be found a Nation that are born with one Eye alone And yet St. Augustine seems not to doubt of it but saith That he himself did behold such persons I was now saith he Bishop of Hippo when accompanied with certain of the Servants of Christ I went as far as Aethiopia that I might preach the holy Gospel of Christ to that people and in the lower parts of Aethiopia we saw men that had but one Eye and that placed in the midst of their Foreheads 15. Iulio de Este bad such a peculiar sweetness and alluring force in his Eyes that Cardinal Hypolito de Este his own Brother caused them to be put out because he had observed that they had been overpleasing to his Mistress 16. Maximus the Sophist a great Magician and of whom it was that Iulian the Emperour learn'd Magick at Ephesus Of this man it is reported that the Apples of his Eyes were voluble and turning and the vigor and agility of his swift and ready wit did seem to shine out of his Eyes whether he was seen or heard both ways he strangely affected such as had conversation with him while they were neither able to bear the sparkling motion of his Eyes nor the course and torrrent of his Speech so that even amongst eloquent persons and such as were improv'd by long practice and experience there was not one found that did dare to oppose him when he had conference with any of them 17. Edward the First King of England is describ'd by Polydor Virgil to be a Prince of a beautiful countenance his Eyes were inclining to black which when he was inflamed with anger would appear of a reddish colour and sparks of fire seemed to fly out of them CHAP. XVII Of the Face and Visage and admirable Beauty plac'd therein both in Men and Women THe Ancieâ—ts were so great admirers of Beauty that whereas Gorgon had such a loveliness imprinted upon her Face that she ravish'd the Eyes of her Spectators with it and made them stand as men amazed and astonished They hereupon fain'd in their Fable that she convertted Men into Stone with the sight of her The barbarous Nations had also such veneration for it that they thought no Man capable of any extraordinary action unless his person was thus digniâ—ied by Nature And further the accidental meeting of a beautiful person was held as a special passage of some future good whereas the sight of one deformed was reputed a most unlucky Omen Thus Beauty hath found its favourers amongst all sorts of persons it hath done so too in all places not excepting such as are the very Theatre of Blood and Death For 1. Parthenopaeus one of the seven Princes of the Argives was so exceeding beautiful that when he was in Battel if his Helmet was up no man would offer to hurt him or to strike at him 2. Tenidates the Eunuch was the most beautiful of all the Youth in Asia when Artaxerxes King of Persia heard that he was dead he commanded by his Edict that all Asia should mourn for him and he himself was difficultly comforted for his death 3. Antinous of Claudiopolis in Bythinia was a young Man exâ—eedingly dâ—ar to Adrian the Emperour for the perfection of his Beauty so that when he was dead the Emperour in honour of him built a Temple at Mantinea and another at Ierusalem he also built a City near the River Nilus and call'd it by his name he caus'd his Coyn too to be stamp'd with his Essigies 4. Alcibiades the Athenian was a person of incomparable Beauty and which is remarkable the loveliness of his form continued constant to him both in his Youth Manhood and Age It seldom falls out that the Autumn of a Man should remain â—lourishing as his Spring a thing which was peculiar to him with few others through the excellent temper of his constitution 5. Xerxes Army which he lead to Thermopylae against the Grecians is computed by Herodotus to amount to the number of five hundred twenty eight Myriad three thousand and twenty eight fighting men amongst all which almost incredible number of Mortals there was none found who could compare with Xerxes himself for extraordinary handsomeness in person or elevated Stature of Body nor any who in respect of Majestick port and meen seemed more worthy of that command than he 6. Dometrius Poliorcetes Son of Antigonus King of Asia was tall of Stature and of that excellent and wonderful Beauty in his Face that no Painter or Sratuary was able to express the singugar Graces of it there was Beauty and Gravity Terror And amiableness so intermingled a young and fierce Aspect was so happily confounded with an almost invincible heroick and kingly Majesty that he was the admiration of all strangers and was followed wheresoever he went on purpose to behold 7. Maximinus the younger was a most beautiful Prince In the Letter of Maximinus the Father to the Senate concerning him is thus written I have suffered my Son Maximinus to be saluted Emperour as in respect of the natural affection I bear him So also that the people of Rome and the Honourable Senate may swear they never had a more beautiful Emperour His Face had such Beauty in it that when it
the quantity of two hundred pounds weight her urine was thin and of like consistence with water in which there swimmed above something like â—lakes of snow and which was observ'd equally wonderful in this profusion of water wherein she had continued for divers days she vehemently abhorred all kinds of drink when I perswaded her to it lest she should wholly melt into urine she thereupon hated me wept and was angry with the Physician that attended her for calling me to his assistance There was with us the excellent Benedictus Averrhinus a famous Physician in the City also Io. Iacobus Baldinus a Physician of great reputation both in the City and the World the Physician in ordinary to the Nunnery in Campo Martio wherein she abode and yet this Nun in a few days after recovered After two Months she fell into an absolute suppression of urine burning with extraordinary thirst when I then attended by reason of the absence of the ordinary Physician and that she had made no water in fourteen days at last with the use of the Spirit of Turpentine she voided urine copiously with a matter in it resembling Sand and chalk 20. The end of Maximinus the Tyrant is thus described by Eusebius Having staid in the House while his Army was abroad and hiding himself in his privy Chambers and Closets he was stricken throughout all his body with a strange and unknown Disease so that he threw himself upon the ground transpierced with griefs vexed with the cruel twinge of torment and overwhelmed with a wolvish hunger that could never be satisfied All his flesh was taken with a secret fire sent from Heaven so that as it were burnt and coming by little and little to be turn'd to ashes there was no more any shape of man to be seen in him nothing being left but a carcase of bones all dry and as it were broiled insomuch that they who attended him in that case gave out that his body was as a sepulchre in which stinking carcase the soul was buried The heat increasing within the marrow â—his eyes fell out of his head so that he utterly lost his sight Being in this miserable state he confess'd himself taken calling for death and acknowledging it was the just recompence of his fury and insolence against Christ he drave his soul out of that infested den wherein it was detain'd 21. Antiochus the Son of Demetrius as he returned from Persia was smote with a remediless pain in his Bowels intolerable torments in all his inward parts his Body breeding abundance of Worms which issued out from the same so that he rotted above ground and by reason of the intolerable stink of his putrefi'd Body no man could endure to come near him nor was he himself able to endure that noisome smell that proceeded from him so that he ended his life in much misery 22. Schenckius tells of a certain melancholy Rustick who always when the Moon was combust made Verses but the combustion being over about two days he utter'd not one learnrd word He tells also of a Woman who falling into a Disease familiarly spake Latin who yet so soon as she was cured knew not a word of that Tongue 23. Anno Dom. 654. in the eleventh year of Constance the Emperour it rain'd ashes at Constantinople Fire fell from Heaven and a most grievous Plague followed for three Months in the Summer A good and evil Angel did visibly appear to all men walking round the City the evil Angel seemed to carry a hunting Spear in his hand and look how oft he stroke with that upon the Door of any mans House by the command of the good Angel so many Corps were found in that same House the day following 24. In the Reign of Lysâ—machus the Abderitae were infected with a new and strange Disease the manner of it was thus First a violent and burning Fever universally seis'd them Upon the seventh day after they bled at Nose very copiously or others of them fell into an exceeding sweat and this was the end of the Fever But a ridiculous affection was left upon their minds for they all fell to acting of Tragedy they thundred out lambicks loud as they could Especially Euripides his Andromeda and the part of Perseus therein so that the City was full of these pale and extenuated Actors crying up and down the Streets O Love thou tyrant over Gods and Men and such like This dotage lasted till Winter and sharp cold put an end to it The occasion of all was this Archelaus a famous Tragedian had in Summer represented Andromedae and in the Theatre they had got the cause of their Fever and these representations remain'd in their minds after their recovery CHAP. XXXVI Of the different and unusual ways by which some men have come to their deaths THe Indian King of Mexico upon the day of his Coronation was cloathed with a Garment all painted over with Skulls and dead Mens bones those rude people intending to admonish him in his new Sovereignty of his own Mortality and we read of Ioseph of Arimathaea that he had his Tomb in his Garden certainly it was to season his pleasures there with the remembrance of his own frailty it will be our Wisdom to expect death in every place and in every condition seeing there is none that is priviledged against his approaches By various accidents the Rich and Poor promiscuously perish and so do the Young and Old sometimes as it was in the race to the Sepulcher of Christ Iohn over-ran Peter the Young and Strong make more haste to the Tomb than the Aged and Weak For the great Creator hath planted us round with death and the ways to it are such and so many as mock the prudence and best foresight of the wisest amongst mortality to evade them 1. Charles the Second King of Navar having wasted his spirits with voluptuousness and luxury in his old age fell into a lethargy or else a palsie and therefore to comfort his benummed limbs he was by the advice of his Physicians sewed up in a sheet steeped in Aqua vitae the Chirurgeon having made an end of sewing the sheet wanted a knife to cut off the thread whereupon he took up the wax candle that stood by him to burn it off but the flame running by the thread caught hold of the sheet in an instant which according to the Nature of Aqua vitae burnt with such violence that notwithstanding all endeavours the aged King miserably expir'd in the midst of the flames This fell out Anno 1386. 2. The Emperor Iovinian Successor to Iulian the Apostate being come to Dadastana that bordereth on Bythinia and Galatia lay in a Chamber that was new plaister'd with Lime upon the Walls where his Head being surcharg'd with a venemous vapour call'd on and increas'd by a Fire of Charcoal made in the Room he was found that night stisâ—ed in his Bed being in the three
his Brother who had recommended the care of his Daughter unto him and had also shewed him where he had hid a great quantity of Gold under ground wherewith he should defray his Funeral Expences While he was speaking in this manner to the admiration of all that were present there came a messenger with the news of his Brother's death and the Gold was also found in the very place as he had said 2. Plutarch in his Book de anima writes of one Enarchus who being accounted and left for dead by the Physicians not long after return'd to life affirming that those spirits who had withdrawn him from this life were severely reproved by their Chief for that through their mistake they had brought him instead of Nicauda the Tanner who the same day and hour being sick of a Fever died in his Bed Besides this as a testimony of his return to life he told Plutarch who was then sick that he should speedily recover of that disease as indeed he did 3. A like case with the former is set down by Gregorius thus There was saith he one Reparatus a Roman who being stiff and cold was given over by his Relations as one who undoubtedly dead when soon after he return'd to life and sent to the Shrine of S. Laurence in Rome such as should enquire concerning Tiburtius the Priest there if any thing had newly befallen him In the mean time while the messenger was gone he told them that were with him that he had seen that Tiburtius tormented in Hell with terrible flames The messenger he had sent return'd with this news that Tiburtius was that very hour departed this life and soon after Reparatus himself died 4. Stephanus a Roman a person of great virtue and very wealthy went to Canstantinople about the dispatch of some Affairs he had there where he died And for as much as the day was far spent and inclining towards Evening so that preparations for his Funeral could not be conveniently made in that short time he was therfore laid out and kept in the house till the morrow at which time he arose from the dead and said that he was brought before a certain Judge where he heard them loudly reprehended and rated by whom he was thither brought for that the Judge had given them order not to bring him but one Stephanus a Blacksmith who was one of his Neighbours they sent therefore to that Blacksmith and it was found that he died in that very hour And this saith Gregorius I have heard related by the mouth of Stephanus himself 4. Near unto this is that which S. Augustine saith was seen by himself in the person of one Curina this man liv'd in a Village near unto Hippo in Africa where S. Augustine was Bishop â—alling into a grievous sickness he was reputed by almost all persons as dead having lost all his senses and receiving no kind of nourishment when he had lain some days in this posture that which detain'd his Friends from the burial of him was that some of them thought some little breath was yet in his Nostrils but when these also were now of the mind that he was departed on the sudden he opened his eyes and bade them send speedily to Curina a Smith and his Neighbour to see how he did and when word was brought back that he was newly dead he told them that he was brought before a Judge who sharply rebuked the spirits that had brought him instead of the other Curina that thereupon he was restored to life that in this extasie he had seen Paradise and many other things he related amongst others that hâ— was admonished to be baptized by S. Augustine at Hippo being therefore restored to his health he did as he was advised 6. While Narses was in Italy there was a great Plague in Rome whereof in the house of Valerianus the Advocate a young man fell sick he was his Shepherd and a Liburnian by Nation and when he was supposed to be dead he straight returned to himself and calling his Master to him told him that he had really been in Heaven and had there understood how many and who they were that should die out of his House in that great plague and having named them told his Master that he should survive his servants To confirm the truth of what he said he added that he had learned all kind of Tongues and in the same hour discoursed with his Master in Greek he also made trial with others that were skilled in other languages whereas before he only understood the Latine When he had lived thus two days he grew into a Frenzy and striving to bite his own hands he died as many as as by name he had said should die followed him soon after but his Master remain'd free from infection according as he had predicted 7. Everardus Ambula a German Knight fell sick in Germany in the time of Pope Innocent the Third and when he had lain for some time as one dead returning to himself he said that his Soul was carried by evil spirits into the City of Ierusalem thence into the Camp of Saladine who then reigned in Aegypt from thence it was conveyed to Lombardy where in a certain Wood he had spoken with a German Friend of his lastly he was brought to the City of Rome the site the form of places and Buildings of which together with the features of divers Princes there he most exactly described as they were whereas this is matter of admiration yet that encreases the wonder that he with whom he said he did converse in the Wood affirmed that he had there at the same time and hour discoursed with this Everardus according as he had declared 8. Acilius Aviola was concluded dead both by his Domesticks and Physicians accordingly he was laid out upon the ground for some time and then carried forth to his Funeral Fire but as soon as the flames began to seise his body he cryed out that he was alive imploring the assistance of his Schoolmaster who was the only person that had tarried by him but it was too late for encompassed with flames he was dead before he could be succored 9. Lucius Lamias had been Praetor and being departed this life he was carried after the Roman manner to be burnt being surrounded with flames he cryed out that he lived but in vain for he could not be withdrawn from his Fate 10. Plato tells of Erus Armenius how he was slain in Battel amongst many other when they came to take up the dead bodies upon the tenth day after they found that though all the other carcases were putrid this of his was entire and uncorrupted they therefore carryed it home that it might have the just and due Funeral Rites performed to it two days they kept it at home in that state and on the twelfth day he was carryed out to the Funeral Pile and being ready to be laid upon
should be the foremost leaving the rich and wealthy spoil of the Camp to the Enemy 25. Iohannes Capistranus was appointed Judge by King Ladislaus and by his command to examine a certain Earl accused of Treason by tortures having convicted him he condemn'd him to lose his head as also the Son of the Earl by the Kings order had the same sentence but yet with this purpose only that stricken with fear he should betray some of his Fathers counsels if possibly he had been partaker of them but if he was found innocent that then he should be spared They were therefore both lead to the place of Execution where when the Son had seen his Father beheaded and verily believ'd he was destin'd to the same punishment seis'd with an extraordinary fear he fell down dead with whose unexpected fate the Judge was so vehemently affected that according to the superstition of that age leaving a secular life he betook himself to a Monastery 26. I will close up this Chapter with a pleasant History yet such as will serve well to inform us how dreadful the Lords of the Inquisition are to the poor Spaniards One of these Inquisitors desiring to eat some Pears that grew in a poor mans Orchard not far from him sent for the man to come and speak with him This message put the poor man in such a fright that he fell sick immediately upon it and kept his bed But being inform'd that his Pears were the only cause of his sending for he caus'd his Tree to be presently cut down and carry'd with all the Pears on it to the Inquisitors House and being afterwards demanded the reason of that his unhusbandly action he protested that he would not keep that thing about him which should give an occasion for any of their Lordships to send for him any more CHAP. XI Of the Passion of Anger and the strange effects of it in some Men. THis headstrong and impetuous Affection of the mind is well describ'd by some of the Ancients to be a short madness for whereas other passions do impel this doth use to precipitate us others though we cannot resist yet we may stand under them but this as a mighty and irresistible torrent bears all the powers of our minds before it A disease it is that wheresoever it prevails is no less dangerous than deforming to us not only doth it swell the sace inâ—lame the blood and as the Poet hath it a bloody fierceness makes The eyes to glow like a Gorgonian Snakes But withal like the mischievous evil Spirit in the Gospel that threw the possessed now into the fire and then into the Water it casts us into all kind of dangers and frequently hurries us into to the Chambers of death it self as appears by some of the following Examples 1. Being call'd in November 1604. to the House of a certain Prefect saith Platerus to couch a Cataract that was grown in the eye of his Wife the Prefect was informed that his Maid had that night lain with a Miller causing her therefore to be fetch'd home and catching her by the hair of the head he threw her to the ground kick'd her and fell into so great passion that being presently seised with difficulty of breathing and a trembling there was more need to look after him than his Wife Before any Medicine was administred he was advis'd by a Chirurgeon to open a Vein but to no purpose his want of breath trembling and prostration of the spirits continuing he dyed within two days after 2. Charles the Sixth King of France being highly displeas'd with the Duke of Britain upon some sinister suspicions was so bent upon revenge that unmindful of all other things his passion suffered him not to eat or sleep He would not hear the Dukes Embassadors that came to declare his innocency But upon the fifth of the Kalends of Iune anno 1392. he set forth with his forces out of a City of the Caenomans contrary to the advice of his Commanders and Physicians about high noon in a hot sultry day with a light hat upon his head He leap'd upon his Horse and bad them follow him that lov'd him He had scarce gone a mile from the City when his mind was unseated and he in a fuâ—y drew his Sword slew some and wounded others that attended him till such time as wearied and spent with thus laying about him he fell from his Horse he was taken up and carryed back in the arms of men into the City for dead where after many days when at first he neither knew himself nor any about him he began by degrees to recover but his mind was not so well restored but that ever and anon he had symptoms of a relapse and at several intervals betray'd his distemper so that the Government of the Kingdom was committed to his Uncles 3. Malachus a Poet in Syracuse had such fits of immoderate choler and anger as took away the use of his Reason yet was he then most able in the composure of Verses when he was thus made frantick by his passion 4. Lucius Sylla burning with anger at Puteoli because Granius the chief of that Colony delay'd to send in for the repairs of the Capitol that Money which was promised by the Decurions by an over great concitation of the Mind and the impetuousness of an immoderate Voice he was taken with a convulsion in the breast and so vomited up his soul mixed with blood and threats being at that time entring upon the sixtieth year of his age yet not consum'd by that but perishing by a madness that was nourish'd by the miseries of Rome 5. Into what extremes some men have been transported by passion the example of Pope Iulius the Third is too Illustrious he at dinner time had commanded a roasted Peacock to be set by for him till supper as being much delighted with that sort of meat Being at supper he call'd for it once and again but it being before eaten up by the Cooks could not be set on the Table Whereupon he fell into so violent a passion for this delay that at length he brake out into this blasphemous 〈◊〉 that he would have that Peacock Al 〈◊〉 Iddio that is in despite of God And when those of his attendants that stood about him entreated he would not be so far moved for so slight a thing as a Peacock he to defend his former blasphemy by a greater in a mighty passion demanded why he who was so great a Lord upon Earth might not be angry for a Peacock when God himself was in such a fury for one only inconsiderable Apple eaten in Paradise that he would the whole Posterity of the first man should suffer so deeply for it 6. Theodosius the Elder though otherwise a most pious Prince was yet very subject to the transports of anger nor was he able to bridle his passion So that at Thessalonica upon a seditious tumult in the
they write of him that he was never seen to have laughed in his whole life before and thereupon had the sirname of Agelastus 9. Artaxerxes King of Persia receiv'd the banished Themistocles with great humanity and though he had done him so much mischief was so overjoyed that he was come to his Court that he congratulated his own good fortune with his Friends he sacrific'd to the Gods afterwards made a Royal Feast and for extreme joy in the night and in his sleep he was heard to cry out thrice I have Themistocles the Athenian 10. Zeuxis Heracleotes the most excellent Painter of his age had drawn out in colours upon a Tablet an old woman which he had express'd to the life when he had finished the piece he set himself to consider of his work as 't is usual for Artists to do he was delighted with that ridiculous aspect which he had fram'd and while he intentively viewed that short dry toothless bloodless thing with hollow eyes hanging cheeks her chin bearing out and her mouth bending inwards her Nose fallen and flowing at the end of it he fell into a sudden laughter and that so violent that his breath failing he died upon the place 11. Diagoras the Rhodian had three young men to his Sons all which he saw victorious in several masteries at the Olympick Games in one and the same day and publickly crown'd his Sons came and embraced their aged Father and each of them placed his wreath upon his head at all which the old man was so overjoyed that overcome with an excess of delight he sank down in theiir Arms and died Ptolomaeus Philometor had overcome Alexander King of Syria in Battel but withal himself was so grievously woâ—nded in that Fight that for four days together he lay without any manner of sense when he was come to himself he was presented with the head of Alexander sent him by Zabdiâ—l the Arabian which when he had looked upon with a great deal of Joy he himself immediately expired 13. Sophocles the Son of Theophilus a Tragick Poet died at ninety years of age after he had obtain'd nineteen Victories They say that when he acted his last Tragedy and had gain'd the Palm he was seis'd with so extraordinary a joy that he died in the midst of the congratulations of his Friends 14. Pope Leo the Tenth being certainly inform'd that Millain was recovered and the French ejected through over-much joy at the news he fell into a Fever and died of it 15. Anno 825 upon the death of the Duke of Spoleto Lotharius the Emperour put Adelardus Count of the Palace in his stead and whereas he died of a Fever within five months after his arrival it pleased the Emperour to confer that Dignity upon Mauringus Earl of Brixia who was then famous for his Justice the Earl was no sooner certified of his new Dignity but that he took his Bed and by his over-much joy prevented the honour that was intended him for he died within a few days 16. Chilon the Lacedemonian and the same who was reputed one of the seven wise men of Greece died at Pisa saith Hermippus embracing a Son of his that was newly return'd victorious from the Olympick Games 17. Philippides a Comick Poet in Athens being arrived to a great age when in the contest and trial of Poets he beyond all his hope had the victory adjudged to him not able to bear that great joy it excited in him he suddenly fell down and died 18. M. Iuventius Thalna Colleague of Tiberius Gracchus the Consul being sacrificing in Corsica which he had newly subdued and subjected he there received Letters from Rome that the Senate had decreed him supplications he read these Letters with great intentness and a mist coming before his eyes he fell down to the ground stark dead before the fire as he sate Now what can we think but that he died with an excess of joy See here a man fit to be trusted with the raising of Numantia or Carthage 19. When the Romans were overcome by Hannibal at the Battel of Thrasymene and that the news of that calamity was brought to Rome the anxious and solicitous multitude â—locked to the Gates as well men as women to hear what became of their Friends various were the affections of enquirers according as they were certified of the life or death of their Relations but both the sorrow and joy of the women exceeded that of the men Here it was that one woman meeting at the Gate with her Son in safety whom she had given up for dead died in his Arms as she embrac'd him Another hearing though falsly that her Son was slain kept her self within doors in great sorrow and perplexity when unexpectedly she saw him come in this first sight of him made her joys swell up to that height as to over-top life it self for she fell down and died 20. Polycrite was an honourable Lady of the Island of Maxos when her City was besieged by the Ethreans and menaced with all the calamities might be expected from a Siege she was entreated by the prime men thereof to undertake an Embassage for the pacifying of troubles which she willingly did and being one of the most beautiful women of her time and a very good speaker she had so much power upon the Prince Diognetes the General in this Siege that she disposed his heart to what she pleased in such sort that going forth in the fear and confusion of all the people she return'd with peace and assurance of quiet This made them all to come out to receive her at the City Gates with loud acclamations some throwing Flowers others Garlands and all rendring thanks to her as their Sovereign Preserveress She apprehended so much joy therewith that in the very instant she expired in her honours at the City Gate and instead of being carried to the Throne was brought to her Tomb with the infinite sorrow of all her Country 21. Cardanus in his fifth Book of Wisdom gives an instance of the danger of this passion when it exceeds its due bounds in a Smith of Millain a Fellow Citizen of his one Galeus de Rubeis who being highly commended for refinding of an instrument called the Coclea heretofore made use of by Archimedes out of extreme joy ran mad 22. Wolfius relates of a Country Fellow called Brunsellius who being by chance at a Sermon saw a woman fall off from a Form half asleep at which object most of the company laughed but he for his part was so much moved that for three whole days after he did nothing but laugh by which means he was much weakened and continued in an infirm state of body for a long time after 23. Archidamus the Spartan King being victorious as soon as he had erected a Trophy he immediately sent home Demoteles to certifie the greatness of the victory in which though
a Table wating on her Master in the Apartment of the Women and over-reaching her self to take a Flagon that stood a little too far from her she chanced to break wind backwards which she was so much ashamed of that putting her Garment over her head she would by no means shew her face after but with an enraged violence taking one of her Nibbles of her Breasts into her mouth she bit it off with such fury that she died in the place 2. In the same Country anno 1639 there was a great Lord who having had an exact search made for all the young handsome Damosels in his Province to be disposed into his Ladies service amongst the rest there was one brought him whom he was so taken with that he made her his Concubine She was the Daughter of a poor Soldier 's widdow who hoping to make her some advantage of her Daughters good fortune wrote her a large Letter wherein she expressed her necessitous condition and how she was forced to sue to her for relief While the Daughter was reading this Letter her Lord comes into the Room when she being ashamed to discover her Mother's poverty endeavours to hide the Letter from him yet could she not convey it away so but that he perceived it The disorder he observed in her countenance made him suspect something of design so that he pressed her to shew him the Letter but the more importunate he was the more unwilling was she to satisfie him And perceiving there was no way to avoid it she thrust it into her mouth with such precipitation that thinking to swallow it down it choaked her This so incensed the Lord that he immediately commanded her Throat to be cut whereby they only discovered the Mother's poverty and the Daughter's innocency He was so mov'd thereat that he could not forbear expressing it by tears and it being not in his power to make any other demonstration of his affection to the deceased he sent for the Mother who was maintained amongst his other Ladies at the time we spake of with all imaginable respect 3. In the speech which Cyrus made to his Sons a little before his death we read this If any of you saith he desire to take me by the hand or to see my eyes let him come so long as I breath but after I am dead and shall be covered I require you my Sons that my body be not uncovered nor looked upon by you or any other person 4. Lucius Crassus when according to the custom of all Candidates he was compelled to go about the Forum as a Suppliant to the people he could never be brought to do it in the presence of Q. Scaevola a grave wise man and his Father-in-law and therefore he besought him to leave him while he was about a foolish business having more reverence to his Dignity and presence than he had respect to his white Gown in which was the custom for them to appear who were suiters to the people for any office in the Commonwealth 5. Iohannes Baptista Lignamineus Bishop of Concordia being sent by his Brother Francis Bishop of Ferrara to Venice was present at that Feast whereat the Duke entertains the whole Nobility four times a year here it was that out of modesty retaining too long the burden of his Belly he fell into a grievous disease of which he also died and was buried at Ferrara 6. Embassadors were sent to Rome from the Cities of Greece to complain of injuries done them by Philip King of Macedon and when the Affair was discussed in the Senate betwixt Demetrius the Son of Philip and the Embassadors forasmuch as Demetrius seem'd to have no way of defence for so many defaults as were objected against his Father with truth enough as also because out of Shamefacedness he exceedingly blushed the Senate of Rome moved with the Modesty of Demetrius acquitted both him and his Father of the Accusations 7. Certain Fishermen of Coos drawing up their Nets some Milesian Strangers agreed with them for their Draught whatsoever it should prove it fell out that they drew up a Table of Gold whereupon a contest grew betwixt the Fishermen and the Buyers and at last improv'd into a War betwixt both the Cities in favour of their Citizens At last it was resolv'd to consult the Oracle of Apollo who answered they should send the Table to that man whom they thought the wisest whereupon it was sent to Thales the Milesian Thales sent it to Bias saying he was wiser than himself Bias sent it to another as wiser than he and so it was posted from one to one till such time as it returned to Thales again who at length sent it from Miletum to Thebes to be consecrate to the Ismenian Apollo 8. The Emperour Maximilian the first of that name forbade expresly that his naked body should be seen after he was dead He was the modestest of all Mortals none of his servants ever saw him obey the necessity of nature nor but few Physicians his Urine 9. The Milesian Virgins were in times past taken with a strange Distemper of which the cause could not then be found out for all of them had a desire of death and a furious itch of strangling themselves many finished their days this way in private neither the prayers nor tears of their Parents or the consolation of their Friends prevailed any thing but being more subtle and witty than those that were set to observe them they daily thus died by their own hands It was therefore thought that this dreadful thing came to pass by the express will of the Gods and was therefore greater than could be provided against by humane industry Till at last according to the advice of a wise man the Council set forth this Edict That every such Virgin as from thenceforth should lay violent hands upon her self should dead as she was be carried stark naked along the Market-place By which means not only they were restrain'd from killing themselves but also their desire of dying was utterly extinguished A strange thing that those who trembled not at death the most formidable of all things should yet though an innate modesty not be able to conceive in their minds much lâ—ss endure a wrong and reproach to that modesty though dead 10. Alvilda the beautâ—ful Daughter of Suiardus King of the Goths is said to be of so great modesty that usually covering her face with her Veil she suffered it not to be sâ—en of any man 11. King Henry the Sixth of England was so modest that when in a Christmass a shew of women was presented before him with their naked Brests laid out he presently departed saying Fie fie for shame Forsooth you be to blame 12. One of the Athenians of decrepit Age came into the Theatre at Athens to behold the Plays and when none of the Citizens receiv'd him into any Seat by chance he came by the place
provoked him he restrain'd and kept in his Soldiers till such time as the Gods being consulted by Sacriâ—ice had given encouragement to begin the Fight This was somewhat long in the performance so that in the mean time the Enemy interpreting this delay as an instance of fear began to pres hard upon him so that many of the Greeks fell yet would he not suffer in this extremity a single Javelin to be thrown against them but multiplying the Sacrifices he at last lift up his hands to Heaven and prayed That if the Fates had determined that the Grecians should not overcome yet at least it might please the Gods that they might not die unrevenged nor without performing some famous and memorable exploit upon their Enemies He was heard and straâ—ght the Fowels of the Sacrifice promised him success he marched out and obtained the Victory but what a Soul was that how fixed and earnest in the holy Rites of his Country that chuse rather to be butâ—hered and slain than to draw a Sword while the Gods seemed unwilling 17. The Aegyptians worshipped Dogs the Indian Rat the Cat Hawk Wolf and Crocodâ—le as their Gods and observe them with that kind of Religion and Veneration that if any man whatsoever knowingly or otherwise killed any of these it was death to him without mercy as a Roman Citizen found to his cost in the time of Diodorus Siculus who writes and vouches himself as a spectator and witness of what follows At such time saith he as Ptolemeus whom the Romans afterwards restored to his Kingdom was fiâ—st of all stiled the Associate and Friend of the Senate and people of Rome there was a publick rejoycing and a mighty concourse of people Here it fell out that in a great crowd amongst the rest were Romans and with them a Soldier who by chance and not willingly had killed a Cat straight there was a cry a sudden fury and tumult arose to pacifie which not the ignorance of the miserable wretch not any reverence of the Roman Name not the command of the King himself who had sent the chiefest of his Noble to appease it none of all these booted the poor man but that forthwith he was pulled in pieces by a thousand hands so that nothing of him was left either to bury or to burn 18. Vespasianus the Emperour returning out of the East when he found the City of Rome exceedingly disfigured by Civil Wars he began the restoration of it with the repairs of the sacred Buildings and the Temple of Iupiter Capitolinus wherein he betook himself to the work He carried timber upon his own Back he wrought in the Foundations with his own hands not conceiving that he any way injured the Majesty of an Emperour by putting his hand to a work that concern'd the worship of the Gods The Christians were about to build a Chappel in Rome wherein to perform service to Almighty God but they were complained of and the ground challenged by certain â—nholders in that City The matter was brought before the Emperour Alexander Severus who thus determin'd The things said he that concern the Gods are to be preferred before the concerns of man and therefore let it be fâ—ee â—or the Christians to build their Chappel to their God who though he be unknown to us at Rome ought nevertheless to have honour done unto him if but for this respect alone that he beareth the name of a God So great a Reverence to Religion had the Aethiopâ—an Kings to the time of Ptolemy King of Aegypt that whensoever the Priests of Iupiter who is worshipped in Mâ—roe declared to any of them that hâ—s life was hateful to the Gods He immediately put an end to his days Nor was there any of them found to have had a more tender regard to the safety of his own life than he had reverence to Religion till King Aâ—gâ—nes who lest the Priests should tell him he should dye began with themselves put them all to death first and thereby abolished the custom There was a mighty famine in Aegypt so that all kind of Food failing them they betook themselves to feeding upon mans flesh when in the mean time they spared Dogs Cats Wolves Hawks c. Which they worshipped as their Gods and not only forbore to lay hands upon them but also fed them and that doubtless with Mans Flesh also There was a Brazen Statue of Saturn at Carthage with Hands somewhat lifted up The Statue it self was open hollow and bending towards the earth a Man or Youth was solemnly laid upon these Arms and thence he was streight tumbled down headlong into a burning Furnace that was flaming underneath This burning alive was bestowed upon that God yearly upon a set day and at other times also ever with multiplyed Victims especially in â—ase of any great Calamity that should befal the City Accordingly upon the slaughter they received by Agathocles they made a decree I tremble to speak it to offer up two hundred of their noblest youth in this manner to Saturn And who would believe it there were as many more who freely offered themselves to the same death The Soldiers of Alaricus the Goth at the sacking of Rome while as yet they breath'd after slaughter and spoil It chanced that some sacred Virgins came amongst the Ranks of them carrying Vessels of Gold upon their heads uncovered They so soon as they were informed that both the Persons and the Plate were consecrate in honour of the Apostles suâ—â—ered both to pass through them untouched The Emperour Constantine being present at the Council of Chalcedon did their sit below all the Priests and when the Writings were brought to him that contained their mutual accusations and the charges that they had drawn up one against a the others he folded them all up in his Lap and committed them all unread to the fire saying that the Priests as so many Deities were set over men for the better Government of them and that therefore he would reserve the Judgment of them entirely to God himself Metellus was the chief Priest of the Temple of Vesta and when through some misadventure it had taken fire he with others being busied in carrying out the Statues of the Gods with the consecrated Vessels and such like the Flames increasing upon them the high Priest was thereby deprived of both his Eyes which the Senate of Rome did so highly approve of as an action of Religious Gallantry that as a testimony thereof they allowed that Metellus should as often as he pleased be carried in a Charito the Senate House An honour which was granted to none before him Cyprian Euchovius a Spanish Chorographer above all other Cities of Spain commends Barcino in which there was no Beggar no man poor c. but all rich and in good estate and he gives the reason They were more Religious and more truly devout than the rest of their Neighbours
was upon this occasion that his heart not able to such a desolation of the City and his Subjects as he foresaw he gave such an illustrioâ—s example of his humanity and tenderness to his people as Europe scarce ever saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling to the Tartarian General upon his knees he begged the lives of his people Spare not me said he I shall willingly be the Victime of my Subjects And having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was by them taken By which means this noble City was conserved though with the destruction of the mutinous Army â—or the Tartars caused the City to shut the Gates against them till they had cut in pieces all that were without and then entred triumphantly into it not using any force or violence to any 9. Darius the Son oâ— Hystaspis had sent Embassadors to Sparta to demand of them Earth and Water as a token of their subjection to him they took their Embassadors and cast some of them headlong into a Dungeon others into pits and bade them thence take the Earth and Water they came for After which when they had no prosperous sacrifices and that for a long time weary of these calamities they met in a full assembly and proposed if any would die for the good of Sparta Then Sperthies the Son of Aneristus and Balis the Son of Nicolaus of birth and equal estate with the best freely offered themselves to undergo such punishment as Xerxes the Son of Darius then his Successour should inflict for the death of his Embassadours The Spartans sent them away as persons hastening towards their death being come to Susâ— they were admitted the presence of Xerxes where first they refused to adore him and then told him that the Spartans had sent them to suffer death in lieu of those Embassadours whom they had put to death at Sparta Xerxes replyed that he would not deal as the Spartans had done who by killing Embassadours had confounded the Laws of all Nations that he would not do what he had upbraided them with nor would he by their death absolve the Spartans from their guilt 10. Iohn King of Bohemia was so great a Lover oâ— Lucenberg his own Country that oftentimes he laid aside the care of his Kingdoms Affairs and went thither to the great indignation of his Nobility Besides this he had thoughts of changing Bohemia with the Emperour Ludovicus for the Dukedom of Bavaria â—or no other purpose but that he might be the nearer to Lucenburgh 11. A Spartan woman had five Sons in a Battle that was fought near unto the City and seeing one that came thence she asked him how affairs went All your five Sons are slain said he Vnhappy wretch replyed the woman I ask thee not of of their concerns but of that of my Country As to that all is well said the Soldier Then said she let them mourn that are miserable for my part I esteem my self happy in the prosperity of my Country 12. Aristides the Athenian going into Banishment lift up his eyes to Heaven and with conjoyned hands prayed that the Gods would so prosper the affairs of the Athenians that Aristides might never more come into their minds for in times of adversity the people is wont to have recourse to some or other excellent person which also fell out in his case for in the third year of his exile Xerxes came with his whole power into Greece and then Aristides was recalled to receive an important command 13. Whâ—n Charle's the Seventh King of France marched towards Naples they of the City of Florence did set open their Gates to him as supposing they should thereupon receive the less damage by him in their City and Territories adjoyning But the King being entred with his Army demanded the Government of the City and a sum of money to ransom their Liberties and Estates In this strait â—our of the principal Citizens were appointed to transact and manage this affair with the King's Ministers amongst these was Petrus Caponis who having heard the rigorous terms of their composition recited and read by the King 's principal Secretary was so moved that in the sight and presence of the King he snatched the paper out of his hands tore it in pieces And now cryed he sound you your Trumpets and we will ring our Bells Charles astonished at the resolution of the man desisted from his design and thereupon it passed as a Proverbial Speech Gallum a Capo victum fuisse 13. P. Valerius Poplicola had a proud and sumptuous Palace in the Velia seated on high near the Forum and had a fair prospect into all parts of the City the ascent of it was narrow and not easie of access and he being Consul when he descended from his House with his Litters and Attendance the people said it represented the proud pomp of a King and the countenance of one that had a design upon their liberty Valerius was told this by his Friends and no way offended with the jealousie of the people though causeless while it was yet night having hired a number of Smiths Carpenters and others he in one night pulled down that stately Palace of his and subverted it to the very Foundations himself and Family abiding with his Friends CHAP. VII Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives FRom the Nuptial Sacrifices of old the Gall was to be taken away and cast upon the ground to signifie that betwixt the young couple there should be nothing of bitterness or discontent but that instead thereof sweetness and love should fill up the whole space of their lives We shall find in the following instances not only the Gall taken away but some such affectionate Husbands and such proficients of this lesson of love that they may seem to have improv'd it to the uttermost heights 1. Darius the last King of the Persians supposing that his Wife Statira was slain by Alexander filled all the Camp with lamentations and outcries O Alexander said he whom of thy Relations have I done to death that thou shouldest thus retaliate my severities thou hast hated me without any provocation on my part but suppose thou hast justice on thy side shouldst thou manage the war against Women Thus he bewailed the supposed death of his Wife but as soon as he heard she was not only preserved alive but also treated by Alexander with the highest Honour he then pray'd the Gods to render Alexander fortunate in all things though he was his Enemy 2. M. Antonius the Triumvir being come to Laodicea sent for Herod King of the Jews to answer what should be objected against him concerning the death of Aristobulus the High Priest and his Brother-in-law whom while he was swimming he caused to be drowned under pretence of sport Herod not trusting much to the goodness of his cause committing the Government of his Kingdom to Ioseph his Uncle
to leave the Kingdom to the other But for all this the great Officers of the Court did most stoutly oppose him saying that since he had commerce with that servant she was ennobled by a superior Law and that her Son being the eldest ought not to lose the Rights and Privileges of his Birth The King notwithstanding persisted in his intentions and the rest to oppose them whereupon many were by the King's orders thrust out of their places othâ—rs left them of their own accords and having let down the Ensigns of their Dignity hung theâ— at the Gate of the Palace and departed to their own Homes despising at once the Honour Profit Dignity and Revenue of their place only for the defence of Reason and the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the preservation of a just right of a youth that wanted protection The King at length though a more potent than himself had seldom sate on the Throne was yet enforced besides his custom to hold a Royal Audience and taking his eldest Son now as Prince he placed him next behind him and shewing him to the Mandarines he recommends unto them the care of the publick peace and quiet without doors assuring them that all was quiet in the Palace and that Thai Cham that was the name of the Prince should succeed him in the Kingdom as in effect it fell out 11. The Daughters of the Emperours of China have their Palaces in the City of Pekin one of the domestick Servants of one of those Princesses had committed sundry insolencies and amongst those one such crime as deserved death The Mandarines much desired to apprehend him but in the Palace they could not and he never went abroad but when he waited on his Princess At length a Mandarine resolved to take him by any means he could and therefore when the Princess went next abroad he with his men set himself before the Coaches made them stop and then presently laid hands on that man and carried him away The Princess resenting the affront that was done her returned presently to the Palace full of indignation and was so transported with choler that not staying the Kings return from the Audience where he then was she went thither in person to complain The Mandarine was presently sent for who had put himself in readiness supposing he should be called He presented himself before the King who sharply reproved him He answered Sir I have done nothing but that which your Majesty commandeth and your Law ordaineth But you ought replied the King to haue sought some other time and opportunity I have sought it long enough answered the Mandarine but I should never have found it At least said the King ask my Daughter pardon and bow your head Where there is no fault said the other there is no need of pardon neither will I ask pardon for having discharged my office Then the King commanded two Mandarines that by force they should bow down his head to the ground but he by strength kept up himself so stiff that it was not possible for them to do it so that the King sent him away and a few days after gave order he should have a better office bestowed upon him being well pleased with his integrity and generous zeal to Justice 12. The Turks had taken the City of Buda in Hungary the Inhabitants being fled out of it for fear But the Castle was guarded by German Soldiers under the command of Thomas Nadast the Governour these Germans also affrighted began to confer with the enemy about the surrender of the Castle which Nadast not enduring being full of courage and constancy he brake off their conference and commanded the Guns to be planted against the enemy these cowards converting their minds to villany laid hands upon their Captain bound him while he threatned in vain and having conditioned for the safety of their lives and goods yield up the Castle when the Turks were entred and found Nadast in Bonds they related all to their Emperour as they had heard it from him who was so incensed with their persidious cowardise that he immediately sent out his Janizaries after them to cut them all in pieces as for Nadast he freed him of his bonds caused him to be brought into his presence highly commended him invited him with a liberal stipend to serve on his side and when he refused honourably dismissed him 13. Papinianus was the honour of Lawyers and to this great man it was to whom the Emperour Severus dying recommended his two Sons with the government of the Empire but the impious Caracalla having embrew'd his hands in the blood of his Brother Geâ—a was desirous that this excellent person should set some colour by his eloquence before the Senate and people upon an action so barbarous to which proposal of 〈◊〉 freely made answer it was more easie to commit a patricide than to justifie it uttering this truth to the prejudice of his head which this wretched Prince caused to be cut off 14. The Father of Lycurgus being slain in a popular tumult the Kingdom of Sparta descended to Polydecta the elder Brother but he soon after dying it came in all mens opinion to Lycurgus and he reigned till such time as it was known that the wife of his Brother was with child This once clearly discovered he declared that the Kingdom did appertain to the Son of Polydecta in case his Wife should be delivered of a Male Child in the mean time he administred the Kingdom in the quality of Protector But the Lady privately sent to Lycurgus offering him to cause an abortion in case that he thereby receiving the Kingdom would also receive her as his Wife He though detesting the impiety of the woman yet rejected not her offer but as one that approved and accepted the condition represented to her that by no means she should endanger the state of her body by any such harsh medicaments as that case would require but that as soon as she was safely delivered it should be his care to see that the Child should be made away By this means he fairly drew on the woman even to the time of her Travel which as soon as he was informed of he ordered persons to be present together with a Guard attending there with this precept that in case she should be delivered of a Girl they should leave it with the women but if otherwise they should by all means forthwith convey it to himself It so fell out that as he sate at Supper with the Nobles she was delivered of a Male Child and the Boy was brought to him where he then was As soon as he received him he said to them that were present O ye Spartans there is a King born to us and so placed him in the Throne of the Kingdom he gave him the name of Câ—arilaus because all persons received him with greatest expressions of joy and highest admiration of the justice and greatness of his
Buttock by an Hetrusian Javelin Poplicola the Consul admiring his Valour proposed it to the People that each of them should give him as mucâ— as should maintain him for a day and that they should allot him as much Land as he could compass in one day with a Plough which they yielded to and besides erected for him a Brazen Statue in the Temple of Vulcan with those Honours endeavouring to alleviate the lameness he had contracted by his wound 12. Under the Walls of Durazzo first called Epidamnum and afterwards Dyrrhachium was the first bickering betwixt the Souldiers of Caesar and Pompey not only to the present loss but to the utter discomfiture of Caesar as himself confessed if the Enemies Captain had known how to overcome at this Seige the Valour of Cassius Sceva was famous who alone so long resisted Pompey's Army that he had 130 Arrows sticking in his Shield lost one of his eyes was wounded in the thigh and shoulder yet gave not over till Caesar came to his rescue 13. In the Battle against Perseus M. Cato Son to the Orator of that Name sighting bravely amongst the thickest of the Enemies was beaten from his Horse and then fought on â—oot when a Party of the Enemy had surrounded him and when they pressed upon him on every side to bear him down he stood unappalled and gallantly sustained tbeir Assaults But while he fiercely set upon one of greatest Stature amongst them his Sword flew out of his hand into the midst of them to recover which protecting himself with his Shield and opening his way he pressed betwixt the points of their Swords in the view and to the wonder of both Armies when having recovered his Sword he retreated to his Companions with the applause of all men full of Wounds and as full of Glory the rest in imitation of his Valour falling â—iercely upon the Enemy obtained a great Victory 14. Alexander the Great had besieged a City of the Oxydracae and resolving to carry it by Storm had broke in at a Gate and forced the Enemy to â—ly into the Castle here while the rest of the Macedonians were busied in undermining the Walls he not enduring delay caught up a Ladder and rearing it up against the Wall and holding his Shield over his head began to mount it all which he performed with that celerity that before the Guard of the place had observed it he had gained the top they durst not approach to deal with him hand to hand but at a distance threw Javelins and Darts at him in such a number as that he was sore pressed by them The Macedonians sought to mount upon two Ladders they had advanced but their number and weight that ascended caused them to break under them Then was Alexander left destitute of any Assistance but scorning to retire by the way that he came arm'd as he was leap'd into the midst of his Enemies and made a bold and couragious resistance On his right hand he had a Tree that grew near the Wall and on the left the Wall it self to keep him from being invironed and there he fought it with the stoutest of them many a blow he received upon his Helmet and Shield at last he had a wound under the Pap with an Arrow with the pain of which he was forced to the Earth Then the Indian that had given him the wound carelesly approaching too near him to strike him as he lay received Alexander's Sword into his Bowels and tumbled down by his side the King catching hold of a Bough that hung downwards again recovering his standing and then began to challenge the best of them to the fight In this posture he was found by Peucestes who by this time had got over the Wall and after him a multitude of others by which means the Castle was taken and most of them put to the Sword 15. In the Reign of William the First a private Norwegian Souldier himself alone upon a Bridge resisted the whole Army of the English slew forty of them and maintained the place for divers hours together till one getting under the Bridge found means to thrust up a spear into his body and so killed him 16. Caius Caesar was renowned as a valorous Person and one that despised all danger he alone divers times restored the fight opposing those of his Army that sled and retaining them oâ—ten thrusting into the thickest of his Enemies striking terrour into them and inflaming the courage of his own when at Munda in Spain he fought against the Sons of Pompey he was the first that assaulted the Enemy and when his Souldiers hardly endured the brunt he alone fought in the Front of them two hundred Javelins were thrown against him yet he moved not a foot The Souldiers moved with anger and shame renued the â—ight and at last late towards Evening obtained through his Prowess a Noble Victory by the death of thirty thousand men of the adverse Party 17. King William the Second being reconciled to his Brother Robert he assisted him to recover the Fort of Mount Saint Michael which their Brother Henry did forcibly hold in Normandy during which Seige straggling one time alone upon the shore he was set upon by three Horsemen who assaulted him so â—iercely that they drove him from his Saddle and his Saddle from his Horse But he catching up his Saddle and withal drawing out his Sword defended himself till rescue came and being afterward blamed for being so obstinate to defend his Saddle It would have angred me said he to the very heart that the Knaves should have bragged they had won the Saddle from me 18. Malcolme King of the Scots in the time of King William the Second was a most valiant Prince as may appear by an Act of his of an extraordinary strain For hearing of a Conspiracy and Plot to murther him whereof one was Author whose name is not recorded He dissembled the knowledge of it till being abroad one day a hunting he took the â—ellow apart from the Company and being alone Here is now said he a fit time and place to do that manfully which you have intended to do treacherously draw your Weapon and if you now kill me none being present you can incur no danger With which Speech of the King the Fellow was so daunted that presently he fell down at his feet confessed his fault humbly asked forgiveness and being granted him was ever after serviceable and faithful to the King 19. Maximinus the Emperor in an expedition that he made against the Germans when he came to huge and vast Marishes into which the Germans had retreated the Romans fearing to follow so far he himself mounted on his Horse was the first that entred the Marish and their slew many of the Barbarians that with great obstinacy resisted him The Army confounded with shame that the Emperor alone should sustain the Assault of the Enemy entred the Marish also where they
so perished together with their Houses and Relations 5. Ptolemaeus ruling over the Cyprian Cities and hearing that Nicocles the Paphian King did closely hold correspondence with Antigonus he sent Argaeus and Callicrates his Friends with command that they should put Nicocles to death as fearing the defection of other Cities besides that of Paphos These came to Cyprus and having received some Troops of Menelaus the General there they beset the Palace of Nicocles and having declared the Kings commands they demanded Nicocles to death He at first would have excused the matter but when he saw that would not serve his turn he slew himself Axiothea the wife of Nicocles being informed of the death of her Husband did then slay her Daughters that were Virgins that they might not fall into the enemies hands She also perswaded the Wives of Nicocles his Brethren with her to murther themselves though Ptolemy had granted them impunity Their Husbands seeing this set fire upon the Palace and slew themselves by this means the Royal Family of the Paphians was utterly distinguished 6. The Tacchi a people in Asia rather then they would be captivated to the Greeks threw themselves down headlong from the Rocks the very women throwing down their own children first and then casting themselves upon them 7. Philip King of Macedon had beseiged the City of Abydus and straitly beset it both by Sea and Land when the inhabitants defended it against him with great courage till at last the Enemy had undermin'd and overthrown the outward wall and were now by their mines approaching that other wall which the Inhabitants had made up within instead of the former Then the besieged apprehensive of their danger sent Embassadors to Philip offering him the surrender of their City upon condition that the Rhodians and Soldiers of Attalus should be freely dismissed and that every freeman should have liberty to depart whither he pleased Philip returned them this answer that either they should resolve to surrender at discretion or else fight it gallantly They of Abidus made desperate by these means consulted together and resolved upon this course to give liberty to all slaves that they might assist them with greater cheerfulness to shut up all their wives in the Temple of Diana their Children and Nurses in the publick Schools to lay all their silver and gold upon a heap in the Market place and to put their most precious furniture into two Galleys This done they chose out fifty persons of strength and Authority whom in presence of all the Citizens they caused to swear that as soon as they should perceive the enemy to be Master of the inward Wall they should kill all their Wives and Childrenâ— burn the Galleys and cast the Silver and Gold into the Sea They all swore to defend their liberty to the last breath and indeed when the Walls were fallen all the Soldiers and Inhabitants maintained the ruines of them with that obstinacy that few remained alive or unwounded And when the City was taken Philip was amazed to see the rest kill their Wives and Children cast themselves headlong from houses and into pits and running upon any kind of death so that few of that City could be perswaded to out-live the loss of their liberty unless such as were bound and by force preserved from doing violence upon themselves 8. At Numantia in Spain four thousand Soldiers withstood forty thousand Romans for fourteen years together in which time having often valiantly repulsed them and forced them unto two dishonourable compositions at last when they could hold out no longer they gathered all their Armour money and goods together and laid them on an heap which being fired they voluntarily cast themselves also into the flames leaving unto Scipio nothing but the bare name of Numantia to adorn his triumph with 9. The City of Saguntum had been besieged by Annibal for the space of nine months in which the famine was so great that the inhabitants were enforced to eat mans flesh At last when they could hold out no longer rather than they would fall into the hands of their enemies they made a fire in which themselves and their City was consumed to Ashes 10. Perdiccas made war upon Ariarathes King of Cappadocia although he had no way provoked him yet although he overcame the King in Battle he carried thence nothing but hazards and wounds instead of rewards for the slying Army being received into the City each man slew his Wife and Children set fire on their houses and furniture of them and having laid upon one heap all their riches at once and consumed them to ashes they then threw themselves headlong from Towers and high places into the flames so that the victorious enemy enjoyed nothing of theirs besides the sight of those flames which devoured the spoils they hoped to have divided amongst them 11. When Brutus had besieged the City of the Xanthii in Licia they themselves set fire on their own City some of them leapâ—d into the flames and there perished others fell upon their own swords A woman was seen hanging from the roof of her house with an infant newly strangled about her neck and in her right hand a burning torch that she might that way have burnt down the house over her CHAP. LI. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of Humane frailty THe Lamae who are the Priests of the Tibitenses when they prepare to celebrate prayers they summon the people together with the hollow whispering sounds of certain pipes made of the bones of dead men They have also Rosaries or Beads made of them which they carry always about them and they drink continually out of a Skull Being asked the reason of this Ceremony by Anthony Andrada who first found them out one that was the chiefest among them told him that they did it ad fatorum memoriam they did therefore pipe with the bones of the dead that those sad whispers might warn the people of the swift and invisible approach of death whose musick they term'd iâ— The Beads they wore did put them in mind of the frail estate of their bodies their drinking in a skull did mortifie their affections repress pleasures and imbitter their tast lest they should relish too much the delights of life and certainly these great and excellent persons hereafter mentioned did therefore carry along with them the commemoration of death as finding it a powerful Antidote against those excesses and deviations whereunto the nature of man especially in prosperity has so notable a proneness 1. Maximilianus the first Emperour of Germany for three years some say two caused his Coffin made of Oak to be carried along with him in a Wagon before he felt any sickness and when he drew near to his death he gave order in his last will that they should wrap up his dead body in course linen without any embowelling at all and that they should stop his
and oyl and though they run sixty miles together yet they no way incorporate but the Danow is clear and pure as a well while the Sava that runs along with it is as troubled as a street channel After the manner of these Rivers it is with some brethren though bred up together and near enough each other in respect of their bodies yet their minds have been as distant from each other as the Poles are which when opportunity hath served they have shewed in the effects of an implacable hatred 1. Sir George Sonds of Kent had lately two Sons grown up to that age wherein he might have expected most comfort from them but in the year 1655. the younger of them named Freeman Sonds having no apparent cause or provocation either from his Father or Brother did in a most inhumane and butcherly manner murder the elder as he lay sleeping by him in his bed he clave his head and brains with a Cleaver and although this was his mortal wound yet perceiving him to groan and sigh as one approaching unto death he stabbed him with a Stilletto seven or eight times in and about the heart as the sorrowful Father witnesseth in his Printed narrative of the whole and when he had finished this black and bloody tragedy he went to his aged Father then in bed and told him of it rather glorying in it than expressing any repentance for it Being apprehended he was presently after condemned at Maydstone Assizes and accordingly executed 2. Eteocles was the Son of Oedipus by his own Mother Iocasta their Father the King of Thebes had ordered it that Eteocles and his other Son Polynices after his departure should reign yearly by course But Eteocles after his year was expired would not suffer his Brother to succeed whereupon Polynices being aided by Tydeus and Adrastus made war upon his Brother they meeting together with their forces in the field were slain by each other in the battle their dead bodies were also burned together when the flame parted it self as if it seemed to declare such a deadly hatred betwixt them that as their minds being alive so neither could their bodies being dead agree This their antipathy was propagated to their posterity breaking out into many outragious and bloody wars Unto such ends doth the providence of God often bring an incestuous brood that others may be instructed thereby 3. Upon the death of Selymus the second which happened Anno 1582. Amurath the third succeeded in the Turkish Empire at his entrance upon which he caused his five Brothers Mustapha Solyman Abdala Osman and Sianger without all pity or commiseration to be strangled in his presence and gave order that they should be buried with his dead Father an ordinary thing with Mahometan Princes who to secure to themselves the Empire without rivalship doubt not to pollute their hands with the blood of their nearest relations It is said of this Amurath when he saw the fatal bow-string put about the neck of his younger Brother that he was seen to weep but it seems they were Crocodiles tears for he held firm to his bloody purpose 4. Petrus King of Spain having reigned some time with great cruelty purpling his hands in the blood of his Nobles At last his Brother Henry took up arms against him Anno Dom. 1369. He had hired auxiliary forces out of France against Petrus and having met him in the field a bloody battle was fought agreeable to the pertinacious hatred of the two Brethren The victory resting on the side of Henry and his Brother made prisoner being brought before him Petrus with a Dagger wounded Henry in the face the other endeavouring to repay it with interest both grapled together having thrown each other to the ground But others coming in to the help of Henry he quickly became the superiour and having slain his Brother with many wounds he succeeded in his Kingdom 5. Extream was the hatred that was betwixt Bassianus and Geta the two sons of Severus the Emperour which soon betrayed it self upon the death of their Father they could not agree about the partage of the Empire nor did they omit any means whereby they might supplant each other they endeavoured to bribe each others Cooks and Butlers to poyson their Masters but when both were too watchful to be thus circumvented at last Bassianus grew impatient and burning with ambition to enjoy the Rule alone he set upon his Brother Geta gave him a deadly wound and shed his blood in the lap of Iulia their Mother and having executed this villany threw himself amongst the souldiers told them that he had with difficulty saved his life from the malice of his Brother and having parted amongst them all that Severus his Father had been eighteen years heaping up he was by them confirmed in the Empire 6. Anno 1080. Boleslaus King of Poland having slain his Brother S. Stanislaus Bishop of Cracovia at the very Altar as he was in the celebration of the Mass he suddenly fell into a frenzy and such a degree of madness that he laid violent hands upon himself It is said of this King that he grew into a vehement hatred of the Bishop his Brother upon the account of that freedom he took in reproving him for those horrible crimes he frequently committed 7. Tosto and Harold the sons of Earl Godwin falling out Tosto secretly hyed himself into the Marches of Wales and near the City of Hereford at Portaslith where Harold had a house then in preparation to entertain the King he slew all his Brothers servants and cutting them piece-meal into gobbets some of their limbs he salted and cast the rest into the vessels of Meath and Wine sending his Brother word that he had furnished him with powdred meats against the Kings coming thither 8. Robert Duke of Normandy was chosen King of Ierusalem but refused that in hopes to have England but it is observed that he never prospered after his Brother Rufus got the Crown and when he was dead Henry Beauclerke his youngest Brother ascended the throne and conquered Normandy on the Vigil of St. Michael he also put out the eyes of Robert his Brother and kept him prisoner in Cardiff Castle twenty six years where for grief conceived at the putting on of a new Robe too little for the King and therefore sent to the Duke to wear he grew weary of his life as disdaining to be mocked with his Brothers cast Cloaths and cursing the time of his unfortunate nativity refused thenceforth to take any sustenance and so pined himself to death 9. Alphonsus Diazius a Popish Spaniard hearing that Iohn Diazius his Brother had renounced Popery and was become a professor of the Reformed Religion fell into so deep a hatred of him that like another Cain he slew his Brother with his own hands for which he was not only not punished but highly applauded by the Romanists for his heroical atchievement but he
answerable thereunto in his Gaming for he adventured four hundred thousand Sesterces upon every pick of the Dice 4. Sir Miles Pateridge plaid at Dice with King Henry the Eighth for Iesus Bells they were four Bells the greatest in London hanging in a fair Tower in St. Paul's Church-yard it is true he was the winner and brought the Bells to ring in his Pocket but it is observed that the Ropes afterwards catcht about his neck and for some offences he was hanged in the dayes of King Edward the sixth 5. The Chineses delight excessively in all sorts of Games they play at Chess Irish Passage In and In Hazzard and not only play great games but when they have lost they care not though they stake their Wives and Children whom if they lose they part with till they can advance so much mony as they were staked for 6 Anno Dom. 1533. near to Belissma in Helvetia three men were playing at Dice on the Lords Day and one of them called Vlrick Schraeterus having lost much money at last expecting a good Cast brake out into this cursed speech If Fortune deceive me now I will thrust my Dagger into the very Body of God as far as I can The Cast miscarrying he drew his Dagger and threw it against Heaven with all his might when behold the Dagger vanished and five drops of blood fell upon the Table in the midst of them and immediately the Devil came in and carried away the blasphemous wretch with such a noise that the whole City was amazed at it the other half distracted with fear strove with all their strength to wipe out the drops of blood but the more they wiped it the more clearly it appeared The rumour hereof flying into the City multitudes flocked to the place where they found the Gamesters washing the board whom by the decree of the Senate they bound with Chains and carryed towards the Prison but as they went by the way one of them was stricken suddenly dead with such a number of Lice and Worms creeping out of him as was wonderful and loathsom to behold The third to avert the indignation that seemed to hang over their heads was by the Citizens immediately put to death The Table was preserved for a Monument to shew the accursedness of Dicing with the inconveniences and mischiefs attending upon the same 7. Anno Dom. 1550. there lived in Alsatia one Adam Steckman who got his living by dressing of Vines this man having received his wages lost it all at Dice whereupon he grew so distempered in mind wanting wherewithal to maintain his Family that in his Wives absence he cut the throats of his three children and would have hanged himself but that his Wife coming in and seeing this pitiful Tragedy gave a great out-cry and fell down dead whereupon the Neighbours coming in apprehended the man who by the Law was adjudged to a cruel death 8. Mesabates the Eunuch of King Artaxerxes had cut off the head and right hand of Cyrus the Kings brother after he was dead and as the manner of the Persians is Parysatis the Kings mother and a mighty Lover of her son Cyrus not finding a sufficient opportunity to be revenged of this Eunuch as she desired at last she laid this design against his life She was in other things a witty woman but especially very skillful at Dice whereat she often plaid with the King whom finding at leisure she challenged to play for a thousand Darici permitted him to win and paid him the money then feigning she was troubled at her loss she requested that he would play once more for an Eunuch it was agreed betwixt them that which soever was beaten should except live of their most faithful Eunuchs and that out of the rest the conqueror might choose any such one as he should best like The Game went on the side of Parysatiâ— who made choice of Mesabates being not of the number whom the King had excepted and before the King could understand her intention she delivered him to the Executioners with order to fley him alive to fasten his body down-ward upon three Crosses and to hang his Skin upon a Stake by it self When this was done the King was much incensed against her but she laughing put all oâ—f with a jest You are said she a pleasant and gallant person who are so wroth for the loss of an old and wicked Eunuch whereas I can sit down and rest contented with the loss of a thousand Darici 9. Mr. Roger Ascham School-master to Queen Elizabeth and also her Secretary for the Latin Tongue was so much addicted to Dicing and Cock-fighting that he lived and died a poor man 10. The Emperour C. Caligula was so exceedingly prodigal in his play that it is said of him that he adventured four hundred thousand Sesterces which amounts to ten thousand Crowns not upon every cast oâ— the Dice but upon every Punctum or prick of the Die 11. Ioannes Gonzaga had lost at Dice a mighty summ of money his son Alexander stood by and shew'd some dislike at it whereupon the father turning to them that stood by Alexander the Great said he hearing of a Victory that his â—ather had gain'd is reported to be sad at the news as fearing that there would be nothing lest for him to gain but my son Alexander is afflicted at my loss as â—earing there will be nothing left for him to lose 12. Caesar Borgia Duke of Valentinois when he had lost at Dice many thousand Crowns at one sitting Well said he the sins of the Germans have paid for all this for the money was of that Tribute which his father Pope Alexander the sixth had collected out of Germany for the sale of Pardons and Indulgences 13. Ludovicus Mediarotas a Cardinal of Padua and Patriarch of Aquileia is said to have carried away the summ of twenty â—ive thousand Crowns from Alphonsus King of Arragon and Naples which it is certain he wan of him in one day while he played with him at Dice CHAP. XX. Of the oversights of some Persons of great abilities and their imprudence in their speeches or affairs IT is observed of those Chickens that are hatch'd by the warmth of the Ovens in the City of grand Cairo that there is none of them but hath some blemish or other something redundant or something that is defective and the same observation is made of the greatest wits Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtuâ dementiae something of madness or folly is still found in the most accomplish'd amongst men Tanquam naevi in candido pectore few breasts are so white but there are certain Moles to be seen upon them and those that have been most exercised and practised in affairs have had some such aberrations wherein it should seem that all their prudence had forsaken them 1. Enguerrand of Marigny was a man of great abilities and having governed the Finances under
a speedy dismission from that Province which had fallen to him as Questor that he might seek out occasions for great Enterprizes as soon as might be 12. Pericles was cited to the Assembly by the angry Athenians for that he had spent so much Treasure upon publick Works and Ornaments in the City he mildly replied Doth it therefore repent you O Citizens I shall then make you this Proposition Let my name be inscribed upon each of these Works and I will defray the expences therein at my own cost and charge At this all the Assembly cryed out That he should go on in the name of the gods and that he should not desist from expences upon that account behold an honourable contest for Glory betwixt him and the people 13. Trajanus the Emperour did openly and almost every where aim at this for whether he made any new Work or repaired any that was old even upon the most inconsiderable things he caused his name to be inscribed insomuch that thereupon some in a scoffing manner termed him the Wall Flower or Pellitory on the Wall 14. Alexander the Great took Calisthenes along with him a man famous for wisdom and eloquence on purpose to write the History of his Exploits and by his writings to spread abroad the glory of his Name He also cherished Aristotle upon the same account and gave him a most liberal and magniâ—icent allowance of eighty Talents towards the compleating of that one Book of his History of Animals hoping his Name would thereby be perpetuated When he came to Sigaeum and beheld there the Tomb of Achilles he sigh'd and cry'd out O fortunate young man who hadst a Homer to Trumpet out thy fame So also meeting with a Messenger who by his gesture and countenance seemed to have some joyful matter to relate What good News hast thou said he is Homer alive again By that saying expressing his ardent desire to have had the most excellent Writer to have been the describer of his Acts and the publisher of his Praises 15. Commodus that blemish of the Empire was yet desirous of a great name and fame abroad so that he called the City of Carthage after his own name Commodiana He took off Nero's head from the Colossus and set his own upon it instead of the other He also caused some Months to be called after him But we find that fortune hath still opposed them that have sought Glory in an oblique line For though in brave persons such as Alexander Iulius Augustus their names do yet continue in Cities and Months Yet not so to Nero Caligula Commodus and others their like For soon after their death all those things were extinguished from whence they hoped for an eternity 16. Pausanias one of near attendance upon the person of Philip King of Macedon on a time asked Hermocles which way a man might suddenly become famous Who replied If he did kill some Illustrious Person for by this means it would come to pass that the glory of that man should redound to himself hereupon he slew Philip and indeed he obtained what he sought for he rendred himself as well known to posterity by his Parricide as Philip did by his vertue 17. There went a fame of a certain Indian that he had such a peculiar skill in shooting that he could at pleasure pass his Arrows through a Ring set up at a convenient distance this man was brought Prisoner and presented to Alexander the Great who desired him to give him an instance of his Art in that kind The Indian refused whereat Alexander was so incensed that he commanded he should be led away and slain while he was leading on to the place of his intended punishment he told the Souldiers That he had for some time disaccustomed himself from shooting and that fearing through want of exercise that he should not perform what he desired he had therefore refused the Emperours command This was told again unto Alexander who thereupon not only commanded he should be set at liberty but also gave him many gifts admiring the greatness of his Spirit that had rather die than lose any of that reputation he had formerly gained 18. Nero the Emperour was possessed with a desire though an inconsiderate one of eternity and perpetual fame and thereupon abolishing the old names of many things and places he gave them others from his own name The Month April he would have called Neroneus and he had determined to have named Rome it self Neropolis or Nero's City 19. Aelius Adrianus the Emperour was of an eager but various disposition he covered the impetuousness of his mind with a kind of Artifice feigning Continence Courtesie and Clemency and on the other side dissembling and concealing as he could that burning desire that he had after Glory He envyed great Wits both living and dead he endeavoured to extenuate the glory of Homer and gave order to celebrate the memory of Antimachus in his stead whereas many had not so much as heard of his name before He persecuted even such Handicrafts men as excelled in any particular thing many of which he depressed and crushed and many of them he caused to be slain For whereas he himself was desirous to be accounted superexcellent in all things he hated all others that had made themselves remarkable in any thing Having bought peace of divers Kings by private presents he boasted that he had done more sitting still than others by their Forces and Arms. 20. Pompey the Great pursued the Pirates in the Piratick War into Creet where when he found they were opposed by Metellus the Pretor in that Island inflamed with an over desire of Glory he defended them against Metellus with his own Forces that he might have no Roman copartner with him in the Piratick Victory CHAP. XXXVII Of the intolerable Pride and haughtiness of some Persons THe Pride of the Jesuites is as generally as justly taxed who being the youngest of all other Orders and therefore by Canon to go last will never go in Procession with other Orders because they will not come behind them An unworthy tumour of the soul this vice is and such a misbecoming blister that seldom or never is observed to rise upon those minds that are truly noble and generous at least not till they are intoxicated and put besides themselves by an over-liberal draught out of the luscious cup of fortunes Continued prosperity and affluence of all things has indeed unhinged the souls of many that were otherwise brave men and made them do things that signified they had no sentiments of mortality left within them so that Memento â—e esse hominem might seem no more than what is necessary to some that are mentioned in the following Examples 1. Dominicus Sylvius Duke of Venice marryed a Gentlewoman of Constantinople she was plunged into sensuality with so much profusion that she could not endure to lodge but in Chambers full of delicious
his way all objects of sorrow the blind the maimed the deformed and the old must not come near him But what diligence is sufficient to conceal the miseries of mortality The Prince in his recreations meets with an old man blind and leprous the sight astonishes him he startles trembles and faints like those that swound at the apparition of a Spirit enquires of his followers what that thing might be And being inwardly perswaded that it was some fruit of humane life he disliked pleasures condemned mirth and despised life he rejected his Kingdom and Royal dignity and bad adue to all the blandishments of fortune at once 3. Caius Caligula used often to complain of the state of his times that his raign was not made remarkable with any publick calamities how that of Augustus was memorable for the slaughter of the Legions under Quintilius Varus that of Tiberius by the ruine and fall of the Theatre at Fidenae but his should be buryed in oblivion through the prosperous course of all things and therefore he often wished the slaughter of his Armies Famine Pestilence Fires or some opening of the Earth or the like might fall out in his time 3. Bajazet the first after he had lost the City of Sebastia and therein Orthobules his eldest Son as he marched with his great Army against Tamerlane he heard a country Shepheard merrily reposing himself with his homely Pipe as he sate upon the side of a Mountain feeding his poor Flock The King stood still a great while listning unto him to the great admiration of his Nobility about him at last fetching a deep sigh he brake forth into these words O happy Shepheard which hadst neither Orthobules nor Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontent and yet withal shewing that worldly happiness consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject to danger as enjoying in a little contentment devoid of fears 4. Sidonius Apollinaris relateth how one Maximus arriving by unlawful and indirect means at the top of honour was the very first day much wearied and fetching a deep sigh said thus Felicem te Damocle qui non longius uno prandio regni necessitatem tolerasti O Damocles how happy do I esteem thee â—or having been a King but the space of a Dinner I have been one a whole day and can bear it no longer 5. Flavius Vespasianus the Emperour upon the day of his Triumph was so over-wearied with the slowness and tediousness of the pompous Shew as it passed on that he brake forth into these words I am said he deservedly punished who old as I am must needs be desirous of a Triumph as if it was either due to or so much a hoped for by any of my Ancestors 6. Octavius Augustus did twice think of resigning the Empire and restoring the Republick to its liberty first after the overthrow of M. Antonius as being mindful that it was objected against him by him that he alone was the person that impeded it Again he had the same purpose being wearied out and discontented with the taedium of his continual and daily sicknesses Insomuch that sending for the Magistrates and Senate to his House he put into their hands the account of the Empire But afterwards considering that he could not live private without danger and that it was a piece of improvidence to leave the Supream Power in the hands of many he persisted in his resolution to retain it himself 7. C. Marius having lived to seventy years of age and who was the first who amongst mortals was created Consul the seventh time having also the possession of such riches and treasures as were sufficient for many Kings did yet lament and complain of his hard hap that he should dye untimely poor and in want of those things which he did desire Alexander the Great hearing Anaxarchus Philosopher discoursing and shewing that according to the sense of his Master Democritus there were inâ—inite and innumerable Worlds he sighing said Alas what a miserable man am I that have not subdued so much as one of all these whereupon saith Iuvenal Vnus Pellaeo Iuveni non sufficit Orbis Aestuat infoelix angusto limite Mundi For one Pellaean Youth the World 's too small As one pent up he cannot breath at all 8. Pope Adrian the sixth perceiving that the Lutherans began to spread and the Turks to approach was so discontented and so heart-broken with these and some other things that he grew quite weary of the honour whereunto he had attained so that he fell sick and died in the second year of his Papacy leaving this Inscription to be set upon his Tombe Hadrianus sextus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infelicius im hâc vitâ quam quod imperaret duxit that is Here lieth Hadrian the sixth who thought nothing fell out more unhappily to him in this world than that he was advanced to the Papacy 9. Pope Pius the fifth when advanced to the Papacy led but an uneasie life therein as to the satisfaction of his mind in so great a Dignity for he was heard to complain thus of himself Cum essem Religiosus sperabam bene de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui Pontifex creatus pene despero When I was a Monk I had some good hope of my Salvation when I was made Cardinal I had less but being now raised to the Popedom I almost despair of it 10. Dionysius the elder of that name was not contented and satisfied in his mind that he was the most mighty and puissant Tyrant of his time But because he was not a better Poet than Philoxenus nor able to discourse and dispute so learnedly as Plato the Philosopher as an argument of his great indignation and discontent he cast the one into a Dungeon within the Stone-quarries where Malefactors Felons and Slaves were put to punishment and confined the other as a Caytiff and sent him away into the Isle of Aegina 11. Agamemnon the General of all the Grecian Forces against Troy thought it an intolerable burden to be a King and the Commander of so great a People insomuch that we find him complaining in such language as this You see the Son of Atreus here King Agamemnon hight Whom Jupiter clogs more with carâ— Than any Mortal Wight Seleucus as it should seem found some more than ordinary irksomness in the midst of all Royalty for we read of him that he was wont to say That if men did but sufficiently comprehend how laborious and troublesome a thing it was but to write and read so many Epistles as the variety and greatness of a Princes affairs would require they would not so much as stoop to take up a Royal Diadem though they should find it lying in the High-way CHAP. XLII Of Litigious men and bloody Quarrels upon slight occasions WHen a matter of difference was fallen out betwixt two persons who were notoriously known
with a perpetual silence and secret detestation 11. The Saracens were shamefully forced to leave the Siege of Constantinople by Constantinus Pogonatus and a Tempest lighting also upon their Navy had reduced them to such terms that they besought him for Peace which was granted them upon these conditions That the Truce should continue for thirty years and that the Arabians or Saracens as a Tribute should pay to the Emperours of Constantinople three thousand pieces of Gold eight Slaves and as many excellent Horses But Iustinianus the Successour of Pogonatus forming an Army of thirty thousand choice Youth breaks the League and undertakes an Expedition against these Arabians pretending that the Tribute money bare not the stamp of the Romans but Arabians The Arabians fastening the Tables of their League to a Standard bare them as an Ensign amongst them and seeing they could prevail nothing at all with the Emperour by entreaties they remit all to a Tryal with him in Battel wherein the Emperour was overthrown with a great slaughter and compelled to a shameful and dishonourable flight with a few of his Servants he scarcely escaped Soon after by a Sedition amongst his Subjects he was thrust out into Exile and the principal of those his Counsellours who had perswaded him to this wickedness were publickly burnt 12. King Edgar hearing of the admirable beauty of Elfrida the only daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire Founder of Tavestock Abby in that County sent his great Favourite Earl Ethelwold who could well judge of beauty to try the truth thereof with Commission That if he found her such as fame reported he should seise her for him and he would make her his Queen The young Earl upon sight of the Lady was so surprized that he began to wooe her for himself and had procured her fathers good will in case he could obtain the Kings consent Hereupon the Earl posted back to the King relating to him that the Maid was fair indeed but nothing answerable to the fame that went of her Yet desired the King that he might marry her as being her fathers heir thereby to raise his fortune The King consented and the Marriage was solemnized Soon after the fame of her beauty began to spread more than before so that the King much doubting that he had been abused meant to try the truth himself and thereupon taking occasion of hunting in the Dukes Park came to his house whose coming Ethelwold suspecting acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure entreated her by all the perswasions he could use to cloath her self in such attire as might be least sit to set her forth But she considering that now was the time to make the most of her beauty and longing to be a Queen would not be accessary to her own injury but deck'd her self in her richest ornaments which so improved her beauties that the King was struck with admiration at the first sight and meant to be revenged of his perfidious favourite yet dissembling his passion till he could take him at advantage he then with a Javelin thrust him through and having thereby made the fair Elfrid a Widow took her to be his Wife 13. Rhomilda was the Wife of Prince Sigulphus her husband being slain by Cacanus King of the Henetians and she her self besieged by the same enemy she yet nevertheless fell so far in love with him that upon the promise of marriage she agreed to deliver into his hands the City of Friol who burnt it slew the men and carryed the women and children Captives into Austria Cacanus took Rhomilda into his bed for one night only and then delivered her to be abused with the lust of twelve Henetians and soon after caused her to be impal'd alive upon a sharp Stake 14. Bassianus Caracalla made an Expedition into the East against the King of the Parthians and despairing to subdue him by fine force he fradulently solicits him to enter with him into a League of amity The other not trusting the Romans and supposing that their Faith and friendship would be but short and unstable sent back his Embassadous with a refusal oâ— what they came about Caracalla sends them back again to the King to remonstrate to him That a perpetual and firm Peace and Amity betwixt both Nations would be mutually advantageous and that to the establishment of it there wanted nothing but that he would consent to a Marriage betwixt Caracalla and his daughter The King did willingly harken and consent to it The day of the Nuptials being come the Parthians not suspecting any thing of Hostility in honour of the Kings Son-in-law went out to meet him unarm'd and many of them leaping from their Horses mixed themselves with the Romans in great alacrity when on a sudden the signal being given on every side the Roman Souldiers being in good order and armed set upon the other unprovided and naked and cruelly slew many of them Artabanus hardly escaping in the throng and tumult But he mindful of the injury and greedy of revenge slew to Arms against these treacherous Truce-breakers and in a just Battel with them which lasted three daies not without great slaughter he compelled them to sue for Peace to restore the Prisoners they had taken and also to pay him a considerable summ of money 15. In the Reign of Maximinus there was a revolt of the Souldiers and of the Osroheni who by accident lighting upon Carcino not thinking of any such thing and altogether unwilling to it they forced him to be their Leader cloathed him with the Purple and saluted him Emperour Not long after he sleeping in his Tent was treacherously slain by Macedonius his bed-fellow who thinking it would be very acceptable to Maximinus presented him with the head of Carcino Maximinus was indeed well pleased with the gift being thereby freed of so great a danger but withal he caused Macedonius to be slain as the betrayer of his friend 16. Tarpeia the daughter of Tarpeius the Warden of the Capitol agreed to betray it into the hands of the Sabines upon this condition That she should have for her reward that which they carried upon their left arms meaning the golden Bracelets they wore upon them Being let in by her according to compact Tatius the Sabine King though well pleased with carrying the Place yet abhorring the manner in which it was done commanded the Sabines to deliver her all they carried on their left arms and himself in the first place pulling his Bracelet from his arm cast that together with his Shield upon her and all the rest doing in the same manner hurt on every side with Gold and Bucklers she was oppressed and overwhelmed at once with the multitude and weight of her rewards and so miserably died 17. A. Vitellius being saluted Emperour by the Souldiers in Germany against Galba then Reigning having afterwards overcome Otho
would go a hunting in the New Forest yet something moved with the many presages he staid within all the Forenoon but about Dinner time an Artificer caâ—e and brought him six Crossbow Arrows very strong and sharp whereof four he kept himself and the other two he delivered to Sir Walter Tyrrel a Knight of Normandy his Bow-bearer saying Here Tyrrel take you two for you know how to shoot them to purpose and so having at Dinner drank more liberally than his custom as it were in contempt of presages out he rides to the New Forrest where Sir Walter Tyrrel shooting at a Deer at a place called Charingham the Arrow glanced against a Tree or as some say grazed upon the back of the Deer and flying forward hit the King upon the Breast with which he inâ—tantly fell down dead Thus dyed William Rufus in the forty third year of his age and twelfth and some months of his reign his Body was drawn in a Colliers Cart with one Horse to the City of Winchester where the day following he was buryed in the Cathedral Church of St. Swithin 4. The Lord Hastings by Richard the third the then Protector was arrested of high Treason who wished him to make hast to be confessed â—or he swore by St. Paul his usual Oath that he would not touch bread nor drink till his Head was off so he was led forth unto the Green before the Chapel within the Tower where his Head was laid down upon a Log of Timber and there stricken off In this mans death we may see how inevitable the blows of destiny are for the very night before his death the Lord Standley sent a secret messenger to him at Midnight in all haste to acquaint him with a dream he had in which he thought that a Boar with his Tushes so goared them both in the heads that the blood ran about their shoulders and forasmuch as the Protector gave the Boar for his Cognizance the dream made so fearful an impression upon his heart that he was throughly resolved to stay no longer and had made his Horse ready requiring the Lord Hastings to go with him and that presently to be out of danger before it should be day But the Lord Hastings answered the Messenger Good Lord leaneth your Master so much to such trifles to put such faith in dreams which either his own fear fantasieth or else do rise in the nights rest by reason of the days thoughts Go back therefore to thy Master and commend me to him and pray him to be merry and have no fear for I assure him I am as sure of the man he woteth of as of mine own hand the man he meant was one Catesby who deceived him and was himself the first mover to rid him out of the way Another warning he had the same morning in which he was beheaded his Horse twice or thrice stumbled with him almost to falling which though it often happen to such to whom no mischance is toward yet hath it of old been observed as a token foregoing some great misfortune 5. The night before Henry the second King of France was slain Queen Margaret his Wife dreamed that she saw her Husbands eye put out there were Justs and Turnaments at that time into which the Queen besought her Husband not to enter because of her dream but he was resolved and there did things worthy of himself when almost all was now done he would needs run at Tilt with a Knight who refused him his name was Montgomery the King was bent upon it they shivered their Launces in the course and a splinter of one of them took the King so full into the eye that he thereby received his deadly wound 6. There was one who dreamed that he was bitten to death by a Lion of Marble that was set at the entrance of the Temple being in the morning to go to that Temple aâ—d beholding the Marble Statue of the Lion laughing he told his dream to them that went with him he put his hand into the Lions mouth and jestingly said Bite now my valiant enemy and if thou canst kill me he had scarce spoken the words when he was deadly stung by a Scorpion that there lay hid and thereby unexpectedly found the truth of his dream 7. Croesus King of Lydia had two Sons the one dumb and of little use the other a person of excellent accomplishments above all the rest of his Companions his name was Atys concerning this Son Croesus dreamed that he was transfixed with a Javelin headed with Iron being awake and having considered of it he takes a Wife for his Son and whereas he was before General of all the Lydian forces he would not suffer him thenceforth to head them all Spears Javelins Lances and such like he removed from the Walls into inward Chambers lest any should fall upon his Son and kill him About this time near the mount Olympus in Mysia there was a wild Boar of extraordinary bigness destroying the labours of the Mysians and though they had divers times assaulted him yet were they destroyed and he no way endamaged They therefore sent Embassadors to Croesus to beseech him to send them his Son with a party of select young men together with some Dogs that the Boar might be slain Croesus remembring his dream refused to send his Son but granted all the rest His Son hearing their Embassy and his refusal expostulated with him the cause why he would not suffer him to go with the rest He thereupon tells him his dream the young man replyed That seeing it was upon the point of a weapon that he should dye he need not fear to send him to the Mysians for his dream was not that he should dye by Teeth Tushes or the like Croesus hereupon changed his determination and having resolved his Son should go this expedition he called for Adrastus a valiant person who had â—led out of Phrygia to him and told him that to his care he would entrust his Son in case they should be suddenly set upon by Robbers in the way To Mysia they went found out the Boar and having enclosed him round cast Darts and Javelins at him here Adrastus threw a Javelin at the Boar but missing his aim he unfortunately therewith so wounded the Prince that he presently dyed and Adrastus unable to bear the grief of his error slew himself 8. Alexander the Great was admonished by the Chaldeans that he should not enter Babylon as being a place fatal to him and not only so but he had in his sleep the Image of Cassander his Murtherer presented to him he thought he was killed by him and that he was advised to be a more careful preserver of his own life afterwards when Cassander came first into his sight for he had never before seen him he enquired whose Son he was when he was told it was the Son of Antipater though he knew it was that face whose image had
in the Reins of his back whereby he rotted above ground and died near unto the City Chiurli in the same place where he had formerly unnaturally assaulted his aged Father Bajazet a man he was of a fierce bloody and faithless disposition he died 1520. 82. Solyman Sirnamed the magnificent surprised Rhodes Belgrade and Buda with a great part of Hungary Babylon Assyria Mesopotamia spoiled Austria sharply besieged and assaulted Vienna it self took the Isle of Naxos and Paros and made them Tributaries to him War'd upon the Venetians and invaded the Islands of Corfu and Malta besieging the Town of Sigeth upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia he there fell sick of a looseness of his belly upon which he retired for recovery of his health to Quinque Ecclesiae a City near Sigeth and there died the fourth of September Anno 1566. having lived seventy six years and Reigned thereof forty six a Prince more just and true to his word than any other of his Predecessours but a great terrour unto all Christendom 83. Selymus the second an idle and effeminate Emperour by his Deputies took from the Venetians the Isle of Cyprus and from the Moors the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers Over this Emperour the Christians were Victorious in that famous Sea-fight called the Battel of Lepanto where of the enemies Galleys were taken an hundred threescore and one forty sunk of burnt and of Galliots and other small Vessels were taken about sixty besides the Admiral Galley which for beauty and riches had none in the whole Ocean to compare with it Selymus spent with Wine and Women died Decemb. 9. 1574. A man of a heavy disposition and of the least valour of all the Othoman Kings 84. Amurath the third took from the disagreeing Persians Armenia Media and the City Tauris and the Fort Gaino from the Hungarians To rid himself of all Competitors he at his first coming to the Crown caused his five Brethren to be all strangled in his presence He himself was a Prince unactive managing the Wars by his principal Bassa's Mustapha Sinan Osman and Ferat The insolent Ianizaries made such a tumult at Constantinople that the Emperour for grief and anger fell into a fit of the Falling Sickness which vexed him three daies and three nights his death not long after followed the 18 Ian. Anno 1595. when he had lived fifty one years and thereof Reigned nineteen At the time of his death such a sudden and terrible tempest arose that many thought the World would then be dissolved 85. Mahomet the third took Agria in Hungary which Kingdom in all likelihood had been lost if he had pursued his Victory at the Battel of Keresture he was never but then in any Battel and then was so frighted that he durst never see the face of an Army afterwards great harm was done him by Michael the Vayvod of Valachia and the Army of Sinan Bassa utterly routed by the Prince of Transylvania He was altogether given to sensuality and pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swollen unweildy overgrown body and a mind thereto answerable no small means of his death which fell out at the end of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1604. when he had lived about forty four years 86. Achmet who the better to enjoy his pleasures made peace with the German Emperour and added nothing to his Empire Cicala Bassa his General was overthrown by the Persians and divers of his Armies under several Bassa's cut off by the fortunate Rebel the Bassa of Aleppo This Prince was of good constitution strong and active he would cast a Horse-man's Mace of nine or ten pounds weight farther than any other of his Court He was much given to sensuality and pleasure had three thousand Concubines one reason perhaps of his death at thirty years having Reigned fifteen 87. Mustapha brother to Achmet succeeded which was a Novelty never before heard of in this Kingdom it being the Grand Signiors Policy to strangle all the younger brothers howsoever this Mustapha was preserved either because Achmet being once a younger brother took pity on him or because he had no issue of his own body and so was not permitted to kill him It is said Achmet once intended to have shot him but at the instant was seised with such a pain in his arm and shoulder that he cryed out Mahomet would not have him die he carried himself but insolently and cruelly and was deposed 88. Osman succeeded his Uncle Mustapha and being unsuccessful in his War against Poland was by the Ianizaries slain in an uproar and Mustapha again restored yet long he enjoy'd not his Throne for the same hand that raised him did again pluck him down 89. Morat or Amurath the fourth brother of Osman of the age of thirteen years succeeded on the second deposition of his Uncle Mustapha he proved a stout and masculine Prince and bent himself to the reviving of the ancient discipline To the great good of Christendom he spent his stomach on the Persians from whom he recovered Babylon 90. Ibraim the brother of Morat preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brothers life and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court He spent a great part of his Reign in the War of Creet against the Venetians but without any great success 91. Mahomet the fourth now Reigning was the son of Ibraim Lord of all this vast Empire containing all Asia and Greece the greatest part of Slavonia and Hungary the Isles of the Aegaean Sea and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe most of the Isles and Provinces in Asia and in Africk of all Aegypt the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers with the Ports of Snachem and Erocco nor is their stile inferiour to so vast an Empire Solyman thus stiling himself to Villerius great Master of the Rhodes at such time as he intended to Invade that Island i. e. Solyman King of Kings Lord of Lords and high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabâ—sond the most mighty King of Persia Syria Arabia and the Holy Land Lord of Europe Asia and Africa Prince of Meccha and Aâ—â—ppo Ruler of Hierusalem and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof It remains That I acknowledge to whom I have been beholden in the making up this Catalogue of the forementioned Princes which I acknowledge to have borrowed from Mr. Prideaux his Introduction to History Carion's Chronology Dr. Heylin's Cosmography Knowles his Turkish History Zuingerus Nicaetas Zonaras Gaulterus Symson and such others as a slender Country Library would admit of CHAP. III. Of the Bishops and Popes of Rome and their Succession 1. SAint Peter was Crucified at Rome with his head downwards and was buryed about the Vatican in the Aurelian way not far from the Gardens of Nero having sat saith Platina in that See twenty five years He together with the Apostle Paul was put to death in the last year of Nero's Reign and was succeeded by 2.
he had governed the Church of Alexandria forty six years full of dayes he dyed in peace in the reign of Valens though an Arrian persecutor 10. Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine lived and was familiar with Constantine the Emperour he refused the Chair of Antioch tumultuously made void by the Arrians for which the Emperour commended his modesty and counted him worthy to be Bishop of the whole world yet he was not altogether free of the heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Council he dyed about the year of our Lord 342. 11. Gregorius Nazianzenus born in a Town of Cappadocia called Nazianzum he was trained up in learning at Alexandria and Athens where his familiarity with Bazil began He detected the Heresie of Apollinaris and the abominations of Heathenish Idolatry under Iulian more than any other had done so peaceable that like another Ionas he was content te be thrust out of his place to procure unity and concord amongst his Brethren He had excellent gifts and flourished under Constantius Iulian and Theodosius 12. Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia he repented he spent so much time in searching out the deepness of humane learning as things not necessary to eternal life The Arrians and Eunomians who seemed excellently learned when they encountred with him and Nazianzenus were like men altogether destitute of learning when the Emperours Deputy threatned him with banishment or death he astonished him with his resolute answer The Emperors Son Galaces fell sick and the Empress sent him word she had suffered many things in her dream for the Bishop Basilius whereupon he was dismissed and suffered to return to Caesarea 13. Gregorius Nysse was Brother of Basilius and Bishop of Nyssa a City in Mysia in the second General Council the oversight of the Country of Cappadocia was committed to him Though his works are not extant yet he is renowned in the mouths of the Learned as a man of Note and remark 14. Epiphanius was born at Barsanduce a Village in Palestine was Bishop of Salamina the Metropolis of the Island Cyprus he refuted the heresies preceding his time in his Book called Panarium He had so great a regard to the poor that he was called Oeconomus Pauperum He opposed St. Chrysosthom in Constantinople and returning to Cyprus dyed in the way 15. Lactantius Firmianus was the Disciple of Arnobius in Eloquence nothing inferiour to his Master yet it is thought that he opposed errors with greater dexterity than he confirmed the Doctrine of the Truth 16. Hilarius Bishop of Poictiers in France a man constant in Religion in Manners meek and courteous he was banished to Phrygia he took great pains to purge France from the poyson of the Arrian heresie whereof he there saw both the growth and decay he dyed in the reign of Valentinian 17. Ambrosius the Son of Symmachus was Governour of Lyguria under Valentinian appeasing a Sedition at Millain he was there chosen Bishop and confirmed therein by the Emperour He lived also under the Emperour Theodosius whom he sharply reproved and excommunicated for the slaughter of the innocent people at Thessalonica and dyed in the third year of the reign of Honorius having sate at Millain twenty two years 18. Ierome was born at Stridona Town of Dalmatia instructed in the rudiments of Learning at Rome where he acquainted himself with honourable women such as Marcella Sophronia Principia Paula and Eustochium to whom he expounded places of holy Scripture His great gifts were envyed at Rome wherefore he left it and went for Palestine and there chose Bethlehem the place of our Lords Nativity to be the place of his death he there guided a Monastery of Monks he was a man of a stern disposition he dyed in the ninety first year of his age in the twelfth year of the reign of Honorius 19. Iohn Chrysosthome had been an helper to Flavianus Bishop of Antioch thence he was called by the Emperour Arcadius to be Bishop of Constantinople In Oratory he had profited in the School of Libanius and in Philosophy in that of Andragathius above his fellows His liberty in reproving sin both in Court and Clergy procured red him the hatred of Eudoxia the Empress and of the whole Clergy Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria was his great enemy by whose malice and that of Eudoxia he was deposed then banished and journeyed to death he governed the Church in Constantinople seven years 20. Augustinus in his young years was infected with the error of the Manicheans his Mother Monica with prayers and tears begged of God his conversion to the truth and God heard her for being sent to Millain to be a Teacher of Rhetorick by the Preaching of Ambrose the Bishop and the devout behaviour of the People in singing Psalms to the praise of God he was much affected Also by reading the life of Antonius the Hermit he was wonderfully moved to dislike his former Conversation He went then to a Garden where with his friend Alypius he bewailed the insolency of his past life wishing the time to be now that his soul should be watered with the dew of the converting grace of God As he was pouring out the grief of his wounded heart to God with a flood of tears he heard a voice saying Tolle lege take up and read at first he thought it to be the voice of Boyes and Girles in their sport but seeing no body he received it as a Celestial admonition he took up then the Bible he had there with him and in the opening of the Book the first place he met with was Rom. 13.13 14. Not in Gluttony nor Drunkenness not in Chambering nor Wantonness not in Strife or Envying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it At the reading hereof he was fully resolved to become a Christian and was baptized by Ambrose Bishop of Millain Thence he returned into Asrick and there was an Assistant to Valerius Bishop of Hippo whom he succeeded being incessant in teaching the people and confuting Hereticks the Donatists Pelagians and Manichees when he had lived seventy six years he rested from his labours 21. Gregorius the first sirnamed the Great was chosen Bishop of Rome both by the Clergy and people which Office he sought by all means to avoid he brought into the Roman Church the form of the Greek Liturgies He first stiled himself servus servorum Dei and whereas Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople called himself Universal Bishop he said of him that he was the forerunner of Antichrist he sate in Rome thirteen years six months and ten days 22. Bernardus Abbot of Claraval born in Burgundy was respected in his Country above others though he lived in a most corrupt age yet he was found in the point of Justification He detested the corruption of manners that abounded in his time He subdued his body by
at Lambeth were dasht one against another and were broke to pieces the snafts of two Chimneys were blown down upon the roof of his Chamber and beat down both the Lead and Rafters upon his Bed in which ruine he must needs have perished if the roughness of the water had not forced him to keep his Chamber at Whitehall The same night at Croyden a retiring place belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury one of the Pinnacles fell from the Steeple beat down the Lead and Roof of the Church above twenty foot square The same night too at the Metropolitical Church in the City of Canterbury one of the Pinnacles upon the Belfrey Tower which carried a Vane with this Archbishops Arms upon it was violently struck down but born a good distance from the Steeple and fell upon the Roof of the Cloister under which the Arms of the Archiepiscopal See it self were engraven in stone which Arms being broken in pieces by the former gave occasion to one that loved him not to collect this inference That the Arms of the present Archbishop of Canterbury breaking down the Arms of the See of Canterbury not only portended his own fall but the ruine of the Metropolitical Dignity by the weight thereof Of these he took not so much notice as he did of an accident which happened on St. Simon and Iude's Eve not above a week before the beginning of the late long Parliament which drew him to his final ruine On which day going to his upper Study to send some Manuscripts to Oxon he found his Picture at full length and taken as near unto the life as the Pencil was able to express it to be fallen on the floor and lying flat upon its face the string being broke by which it was hanged against the Wall At the sight whereof he took such a sudden apprehension that he began to fear it as an Omen of that ruine which was coming towards him and which every day began to be threatned to him as the Parliament grew nearer and nearer to consult about it These things occasioned him to look back on a former misfortune which chanced on the 19. of Septemb. 1633. being the very day of his translation to the See of Canterbury when the Ferry-boat transporting his Coach and Horses with many of his Servants in it sunk to the bottom of the Thames CHAP. III. Of the famous Predictions of some men and how the Event has been conformable thereunto SOcrates had a Genius that was ever present with him which by an audible voice gave him warning of approaching evils to himself or friends by dehorting as it always did when it was heard from this or that counsel or design by which he many times saved himself and such as would not be ruled by his counsel when he had this voice found the truth of the admonition by the evil success of their affairs as amongst other Charmides did I know not whether by such way as this or some other as extraordinary the ministry of good or evil Spirits some men have come to the knowledge of future events and have been able to foretel them long before they came to pass 1. Anno Christi 1279. there lived in Scotland one Thomas Lermouth a man very greatly admired for his foretelling of things to come He may justly be wondred at for foretelling so many ages before the union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruces blood with the succession of Bruce himself to the Crown being yet a Child and many other things which the event hath made good The day before the death of King Alexander he told the Earl of March that before the next day at noon such a tempest should blow as Scotland had not felt many years before The next morning proving a clear day the Earl challenged Thomas as an Impostor he replied that noon was not yet past about which time a Post came to inform the Earl of the Kings sudden death and then said Thomas this is the tempest I foretold and so it shall prove to Scotland as indeed it did 2. Duncan King of the Scots had two principal men whom he employed in all matters of importance Mackbeth and Banquho these two travelling together through a Forest were met by three Witches Weirds as the Scots call them whereof the first making obeysance unto Mackbeth saluted him Thane that is Earl of Glammis the second Thane of Cauder and the third King of Scotland This is unequal dealing said Banquho to give my friend all the honours and none unto me to which one of the Weirds made answer That he indeed should not be King but out of his loins should come a Race of Kings that should for ever rule the Scots And having thus said they all vanished Upon their arrival to the Court Mackbeth was immediately created Thane of Glammis and not long after some new service requiring new recompence he was honoured with the Title of Thane of Cawder Seeing then how happily the prediction of the three Weirds fell out in the two former he resolved not to be wanting to himself in fulfilling the third He therefore first killed the King and after by reason of his Command amongst the Souldiers he succeeded in his Throne Being scarce warm in his seat he called to mind the prediction given to his Companion Banquho whom hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter he caused to be killed together with his whole posterity only Fleance one of his Sons escaping with no small difficulty into Wales freed as he thought of all fear of Banquho and his issue he built Dunsinan Castle and made it his ordinary Seat afterwards on some new fears consulting with his Wizards concerning his future estate he was told by one of them that he should never be overcome till Bernane Wood being some miles distant came to Dunsinan Castle and by another that he should never be slain by any man which was born of a Woman secure then as he thought from all future dangers he omitted no kind of libidinous cruelty for the space of eighteen years for so long he tyrannized over Scotland But having then made up the measure of his iniquities Mackduffe the Governour of Fife with some other good Patriots privily met one evening at Bernane Wood and taking every one of them a bough in his hand the better to keep them from discovery marched early in the morning towards Dunsinan Castle which they took by storm Mackbeth escaping was pursued by Mackduffe who having overtaken him urged him to the Cambat to whom the Tyrant half in scorn returned that in vain he attempted to kill him it being his destiny never to be slain by any that was born of a Woman Now then said Mackduffe is thy fatal end drawing fast upon thee for I was never born of a Woman but violently cut out of my mothers belly which so daunted the Tyrant though otherwise a valiant man that he
was easily slain In the mean time Fleance so prospered in Wales that he gained the affection of the Princes Daughter of the Country and by her had a Son called Walter who â—lying Wales returned into Scotland where his descent known he was restored to the Honors and Lands of his House and preferred to be Steward of the House of Edgar the Son of Malcolme the Third sirnamed Conmer King of Scotland the name of Steward growing hence hereditary unto his Posterity From this Walter descended that Robert Steward who succeeded David Bruce in the Kingdom of Scotland the Progenitor of nine Kings of the name of Stewart which have reigned successively in that Kingdom 3. Oliver a Benedictine Monk of Malmesbury was much addicted to the Mathematicks and to Judicial Astrology a great Comet happened to appear in his â—â—e which he entertained with these expressions Venisti Venistâ— multis matribus lugendum malum Dudum te vidi sed multò jam terribilius Anglicae minans prorsus excidium Art thou come Art thou come thou evil to be lamented by many mothers I saw thee long since but now thou art much more terrible threatning the English with utter destruction Nor did he much miss his mark herein for soon after the coming in of the Norman Conqueror deprived many English of their lives more of their Laws and Liberties This Oliver dyed 1060. five years before the Norman Invasion and so prevented by death saw not his own prediction performed 4. Agrippa the Son of Aristobulus was accused to Tiberius Caesar and by his command cast into bonds standing thus bound amongst others before the Palace gates by reason of grief he leaned against a Tree upon which there sate an Owl A certain German that was also in bonds beholding the Bird inquired of a Souldier what Noble man that was who told him that it was Agrippa a Prince of the Jews The German desired he might be permitted to come nearer to him it was granted when he thus said Young man this sudden and unexpected mutation of Fortune doth torment and perplex thee but in a short time thou shalt be freed of these bonds and raised to a dignity and power that shall be the envy of all these who now look upon thee as a miserable person know also that whensoever thou shalt see an Owl pearch over thy head after the manner of this now present it shall betoken to thee that thy fatal end draweth nigh All this was fulfilled for soon after Tiberius dyed Caius succeeded who loosed the bonds of Agrippa and placed the Crown of Iudaea on his head there he reigned in great splendour when one day having ended a Royal Oration he had made to the people with great acclamation and applause turning back his head he spyed the fatal Owl sitting over his head whereupon he was seised with torments of the belly carried away and in few days dyed 5. When Flavius Vespasianus made War in Iudaea amongst the noble Captives there was one called Ioseph who being cast into bonds by his order did nevertheless constantly affirm that those shackles of his should in a short time be taken off by the same person who had commanded them to be put on but by that time he should of a private man become Emperour which soon after fâ—ll out for Nero Galba Otho and Vitellius the Emperors being slain in a short space Vespasian succeeded and commanded Iosephs setters not to be unlocked but for the greater honour to be broken off 6. Manahem a Jew an Essaean beholding on a time Herod the Ascalonite at School amongst the rest of the youth saluted him King of the Jews Herod supposing he either mocked or knew him not told him he was one of the meanâ—r sort Manahem smiling and giving him a gentle blow or two Thou shalt reign said he and prosperously too for so is the pleasure of God and remember then these blows of Manahem which may admonish thee of mutable Fortune but I foresee thou wilt be unmindful both of the Laws of God and man though otherwise most fortunate and illustrious Herod lived to fulfil all this 7. Iudas of the Sect of the Essaeans amongst the Jews being not used to fail in his predictions when he beheld Antigonus the Brother of Aristobulus the Brother of Aristobulus to pass by the Temple of Ierusalem of whom he had predicted that he should that day be slain in the Tower of Strato he turned to his friends wishing that himself might dye since he was alive The Tower of Strato said he is six hundred furlongs off so that my prediction is not possible to be fulfilled on this day as I pronounced but scarce had he finished his discourse when news comes that Antigonus was slain in a Cave that was called the Tower of Strato and thus the prediction was fulfilled though not well understood by him who was the Author of it 8. While Iulius Caesar was sacrificing Spurina a Soothsayer advised him to beware of the Ides of March when therefore they were come and that there was no visible appearance of danger Caesar sent for Spurina Well said he the Ides of March are come and I see nothing in them so formidable as thy caution to me would seem to import They are come indeed said Spurina but they are not past that unhappy accident which was threatned may yet fall out nor was he mistaken for upon the same day Iulius was slain in the Senate house by Brutus and Cassius and the rest of their Complices 9. When Vitellius the Emperour had set forth an Edict that the Mathematicians should at a certain day depart the City and Italy it self there was a Paper affixed to a publick place wherein was writ that the Cha daeans did predict good Fortune for before the day appointed for their departure Vitellius should no where be found nor did it miscarry in the event Vitellius being slain before the day came 10. Proclus Larginus having in Germany predicted that Domitian the Emperour should dye upon such a day was laid hold upon and for that cause sent to Rome where when before Domitian himself he had affirmed the very same he was sentenced to death with order to keep him till the day of his prediction was past and then that on the next he should dye in case what he had foretold of the Emperour proved false but Domitian was slain by Stephanus upon the very day as he had said whereupon the Soothsayer escaped and was enlarged with great honour 11. Ascletarion was one singularly skilled in Astrology and he also had predicted the day and hour of Domitians death and being asked by the Emperour what kind of death he himself should dye I shall shortly said he be torn in pieces by Dogs the Emperour therefore commands that he should be slain forthwith publickly burnt and to mock the vanity and temerity of his Art he ordered that the ashes of his body should be
by them 11. It was a received opinion and confirmed by Oracles that out of Iudaea should come the Lord of the Universe the Jews interpreting this to their advantage rebelled and assembling in Mount Carmel brake out into Sedition they flew the Prefect forced to flight the Legate of Syria a Consular person who came in with Forces to reduce them and endeavoured to drive out the Roman Name from Iudaea To repress this Commotion when it was thought fit to send a strong power and an able Leader Flavianus Vespasian was pitched upon as the fittest person He having reduced the Jews upon the death of Otho was saluted Caesar by his Army and having overcome Vitellius obtained the Roman Empire Thus the Oracle was fulfilled which being ill understood by the Jews had administred occasion to them to rebel 12. An Astrologer having viewed the Nativity of Constans the Emperour predicted that he should dye in the lap of his Mother now he had been trained up by Helena his Grandmother his Mother Fausta being dead before but when his Grandmother was dead also he looked upon the prediction as altogether vain but there was a Town in Spain called by the name of his Grandmother Helena there he was slain and so after his death the obscurity of the prediction was unridled 13. There were some ancient Verses of the Sibyls in which was contained that when Africa should again fall under the power of the Romans Mundum cum proâ—e suâ interiturum This Prophecy of the Sibyls affrighted very many extremely solicitous lest the Heavens and the Earth together with all Mankind should then perish But Africa being reduced by the fortunate vertue of Belisarius it then appeared that the death of Mundus the then General and of Mauritius his Son was predicted by the Sibyl who in a Battel against the Goths were both slain at Salona a City in Dalmatia 14. Nero Caesar consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos touching his future Fortune and was thereby advised to beware of the sixty and third year he concluded that he should not only arrive to old age but also that all things should be prosperous to him and was so entirely possessed that nothing could be fatal till that year of his age that when he had lost divers things of great value by shipwrack he doubted not to say amongst his Attendants that the fishes would bring them back to him But he was deceived in his expectation for Galba being in the sixty third year of his age was saluted Emperour by his Souldiers and Nero being forced to death was succeeded by him in the Empire 15. Alexius the Emperour having long delayed the time of his return to Blachernas at the last Election was made of a prosperous time according to the Position of the Stars as to the day and hour he set forth and the truth is so happily that so soon as ever he began his journey the Earth opened before him he himself escaped but Alexius his Son-in-law and divers of his Nobles fell in one of his Eunuchs also that was in principal favour with him was presently killed by it 16. The Sicilians and Latines had blocked up the Seas near to Constantinople and both infamy and loss being daily presented before his eyes Manuel the then Emperour set forth a Navy against them again and again which was still repulsed with slaughter and ignominy Whereupon the Astrologers were consulted Election is made of a more fortunate day and then the success is not doubted in the least Constantius Angelus an illustrious person prepares himself to conduct them and sets out against the Enemy but he is called back by hasty Messengers when he was half way and that upon this account that the Emperour did understand that the matter had not been sufficiently discussed amongst the Astrologers and that there was some errour committed in the election of that time A Scheme therefore was erected a second time and a long dispute held amongst the most skilful in that Art At last they agreed upon a time wherein there was a benevolent and propitious Aspect of the Planets Constantius sets forth again and you would now expect that the Victory should be his but it fell out otherwise for scarce had he put forth to Sea when which was the worst that could come both he and his were taken Prisoners 17. Alexander King of Epirus consulted the Oracle of Iupiter at Dodona a City of Epire about his life he was answered that he should shun the City of Pandosia and the River Acherusius as fatal places he knew there were such places amongst the Thesproti warring therefore upon the Brutii a warlike people he was by them overthrown and slain near unto places amongst them called by the same names 18. I have heard saith Bodinus of Constantine who of all the French is the chief Chymist and of the greatest Fame in that Country that when his Associates had long attended upon the Bellows without hope of profit they then had recourse to the Devil and inquired of him if they rightly proceeded and if they should attain to their desired end The Devil returned his answer in this one word Travaillez which is Labour The fire-men were so encouraged with this word that they went on and blowed at that rate that they multiplied all that they had into nothing and had yet further proceeded but that Constantine told them that this was the guise of Satan to make ambiguous Responses that the word Labour signified they should say aside Alchymy and betake themselves to some honest Art or Employment that it was the part of a man purely mad so fancy the making of that Gold in so small a space of time seeing that in the making of it Nature it self is wont to spend more than a thousand years 19. The Emperour Valens consulted the Devil about the name of him that should succeed him in the Empire the Devil answered in his accustomed manner and shewed the Greek Letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THEOD intimating that the name of his Successor should begin with those Letters Valens therefore caused as many as he could to be slain whose names began in that manner the Theodori Theodoti Theoduli and amongst others Theodosiolus a Noble person in Spain others in fear of this new danger changed their names but for all this he could not prevent Theodosius from succeeding him in the Empire 20. Pope Sylvester the Second before called Gilbertus by Nation a French man obtained the Popedom by evil Arts and though while Pope he dissembled his skill in Magick yet he had a brazen Head in a private place from which â—e received Responses as oft as he consulted the evil Spirit On a time he inquired of the Devil how long he should enjoy the Popedom The fallacious Spirit answered him in equivocating terms If thou com'st not at Ierusalem thou shalt live long Whilst therefore in the fourth year the first month
and tenth day of his Papacy he was saying Mass in the Church of the Holy Cross in Ierusalem he was suddenly seised with a Feaver and then knew he should dye by the busle of the Devils who expected what they had contracted with him for he was made Pope An. 1000. or as others 997. 21. Croesuâ— sent to Delphos to know of the Oracle if his Empire and Government should be durable or not the Answer he received was Regis apud Medos mulo jam sede potito Lyde â—ugam mollis scruposum corripe ad Hermum Ne've mane ignavus posito sis Lyde pudore When the Verses came to Croesus he took great pleasure therein hoping it would never come to pass that amongst the Medes a Mule instead of a man should reign and that therefore he and his posterity should preserve their Empire unabolished But when after he was overcome he had got leave of Cyrus to send to Delphos to upbraid the Oracle with the deceit Apollo sent him word that by the Mule he meant Cyrus because he was born of Parents of two different Nations of a more noble Mother than Father for she was a Mede the Daughter of Astyages King of the Medes the Father a Persian and Subject to the Medes and though a very mean person had yet married Mandane the Daughter of his King 22. Pompey the Great was called Agamemnon because he ruled over 1000 Ships he dyed within those eight days wherein he had triumphed over Mithridates and the Pirates This is wonderful that when he held all the Family of the Cassii amongst the Romans suspected none ever conspired against him though he was warned to take heed of Cassius it was not meant of a man but he dyed near the Mount Cassius and was buried in it 23. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth a Fryer Observant called Fryer Forrest who had taken the Oath of Supremacy himself yet privily perswaded others that the King was not supreme Head of the Church was examined convicted and condemned and on a pair of Gallows prepared for him in Smithfield he was hanged by the middle and arm holes alive and under the Gallows was made afire wherewith he was consumed A little before his Execution a huge great Image was brought to the Gallows fetched out of Wales which the Welch men had in great reverence called Dawel Gatheren of which there went a Prophecy that this Image should set a whole Forest on fire which was thought to take effect in setting this Fryer Forrest on fire and consuming him to nothing 24. There was a Prophecy of Merline that Leoline Prince of Wales should be crowned with the Diadem of Brute this so over-weighed him that he had no care for Peace with King Edward the First though offered and therefore shortly after had no head For when the Earl of Pembroke had taken Bere Castle the Seat of Leoline he was himself slain in Battel and his head cut off by a common Souldier was sent to King Edward who caused the same to be crowned with Ivy and to be sâ—t upon the Tower of London 25. Philip King of Macedon was admonished to preserve his life from the violence of Quadriga which is a Coach with four Horses the King upon this caused the Chariots and Carts throughout his whole Realm to be unharnassed and drawn only with two Horses He also very carefully shunned that place in Boetia which is called Quadriga and yet for all this he could not avoid that kind of Fate which was predicted to him for Pausanias who slew him had a Coach and four Horses engraven upon the Hilt of that Sword which he lift up against him 26. Daphida was one of those whom they call Sophists and out of a foolish insolency he went to Delphos to consult the Oracle of Apollo for no other purpose but to deride it He inquired therefore if he should find his Horse whereas indeed he had none of his own Apollo answered that he should undoubtedly find his Horse but should be so troubled with him that it would be his death The Sophist returned back jesting as supposing that he had deluded the Deity but in his way he fell into the hands of King Attalus one whom he had often bitterly provoked by his abusive speeches in his absence The King therefore gave order they should take him to the top of that Rock which is called Equus or the Horse and cast him down headlong from thence 27. Alexander Bala King of Syria being in Câ—licia consulted the Oracle of Apollo touching his Destiny and death whence he is said to have received this Answer That he should beware of that place which had brought forth a rare sight to be seen a thing having two shapes this was thought to refer to Abas a City in Arabia whither he fled when he was defeated by Ptolomeus Philometor in a Fight near the River Oenopara there was he slain by the Commanders of his own Party his head cut off by Zabdiel a powerful Arabian to whom he had fled for protection and by him presented to Ptolomy who was exceedingly delighted with the sight but being at that time sore wounded dyed upon the third day after Now herein lay the equivocation of the Oracle for that in this City Abas there was a certain Woman called Herais having Diophantus a Macedonian for her Father and an Arabian Woman her Mother and married to one Samjades who changed her sex and of a Woman became a man taking upon her her Fathers name Diophantus 28. The Emperour Iulianus while at Antioch is said to have seen in his sleep a young man with yellow hair who told him that he should dye in Phrygia when therefore he was wounded in Persia he demanded of them that â—tood by what the place was called who told him Phrygia upon which he cryed out O Sol Iulianum perdidisti O Apollo thou hast undone Iulianus 29. Iohannes Martinus born in Belgia was a very good Painter and being in Italy he was told by an Astrologer that when he came to Geneva he should then dye he gave not much credit to this prediction but it so fell out that he was sent for to Bern by Thomas Schopsius a Physician on purpose to illustrate the Jurisdiction oâ— Bern by Chorographical Tables He had now almost finished the designed Tables and was entred upon that which contains Geneva when while he was about the place of the City and writing down the name of that City he was suddenly seised upon with the Plague which at that time furiously raged thereabouts and dyed An. 1577. in the month of August 30. C. Caligula consulted Sylla the Mathematician about his Nativity who told him that a certain death was now near unto him He was also admonished by the Sortes Antiatinae that he should beware of Cassius upon which he gave order for the killing of Cassius Longinus the then Proconsul of Asia being
altogether unmindful that Chaerea the Tribune was also called Cassius by whose Conspiracy and Sword he dyed 31. Alvaro de Luna who had been thirty years Favourite to Iohn King of Castile fell at last into disgrace was condemned and beheaded An Astrologer or a Wizard had told him that he should dye in Cadahalso Now the King had given him a County so called which for that reason he would never enter into not minding that Cadahalso signifies a Scaffold on which indeed he ended his life 32. Walter Earl of Athol conspired the Murder of Iames I. King of Scotland in hopes to be crowned and by the encouragement of certain Sorcerers whom he kept about him who had assured him that he should be crowned and crowned he was but not with the Crown of the Kingdom but of red hot Iron clapt upon his head which was one of the Tortures by which at once he ended his wicked days and traiterous designs 33. Stephen Procurator of Anjou under King Richard the First consulted with a Necromancer who sent him to inquire his mind of a brazen Head that had a Spirit inclosed he therefore asked it Shall I never see King Richard The Spirit answered No. How long said he shall I continue in my Office To thy lifes end replied the Spirit Where shall I dye In pâ—umâ said the other Hereupon he forbad his Servants to bring any feathers near him but he prosecuting a Noble man the Noble man fled to his Castle called Pluma and Stephen following was there killed 34. Albericus Earl of Northumberland not contented with his own Estate consulted with a Wizard who told him he should have Graecia whereupon he went into Greece but the Grecians robbed him of what he had and sent him back He after weary of his travel came to King Henry in Normandy who gave him a noble Widow to Wife whose name was Graecia CHAP. V. Of the magnificent Buildings sumptuous and admirable Works of the Ancients and those of later times AVgustus Caesar had several ways adorned and fortified the City of Rome and as much as in him lay put it into a condition of bravery and security for after-times whereupon he gloried that he found Rome of Brick but he left it of Marble Certainly nothing makes more for the just glory of a Prince than to leave his Dominions in better state than he received them The vast expences of some of the following Princes had been more truly commendable and their mighty Works more really glorious had they therein consulted more of the publick good and less of their own ostentation 1. Immediately after the universal Deluge Nimrod the Son of Chus the Son of Cham perswaded the people to secure themselves from the like after-claps by building some stupendious Edifice which might resist the fury of a second Deluge The counsel was generally embraced Heber only and his Family as the Tradition goes contradicting such an unlawful attempt The major part prevailing the Tower of Babel began to rear a head of Majesty five thousand one hundred forty six paces from the ground having its Basis and circumference equal to its height The passage to go up went winding about the outside and was of an exceeding great breadth there being not only room for Horses Carts and the like means of carriage to meet and turn but Lodgings also for man and beast And as Verstegan reports Grass and Corn-fields for their nourishment But God by the confusion of Tongues hindred the proceeding of this Building one being not able to understand what his fellow called for 2. On the Bank of the River Nilus stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psammiticus King of Egypt situate on the South-side of the Pyramides and North of Arsinoe it contained within the compass of one continued Wall a thousand houses three thousand and five hundred saith Herodotus and twelve Royal Palaces all covered with Marble and had one only entrance but innumerable turnings and returnings sometimes one over another and all in a manner invious to such as were not acquainted with them The Building more under ground than above the Marble-stones laid with such Art that neither Wood nor Cement was employed in any part of the Fabrick the Chambers so disposed that the doors upon their opening did give a report no less terrible than a crack of Thunder the main entrance all of white Marble adorned with stately Columns and most curious Imagery The end at length being attained a pair of stairs of ninety steps conducted into a gallant Portico supported with Pillars of Theban Marble which was the entrance into a fair and stately Hall the place of their general Convention all of polished Marble set out with the Statues of their Gods A Work which afterwards was imitated by Daedalus in the Cretan Labyrinth though that fell as short of the glory of this as Mâ—nâ—s was inferiour unto Psammitisus in power and riches 3. Babylon was situate on the Banks of the River Euphrates the ancientest City of the World on this side the Floud the compass of its Walls was three hundred eighty five furlongs or forty six miles in height fifty cubits and of so great breadth that Carts and Carriages might meet on the top of them It was finished in one year by the hands of two hundred thousand Work-men employed in it Aristotle saith it ought rather to be called a Country than a City 4. In the Island of Rhodes was that huge Colossus one of the seven Wonders of the World It was made by Chares of Lindum composed of Brass in height seventy cubits every finger of it being as big as an ordinary man It was twelve years in making and having stood but sixty six years was thrown down in an instant by an Earthquake which terribly shook the whole Island It was consecrate to the Sun and therefore the Brass and other materials of it were held in a manner sacred nor medled with till Mnavias the General of Osman the Mahometan Caliph after he had subdued this Island made prey thereof loading nine hundred Camels with the very Brass thereof 5. Ephesus was famous amongst the Gentiles for that sumptuous and magnificent Temple there consecrated to Diana which for the largeness furniture and workmanship of it was worthily accounted one of the Wonders of the World the length thereof is said to be four hundred twenty five foot two hundred twenty foot in breadth supported with one hundred twenty seven Pillars of Marble seventy foot in height of which twenty seven were most curiously engraven and all the rest of Marble polished The Model of it was contrived by one Ctesiphon and that with so much art and curiosity of Architecture that it took up two hundred years before it was finished When finished it was fired seven times the last by Erostratus only to get himself a name amongst posterity thereby 6. Niniveh as it was more ancient than almost any other City so
in a Wall where the Pope lodged saying Celestine Celestine give over thy Chair for it is above thy ability The poor man was deluded this way and though the French King perswaded him to keep his Seat yet he decreed that a Pope might quit his place to turn Hermit again as he did though his voluntary resignation proved no security to him from the jealousie of his Successour but that he was by him taken imprisoned and there made to dye CHAP. X. Of persons advanced to Honor through their own subtilty some accident or for some slight occasion AMongst the Romans the Temple of Honour was so contrived that there was no way of passage into it but through that other of Vertue By which they intended to declare that the entrance and ascent unto Honour ought to be only by vertuous actions But things are oftentimes far otherwise than they ought to be Vertue is as familiary persecuted as rewaâ—â—â—d nor have Persons of Worth been always barely beholden to their Merit for their preferment but perhaps to some petty accident or some inconsiderable circumstance that served to set the wheels of their advancement a going 1. Some Kings to make a jest have advanced a man in earnest When amongst many Articles exhibited to King Henry the Seventh by the Irish against the Earl of Kildare the last was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland and made him Deputy thereof 2. Cambyses King of Persia dying without issue the Princes agreed amongst themselves that at an hour appointed they would meet in a certain place no Horse-back and that he whose Horse should neigh first after they were upon the place should be chosen King Oebarus the Groom of Darius his Horse having understood thus much from Darius told him he would give him the Kingdom Where upon over-night he led the Horse of Darius to that place and suffered him there to cover a Mare and the next morning when they were all met Darius his Horse knowing the place and missing the Mare neighed and so Darius was presently saluted King 3. Guymond Chaplain to King Henry the First observing that for the most part unworthy men were advanced to the best dignities of the Church as he celebrated Divine Service before the King and was to read these words out of St. Iames It rained not upon the earth three years and six months he read it thus It rained upon the earth one one one years and five one months The King observed his reading and afterwards blamed him for it But Guymond answered That he did it on purpose for such Readers were soonest preferred by his Majesty The King smiled and in short time after preferred him to the Government of St. Frideswids in Oxford 4. I find it related in the Commentaries of the Greeks that Semiramiâ— was the Concubine of one of the Kings Slaves Assoon as Ninus had taken notice of her he was so taken with her beauty and wit that he seised her for himself by degrees she had gained such an empire over him that he could deny her nothing nor was there any thing but she durst ask When once she had let fall in discourse that there was one thing which she did earnestly desire and he had bid her freely and openly speak it whatsoever it was I have desired said she to sit for one day in your Throne and do justice and that for that whole day all should obey me in the same manner as they do you The King smiled granted her request and forthwith sent out his Edict that on such a day all men whatsoever should obey the commands of Semiramis for such was the Kings pleasure When the day came the Lady ascends the Throne in her Royal Apparel a mighty concourse there was she at the first as matter of tryal of their obedience commands something to be done of no great moment When she perceived that she was exactly obeyed in all her precepts she commands the Guards of the Kings body that they seise the King himself he is brought that they bind him he is bound that they strike off his head it was done and by this means from a day she prolonged the date of her Empire many years which she ruled with great wisdom success and glory 5. Sir Walter Raleigh born at Budely in Devonshire his introduction to the Court was upon this occasion This Captain Raleigh coming out of Ireland into the English Court in good habit his Cloaths being then a considerable part of his Estate found the Queen walking till meeting with a plashy place she seemed to scruple going thereon presently Raleigh cast and spread his new Plush Cloak on the ground whereon the Queen trod gently rewarding him afterwards with many Suits for his so free and seasonable tender of so fair a foot-cloth An advantageous admittance into the first notice of a Prince is more than half a degree to preferment When Sir Walter found some hopes of the Queens favour reflecting on him he wrote in a Glass-window obvious to the Queens eye Fain would I climb but that I fear to fall Her Majesty either espying or else being shewed it did under-write If thy heart fail thee do not climb at all How great a person in that Court this Knight did afterwards prove to be is scarcely unknown to any 6. There was in the City of Capua an ambitious Noble man called Pacuvius Calavius his credit grew and was upheld by furthering all popular desires There was at this time a plebeian Faction in the Town and that so prevalent as that all was governed by the pleasure of the multitude which also wholly followed the direction of this Pacuvius The people had promised to yield up the Town to Anibal and to meet him on the way to them with so many of their Nobility but they were unable to maintain any such Negotiation without the advice of the Senate and the Senate mainly oppugned it The people therefore were incensed against the Senate as having occasioned them to fail their new Friend and withal since by their promise they had discovered themselves they feared lest their own Senate together with the Romans should hold them in straiter subjection than before This fear being ready to break into some outrage Pacuvius made use of to serve his own ambition thus He discoursed unto the Senate as they sate in Council about these motions troubling their City and said That he himself had both married a Roman Lady and given his Daughter in Marriage to a Roman But that the danger of forsaking the Roman Party was not now the greatest for that the people were violently bent to murder all the Senate and after to joyn themselves with Anibal who should countenance the Fact and save them harmless This he spake as a man well known to be beloved by the people and privy unto their designs Having throughly terrified the Senate by laying
in the same sentences so that the Gentiles then present pronounced those Scriptures to have been translated by the inspiration of the holy Spirit of God 30. When Anterus had sate Bishop of Rome for one month only he died after whose death it was that Fabianus came from the Country together with certain others to dwell at Rome when such a thing as never was seen before at the Election of a Bishop happened then by the divine and celestial Grace of God For when all the Brethren had gathered themselves together for to make choice of a Bishop and many thought upon divers notable and famous men Fabianus being there present with others when as every one thought least nay nothing at all of him suddenly from above there came a Dove and rested upon his head after the example of the Holy Ghost which in likeness of a Dove descended upon our Saviour and so the whole multitude being moved thereat with one and the same Spirit of God cryed out chearfully with one accord that he was worthy of the Bishoprick and immediately he was taken and installed Bishop 31. Constantine the Emperour going against the Tyrant Maxentius had a certain Vision It was about noon the day somewhat declining when he saw in the Sky a lightsom Pillar in form of a Cross wherein these words were engraven In hoc vince i.e. In this overcome This so amazed the Emperour that he mistrusting his own sight demanded of them that were present whether they perceived the Vision which when all with one consent had affirmed the wavering mind of the Emperour understand it of Religion whether he should become a Christian or not was setled with that divine and wonderful sight The night following he dreamed that Christ came unto him and said Frame to thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against the enemies as a fit Banner or token of Victory which he accordingly did and was victorious 32. That was a rare instance of propitious Fortune which befel Thomas Serranus who in one and the same year was consecrated Bishop elected Cardinal and also attained to the Popedom by the name of Nicholas the Fifth 33. Franciscus Trovillon was a man of a middle stature a full body bald except in the hinder part of the head which had a few hairs upon it his temper was morose and his demeanour altogether rustick he was born in a little Village called Mezieres and bred up in the Woods amongst the Charcoal men About the seventh year of his age he began to have a swelling in his forehead so that about the seventeenth year of his age he had a horn there as big as a mans finger end which afterwards did admit of that growth and increase that when he came to be thirty five years old this horn had both the bigness and resemblance of a Rams horn It grew upon the midst of his forehead and then bended backward as far as the coronal â—uture where the other end of it did sometimes so stick in the skin that to avoid much pain he was constrained to cut off some part of the end of it whether this horn had its roots in the skin or forehead I know not but probably being of that weight and bigness it grew from the skull it self nor am I certain whether this man had any of those teeth which we call Grinders For two months together the man was exposed to shew in Paris where saith Vrstitius in the year 1598. I in company with Dr. Iacobus Faeschius the publick Professor at Basil and Mr. Iohannes Eckenstenius did see and handle this horn From Paris he was carried to Orleance where as I am informed he died soon after he came 34. In the time of a grievous Persecution Felix Presbyter of the City of Nola by a divine instinct hid himself in the corner of a ruined Wall and before the Persecutors had pursued him thither a Spider had drawn her web at the mouth of the hole whereinto the Presbyter had put himself His enemies told them that Felix was crept in at that very place but they beholding the Spiders web could not be perswaded that any man could enter and lurk there where the Spiders lived and laboured so securely and thereupon by their departure Felix escaped Paulinus once Bishop of that City hath these Verses upon this occasion which I will also try to English Eccubi Christus adest tenuissima aranea muro est At ubi Christus abest murus aranea fiet Where God is present Spiders spin a wall He gone our Bulwarks like to cobwebs fall 35. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there was one Mr. Gresham a Merchant of London who was sailing homewards from Paâ—ermo a City in Sicily wherein was dwelling at that time one Antonio sirnamed the Rich who had at one time two Kingdoms mortgaged to him by the King of Spain Mr. Gresham crossed by contrary winds was constrained to anchor under the Lee of the Island of Strombulo where was a burning Mountain Now about the mid-day when for a certain space the Mountain used to forbear sending forth flames he with eight of the Sailors ascended the Mountain approaching as near the vent as they durst where amongst other noises they heard a voice cry aloud Dispatch dispatch the Rich Antonio is a coming Terrified herewith they hasted their return and the Mountain presently vomited out fire but from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could and desiring to know more of this matter since the winds still thwarted their course they returned to Palermo and forthwith inquiring for Antonio they found that he was dead about the instant so near as they could compute when that voice was heard by them Mr. Gresham at his return into England reported this to the King and the Marinâ—â—s being called before him confirmed the same by their Oaths Upon Gresham this wrought so deep an impression that he gave over all merchandizing distributed his Estate partly to his Kindred and partly to good uses retaining only a competency for himself and so spent the rest of his days in a solitary devotion 36. That is much to be admired at as being little less than a Miracle which is related of Xenophilus a Musician who lived to the age of an hundred and five years without any manner of disease or indisposition of body throughout his whole life 37. The Governour of Mountmarine besieged by Augustus the base Son of the Prince of Salucia was called forth as it were to parley and then held Prisoner he was threatned with death if he yielded not up the place and was so frighted with the apprehensions of this undeserved death that he sweat blood over all his body CHAP. XX. Of matters of importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents PLutarch tells us of a
should do thus than deliver them all bound into my hands Indeed it proved little less for by this means at this Battel Hanibal obtained the greatest and entirest Victory that ever he got of the Romans and had he made use of it accordingly he had made himself Master of Rome it self 9. Lartes Tolumnius King of the Veientines playing at Dice and having a prosperous Cast said jestingly to his Companion Occide meaning no more than kill or beat me now if you can It fortuned that the Roman Ambassadors came in at the instant and his Guard mistaking the intention of the word slew the Ambassadors taking that for a word of command to them which was only spoken in sport to him that was played with 10. Cleonce a Virgin of Byzantium had promised in the night to come to the bed of Paufanias the Lacedemonian General she came somewhat later than the agreement was and had received a candle of the Guard to direct her to his Chamber but stumbling by chance at the door of the Chamber she fell and the light was put out Pausanias was asleep but awaking with the noise leaped out of bed and doubting some treachery directed himself as well as he could in the dark to the Chamber door and ran his Sword through the body of her who did not look for so bloody an entertainment 12. Tiberius Caesar being busted in the examination of some men by torments to find out the Authors of his Son Drâ—sus his death it was told him that a Rhodian was come who apprehending it of one that could tell something of the matter commanded that they should presently put him to the Rack soon after it appeared that this Rhodian was his Friend and one whom Tiberius himself had invited to him from Rhodes by his own Letters The mistake being cleared Tiberius commanded to strangle the man that so the villany might be concealed 12. Baptista Zenus a Cardinal in the time of Pope Paul the Second having called often for the Groom of his Chamber and he at that time obeying the necessities of Nature and so returning no answer the furious Cardinal hid himself behind the Chamber door that he might punish him to purpose as he came in In the mean time came the Secretary of another Cardinal and finding the door open entred the Chamber Baptista caught him by the hair and laid on him with his fists the passion he was in not suffering him for some time to discern his mistake 13. Gildo rebelling in Africa against the Emperour Honorius Mastelzeres the Brother of Gildo was sent against him Gildo's Army was far the more numerous and when Mastelzeres drew near the forefront of the Enemy he began to speak mildly to the Souldiers The Standard-bearer of Gildo replying roughly upon him he with his Sword smote off the arm he bore the Ensign with that both it and the Ensign fell together to the ground The hinder-part of the Army having seen Mastelzeres in Treaty and perceiving the Ensign inclined a sign of submission amongst them and thinking that the Front which consisted of Roman Legions had submitted themselves to Mastelzeres as Honorius his General and so they were deserted of the greatest part of the Army these Africans wheeled off and did what they imagined the rest had done Gildo beholding the whole Army at the point of yielding and fearing his life fled hastily away and left an unbloody Victory to his Brother by virtue of this odd mistake 14. Mullus Cropellus was sent by Maâ—heus Vicecomes who then bore the chief Rule in Millain to seise upon Cremona who approaching the City in the night had digged through the Wall unperceived Pontionus an Exile of Cremona had entred the breach followed only with an hundred men and supposing that Mullus followed him forthwith seised upon the Palace A great tumult and cry being raised Gregorius Summus a Citizen of Cremona took Arms flew to the Walls and soon stopped up the entrance against them that were without Mullus therefore thinking that Pontionus was oppressed in the City drew off in great fear and Gregorius Summus being informed that the Palace was lost supposing that a far greater number of Enemies had entred the City than indeed there had though he was in the head of a great Party of valiant men with which he might easily have cut off Pontionus and all his yet he fled out of Cremona Thus the darkness of the night had led both Parties into errour in the same place and so as that those which were most in number did still slye from and were afraid of those that were not so many 15. Caicoscroes the Sultan of Iconium having received some injury from Alexius Angelus the Greek Emperour intending to be revenged made a sudden incursion and had taken Antioch had it not been for an accidental chance and a mistake of his own thereupon It fell out that the same night he hastned towards Antioch to take it that there was a Noble person in the City that celebrated the Nuptials of his Daughter and as 't is usual in such solemnities there was a great noise of the Feasters a sound of Cymbals and Timbrels of Dancing and Women singing up and down these made a great stir in the City all night Assoon as Caicoscroes drew near the City hearing the noise of Instruments and a concourse of men not apprehending the thing as indeed it was but conceiving it a military notice one to another that his coming was discerned he forsook his design and drew off to Lampe 16. Iohannes Gorraeus a Physician in Paris the same person who wrote the excellent Physical Lexicon being sent for to the house of a Bishop who at that time was sick to prevent all danger that might happen to him upon the account of his Religion for at that time all France was on fire with it he determined to make his return home in the Bishops Litter he was upon his way about twilight when certain Parisians to whom the Bishop was indebted and that had long in vain waited for satisfaction assaulted the Litter in hope to find some of the Bishops goods conveyed in it that way This struck such a fear into Gorraus that supposing he was taken upon the account of his Religion he fell iâ—to a distemper of mind and was not restored to his perfect health till a long time after 17. Ferdinand King of Arragon and Naples setting forward with his Army towards Canusium the Scouts he sent out beholding a great Herd of Deer feeding in the night wherewith that Country doth very much abound by a signal mistake they returned to the King and reported that Nicholaus Picininus with Iohn Duke of Anjoâ— who affected the Kingdom had joyned themselves with the Prince of Tarentum and that they had found them all in Arms in such a place Ferdinand fearing that he should no way be able to match with so great Enemies
him dead came upon him with a purpose to spoil him of his arms and ornaments Here it was that the Elephant made use of all his fury in the defence of his Master and having cleared the place of the most forward of the Assailants he took up the body of his Lord with his Trunk placed him again upon his back by which means the King was saved but the Elephant dyed of his wounds 3. This which followeth happened in our time and standeth upon record in the publick Registers namely in the year that Appius Iunius and P. Silus were Consuls Titus Sabinus and his servants were executed for an outrage committed upon the person of Nero the Son of Germanicus One of them that dyed had a Dog which could not be kept from the prison door and when his Master was thrown down the stairs called Scalae Gemoniae would not depart from his dead Corps but kept a most pitious howling and lamentation about it in the sight of a great multitude of Romans that stood round about to see the execution And when one of the company threw the Dog a piece of meat he straightways carried it to the mouth of his Master lying dead Moreover when the carcass was thrown into the River Tyber the same Dog swam after and made all the means he could to bear it up a float that it should not sink and to the sight of this spectacle and fidelity of the poor Dog to his Master a number of people ran forth by heaps out of the City to the water-side 4. In Patras a City of Achaia a Boy called Thoas had bought a young Dragon which he kept and nourished with great care and a notable familiarity there was grown betwixt these two But when the Dragon was grown to a considerable bigness the Citizens caused it to be carried into the Wilderness and left there It fortuned that this Thoas being grown up to a young man was returning with some of his Companions from certain sights they had been to see and in their journey were set upon by Robbers Thoas cryed out his voice was straight known to the Dragon who was lurking not far from the place who immediately came forth to his rescue frighted some and slew others and so preserved the life of his Benefactor 5. Centaretrius the Galatian having slain Antiochus in the War got upon the back of the dead Kings Horse but he had no sooner done so but that the Horse seemed sensible that it was his Masters enemy that bestrid him so that taking the Bit in his teeth he ran with all the speed that might be to the top of a Rock from when he threw both himself and his Rider head-long in such manner that neither could be taken up alive again 6. In the Reign of Augustus Caesar the Emperor there was a Dolphin entred the Lucrine Lake which loved a certain Boy a poor mans Son in a strange manner The Boy using to go every day from Baia to Puteoli to School about noon used to stay at the water-side and to call unto the Dolphin Simo Simo many times would give him the fragments of bread which he daily brought him to that purpose and by this means allured the Dolphin to come at his call I should be ashamed to insert this relation into my History but that Mecaenas Fabianus Flavius Alfius and many others have set it down for truth in their Chronicles Well in process of time at what hour soever of the day the Boy lured for him and called Simo the Dolphin though never so close hidden would come abroad and scud amain to this Lad and taking bread and other victuals at his hand would gently offer him his back to mount upon letting fall the sharp prickles of his Fins for fear of hurting the Boy when he had him on his back he would carry him over the broad arm of the Sea as far as Puteoli to School and in like manner convey him back again home and thus continued for many years together so long as the Lad lived But when the Boy was fallen sick and dead the Dolphin usually came to the place seemed to be heavy and mourn for the absence of his beloved and at last 't is presumed for very grief and sorrow himself was found dead upon the shore 7. Egesidemus writes that in the City of Iassoâ— there was a Boy called Hermias who having used likewise to ride upon the back of a Dolphin over the Sea chanced at last in a sudden storm to be overwhelmed with waves as he sate upon his back and so dyed he was brought back by the Dolphin dead as he was who as it were confessing that he was the cause of his death would never return again into the Sea but lanched himself upon the sands and there dyed upon the shore 8. In the great Cirque at Rome at a solemn Spectacle there were many persons condemned to be torn in pieces by wild beasts let loose upon them from Dens and Caves made for the purpose Amongst these miserable persons was one Androdus who had been Servant to a Consular person There was a Lyon let forth upon him the most terrible of all others to look upon both for strength and extraordinary fierceness who at the first stood still as one in admiration and then softly and mildly approaching the man moved his tail after the flattering manner of a Dog and then gently licked the legs and hands of the poor Slave that was almost dead with fear and defended him against all the wild beasts in the Cirque All the people saw this wonder not without great applause Androdus was therefore sent for by Caesar who inquired of him the reason why that terrible beast had spared him alone and had fawned upon him in that manner The Slave told him That being Servant unto the Proconsul of Africk by over-hard usage he had been constrained to run away into the sands and solitudes where while he hid and rested himself in a Cave there came to him this huge Lyon lame of one foot and bloody who seemed mildly and gently to crave his assistance that he took up his foot and having pulled out a long and sharp thorn gave him ease that from that day to three years end he lived with the Lyon in that Cave who ever brought him a part of his prey which he roasted in the Sun and eat After which weary of that bestial life in the Lyons absence he went his way and having gone three days journey he was seised upon by the Souldiers and brought out of Africa to Rome to his Lord and by him was condemned to be thus exposed to the wild beasts to be devoured but that it seems this Lyon being afterwards taken had again taken knowledge of him as he had seen Upon this the people universally interposed for the pardon of Androdus and that he might have the Lyon bestowed upon him it was granted and the Slave
man shall well consider the vanity of the Greeks and how devoted to these sports and withal the mean birth and descent of Plato he will better understand the greatness of the honour done him which was never given to any King before or after 7. Phiâ—opoemen had also a singular honour from the Greeks in the Nemaean Plays for after he had obtained that famous Victory at Mantinea and mustered his Army where the Plays were celebrated there were divers Harpers and Singers and when one sung this Verse O Pylades through the gallantry of this Captain all the Grecian Cities were restored to liberty all the people fixed their eyes upon Philopoemen and with a loud and joyful shout testified they believed these Verses to agree with his vertue 8. The integrity and honesty of Zeno Yziaeus a Cyprian Philosopher was in such high estimation with the Athenians that they decreed him a golden Statue with a Crown upon it and also deposited the Keys of their City in his hands believing them more safe therein than in any of their own Temples 9. The innocency and justice of Phocion procured him as much of reputation and honour as learning or military vertue use to bestow on others for as oft as he was chosen and sent out by the Athenians as their General by Land or Admiral by Sea he was freely and chearfully received with the whole number of his Souldiers by the confederate Cities and Allies they set open their City-gates not as to an Athenian but as to a Citizen of their own City whereas when any other besides himself was sent out in that employment the Gates were shut and chained and the Watches kept upon the Walls as if some Enemy was near hand ready to surprize and betray them 10. In what honour Pompey the Great was amongst the Romans appears by that one action of theirs for when he was to be created Pretor in the Mithridatick War and that Roscius opposed him advising the people to chuse another to add Pompey as his Companion marking out with his finger whom he designed for that choice the people of Rome knowing the honour of Pompey was impeached if he should be made anothers Associate were universally moved with indignation and set up a shout with that earnestness that the Crows that flew over their heads fell down astonished in the midst of them nor would they depart the Assembly till they had obtained the Pretorship for Pompey alone and all other things which he thought necessary for his Expedition 11. Pherenice brought her Son to the Olympick Games to contend for a Crown there and when the Hellanodicae or Judges did prohibit her from beholding the Plays she insisted upon her right saying She had a Father and three Brothers all Victors in the Olympicks and had also brought thither her Son as a Champion with these reasons she overcame both the people and the Law it self which forbad a woman to be present and she alone was admitted to sit there 12. Augustus Caesar had the sirname of Pater Patriae the Father of his Country given him by the sudden and full consent of the Romans The better sort of the people were sent to him with this Title unto Antium and after because he would not accept it when he returned to Rome the whole body of the people met him with Wreaths of Laurel upon their heads The Senate decreed to Antonius Musa his Physician a Statue of Brass to be placed next to that of Aesculapius because by his means he was recovered of a dangerous disease Some Masters of Families left it in their Wills that their Heirs should cause them to be carried to the Capitol with a Sacrifice before them which should be there offered in testimony of their thanks that Augustus had survived them Some Cities of Italy made that day wherein he first came to them to be the beginning of their year Most of the Provinces besides Temples and Altars appointed Plays every five years and that almost in every Town The Kings his Friends and Confederates each of them in their Kingdoms built Cities after his name called Caesaria's And with joynt consent and at their common charge they resolved to finish the Temple of Olympick Iupiter begun in Athens of old and to dedicate it to his Genius They left their Kingdoms oftentimes and both at Rome and when he passed through the Provinces did him daily services gowned without Royal Ensigns after the manner â—f Clients The Knights of Rome did constantly celebrate his Birth-day two days together All degrees of persons did yearly cast a stipend into the Gulph of Curtius as a vow for his health and in the Calends of Ianuary they gave him a New-years gift although he were absent which amounted to huge sums though he would not admit that any single person should pay him above one single penny When he returned out of the Provinces they followed him not only with hearty wishes of prosperity but with Songs and Verses fitted to their Musick and it was precisely observed that upon the day of his entrance into Rome no kind of punishment should be inflicted upon any Malefactor 13. When M. Tullius Cicero was forced into Exile by the means of Clodius besides the whole body of the Senate there was above twenty thousane men that put on mourning Apparel and funeral Habit that thereby they might declare what sense they had of his calamity and that they were as much grieved as if it had fallen upon their own families and on the other side when by the means of Pompey and others he had liberty to return almost all Italy ran out of their Towns and Cities to behold and welcome him 14. The Emperour Constantine the Great being dead in Nicomedia the Souldiers that were of his Life-guard rent their garments threw themselves upon the ground and knocking their heads against the walls spared for no complaints that a mighty grief was able to prompt them to in such a case The Prefects Captains and rest of the Souldiers followed them therein in mournful tones crying out they had lost a Protector a Guardian a Father The Citizens like so many mad and distracted persons ran about the City howling by reason of the greatness of their grief which they were not able to contain others went up and down with silence hanging down their heads as men astonished all complaining they were now deprived of all the comforts of humane life At Rome the Senate and people had no measure in their grief and sadness for they shut up the Baths they came not either to the Markets or Plays but intermitted all those things which are wont to be observed in times of joy and prosperity And having lamented the loss of so great an Emperour and pronounced him a happy person that had closed up his life in so great a glory they added this also to the rest of his honours that he should be painted above
confessed that he brought Letters to the Leaders of the Swissers his pardon was granted and he plucking off his hose took out the Letters that were sewed in the sole of it the which were carried to the Emperour immediately When he had read them although he was in great perplexity yet was he not of opinion they should be shewed to the Cardinal of Sâ—n because he would not accuse a Captain of so great authority amongst the Swissers much less would he cause them to be seised upon for fear of putting his affairs into danger but in his heart distrusting the loyalty of the Swissers he repassed the Mountains without making further speech of it and returned back into Germany freeing thereby the Millanois of that fear they had conceived at his coming 14. The Captain of Bilezuga was minded to compass the death of Othoman being therefore to marry the Daughter of the Captain of Iarchizer he invited Othoman to the Wedding as a time convenient to accomplish his design but he having imparted the matter to Michael Cossi this person grieving to see so brave a man treacherously brought to his end acquainted Othoman with it which he received with due thanks And now saith he as to the Captain of Biâ—ezuga request him from me to protect for me one year longer as he hath used to do such goods as I shall send to his Castle and because of the Wars betixt me and the Prince German Ogli I will presently send such things as I make most reckoning of and will also bring with me to the Marriage my Mother-in-law with her Daughter my Wife The Captain was glad of this message looking upon the whole as his own When the Marriage-day drew nigh Othoman instead of precious Houshold stuff sent his Packs in Carriages filled with armed men and had caused some of his best Souldiers to be attired in womens apparel as being his Mother-in-law and her Retinue these he ordered to meet together at the Castle about twilight being admitted the Souldiers leap out of their Packs and the other in womens habit betake themselves to their weapons slew the Warders of the Castle and without more ado possessed the same Othoman having before slain the Captain of it in just â—ight 15. The great City of Nice held out only upon the hope of a thousand Horse-men which the Emperour Andronicus had promised to send them of which aid so promised Orchanes King of the Turks understanding furnished 800 of his Horse-men after the manner of the Christians and fetching a great compass about came at length into the high-way that leadeth from Constantinople to Nice and so trooped directly towards the City as if they had come from Constantinople At the same time he sent 300 of his other Horse-men in the habit of Turks to forrage and spoil the Country as much as they could within the sight of the City which whilâ—t they were a doing the other 800 Horse-men in the attire of Christians following upon them as if it had been by chance charged them and in the sight of the Citizens put them to flight which done these counterfeit Horse-men returned directly again towards Nice The Citizens which with great pleasure had in the mean time from the Walls seen the most part of the Skirmish and how they had put the Turks to flight supposing them to be the promised aid whom they daily expected with great joy opened the Gates of the City to receive them as friends But they being entred the Gates presently set upon the Christians fearing no such matter and being seconded with the other 300 which in dissembling manner had fled before who speedily returned with other Companies of Turks that lay in ambush not far off they won the great and famous City of Nice which they have ever since to this day possessed 16. The Turkish King Amurath had concluded a Peace with the Christians of Thracia during which the Governour of Didymoticum intending to fortifie his City with new and stronger Fortifications entertained all the Masons Carpenters and other Work-men he could by any means get which Amurath understanding secretly caused two hundred lusty Work-men and Labourers to come out of Asia to offer their service unto the Governour who gladly entertained them The wiser sort of Citizens wished the Governour beware of those Asian Work-men as by them suspected but he presuming upon the Peace made with Amurath and considering they were but base Work-men and no Souldiers had the less care of them yet using their work all the day he commanded them to lodge without the Walls of the City every night Amurath understanding these Work-men were thus entertained sent for the valiant Captain Chasis Ilbeg and requested him with thirty other good Souldiers to seek there for woâ—k also and to espy if any advantage might be taken for the surprisal of the City These also were entertained by the Governour and Chasis that awaited with a vigilant eye having found that one of the Gates of the City might be sâ—â—â—enly taken found means to acquaint Amurath therewith who caused a sufficient number of Turks to lye in ambush near the City to further the design Chasis broke the matter to the Asian Work-men and gave full instruction what was to be done According to appointment the Christians being at dinner the Turkish Work-men and Labourers fell at words amongst themselves and from words to feigned blows in which counterfeit brawl and tumult they suddenly ran to one of the Gates of the City and there laying hands upon the Warders weapons as if to defend themselves against their Fellows suddenly set upon those Warders being in number but few and then at dinner also and so presently slew them which done they opened the Gate of the City let in the ambushed Turks took the place and put the chiefest of the Citizens to the Sword 17. Count Philip of Nassau had by Prince Maurice his advice confer'd with a certain Gentleman of Cambray called Charles Heranguieres Captain of a Foot-company about an enterprize upon the Castle and Town of Breda telling him that divers Mariners Vassels to the House of Nassau had offered their service herein they being accustomed to carry turff and wood into the Castle and under that colour fit to make some attempt Herauguieres having well considered all dangers resolved with a certain Fellow called Adrian of Berghen that was wont to carry Turffs into the Castle to undertake the matter giving order to the Shipper to make ready his Boat which was deep and flat and lay in a Dorpe called Leure a mile from Breda that he might convey seventy men into her Round about and on the upper part of the Boat rows of Turff like Bricks were orderly placed of a good height Being thus prepared they resolved to execute their enterprize on the 25. of February but the Frost hindred them certain days not without great danger of being discovered for having entred the Boat on Monday the 26.
are of that absolute necessity that scarce any thing of moment can be effected without them Various ways have the Ancients and others invented whereby they might convey their intelligences and advice with both these a taste whereof we have in the following Examples 1. Aleppo is so called of Alep which signifies Milk of which there is great abundance thereabouts there are here also Pigeons brought up after an incredible manner who will flye between Babylon and Aleppo being thirty days journey distant in forty eight hours space carrying Letters and News which are fastned about their necks to Merchants of both Towns and from one to another These are only employed in the time of hasty and needful intendments their education to this tractable expedition is admirable the flights and arrivals of which I have often seen in the time of my wintering in Aleppo which was the second winter after my departure from Christendom 2. The City of Ptolemais in Syria was besieged by the French and Venetians and it was ready to fall into their hands when the Souldiers beheld a Pigeon flying over them with Letters to the City who thereupon set up so sudden and great a shout that down fell the poor airy Post with her Letter being read it was found that the Sultan had therein sent them word that he would be with them with an Army sufficient to raise the Siege and that they should expect his arrival in three days The Christians having learnt this sent away the Pigeon with others instead of the former which were to this purpose That they should see to their own safety for that the Sultan had such other affairs as rendred it impossible for him to come in to their succour These Letters being received the City was immediately surrendred the Sultan performed his promise upon the third day but perceiving how matters went returned to his other imployments 3. Histaeus the Milesian being kept by Darius at Susa under an honourable pretence and despairing of his return home unless he could find out some way that he might be sent to Sea he purposed to send to Aristagoras who was his Substitute at Miletum to perswade his Revolt from Darius but knowing that all passages were stopped and studiously watched he took this course He got a trusty Servant of his the hair of whose head he caused to be shaved off and then upon his bald pate he wrote his mind to Aristagoras kept him privately about him till his hair was somewhat grown and then bad him haste to Aristagoras and bid him cause him to be shaved again and then upon his head he should find what his Lord had wrote unto him 4. Harpagus was a great Friend to Cyrus and had in Media prepared all things in as good forwardness as he could being therefore to send his Letters to Cyrus to hasten his Invasion upon that Country he thought it the safest way to thrust it into the belly of a Hare so by this unsuspected means his Letters went safe to Cyrus in Persia who came with an Army and made himself Master of the Empire of the Medes 5. The ancient Lacedemonians when they had a purpose to dissemble and conceal their Letters which they sent to their Generals abroad that the contents of them might not be understood though they should be intercepted by the Enemy they took this course They chose two round sticks of the same thickness and length wrought and plained after the same manner One of these was given to their General when he was about to march the other was kept at home by the Magistrates When occasion of secrecy was they wond about this stick a long scroll and narrow only once about and in such manner as that the sides of each round should lye close together then wrote they their Letters upon the transverse junctures of the scroll from the top to the bottom This scroll they took off from the stick and sent it to the General who knew well how to fit it to that stick he kept by him the unrolling of it did disjoin the Letters confound and intermix them in such manner that although the scroll was taken by the Enemy they knew not what to make of it if it passed safe their own General could read it at pleasure This kind of Letter the Lacedemonians called Scytale 6. I have read in the Punick History that an illustrious person amongst them whether it was Asdrubal or some other I do not now remember who on this manner used to conceal such Letters as he sent about matters of secrecy He took new Tables which were not yet covered with wax and cut out his Letter upon the wood then as the manner was he drew them over with wax these Tables as if nothing was writ upon them he sent to such as before-hand he had acquainted with the use of them who upon the receipt of them took off the wax and read the Letter as it was engraven upon the wood Demaratus used this way of writing 7. The way by Pigeons to give intelligence afar off with wonderful celerity is this They take them when they sit on their nests transporting them in open cages and return them with Letters bound about their legs like Jesses who will never give rest to their wings until they come to their young ones So Taurosthenes by a Pigeon stained with Purple gave notice of his Victory at the Olympick Games the self same day to his Father in Aegina 8. There are Books of Epistles from C. Caesar to C. Oppius and B. Cornelius who had the care of his affairs in his absence In these Epistles of his in certain places there are found single Letters without being made up into syllables which a man would think were placed there to no purpose for no words can be framed out of these Letters But there had been a secret agreement betwixt them of changing the situation of the Letters and that in writing they should appear one thing but in reading they should signifie another Probus the Grammarian hath composed a Book with curiosity enough concerning the occult signification of the Letters in the Epistles of Casar Suetonius saith of Caesar That any thing of privacy he wrote by notes or characters that is by so transposing the order of the Letters that no word could be made out of them But if any man would understand and imitate this practice of his he must know that he changed the fourth Letter of the Alphabet that is he set down D. for A. and so throughout all the rest of the Letters 9. Artabasus an illustrious person amongst the Persians after the departure of Xerxes was left with Mardonius in Europe he had taken Olynthus and was now set down before Potidaeu here there was intelligence betwixt him and Timoxenus an eminent person in the Town and the device they had to convey Letters to each other was this They wrapped their Letters round
the perswasion of Paulus the Patriarch of Constantinople made him a Deacon and afterwards caused him to be slain although he had received the sacred Mysteries at his hands After which oftentimes in his sleep he seemed to see his dead Brother in the habit of a Deacon reaching out to him a cup filled with blood and saying to him Drink Brother The unhappy Emperour was so afflicted and terrified with the apprehensions of this and the stings of his own conscience that he determined to retire into Sicily where also he dyed 10. Hermannus Bishop of Prague when he lay a dying with a heavy sigh complained that he had spent a far greater part of his life in the Courts of Princes than in the House of the Lord that he might have given check unto sundry vices but that with his Courtier-like life he had rather administred a further licence to sin while after the manner of others he endeavoured to seem to Princes rather pleasant than severe and this fault above others he earnestly desired that God Almighty of his mercy would forgive him 11. Memorable is the Example of Francis Spira an Advocate of Padua An. 1543. who having sinned in despite of conscience fell into that trouble and despair that by no endeavours of learned men he could be comforted he felt as he said the pains of Hell in his Soul Frismelica Bullovat and other excellent Physicians could neither make him eat drink nor sleep no perswasions could ease him Never pleaded any man so well for as this man did against himself and so he desperately died 12. Catullus Governour of Libya had fraudulenty and unjustly put to death 3000 Jews and confiscated their Goods now though neither Vespasian or Titus said any thing to him yet not long after he fell into a grievous disease and was cruelly tormented not only in body but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the Ghosts of them whom he had so unjustly slain ready to kill him so that he cryed out and not able to contain himself leapt out of his bed as though he had been tortured with torments and fire And this disease daily increasing his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died CHAP. XL. Of Banishment and the sorts and manner of it amongst the Ancients c. THE Nature of man is to rush headily and at all adventures upon that which is forbidden him and to account himself as a sufferer wherein he is any way infringed of his liberty although it be really to his advantage to be so restrained This was perhaps the reason why 1. The Emperour Claudius banished some persons after a new kind of fashion for he commanded that they should not stir beyond the compass of three miles from the City of Rome wherein they lived 2. Damon the Master of Pericles was banished by the Athenians by a Decree of ten years Exile for this only reason That he was thought to have a wisdom and prudence beyond what was common to others 3. The Ephesians banished Hermodorus the Philosopher for this only cause That he had the reputation of an honest man and lived in great modesty and frugality the Tenor of their Decree was That no man should amongst them be a good husband or excel others in case he did he should be forced to depart 4. Ostracisme was a form of Banishment for ten years so called because the name of the party banished was writ on an Oyster-shell it was used towards such who either began to grow too popular or potent amongst the men of service This device allowable in a Democracy where the over-much powerfulness of one might hazard the liberty of all was exercised in spight oftner than desert It was frequent amongst the Athenians and by virtue hereof Aristides Alcibiades Nicias and divers others were commanded to leave their Country for ten years 5. Petalism was a form of Banishment for five years from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a leaf it was practised chiefly in the City of Syracuse upon such of their Citizens as grew too popular and potent the manner was to write his name in an Olive-leaf and that once put into his hand without more ado he was thereby expelled the City and its Territories for five years yet could not this device so well secure them in the possession of their so much desired freedom but that this City fell oftner into the power of Tyrants than any one City in the World 6. The Carthaginians banished Hanno a most worthy person who had done them great services not for any fault but that he was of greater wisdom and industry than the State of a free City might well bear and because he was the first man that tamed a Lion for they judged it not meet to commit the liberty of the City to him who had tamed the fierceness of savage beasts 7. Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople was twice banished by the procurement of Eudoxia the Wife of Arcadius the Emperour and the chief if not the only ground of this her severity against him was because she was not able to bear the free reprehensions and reproofs of that holy man 8. In the Island of Seriphus as also amongst some of those Nations that live about the Mountain Caucasus no man is put to death how great soever the crime is that he hath committed but the severest of all punishments with them is to interdict a man any longer abode in his Country and to dispose of him into banishment where he is to continue all the rest of his life 9. Rutilius was so little concerned with his banishment that when he was recalled by one whose order it was death to disobey yet he despised his return and chose rather to continue in his Exile perhaps it was for this reason That he would not seem in any kind to oppose the Senate or even the unjust Laws of his Country or whether it was that he would be no more in such condition wherein it should be in the power of others to banish him his Country as oft as they pleased CHAP. XLI Of the wise Speeches Sayings and Replys of several persons A Wise man has ever been a scarce commodity in all places and times whole Greece it self could boast no more of this sort than only seven and a Cato and a Laelius was almost the total sum of the Roman Inventory in this kind Being so few they must needs be the harder to be found and seeing that the wisest men are commonly the least speakers hereupon it is that there is almost as great a penury of their Sayings as of their persons and yet of these too every man will determine according to his own pleasure a liberty which the Reader shall not be refused to make use of in these few that follow 1. Cardinal Pompeius Colomne being imployed used such means
inundation especially of the Tweed and Forth that divers Villages were overturned thereby and a great number both of men and all sorts of Cattel perished in the waters 12. In the year 1581. an Army of Mice so over-run the Marches in Dengry Hundred in Essex near unto South-Minster that they shore the grass to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great Murrain fell upon the Cattel that afterwards grazed upon it 13. About the year 1610. the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts were so plagued with clouds of Grashoppers that they darkned the beams of the Sun they left not a green herb or leaf in all the Country yea they entred into their very Bed-chambers to the great annoyance of the Inhabitants being almost as big as Dormice with red wings 14. Cassander in his return from Apollonia met with the people called Abderitae who by reason of the multitude of Frogs and Mice were constrained to depart from their native soil and to seek out habitations for themselves elsewhere and fearing they would seise upon Macedon he made an agreement with them received them as his Associates and allotted them certain grounds in the uttermost Borders of Macedonia wherein they might plant and seat themselves The Country of Troas is exceedingly given to breed great store of Mice so that already they have enforced the Inhabitants to quit the place and depart FINIS THE INDEX A. ABstinence from Drink Page 591 Abstinence from Food 589 Accusers False 410 Actors on the Stage 502 Advancement how 577 Advancement whence 566 Adversity dejects 431 Adversity improves 200 Adulterers punished 457 Affability 181 Age of some great 47 Age memorable 49 Age Renewed 51 Agility and Nimbleness 42 Ambition 415 Anger 110 Antipathies 11 Apparel mean 164 Apparel Luxury in it 395 Apparitions of Devils 611 Apparitions of Souls 88 Appeals to God 608 Archers and Shooting 510 Art rare Works of it 224 Attempts dear and vain 409 Atheistical Persons 361 Authors first in things 647 B. BAnishment its kinds 645 Beards how worn 19 Beauty 24 Beginnings low remembred 233 Beloved by Beasts c. 622 Birthday of divers 8 Births very different 4 Births monstrous 5 Bishops of Rome 473 Bodies how found 64 Bodies unburied 62 Boldness 210 Bounty of some men 186 Boasting vain 433 Brethren their Love 152 Brethren their Discords 374 Buildings magnificent 561 C. CHarity great 189 Chastity 193 Cheats and Thefts 420 Children dutiful 149 Children degenerate 366 Children unnatural 368 Clemency and Mercy 174 Commiseration and Pity 127 Confidence in themselves 214 Conscience its force 643 Constancy 213 Constitutions strange 10 Council and Counsellors 182 Covetousness 416 Creatures taught many things 230 Creatures their love to men 622 Cruelty examples of it 376 Cures upon some strange 630 Curiosity 400 Customs of sundry Nations 580 D. DDeath boldly received 241 Death self procured 458 Death fear'd overmuch 437 Death unusual ways to it 59 Death warn'd not avoided 455 Declin'd from first vertue 363 Deformity of Body 29 Degenerate Children 366 Designs help'd or hindred 200 Desires and Wishes 117 Discontented Persons 434 Diseases strange 56 Dissimulation 128 Dispatch of Affairs 45 Distresses by Sea and Land 638 Divinity affected 370 Dreams 545 Drinkers great 391 Drink abstain'd from 591 Drunkenness its evils 393 Dwarfs and Low statur'd men 36 E. EAsters great 390 Effeminate men 451 Elections of Princes 605 Eloquence famous for it 488 Embassadors 484 Emperours Eastern 469 Emperours Western 463 Envy 120 Error and Mistakes 615 Escapes from death 626 Examples their force 601 Expedition and Dispatch 45 Extraordinary Accideents 596 Eye its Frame and Beauty 23 F. FAce its Composure 24 Fancy its force 94 Fastings wonderful 589 Fate unavoidable 415 Fathers of the Church 518 Fatness and Corpulency 46 Fear and its effects 108 Feasting luxurious 387 Feeling the Sense 101 Fidelity to their Trust. 157 Flattery hated 137 Flattery prodigious 440 Food of sundry Nations 588 Folly extreme in some 407 Fortitude and Valour 207 Fortunate men 239 Frailty considered of 238 Friendship sincere 168 Frugality and Thift 164 Fruitfulness 40 G. GAmes and Plays 607 Gaming at Dice 397 Generosity 161 Gyants 34 Glory desired 426 Gluttony 39 Gods of several Nations 584 Gratitude 171 Grief and Sorrow 115 H. HAir how worn 18 Hatred extreme 107 Head and Skulls 16 Hearing the Sense 100 Hearts what found in them 32 Hereticks and Heresies 511 Historians 489 Honesty 167 Honours done to some 624 Hope 118 Hospitaelity 165 Humility 181 Husbands unnatural 372 Husbands loving 142 Hypocrisie 128 I. JEalousie 125 Idleness 403 Ignorance of former Times 401 Imagination its force 94 Imitation 601 Impostors 424 Imprecations 614 Imprudence 398 Impudence 124 Incest 453 Inconstancy 414 Industry 229 Infants crying in the Womb. 1 Infants long dead in the Womb. 2 Infants petrified in the Womb. 3 Ingratitude 444 Injuries forgiven 201 Innocency 167 Inventions by whom 222 Ioy the effects of it 113 Iudgments wise 184 Iustice loved by whom 192 K. KIngstone Provost Marshal 376 Knowledge much improv'd 401 L. LAwgivers â—82 Leanness of Body 46 Learned men 219 Learning lov'd by whom 216 Liberality and Bounty 186 Liberty highly priz'd 237 Libraries and their Founders 564 Life very long 47 Life over desired 437 Likeness of some to others 30 Litigious men 436 Longaevity 47 Loquacity 461 Love and its effects 105 Love to Brethren 152 Love to Children 147 Love to Country 140 Love of Servants to Masters 154 Love to Parents 149 Love of Wives to Husbands 144 Love of Husbands to Wives 142 Luxury 387 M. MAgicians 515 Majesty 26 Marks and Moles 9 Massacres 384 Melancholy 94 Memories great 96 Memories Treacherous 406 Mercy and Meekness 174 Messages how sent 637 Mistakes 615 Moderation of mind 177 Modesty 122 Monsters 5 Murthers discovered 89 Musicians and Musick 496 Mutations and changes 569 N. NAtures defects supplied 14 Noble Actions 161 Nâ—â—tambulo's 592 O. OBedience to Superiors 159 Oblivion 406 Oppression 382 Oracles deceitful 558 Orators famous 488 Oversights of great men 398 P. PAinters excellent 499 Parents indulgent 147 Parents severe 364 Patience 199 Peace loved by whom 139 Perfidiousness 447 Perjury 412 Philosophers 505 Physiognomists 497 Pity and Compassion 127 Poets Greek and Latinâ— 492 Popes of Rome 473 Poverty 334 Poyson 629 Predictions false 558 Predictions true 554 Praesages 549 Pride and Arrogance 429 Princes their Investiture 605 Printers famous 510 Prodigality 385 Promise kept 157 Prosperity 431 Prudence in discoveries 184 Punishments horrid 54 Punishments by small things 652 Pigmies and Dwarfs 36 Q. QUeen of Sheba what she proposed 184 Quarrels on slight occasions 436 R. RAshness 433 Recreations 651 Rejuvenescency 51 Religion despised 361 Religion observed 136 Reproofs well taken 203 Reproofs ill resented 442 Reprovers guilty of the same 441 Responses equivocal 558 Resurrection a parcel one 64 Returns to life 86 Retaliation 620 Retirement loved 575 Revenges bitter 379 Revenges moderate 177 Râ—ches contemned