earnesâ—ly besought the Gods that they would speedily enable him to return him equal kindness for that he had received oâ— him Not long after when Ptolemy had sent Câ—llâ—s his General with an Army against him he was overthrown and taken by Demetrius who sent both him and all the rest of the Captives as a Present to Pâ—â—lemy 4. Agrippa accus'd by Euâ—yches his Coachman of some words against Tibâ—â—ius was by his order seiz'd and put to the Chain beforâ— the Palace Gate with other Criminals brought thither It was hot Weather and he extreme thirsty seeing therefore Thaumastus a Servant of Câ—ligula's pass by with a Pitcher of Water he called him and entreated that he might drink which the other presented with much courtesie When he had drank assure thy self said he I will one day pay thee well for this Glass of Water thou hast given me If I get out of this Captivity I will make thee great Tiberius dy'd soon after he was freed by the favour of Caligula and by the same favour made King of Iudea here it was that he remembred Thaumastus rewarding him with the place of Comptroâ—ler of his house such power hath a slight good turn well plac'd upon a generous Soul 5. Darius the Son of Hâ—staspes being one of the Guard to Cambyses in his Expedition against Aeâ—ypt a Man then of no extraordinary condition seeing Syloson the Brother of Polycrates walking in the Market place of Memphis in a glittering Cloak he went to him and as one taken with the garment desired to buy it of him Syloson perceiving he was very desirous of it told him he would not sell it him for any Money but said he I will give it you on this condition that you never part with it to any other Darius receiv'd it In processe of time Cambyses being dead and the Magi overcome by the seven Princes Darius was made King Syloson hearing this comes to Susa sate in the entrance of the Palace saying he was one that had deserved well of the King this was told to Darius who wondring who it was he should be oblig'd to commanded he should be admitted Syloson was ask'd by an interpreter who he was and what he had done for the King He tells the matter about the Cloak and says he was the Person who gave it O thou most Generous amongst Men said Darius art thou he then who when I had no power gavest me that which though small in it self was yet as acceptable to me then as greater things would be to me now know I will reward thee with such a huge quantity of Gold and Silver that it shall never repent thee thou wast liberal to Darius the Son of Hystaspes O King said Syloson give me neither Gold nor Silver but when thou hast freed my Countrey of Samos which is now held by a Servant of my dead Brother Polycrates give me that without slaughter or Plunder Darius hearing this sent an Army under the conduct of Otanes one of the seven Princes of Persia commanding him that he should do for Syloson as he had desired 6. Rodericus Davalus was Lieutenant General of the Horse in Spain Anno Dom. 423. together with some others he was accused of High Treason of writing Letters to Iosephus King of the Moors as one that intended the betraying of his Countrey into his hands Divers Copies of these Letters were produc'd and the whole affair debated at the Council-Table In the crime of his Master was involv'd Alearus Nunnius Ferrerius born at Corduba and Steward of Davalus his house But he stoutly defending himself and his Master ceased not till he had shewed that the Letters were counterfeit and that the Authour of them was Iohannes Garsias of which he was convicted and condemned He got himself clear off bâ—t the other great Persons were condemned to perpetual banishment Here Ferrerius to support his Master in his wants sold all those goods of his which he had got in the service and by the bounty of his Master and having thereby made up the sum of 8000. Crowns he dispos'd it into Wicker Bottles loaded an Ass with it and causing his own Son to be meanly attired to drive the Ass he sent it all privily to his Master Davalus A Person certainly well worthy of being remembred by that Illustrious Nation and in his Posterity too in case any of them be yet extant 7. The only Daughter of Peter Martyr through the Ryot and Prodigality of her debauched Husband being brought to extreme poverty the Senate of Zurich out of a grateful remembrance of her Father's worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she liv'd 8. M. Minutius Master of the Horse by his insolence and temerity had lead his Army against Annibal into great distress where it was likely to be cut in pieces but by the seasonable assistance of Q. Fabius the then Dictator he was preserv'd Returning into his Camp he confessed his Errour commanded the Ensigns to be taken up and the whole Army to follow them he marches into the Camp of the Dictator and through it the ready way to Fabius his Tent to the wonder and amazement of all Men. Fabius came out to meet him then he causes the Ensigns to be stuck down himself with a loud voice called Fabius his Father his Army called the other Souldiers their Patrons and silence being commanded You have this day Dictator said Minutius obtained a double Victory by your Prowess upon the Enemy by your Prudence and Humanity upon your Colleague by the one you have sav'd us and by the ther instructed us so that we who were ignominiously conquered by Hannibal are Honourably and Profitably overcome by you Since therefore I know no other Name that is more venerable I call you an indulgent Father although this benefit I have from you is greater then that of my Parent for to him I do only owe my life but to you I am indebted both â—or my own and also for that of all these This said he embraced Fabius and kissed him the like might be observed through the whole Army for they received each other with mutual embraces and kisses so that the whole Camp was all joy and such as found no other way to express it self but by tears 9. On the Town-house of Geneva upon a marble Table is written in Letters of Gold thus Post Tenebras Lux. Quum Anno Dom. 1535. profligata Romana Anti-Christi Tyrannide abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus Sacro-Sancta Christi Religio hic in suam puritatem Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei beneficio reposita simul pulsis fugatisque hostibus urbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insigni miraculo restituta fuerit Senatus populusque Genevensis Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri atque hoc loco erigi curavit quo suam erga Deum gratitudinem apud Posteros testatam fâ—cerit In English thus After Darkness Light
natural graceful curle and was of so fair a flaxen colour that some Turks would have given him a considerable sum of Money for it and kept it for a rarity but he chose rather to bring it along with him into France 14. At the Gymnick Games which Nero exhibited in the Septa during the solemn preparation of the great Sacrifice Buthysia he cut off the first beard he had which he bestow'd within a golden Box adorn'd with most precious Pearls and then consecrated it in the Capitol to Iupiter 15. Of old time amongst the Greeks and indeed almost throughout the East they used to nourish their beards reputing it an insufferable injury and ignominy to have but one single hair pluck'd out of it It was therefore ordained as the punishment of Whoredom and Adultery that whosoever should be convicted of that crime he should have his beard publickly chopt off with a hatchet and so be dismiss'd as an infamous person Besides this it was esteemed the most sacred pawn or pledge of any thing whatsoever a Man that had obliged his beard for the payment of a debt would not fail to pay it 16. The Candiots or Cretans look'd upon it as a punishment to have the beard clipt off from them And so of old amongst the Indians if a Man had committed some great crime the King of the Country commanded that his beard should be shaven or cut off and this was esteemed as the greatest mark of infamy and ignominy as could befal them CHAP. XIV Of the Teeth with their different Number and Scituation in some NAture hath provided Mankind with Teeth upon a two-fold account especially the one is to reduce his Meat and Food into so soft and pliant a posture as is most convenient for the Stomach to receive it and this by Physicians is call'd a first digestion A second and principal use of the Teeth is for the furtherance of Speech without which the pronunciation of some words cannot be so direct and express but how it comes to pass that some have come into the World with them and others have had none all the time they have liv'd in it let others if they please enquire 1. Some Children are born into the World with Teeth as M. Curius who thereupon was sirnamed Dentatus So also was Cn. Papyrius Carbo both of them great Men. 2. Pherccrates from whom the Pherecratick verse was so call'd was born Toothless and so continued to his lives end 3. The number of the Teeth are 32. sometimes I have seen one over saith Columbus as in a certain Noble Person sometimes two or one under in some also but 28. are found which is the least number that is ordinary though I observ'd that Cardinal Nicholaus Ardinghellus had only six and twenty in his mouth and yet he had never lost any 4. Pyrrhus King of Epirus had no Teeth in his upper Jaw that is distinguish'd as others have one from the other but one intire bone throughout his gumb mark'd a little at the top only with certain notches where the Teeth should be divided 5. In the Reign of Christian the Fourth King of Denmark there were brought by the King's Fleet some of the Inhabitants of Greenland to Hafnia that their language might be the better understood by us Amongst these Barbarians there was one who shew'd to as many as had the curiosity to see it that he had but one continued Tooth which reached from the one end of the Jaw to the other For which I have the sufficient testimony of Dr. Thomas Finchius a venerable person in whose house the Barbarian did often feed upon raw flesh according to the custom of his own Countrey 6. Euryphaeus the Cyrenian had in his upper Jaw one continued bone instead of Teeth So had Euryptolemus King of the Cypriots So saith Melancthon had a Noble Virgin in his time in the Court of Ernestus Duke of Lunebergh and the Duke said she was of great Gravity and Virtue 7. Dripitine ihe Daughter of King Mithridates by Laodice his Queen had a double row of Teeth and though this is very rare in Mankind yet saith Columbus of his Boy Phoebus that he had a triple row or order of Teeth 8. It is constantly reported of Lewis the Thirteenth King of France that he had a double row of Teeth in one of his Jaws which was some hindrance to him in the readiness of his Speech 9. There are Teeth found to be bred in the Palate of some men saith Benedictus Pliny propounds the Example of one such And it happened that I saw the same in a Roman Woman saith Eustachius which he caused to be cut out and burnt He instances in another Youth of eighteen years of Age who liv'd in a Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Eugubuim in whom the same thing was to be seen 10. Aristotle writes that not only men in old Age but also Women sometimes at eighty years of Age have put forth their-great Teeth My Wife saith Donatus in the thirty sixth of her Age put forth the furtherst jaw Tooth A learned man tells of himself that in the fortieth year of his age he had a jaw Tooth came Vessalius also writes that in the twenty sixth year of his age he had one of his Grinders that discovered it self 11. Mutianus saith that he saw one Zancles a Samothracian who bred his Teeth again after he was now arrived to the hundred and fortieth year of his Age. 12. Prusias the Son of Prusias King of Bythinia haâ— instead of Teeth one continued and intire Bone in his upper Jaw nor was it any way unhandsome to the sight or inconvenient to him for use 13. After the Battle at Plataea wherein so many thousands of the Persians fell when the Bones were gathered together to be bury'd in one place there was found amongst them a little Skull which though it had distinct Teeth in the Jaw yet were they all as well grinders as others consisting of one solid Bone 14. Zenobia the Queen of the Palmyrens as she was in divers other respects a beautiful person so had she Teeth of that bright and shining whiteness that in discourse or when she laugh'd she seem'd to have her Mouth rather full of Margarites than Teeth 15. Nicholaus Sojerus a Belgian a person of great integrity and prudence has a set of Teeth of such an unusual property that being struck upon with a sorâ— of Indian Wood they are seen to sparkle Fire as if they were Flints This was delivered me as a certain truth by his own Brother Guilielmus Sojerus a person well skill'd in the Greek Learning 16. The Ancients had a great opinion of the Teeth as the principles of their being they therefore bury'd them with care when they fell out through time or accident nor was this respect done to them by the vulgar alone but by the Law-makers themselves
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
thereupon advised him to retire to the lowest and most secret part of the Cave he himself put on his Master's Gown pretending to the pursuers that he was the person whom they sought after being desirous to save the life of his Patron with the loss of his own But one of his Fellow-servants betrayed him in this officious design so the Master was fetched out of his hiding place and slain When this was known to the people of Rome they would not be satisfied till the betrayer of his Master was crucified and he that attempted to save him was set at liberty The servant of Vrbinius Panopion knowing that the Soldiers commissioned to kill his Master were come to his Houâ—e in Reatina changed cloaths with him and having put his Ring upon his Finger he sent him out at a postern door but went himself to the Chamber and threw himself upon the Bed where he was slain in his Masters stead Panopion by this means escaped and afterwards when the times would permit it erected a noble monument with a due inscription in memory of the true fidelity of so good a servant 8. Antistius Restio was proscribed by the Triumvirate and while all his Domâ—stick Servants were busied about the plunder and pillage of his House he conveyed himself away in the midst of night with what privacy he could his departure was observed by a servant of his whom not long before he had cast into Bonds and branded his face with infamous characters this man traced his wandring footsteps with such diligence that he overtook him and bare him company in his â—light and at such time as the other were scrambling for his Goods all his care was to save his life by whom he had been so severely used and though it might seem enough that he should forget what had passed he used all his art to preserve his Patron for having heard that pursuers were at hand he conveyed away his Master and having erected a Funeral Pile and set fire to it he sâ—ew a poor old man that passed that way and cast him upon it When the Soldiers were come and asked where was Antistius pointing to the fire he said he was there burning to make him amends for that cruelty he had used him with The Soldiers that saw how deep he was stigmatized thought it was probable enough believ'd him and by this means Antistius obtained his safety 9. Cornutus having hid himself was no less wittily and faithfully preserved by his Servants in those difficult days of Marius and Sylla for they having found the body of a man set â—ire about it and being asked of such as were sent out to kill their Master what they were about with an officious lye they told them they were performing the last offices for their dead Master who hearing this sought no further after him 10. Caepio was adjudged to death for conspiring against the life of Augustus Caesar but his Servant in the night carried him in a Chest out of the City and brought him by Night-Journies from Ostia to the Laurentine Fields to his Father's Villa or House of Pleasure Afterwards to be at the further distance from danger they took Ship but being by force of a tempest driven upon the Coast of Naples and the servant laid hold on and brought before the Centurion yet could he not be perswaded either by Bribes or Threats to make any discovery of his Master 11. Aesopus the freed man of Demosthenes being conscious of the adultery his Master had committed with Iulia and being exposed to the wrack bare the tortures thereof a long time with invincible patience nor by any menaces of pain could he be wrought upon to betray his Master chusing rather to endure all things than to bring his life or reputation into question 12. Hasdrubal managed the War of the Carthaginians in Spain and what by force and fraud had made himself the Master of most of it but having slain a certain Noble Man of Spain a servant of his a Frenchman by birth was not able to endure it but determined with himself to revenge the death of his Lord though at the price of his own liâ—e Whereupon he assaulted Hasdrubal and slew him he was taken in the fact tormented and fastened to a Cross but in the midst of all his pains he bore a countenance that shewed more of joy than of grief as one that was well satisâ—ied that he was secure in his premeditated revenge 13. Menenius was in the number of those that were proscribed by the Triumvirate and when a servant of his perceived that his Master's House was enclosed with a company of Soldiers that came to kill him he caused himself to be put into a Litter wherein his Master was used to be carried and ordered some other of his Fellow-servants to bear him forth in it The Soldiers supposing that it was Menenius himself slew him there whereupon looking no further his Master clad in a servile habit had the means and opportunity to escape into Sicily where he was in safety under the protection of Pompeius 14. The Hungarians had conspired against Sigismund King of Hungary and Bohemia but the plot being discovered the principal persons were all taken brought to Buda and there beheaded Stephanus Contus was the chief of these Conspirators who having thereupon lost his head Chioka his Esquire lamented the death of his Lord with such outcries that the King took notice of him and said unto him I am now become thy Lord and Master and it is in my power to do thee much more good than can be expected from that headless Trunk To whom the young man replyed I will never be the servant of a Bohemian Hog and I had rather be torn into a thousand pieces than to desert a Master of so great a Magnanimity as all the Bohemians together are not able to equal And thereupon he voluntarily laid down his head upon the Block and had it severed from his Shoulders that he might no longer survive his Master 15. These are instances of such servants as no considerations whatsoever could move to disloyalty or infidelity towards their Master such examples as these are few and rare whereas the world is full of those of the contrary and because I know nothing more pleasant wherewithal to shut up this Chapter I will set down the story of one that was not altogether of â—o virtuous a humour as the forementioned and it is this Lewis the Twelfth going to Bayonne lay in a Village called Esperon which is nearer to Bayonne than Burdeaux Now upon the great Road betwixt these two places the Bayliff had built a very noble House the King thought it very strange that in a Country so bare and barren as that was and amongst Downs and Sands that would bear nothing this Bayliff should build so fine a House and at Supper was speaking of it to the Chamberlain of his Houshold who made
wears out by time so the King's affection being changed towards the Admiral had charged him with some offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Pieâ—ont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Trial. Hereupon the King gave Commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the King's Advocate to question the Admiral 's life The Chancellor an ambitious man and of a large Conscience hoping to content the King wrought with some of the Judges with so great cunning others with so sharp threats and the rest with so fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the King's displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his life But the King hating falshood in so great a Magistrate and though to any that should bewail the Admiral 's calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and by the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount all his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be indicted arraigned degraded and condemned 16. Totilus King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Life-guard had ravished his Daughter upon which the Accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as his fact deserved but the Soldiers trooped about him desiring that their fellow Soldier a man of known valour might be given back to them Totilus sharply reproved them what would ye said he know ye not that without Iustice neither any Civil or Military Government is able to subsist can ye not remember what slaughters and calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of that we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one single Villain See you to your selves Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud careless of the event that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved you will then strike at me behold a body and breast ready for the stroke The Soldiers were moved with this speech deserted their Client The King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated person 17. The Emperor Leo Armâ—nus going out of his Palace was informed by a mean person that a Senator had ravished his Wife and that he had complained of his injury to the Perfect but as yet could have no redress The Emperor commanded that both the Prefect and Senator should be sent for and wait his return in his Palace together with their Accuser being come back he examined the matter and finding it true as the man had represented he displaced the Prefect from his Dignity for his negligence and punish'd the crime of the Senator with death 18. Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flaunders had a Noble Man in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of case he fell in love with a woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior He passed and repassed by her door soon after grew bolder entred into conference with her discovers his flame and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in vain Her chastity was proof against all the batteries he could make against it Falling therefore into despair he converts himself unto Villany He was as I said a Governour and Duke Charles was busied in War he causes therefore the Husband of his Mistress to be accused of Treachery and forthwith commits him to Prison to the end that by fear or threats he might draw her to his pleasure or at least quit himself of her Husband the only Rival with him in his Loves The woman as one that loves her Husband goes to the Goal and thence to the Governor to entreat for him and if she was able to obtain his liberty Dost thou come O my Dear to entreat me said the Governor You are certainly ignorant of the Empire you have over me Render me only a mutual affection and I am ready to restore you your Husband for we are both under a restraint he is in my Prison and I am in yours Ah how easily may you give lâ—berty to us both wâ—y do you refuse As a Lover I beseech you and as you tender my life as the Governor I ask you and as you tender the life of your Husband both are at stake and if I must perish I will not fall alone The woman blush'd at what she heard and withal being in fear for her Husband trembled and turned pale He perceiving she was moved and supposing that some force should be used to her modesty they were alone throws her upon the bed and enjoys the fruit which will shortly prove bitter to them both The woman departed confounded and all in tears thinking of nothing more than revenge which was also the more inflamed by a barbarous aâ—t of the Governor for he having obtained his desire and hoping hereafter freely to enjoy her took care that her Husband and his Rival should be beheaded in the Goal and there was the body put into a Coffin ready for Burial This done he sent for her and in an affable manner What said he do you seek for your Husband you shall have him and pointing to the Prison you shall find him there take him along with you The woman suspecting nothing went her way when there she sees and is astonished she falls upon the dead Corps and having long lamented over it she returns to the Governor with a fierce countenance and tone It is true said she you have restored me my Husband I owe you thanks for the favour and will pay you He endeavours to retain and appease her yet in vain but hasting home she calls about her her most faithful friends recounts to them all that had passed All agree that she should make her case known to the Duke who amongst other his excellent Virtues was a singular Lover of Justice To him she went was heard but scarce believed The Duke is angry and grieved that any of his and in his Dominions should presume so far He commands her to withdraw into the next Room till he sent for the Governor who by chance was then at Court being come do you know said the Duke this woman the man changed
satis The meanning is that if we should allow three leaves to every day of his life from his very Birth there would be some to spare yet withal he wrote so exactly that Ximenes his Scholar attempting to contract his Commentaries upon St. Matthew could not well bring it to less than a thousand leaves in Folio and that in a very small Print Others also have attempted the like in his other Works but with the same success 3. Iulius Caesar Scaliger was thirty years old before he fell to study yet was a singular Philosopher and an excellent Greek and Latin Poet. Vossius calls him The Miracle of Nature the chief Censor of the Ancients and the Darling of all those that are concerned to attend upon the Muses Lipsius highly admires him There are three saith he whom I use chiefly to wonder at as persons who though amongst men seem yet to have transcended all humane Attainments Homar Hippocrates and Aristotle but I shall add to them this fourth that is Julius Scaliger that was born to be the Miracle and the Glory of our Age. He verily thinks there was no such acute and capacious Wit as his since the Age of Iulius Caesar. Meibomiuâ— calls him a man of stupendious Learning and than whom the Sun hath scarce shined upon a more learned Thuanus saith Antiquity had scarcely his Superior 't is certain his own Age had not the like 4. Amongst the great Heroes and Miracles of Learning most renowned in this latter Age Ioseph Scaliger hath merited a more than ordinary place The learned Causabon hath given this Character of him There is nothing saith he that any man could desire to learn but that he was able to teach He had read nothing and yet whâ—t had he not read but what he did readily remember There was nothing in any Latin Greek or Hebrew Author that was so obscure or abstruse but that being consulted about it he would forthwith resolve He was throughly versed in the Histories of all Nations in all Ages in the successive Revolutions of all Empires and in all the Affairs of the ancient Churches he was able to recount all the Ancient and Modern Names Differences and Proprieties of living Creatures Plants Metals and all other Natural things He was accurately skill'd in the scituation of Places the bounds of Provinces and their various Divisions according to the diversity of Times There was none of the Arts and Sciences so difficult that he had left uâ—touched He knew so many Languages so exactly that if he had made that one thing his business throughout the whole compass of his life it might have been worthily reputed a miracle Hereunto may be annexed the Testimony of Iulius Caesar Bulengerus a Doctor of the Sorbon and Professor at Pisa who in the twelfth Book of the History of his time thus writes of the same Scaliger There followed the Year 1609. an unfortunate Year in respect of the death of Ioseph Scaliger than whom this Age of ours hath not brought forth any of so great a Genius or ingenuity as to Learning and possibly the fore-past Ages have not had his Equal in all kinds of Learning 5. That which Pasquier hath observed out of Monshclet is yet more memorable touching a young man who being not above twenty years old came to Paris in the Year 1445. and shewed himself so admirably excellent in all Arts and Sciences and Languages that if a man of an ordinary good Wit and sound Constitution should live one hundred years and during that time should study incessantly without eating drinking and sleeping or any recreation he could hardly attain to that perfection Insomuch that some were of opinion that he was Antichrist begotten of the Devil or at least somewhat above Humane Condition Castellanus who lived at the same time and saw this Miracle of Wit made these Verses on him his are in French but may be thus Englished A young man have I seen At twenty years so skill'd That ev'ry Art he had and all In â—ll degrees excell'd Whatever yet was writ He vaunted to pronounce Likâ— a young Anti-Christ if he Did read the same but once 6 Beda was born in the Kingdom of Northumberland at Girroy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by St. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar of his Age for Latin Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his life time in the Christian Churches a dignity afforded him alone whence some say his Title of Venerable Beda was given him It being a middle betwixt plain Beda which they thought too little and St Beda which they thought too much while he was yet alive 7. Roger Bacon was a famous Mathematician and most skilful in other Sciences accurately vers'd in the Latin Greek and Hebrew of whom Selden thus Roger Bacon of Oxford a Minoriâ—e an excellent Mathematician and a person of more learning than any of his age could aâ—ford 8. Richard Pacie Dean of Pauls and Secretary for the Latin Tongue to King Henry the Eighth he was of great ripeness of wit learning and eloquence and also expert in foreign languages Pitsaeus gives him this Character A man endowed with most excellent gifts of mind adorned with great variety of leâ—â—â—ing he had a sharp wit a mature judgment a constant and firm memory a prompt and ready tongue and such a one as might deservedly contâ—nd with the most learned men of his age for â—kill in the Latin Greek and Hebrew languages 9. Anicius Mâ—â—liâ—s Soverinus Boeâ—hius â—â—ourished Anno Dom. 520. He was very famous in his days being Consul at Rome and a man of rare gifts and abilities Some say that in prose he came not behind Cicero himself and had none that exceeded him in Poetry A great Philosopher Musician and Mathematician Polit. saith of him thus Than Boethius in Logick who more acute in Mathematicks more subtile in Philosophy more copious and rich or in Divinity more sublime He was put to death by Theodoricus King of the Goths and after he was slain Peripatetick Philosophy decayed and almost all Learning in Italy Barbarism wholly invaded it and expelled good Arts and Philosophy out of its Borders saith Hereboord of Verona 10. St. Augustine in his Epistle to Cyril Bishop of Ierusalem writes concerning St. Ierome that he understood the Hebrew Greek Chaldee Persian Median and Arabick tongues and that he was skill'd in almost all the learning and languages of all Nations The same St. Augustine saith of him no man knows that which St. Ierome is ignorant of 11. Mithridates the great King of Pontus had no less than twenty and two Countries under his Government yet was he used to answer all these Ambassadors in the same language of his Country that he spake to him in without the help of any Interpreter A wonderful evidence of a very singular memory that could so distinctly lay up
Miniâ—r the President of the Council at Aix For having condemned this poor people of Heresie he mustered a small army and set fire on the Villages they of Merindol seeing the flame with their Wives and Children fled into Woods but were there butchered or sent to the Galleys One Boy they took placed him against a Tree and shot him to death with Calivers Twenty five which had hid themselves in a Cave were in part stifled in part burnt In Chabriers they so inhumanely dealt with the young Wives and Maids that most of them dyed immediately after The Men and Women were put to the sword the Children were re-baptized Eight hundred men were murthered in a Cave and fourty Women put together into an old Barn and burnt yea such was the cruelty of these Souldiers to these poor Women that when some of them had clambered to the top of the Barn with an intent to leap down the Souldiers beat them back again with their Pikes 7. King Etheldred the younger Son of Edgar being oppressed and broken by the Danes was forced to buy his peace of them at the yearly tribute of ten thousand pounds which in a short time after was inhanced to fourty eight thousand pounds which moneys were raised upon the Subjects by the name of Danegelt Weary of these exactions sending forth a secret commission into every City of his Kingdom he plotted warily with his Subjects to kill all the Danes as they slept in their beds which accordingly was put into execution on St. Brices night November 13. Anno 1012. 8. That Tribe of the Tartars who are called Hippophagi from their feeding upon Horse-flesh made an expedition into Asia the greater leaving Albania behind them they fell into Media Phraortes the then King encountred them but was overthrown finding therefore he was not able to remove them by force he assayed it by policy perswading them to look Southward as unto richer Countreys hereupon full of prey and presents they marched towards Egypt but were met in Syria by Psamniticus the Egyptian King outâ—ying the Median for he was the richer King he loaded them with gifts and treasure and sent them back again into Media from whence they came where for many years they afflicted that people and the neighbouring Provinces doubling their tributes and using all kind of insolencies till in the end Cyaxares the Son and Successour of Phraortes acquainting some of his most faithful Subjects with his design caused the better part of them to be plentifully feasted made them drunk and slew them recovering thereby the possession of his whole estate CHAP. XIII Of the Excessive Prodigality of some Persons AT Padua in Italy they have a stone called the stone of Turpitude it is placed near the Senate House hither it is that all Spendthrifts and such as disclaim the payment of their debts are brought and they are enforced to sit upon this Stone with their hinder parts bare that by this note of publick infamy and disgrace others may be terrified from all such vain expenses or borrowing more than they know they are able to pay Great pity it 〈◊〉 that there is not such a Stone in all the Countreys of the World or at least some other happy invention whereby it might be provided that there should be fewer followers of such pernicious examples as were those that are hereafter related 1. Cresippus Son to Chabrias a noble Athenian was so prodigal that after he had lavishly consumed all his goods and other estate he sold also the very stones of his Fathers Tomb in the building whereof the Athenians had disbursed one thousand Drachms 2. Paschisyrus King of Crete after that he had spent all that he had and could otherwise make he at length sold his Kingdom also and lived afterwards privately in the City of Amathunta in Cyprus where he dyed miserably 3. Heliogabalus the Emperour was possâ—ssed rather with a madness than excess of prodigality he filled his Fish-ponds with Rose-water he supplied his Lamps with the precious Balsam that distills from the Trees in Arabia he wore upon his Shoos Pearls and Precious Stones engraven by the hands of the most skilfull Artists his Dining room was strewed with Saffron and his Portico's with the dust of Gold and he was never known to put on any Garment a second time whether it was of the richest Silk or woven with Gold 4. A young Prodigal the Son of a rich and wealthy Citizen and newly left the Heir of his deceased Father did determine at once to please and gratifie his five Senses and to that purpose he allowed to the delight of every several Sense an hundred pounds In the first place thereâ—ore he bespake a curious fair Room richly hanged and furnished with the most exquisite Pictures to please his Eye he had all the choycest Musick that could be heard of to please the Ear he had all the Aromatick and Odoriferous Perfumes to content his Smell all the Candyes Sweet-meats Preserves and Junkets even to the stretching of the Confectioners Art to delight his Taste lastly a fair and beautiful young Lady to lodge with him in a soft Bed and the finest Linnen that could be bought to accommodate his Touch all which he enjoyed at one time He spent thirty thousand pounds in three years and after all swore if he had three times more than ever he had he would spend it all to live one week like a God though he was sure to be damned in Hell the next day after 5. King Demetrius having raised a Tax upon the Athenians of two hundred and fifty Talents when he saw all that mass of mony laid on a heap before him he gave it amongst his Curtezans to buy them Sope. 6. C. Caligula in less than a year scattered and consumed those infinite heaps of Gold and Silver which Tiberius his Predecessor had heaped up amounting to no less than seven and twenty hundred millions of Sesterces 7. Of Vitellius Iosephus yields this Testimony that having reigned but eight months and five dayes he was slain in the midst of the City whose luxury and prodigality should he have lived longer the Empire could not have satisfied And Tacitus also saith of him that holding it fully sufficient and not caring for the future within the compass of a few months he is said to have set going nine hundred millions of Sesterces which sum Budaeus having cast it up thus pronounces of it I affirm saith he is no less than twenty five hundred thousand Crowns 8. When Nero had given so unreasonable a sum that his Mother Agrippina thought it fit to restrain his boundless prodigality She caused the whole sum to be laid upon the Table as he was to pass by that so the sight of it might work him to a sense of his folly but he as it seems suspecting it to be his Mothers device commands presently so much more to be added to it and
the next Assize there to be set on the Pillory with the like Paper and his other ear to be there cut off also to stand in the Pillory one Market-day at Canterbury another at Rochester and in all these places his offence to be openly read which sentence was accordingly executed CHAP. XXIX Of Perjured persons and how they have been punished AN Oath is the most solemn and Sacred security that one man can possibly give to another notwithstanding which there are a multitude of men who bear no more regard to what they have sworn than if they had been words which had never been said Nemesis is in pursuit of all these sons of falshood and fraud and having once overtaken them will no doubt inflict a vengeance upon them agreeable to their merit 1. Vladislaus King of Poland and Hungary had fortunately fought against the Turks at the Mountain Haemus and taken Carambey the General of their Army by means of this Victory he occasioned Amurath the Turkish King to sue to him for Peace the terms of it were both honourable and every way advantageous it was mutally sworn to by the King upon the holy Evangelists and Amurath by his Embassadours upon the Turkish Alcoran This known to the Pope and other Christian Princes they spake of it as unseasonable unprofitable and dishonourable whereupon the Cardinal Iulian is sent by the Pope as his Legate to break the Peace and to absolve the King from his Oath The young King therefore at their instance breaks the League and undertakes the War with greater preparations and vigour than his former he advances with his Army to Varna a City upon the Pontick Shore doing all the mischief he was able to the Enemies Country which so soon as the Turk had knowledge of he returns out of Cilicia and enters battel with the Christians where at first the Turks were made to retire by the King and Huniades with great slaughter and almost to flye Amurath seeing all brought into extreme danger beholding the Picture of the Crucifix in the displayed Ensigns of the voluntary Christians pluck'd the writing out of his bosom wherein the late League was comprized and holding it up in his hand with his eyes cast up to Heaven said Behold thou Crucified Christ this is the League thy Christians in thy name made with me which they have without cause violated now if thou be a God as they say thou art and as we dream revenge the wrong now done unto thy Name and me and shew thy power upon thy Perjured people who in their deeds deny thee their God It was not long e're the battel turned Vladislaus was slain his head cut off by Ferizes an old Ianizary and fastened on the end of a Launce Proclamation was made that it was head of the Christian King by which the rest were so daunted that they fled the Legate also who exhorted to this War was slain and his dead Corpse laden with the outrage and contumelies of the Infidels for that being a Priest he had contrary to the Law of Nations advised and perswaded to break the Peace This battel was fought Anno 1444. 2. Ibraim Bassa Grand Vizier the Minion and darling favorite of Solyman the Magnificent upon a time in familiar conference with his Lord and Master besought him that he would not persist to accumulate so many honours upon him lest flourishing and being improved to an unbecoming height his Majesty e're long should think it fit to tumble him headlong from that high Pinacle of honour whereunto he had raised him by putting him to death Solyman then assured him with an Oath That so long as he lived he should never be put to death by his order Afterwards this so fortunate Ibraim grew into dislike with his Master and Solyman having purposed his death was yet somewhat troubled about the Oath that he had before made him when one of the Priests told him That when a man is asleep he cannot be said to live seeing that life is a continual Vigil and Watch that therefore opportunity should be sought to find the Bassa asleep and then he might be conveniently sent out of the World without breach of the Princes Oath Solyman liked well of this base and fradulent device and one time when the Vizier was sleeping sent an Eunuch with a Razour to cut his Throat as accordingly he did 3. Ludovicus the son of Boso King of Burgundy came into Italy against the Emperour Berengarius the second where he was by him overcome in Battel and taken but as a singular instancâ— of humanity in Berengarius he was by him set free having first received his Oath That during his life he should no more return into Italy but the ungrateful Prince unmindful both of his own Oath and the others benefits not long after enters Italy a second time with mighty Forces and about Verona was again made Prisoner and had his eyes put out by the Victor as a punishment of his ingratitude and breach of Faith 4. Anno 1070. or thereabouts so great a feud arose betwixt the Emperour Henry the fourth and Pope Gregory the seventh that the Pope excommunicated him and depriving him of his Imperial Dignity caused that Rodulphus Duke of Suevia should be as he was by some of the German Princes substituted in his stead there was therefore a great Battel betwixt them at the River Ellester where the Emperour Henry had the Victory Rodulphus by a terrible blow had his right arm struck off from his body at which he cryed out Behold O ye Nobles that right hand of mine which I gave to Lord Henry in confirmation of the fidelity I had sworn to him which Oath notwithstanding contrary to all Justice and Equity I have violated and am now thus justly punished 5. Ptolomaeus one of the Successours of Alexander the Great having driven out Anâ—igonus had seized upon Macedonia made Peace with Antiochus and a League with affinity with Pyrrhus So that now he was secure on all hands except his own Sister and the Children she had It was Arsinoe who had been the Wife of Lysimachus King of Macedon he therefore bent his mind and used all his arts to take her together with her Children but finding her cautious advised and fearing all things he made use of the strongest engine with the weaker sex which is Love she was his Sister but that was nothing in the East where such relation is rather an incentive than otherwise He therefore sent his Embassadours with presents and letters he offers her the society of the Kingdom and the inheritance of it to her Children and professes that he had employed his Arms upon it for no other end than that he might leave it to them the truth of this he was ready to depose upon oath whereever she pleased to appoint even at the holiest Altars and Temples she should make choice of In short Arsinoe is perswaded she sends the most faithful
the same time I should behold the funerals of two men the dearest unto me of all other I had rather part with the dead than slaughter the living and having said this she commands the body of her dead Husband to be taken out of his Coffin cuts off his nose to disfigure his face and delivers him to be fastned to the Cross that was empty The Souldier made use of the wit of the wise woman and the next day it was the wonder of the people which way the dead Thief was again got upon his Cross. 12. Portius Latro an excellent Oratour of whom Seneca says that he was too much in every thing and constant in nothing for he neither knew how to leave his studies nor when he had how to get to them again when he once set himself to writing he remained at it night and day and followed it without any intermission till such time as he fainted and on the other side when he was risen from it he yielded up himself as intirely to pastime jesting and merriment When he was got into the Mountains and Woods he contended with the best and hardiest of all them that were born in those places for patience in Labour and Pains and diligence in Hunting and fell into such desires of living in that manner that he had much ado to perswade himself back to his former course of life But being once returned he gave up himself with such eagerness to his studies as if he had never departed from them This man afterwards fell into the disease of a double Quartan which was so tedious to him that not able to endure it he laid violent hands upon himself and so dyed CHAP. XXXI Of the Covetous and Greedy disposition of some Men. THe great and learned Hippocrates wished a consultation of all the Physicians in the World that they might advise together upon the means how to cure Covetousness â—t is now above two thousand years ago since he had this desire after him a thousand and a thousand Philosopâ—ers have employed their endeavour to cure this insatiable Dropsy All of them have lost their labour therein the evil rather encreases than decâ—â—â—es under the multitude of remedies Theâ— have been a number in former ages sick oâ— it and this wide Hospital of the World is still as full of such Patients as ever it was We read of 1. Herod the Ascalonite after his vast expences that he grew to such a Covetous humour that having heard how Hirâ—anus his predecessor had opened the Monument of King David and carried thence three thousand talents of Silver he taking along with him a party of his choicer friends lest the design should take air went in the night time opened and entred the same Monument and though he found nothing of Silver as Hircanus had before done yet he found there much furniture and several utensils of Gold all which he caused to be carried away which done he passed on to the more inward Cells and Repositories where the bodies of the two Kings David and Solomon lay embalmed endeavouring to enter there two of his Courtiers were struck dead and as it is constantly affirmed he himself frighted with the eruption of fire and flame from those apartments went his way After this deed of his it was observed that his affairs succeeded not with his wonted prosperity and in his family there was a kind of continual Civil War which after did not end without the blood of more persons than one 2. Marcus Crassus the Româ—n at the beginning had not much more than three hundred talents left him yet by his covetous practises got such a vast estate that when he was Consul he made a great sacrifice to Hercules and kept an open feast for all Rome upon a thousand Tables and gave to every Citizen Corn to find him three months and yâ—t before his Parthian expedition being desirous to know what all he had was worth found that it amounted to seven thousand and one hundred talents but even this would not content him but thirsting after the Parthian Gold he led an Army against them by whom he was overthrown his head was chopt off by Surinas the Parthian General who also caused molten Gold to be poured down his throat upbraiding by that action his unquenchable avarice 3. Cardinal Angelot was so basely covetous that by a private way he used to go into the Stable and steal the Oats from his own Horses on a time the Master of his Horse going into the Stable in the dark and â—inding him there taking him for a Thief beat him soundly he was also so hard to his Servants that his Chamberlain watching his opportunity slew him 4. Nitocris Queen of Babylon built her Sepulchre over the most eminent Gate in that City and caused to be ingraven upon her Tomb What King soever that comes after me and shall want mony let him open this Sepulchre and take thence so much as he pleases but let him not open it unless he want for he shall not find it for his advantage Darius long after finding this inscription brake open the Sepulchre but instead of Treasure he only found this Inscription within Unless thou wert a wicked man and basely covetous thou wouldst never have violated the Dormitories of the dead 5. Arthur Bulkley the covetous Bishop of Bangor in the reign of King Henry the eighth had sacrilegiously sold the five fair Bells of his Cathedral to be transported beyond the Seas and went down himself to see them shipped they suddenly sunk down with the Vessel in the Haven and the Bishop fell instantly blind and so continued to the day of his death 6. One reports this Pasquin of Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury for his covetousness Here lies his Grace in cold clay clad Who dy'd for want of whai he had 7. Anno 712. Rodericus was the last King of the Goths there was a Palace in Toledo that was shut up and made fast with strong Iron bars the Universal Tradition concerning which was That the opening of it should be the destruction of Spain Rodericus laugh'd at it and supposing that Treasure was hid in it caused it to be broke open no Treasure was found but there was a great Chest and in it a linnen cloath wherein was depainted several strange â—aces and uncouth habits in a Military posture also there was an Inscription in Latin to this purpose That Spain should be destroyed by such a Nation as that and the Prediction was in some sort verified for Count Iulianus having his daughter ravished by the King in Revenge thereof he called in the Moors from Africa who slew the King and ruinated the Country 8. Perses the last King of Macedon a little before he was taken was deserted by all his Souldiers saving only a few Câ—â—ans whom he retained with the hope of mighty promises having before-hand put into their hands some Vessels of Gold as
by policy to get it or by riches to buy it But the king of Terrors is not to be bribed by the Gold of Ophir it is a pleasure to him to mix the Brains of Princes and Politicians with common dust and how loth soever he was to depart yet go he must for he dyed of that disease as little lamented as desired 4. C. Mecaenas the great Friend and Favourite of Augustus was so soft and effeminate a person that he was commonly called Malcinus He was so much afraid of death that saith Seneca he had often in his mouth All things are to be endured so long as life is continued of which those Verses are to be read Debilem facito mami Debilem pede coxa Tuber adstrue gibberum Lubricos quate dentes Vita dum superest bene est Make me lame on either hand And of neither foot to stand Raise a bunch upon my back And make all my teeth to shake Nothing comes amiss to me So that life remaining be 5. The Emperour Domitian was in such fear of receiving death by the hands of his Followers and in such a strong suspicion of treason against him that he caused the Walls of the Galleries wherein he used to walk to be set and garnished with the stone Phengites to the end that by the light thereof he might see all that was done behind him 6. Lewis the eleventh King of France when he found himself sick sent for one Fryer Robert out of Calabria to come to him to Toures the man was a Hermit and famous for his sanctity and while in his last sickness this holy man lay at Plessis the King sent continually to him saying that if he pleased he could prolong his life He had reposed his whole confidence in Monsieur Iames Cothier his Physician to whom he gave monthly ten thousand Crowns in hope he would prolong his life Never man saith Comines feared death more than he nor sought so many wayes to avoid it as he did Moreover as he adds in all his life time he had given commandment to all his Servants as well to my self as others that when we should see him in danger of death we should only move him to confess himself and dispose of his Conscience not sounding in his ear this dreadful word Death knowing that he should not be able patiently to hear that cruel sentence His Physician aforesaid used him so roughly that a man could not have given his Servant so sharp language as he usually gave the King and yet the King so much feared him that he durst not command him out of his Presence For notwithstanding that he complained to divers of him yet durst he not change him as he did all his other servants because this Physician said once thus boldly to him I know that one day you will command me away as you do all your other Servants but you shall not live eight days after it binding it with a great Oath which word put the King in such fear that ever after he flattered him and bestowed such gifts upon him that he received from him in five months time fifty four thousand Crowns besides the Bishoprick of Amiens for his Nephew and other Offices and Lands for him and his Friends 7. Rhodius being through his unseasonable liberty of speech cast into a Den by a Tyrant was there nourished and kept as a hurtful beast with great torment and ignominy his hands were cut off and his face disfigured with wounds In this wretched case when some of his Friends gave him advice by voluntary abstinence to put an end to his miseries by the end of his days he replied that while a man lives all things are to be hoped for by him 8. Cn. Carbo in his third Consulship being by Pompeys order sent into Sicily to be punished begged of the Souldiers with great humility and with tears in his eyes that they would permit him to attend the necessity of nature before he dyed and this only that he might for a small space protract his stay in a miserable life He delayed the time so long till such time as his head was severed from his body as he sate in a nasty place 9. D. Iunius Brutus bought a small and unhappy moment of his life with great infamy for Antonius having sent Furius to kill him when he was taken he not only did withdraw his Neck from the Sword but being also exhorted to lay it down with more constancy he swore he would in these words As I live I will give but some wretched delay to my fate 10. A certain King of Hungary being on a time very sad his Brother a jolly Courtier would needs know of him what ailed him Oh Brother said he I have been a great sinner against God and I fear to dye and to appear before his Tribunal These are said his Brother melancholy thoughts and withal made a jest of them The King replyed nothing for the present but the custome of the Country was that if the Executioner came and sounded a Trumpet before any mans door he was presently to be led to execution The King in the dead time of the night sends the Headsman to sound his Trumpet before his Brothers door who hearing it and seeing the messenger of death springs in pale and trembling into his Brothers presence beseeching him to tell him wherein he had offended Oh Brother replyed the King you have never offended me but is the sight of my Executioner so dreadful and shall not I that have greatly and grievously offended God fear that of his that must carry me before his Judgement-Seat 11. Theophrastus the Philosopher is said at his death to have accused nature that she had indulged a long life to Stags and Crows to whom it was of no advantage but had given to man a short one to whom yet the length of it was of great concern for thereby the life of man would be more excellent being perfected with all Arts and adorned with all kind of Learning he complained therefore that as soon as he had begun to perceive these things he was forced to expire yet he lived to the eighty fifth year of his age 12. Mycerinus the Son of Cleops King of Egypt set open the Temples of the Gods which his Father Cleops and Uncle Cephrenes had caused to be shut up he gave liberty to the people who were before oppressed and reduced to extremity of â—alamity He was also a lover and doer of Justice above all the Kings of his time and was exceedingly beloved of his people But from the Oracle of the City Buti there was this prediction sent him that he should live but six years and dye in the seventh He resented this message ill and sent back to the Oracle reproaches and complaints expostulating that whereas his Father and his Uncle had been unmindful of the gods and great oppressors of men yet had they enjoyed a long
Clime temperate as scituate under the Aequator Here making advantage of the difference betwixt two Kings contending with each other having strengthned himself but especially by the terrour of his Guns and Horses he overcame Montezuma the most potent of all the Kings made himself Master of the great City Temistitana and took possession of that rich and fertile Country in the Name of his Master But long he did not enjoy it for the same of these great actions drew the envy of the Court upon him so that he was sent for back having as a reward of his virtue received the Town of Vallium from Charles the Emperour to him and his Posterity for ever He afterwards followed Caesar in his African Expedition to Algier where he lost his precious Furniture by Shipwrack Of a mean mans Son of the poor Town of Medelinum Caesar raised him to the degree of a Noble-man some few years after which he dyed at home not as yet aged 5. Sir Francis Drake was born nigh South Tavestock in Devonshire and brought up in Kent being the Son of a Minister who fled into Kent for fear of the six Articles and bound his Son to the Master of a small Bark which traded into France and Zealand his Master dying unmarried bequeathed his Bark to him which he sold and put himself into farther employment at first with Sir Iohn Hawkins afterwards upon his own account Anno 1577. upon the thirteenth of December with a fleet of five Ships and Barks and one hundred seventy four men Gentlemen and Saylers he began that famous Navigation of his wherein he sayled round about the world with great vicissitude of Fortune he finished that Voyage arriving in England November the third 1580. the third year of his setting out having in the whole Voyage though a curious searcher after the time lost one day through the variation of several climates He feasted the Queen in his Ship at Dartford who Knighted him for his service being the first that had accomplished so great a design He is therefore said to have given for his device a Globe with this Motto Tu primus circumdedisti me Thou first didst Sayl round me A Poet then living directed to him this Epigram Drake pererrati novit quem terminus Orbis Quemque simul Mundi vidit uterque Polus Si Taceant homines facient te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui Drake whom th'encompast Earth so fully knew And whom at once both Poles of Heav'n did view Should Men forget thee Sol could not forbear To Chronicle his fellow Travailer 6. Sebastian Cabot a Venetian rigged up two Ships at the cost of Henry the seventh King of England Anno 1496. intending to the Land of Cathai and from thence to turn towards India to this purpose he aimed at a passage by the Northwest but after certain dayes he found the Land ran towards the North he followed the Continent to the fifty sixth degree under our Pole and there finding the Coast to turn towards the East and the Sea covered with Ice he turned back again sayling down by the Coast of that Land towards the Aequinoctial which he called Baccalaos from the number of fishes found in that Sea like Tunnies which the Inhabitants call Baccalaos Afterwards he sayled along the Coast unto thirty eight degrees and provisions failing he returned into England was made Grand Pilot of England by King Edward the sixth with the allowance of a large pension of one hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence during life 7. Mr. Thomas Candish of Trimley in the County of Suffolk Esquire departed out of Plimouth Thursday the twenty first of Iuly 1586. with the Desire a Ship of one hundred and twenty Tun the Content of sixty Tun and the Hugh-gallant a Bark of forty Tun with one hundred twenty three Persons of all sorts with these he made an admirable and successful Voyage into the South Sea and from thence about the circumference of the whole Earth and the ninth of September 1588. after a terrible Tempest which carried away most part of their Sayls they recovered their long wished for Port of Plimouth in England whence they set forth in the beginning of their Voyage CHAP. VII Of the Eloquence of some men and the wonderful power of perswasion that hath been in their Speeches and Orations AMongst the Heathen Mercury was accounted the God of Eloquence and with the rest of his Furniture they allotted him a Rod or Wand by virtue of which he had the power of conducting some souls to Hell and â—reeing others from thence By which they would signifie that the power of Eloquence is such as it frees from death such as the Hangman waited for and as often exposes innocence to the utmost severity of the Law See something of the force of it in the following Examples 1. Hegesias a Cyrenean Philosopher and Oratour did so lively represent the miseries of humane life in his Orations and fixed the Images of them so deep in the minds and hearts of his Auditors that many of them sought their freedom thence by a voluntary death Insomuch that King Ptolomaeus was enforced to send him a command that he should forbear to make any publick Orations upon that Subject for the future 2. Pericles the Athenian was said to thunder and lighten and to carry a dreadful thunderbolt in his tongue by reason of his Eloquence Thucydides the Milesian one of the Nobles and long his enemy in respect of State matters being asked by Archidamus the Spartan King which was the best Wrastler of Pericles or him As soon saith he as wrastling with him I have cast him to the ground he denies it and perswades that he had not the fall and withall so efficaciously that he makes all the Spectators to believe it Whensoever Pericles was to make an Oration he was very solicitous in the composure of it and whensoever he was to speak in any cause he ever used â—irst to pray to the gods that no single word might fall from his lips which was not agreeable to the present matter in hand 3. Many were famous amongst the Romans for Eloquence but this was never an hereditary priviledge save only in the family of the Curio's in which there were three Oratours in immediate succession to each other 4. Iohn Tiptoft Earl of Worcester was bred in Baliol Colledge he was the â—irst English person of honour that graced Learning with the study thereof in the dayes of King Edward the fourth both at home and in foreign Universities He made so eloquent an Oration in the Vatican in the presence of Pope Pius the second one of the least bad and most learned of his Order that his Holiness was divided betwixt weeping and wondring thereat 5. Demades was the Son of Demaeas a Mariner and from a Porter betook himself to the Commonwealth in the City of Athens all men
the building of the City His first eleven Books are all that are extant in which he reaches to the two hundred and twelfth year of the City He â—lourished in the time of Augustus Caesar and is said to have lived in the Family of M. Varro 10. Polybius of Megalopolis was the Master Councellour and daily Companion of Scipio the younger who in the year of the World 3800. razed Carthage he begins his Roman History from the first Punick War and of the Greek Nation the Achaeans from the fortieth year after the death of Alexander the Great of forty Books he wrote but five are left and the Epitomes of twelve other in which he reaches to the Battel at Cynoscephale betwixt King Philip of Macedon and the Romans 11. Salustius wrote many Parts of the Roman History in a pure and quaint brevity of all which little is left besides the Conspiracy of Catiline oppressed by the Consul Cicero sixty years before the birth of Christ and the War of Iugurth managed by C. Marius the Consul in the forty fourth year before the Conspiracy aforesaid 12. Iulius Caesar hath wrote the History of his own Acts in the Gallick and Civil Wars from the 696 year ab V. C. to the 706. and comprized them in Commentaries upon every year in such a purity and beautiful propriety of expression and such a native candour that nothing is more terse polite more useful and accommodate to the framing of a right and perspicuous expression of our selves in the Latin Tongue 13. Velleius Paterculus in a pure and sweet kind of speech hath composed an Epitome of the Roman History and brought it down as far as the thirty second year after the birth of Christ that is the sixteenth year of Tiberius under whom he flourished and was Questor 14. Cornelius Tacitus under Adrian the Emperour was Praefect of the Belgick Gaul he wrote a History from the death of Augustus to the Reign of Trajan in thirty Books of which the five first contain the History of Tiberius the last eleven Books from the eleventh to the twenty first which are all that are extant reach from the eighth year of Claudius to the beginning of Vespasian and the besieging of Ierusalem by Titus which was Anno Dom. 72. He hath comprised much in a little is proper neat quick and apposite in his stile and adorns his discourse with variety of Sentences 15. Suetonius was Secretary to Adrian the Emperour and in a proper and concise stile hath wrote the Lives of the twelve first Emperours to the death of Domitian and the ninety eighth year of Christ he hath therein exactly kept to that first and chief Law of History which is That the Historian should not dare to set down any thing that is false and on the other side That he have courage enough to set down what is true It is said of this Historian That he wrote the Lives of those Emperours with the same liberty as they lived 16. Dion Cassius was born at Nice in Bythinia he wroâ—e the History of nine hundred eighty one years from the building of Rome to Ann. Dom. 231. in which year he was Consul with Alexander Severus the Emperour and finished his History in eighty Books of all which scarce twenty â—ive Books from the thirty sixth to the sixty first and the beginning of Nero are at this time extant 17. Herodianus wrote the History of his own time from the death of M. Antoninus the Philosopher or the year of Christ 181. to the murder of the Gordiani in Africa Ann. Dom. 241. which is rendred purely into Latin by Angelus Politianus 18. Iohannes Zonaras of Byzantium wrote a History from Augustus to his own times and the year of our Lord 1117. the chief of the Oriental Affairs and Emperours he hath digested in the second and third Tomes of his Annals from whence Cuspinianus and others borrow almost all that they have Zonaras is continued by Nicaetas Gregoras and he by Chalcâ—ndylas 19. Eutropius wrote the Epitome of the Roman History in ten Books to the death of Iovinian Anno Dom. 368. He was present in the Expedition of Iulian into Persia and flourished in the Reign of Valens the Emperour 20. Ammianus Marcellinus a Grecian by birth War'd many years under Iulian in Gallia and Germany and wrote the History of the Romans in thirty one Books the fourteenth to the thirty first are all that are extant wherein at large and handsomely he describes the acts of Constantius Iulian Iovinian Valentinian and Valens the Emperours unto the year of Christ 382. 21. Iornandes a Goth hath wrote the History of the Original Eruptions Families of their Kings and principal Wars of the Goths which he hath continued to his own time that is the year of our Lord 550. 22. Procopius born at Caesarea in Palestine and Chancellour to Belisarius the General to Iustinian the Emperour being also his Councellour and constant companion in seven Books wrote the Wars of Belisarius with the Persians Vandals and Goths wherein he also was present 23. Agathias of Smyrna continues Procopius from the twenty seventh of Iustinian Anno Dom. 554. to the end of his Reign Anno Dom. 566. the Wars of Narses with the Goths and Franks with the Persians at Cholchiâ— wherein he recites the Succession of the Persian Kings from Artaxerxes who Anno Dom. 230. seised on the Parthian Empire to the Reign of Iustinian Anno Dom. 530. and in the end treats of the irruption of the Hunnes into Thrace and Greece and their repression by Belisarius now grown old 24. Paulus Diaconus of Aquileia Chancellour to Desiderius King of the Lombards Writes the entire History of the Lombards to Ann. Dom. 773. in which Charles the Great took Desiderius the last King and brought Lombardy under his own power 25. Haithonus an Armenian many years a Souldier in his own Country afterwards a Monk at Cyprus coming into France about the year of Christ 1307. was commanded by Pope Clement the fifth to write the Empire of the Tartars in Asia and the Description of other oriental Kingdoms 26. Laonicus Chalchondylas an Athenian wrote the History of the Turks in ten Books from Ottoman Anno 1300. to Mahomet the second who took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453. and afterwards continued his History to Ann. 1464. 27. Luiâ—prandus of Ticinum wrote the History of the principal Affairs in all the Kingdoms of Europe in his time at most of which he himself was present his History is comprised in six Books and commencing from Anno Dom. 891. extends to Ann. Dom. 963. 28. Sigebert a Monk in a Abby in Brabant wrote his Chronicon from the death of Valens the Emperour or Anno Dom. 381. to the Empire of Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1112. wherein he hath digested much of the French and British Affairs and acts of the German Emperours 29. Saxo Grammaticus Bishop of the Church of Rotschilden wrote the Danish History from utmost Antiquity to his
amongst them that was stirred up by vision whose name was Cangius and it was on this manner There appeared to him in a dream a certain person in Armour sitting upon a white Horse who thus spake to him Cangius it is the will of the Eternal God that thou shortly shalt be the King and Ruler of the Tartars that are called Malgotz thou shalt free them from that servitude under which they have long groaned and the neighbour Nations shall be subjected to them Cangius in the morning before the seven Princes and Elders of the Malgotz rehearses what he had dreamed which they all at the first looked upon as ridiculous but the next night all of them in their sleep seemed to behold the same person he had told them of and to hear him commanding them to obey Cangius Whereupon summoning all the people together they commanded them the same and the Princes themselves in the first place took the Oath of Allegiance to him and intituled him the first Emperour in their language Chan which signifies King or Emperour All such as succeeded him were aâ—ter called by the same name of Chan and were of great Fame and Power This Emperour freed his people subdued Georgia and the greater Armenia and afterwards wasted Polonia and Hungary 5. Antigonus dreamed that he had sowed Gold in a large and wide field that the seed sprang up flourished and grew ripe but that streight after he saw all this golden harvest was reaped and nothing left but the worthless stubble and stalks and then he seemed to hear a voice that Mithridates was fled into the Euxine Pontus carrying along with him all the golden harvest This Mithridates was descended of the Persian Magi and was at this time in the Retinue of this Antigonus King of Macedonia his Country of Persia being conquered and his own Fortunes ruined in that of the publick The dream was not obscure neither yet the signification of it The King therefore being awaked and exceedingly terrified resolves to cut off Mithridates and communicates the matter with his own Son Demetrius exacting of him a previous oath for his silence Demetrius was the Friend of Mithridates as being of the same age and by accident he encounters him as he came from the King The young Prince pities his Friend and would willingly assist him but he is restrained by the reverence of his oath Well he takes him aside and with the point of his Spear writes in the sand Fly Mithridates which he looking upon and admonished at once with those words and the countenance of Demetrius he privily flies into Cappadocia and not long after founded the famous and potent Kingdom of Pontus which continued from this man to the eighth descent that other Mithridates being very difficulty overthrown by all the Power and Forces of the Romans 6. The night before the Battel at Philippi Artorius or as others M. Antonius Musa Physician to Octavianus had a dream wherein he thought he saw Minerva who commanded him to tell Octavianus that though he was very sick he should not therefore decline his being present at the Battel which when Caesar understood he commanded himself to be carried in his Litter to the Army where he had not long remained before his Tents were seised upon by Brutus and himself also had been had he not so timely removed 7. Quintus Catulus a noble Roman saw as he thought in his depth of rest Iupiter delivering into the hand of a child the Ensign of the Roman People and the next night after he saw the same child hug'd in the bosome of the same God Whom Catulus offering to pluck from thence Iupiter charged him to lay no violent hands on him who was born for the Weal and preservation of the Roman Empire The very next morning when Q. Catulus espy'd by chance in the street Octavianus then a child afterwards Augustus Caesar and perceiving him to be the same he ran unto him and with a loud acclamation said Yes this is he whom the last night I beheld hug'd in the bosome of Iupiter 8. Iulius Caesar was excited to large hopes this way for he dreamed that he had carnal knowledge of his Mother and being confounded with the uncouthness of it he was told by the Interpreters that the Empire of the World was thereby presaged unto him for the Mother which he beheld subject unto him was no other than that of the Earth which is the common Parent of all men 9. Arlotte the Mother of William the Conquerour being great with him had a dream like that of Mandane the Mother of Cyrus the first Persian Monarch namely that her bowels were extended and dilated over all Normandy and England 10. Whilst I lived at Prague saith an English Gentleman and one night had sate up very late drinking at a Feast early in the morning the Sun-beams glancing on my face as I lay in my bed I dreamed that a shadow passing by told me that father was dead At which awaking all in a sweat and affected with this dream I rose and wrote the day and hour and all circumstances thereof in a Paper-book which Book with many other things I put into a Barrel and sent it from Prague to Stode thence to be conveyed into England And now being at Nuremberg a Merchant of a noble Family well acquainted with me and my Relations arrived there who told me that my father dyed some two months past I list not to write any lies but that which I write is as true as strange when I returned into England some four years after I would not open the Barrel I sent from Prague nor look into the Paper-book in which I had written this dream till I had called my Sisters and some other Friends to be witnesses where my self and they were astonished to see my written dream answer the very day of my fathers death 11. The same Gentleman saith thus also I may lawfully swear that which my Kinsmen have heard witnessed by my Brother Henry whilst he lived that in my youth at Cambridge I had the like dream of my mothers death where my Brother Henry lying with me early in the morning I dreamed that my mother passed by with a sad countenance and told me that she could not come to my Commencement I being within five months to proceed Master of Arts and she having promised at that time to come to Cambridge when I related this dream to my Brother both of us awaking together in a sweat he protested to me that he had dreamed the very same and when we had not the least knowledge of our mothers sickness neither in our youthful affections were any whit affected with the strangeness of this dream yet the next Carrier brought us word of our mothers death 12. Doctor Ioseph Hall then Bishop of Exeter since of Norwich speaking of the good offices which Angels do to Gods servants Of this kind saith he was that
in greatness it excelled all those that were famous in old time The Plat or ground of it is said to be four hundred and eighty furlongs the Walls were in height one hundred foot and the breadth of them such that three Carts might meet upon the top of them On the Walls there were one thousand five hundred Towers each of them two hundred foot high It was called Tetrapolis as being divided as it were into four Cities Niniveh Resena Forum and Cale 7. The Pyramids of Egypt are many in number but three of them the most celebrated the principal of all is situated on the South of the City of Memphis and on the Western Banks of Nilus It is accounted chief of the Worlds seven Wonders square at the bottom and is supposed to take up eight Acres of ground Every square is 300 single paces in length it is ascended by 225 steps each step above three foot high and a breadth proportionable growing by degrees narrower and narrower till we come to the top and at the top consisting but of three stones only yet large enough for sixty men to stand upon No stone in the whole is so little as to be drawn by any of our Carriages yet brought thither from the Arabian Mountains how brought and by what Engine mounted is an equal wonder It was built for the Sepulchre of Cheops an Egyptian King who employed in it day by day twenty years together no fewer than three hundred sixty six thousand men continually working on it The charges which they put him to in no other food than Garlick Rhadishes and Onions being computed at a thousand and eight hundred Talents Diodorus Siculus saith of this Pyramid that it stands an hundred and twenty furlongs from Memphis and forty five furlongs from Nilus It hath stood saith he almost a thousand years unto our time but as the Tradition is above three thousand and four hundred 8. Wales anciently extended it self Eastward to the River Saverne till by the puissance of Offa the great King of the Mercians the Welsh or Britains were driven out of the plain Country beyond that River and forced to betake themselves to the Mountains where he caused them to be shut up and divided from England with an huge Ditch called in Welsh Claudhoffa that is Offa's Dike Which Dike beginning at the influx of the Wie into the Severne not far from Chepstow extendeth eighty four miles in length even as far as Chester where the Dee is mingled with the Sea Concerning this Ditch there was a Law made by Harold that if any Welsh-man was found with a Weapon on this side of it he should have his right hand cut off by the Kings Officers 9. The Bridge of Caligula was a new and unheard of spectacle it reached from Putzol to Banli three miles and a quarter he built it upon Ships in a few days and in emulation of Xerxes Over this he marched with the Senate and Souldiery in a triumphant manner and in the view of the people Upon this he feasted and passed the night in dalliance and gaming A marvellous and great work indeed but such as the vanity thereof deprived it of commendation for to what end was it raised but to be demolished Thus sported he saith Seneca with the power of the Empire and all in imitation of a foreign frantick unfortunate and proud King 10. The Capitol of Rome seated on the Tarpeian Rock seemed to contend with Heaven for height and no doubt but the length and breadth were every way answerable The excessive charge that Domitian was at in the building of it Martial after his flattering manner hath wittily described and which I may thus translate So much has Caesar giv'n the Gods above That should he call it in and Cred'tor prove Though Jove should barter Heav'n it self away This mighty debt he never could repay We may in part give a guess at the Riches and Ornaments of it by this that there was spent only upon its gilding above twelve thousand Talents it was all gilded over not the inner Roof only but the outward Covering which was of Brass or Copper and the doors of it were overlaid with thick plates of Gold which remained till the Reign of Honorius 11. Suetonius thus describes that House of Nero's which Nero himself called Domum Auream the Golden House In the Porch was set a Colossus shaped like himself of one hundred and twenty foot high The spaciousness of the House was such that it had in it three Galleries each of them a mile long a standing Pool like a Sea beset with Buildings in manner of a City Fields in which were arable grounds Pastures Vineyards and Woods with a various multitude of tame and wild beasts of all kinds In the other parts thereof all things were covered with Gold and distinguished with precious Stones or Mother of Pearl The Supping-rooms were roofed with Ivory Planks that were moveable for the casting down of Flowers and had Pipes in them for the sprinkling of Ointments The Roof of the principal Supping-room was round which like the Heavens perpetually day and night wheeled about This House when he had thus finished and dedicated he so far forth approved of it that he said he had began to live like a man 12. Ptolomaeus Philopater built a Ship saith Pancirollus that the like was never seen before or since It was two hundred and eighty cubits in length fifty two cubits in height from the bottom to the upper Dâ—cks It had four hundred Banks or Seats of Rowers four hundred Mariners and four thousand Rowers and on the Decks it could contain three thousand Souldiers There were also Gardens and Orchards on the top of it as Plutarch relates in the Life of Demetrius 13. China is bounded on the North with Altay and the Eastern Tartars from which it is separated by a continued chain of Hills and where that chain is broken off with a great Wall extended four hundred leagues in length built as they say by Zaintzon the hundred and seventeenth King hereof six fadom high twelve yards think twenty seven years erecting by continued labour of 70050000 men 14. M. Scaurus the Son-in-law to Sylla when he was Aedile caused a wonderful piece of Work to be made exceeding all that had ever been known by mans hand not only those which have been erected for a month or such a thing but even those that have been destined for perpetuity and a Theatre it was The Stage had three heights one above another wherein were three hundred and sixty Columns of Marble the middle of glass an excessive superfluity never heard of before or after As for the uppermost the Boards Planks and Floors were gilded The Columns beneath were forty foot high wanting two and between these Columns there stood of Statues and Images of Brass to the number of three thousand The Theatre it self was able to receive 80000 persons to sit
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
and precious sort of Wine brought of it to the Pope and while he was drinking his Son Borgia came in and drank also of the same whereby they were both poysoned but the Pope only overcome with the poyson dyed his Son by the strength of youth and Nature and use of potent remedies bore it out though with long languishing 9. Hermotimus being taken Prisoner in War was sold to Panionius of Chios who made him an Eunuch This base Merchant made a traffick of such dishonest gain for all the fair Boys he could lay his hands on at Fayrs or in the Ports for his money he handled in this sort and afterwards carried them to Sardis or to the City of Ephesus where he sold them for almost their weight in Gold Hermotimus was presented amongst other Gifts to King Xerxes with whom in process of time he grew into greater credit than all the other Eunuchs The King departing from Sardis to make War upon the Grecianâ— Hermotimus went about some affairs into a quarter of the Country which was husbanded by those of the Isle of Chios where finding Panionius he took acquaintance of him and in a large conference recounted to him the large benefits he enjoyed by means of his adventure promising him to promote him to great wealth and honour if he would remove himself and his family to Sardis Panionius gladly accepted of this offer and a while after went with his wife and children Hermotimus assoon as he had him and his in his power used these words to him O thou most wicked man of all the wickedest that ever were in the world that usest the most vile and detestable traffick that can possibly be devised what hurt or displeasure didst thou or any of thine receive of me or any that belong to me that thou shouldst bring me into that case wherein I am and of a man that I was make me neither man nor woman Didst thou think that the Gods were ignorant of thy practices Dost thou not see how they doing right and justice have delivered thee wicked Wretch into my hands that thou mayst not find fault with the punishment I shall inflict upon thee After these and such like reproaches he caused Panionius his four Sons to be brought into his preâ—ence and compelled the miserable Father to gueld them all one after another with his own hands and after that was done the children were also forced to gueld their own father 10. Alboinus King of the Lombards having in a great Battel overcome and slain Cunimundus King of the Gepidae married Rosamund Daughter of the dead King On a time at a Feast he drank to her out of the Skull of her dead Father which he had caused to be made into a Cup the offended Lady resolved to be revenged and knowing that Helmichild a Knight of Lombardy was in love with a Lady in her attendance she caused him to be brought into a dark Chamber in pretence of there enjoying his Mistress her self lay in the bed to receive him and afterwards that he might know what he had done she caused the window to be set upon and then told him that unless he would kill Alboinus her Husband she would discover all he had acted with her Hâ—lmichild overcome with her threats and his own fears in the night slew Alboinus as he lay in his bed The Murder committed both of them fled to Ravenna where she also intended to destroy Helmichild by a present poyson He had drank off a part of it and finding that the deadly operation of it began to insinuate and creep along his veins he drew his Sword and enforced Rosamund to drink off the rest of the potion she had prepared for him and so by that means they both of them dyed together 11. Eutropius the Eunuch was the Minion and Darling of the Court in the Reign of Arcadius the Emperour he sold places of Honour Justice and the Laws gave and took away Provinces as he pleased at last was made Consul then was he accused of a Conspiracy against the Emperour the Emperour gave order for his death but he was fled into a Temple or Sanctuary and it is remarkable that he was the first who had made a Law that any guilty person might be taken out of a Sanctuary per force by virtue of which Law himself was dragged out and slain 12. Clisthenes was the first amongst the Athenians who made a Law for the banishment of persons and it was not long before he himself suffered the same penalty by his own Law 13. Gryphus King of Egypt had scarce recovered the Kingdom of his Father and newly overcome the dangers abroad before he saw himself ready to be ensnared at home by his own Mother One day as he came from hunting she presented him with a poysoned Cup but he forewarned of the ambush counterfeiting the mannerly Son prayed his Mother to begin which she refusing he pressed her to it and withal plainly told her what he had heard of the poyson reproving her sharply and swearing that to clear her self of such an accusation there was no way for her but to swallow down the drink The miserable Queen overwhelmed with the conscience of her own offence drank the poyson whereof she presently dyed 14. In the year 1477. there was cast in the City of Tourâ— a very great piece of Ordnance which was carried to Paris where being mounted and placed without the Walls by St. Anthonies Port it was often discharged At last as they were loading it with an iron Bullet of fifty pounds weight by some accident the powder in the Piece took fire which beginning to vomit forth the furious Ball the chief Founder of the Piece Iohannes Manguaus and fourteen other men that stood near him were so rent and scattered abroad that scarce could there be found any little pieces of their bodies The Bullet after all grasing a great way off killed a poor Fowler as he was laying his Nets for Birds six other men being only stricken with the wind of the Gun and the stench of the powder fell extremely sick 15. Marius one of the thirty Tyrants in the Reign of Galienus was chosen Emperour by the Souldiers on the one day reigned as Emperour the second and was slain by a Souldier on the third who striking him said This is with a Sword which was made by thy self for this Marius had afore time been a Cutler 16. The Emperour Henry the Fourth used to go often to Prayers in St. Mary's Church in the Mount Aventinâ— Pope Gregory the Seventh who carried a watchful eye over all the actions of this Prince commanded one to take notice of the place where he was wont to pray and got a certain Fellow with promise of great recompence to get up upon the top of the Church and there upon the Beams to place certain huge stones which should be so fitly laid that with the least touch they should
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
how they have been rewarded 119 Chap. 17. Of the envious Nature and Disposition of some men 120 Chap. 18. Of Modesty and the Shame-faced Nature of some men and women 122 Chap. 19. Of Impudence and the shameless Behaviour of divers persons 124 Chap. 20. Of Iealousie and how strangely some have been affected with it 125 Chap. 21. Of the Commiseration Pity and Compassion of some men to others in time of their Adversity 127 Chap. 22. Of the deep Dissimulation and Hypocrisie of some men 128 The THIRD BOOK CHap. 1. Of the early appearance of Virtue Learning Greatness of Spirit and Subtlety in some Young Persons 130 Chap. 2. Of such as having been extream Wild and Prodigal or Debauched in their Youth have afterwards proved excellent Persons 132 Chap. 3. Of Punctual Observations in Matters of Religion and the great regard some men have had to it 134 Chap. 4. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood 137 Chap. 5. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace 139 Chap. 6. Of the signal Love that some men have shewed to their Country 140 Chap. 7. Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives 142 Chap. 8. Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands 144 Chap. 9. Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children 147 Chap. 10. Of the Reverence and Piety of some Children to their Parents 149 Chap. 11. Of the singular Love of some Brethren to each other 152 Chap. 12. Of the singular Love of some Servants to their Masters 154 Chap. 13. Of the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagement and Trust reposed in them 157 Chap. 14. Of the exact Obedience which some have yielded to their Superiours 159 Chap. 15. Of the Generosity of some Persons and the Noble Actions by them performed 161 Chap. 16. Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things 164 Chap. 17. Of the Hospitality of some men and their free Entertainment of Strangers 165 Chap. 18. Of the blameless and innocent Life of some Persons 167 Chap. 19. Of the choicest Instances of the most intire Friendship 168 Chap. 20. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what returns they have made of Benefits received 171 Chap. 21. Of the Meekness Humanity Clemency and Mercy of some men 174 Chap. 22. Of the light and gentle Revenges some have taken upon others 177 Chap 23. Of the Sobriety and Temperance of some men in their Meat and Drink and other things 179 Chap. 24. Of the Affability and Humility of divers Great Persons 181 Chap. 25. Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein 182 Chap. 26 Of the Subtilty and Prudence of some men in the Investigation and discovery of things and their Determinations about them 184 Chap. 27. Of the Liberal and Bountiful Disposition of divers Great Persons 186 Chap. 28. Of the Pious Works and Charitable Gifts of some men 189 Chap. 28. Of such as were Lovers of Iustice and Impartial Administrators of it 192 Chap. 30. Of such Persons as were Illustrious for their singular Chastity both Men and Women 195 Chap. 31. Of Patience and what power some men have had over their Passions 199 Chap. 32. Of such as have well deported themselves in their Adversity or been improved thereby 200 Chap. 33. Of the willingness of some men to forgive Injuries received 201 Chap. 34. Of such as have patiently taken free Speeches and Reprehensions from their Inferiors 203 Chap. 35. Of the incredible strength of Mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of Torments and other Hardship 205 Chap. 36. Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some famous Men. 207 Chap. 37. Of the fearless Boldness of some Men and their desperate Resolutions 210 Chap. 38. Of the immoveable Constancy of some Persons 213 Chap. 39. Of the great Confidence of some Men in themselves 214 Chap. 40. Of the great reverence shewed to Learning and Learned Men. 216 Chap. 41. Of the exceeding intentness of some Men upon their Meditations and Studies 218 Chap. 42. Of such Persons as were of choice Learning and singular Skill in the Tongues Chap. 43. Of the first Authors of divers famous Inventions 222 Chap. 44. Of the admirable Works of some curious Artists 224. Chap. 45. Of the Industry and Pains of some Men and their hatred of Idleness 229 Chap. 46. Of the Dexterity of some men in the instruction of several Crâ—atures 230 Chap. 47. Of the Taciturnity and Secrecy of some men instrusted with privacies 232 Chap. 48. Of such who in their raised Fortunes have been mindful of their low beginnings 233 Chap. 49. Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable poverty of some illustrious persons 234 Chap. 50. Of such Persons as have preferred Death before the loss of thâ—ir Liberty and what some have endured in the preservation of it 237 Chap. 51. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of humane frailty 238 Chap. 52. Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity 239 Chap. 53. Of the Gallantry wherewith some Persons have received death or the message of it 241 The FOURTH BOOK CHap. 1. Of Atheists and such as have made no account of Religion with their Sacrilegious actions and the punishments thereof 361 Chap. 2. Of such as were exceeding hopeful in youth but afterwards improved to the worse 363 Chap. 3. Of the rigorous Severity of some Parents to their Children and how unnatural others have shewed themselves towards them 364 Chap. 4. Of the degenerate Sons of illustrious Parents 366 Chap. 5. Of undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents 368 Chap. 6. Of the Affectation of divine Honours and the desire of some men te be reputed Gods 370 Chap. 7. Of unnatural Husbands to their Wives 372 Chap. 8. Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them 373 Chap. 9. Of the deep hatred some have conceived against their own Brethren and the unnatural actions of Brothers and Sisters 374 Chap. 10. Of the Barbarous and Savage Cruelty of some men 376 Chap. 11. Of the bitter Revenges that some men have taken upon their enemies 379 Chap. 12. Of the great and grievous oppressions and unmercifulness of some men and their punishments 382 Chap. 13. Of the bloody and cruel Massacres in several places and their occasions 384 Chap. 13. Of the excessive Prodigality of some Persons 385 Chap. 14. Of the Prodigious Luxury of some men in their Feasting 387 Chap. 15. Of the Voraciousness of some great Eaters and the Swallowers of Stones c. 390 Chap. 16. Of great Drinkers and what great quantities they have swallowed 391 Chap. 17. Of Drunkenness and what hath befallen some men in theirs 393 Chap. 18. Of the Luxury and Expence of some Persons in Apparel and their Variety therein and in their other Furniture 395 Chap. 19. Of Gaming
Lusitanus hath set down the History of a Woman of mean fortune and sixteen years of Age who being with child and the time of her Travail come could not be delivered by reason of the narrowness of her Womb the Chirurgions advised section which they said was ordinary in such cases but she refused it the dead child therefore putrefied in her Womb after three years the smaller bones of it came from her and so by little and little for ten years together there came forth pieces of corrupted flesh and fragments of the skull at last in the twelfth year there issued out piece-meal the greater bones her belly fell and after some years she conceived again and was happily delivered of a living boy 5. Marcellus Donatus relates a History for the truth of which he cites the testimony of Hippolitus Genifortus a Chirurgion and Iosephus Araneus a Physician and it was thus Paula the Wife of Mr. Naso an Inn-keeper in the street of Pont Merlane in Mantua having carried a dead child of five Months Age much longer in her Womb by a continued collection of sanâ—ous matter in her Womb not without a Fever she at last was exceedingly wasted and consumed At which time by way of siege she voided certain little bones which gave her a great deal of pain these she gather'd cleansed and shew'd them to Gemfortus who soon discover'd them to be the bones of a young child when this was related to me I could not believe till such time as I asked the Woman her self who confirm'd the truth of it by an Oath and sâ—ew'd me divers of the bones which she kept amongst Rose leaves nor did she cease voiding them in this manner for months and years till she was this way quit of very many of them certainly a most wonderful operation of Nature this was and that she sometimes works in this manner is easily prov'd by other Histories CHAP. III. Of such Women whose Children have been petrified and turn'd to Stone in their Wombs and the like found in dead bodies or some parts of them WHen Cato had seen Caesar victorious though at that time the Invader of the Common-wealth and the great Pompey overcome and overwhelm'd who as the Guardian of his endanger'd Countrey had undertaken her protection when he saw on the one side successful villany and on the other afflicted virtue he is said to have cry'd out in a deep astonishment well there is much of obscurity in divine matters As God Almighty hath the ways of his providence in the deep so Nature his hand-maid hath many of her paths in the dark and by secret ways of operation brings to pass things so strange and uncouth to humane reason and expectation that even such as have been long of her Privy Counsel have stood at gaze at and made open confession of their ignorance by their admiration I take that for a Fable which Ovid tells befel Niobe through excess of grief for the Death of her Children Stiff grew she by these ills no gentle Air Doth longer move the soft curles of her Hair Her pale Cheâ—ks have no blood her once bright Eyes Are fix'd and set in liveless Statue wise Her Tongue within her hardned mouth upseal'd Her Veins did cease to move her Neck congeal'd Her Arms all motionless her foot can't go And all her Bowels into hard Stone grow And yet there have been some Women who in themselves have experienced but too much of the verity of this last Verse such was 1. Columba Chatry a Woman of Sens in Burgundy she was Wife to Ludovicus Chatry this Woman by the report of Monsieur Iohn Alibaux an eminent Physician and who also was present at the disseâ—tion of her went twenty eight years with a dead child in her Womb when she was dead and her belly opened there was found a Stone having all the limbs and exact proportion of a child of nine months old The slimy matter of the childs body saith one upon this occasion having an aptitude by the extraordinary heat of the matrix to be hardned might retain the same lineaments which it had before This child was thus found Anno Dom. 1582. Sennertus confesses this accident so rare that it was the only instance in its kind that he ever met with at least to his remembrance in the whole History of Physick 2. Because I foresee I am not like to meet with many more such instances as that I but now mention'd I shall therefore set down under this head a History which is very near unto it It was communicated by Claudius a Sancto Mauritio in one of his Letters and thus related by Gregorius Horstius On the 25. of Ianuary in this present year there fell out a marvellous thing to us In the dissection of a Woman of about thirty seven years of Age we found her Womb all turn'd to stone of the weight of seven pound her Liver upon the one lobe of it had a cartilaginous Coat or Tunicle about it her Spleen was globular her Bladder stony and she had a Peritonaeum so very hard that scarce could it be cut with a knife the view of all which occasioned our wonder which way the Spirits should be convey'd throughout the whole Body and by what means it came to pass that this Woman liv'd so long and that too without any manifest sign of sickness all her life time as far as could be observ'd 3. I can for certain affirm thus much saith Heurnius that I have seen at Padua the breast of a Woman which was also turn'd into stone and that was done by this means as she lay dead that breast of hers lay cover'd in the Water of a certain Spring there 4. Pompilius Placentinus gives us the History of a Venetian Woman who being done to death by a poison'd Apple when dead she grew so stiff and congealed that she seem'd to be transform'd into a Statue of Stone nor could they cut open her belly by knife or Sword 5. Not far from Tybar which is a City of the Sabines runs the River Anien on the Sands of which are found Almonds the seeds of Fennel and Anise and divers other things that are turned into Stone whereof I my self was an eye-witness when some years agone I travel'd that way A while since there was found the body of a Man that was kill'd and cast into this River Anien he lay close at the root of a Tree that grew upon the Bank-side and the Carkass having there rested a considerable time unputrefied when it was found and taken up it was turned into stone Titus Celsus a Patritian of Rome told this unto Iacobus Boissardus affirming that he himself had seen it This River arises from cold Sulphureous veins derived from Subterranean metals and by a kind of natural virtue it consolidates and agglutinates all kind of bodies such as sticks and leaves and passing over more solid bodies it by degrees wraps them
succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Anno Domini 918. 16. The Wife of Simon Knâ—uter of Weissenburgh went with child to the ninth month and then falling into Travail her pains were such as that they occasioned her death and when the assistants doubted not but that the child was dead also in the Womb they dispos'd of the Mother as is usual in the like occasion but after some hours they heard a cry they ran and found the Mother indeed dead but deliver'd of a little Daughter that was in good health and lay at her feet Salmuth saith he hath seen three several women who being dead in Travail were yet after death delivered of the Children they went with CHAP. V. Of what Monsters some Women have been delivered and of praeternatural births IT is the constant design of provident Nature to produce that which is perfect and complete in it's kind But though Man is the noblest part of her operation and that she is busied about the framing of him with singular curiosity and industry yet are there sundry variations in her mintage and some even humane medals come out thence with different Errata's in their Impressions The best of Archers do not always bore the white the working brains of the ablest Politicians have sometimes suffered an abortion nor are we willing to bury their accidental misses in the memory of their former skilful performances If therefore Nature through a penury or supersluity of materials or other causes hath been so unfortunate as at sometimes to miscarry her dexterity and Artifice in the composition of many ought to procure her a pardon for such oversights as she hath committed in a few Besides there is oftentimes so much of ingenuity in her very disorders and they are dispos'd with such a kind of happy unhappiness that if her more perfect works beget in us much of delight the other may affect us with equal wonder 1. That is strange which is related by Buchanan It had saith he beneath the Navel one body but above it two distinct ones when hurt beneath the Navel both bodies felt the pain if above that body only felt that was hurt These two would sometimes differ in opinions and quarrel the one dying before the other the surviving pin'd away by degrees It liv'd 28. years could speak divers Languages and was by the King's command taught Musick Sandy's on Ovid Metam lib. 9. p. 173. 2. Anno 1538. There was one born who grew up to the stature of a Man he was double as to the Head and Shoulders in such manner as that one face stood oppositâ— to the other both were of a likeness and resembâ—â— each other in the beard and eyes both had the â—ame appetite and both hungred alike the voice of both was almost the same and both loved the same Wife 3. I saw saith Bartholinus Lazarus Colloredo the Genoan first at Hafnia after at Basil when he was then 28. years of Age but in both places with amazement This Lazarus had a little Brother growing out at his breast who was in that posture born with him If I mistake not the bone called Xyphoides in both of them grew together his left foot alone hung downwards he had two arms only three fingers upon each hand some appearance there was of the secret parts he moved his hands ears and lips and had a little beating in the breast This little Brother voided no excrements but by the mouth nose and ears and is nourish'd by that which the greater takes he has distinct animal and vital parts from the greater since he sleeps sweats and moves when the other wakes rests and sweats not Both receiv'd their Names at the Font the greater that of Lazarus and the other that of Iohannes Baptista The natural Bowels as the Liver Spleen c. are the same in both Iohannes Baptista hath his eyes for the most part shut his breath small so that holding a Feather at his mouth it scarce moves but holding the hand there we find a small and warm breath his mouth is usually open and always wet with spittle his head is bigger then that of Lazarus but deform'd his hair hanging down while his face is in an upward posture Both have beards Baptista's neglected but that of Lazarus very neat Lazarus is of a just stature a decent body courteous deportment and gallantly attir'd he covers the body of his Brother with his Cloak nor could you think a Monster lay within at your first discourse with him He seemed always of a constant mind unless that now and then he was solicitous as to his end for he feared the death of his Brother as presaging that when that came to pass he should also expire with the stink and putrefaction of his body and thereupon he took greater care of his Brother then of himself 4. Lemnius tells of a Monster that a certain Woman was deliver'd of to which Woman he himself was Physician and present at the sight which at the appearing of the day fill'd all the Chamber with roaring and crying running all about to find some hole to creep into but the Women at the length stiâ—led and smother'd it with pillows 5. Iohannes Naborowsky a noble Polonian and my great friend told me at Basil that he had seen in his Countrey two little Fishes without scales which were brought forth by a Woman and as soon as they came out of her Womb did swim in the Water as other Fish 6. Not many years agoe there liv'd a Woman of good quality at Elsingorn who being satisfied in her count prepared all things for child-birth hired a Mid-wife bought a Cradle c. but her big belly in the last month seemed to be much fallen which yet not to lessen the report that went of her she kept up to the former height by the advantage of cloaths which she wore upon it Her time of Travail being come and the usual pains of labour going before she was deliver'd of a creature very like unto a dormouse of the greater size which to the amazement of the Women who were present with marvellous celerity sought out and found a hole in the Chamber into which it crept and was never seen after I will not render the credit of these Women suspected seeing divers persons have made us Relations of very strange and monstrous births from their own experience 7. Anno Dom. 1639. our Norway afforded us an unheard of example of a Woman who having often before been deliver'd of humane births and again big after strong labour was delivered of two Eggs one of them was broken the other was sent to that excellent person Dr. Olaus Wormius the ornament of the University in whose study it is reserv'd to be seen of as many as please I am not ignorant that many will give no credit to this story who either have not seen the Egg or were not present when the Woman was deliver'd of it In
her mighty Daughter that both her Parents were but of low stature nor were there any of her Ancestors who were remember'd to exceed the common stature of men This Maid her self to the twelfth year of her age was of a short and mean stature but being about that time seis'd with a Quartane Ague after she had wrestled with it for some months it perfectly left her and then she began to grow to that wonderful greatness all her limbs being proportionably answerable to the rest She was then when I beheld her about five and twenty years of age to which time it had never been with her as is usual to women yet was she in good health of feature not handsome her complexion somewhat swarthy of a stupid and simple wit and slow as to her whole body For The greater Virtue oftenest lies In bodies of the middle size 12. Fâ—rdinand Magellane before he came to those Straits which now bear his name came to the Country of the Patagons which are Giants some of these he enticed to come a Ship-board they were of an huge stature so that the Spaniards heads reached but to their waste Two of them he made his Prisoners by policy who thereupon roared like Bulls their feeding was answerable to their vast bulks for one of them did eat at a meal a whole basket of Biskets and drank a great bowl of water at each draught 13. As I travel'd by Dirnen under the jurisdiction of Basil Anno 1565. I was shew'd a Girl of five years of age who was playing with the Children she was of as vast a body as if she had been a woman of many years of age After I had looked more nearly upon her and measured I found that her thighs were thicker than the neck of my Horse the calf of her legs bare the proportion of the thigh of a lusty and strong man Her Father and Mother being set together might be compass'd within the girdle which she commonly wore about her middle Her Parents told me that before she was a year old she weigh'd as much as a sack of wheat that held eight modii Anno 1566. I saw her again for Count Henry of Fustenburg lodging at my house she was brought to him and there both of us admir'd at her wonderful bigness but in few years after she dy'd 14. That is a memorable Example of a Giant reported by Thuanus Anno 1575. where discoursing of an inroad made by the Tartarians upon the Polonian Territories he there speaks of a Tartar of a prodigious bigness slain by a Polander his words are thus translated Amongst whom there was one found of a prodigious bulk slain saith Leonardus Gorecius by Iames Niazabilovius his forehead was twenty four fingers breadth and the rest of his body of that magnitude that the carcase as it lay upon the ground would reach to the navel of any ordinary person that stood by it 15. There were in the time of Augustus Caesar two persons called Idusio and Secundilla each of them was ten foot high and somewhat more their bodies after their death were kept and preserved for a wonder in a Charnel house or Sepulcher within the Salustian Gardens vid. Kornman de mirac vivor 25. 16. In the 58 Olympiad by the admonition of the Oracle the body of Orestes was found at Tegaea by the Spartans and we understand that the just length of it was seven Cubits 17. The Son of Euthymenes of Salamina in the space of three years grew up to three Cubits in height but he was slow of pace dull of sense a strong voice and an overhasty adolescency soon after he was seis'd with manifold diseases and by immoderate afflictions of sickness made an over amends for the precipitate celerity of his growth 18. Anno 1584. In the Month of Iuly being at Lucerne I was there shew'd by the Senators the fragments of some bones of a prodigious greatness kept in the Senate House They were found in the Territories not far from the Monastery of Reiden in a Cave of the adjoyning Mountain under an old Oak which the wind had blown down When I had consider'd them and perceiv'd most of the lesser sort and such as are thinnest as the bones of the skull to be wanting whether neglected or consumed by age I know not I then turned over the greater sort as well such as were whole as the remainders of such as were broken Though they were wasted spungy and light yet as far as I could discern I observed that they answered to the body of a man I wrote upon each of them what they were and I the rather concluded them to be the bones of some Giant because I found amongst them the lowest bone of the thumb a cheek-tooth the heel-bone the shoulder-blades the Cannel-bone which are only found in man of that form Also the long and thick bones of the Thighs Legs Shoulders and Arms the utmost ends of which with their heads were found and they differed in nothing from the bones of a humane body Having afterwards all the bones sent me to Basil by the command of the Magistrates and looking diligently upon them and comparing them with a skeleton of mine own as well the whole as the broken I was confirm'd in my opinion and caused an entire skeleton to be drawn of such greatness as all those bones would have made if they had been whole and together it amounted to full nineteen foot in height and since no Beast is found of that stature it is the more probable they were the bones of a Giant 19. We find it left in the Monuments and Writings of the Ancients as a most received truth That in the Cretan War the Rivers and Waters rose to an unusual height and made sundry breaches in the earth when the Floods were gone in a great cleft and fall of the earth there was found the carcase of a man of the length of thirty and three cubits Lucius Flaccus the then Legate and Metellâ—s himself allured with the novelty of the repoâ—t went on purpose to the place to take view of it and there they saw with their eyes that which upon the hear-say they had refuted as a fable 20. While I was writing of this Book that is in December 1671. there came to the City of Coventry one Mr. Thomas Birtles a Cheshire Man living near unto Maxfeild he had been at London where and in his journey homewards he made publick shew of himself for his extraordinary stature his just height as himself told me was somewhat above seven foot although upon trial it appears to want something His Father he said was a man of moderate stature his Mother was near two yards high and he himself hath a Daughter who being but about sixteen years of age is yet already arrived to the height of six foot complete 21. Antonius was born in Syria in the reign of Theodosius he exceeded the measure of
Body but that his dead Corps was abandon'd by his Nobles and Followers and by his meaner Servants he was dispoil'd of Armor Vessels Apparel and all Princely Furniture his naked Body left upon the Floor his Funeral wholly neglected till one Harluins a poor Country Knight undertook the carriage of his Corps to Caen in Normandy to St. Stephens Church which the dead King had formerly sounded At his entrance into Caen the Covent of Monks came forth to meet him but at the same instance there happen'd a great Fire so that as his Corps before so now his Herse was of all men forsaken every one running to quench the Fire That done they return and bear the Corps to the Church The Funeral Sermon being ended and the stone coffin set in the earth in the Chancel as the Body was ready to be laid therein there stood up one Anselm Fitz-Arthur and forbad the Burial alledging that that very place was the Floor of his Fathers House which this dead King had violently taken from him to build this Church upon Therefore said he I challenge this ground and in the name of God forbid that the body of this dispoiler be covered with the Earth of my Inheritance They were therefore inforced to compound with him for one hundred pounds Now was the Body to be laid in that stone Coffin but the Tomb prov'd too little for the Corps so that pressing it down to gain an entrance the Belly not bowel'd brake and sent forth such an intolerable stink amongst the assistants at the Funeral that all the Gums and Spices fuming in their Censers could not relieve them but in great amazement all of them hasted away leaving only a Monk or two to shuffle up the Burial which they did in haste and so gat them to their Cells Yet was not this the last of those troubles that the Corps of this great Prince met with but some years after at such time as Caen was taken by the French unner Chastilion 1562. his Tomb was rifled his Bones thrown out and some of them by private Soldiers brought as far as England again 2. Katherine de Vâ—â—ois Daughter to Charles the Sixth King of France Widow of King Henry the Fifth she was marry'd after to and had Issue by Owen ap Tudor a Noble Welshman her Body lies at this day unburied in a loose Coffin at Westminister and shew'd to such as desire it It 's said it was her own desire that her Body should never be buried because sensible of her fault in disobeying her Husband King Henry upon this occasion There was a Prophecy amongst the English people that an English Prince born at Windsor should be unfortunate in loosing what his Father had acquir'd Whereupon King Henry forbad Queen Katherine being with Child to be delivered there but she out of the corrupt principle of nitimur in vetitum and affecting her Father before her Husband was there brought to bed of King Henry the Sixth in whose Reign the fair Victories woven by his Fathers Valor were by cowardice carelesness and contentions unravell'd to nothing Yet the Story is told otherwise by others viz. that she was bury'd by her Son King Henry the Sixth under a fair Tomb and continued in her Grave some years until King Henry the Seventh laying the foundation of a new Chappel caus'd her Corps to be taken up But why the said Henry being her great Grand-child did not order it to be re-inâ—err'd is not recorded if not done by casualty and neglect it is very strange and stranger if out of design 3. Aristobulus King of the Jews was by Cn. Pompeius sent to Rome in bonds afterwards he was enlarged by Caesar when he had overcome Pompey and sent into Syria there by the favourites of Pompeys part he was taken away by poyson and for some time deny'd buryal in his Native Country the dead Body being kept preserv'd in Honey till at last it was sent by Marcus Antonius to the Jews to be laid in the Royal Monuments of his Ancestors 4. The great Alexander who had attain'd to the height of Military Glory dy'd at Babylon not without suspicion of poyson this great man for whom so much of the world as he had conquered was so much too little was compell'd to expect the leisure of his mutinous Captains till they would be so kind as to bury him Seven days together his dead Corps lay neglected in those heats of Mesopotamia greater than which are rarely to be found in any Country At last command was given to the Aegyptians and Chaldeans to embalm the Body according to their Art which they did yet was it two years before the miserable remainders of this Heroe could be sent away towards its Funeral then it was receiv'd by Ptolemaeus by him carry'd first to Memphis and some years afterwards to Alexandria where it lay and some ages after was shew'd to Augustus Caesar after his Victory over Antonius and Cleopatra 5. Michael Palaeologus Emperour of Constantinople in the Council at Lions under Pope Gregory the Twelfth was reconciled to the Latin Church there in sign of his agreement he and those that were with him publickly sang the Nicene Creed By reason of which he fell into such a hatred of the Greeks that when he dy'd the Monks and Priests forbad his Body to be bury'd and his Son Andronicus who succeeded him though otherwise dutiful enough not only deny'd him the honour of an imperial Funeral but scarce allow'd him that of a mean person he only commanded a few in the night to carry him far from the Camp and there cover him with Earth that the Body of so great a person might not be torn in pieces by wild Beasts 6. Iacobus Patius had conspired against the Medices for which he was publickly hang'd but by the permission of the Magistrates his dead body was laid in the Monuments of his Ancestors but the enraged multitude dragg'd it out thence and buryed it in the common Field without the Walls of the City where yet they would not suffer it to rest but in another popular fury they fetch'd it out thence drew it naked through the City by the same halter wherewith he had been before hanged and so threw it into the River Arnus 7. The Carcase of Pope Iulius the Second was digg'd up and his Ring taken from off his Finger by the Spaniards at such time as Rome was taken by the Army of the Emperour Charles the Fifth which was Anno Dom. 1527. 8. Scanderbeg the most famous Prince of Epirus dy'd in the sixty third year of his age upon the 17 th of Ianuary Anno Dom. 1466. when he had reigned about twenty four years his dead Body was with the great lamentation of all men buryed in the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas at Lyssa where it rested in peace until that about nine years after the Turks coming to the siege of Scodra by the way took the
that in all that time there was nothing of his flesh consumed save only his lips and that but at the end of them and also his eyes were somewhat wasted 11. Kornmannus tells that in Valentia a City of Spain there was found the body of Adonizam the servant of King Solomon together with his Epitaph in Hebrew it appeared that he had lain buried above two thousand years yet was he found uncorrupted so excellent a way of conditure a rich embalming of the dead were those skilled in who lived in the Eastern Countries He also mentions the body of Cleopatra which had remain'd undamaged for an hundred and twenty five Olympiads viz. 500 years as appears by the Letter of Heraclius the Emperour to Sophocles the Philosopher I remember not to have read any thing like this amongst the Romans unless of the body as some say of Tulliola the Daughter of Cicero which was found entire and uncorrupted after as some have computed it one thousand and three hundred years 12. I have often seen in a well known place of Germany saith Camerarius a young Gentleman's Tomb who was buried in a Chappel where his predecessours lay He was the fairest young man of his time and being troubled with a grievous sickness in the flower of his age his Friends could never get so much of him as to suffer himself to be represented in sculpture or Picture to serve for posterity only this through their importunity he agreed unto that after he should be dead and some days in the ground they should open his Grave and cause him to be represented as they then found him They kept promise with him and found that the worms had half gnawn his face and that about the midriff and the back-bone there were many Serpents Upon this they caused the Spectacle such as they found it to be cut in stone which is yet at this present to be seen among the armed Statues of the Ancestors of this young Gentleman So true it seems is that of Ecclus. 10.12 When a man dieth he is the heritage of Serpents Beasts and Worms Of Bodies dead engender Worms of Worms a rotten stink And then as horrible a state as mind of man can think 13. To this may be annexed the ensuing Relation written by the pen of Mr. Thomas Smyth of Sewarstone in the Parish of Waltham Abbey a discreet person not long since deceased It so fell out that I served Sir Edward Denny towards the latter end of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory who lived in the Abbey of Waltham cross in the County of Essex which at that time lay in ruinous heaps And then Sir Edward began slowly now and then to make even and re-edifie some of that Chaos In doing whereof Tomkins his Gardiner came to discover among other things a fair marblestone the cover of a Tomb hewed out in hard stone This cover with some help he remov'd from off the Tomb which having done there appeared to the Gardiner and Mr. Baker Minister of the Town who died long since and to my self and Mr. Henry Knagge Sir Edward's Bayliff the anatomy of a man lying in the Tomb aforesaid all the bones remaining bone to his bone not one bone dislocated in observation whereof we wondred to see the bones still remaining in such due order and no dust or other silth besides them to be seen in the Tomb. We could not conceive that it had been an Anatomy of bones only laid at first in the Tomb yet if it had been the carcase of a man what became of his flesh and entrails For as I have said before the Tomb was all clean of filth and dust besides the bones This when we had well observed I told them that if they did but touch any part thereof that all would fall asunder for I had only heard somewhat formerly of the like accident Trial was made and so it came to pass For my own part I am perswaded that as the flesh of this Anatomy to us became invisible so likewise would the bones have been in some longer continuance of time Oh what is man then which vanisheth thâ—â— away like unto smoak or vapour and is no more seen Whosoever thou art that shalt read this paâ—â—â—ge thou mayst find cause of humility suâ—â—â—câ—ent â—4 It 's said that in the Isles of Arron in the Câ—nnachlio Sea the dead bodies of men do not putrefie but exposed to the air remain uncorrupted so that by this means the survivers come to know their Grandfathers great Grandfathers great great Grandfathers and a long order of their dead Ancestors to their great admiration Kornman de mirac mortuor lib. 3. cap. 4. p. 5. 15. The body of Alexander the Great lay for seven days together in a hot Country unburied and altogether uncorrupted 16. We know some saith Alexander Benedictus who have been laid in their Graves half alive and some noble persons have been disposed into their Sepulchres whose life has lain hid in the secret repositories of the heart One great Lady was thus entombed who was after found dead indeed but sitting and remov'd from her place as one that had return'd to life amongst the carcases of the dead she had pulled off the hair of her head and had torn her breast with her nails signs too apparent of what had passed and that she had long in vain called for help while alone in the society of the dead 17. Alexander Giâ—aynerius speaking of the old and great City of Kiovia near the Borysthenes there are saith he certain subterranean Caverns extended to a great length and breadth within ground here are divers ancient Sepulchres and the bodies of certain illustrious Russians these though they have lain there time out of mind yet do they appear entire There are the bodies of two Princes in their own Country habit as they used to walk when alive and these are so fresh and whole as if they had but newly lain there They lie in a Cave unburied and by the Russian Monks are shewed unto Strangers 18. Laurentius Mullerus tells us also that in this City there is a Temple with admirable Vaults in which divers bodies are kept uncorrupted as if they were boiled not livid and black but with a fresh and lively colour of the skin the tradition is that they are the bodies of some Martyrs and that the Tartars in their incursions presume not to touch them because it has prov'd dangerous to them heretofore to endeavour it He also remembers that in a vaulted Chappel there is to be seen the body of a woman wrapt in a thin and transparenâ—â—heet and so entire that the yellow hair and all the members of it will abide the touch It 's said to be the body of the Martyr Barbara 19. Such as write the History of the West Indies tell us that many of that Country-men upon the high Mountains at a certain time of the
quest and pursuit of him CHAP. V. Of the Sense of Feeling the delicacy of it in some and its abolition in others also what Vertue hath been found in the touch of some Persons WHereas in the other senses men are very much excelled and discernibly surpass'd by the bruit Beasts yet the judgement of touch is noted to be more accurate in us than in most other Creatures It is true that this sense is the most abject and inferiour of all other as perceiving nothing but what is conjoyned to it nor that neither but by a medium that is intrinsick and therefore some will not think it matter of much commendation that we are so perfect in this when so comparatively dull in all other senses Howsoever that be methinks I cannot but extremely admire the Histories of those persons wherein this sense hath discover'd it self in its uttermost excellency 1. Meeting casually with the deserved famous Dr. I. Finch extraordinary Anatomist to the now Great Duke of Tuscany and inquiring what might be the chief rarity he had seen in his late return out of Italy into England He told me it was a man of Maestricht in the Low Countries who at certain times can discern and distinguish colours by the touch with his finger I propos'd divers scruples particularly whether the Doctor had taken care to bind a Napkin or Handkerchief over his Eyes so carefully as to be sure he could make no use of his sight though he had but counterfeited the want of it To which I added divers other questions to satisfie my self whether there were any likelihood of collusion or other tricks But I â—ound that the judicious Doctor having gone far out of his way purposely to satisfie himself and his learned Prince about this wonder had been very watchful and circumspect to keep himself from being impos'd upon and that he might not through any mistake in point of memory misinform me he did me the favour at my request to look the notes he had written for his own and his Princes information The sum of which Memorial was this That having been inâ—orm'd at Utrecht that there liv'd one some miles distant from Maestricht who could distinguish colours by the touch When he came to the last named Town he sent a messenger for him and having examin'd him he was told upon enquiry these particulars That the mans name was John Vermaesen at that time about thirty three years of age that when he was but two years old he had the Small Pox which rendred him absolutely blind that at this present he is an Organist and serves that office in a publick Quire That the Doctor discoursing with him over night he affirm'd he could distinguish colours by the touch but that he could not do it unless he were fasting any quantity of drink taking from him that exquisiteness of Touch which is requisite to so nice a sensation that hereupon the Doctor provided against the next Morning seven pieces of Ribbon of these seven colours Black White Red Blew Green Yellow and Grey but as for mingled colours this Vermaesen would not undertake to discern them though if offer'd he would tell that they were mix'd That to discern the colour of the Ribbon he places it betwixt the thumb and forefinger but his most exquisite perception was in his thumb and much better in his right thumb than in the left That after the blind man had four or five times told the Doctor the several colours though blinded with a Napkin the Doctor found he was twice mistaken for he call'd the White Black and the Red Blew but still he before his errour would lay them by in pairs saying That though he could easily distinguish them from all others yet those two pairs were not easily distinguished amongst themselves Whereupon the Doctor desir'd to be told by him what kind of discrimination he had of colours by his touch To which he gave a reply That all the difference was more or less asperity For says he Black feels as if you were feeling needles points or some harsh sand and Red feels very smooth That the Doctor having desir'd him to tell him in order the difference of colours to his touch he did as follows Black and White are most asperous or unequal of all colours and so like that 't is hard to distinguish them but Black is the most rough of the two Green is the next in asperity Grey next to Green in asperity Yellow is the fifth in degree of asperity Red and Blew are so like that they are as hard to distinguish as Black and White but Red is somewhat more asperous than Blew So that Red hath the sixth plaec and Blew the seventh in asperity 2. I know there are many will esteem it a fabulous and feigned thing and I my self should blush to set down the following History in writing to the World were it not now well known to all that are in Rome Iohannes Gambassius Volaterranus from his first youth for twenty years together wrought as a Statuary and made Statues with great fame and reputation to himself Soon after he fell stark blind and for ten years intire lay idle and never work'd yet daily revolving in his mind to find out a way whereby he might recal and retain that glory he had gain'd in the framing of Statues He therefore so supply'd the want of his Eyes with the vigor of his mind that he attempted a deed unheard of in the Memory of all ages He undertook to frame of Clay the Effigies of Cosmo the Great Duke of Hetruria and Tuscany taking for his Pattern a Marble Statue of the same Cosmo which he diligently felt and handled He made it so lively and like that all men were amaz'd at this new Miracle of Art Excited therefore with the excellency of the Work and the acclamations and applause of such as had beheld it he came to Rome in that ample Theatre to present a specimen of his Art It was anno 1636. where first he fram'd the Statue of Pope Vrban the Eight to such an exact resemblance of him as was to the admiration of all men and presented it to Vrban himself He afterwards made the Statues of Duke Braccianus of Gualdus and divers others When he lay sick near St. Onuphrius and I then his Physician he often promised me his workmanship in my own which I utterly refused that my sâ—ight service should not be rewarded with so over great a recompence When most men were amaz'd at this Miracle and suspected that he was not blind he was commanded to work in a dark Chamber wherein he was lock'd up where he finish'd divers pieces unto a perfect likeness lively and strangely expressing the proper beauty of every face the particular kind the grave affable chearful or sad as indeed they were and to speak it in a word he express'd them almost speaking and the hidden manners in their lineaments and thereby convinced all men of
the excellency of his Art This was asserted-by many Noble Persons who were eye witnesses and that before Philippus Saracenus the publick Notary and so consigned over to publick Record that future ages thence might not want occasion to give credit to this Miracle 3. It is credibly reported of Count Mansfeld that although he was blind yet he could by his touch alone discern the difference betwixt the colours of white and black and say which was the one and which the other 4. We read of a Preacher in Germany who was blind from his Nativity yet it seems he carried a pair of eyes in his hands for he was able to chuse the fairest of three Sisters by his touch only having successively taken them by the hand 5. Dr. Harvy affirms the heart though the Fountain of life life to be without feeling which he proves by a Gentleman he had seen who by an impostumation had a hole in his side through which not only the Systole and Diastole of the Heart might be discerned but the Heart it self touch'd with the finger which yet the Gentleman affirmed that he felt not 6. Dionysius the Son of Clearchus the Tyrant of Heraclea through idleness and high feeding had attained to an immeasurable fatness and corpulency by reason of which he also slept so soundly that it was difficult to wake him His Physicians therefore took this course with him they had certain sharp Needles and Bodkins and these they thrust into divers parts of his Body but till the point of them had pass'd the fat he remain'd without any feeling at all but touching the flesh next under the fat he would thereupon awake 7. There was a Servant in the Colledge of Physiciany in London whom the Learned Harvey one of his Masters had told me was exceeding strong to labour and very able to carry any necessary burden and to remove things dexterously according to the occasion and yet he was so void of feeling that he used to grind his hands against the walls and against course lumber when he was emply'd to rummage any insomuch that they would run with blood through grating of the skin without his feeling of what occasioned it by which it appears that some have the motion of the Limbs intire and no ways prejudiced but have had no feeling at all quite over their whole case of skin and flesh 8. A young man had utterly lost his senses of taste and touch nor was he any time troubled with hunger yet eat to preserve his life and walk'd with Crutches because he could not tell where his feet were 9. Dr. London my ancient friend knew a Maid in England otherwise of good health that had no sense of burnings in her Neck she would suffer a Needle to be run into her Forehead or into the â—lesh of her Fingers near the Nails and yet without any kind of sense of pain 10. An Observation was imparted a while since by that excellent and experienced Lithotomist Mr. Hollier who told me that amongst the many Patients sent to be cured in a great Hospital whereof he is one of the Chirurgeons there was a Maid of about eighteen years of age who without the loss of motion had so lost the sense of feeling in the external parts of the Body that when he had for trials sake pinn'd her Handkerchief to her bare Neck she went up and down with it so pinn'd without having sense of what he had done to her He added that this Maid having remain'd a great while in the Hospital without being cur'd Dr. Harvey out of curiosity visited her sometimes and suspecting her strange distemper to be chiefly Uterine and curable only by Hymeneal exercises he advised her Parents who sent her not thither out of poverty to take her home and provide her a Husband by whom in effect she was according to his Prognostick and to many mens wonder cur'd of that strange disease 11. Anno 1563. Upon St. Andrews day in the presence of Monsieur brother to King Charles afterwards Henry the Third King of France Monsieur de Humiere made report of the following History the sum of his relation I have thus contracted In Piccardy in the Forest of Arden certain Gentlemen undertook a hunting of Wolves amongst others they slew a She-wolf that was follow'd by a young infant aged about seven years stark naked of a strange complexion with fair curl'd Hair who seeing the Wolf dead ran fiercely at them he was beset and taken the Nails of his Hands and Feet bowed inward he spake nothing but sent out an inarticulate sound They brought him thence to a Gentlemans House not far off where they put iron Manacles upon his Hands and Feet in the end by being long kept fasting they had brought him to a tameness and in seven months had taught him to speak He was afterwards by circumstance of time and six Fingers he had on one hand known to be the Child of a Woman who stealing wood was pursu'd by Officers and in her fright left her Child then about nine Months age which as is suppos'd was carryed away by the She-wolf aforesaid and by her nourish'd to the time of his taking when his Guardians had got much Money by shewing him from place to place he afterwards was a Herdsman of Sheep and other Beasts for seven years In all which time Wolves never made any attempt on the Herds and Flocks committed to his chage though he kept great store of Oxen Kine Calves Horses Mares Sheep and Poultry This was well observ'd by neighbouring Villages and that they might participate of this benefit they drave their Herds and Flocks where he kept his and desired him but to stroke his hands upon them which he would do with some of his phlegm or spittle upon them after which done let others conjecture as they please for the space of fifteen days Dogs of the greatest fierceness nor any Wolves would by any urgency touch them By this means he got great store of Money for he would have a double Trunois the value of two pence in that Country for every Beast he so laid his Hands on or stroked their Eaâ—s But as all things have a certain period so when he had attain'd to past fourteen years of age this vertue which he had left him himself observ'd that the Wolves would not come so near him as before but keep aloof off as being fearful of him It was possibly from the change of his complexion and temperature through so long alteration from his woolvish diet which was raw flesh c. his gain by this means â—aild and he went to the Wars where he prov'd brave bold and valiant at length fell to be a Thief excelling all others in craft and subtilty he was slain Anno 1572. by the followers to the Duke of Alva though he sold his life at a dear rate CHAP. VI. Of the Sense of Tasting how exquisite in some and
it was observ'd to succeed with the Patient according to his prognostick CHAP. VII Of the sense of Smelling the curiosity of it in some and how hurt or lost in others BY some one or other of the Beasts man is excelled and surpassed in every of the Senses but in this of Smelling by the most of them It is true we may better spare this at least in the perfection of it than any of the four other notwithstanding which there are manifold uses of it as in other things so for the recreation of the spirits and the preservation of life 1. That is wonderful which is reported of the Indians that at the first coming of the Spaniards thither the Natives could smell Gunpowder at a distance after the manner of our Crows and thereby knew if there were any that carried Guns near unto them 2. There was one Hamar who was a Guide to a Caravan as 't is vulgarly called that is a multitude of men upon their journey these wandered to and fro in the Lybian Sands and whereas he through disease or other accident wanted his sight there being no other who knew the way in those solitudes he undertook the conduct of that almost despairing company He went first upon his Camel and at every miles end he caused the fresh sand such as had any footsteps impressed upon it to be reached up to him and by the wonderful sagacity of his smell when they had now wandered yet further in that sandy and barren wilderness at least forty Italian miles he then told them that they were not far from an inhabited place At first no man believ'd this prediction of his in regard they knew by Astronomical Instruments that they were four hundred and eighty miles distant from Aegypt and fear'd they had rather gone backward than forwards but when in this fear they had journyed more than three days they beheld three Castles inhabited and before unknown to any man The inhabitants were almost utterly unarm'd who perceiving the Caravan as an unaccustomed sight they made haste to shut up their Gates and prepare for defence denying them water which was the only thing they sought After a light conflict the Castles were easily taken where having provided themselves of water they again set forwards This Story is set down by Leo Affricanus from whom I have translated this out of the Italian Tongue saith Camerarius 3. There was one born in some Village of the Country of Liege and therefore amongst Strangers he is known by the name of Iohn of Liege I have been inform'd of this story by several whom I dare confidently believe that have had it from his own mouth and have question'd him with great curiosity particularly about it when he was a little boy there being wars in the Country the Village of whence he was had notice of some unruly scattered Troops that were coming to pillage them which made all the people to â—lie hastily to hide themselves in the Woods that joyned upon the Forest of Ardenne there they lay till they understood that the Soldiers had fired the Town and quit it Then all return'd home excepting this Boy whose fears had made him run further into the Wood than any of the rest and afterwards apprehended that every body he saw through the Thickets and every voice he heard was the Soldiers Being thus hid from his Parents and sought for some days in vain they return'd without him and he liv'd many years in the Woods feeding upon Roots and wild Fruits and Mast. He said that after he had been some time in this wild habitation he could by the smell judge of the taste of any thing that was to be eaten and that he could at a great distance wind by his Nose where wholsome Fruits and Roots did grow In this state he continued shunning men with as great a fear as when he first ran away until in a very sharp Winter necessity brought him to that confidence that leaving the wild places of the Forest he would in the Evening steal amongst the Cattel that were fothered especially Swine and thence gleaned wherewithal to sustain his miserable life he was espyed naked and all overgrown with hair and being believ'd to be a Satyr wait was laid to apprehend him but he winded them as far off as any Beast could do At length they took the wind of him so advantageously that they catched him in a snare At his first living with other people a woman took compassion of him seeing he could call for nothing and supplyed his wants to her he applyed himself in all his occurrents and if she were gone abroad in the Fields or to any other Village he would hunt her out presently by his scent in such sort as Dogs use to do that are taught to hâ—nt dry foot This man within a little while after he came to good keeping and full feeding that acuteness of smelling left him which formerly governed him in his tasting I imagine he is yet alive to tell a better story of himself than I have done for I have from them who saw him but a few years agone that he was an able strong man and likely to live yet a good while longer 4. Of another man I can speak assuredly my self who being of a very temperate or rather spare diet could likewise perfectly discern by his smell the qualities of whatsoever was afterward to pass the examination of his taste even to his Bread and Beer 5. Cardanus confesses of himself that he had always some smell or other in his Nose as one while of Frankincense straight of Brimstone and soon after of other things he saith the cause of it was the exquisite subtlety of his sense the thinness of his skin and the tenuity of his humours 6. That did always seem a wonderful thing to me nor do I know the certain cause of it why some men can smell things that smell well but stinking things will not touch upon their sense nor are they able to perceive them Such a strange property as this is known to be in my honoured Uncle Mr. Iacobus Fiâ—chius the senior Regius Professor of Physick in our University 7. I know a woman saith Schottus who throughout the whole time of her life never had any such smell as to perceive the odour of any one thing whatsoever 8. Christopherus Heersard an Apothecary an industrious and skillful person in his employment told me not long since that by reason of his too frequent use of Camphire preparing and handling it in his Shop he had utterly depriv'd himself of his smell and that from thenceforth he must resolve to want that sense all his other being left entire unto him 9. In the utmost marches of India Eastward about the source and head of the River Ganges there is a Nation called the Astomes for that they have no mouths all hairy over the whole body yet cloathed with the soft Cotton
do it He asked him again and again but he persisted in his denial he therefore takes him up into a high part of the House and threatens to throw him down thence unless he would promise to assist them but neither so could he prevail with him whereupon turning to his companions We may be glad said he that this Merchant is so young for had he been a Senatour we might have despaired of any success in our suit 3. When Alcibiades was but yet a child he gave insâ—â—nâ—e of that natural subtlety for which he was afterwards so remarkable in Athens â—or coming to his Unâ—le Pâ—ricles and â—inding him sitting somewhat sad in a retiring Room he asked him the cause of his trouble who told him he had been employed by the City in some publick Buildings in which he had expended such sums of money as he knew noâ— well how to give account of You should therefore said he think of a way to prevent your 〈◊〉 câ—llâ—d to accouâ—â— And thus that great and wise 〈◊〉 being dâ—stitute of counsel himself made me of this wâ—ich was given him by a child for he involved Athens in a foreign War by which means they were not at leisure to consider of accounts 4. Themistocles in his childhood and boyage bewrayed a quick spirit and understanding beyond his years and a propensity towards great matters he used not to play amongst his equals but they found him employing that time in framing Accusatory or Defensive Orations for this and that other of his Schoolfellows And therefore his Master was used to say My Son thou wilt be nothing indifferent but either a great Glory or Plague to thy Country For even then he was not much affected with Moral Precepts or matters of accomplishment for urbanity but what concern'd providence and the management of affairs that he chiefly delighted in and addicted himself to the knowledge of beyond what could be expected from his youth 5. Richard Carew Esquire was bred a Gentleman Commoner at Oxford where being but fourteen years old and yet three years standing in the University he was called out to dispute ex tempore before the Earls of Leicester and Warwick with the matchless Sir Philip Sydney Ask you the end of this contest They neither had the better both the best 6. Thucydides being yet a Boy while he heard Herodotus reciting his Histories in the Olympicks is said to have wept exceedingly which when Herodotus had observ'd he congratulated the happiness of Olorus his Father advising him that he would use great diligence in the education of his Son and indeed he afterwards proved one of the best Historians that ever Greece had 7. Astyages King of the Medes frighted by a dream caused Cyrus the Son of his Daughter Mandane as soon as born to be delivered to Harpaâ—us with a charge to make him away He delivers him to the Herdâ—man of Astyages with the same charge but the Herdsman's wife newly delivered of a dead child and taken with the young Cyrus kept him instead of her own and buried the other instead of him When Cyrus was grown up to ten years of age playing amongst the young Lads in the Country he was by them chosâ—n to be their King appointed them to their several Oâ—â—ices some for Builders some for Guards Couâ—tiers Messengers and the like One of those Boys that played with them was the Son of Aâ—â—embaris a Noble Person amongsâ— the Mâ—des who not obeying the commands of this new King Cyrus commanded him to be seised by the rest of the Boys and that done he bestowed many stripes upon him The Lad being let go complain'd to his Father and he to Astyages for shewing him the bruised Shoulders of his Son Is it thus O King said he that we are treated by the Son of thy Herdsman and slave Astyages sent for the Herdsman and his Son and then looking upon Cyrus How darest thou said he being the Son of such a Father as this treat in such sort the Son of a principal person about me Sir said he I have done to him nothing but what was fit for the Country Lads one of which he was chose me their King in play because I seemed the most worthy of the place but when all others obeyed my commands he only regarded not what I said for this he was punished and if thereupon I have merited to suffer any thing I am here ready to do it While the Boy spake this Astyages began to take some knowledge of him the figure of his â—ace his generous deportment the time of Cyrus his exposition agreeing with the age of this Boy he concluded he was the same which he soon after made the Herdsman to confess But being told by the Magi that now the danger was over for having played the King in sport they believed it was all that his dream did intend So he was sent into Persia to his Father not long after he caused the Persians to revolt overcame Astyages his Grandfather and transferred the Empire of the Medes to the Persians 8. Thomas Aquinas when he went to School was by nature addicted to silence and was also somewhat more fat than the rest of his Fellow-Scholars whereupon they usually called him the dumb Ox but his Master having made experiment of his wit in some little Disputations and finding to what his silence tended This dumb Ox said he will shortly set up such a lowing that all the world will admire the sound of it 9. Origines Adamantius being a young boy would often ask his Father Leonidas about the mystical sense of the Scriptures insomuch that his Father was constrain'd to withdraw him from so over early a wisdom Also when his Father was in prison for the sake of Christ and that by reason of his tender age for he was but seventeen and the strict custody of his Mother he could not be companion with him in his Martyrdom he then wrote to him that he should not through the love of his children be turned from the true faith in Christ even in that age discovering how undaunted a Preacher Christianity would afterwards have of him 10. Grimoaldus a young noble Lombard was taken with divers others at Forum Iulii by Cacanus King of the Avares and contrary to sworn conditions was lead to death perceiving the perfididiousness of the Barbarians in the midst of the tumult and slaughter he with his two Brothers brake from amongst them but he being but a very youth was soon overtaken by the pursuer was retaken by a Horseman and again by him led to death But he observing his time drew his little Sword slew his Guardian overtook his Brethren and got safe away By this his incredible boldness he shewed with what spirit and wisdom he would after both gain and govern the Kingdom of Lombardy 11. Q. Hortensius spake his first Oration in the Forum at Rome when he was but nineteen years of
Pontius Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be Governour over the Jews caused in the Night time the Statue of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem covered which thing within three days after caused a great Tumult amongst the Jews for they who beheld it were astonished and moved as though now the law of their Country were prophaned for they hold it not lawful for any picture or Image to be brought into the City At their lamentation who were in the City there were gathered together a great multitude out of the Fields adjoyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Cesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the Law of their Country might remain inviolate When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselves before his house and there remained lying upon their faces for five days and nights never moving Afterwards Pilate sitting in his Tribunal was very careful to call the Jews together before him as though there he would have given them an answer when upon the sudden a company of Armed Soldiers for so it was provided compassed the Jews about with a Triple Rank The Jews were hereat amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receive the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a sign unto the Soldiers to draw their Swords The Jews as though they had agreed thereto fell all down at once and offered their naked Necks to the stroke of the Sword crying out that they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring their constancy and the strictness of that people in their Religion presently commanded the Statua's to be taken out of the City of Ierusalem When King Ethelred and his Brother Alfred had encountred the Danes a whole day being parted by the Night early the next morning the Battel was renewed and Alfred engaged in fight with the Danes sent to his Brother to speed him to their help but he being in his Tent at his Devotions refused to come till he had ended Having finished he entred the Battel relieved the staggering Host and had a glorious Victory over his Enemies Fulco Earl of Anjou in his old Age minding the welfare of his Soul according to the Religion of those days went in Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and having bound his Servants by oath to do what he should require was by them drawn naked to Christs Sepulchre The Pagans looking on while one drew him with a wooden yoke put about his Neck the other whipt him on the naked Back he in the mean time saying Receive O Lord a miserable perjur'd and run away Servant vouchsafe to receive my Soul O Lord Christ. 30. Pompey having taken Ierusalem entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum and although he found a Table of Gold a sacred Candlestick a number of other Vessels and odoriferous drugs in great quantity and two thousand Talents of Silver yet he touched nothing thereof through the Reverence he bore to God but caused the Temple to be purged and commanded the Sacrifices to be offered according to the Law 31. When the Duke of Saaony made great preparations for war against a Pious and Devout Bishop of Magdeburg The Bishop not regarding his defence applied himself to his Episcopal function in the visiting and the Well Governing of his Church and when it was told him that the Duke was upon his March against him He replied I will take care of the Reformation of my Churches and leave unto God the care of my Safety The Duke had a Spy in the City who hearing of this answer of the Bishops gave his Master a speedy account thereof The Duke having received this Information did thereupon dismiss his Army surceased from his expedition saying he would not fight against him who had God to fight for him 32. Hannibal having given a great overthrow to the Romans and slain the Consul Flaminius the people were extremely perplexed and chose Fabius Maximus Dictator who to lay a good foundation for his Government began with the service of the Gods Declaring to the People that the loss they had received came through the rashness and wilful negligence of their General who made no reckoning of the Gods and Religion and therefore he perswaded them to appease the Gods and to serve and honour them And he himself in presence of the people made a solemn vow that he would sacrifice unto the Gods all the encrease and fruits that should fall the next year of Sheep Sows Milch-kine and of Goats throughout Italy CHAP. IV. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood THe Persians and Indians had a Law that whosoever had been thrice convicted of speaking untruth should upon Pain of death never speak word more all his life after And Plato saith it is only allowed to Physicians to lye for the comfort of the Sick that are under their custody and care But all other men are obliged to a severe and strict observance of truth notwithstanding which there hath been so great a scarcity of the true Lovers of it that 1. It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told lye For which cause he was deemed capable and worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple of Truth 2. Epaminondas the Theban General was so great a Lover of Truth that he was ever exceeding careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it even then when he was most in sport 3. Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a person exremely devoted to Truth and gives him this threefold commendation Tâ—at he was never known to tell a Lye that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required 4. Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar friend to M. Cicero that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear any Related His uprightness was so apparent that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estates to his trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his charge 5. Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that fidelity and truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon oath yet the Athenians amongst whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge that his evidence should be lawful and good without being sworn 6. The Duke of Ossura as he passed by Barcelona having got leave of Grace to release some Slaves he went
aboard the Cape Gally and passing through the churms of Slave he asksd divers of them what their offences were every one excused himself one saying that he was put in out of malice another by Bribery of the Judge but all of them unjustly Amongst the rest there was one little sturdy black man and the Duke asking him what he was in for Sir said he I cannot deny but I am justly put in here for I wanted Money and so took a Purse hard by Sarragona to keep me from starving The Duke with a little Staff he had in his hand gave him two or three Blows upon the Shoulders saying you Rogue what do you amongst so many honest innocent men get you gone out of their company So he was freed and the rest remained still in statis quo prius to tug at the Oar. 7. The Emperour Constantius had besieged Beneventum when Romualdus the Duke thereof dispatch'd Geswaldus privily away unto Grimoaldus the King of Lombardy the Dukes Father to desire him to come with an Army unto the assistance of his Son He had prevailed in his Embassy and was by Grimoaldus sent away before to let his Son know that he was coming with some Troops to his Aid But in his return by misfortune he fell amongst the Enemies who being informed of the Auxiliary forces that were upon the march hoped to have Beneventum yielded to them before their Arrival if they could make Romualdus to despair of his Succours To this purpose having enjoyned Geswaldus to speak their sence they led him to the Walls but when he came thither he declared the whole truth to the besieged and gave them to understand that e're long Grimoaldus would be with them with a considerable Army This cost Geswaldus his Life and the Imperialists raised their Siege the next day after 8. King Lâ—dislaus was a great Lover of Truth and therefore amongst his Courtiers when any of them praised any deed of his or quality that was in him if he perceived that they said nothing but the truth he would let it pass by uncontroul'd But when he saw that a gloss was set upon it for his praise of their own making he would say with some heat I pray thee Good Fellow when thou sayest Grace never bring in Gloria Patri without a Sicut erat If thou make any report of an Act of mine report it as it was and no otherwise And lift me not up with Lies for I love it not It is written of our Henry the Fifth that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk And something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not that he would not be flattered 10. One who was designed for an Agent waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Went-worth for some direction in his conduct and carriage to whom he thus delivered himself To secure your self and serve your Country you must at all times and upon all occasions speak truth For saâ—th he you will never be believed and by this means your truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with who will still hunt counter to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings 11. The Emperour Tiberius had such an aversion to flatteries that he suffered no Senator to come to his Litter neither to wait upon him nor so much as about business When a Consular person came to him to appâ—ase his displeasure and sought to embrace his Knees he fled from him with that earnestness that he fell all along upon his face when in common discourse or in any set oration ought was said of him that was complemental he would interrupt the person reprehend him and immediately alter the form of his words when one called him Lord he commanded he should no more name him by way of reproach One saying his Sacred employments and another that he went to the Senate he being the Author he compellâ—d both to alter their expressions for Author to say Perswader and for Sacred to say Laborious 12. Pambo came to a Learned Man and desired him to teach him some Psalm he began to read unto him the thirty ninth and the first Verse which is I said I will look to my ways that I offend not with my Tongue Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point And having absented himself for some Months he was demanded by his Teacher when he would go forward he answered that he had not yet learn'd his old Lesson to spâ—ak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue 13. Albertus Bishop of Meâ—tz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Arch-Bishop answered I know not what this Book is but sure I am that all that is written therein is quite against us When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had wrote of his glorious Atchievements wherein he had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the Book threw it into the River Hydaspis and told the Author that it were a good deed to throw him after it The same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence because he had long lived with him and yet never reproved him for any of his vices or faults 15. Maximilianus the first Emperour of that name look how desirous he was to be famous to posterity for his noble Actions and Atchievements so much was he also aversâ— and afraid to be praised to his face When therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with immediate Praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer ex tempore and withal take heed said he that you praise me not for a mans own Praises from his own Mouth carry but an evil savour with them 16. Cato the younger charged Muraena and indicted him in open Court for Popularity and Ambition declaring against him that he sought indirectly to gain the peoples favour and their voices to be chosen Consul Now as he went up and down to Collect Arguments and Proofs thereof according to the manner and cuâ—tom of the Romans he was attended upon by certain persons who followed him in the behalf of the Defendant to observe what was done for his better instruction in the process and suit commenced These men would oftentimes be in hand with Cato and ask him whether he would to day search for ought or negotiate any thing in the matter and cause concerning Muraena If he said no such credit and trust they reposed in the veracity and truth of the man that they would rest in that answer and go their ways A singular proof this was of the reputation he had gain'd and the great and good opinion men had conceived of him
concerning his Love to Truth 17. Euricius Cordus a German Physician hath this honour done to his memory It is said of him that no man was more addicted to truth than he or rather no man was more vehemently studious of it none could be found who was a worser hater of ing and falshood he could dissemble nothing nor bear that wherewith he was offended which was the cause of his gaining the displeasure oâ— some persons who might have been helpful to him if he would but have sought their favour and continued himself therein by his obsequiousness Thus much is declared in his Epigrams and he saith it of himself Blandire nescis ac verum Corde tacere Et mirare tuos displicuisse libros Thou canst not flatter but the truth dost tell What wonder is 't thy Books then do not sell. Paulus Lutherus Son to Martin Luther was Physician to Ioachimus the Second Elector of Brandenbuog and then to Augustus Duke of Saxony Elector It is said of him that he was verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of liberty and freedom of Speech far from â—lattery and assentation and in all points like unto that Rhesus in Euripides who saith of himself Talis sum et ego rectam sâ—rmonum Viam secans nec sum duplex vir Such a one am I that rightly can Divide my Speech yet am no double man The virtues of this Luther were many and great yet I know not any wherein he more deservedly is to be praised than for this honest freedom of speaking wherein he mightily resembled his Father 19. When I lived at Vtricht in the Low Countries the Reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of There came a Country-man of his out of Scoâ—land who desiring to be entertained by him told him that my Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentlemen his Cousin and Kinsmen were in good health Colonel Edmonds turning to his friends then by Gentlemen said he believe not one word he says My Father is but a poor Baker in Edinburg and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe that I am a great man born when there is no such matter CHAP. V. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace THere is a certain Fish which Aelian in his History calls the Adonis of the Sea because it liveth so innocently that it toucheth no living thing strictly preserving peace with all the offspring of the Ocean which is the cause it is beloved and courted as the true darling of the Waters If the frantick world hath had any darlings they are certainly such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the face of the Universe These are the men it hath Crown'd with Lawrels advanc'd to Thrones and â—latter'd with the misbecoming Titles of Heroes and Gods while the Sons of peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own vertues Notwithstanding which there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to Court her without the consideration of any additional Dowry 1. The Inâ—abitants of the Island Borneo not far from the Moluccas live in such detestation of war and are so great Lovers of peace that they hold their King in no other veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in peace but if he discover inclinations to war they never leave till he is fall'n in Battle under the Arms of his Enemies So soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as Men that fight for their liberty and such a King as will be a greater Lover of peace Nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the perswader and Author of a war but he was deserted by them and suffer'd to fall under the Sword of the Enemy 2. Datanes the Persian being employed in the besieging of Sinope received Letters from the King commanding him to desist from the Siege Having read the Letter he adored it and made gratulatory sacrifices as if he had received mighty favours from his Master and so taking Ship in the very next Night he departed 3. The Emperour Leo who succeeded Martianus having given to Eulogius the Philosopher a quantity of Corn one of his Eunuchs told him that such kind of largess was more fitly bestowed upon his Soldiers I would to God said the Emperour that the state of my Reign was such that I could bestow all the stipends of my Soldiers upon such as are learned 4. Constantinus the Emperour observing some differences amongst the Fathers of the Church called the Nicene Council at which also hmself was present At this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of one another All which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all But when he found that he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting that he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to peace and a Cordial Agreement amongst themselvrs 5. It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever perswade them to peace 6. At Fez in Africk they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any controversies amongst them both parties Plaintiff and Defendant came to their Alsakins or Chief Judge and at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the Cause is heard and ended It is reported of Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles in Rome under their own hands sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the peace through any apprehension that he lived suspected and should therefore be hated 8. Iames King of Arragon was a great enemy to contentions and contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an enemy 9. I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of
Sea and his Wife at some distance from him the woman was seised upon by some Moorish Pyrates who came on shore to prey upon all they could find Upon his return not finding his Wiâ—e and perceiving a Ship that lay at anchor not far off conjecturing the matter as it was he threw himself into the Sea and swam up to the Ship when calling to the Captain he told him that he was therefore come because he must needs follow his Wife He feared not the Barbarism of the Enemies of the Christian Faith nor the miseries those Slaves endure that are thrust into places where they must tug at the Oar his love overcame all these The Moors were full of admiration at the carriage of the man for they had seen some of his Country-men rather chuse death than to endure so hard a loss of their liberty and at their return they told the whole of this Story to the King of Tunis who moved with the Relation of so great a love gave him and his Wife their freedom and the man was made by his command one of the Soldiers of his Life Guard 10. Gratianus the Emperour was so great and known a Lover of his Wife that his enemies had hereby an occasion administred to them to ensnare his life which was on this manner Maximus the Usurper caâ—sed a Report to be â—pread that the Empress with certain Troops was come to see her Husband and to go with him into Italy and sent a messenger with counterfeit Letters to the Emperour to give him advice thereof After this he sent one Andragathius a subtile Captain to the end he should put himself into a Horse Litter with some chosen Soldiers and go to meet the Emperour feigning himself to be the Empress and so to surprise and kill him The cunning Champion perform'd his business for at Lyons in France the Emperour came forth to meet his Wife and coming to the Horse-Litter was taken and killed 11. Ferdinand King of Spain married Elizabeth the Sister of Ferdinand Son of Iohn King of Arragon Great were the virtues of this admirable Princess whereby she gained so much upon the heart of her Husband a valiant and fortunate Prince that he admitted her to an equal share in the Government of the Kingdom with himself wherein they lived with such mutual agreement as the like hath not been known amongst any of the Kings and Queens of that Country There was nothing done in the affairs of State but what was debated ordained and subscribed by both The Kingdom of Spain was a name common to them both Embassadors were sent abroad in both their names Armies and Soldiers were levied and formed in both their names and so was the whole wars and all civil affairs that King Ferdinand did not challenge to himself an authority in any thing or in any respect greater than that whereunto he had admitted this his beloved Wife Bajazet the first after the great victory obtain'd against him by Tamberlain to his other great misfortunes and disgraces had this one added of having his beautiful Wife Despina whom he dearly loved to fall into the hands of the Conquerour whose ignominious and undecent treatment before the eyes of her Husband was a matter of more dishonour and sorrow than all the rest of his afflictions for when he beheld this he resolved to live no longer but knock'd out his Brains against the iron bars of that Cage wherein he was enclosed 13. Dion was driven from Sicily into Exile by Dionysius but his Wife Aristomache was detained and by him was compelled to marry with Polycrates one of his beloved Courtiers Dion afrerwards return'd took Syracuse and expelled Dionysius his Sister Arete came and spoke to him his Wife Aristomache stood behind her but conscious to her self in what manner she had wrong'd his Bed shame would not permit her to speak His Sister Arete then pleaded her cause and told her Brother that what his Wife had done she was enforced to by necessity and the Command of Dionysius whereupon the kind Husband received her to his House as before Meleager challenged to himself the chief glory and honour of slaying the Calidonian Boar but this being denied him he sate in his Chamber so angry and discontented that when the Curetes were assaulting the City where he lived he would not stir out to lend his Citizens the least of his assistance The Elders Magistrates the chief of the City and the Priests came to him with their humble supplications but he would not move they propounded a great reward he despised at once both it and them His Father Oenaeus came to him and embracing his knees sought to make him relent but all in vain His Mother came and try'd all ways but was refused his Sisters and his most familiar friends were sent to him and begg'd he would not forsake them in their last extremity but neither this way was his fierce mind to be wrought upon In the mean time the enemy had broken into the City and then came his wife Cleopatra trembling O my dearest Love said she help us or we are lost the Enemy is already entred The Hero was moved with this voice alone and rous'd himself at the apprehension of the danger of his beloved Wife He arm'd himself went forth and left not till he had repulsed the Enemy and put the City in its wonted safety and security CHAP. VIII Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands THough the Female be the weaker Sex yet some have so superseded the fidelity of their nature by an incredible strength of affection that being born up with that they have oftentimes performed as great things as we could expect from the courage and constancy of the most generous amongst men They have despised death let it appear to them in what shape it would and made all sorts of difficulties give way before the force of that invincible Love which seemed proud to shew it self most strong in the greatest extremity of their Husbands 1. The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Empire of Iapan hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful woman to his Wife got him dispatch'd and having sent for the widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires She told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honour'd with the friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murther her self if he proffer'd her any violence But if he would grant her the favour to spend one Month in bewailing her Husband and then give her the liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his servant and how far she would comply with his Affections It was easily granted a very great dinner was provided whither came all the kinred of the deceased
witnesses to have denyed it thrice should have his House burnt down to the ground that he might be justly deprived of his own House who had inhumanely denyed the use of it to another By vertue of this Law this people are accounted the most hospitable of all others in Europe and had we had the like amongst us the Hospitality of the English had not given its last groan in Kent as Doctor Fuller saith it did But proceed we to our Examples 1. Lychas the Lacedemonnian was famous for his Munificence this way whose constant custom it was to entertain all those that came to try masteries in Sparta if they were Strangers his House was their Inn while they were desirous to stay and when they would not they were civilly dismissed by him 2. In the War of the Medians upon the Athenians when for fear of the Enemy their Wives and Children were fled out of their Country the Troezenii received them into their City where they were provided for upon the publick account and withal set forth an edict that the children had liberty to take and gather any sort of fruit whence they would without fear of any punishment to ensue thereupon 3. Henry Wardlaw Presentor of Glascow being at Avignion at the decease oâ— Thomas Stewart Archbishop of S. Andrews was provided thereto by Pope Benedict the Thirteenth of this man's great Hospitality take this instance The Masters of his House complained of the great numbers that resorted to him for entertainment and desiring that for the casâ— of the Servants he would condescend to make a Bill of Houshold that they might know who were to be served He condescended and when his Secretary was called to set down the names of the Houshold being asked whom he would first name he answered Fife and Angus these are two large Countries containing millions of people his servants hearing this gave over their purpose of retrenching his Family for they saw he would have no man refused that came to his House 4. In Italy and Spain whether you go to view the Temples Castles Magazines Buildings or any other thing in this kind if you depart from the House of your Friend where you first lodged if you give any money as a Gratuity to the Watchmen Workmen or any other servant of your Friends you shall depart an enemy instead of a Friend for so great is their Magnanimity and Hospitality that they are exceeding desirous and ambitious to do all good offices â—or a stranger gratis and if at any time they receive any thing it is by enforcement and with a great deal of reluctance 5. Patania of old Perimula is at this day a well known City in the Bengalan Gulph scituate in the midst of those two famous Ports Malacca and Syam the people here are exceeding hospitable to such strangers as from desire of Novelty or Gain reside amongst them neither do they enquire of what Coâ—ntry they be what their business nor Religion The men of Note transcend in courtesie for at any mans arrival they blush not to proffer their Daughters or Nieces to be their Bed-fellows yea to accompany them at Bed and Board during their stay the price of such a favour not equalling so high a complement but were it less in my opinion is too much for such Panders and Prostitutes At the end oâ— the prefixed time the woman returns home well pleased so far from shame or loss that they rather account her honoured and more fit for preferment 6. The Lucanians have a Law amongst them to this purpose that no man shall refuse the entertainment of a Stranger that comes to him after the Sun is set with a purpose to lodge with him and that if he do he shall submit to a certain Fine and be declared guilty of Inhospitality which they look upon as a very great crime 7. At Tednest a City of Morocco such respect is had to strangers that if a Merchant come thither and hath no acquaintance the Gentlemen of the City cast lots who shall be his Host and they use him kindly looking only for some present at his departure in token of his thankfulness And if he be a mean person he may chuse his Host without any recompence at all expected from him 8. Tesegdelt is another City of the same Kingdom where a Guard is set at the Gates not so much to keep out Enemies as to entertain Strangers At the first coming of a Stranger they ask him if he have any Friends in the City if not by the custom of the place they must see to provide him entertainment upon free cost 9. Edward Earl of Deâ—by was famous for a spreading Charity and his great Hospitality his provision native rather plentiful than various solid than dainty that cost him less and contented his Guests more his Table constant and even where all were welcome and none invited his Hall was full most commonly his Gates always The one with the honest Gentry and Yeomanry who were his retainers in love and observance bringing good stomachs to his Table and resolved hearts for his service The other with the aged maimed industrious poor whose craving was prevented with doles and expectation with bounty the first being provided with meat the second with money and the third with employment In a word Mr. Cambden observes that Hospitality lieth buried since 1572 in this Earls Grave whence may that divine power raise it who shall raise him but before the last Resurrection Neither was he munificent upon other mens charge for once a Month he looked into his Incomes and once a Week to his Disbursements that none should wrong him or be wronged by him The Earl of Derby he would say shall keep his own House wherefore it is an observation of him and the second Duke of Norfolk that when they were buried not a Tradesman could demand the paymâ—nt of a Groat they owed him nor a Neighbour the restitution of a penny wherein they had wronged him 16. Conradus Gesnerus by the Writer of his life hath this given him as a part of his character that his House was ever open to all sorts of Strangers but especially to learned men many whereof daily repaired to him some to see and be acquainted with him others to behold something that was rare and worthy of their sight in his keeping for his House was replenished with great abundance of such things he had the Carcases of almost all exotick living creatures or else the â—igures of them represented in colours to the life he had a Nursery of very many plants and those unknown in our Countries in his Garden more he preserv'd dried in his Boxes he had also no despicable treasure of Gems Metals and fossible things None of these did he keep secret to himself but he willingly shewed them to as many as came to him that were studious in the things of nature and learnedly and sweetly would he
an extraordinary and irrevocable act of his own he made him Overseer and Administrator of all his goods moveable and immoveable in such manner that he might dispose of them at his pleasure Nor was Barbadicus satisfied with this but that he might provide for the profit of his friend in case he should dye he leaves it in his will that though he had a Wife and Brother yet Trivisanus should be his sole Executor that he should have sole power of disposing his Daughters in marriage nor should at any time be compelled to render an account of his trust or of any thing pertaining to that estate He also bequeathed him a legacy large as his estate would permit without apparent prejudice to the fortunes of his Children Barbadicus was moved to do all this for that he perceived Trivisanus as soon as he had entred his house by a singular modesty of mind of a prodigal of his own estate become sparing of anothers and from that moment had left off all gaming and other such pleasures of youth he had also betaken himself to the company and converse of learned and wise men and by addicting himself to the perusal and study of the best Authors had shewed him that he would answer his liberality with sincerity uprightness and unblameable fidelity which fidelity Barbadicus had often before and also since this liberality of his experienced in him his beloved and most constant friend when he alone defended the life and honour of Barbadicus in his greatest straits and worst dangers as well open as concealed so that he openly professes to owe the safety of them both to Trivisanus The whole City knows how he supported the innocency of his friend in the false and devilish calumnies that were raised upon him and would not desert him in the worst of his fortunes though he was slandered for taking his part While he did this he not only interrupted the course of his preferments to the chiefest places of honour in his Country unto which to the amazement of all men he was in a most hopeful way But he also forfeited and lost those opportunities It is also well known to all men that he contracted great and dangerous enmities with some that had afore time been his companions upon the sole score of this friend of his He despised all that extrinsick honour which depends upon the opinion of the brutish multitude and at the last also exposed his own life to frequent and manifest hazards as also he would yet do in any such occasion as should require it and whereas Trivisanus hath lived many years and is yet alive through this incomparable expression of a grateful mind in Barbadicus he lives with great splendour and in great Authority He is merciful to the afflicted courteous to his friends and is especially a most worthy Patron of all those that are vertuous He is honourably esteemed by the daughters of his friend in such manner as if he were their own Father he is also chearfully received by his Wife and truly honoured by her as her Brother as well because she is not ignorant of his merits in respect of her Husband as also for his excellent Temper and such other uncommon qualities as render him worthy the love and admiration of all men 13. In the time of the proscription by the Trium-Virate at Rome there was threatned a grievous punishment to any person that should conceal or any way assist one that was proscribed on the other side great rewards promised the discoverers of them Marcus Varro the Philosopher was in the list of the proscribed at which time Calenus his dear friend concealed him some time in his house and though Antonius came often thither to walk yet was he never affrighted or changed his mind though he daily saw men punished or rewarded according to the Edicts set forth CHAP. XX. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what Returns they have made of Benefits Received THis of Gratitude is justly held to be the Mother of all other virtues seeing that from this one Fountain those many Rivulets arise as that of Reverence and due respect unto our Masters and Governours that of Friendship amongst men Love to our Country Piety to our Parents and Religion towards God himself As therefore the ungrateful are every where hated as being under the suspicion of every vice on the contrary grateful persons are in the estimation of all men having by their Gratitude put in a kind of security that they are not without some measure of every other sort of virtue 1. Sir William Fitzwilliams the Elder being a Merchant Taylor and Servant sometime to Cardinal Woolsey was chosen Alderman of Broadstreet Ward in London Anno 1506. Going afterwards to dwell at Milton in Northamptonshire in the fall of the Cardinal his former Master he gave him kind entertainment there at his House in the Country for which being called before the King and demanded how he durst entertain so great an enemy to the State His answer was That he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it but only because he had been his Master and partly the means of his greatest fortunes The King was so well pleased with his answer that saying himself had few such Servants immediately Knighted him and afterwards made him one of his Privy Council 2. Thyreus or as Curtius calls him Thriotes was one of the Eunuchs to Statira the Wife of Darius and taken at the same time with her by Alexander the Great When she was dead in Travail he stole out of the Camp went to Darius and told him of the death of his Wife perceiving that he resented not her death so passionately as he feared that her chastity together with that of his Sister and Daughters had been violated by Alexander Thyreus with horrible oaths asserted the chastity of Alexander then Darius turning to his friends with his hands lift up to Heaven O ye Gods of my Country said he and Presidents of Kingdoms I beseech you in the first place that the fortune of Persia may recover its former Grandeur that I may leave it in the same splendor I received it that I may render unto Alexander all that he hath performed in my adverse estate unto my dearest pledges But if that fatal time is come wherein by the envy of the Gods there is a decreed revolution to pass upon us and that the Kingdom of Persia must be overthrown then I beg of you that no other amongst mortal men besides Alexander may sit in the Throne of Cyrus 3. Ptolemaeus King of Aegypt having overcome Demetrius Poliorcetes in Battel and made himself Master of all his carriages he sent back to Demetrius his Royal Tent with all the wealth he had taken and also such Captives as were of the best account with him sending him word withal that the contention betwixt them was not for Riches but Glory When Demetrius had returned him thanks he added that he
upon him and minister unto him The young man did it with great ardor and obedience and then being an eye witness of the sobriety and meekness and other virtues of the man he began to admire him and from thenceforth spake nothing but in his praises 5. Lucius Murâ—ena though but the year before he had been accused by Cato of canvassing and bribery wherein his life had been in the utmost hazard had he not been defended by Cicero the Father of Roman Eloquence yet forgetting this he interposed his own body for the safety of Cato when his death was intended by Metellus the Tribune of the people and though he might have seen himself revenged by the hand of another yet thought it more glorious to defend his enemy than suffer it 6. Anno 1541. Robert Holgate afterwards Arch-Bishop of York obtained a Benefice where Sir Francis Askâ—w of Lincolnshire dwelt by whom he was much molested and vexed with continual suits of law upon which occasion he was sain to repair to London where being he found means to be the Kings Chaplain and by him was made Arch-Bishop of York and President of the Council in the North during which time the said Knight hapned to have a Suit before the said Council and doubted much that he should find hard measure from the Arch-Bishop whose Adversary he had been but the other forgetting all forepassed injuries afforded him all the favour that he might with justice 7. When Timoleon the Corinthian had freed the Syracusans and Sicilians from the Tyrants that did oppress them one Demaenetus a busie Orator took the boldness in an open assembly of the people to charge him with I know not what miscarriages wâ—ilst he was General in the Wars Timoleon though he had power to punish him yet answered him not a word only turning to the people he said that he thanked the Gods for granting him that thing which he had so often requested of them in his prayers which was that he might once see the Syracusans to have full power and liberty to say what they would 8. C. Iulius Caesaer when perpetual Dictator and flourishing in the same and glory of his great exploits was aspersed with an indelible infamy by the verses which Catullus of Verona had made and published of him and Mamurra but upon his submission he not only did him no harm but received him to his Table and as a certain sign of his being reconciled he lodged with his Father as he used to do 9. King Philip of Macedon besieged the City of Methon and as he walked about viewing the place one from the Walls shot an Arrow at himâ— whereby he put out his right eye which yet he took so patiently that when the Citizens a few days after sent out to treat with him about the surrender he gave them honourable terms and after they had put the City into his hands took no revenge of them for the loss of his eye 10. Pope Sixtus the Second was accused by Bassus a Patrician of many grievous Crimes unto Valentiniâ—nus the younger the Emperour and his Mother Placidia before whom he cleared his unspotted innocency which done he interceded with tears that Bassus might not be sent into exile according to his banishment though he could not prevail with the Emperour therein Afterwards when Bassus was dead he not only honoured his Funeral with his presence but also with his own hands helped to commit him to his interrment 11. Epaminondas through the envy of the Nobles was not chosen General in a war that needed a most skilful leader nor was he only laid aside but another was chosen in his stead who was but little seen in the military art This brave man little moved with the indignity listed himself as a private Soldier It was long e're the ill conduct of the new General had brought the Army into a real and almost inextricable strait and when all looked about enquiring for Epaminondas he mindless of the injury of his former unworthy repulse came chearfully forth and having delivered the Army from the hazard it was in brought it back with safety into his Country 12. There was an ancient feud betwixt Henry of Methimnia Duke of Asincica of the Family of the Guzmans and Roderigo Ponze de Leon Marquess of Gades and whereas the Marquess had consulted with others about the surprisal of Alama from the Moors of Granado and had determin'd of the expedition he would not that the Duke should be acquainted with or have any share in the glory of that action But he was speedily besieged by the King of Granado in that Town and whereas he sent all about for assistance the Duke was again neglected Notwithstanding all which the gallant Duke burying in oblivion the memory of all forepast injuries called together all the Soldiers in his government or that were mercenaries under him entreated his friends and so enflamed others with his exhortations that having with great celerity mustered a very great Army he came to the seasonable succours of Alama raised the Siege and set the Marquess with all others with him in freedom from the fears of any enemy and afterwards when the Marquess came first to him with acknowledgments of so great a benefit and tendred him his greatest thanks Let these things pass Marquess said he neither indeed does it become good men to be mindful of former fallings out and especially in a cause where Religion is concern'd but rather if any such thing has heretofore been betwixt us let us sacrifice them to our Country and the Christian name and give them no longer any place in our remembrance And since things have at this time so fortunately succeeded for us both let us joyfully celebrate this day and let it remain as an eternal witness of our reconciliation This said they embraced lodged together that night and lived ever afterwards in a mutual and sincere friendship 13. Alphonsus the elder King of Sicily used to wear upon his fingers Rings of extraordinary price and to preserve the lustre of the stones when he washed used to give them to him that stood next to hold He had once delivered them to one who supposing the King had forgotten them converted them to his own use Alphonsus dissembled the matter put on others and kept his wonted course after some days being to wash the same man stood next him that had the former and put forth his hand as to receive the Kings Rings who pulled his hand back and whispered him in the ear that when he should restore the former he would trust him with these A Speech worthy of a liberal and humane Prince and one endued with so great a mind as he was 14. Q. Metellus that fortunate man in the flower of all his glory was seiz'd upon by Catinius Labeo Tribune of the people and dragg'd to the Mount Tarpeius to be thrown headlong from thence and scarce was there another
the Barbarians that they sent Ambassadors to Antonius to grant them Peace for an hundred years for they were astonished above measure to find such Authority in Military Laws as that by the Judgment of the Roman General even they were condemned to die who had gloriously though unlawfully overcome 10. Alexander the Great being in Cilicia was detained with a violent Disease so that when all other Physicians despaired of his health Philip the Acarnanian brought him a potion and told him if he hoped to live he must take that Alexander had newly received Letters from Parmenio wherein he advised him to repose no trust in Philip for he was bribed to destroy him by Darius with a mighty Summ of Gold Alexander held the Letters in the one hand took the Potion in the other and having supped it off shewed Philip the Contents of them who though incensed at the slander cast upon him yet advised Alexander to confide in his Art and indeed he recovered him 11. Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany had his Forces and Camp at Ingolstadt and was compassed about with a huge number of Confederated Enemies yet would he not â—ight whether because some Forces he expected were not yet come or that he foresaw a safe and unbloody Victory In the mean time the Enemy that abounded with great Guns thundered amongst his Tents in such manner that six thousand great Shot was numbred in one day so that the Tents were every where boared through the Emperor 's own Tent escaped not the fury of the Guns men were killed at his back on each side of him and yet the Emperor changed not his place no nor his carriage nor his Countenance And when his Friends entreated him that he would spare himself and all them in him smiling he bad them be of good courage for no Emperor was ever killed with a great Gun These things are short in the relation but so mighty to consider of as to deserve the memory and applause of Ages to come The like constancy and gravity in all his actions and behaviour accompanied him throughout his whole life 12. In the Reign of King Henry the Third was Simon Montford Earl of Leicester a man of so audacious a Spirit that he gave King Henry the lye to his face and that in the presence of all his Lords and of whom it seems the King stood in no small fear for passing one time upon the Thames and suddenly taken with a terrible Storm of Thunder and Lightning he commanded to be set on Shore at the next Stairs which happened to be at Durham-house where Montford then lay who coming down to meet the King and perceiving him somewhat frighted with the Thunder said unto him Your Majesty need not fear the Thunder the danger is now past No Montford said the King I fear not the Thunder so much as I do thee 13. Malcolme King of Scots besieging Alnwick Castle an English Knight unarmed only having a light Spear in his hand on the end of which he bare the Keys of the Castle came riding into the Camp where being brought to the King couching his Spear as though he intended to present him with the Keys ran him into his left eye left him dead hence some say came the name Pierceye the Knight by the swiftness of his Horse escaped CHAP. XXXVIII Of the immoveable Constancy of some persons THis admirable Vertue is to the Soul as the Balast to the Ship it keeps it steady and preserves it from fluctuation and uncertainty at such times as any tempest of adversity shall assault it It holds the middle place betwixt levity and obstinacy of the Mind and being now to give some examples thereof let none be displeased that I make choice of one of the other Sex to begin with seeing a more illustrious one is not very easily to be met with 1. The Baron de Raymond having married the Daughter of an English Gentleman called William Barnsley soon after to comply with the great Duke of Moscovy he changed his Religion Now the Law of the Country is that if in a family the Husband or Wife be of theirs the rest shall be inforced to profess it so that by this Law his Wife was to follow his example Her Husband â—irst used all the mild means imaginable but finding so great a constancy on the other side was forced to recur to the Authority of the great Duke and Patriarch These offered her at first great advantages but she though but fifteen years of age and the handsomest Stranger in the Country cast her self at the Dukes feet praying him rather to take away her life than to force her to a belief she was not satisfied of in her Conscience The Father used the same submission but the Patriarch put him off with Kicks told him that she was to be treated as a Child and baptized whether she would or no. Accordingly she was dragg'd to a Brook where she was rebaptiz'd notwithstanding her protestations she made against it when they plunged her in the water she drew in along with her one of the Religious Women when they would oblige her to detest her former Religion she spit in their faces and would never abjure After her Baptism she was sent to Stuatka where her Husband was Governour where she staid the three years of his Government Those expired he returned to Mosco and there dyed she then thought she might profess the Protestant Religion but that would not be permitted her two Sons were taken from her and she with a little Daughter was sent to the Monastery of Belossora where she lived five years amongst the Nuns in all which time she was not suffered to speak with any and but once by the means of a German heard of her friends The Patriarch dying she got out of the Monastery and his Successor allowed her Liberty of Conscience at her own house and to give and receive visits I often visited this virtuous Lady in this condition and have heard that she dyed some two years since constant in her Religion to the last gasp I may add that her Father William Barnsley dyed in England not long since aged one hundred twenty six years after he had married a second Wife at one hundred The former History commenced Anno Dom. 1636. 2. Tarquinius the Son of Demaratus in the Sabine War had vowed a Temple to Iupiter Capitâ—linus Tarquinius Superbus the Son of him that had vowed it built it but dedicated it not as being expelled Rome before it was perfectly finished Poplicola one of the Consuls had a great desire to dedicate this Temple but the dedication thereof fell to M. Horatius his Colleague in the Consulship All were assembled in the Capitol for this purpose Horatius had commanded silence other Rites were performed and now as the custom is holding a Post in his hands he was beginning to speak the words of dedication when M. the brother
they were vigorously opposed rather than he would suffer the Law he proposed to pass by his Suffrage he chose to go into banishment What greater constancy can there be than that of this man who rather than to consent to a hurtful law would be forced from his Country wherein he had attained to the principal dignity and honour CHAP. XXXIX Of the great Confidence of some men in themselves THis manner of confident behaviour if founded in extraordinary military skill and vertue in an uncommon integrity and uncorruptness of manners or some special improvement and proficiency in learning for the most part hath an happy event 't is far otherwise when it proceeds from an humour of immoderate boldness or impudent boasting If these that follow had unwonted and unusual successes it was because they were men of as admirable virtues 1. The Roman Army in Spain was oppressed and the greater part of it cut off by the Punick forces all the Nations of that Province had embraced the friendship of the Carthaginians and there was now no commander of ours that dared to undertake in an affair of that desperation when P. Scipo at that time but twenty four years of age stepped up and promised that he would go which confidence of his gave hopes to the people of Rome both of safety and victory The same confidence he used in Spain for when he besieged the Town of Badia and that several persons stood before his Tribunal he adjourned to a house within the Walls of the City commanding them to make their appearance there upon the next day Soon after he took the City and at the time and in the place ascending his Tribunal he did them Justice With the same confidence though forbidden by the Senate he passed out of Sicily into Affrica and when there having taken some Spyes that Hannibal had sent into his Army he neither punished them nor enquired of the Forces or order of the Carthaginians but leading them through all his Troops he asked if they had seen as much as they desired and so sent them away in safety Also when M. Noevius Tribune of the People or as others say the two Petilii had accused him to the people he came into the Forum with a great Retinue and mounting the Desk he put a Triumphant Crown upon his Head and thus spake This day ye Romans I forced Carthage whose hopes were then too high to stoop to your commands and therefore it is but equal that you with me should go to the Capitol to render thanks to the Gods Glorious was the event of these words for the whole Senate and all the Order of Knights and the Body of the Commons accompanied him to the Residence of Iupiter The Tribune must now deal with the people in their Absence for he was deserted and left alone in the Forum to his great reproach so that to disguise his shame he was forced to follow the rest unto the Capitol and instead of an accuser became the honourer of Scipio 2. There was a great scarcity and dearth at Rome when C. Curatius Tribune of the People caused the Consuls to appear in presence of the people there he would have it enacted that touching the buying of Corn and for the sending Legats to dispatch that Affair they should propose it to the Senate P. Nasica apprehending this inconvenient he opposed it whereat the people about him began to clamor he on the other side unappall'd thus roundly took them up I pray you Romans said he hold your tongues for I my self do better understand what is profitable for the Commonwealth then any or all of you At the hearing of these words all the people with a silence full of veneration shewed they had a greater respect unto his Autority then they had unto their own food 3. P. Furius Philus the Consul when the Province of Spain fell to him by lot and that Q. Metellus and Q. Pompeius both Consular Persons and both his vehement enemies had often upbraided him with his going thither as a place he most desired to go to he compelled them both to go with him as his Legates A noble confidence this was I had almost said some what rash too that dared to have two so sharp hatreds so near him and to endure his enemies in such place about him as was scarce safe to him had they been his friends 4. L. Crassus in his Consulship had the Province of Gallia fallen to him by lot whither when C. Carbo came whose father he had condemn'd as a spy upon all his actions he not only did not remove him thence as he might have done but he also did assign him a place in his tribunal nor did he take cognizance of any affair but in his presence and by his advice So that fierce and vehement Carbo got nothing by this Journey of his into Gallia but only to understand that his guilty Father had been sent into Exile by the Sentence of a most upright Person 5. These were also Examples of the Publick Confidence that in the War against Pyrrhus when the Carthaginians of their own accord sent one hundred and twenty Ships to Ostia as a Guard for the Romans the Senate then voted that Legats should be sent to their Admiral to tell him that the Romans were wont to make such Wars as they were able to manage with their own Forces and that therefore he should return with his Navy In like manner when after the Battle at Cannae the Roman strength was almost exhausted yet even at that time they dared to send recruits to their Army in Spain Hence it was that the very place where the Enemies Camp was Hannibal being then at the Gates of Rome was sold for no less than if the Carthaginians had not been there Thus to behave themselves in adversity what was it but to make Fortune ashamed of her former persecutions to return to their assistance 6. Hannibal was an Exile with Prusias King of Bythinia and advised the King to give Battle when the King told him that the Entrails of the Sacrifice did not portend well at that time And what said he wilt thou rather give credit to the Liver of a Calf than to an old and experienced Commander If you look upon the words they are short and concise but considering the sense they are copious and full For he therein laid before him at once the two Spains taken from the Romans the Forces of Gaul and Liguria reduced under his Power a new Passage made over the tops of the Alps the Memorial of his Victory at the Lake Thrasimene the Noble Monument of his Glorious Atchievements at Cannas the Possession of Capua and the endangering of all Italy it self all which considered he could not bear that the Entrails of a single Sacrifice should be preferred to the glory he had acquired by a long experience And indeed for the exploration of warlike sacrifices and a right
such a diversity of stores and so faithfully as that he could call for them at his pleasure 12. Hugo Grotius was born at Dâ—lph in the Low-Countries Anno 1583. Vossius saith oâ— him that he was the most knowing as well in Divine as Humane things The greatest of men saith Meibomius the Light and Columen of Learning of whom nothing so magnifick can be either said or writ but that his vertue and erudition hath exceeded it 13. Claudius Salmasius a Learned French Critick of whom Rivet thus that Incomparable Person the Great Salmasius hath wrote of the Primacy of the Pope after which Homer if any shall write an Iliad he will spend his pains to no purpose C. Salmasius saith Vossius a man never enough to be praised nor usually to be named without praise The Miracle of our Age and the Promus Condus of Antiquity saith Guil. Riveâ— The Great Ornament not only of his own Country France but also of these Netherlands and indeed the Bulwark of the whole Commonwealth of Learning saith Vossius 14. Hieronymus Alâ—ander did most perfectly speak and write the Latine Greek and Hebrew with many other Exotick and Forreign Languages He first taught Greek at Paris soon after he was called to Rome by Pope Leo the Tenth and sent Ambassador into Germany By Pope Clement the Seventh made Bishop of Brundusium and by Pope Paul the Third he was made Cardinal 15. Andreas Masius was a great Linguist for besides the Italian French Spanish and the rest of the Languages of Europe he was also famous for no mean skill in the Latin Greek Hebrew and Syriack Thuanus gives him this Character a man of a sincere candid and open disposition endowed with rare and abstruse Learning and who to the knowledge of the Hebrew Chaldee and the rest of the Oriental Tongues had added exceeding piety and a diligent study of the Holy Scriptures as appears by his Commentary He wrote learnedly on Ioshua and assisted Aâ—ias Montanus in the Edition of the King of Spain's Bible and first of all illustrated the Syriac Idiom with Grammatical Precepts and a Lexicon 16. Carolus Clusius had an exact skill in Seven Languages Latin Greek Italian French Spanish Portugal and Low Dutch a most acute both Writer and Censor of Histories that are not commonly known As also most Learned in Cosmograpâ—y saith Melchior Adam in his Lives of the German Physicians Lipsius thus sported on him Omnia naturae dum Clusi arcana râ—cludis Clusius haud ultra sis sed aperta mihi 17. Gulielmus Canterus born 1542. besides his own Belgick Tongue was skill'd in Latin Greek Hebrew the German French and Italian so that one saith of him If any would desire the Specimen of a Studious Person and one who had wholly devoted himself to the advancement of Learning he may find it exactly expressed in the Person of this Gulielmus Canterus 18. Lancelot Andrews born at All-Hallows-Barking in London Scholar Fellow and Master of Pembrook-hall in Cambridge then Dean of Westminster Bishop of Chichester Ely and at last of Winchester The World wanted Learning to hear how learned this man was so skill'd in all especially the Oriental Languages that some conceive he might if then living almost have served as an Interpreter General at the confusion of Tongues He dyed in the first year of the Reign of King Charles the First and lies buried in the Chappel of Saint Mary Overies having on his Monument a large elegant and true Epitaph 19. Gerhardus Iohannes Vossius Professor of Eloquence Chronology and the Greek Tongue at Lâ—yden and Prebend of Canterbury in England an Excellent Grammarian and General Scholar one of the greatest Lights in Holland He hath written learnedly of almost all the Arts. Bâ—chartus saith thus of his Book De Historicis Graecis a work of wonderful Learning by the reading of which I ingeniously profess my self to have been not a little profited 20. Isaac Causabone a great Linguist but a singular Grecian and an excellent Philologer Salmasius no mean Scholar himself calls him that Incomparable Person the Immortal Honour of his Age never to be named without praise and never enough to be praysed He had a rare knowledge in the Oriental Tongues in the Greek scarce his Second much less his equal saith Capellus 21. Iames Vsher the Hundredth Archbishop from St. Patrick of Aâ—magh A divine saith Voetius of vast reading and erudition and most skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquity The great Merits saith Vossius of that great and every way learned Person in the Church and of the whole Republick of Learning will never suffer but that there will be a grateful celebration of his memory for ever by all the Lovers of Learning Fitz Simonds the Jesuitâ— with whom he disputed though then very young in one of his Books gives him this Title Acatholicorum Doctissimus the most Learned of all the Protestants 22. Iohn Selden a Learned Lawyer of the Inner Temple he had great knowledge in Antiquity and the Oriental Languages which he got after he fell to the Study of the Law He is honourably mentioned by many Outlandish men He wrote in all his Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above all Liberty To shew that he would examine things and not take them upon trust Dr. Duck saith thus of him to the exact knowledge of the Laws of his Country he also added that of the Moâ—aical and the Laws of other Nations as also all other Learning not only Latin Greek and Hebrew but also a singular understanding and knowledge of the Oriental Nations 23. Iohn Gregory born at Amersham in the County of Buckingham 1607. He was bred in Christ-church in Oxford where he so applied his Book that he studied sixteen hours in the four and twenty for many years together He attained to singular skill in Civil Historical Ritual and Oriental Learning in the Saxon French Italian Spanish and all Eastern Languages through which he miraculously travelled without any Guide except that of Mr. Dod the Decalogist for the Hebrew Tongue whose Society and direction therein he enjoyed one Vacation near Banbury As he was an excellent Linguist and general Scholar so his modesty set a greater lustre upon his Learning He was first Chaplain of Christ-church and thence preferred Prebendary of Chichester and Sarum and indeed no Church Preserment compatible with his Age was above his Desertâ— After twenty years trouble with an Hereditary Gout improved by immoderate study it at last invaded his Stomach and thereof he died Anno 1646. at the Age of thirty nine years He died at Kidlington and was buried at Christ-church in Oxford This Epitaph was made by a Friend on his Memory Ne premas cineres hosce Viator Nescis quot sub hoc jacent Lapillo Graeculus Hebraeus Syrus Et qui te quovis vincet Idâ—omate At ne molestus sis Ausculâ—a causam auribus tuis imbibe Templo exclusus Et
the Nobles conspired against him enters his Castle and Chamber by night and advised him to yield himself but he refused and fought it out till such time as he was killed by the Conspirator There was then with the Count one of Hardvicus his own sons who waited upon him him also Hardvicus did kill at that time with his own hands and this he did as he said that none might suspect his son as being privy to the Treason intended against his Master 12. Deiotarus had a great number of sons but he caused them all to be slain save only that one whom he intended for his Successour and he did this for his sake that the surviver might be the greater both in power and security 13. Pausanias was a great Captain of the Spartans but being convicted by the Ephori of a Conspiracy with the Persians against his Country he fled to the Temple of Minerva for Sanctuary it being unlawful to force him thence the Magistrates gave order to build a Wall about it that being guarded and kept in he might be pin'd to death As soon as his mother Alcithea understood this though he was her only son yet she brought the first stone to make there a Prisoner till his death one that was so nearly related to her 14. Antonius Venereus Duke of Venice caus'd his son Ludovicus to die in Prison for that being incensed with his Mistress he had caused divers pairs of Horns to be fastened to the doors of her Husband 15. Robert de Beliasme delighted in cruelty an Example whereof he shewed on his own son who being but a child and playing with him the father for a pastime put his thumbs in his childs eyes and crush'd out the balls thereof CHAP. IV. Of the degenerate Sons of Illustrious Parents WHen Aristippus shewed himself altogether mindless of his Children who liv'd in a different manner from his Instruction and Example one blaming his severity remembred him that his Children came of him and yet said he we cast away from us Phlegme and Vermin though one is bred in us and the other upon us Augustus too look'd upon his but as Ulcers and Wens certain excrescencies that were fit to be cut away and forbad the two Iulia's to be buried in the same Monument with him such a one was 1. Scipio the son of Scipio Africanus who suffered himself to be taken by a small Party of Antiochus at such time as the glory of his Family went so high that Africa was already subjected by his father and the greater part of Asia subdued by his Uncle Lucius Scipio the same man being Candidate for the Pretorship had been rejected by the people but that he was assisted by Cicereius who had been formerly the Secretary of his father when he had obtained that Office his debauchery was such that his relations would not suffer him to execute it but pull'd off from his finger a Ring wherein was engraven the Effigies of his father what a darkness was this that sprang from so glorious a light 2. How base a life did the son of Quintus Fabius Maximus live and although all the rest of his Villanies were obliterated this one thing was enough to make discovery of his manners that Quintus Pompeius the City Pretor prohibited him from intermeddling with his fathers Estate nor was there found one man in so great a City that went about to oppose that decree all men resenting it that that money which ought to be subservient to the glory of the Fabian Family should be expended in debauchery so that him who through the fathers indulgence was left his heir the publick severity disinherited 3. Hortensius Corbio was the Grandchild of Quintus Hortensius who for Estate and admirable eloquence was comparable with the Citizens that were of the greatest rank yet this wretched young man led a more base and abject life than the vilest obscene persons in Rome and at the last put his tongue to the vile use of more persons in Brothel-houses than his Grandfather had made good use of his for the safety of the Citizens 4. Cresippus was the son of Chabrias the Athenian a person equally famous for his great vertues and victories and who had been much more happy had he died without issue for this son of his was so degenerate from the vertue of his father that he often occasioned Phocion his Tutor though otherwise a most patient man to say that what he endured through the folly of Cresippus was more than enough to compensate all that his father had merited of him 5. Caligula was as infamous for his sloth lust and folly as his father Germanicus was famous for his vigour of mind prudence and integrity and although fortune advanced this degenerate son to the Empire yet most of the Romans desired rather the vertue of Germanicus in the fortune of a private man than an Emperour of so flagitious a life Add to this that the people of Rome the confederate Nations yea and barbarous Princes bewailed the death of Germanicus as the loss of a common Parent but Caligula the son was not thought worthy of tears or honour or so much as a publick funeral at his death 6. Valerianus Augustus for the greatness of his vertues deserves a memorial amongst the most Illustrious of Princes at least if his fortune had been equal to his vertue But his son Galienus was of a disposition so unlike to his father that by reason of his impious behaviour his unchastity and sloth he not only occasioned his fathers Captains to rebell against him but which was never before seen he encouraged Zenobia and Victoria weak women to aspire to the Crown so that the great and peaceable Empire which he received of his father he left diminished and torn in a miserable manner 7. Marcus Antonius Philosophus Emperour of Rome was a singular example of vertue and left Commodus his son the heir of his Empire but of no kind of alliance to him in any other respect The people of Rome saw the goodness of one exchang'd for the malice of the other and the sharpest cruelty to succeed in the room of an incomparable clemency weary of this they were compelled to rid their hands of Commodus it being openly bruited in the City that he was not the son of Marcus but a Gladiatour for they thought it impossible that so much wickedness should arise from the vertue of him that was deceased so that there seemed nothing wanting to the glory of Marcus but that he did not die without issue 8. Carus the Emperour succeeded Probus both in his Empire and good qualities he had extended the limits of the Roman Empire and governed it with great equity but he left his son Carinus his successour that resembled his father in no one thing for whereas Carus was of great Courage Justice Moderation and Continence this other was an unchast and unjust and a coward his
Wife of Seleucus had not one hair upon her head yet notwithstanding gave six hundred Crowns to a Poet who had celebrated her in his Verse and sung that her hair had the tincture of the Marygold I know not how this soothing flatterer meant it but this Queen became very proud of it which made her so much the more ridiculous 16. Rudolphus King of the Heruli warred with Tado King of the Lombards and when both Armies approached each other Rudolph committed the whole to his Captains he himself remained in his Tent in the mean time and sate jesting at the Table 'T is true he sent one to the top of a Tree to behold the fortune of the day but withall told him if he brought him ill news he would take his head from his shoulders This Scout beheld the Heruli to run but not daring to carry that news to the King consulted only his own safety by which means the King and all that were with him were taken and slain 17. Nero the Emperour was so luxuriously wastful and beyond all reason and measure that he would not fish but with Nets of Gold drawn with purple coloured Cords It is said he took delight to dig the Earth with a Golden Spade and when there was question about cutting the Isthmus of Corinth a design that had long troubled his brain he went thither led on with musical Violins holding in his hand the Golden Spade with which he began in the sight of the whole world to break the ground a matter which seemed ridiculous to the wiser sort living in that age 18. C. Caligula presented himself to be adored ordained peculiar sacrifices to himself at nights in case the Moon shined out full and bright he invited her to embracements and to lye with him the day he would spend in private conference with Iupiter Capitolinus sometimes whispering and laying his ear close to the Statue of him and sometimes again talking aloud as if he had been chiding Nay being angry with Heaven because his interludes were hindred by claps of Thunder and his banquetting disturbed with flashes of lightning he challenged Iupiter to fight with him and without ceasing roared out that verse of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 None is O Iove more mischievous than thou or else that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dispatch thou me Or I will thee whereupon Seneca inferrs what extreme folly was that to think that either Iupiter could not hurt him or that he could hurt Iupiter 19. The servants of the Moscovites yea and their Wives too do often complain of their Lords that they are not well beaten by them for they look upon it as a sign of their indignation and displeasure with them if they are not frequently reproached and beaten by them 20. In the worship of Hercules Lyndius it was the manner that such as stood by him that embowelled the sacrifice did curse the bowels and wish heavy Imprecations upon them 21. Poliarchus the Athenian was arrived at that height of Luxury and Folly that if any of his Dogs or Cocks that he loved chanced to die he made publick Funerals for them invited his friends and buried them with great sumptuousness erecting Pillars upon their Monuments upon which also he caused their Epitaphs to be engraven CHAP. XXVII Of such as have been at vast Expences about unprofitable Attempts and where-from they have been enforced to desist or whereof they have had small or no benefit THere is scarce any thing of that difficulty but some one or other have had the confidence to undertake it and there have been some men of that nature as to desire nothing more than to effect that which others have looked upon as altogether impossible Some of those costly designs have been given over as suddenly as they were rashly adventured upon and others made to miscarry by some accident or other 1. In the Province of Northgoia a part of Bavaria the Emperour Charles the great caused a Ditch to be begun which should have been in length two thousand paâ—es and in breadth three hundred whâ—reby through the help of the Rivers Regnitz and Altmul he meant to have made a passage for Boats from the Danubius into the River of Rhine which begun work was hindred by continual rains and the Marishness of the Grounds 2. Full West of the City of Memphis close upon the Libyan Desarts alost on a rocky level adjoining to the Valley stand those Pyramids the barbarous Monuments of Prodigality and vain glory so universally celebrated the Regal Sepulchers of the Aegyptians The greatest of the three and chiefest of the Worlds seven wonders being square at the bottom is supposed to take up eight Acres of ground every square being three hundred single paces in length The square at the top consisting of three stones only yet large enough for threescore to stand upon ascended by two hundred fifty five steps each step above three foot high of a breadth proportionable No stone so little throughout the whole as to be drawn by our Carriages yet were these hewen out of the Trojan Mountains far off in Arabia a wonder how coâ—veyed hither how so mounted a greater Twenty years it was in building by three hundred sixty six thousand men continually wrought upon who only in Radishes Garlick and Onions are said to have consumed one thousand and eight hundred Talents It hath stood as may be probably conjectured about three thousand two hundred years and now rather old than ruinous Herodotus reports That King Cleops became so poor by the building hereof that he was compelled to prostitute his daughter charging her to take whatsoever she could get Arsinoe is eighty Miles distant from Cairo the ancient Kings of Aegypt seeking by vain and wonderful works to eternize the memory of themselves had with incredible charge and cost cut through all that main Land so that Vessels of good burden might come up the same from Arsinoe to Cairo which great cut or ditch Sâ—sostris the mighty King of Aegypt and long after him Ptolomaeus Philadelphus purposed to have made a great deal wider and deeper and thereby to have let the Red Sea into the Mediterraâ—ean for the readier Transportation of the Inâ—ian Merchandize to Cairo and to Alexandreâ— which mad work Sesostris prevented by death 〈◊〉 not perform and Ptolomaeus otherwise perswaded by skilful men in time gave over for fear lest by letting in the grâ—at South Sea into the Mediterranean he should theâ—â—by as it were with another general Deluge have drowned the greatest part of Grecia and many other goodly Countries of Asia and with exceeding charge instead of honour have purchased himself eternal infamy 4. The Emperour Caius Calâ—gula desired nothing more earnestly than to effect that which others thought was utterly impossible to be brought to pass And hereupon it was that he made a Bridge which extended it self from Baiae to Puteoli that is three Miles and six
Father he was somewhat more pleasant than usual Those that sate at Table with him wondred at it at last he told them what had befallen him and thereupon was so derided by all that at once he should be cheated of brain and mony that for meer grief within some few days after he died CHAP. XXXIV Of persons of base birth who assumed the names of Illustrious Persons THey say there is a Pool in Comagena that sends forth a mud that burns in such manner as that it is no way to be quenched till a quantity of earth be cast upon it and Virgil hath it of the Bees those little Birds that when they swarm and have furiously commenced a civil war amongst themselves cast a handful of dust upon them and they return to their wonted quietness Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescunt Their fierce resolves and bloody battles cease When dust is thrown and they return to peace The mud and dregs of men are sometimes so inflamed with a passionate desire after greatness that they cannot rest till they are forced to their old obscurity or laid down in the dust of death 1. Andriscus was of so mean a condition in Macedonia that he had no other way to sustain himself but by his daily labour yet this man suddainly feigned himself to be Philip the Son of King Perseus and the feature of his face was somewhat like his He said it and others believed it or at least pretended they did especially the Macedonians and Thracians out of weariness of the Roman Government which with the novelty and rigour of it displeased them He had therefore speedily gathered mighty forces with which he overthrew a Roman Praetor at last he was overcome by Metellus led in chains to Rome and there triumphed over 2. Lambert Symnel pretended himself to be Richard Duke of York the second Son of Edward the fourth and thereupon came to claim the English Crown after a terrible battle fought in his quarrel he was taken alive and by order of King Henry the seventh put first into his Kitchin to turn the Spits and was afterwards advanced to be his Falconer in which office he lived and dyed 3. Amurath the second having newly ascended the Throne of his Father Mahomet at Thessalonica an obscure fellow crept as it were out of a Chimneys Corner took upon him the name and person of Mustapha the Son of Bajazet who was slain many years before in the great battle at Mount Stella against Tamerlain This counterfeit Mustapha animated by the Greek Princes set so good a Countenance upon the matter with such a Grace and Majesty that not only the Country people but men of great place and calling repaired to him as their Natural Prince and Soveraign so that in a short time he was honoured as a King in all parts of the Turkish Kingdom in Europe Amurath to repress this growing mischief sent Bajazet Bassa with a strong Army into Europe where he was forsaken of his Army and for safety of his life compelled to yield up himself to Mustapha Much trouble he afterwards created to Amurath at last being entrapped by the policy of Eivaces Bassa he sled when none pursued being taken he was brought bound to Amurath then at Adrianople by whose order he was hanged from the battlements of one of the highest Towers in the City and there left to the Worlds wonder 4. Herophilus a Farrier by challenging C. Marius who had been seven times Consul to be his Grandfather gained such a reputation to himself that divers of the Colonies of the Veterane Souldiers divers good Towns and almost all the Colledges made choice of him for their Patron So that C. Caesar having newly oppressed Cn. Pompeius the younger in Spain and admitting the people into his Gardens this man was saluted in the next Cloysters by almost as great a Company and unless Caesar had interposed the Republick had had a wound imprinted upon it by so base a hand but Caesar banished him from the sight of Italy yet after his death he returned and then entred into a Conspiracy of killing all the Senators upon which account by their command he was executed in Prison 5. In the reign of Augustus Caesar there was one who pretended that he was born of his Sister Octavia and that by reason of the extream weakness of his body he to whom he was set forth kept him as his own Son and sent away his own Son in his room but while he was thus carried with the full sayls of impudence to an act of the highest boldness he was by Augustus adjudged to tug at an Oar in one of the publick Gallies 6. In the reign of Tiberius there was one Clemens who was indeed the servant of Agrippa Posthumus the Grandchild of Augustus by Iulia and whom he had banished into the Isle Planasia but soon after by fraud and fame became Posthumus himself For hearing of the death of Augustus he with great courage went to bring forth his Master by stealth out of the Isle and so to recommend him to the Germane or other Armies but sayling slowly and finding that Agrippa was already slain he took his name upon him came into Etruria where he suffered his Hair and Beard to grow then gave out what he was sometimes shewed himself in private then went he to Ostia and thence into the City where he was applauded in divers Companies At last Tiberius having notice thereof by the help of Salustius Crispus at a convenient time caused him to be suddenly apprehended his mouth stopped and brought to the Palace where Tiberius asking him how he came to be Agrippa How came you said he to be Caesar He was secretly made away having expressed great constancy in his torments for he would not discover one of those that were in the Conspiracy with him 7. Demetrius Soter who reigned in Syria being for a certain and just cause offended with them of Antioch made War upon them they fearing the worst fly to new remedies set up a base person whom they salute for Alexander the Son of Antiochus and encourage him to seek after his Fathers Kingdom of Syria what through the hatred of Demetrius and the desire of novelty this new Alexander was generally followed and embraced he admires himself at his new fortune and the Troops he commanded he fought with Demetrius and not only overcame but slew him upon the place By this means he became the peaceable possessor of all Syria for nine years and ten months when giving up himself to all kinds of debauchery he was set upon by the young son of Demetrius now grown up overthrown and slain the end of this Scenick and imaginary King 8. In Germany Anno 1284. in the Reign of Rudolphus of Hapsburg the then Emperour there arose one who gave out himself to be the old Emperour Frederick who had been
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
what he should do with a Spartan who knew of a Conspiracy that was formed against his Life but covering all in silence had not given him the least intimation thereof His Counsel was in this manner If said he thou hast formerly obliged him with any great benefit kill him immediately If not yet send him out of the Country as a man too timerous to be vertuous Thus the Ancients adjudged ingratitude to be punished with death and very worthily it deserved to be so at least in the person of him who follows 1. Humphrey Banister was brought up and exalted to promotion by the Duke of Buckingham his Master the Duke being afterwards driven to extremity by reason of the separation of his Army which he had Mustered against King Richard the Usurper sled to this Banister as his most trusty friend not doubting to be kept secret by him till he could find an opportunity to escape There was a thousand pound propounded as a reward to him that could bring forth the Duke and this ungrateful Traytor upon the hopes of this summ betrayed the Duke his Benefactor into the hands of Iohn Metton Sheriff of Shropshire who conveyed him to the City of Salisbury where King Richard then was and soon after the Duke was put to death But as for this perfidious Monster the vengeance of God fell upon him to his utter ignominy in a visible and strange manner for presently after his eldest son fell mad and died in a Boars Stye his eldest daughter was suddenly stricken with a foul Leprosie his second son became strangely deformed in his limbs and lame his youngest son was drowned in a puddle and he himself arraigned and found guilty of a murder was saved by his Clergy As for his thousand pounds King Richard gave him not a farthing saying That he who would be so untrue to so good a Master must needs be false to all other 2. Two young men of Sparta being sent thence to consult the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos in their Journey lodged at the house of one Scedasius in Leuctra a good man and much given to hospitality This Scedasus had two daughters beautiful Virgins upon whom these young men cast wanton eyes and resolved at their return to visit the same house they did so found Scedasus from home yet as kind entertainment from his daughters as they could desire in requital of which having found an opportunity they ravished them both and perceiving that they were all in grief and tears for the injury and dishonour done to them they added Murder to the Rape and threw them into a pit and so departed Not long after Scedasus came home and missing his daughters looked up and down for them at last a little Dog that he had came whining to him and ran out of doors as it were inviting him to follow him he did and the Dog brought him to the pit into which they were thrown He drew out his daughters and hearing by his Neighbours that the two young Spartans had been again at his house he concluded them the murderers Hereupon he went to Sparta to complain to the Magistrates of this barbarous cruelty he first opened his Cause to the Ephori and then to the Kings but to both in vain he therefore complained to the people but neither did he find any redress there wherefore with hands list up to Heaven he complained to the gods and then stab'd himself Nor was it long e're the Spartans were defeated in a great Battel by the Thebans in that very Leuctra and by the same deprived of the Empire of Greece which they had many years possessed It is said That the soul of Scedasus appeared unto Pelopidas one of the chief Captains amongst the Thebans incouraging him to give them Battel in those very Plains of Leuctra where he and his daughters lay buried telling him That their death should be there revenged 3. Pope Adrian the sixth having built a fair Colledge at Lovain caused this Inscription to be written upon the Gates of it in Letters of Gold Trajectum plantavit Lovanium rigavit Caesar dedit incrementum with an unworthy allusion to that of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians Vtrecht planted me there he was born Lovain watered me there he was bred up in Learning and Caesar gave the increase for the Emperour had preferred him One that had observed this Inscription and withal his ingratitude to meet at once with that and his folly wrote underneath Hîc Deus nihil fecit Here God did nothing 4. When Tamberlain had overcome and taken Prisoner Bajazet the great Turk he asked him Whether he had ever given God thanks for making him so great an Emperour Bajazer consessed That he had never so much as thought upon any such thing To whom Tamberlain replyed That it was no wonder so ungrateful a man should be made a spectacle of misery For saith he you being blind of one eye and I lame of one leg what worth was there in us that God should set us over two such mighty Empires to command so many men far more worthy than our selves 5. When Xerxes had resolved upon his Expedition against Greece he caused his Army to make their Randezvous at Sardis in Lydia and when he had Assembled to the number of seventeen hundred thousand foot and 88000 Horse as he entred the body of Celaenas he was by one Pythius the Lydian entertained who out of his Flocks and Herds of Cattle gave food to Xerxes and his whole Army the Feast ended he also presented him with two thousand Talents of Silver and in Gold four millions wanting seven thousand of the Persian Darici which make so many of our Marks Then Pythius besought him to spare one of his five sons from his attendance into Greece because himself was old and had none whom he could so well trust as his own son But Xerxes like a barbarous and ungrateful Tyrant caused the body of the young man for whom his father had sought exemption to be sundred into two parts commanding that the one half of his Carkass should be laid on the right and the other half on the left-hand of the common way by which the Army was to march 6. That is a remarkable one that is reported by Zonaras and Cedrenus of the Emperour Basilius Macedo who being hunting as he much delighted in that exercise a great Stagg turned fâ—riously upon him and fastened one of the Brouches of his Horns into the Emperours Girdle and lifting him from his Horse bare him a distance off to the great danger of his life which when a Gentleman in the Train espyed he drew his sword and cut the Emperours Girdle by which means he was preserved and had no hurt at all But observe his reward The Gentleman for this act was questioned and adjudged to have his head struck off because he presumed to expose his drawn-sword so near the person of the Emperour and he suffered
best man of War and the most expert Captain amongst the Turks Bajazet made him the General of his Army against his brother Zemes where the conduct and valour of the General brought Bajazet the Victory At his return to Court this great Captain was invited to a Royal supper with divers of the principal Bassa's where the Emperour in token they were welcom and stood in his good grace caused a garment of pleasing colour to be cast upon every one of his Guests and a gilt Bowl full of Gold to be given each of them but upon Achmetes was cast a Gown of black Velvet all the rest rose and departed but Achmetes who had on him the Mantle of death amongst the Turks was commanded to sit still for the Emperour had to talk with him in private The Executioners of the Emperours wrath came stripped and tortured him hoping that way to gain from him what he never knew of for Bassa Isaac his great enemy had secretly accused him of an intelligence with Zemes but he was delivered by the Ianizaries who would no doubt have slain Bajazet and rifled the Court at his least word of command but though he scaped with his life at the present he not long after was thrust through the body as he sat at supper in the Court and there slain This was that great Achmetes by whom Mahomet the father of this Bajazet had subverted the Empire of Trapezond took the great City of Caffa with all the Country of Taurica Chersonesus the impregnable City of Croja Scodra and all the Kingdom of Epirus a great part of Dalmatia and at last Otranto to the terrour of all Italy CHAP. XLVIII Of the Perfidiousness and Treachery of some men and their just rewards THere is nothing under the Sun that is more detestable than a Traytor who is commonly followed with the execrations and curses of those very men to whom his Treason hath been most useful All men being apt to believe that he who hath once exposed his Faith to sale stands ready for any Chapman as soon as any occasion shall present it self It is seldom that these perfidious ones do not meet with their just rewards from the hands of their own Patrons however the vengeance of Heaven where the justice of men fails doth visibly fall upon them 1. Charles Duke of Burgundy gave safe conduct to the Constable the Earl of St. Paul and yet notwithstanding after he found that Lewis the eleventh King of France had taken St. Quintins and that he did solicite him either to send him Prisoner to him or else to kill him within eight daies after his taking according to the agreement heretofore made betwixt them he basely delivered him up to Lewis whom he knew to be his mortal enemy by whom he was beheaded But the Duke who heretofore was great and mighty with the greatest Princes in Christendom who had been very fortunate and successful in his affairs from thenceforth never prospered in any thing he undertook but was betrayed himself by one whom he trusted most the Earl of Campobrach lost his Souldiers his formerly gained glory Riches and Jewels and finally his life by the Swissers after he had lived to see himself deserted of all that had entred into any league with him 2. The Emperour Charles the fourth made War upon Philip Duke of Austria and both Armies were got near together with a resolution to fight but the Emperour perceiving he was far surmounted in force by the enemy determined to do that by subtilty which he could not by strength He caused three of the Dukes Captains to be sent for agrees with them to strike a fear into their Master that might cause him in all hast to retire Upon their return they tell the Duke That they had been out and particularly viewed the power of the Emperour and found it thrice as great as his own that all would be lost if he did not speedily retreat and that he had no long time to deliberate Then said the Duke Let us provide for our selves waiting for some better opportunity It is no shame for us to leave the place to a stronger than our selves So Philip fled away by night no man pursuing him The Traytors step aside to the Emperour to receive their reward who had made provision of golden Ducats all counterfeit the best not worth six-pence and caused great bags of the same to be delivered to them and they merrily departed But when employing their Ducats they found them to be false they return to the Emperour complain of the Treasurer and Master of the Mint The Emperour looking on them with a frowning countenance said to them Knaves as you are get ye to the Gallows there to receive the reward of your Treason false work false wages an evil end befall you They wholly confounded withdrew themselves suddenly but whither is not known 3. The Bohemians having gotten the Victory and slain Vratislaus they set his Country on fire and after finding a young son of his they put him into the hands of Gresomislas the Prince called also Neclas who pitying the child his Cousin committed him to the keeping of the Earl Duringus whose Possessions lay along by the River Egra and a person who a-fore-time had been much favoured by Vratislaus This Earl thinking to insinuate himself into the favour and good liking of Neclas as the child was one day sporting himself upon the Ice came upon him and with one blow of his Scimitar smote off his head and speeding presently to Prague presents it to Neclas all bloody saying I have this day made your Throne sure to you for either this Child or you must have died you may sleep henceforth with security since your Competitour to the Crown is disposed of The Prince retaining his usual gravity and just indignation at so cruel a Spectacle said thus unto him Treason cannot be mitigated by any good turns I committed this Child to thee to keep not to kill Could neither my command nor the memory of thy friend Vratislaus nor the compassion thou oughtest to have had of this Innocent turn away thy thoughts from so mischievous a deed What was thy pretence to procure me rest Good reason I should reward thee for thy pains of three punishments therefore chuse which thou wilt Kill thy self with a Poynard hang thy self with an Halter or cast thy self headlong from the Rock of Visgrade Duringus forced to accept of this Decree hang'd himself in an Halter upon an Elder tree not far off which ever after so long as it stood was called Duringus his Elder tree 4. In the War with the Falisci Camillus had besieged the Falerians but they secure in the Fortifications of their City were so regardless of the Siege that they walked Gowned as before up and down the Streets and often-times without the Walls After the manner of Greece they sent their Children to a common School and the treacherous Master of them used
sided with the Popes of Rome called the second Council of Nice for support of Images In her time Charles the Great was by the Pope and People of Rome created Emperour of the West whereby the Greek Emperours became much weakened her Motto was Vive ut vivas 32. Nicephorus made Emperour by the Souldiers perswaded that Irene had made choice of him to be her Successour he was slain in a pitch'd Field against the Bulgarians a bad man he was and Reigned nine years 33. Michael Sirnamed Cyropalates i. e. Major of the Palace his former Office assumed the Empire but finding his own weakness he soon relinquished it and betook himself to a Monastery having Reigned but two years 34. Leo the fifth Sirnamed Armenius from his Country General of the Horse to Michael demolished the Images his Predecessours had set up and was slain in the Church during the time of Divine Service having Reigned seven years and five Months 35. Michael the second Sirnamed Balbus having murdered Leo assumed the Empire unfortunate in his Government and died of madness a great enemy to all Learning he Reigned eight years and nine months 36. Theophilus his son an enemy of Images as his Father and as unfortunate as he losing many Battels to the Saracens at last died of melancholy having Reigned twelve years and three months 37. Michael the third his son ruled first with his Mother Theodora after himself alone his Mother being made a Nun he was a Prince of great prodigality and slain in a drunken fit having Reigned twenty five years 38. Basilius Sirnamed Macedo from his birth-place being made Consort in the Empire by the former Michael he basely murdered him and was himself casually killed by a Stag having Reigned twenty years 39. Leo the sixth for his Learning Sirnamed Philosophus a vigilant and provident Prince most of his time with variable success he spent in War with the Bulgarians he Reigned twenty five years three months 40. Constantine the sixth son of Leo Governed the Empire under Romanus Lacopenus under whom he was so miserably depressed that he was fain to get his livelihood by Painting but Lacopenus being deposed and turned into a Monastery by his own sons he obtained his rights and restored Learning unto Greece and Reigned fifteen years after 41. Romanus the son of Constantine having abused the Empire for three years died as some think of poyson 42. Nicephorus Sirnamed Phocas Protector to the former young Emperour upon his death was elected he recovered the greatest part of Asia Minor from the Saracens and was slain in the night by Iohn Zimisces his Wife Theophania being privy to it he then aged fifty seven years having then Reigned six years six months 43. Iohn Zimisces Governed the Empire better than he obtained it vanquishing the Bulgarians Rosses and other barbarous Nations rescinded the acts of his Predecessour died by poyson having Reigned six years six months 44. Basilius the second subdued the Bulgarians and made them Homagers to the Empire Reigned alone above fifty years 45. Constantinus the seventh his brother did nothing memorable a man of sloth and pleasure he Reigned three years 46. Romanus the second for his prodigality Sirnamed Argyropolus husband of Zoe was drowned in a Bath by the Treason of his Wife and her Adulterer as was thought having Reigned five years and a half 47. Michaâ—â— the fourth Sirnamed Paphlago from his Country â—irst the Adulterer and then the Husband of Zoe but died very penitent having Reigned with equity and clemency seven years some say more 48. Michael the fiâ—th Sirnamed Calaphates a man of obscure birth adopted by Zoe whom he deposed and put into a Monastery out of which being again taken in a popular Tumult she recovered the Government and put out the eyes of Calaphates Reigning with her Sister Theodora until that 49. Constantine the eighth married Zoe then sixty years of age and had the Empire with her Reigned twelve years and eight months 50. Theodora Sister to Zoe after the death of Constantine managed for two years the affairs of the Empire with great contentment to all people but grown aged surrendred it by perswasion of the Nobles to 51. Michael the sixth Sirnamed Stratioticus an old but Military man who kept it two years and was then deposed Demanding what reward he should have for resigning the Crown it was replied a heavenly one 52. Isaacius of the Noble Family of the Comneni a valiant man of great courage and diligent in his affairs which having managed for two years he left it at his dâ—ath by consent of the Senate and People to another he was no Scholar yet a great lover of Learning 53. Constantine the ninth Sirnamed Ducas a great Justicer and very devout but exceeding covetous whereby he became hated of his Subjects and contemned by his enemies he Reigned seven years and somewhat more 54. Romanus the third Sirnamed Diogenes married Eudoxia the late Empress and with her the Empire took Prisoner by the Turks and sent home again he found a Faction made against him by which Eudoxia was expell'd himself deposed and he died in Exile having both his eyes put out he Reigned three years eight months 55. Michael the seventh Sirnamed Parapinacius by reason of the Famine that fell in his time in a Tumult was made Emperour but found unfit was deposed and put into a Monastery having Reigned six years six months 56. Nicephorus Sirnamed Belionates of the House of Phocas succeeded but deposed within three years by the Comneni he put on the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of Periblepta 57. Alexius Comnenus son of the Emperour Isaacius Comnenus obtain'd the Empire in whose time the Western Christians with great Forces prepared for the recovery of the Holy Land he jealous of them denied them passage through his Country but was forced to find them Victuals c. he died having Reigned thirty seven years some months 58. Calo Iohannes his son had a good hand against the Turks vanquished the Tartars passing over the Ister conquered the Servians and Bulgarians transporting many oâ— them into Bythinia he died by a poysoned Arrow of his own that had rased the skin but could not be cured 59. Manuel his younger Son was an underhand enemy to the Western Christians and an open enemy to the Turks by whom intrapped in the straights of Cilicia and his Army miserably cut off he was on honourable terms permitted to return again he Reigned thirty eight years within three months 60. Alexius the second his son was deposed and barbarously murdered by Andronicus the Cousin German of his Father his Wife and Mother were also made away by him when the young man had Reigned but three years 61. Andronicus Comnenus by ambitious practices and pretence of reformation got the Empire but not long after cruelly torn in pieces in a popular Tumult his dead Corpse used with all manner of contumely 62. Isaacius Angelus a Noble man of the same race designed to
in any thing to violate and infringe them 3. Draco was also before him a Law-giver at Athens whose Laws were antiquated by Solon by reason oâ— their severity and rigour for he punished all sorts of faults almost with death He that was convicted of Idleness died for it and he that had stolen an Apple or handful of Herbs was to abide the same sentence as iâ— hâ— had committed Sacriledge So that Demades afterwards said wittily That Draco's Laws were not written with Ink but blood They say that Draco himself being ask'd Why he punished even petty Larcenies with death made this answer That the smallest of them did deserve that and that there was not a greater punishment he could find out for greater Crimes 4. Zâ—molxis was the Law-giver of Thrace a Native of that Country who having been brought up under Pythagoras and returning home prescribed them good and wholsom Laws assuring them That if they did observe the same they should go unto a place when they left this World in which they should enjoy all manner of pleasure and contentment By this means having gotten some opinion of a Divinity amongst them he absented himself and was afterwards worshipped by them as a god 5. Diocles was the Law-giver of the Syracusans he punished offences with inexorable severity and for such as transgressed there was no hope of pardon Amongst others of his Laws this was one That no man should presume to enter armed into the Forum and Assembly of the people in case any should he should suffer death no exception being made in case of imprudence or any kind of necessity One day when the news was That the enemy had broke into their Fields Diocles hasted out against them with his Sword by his side Upon the way as he went it sell out That there was a Sedition and tumult amongst the people in their Assembly whither he imprudently diverts armed as he was when presently a private person that had observed him began to cry out That he had broken the Laws which himself had made Diocles turning towards his Accuser No said he with a loud voice but they shall now have their Sanction which said he drew out his Sword and thrust it through his own throat that he died 6. Zalencus was the Law-giver of the Locrians he made a Law That the Adulterer should be punished with the loss of both his eyes his own son happened to be the first offender in that kind therefore to shew the love of a Father and the sincerity of a Judge he put out one of his sons eyes and one of his own He also provided by his Laws That no woman should be attended in the Street with more than one Maid but when she was drunk That no woman should go abroad at night but when she went to play the Harlot That none should wear Gold or embroidered apparel but when they meant to set themselves to open sale And that men should not wear Rings and Tissues but when they went about some act of uncleanness and many others of this mould By means whereof both men and women were restrained from all extraordinary trains of attendance and excess of apparel the common consequents of a long and prosperous tranquillity 7. Charondas the Law-giver of the Thurians in Greece amongst others of his Laws had made this against civil factions and for prevention of sudden and tumultuary slaughters That it should be Capital for any man to enter the Assembly of the people armed with any weapon about him It fell out that as he returned from abroad he appointed a Convention of the people and like unto the forementioned Diocles appeared therein armed as he was When his opposers told him That he had openly broken the Law of his own making by entring the place in such manner as he did It is very true said he but withal I will make the first sanction of it and thereupon drawing his Sword he fell upon it so that he died in the place 8. Pharamond was the first King of the French and a Law-giver amongst them it is said That he was the Maker of the Law called the Salick Law by which the Crown of France may not descend unto the Females or as their saying is fall from the Lance to the Distaff Whence this Law had its name of Salique is uncertain some say from the words Si aliqua so often used in it others because it was proposed by the Priests called Salii or that it was decreed in the Fields which take their name from the River Sala But Haillan one of their best Writers affirms That it was never heard of in France till the time of Philip the long Anno 1315. Others say it was made by Charles the Great after the Conquest of Germany where the incontinent lives of the women living about the River Salae in the modern Misâ—ia gave both the occasion and the name De terrâ vero Salicâ nullae portio haereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexum tota terrâ— haereditas perveniat are the words of the Law This terra Salica the Learned Selden in his Titles of Honour Englishes Knights Fee or Land holden by Knights Service and proves his Interpretation by a Record of the Parliament of Bourdeaux cited by Bodinus 9. King Richard the first of England as Lord paramount of the Seas immediately on his return from the Holy Land the Island of Oleron being then in his possession as a member of his Dukedom of Aquitaine did there declare and establish those Maritime Laws which for near five hundred years have generally been received by all the States of the Christian World which frequent the Ocean for the regulating of Sea affairs and deciding of Maritime Controversies From thence they are called the Laws of Oleron Quae quidem leges Statuta per Dominum Richardum quondam Regem Angliae in reditu à terrâ Sanctâ correcta fuerunt interpretata declarata in Insula de Oleron publicata nominata in Gallica Lingua la Loy d' Oleron c. saith an old Record which I â—ind cited in a Manuscript discourse of Sir Iohn Burroughs intituled the Soveraignty of the British Seas 10. Nicodorus was a famous Wrastler and Champion in his younger time but having taken leave of those youthful exercises and grown into years he became the Law-giver of the Mantineans amongst whom he lived and by the prudent composure of his Laws he brought much greater honour to his Country than when he was publickly proclaimed Victor in his former Atchievements It is said That the body of his Laws were framed for him by Diagoras Melius 11. Pittacus made Laws for the Mitylenians and having ten years presided amongst them after he had well setled the affairs of their Republick he voluntarily resigned up his power Amongst other his Laws this was one That he who committed a fault in his Drunkenness should undergo a double
you forgotten that our Sâ—nate is humane and moderate towards those they treat with But the people are high spirited and desirous of great matters If therefore in the Assembly of the people you shall declare you come with full power they will impose upon you what they please rather deal so with them as if you had not the full power and I for my part will do all I am able in favour of your State and confirm'd it to them with an Oath Next day at the Assembly of the people Alcibiades with great civility demanded of the Embassadours in what quality they came whether as Plenipotentiaries or not They denied what they had said before in the Senate and declared before the people that they had not full power to conclude matters Hereupon Alcibiades immediately cryed out That they were a sort of unfaithful and inconstant men no way to be trusted by this means he so excited both the Senate and People against them that they could do nothing CHAP. VI. Of such as were eminent Sea-men or discoverers of Lands or Passages by Sea formerly unknown WHen Anacharsis was once asked which he thought to be the greatest number of the living or the dead Of which sort said he do you take those to be that Sail upon the Seas He doubted it seems whether they were to be reputed amongst the living who permitted their lives to the pleasure â—f the Winds and Waves Had all others been possessed with the same timerous Sentiments the World had wanted those Noble Spirits who could not rest satisfied till by their own hazards they had brought one Hemisphere to some acquaintance with the other 1. Christopher Columbus born at Nervy in the Signiory of Genoa being a man of great abilities and born to undertake great matters could not perswade himself the motion of the Sun considered but that there was another World to which that glorious Planet did impart both his life and heat when he went from us This World he purposed to seek after and opening his design to the State of Genoa Anno 1486. was by them rejected Upon this repulse he sent his Brother Bartholomew to King Henry the seventh of England who in his way happened unfortunately into the hands of Pirates by whom detain'd a long while at last he was enlarged As soon as he was set at liberty he repaired to the Court of England where his proposition found such a chearful entertainment at the hands of the King that Christopher Columbus was sent for to come thither also But Christopher not knowing of his brothers imprisonment and not hearing from him conceived the offer of his Sâ—rvice to have been neglected and thereupon made his desires known at the Court of Castile where after many delayes and six years attendance on the business he was at last furnished with three Ships only and those not for conquest but discovery With this small strength he sailed on the Ocean more than sixty daies yet could see no Land so that the discontented Spaniards began to mutiny and refused to move a foot forwards just at that time it happened that Columbus did discern the Clouds to carry a clearer colour than they did before and therefore besought them only to expect three daies longer in which space if they saw not Land he promised to return toward the end of the third day One of the company called Roderigo de Triane descried fire an evident token they drew near unto some shore The place discovered was an Island on the Coast of Florida called by Columbus St. Saviours now counted one of the Lucaios Landing his men and causing a Tree to be cut down he made a Cross thereof which he erected near the place where he came on Land and by that ceremony took possession of the New World for the Kings of Spain October 11. 1492. Afterwards he discovered and took possession of Hispaniola and with much Treasure and content returned to Spain and was preferred by the Kings themselves for this good service first to be Admiral of the Indies and in conclusion to the title of the Duke De la Vega in the Isle of Iamaica The next year he was furnished with eighteen ships for more discoveries in this second Voyage he discovered the Islands of Cuba and Iamaica and built the Town of Isabella after called Domingo in Hispaniola from whence for some severities used against the mutinous Spaniards he was sent Prisoner to Castile but very honourably entertained and absolved of all the crimes imputed to him In 1497. he began his third Voyage in which he discovered the Countrys of Pana and Cuâ—â—na on the firm land with the Islands of Cubagna and Margarita and many other Islands Capes and Provinces In 1500. he began his fourth and last Voyage in the Course whereof coming to Hispaniola he was unworthily denyed entrance into the City of Domingo by Nicholas de Ovendo then Governour thereof After which scowring the Sea-Coasts as far as Nombre de Trias but adding little to the fortune of his â—ormer discoveries he returned back to Cuba and Iamaica and from thence to Spain where six years after he dyed and was buried honourably at Sevil Anno 1506. 2. Columbus having led the way was seconded by Americus Vesputius an adventurous Florentine employed therein by Emanuel King of Portugal Anno 1501. on a design of finding out a nearer way to the Molucca's than by the Cape of good Hope who though he passed no further than the Cape of St. Augustines in Brasile yet from him to the great injury and neglect of the first Discoverer the Continent or main Land of this Country hath the name of America by which it is still known and commonly called 3. To him succeeded Iohn Cabott a Venetian the Father of Sebastian Cabott in behalf of Henry the seventh King of England who discovered all the North Out-coasts of America from the Cape of Florida in the South to New-found-land and Terra de Laborador in the North causing the American Roytolets to turn homagers to the King and Crown of England 4. Ferdinandus Cortesius was as I suppose the most famous of all the Spaniards for the discovery of new Lands and People For passing the Promontory of Cuba that points directly to the West and is under the Tropick of Cancer and leaving Iucatana and Colvacana on the left hand he bent his course till he attained the entrance of the great River Panucus where he understood by Interpreters he had in his former Voyage that these were the Shores of the Continent which by a gentle turning was on this side connected with the Shores of Vraban but on the other Northward after a vast tract oâ— Land did conjoyn it self with those Countreys which Seamen call Baccalaurae He also was informed that the large and rich Kingdoms of Mexico were extended from the South to the West these Kingdoms he was desirous to visit as abounding in Gold and all kind of plenty the
enquired What voice that was and who that sung It was told him the Captive Bishop of Orleans The Emperour diligently attending both the purport of the Verses and sweetness of the voice was therewith so delighted that he restored the Prisoner forthwith to his liberty 9. In part of Calabria are great store of Tarantula's a Serpent peculiar to this Country and taking that name from the City of Tarentum Some hold them to be a kind of Spiders others of Effts but they are greater than the one and less than the other The sting is deadly and the contrary operations thereof most miraculous For some so stung are still oppressed with a leaden sleep others are vexed with continued waking Some sâ—ing up and down and others are extremely lazy he sweats a second vomits a third runs mad some weep and others laugh continually and that is the most usual The merry the mad and otherwise actively disposed are cured by Musick at least it is the cause in that it incites them to dance indefatigably for by labour and sweat the poyson is expel'd And Musick also by a certain high excellency hath been found by experience to stir in the fad and drowsle so strange an alacrity that they have wearied the Spectators with continued dancing in the mean time the pain hath asswaged the infection being driven from the heart and the mind released of her sufferance if the Musick inâ—ermit the malady renews but again continued and it vanisheth 10. Asclepiades a noble Physician as oft as he had Phrenetick Patients or such as were unhinged or evil affected in their minds did make use of nothing so much for the cure of them and restauration of their health as Symphony and sweet harmony and consent of voices 11. Ismenâ—as the Theban and Scholar of Antigenidas used to cure divers of the Boeotians of the Sciatica or Hip-gout by the use of Musick and saith Gellius It is reported by divers and Memorials are made of it that when the Sciatica pains are the most exquisite they are allayed and asswaged with Musick 12. There was a young man a Taurominitanian by birth who having his head intoxicated with Wine and besides all inflamed with anger hastened to the House of his Mistress with a purpose because she had received his Rival thereinto to set it on fire he was about his design when Pythagoras caused a Musician to play a lesson of the graver Musick composed with Spondees or long Notes by which he was so reclaimed that he immediately desisted from his angry enterprise 13. When Apollonius was inquisitive of Canus a Rhodian Musician what he could do with his instrument he told him that he could make a melancholy man merry and him that was merry much merrier than he was before a lover more enamoured and a Religious man more devout and more attentive to the worship of the gods CHAP. XI Of such as by sight of the Face could judge of the Inclinations Manners and Fortunes of the person IT is said of Paracelsus That he had such notable skill in Herbs that at the first sight he could discern and discover the quality vertue and operation of any such as were shewed to him There have been some men as skillful in the perusal of faces so that Momus needed not wish every man a casement in his breast seeing both the inclinations and successes of men have been dextrously judged at by their outward appearance 1. Iulius Caesar Scaligér had a singular skill herein for it is credibly averred That he never looked on his Infant son Audectus but with grief as sorrow struck with some sad sign of ill success he saw in his face which child at last was found stifled in bed with the embraces of his Nurse being fast asleep 2. Peter de Pinat the last of that name Primate of France Arch-bishop and Earl of Lions died in the beginning of Ianuary Anno 1599. The Duke of Biron did see him in his sickness and assisted at his Funerals No man living did better judge of the nature of men by the consideration of their Visages than he He did divine of the Duke of Biron's fortune by his countenance and the proportions and lines of his face for having considered it somewhat curiously he said unto his Sister after his departure from his Chamber This man hath the worst Physiognomy that ever I observed in my life as of a man that will perish miserably the event made good his Prediction 3. Nazianzen as soon as he beheld Iulian the Apostate made a conjecture of his manners and disposition concerning whom these are his words in his second Oration against the Gentiles The deformity of his gestures made me a Prophet as to him for these following did in no wise seem to be the signs of a good man The sudden and frequent turnings of his head his heaving up now this and then the other shoulder his eyes were stern wandring and expressing something of furious in them his feet were instable and his geniculations frequent his nose was such as betokened scorn and contempt and the whole Figure of his face was framed to derision his laughter was often and loud he would nod with his head when he spake not his speech was interrupted and broken off before it came to the period of the Sentence his questions frequent confused and foolish his answers unapt heaped one upon another disagreeing with themselves and without order and who can describe the rest Such I saw him before his deeds as his deeds did afterwards shew him to be and if they were here present who were then with me and beheld the same things they would justifie this narration of mine and withal would remember that I then spake these words How great a plague doth the Roman Empire at this time nourish c. 4. Zopyrus did profess That he could make a discovery of the nature inclination and dispositions of men by the habit of their bodies and inspection of their eyes face and forehead c. Being desired by some to give his judgement of Socrates he said he was a stupid and dull person and a stranger unto all kind of vertue Those that were present when they heard him pass this sentence upon Socrates whom they knew to be a man of the contrary perfections they laugh'd this conjecturer to scorn but Socrates himself said That he had spoken nothing but what was the truth only by the study of wisdom he had overcome and amended allâ— these faults of his nature 5. Bartholomaeus Cocles had foretold one Coponus That e're long he should be a wicked Homicide and in like manner he said of Hermes the son of a Tyrant that being a banished man he should be slain in Battel Hermes therefore possessed with a fear of his fate gave secret order to Coponus that he should kill Cocles that wicked Artist Cocles did forsee the disaster that was coming upon him and therefore
gathered put into an Urn and carefully buried But the body was no sooner laid upon the funeral pile in order to his burning but a sudden tempest and vehement shower of rain extinguished the fire and caused the attendants of the Corps to betake themselvâ—s to shelter when came the Dogs and pulled in pieces the half-burnt carkass Domitian being certified hereof began to grow into more fearful apprehensions of his own safety but the irresistable force of Destiny is no way to be eluded but he was slain accordingly 12. Alexander Severus the Emperour marching out to the German Wars Thrasybulus a Mathematiciâ—n and his Friend told him that he would be slain by the Sword of a Barbarian and a Woman Druid cryed out to him in the Gallick Tongue Thou mayst go but neither hope for the Victory nor trust to the faith of thy Souldiers It fell out accordingly for before he came in sight of the Enemy he was slain by some German Souldiers that were in his own Camp 13. A Greek Astrologer the same that had predicted the Dukedome of Tuscany to Cosmo de Medices did also to the wonder of many foretel the death of Alexander and that with such assuredness that he described his Murtherer to be such a one as was his intimate and familiar of a slender habit of body a â—mall face and swarthy complexion and who with a reserved silence was almost unsociable to all persons in the Court by which description he did almost point out with the singer Laurence Medices who murdered Prince Alexander in his Bed-chamber contrary to all the Laws of Consanguinity and Hospitality 14. Pope Paul the Third wrote to Petrus Aâ—oisius Farnesius his Son that he should take special care of himself upon the 10. of September for the Stars did then threaten him with some signal misfortune Petrus giving credit to his Fathers admonition with great anxiety and fear took heed to himself upon that day and yet notwithstanding all his care he was slain by thirty six that had framed a conspiracy against him 15. Alexander the Great returning out of India and being about to enter Babylon the Chaldean Soothsayers sent him word that he would speedily dye if he entred the Walls of it This prediction was derided by Anaxarchus the Epicurcan and Alexander not to shew himself over-timerous or superstitious in this kind would needs put himself within the City where as most hold he was poysoned by Cassander 16. The very same day that the formentioned Alexander was born the Temple of Diana at Ephesus was set on fire and certain Magicians that were then present ran up and down crying that a great calamity and cruel scourge to Asia was born that day nor were they mistaken for Alexander over-ran all Asia with conquering Arms not without a wonderful slaughter of the men and desolation of the Country 17. When Darius in the beginning of his Empire had caused the Persian Scimitar to be made after the manner of the Greeks and commanded all men to wear them so forthwith the Chaldeans predicted that the Empire of the Persians should be devolved into the power of them whose Arms and Weapons they thus imitated which also came to pass for Darius overcome in three Battels and in his flight left treacherously wounded by some of his own men lost his life and left his Empire to his Conqueror the Grecian Alexander 18. While Cosmo Medices was yet a private man and little thought of the Dukedom of Florence Basilius the Mathematician foretold tâ—at a wonderful rich inheritance would certainly fall to him in as much as the Ascendant of his Nativity was beautified and illustrated by a happy conspiracy of Stars in Capricorn in such manner as had heretofore fallen out to Augustus Caesar and the Emperour Charles the Fifth upon the 5. of the Ides of Ian. he was advanced to the Dignity of the Dukedom 19. Belesus a Babylonish Captain skilled in Astrology and Divination beyond all the Chaldeans told Arbaces the Prefect of Media that he should be Lord of all that Sardanapalus did now possess since his Genesis was favoured as he knew with a lucky Position of Stars Arbaces encouraged by this hope conspired with the Babylonians and Arabians but the Revolt being known the Rebels were thrice in plain field overthrown by Sardanapalus The Confederates amazed at so many unhappy chances determined to return home But Belesus having all night made observation of the Stars foretold that a considerable body of friends were coming to their assistance and that in a short time their affairs would go on more prosperously Thus confirmed they waited the time set down by Belesus in which it was told them that the Bactrians were come in aid of the King It seemed good to Arbaces and the rest to meet the Bactrians with an expedite and select Body and perswade them to the same Revolt or force them he prevailed without stroke they joyned with his Forces In the night he fell upon the Camp of Sardanapalus who feared nothing less and took it twice after they overcame him in the field with great slaughter and having driven him into Niniveh after two years siege took that also and so fulfilled the prediction of Belesius 20. The great Picus Mirandula who for writing more against the Astrologers and also more reproachfully than others or indeed than any man ever did was called Flagellum Astrologorum the Scourage of Astrologers met at last with one Bellantius of Syena who was not at all deceived in the Judgement that he gave upon his Nativity for he foretold him that he should dye in the thirty fourth year of his age which accordingly came to pass 21. Iunctin an Italian of the City of Florence foretold that himself should dye of some violent death and upon the very same day was knocked on the head by the Books in his own Study falling upon him 22. The Duke of Biron being then only Baron of Biron and in some trouble by reason of the death of the Lord Cerency and others slain in a quarrel is said to have gone disguised like a Carrier of Letters unto one la Brosse a great Mathematician whom they held to be skilful in casting Nativities to whom he shewed his Nativity drawn by some other and dissembling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he served and that he desired to know what end that man should have La Brosse having rectified this Figure said to him that he was of a good House and no elder than you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his The Baron answered him I will not tell you but tell me said he what his life and means and end shall be The old man who was then in a little Garret which served him for a Study said unto him My Son I see that he whose Nativity this is shall come to great honour by his industry and military valour
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
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
Solon Solon Cyrus admiring caused him to be asked what God or man it was whom he invoked in this his extremity he replied That Solon came into his mind who had wisely admonished him not to trust to his present fortune nor to think himself happy before he came to his end I laught said he at that time but now I approve and admire that saying so did Cyrus also presently commanding Croesus to be freed and made him one of his friends CHAP. IX Of such as have left places of highest Honour and Employment for a private and retired Condition GReat Travellers who have fed their eyes with variety of prospects and pleased themselves with the conversation of persons of different Countries are oftentimes observed upon their return to retire themselves and more to delight in solitude than other men The like sometimes befals men of great Honours and Employments they retreat unto a private life as men that are full and have taken a kind of surfeit of the World and when they have done so have enjoyed more of contentment and satisfaction of mind than all their former noiseful and busied splendour could afford them 1. Doris the Athenian having governed the Common-wealth six and thirty years with much sincerity and Justice became weary of publick Negotiations he therefore dislodged from Athens and went to a Country-house or Farm which he had in a Village not far distant and there reading Books of Husbandry in the night time and practising those rules in the day time he wore out the space of fifteen years Upon the Frontispiece of his House these words were engraven Fortune and Hope adieu to you both seeing I have found the true entrance to rest and contentment 2. The Emperour Charles the Fifth after he had reigned as King forty years and had thirty six of those years been possessed of the Empire of Germany that Charles who from the sixteenth year of his age wherein he first bore a Scepter to the fifth sixth year of his age wherein he surrendred all had been a great and most constant Favourite of Fortune after he had made 300 Sieges and gained the Victory in more than twenty set Battels he whose whole life and adventures were nothing else but a concatenation of Victories and Triumphs and a glorious continuation of most renowned successes after he had made nine Voyages into Germany six into Spain seven into Italy four into France ten into the Low-Countries two into England two into Africa and eleven times traversed the main Ocean who yet in all these his various and great Enterprises met with no check nor frown of Fortune except in the Siege of Marcelleis and the business of Algiers I say this illustrious Prince in the pitch and height of all his glory did freely and of his own accord descend from his Thrones resigned his Kingdom of Spain to his Son Philip his Empire to his Brother Ferdinand withdrew from a Royal Palace and retired first to a private house at Bruxels and thence descended to an humble Hermitage in the Monastery of St. Iustus seven miles from Placentia attended only with twelve Servants forbidding that any should call him other than Charles disclaiming together with the Affairs the pompous Names of Caesar and Augustus 3. Diocletianus the Emperour of Rome being filled and laden with worldly Honours which he had acquired to himself both in Peace and War even to the making himself to be worshipped for a God This great Person seeing no constancy in humane affairs and feeling how full his Imperial charge was of travels cares and perils left off the Managing and Government of the Empire and chusing a private life retired himself to Salona where he spent his time in Gardening and Husbandry and although after he had continued there some years he was earnestly importuned by Maximianus and Galerius his Successors to resume the Empire yet could he never be perswaded to quit his solitude till he parted with that and his life together 4. Sâ—atocopius King of Bohemia and Moravia having received an overthrow in a Battel by the Emperour Arnolphus withdrew himself secretly out of the Fight and unknown as he was saved himself by the swiftness of his Horse Being come alone to a Mountain called Sicambri he left there his Arms and Horse and began to walk on foot when entring into a vast Wilderness he framed himself like a poor Pilgrim to feed upon Apples and Roots until he had met with three other Hermits to whom he joined himself abiding with them unknown till his last When his time drew near that he should dye he calls the three Eremites You know not yet said he who I am the truth is I am King of Bohemia and Moravia who being overthrown in a Battel have sought my refuge here with you I dye having tryed both what a Royal and a private life is There is not any Greatness of a King to be preferred before the tranquillity of this solitariness The safe sleeps which we enjoy here make the roots savoury and the water sweet unto us on the contrary the care and dangers of a Kingdom make all meat and drink taste bitter to us That part of my life which remained I have passed happily with you that which I led upon my Regal Throne deserveth more the title of death than of life Assoon as my Soul hath parted from my body ye shall bury me here in this place and then going into Moravia ye shall declare these things to my Son if he yet lives and having thus said he departed this life 5. The Captain Similis was Prefect of the Palace to Hadrian the Emperour and after he had procured leave at last to quit himself of his employment and to retire into the Country he lived there in rest with privacy and content for the space of seven years and when he found himself near unto death he ordained by his last Will this Epitaph to be inscribed upon his Tomb. Similis hic jacet cujus atas quidem multorum annorum fâ—it septem tamen dunt axat annis vixit That is Here lyeth Similis who was indeed of a great age yet lived only seven years 6. Lucius Sylla having with great labours and infinite perils arrived unto the Dictatorship in Rome than which there is no power more absolute and having therein governed with such severity as to put to death two thousand six hundred Roman Knights slain ten Consuls forced thousands from their Country into Exile and prohibited unto divers all Funeral Honours yet without fear of accounting for any of his past actions and not being in the least enforced thereunto by any necessity of his affairs he voluntarily deposed himself from that high Seat of Magistracy and retired to a life of privacy in Rome and whereas one day as he passed along in the Market-place he was reproached and insolently treated by a young man he contented himself to say with a low voice to some
concave Copper vast thick and double gilded its height is twenty four foot and would be more but that they have formed it kneeling his buttocks resting upon his legs after the usual mode of the Eastern Pagans his arms are stretched to the uttermost and at solemn times is inâ—lamed within and sacrificed unto by offering him a Child which in his embraces is fryed to death in an infernal torture 11. But more of note is another at Tenehedy Eastward thence where Satan visibly plays the Impostor The Fotique or Temple there is of rare structure and daily served by a multitude of hellish Bonzees or Priests not admitted to attend there except they be young well shaped and potent Disciples of Venus Every new Moon they solemnly betroth unto the Devil a Damosel whose Parents account the Ceremony happy and honourable if any be more fair or singular than another she is selected by the lustful Priests devoted and brought into the Temple and placed right against the Manada or Idol The room is first made glorious with Lamps of burnished Gold and a preparation by the burning of Lignum vitae Gums and Perfumes such as are most curious and costly by and by the Lamps extinguish by a kind of miracle and in a gross darkness the Prince of darkness approaches and abuses her so she imagines and it is the rather credited in that the Devil leaves behind him certain scales like those of fishes an argument of no Phantasm but by this hellish conjunction they swell not unless the Bonzee second it Satan is no sooner gone but she is saluted by the Bonzees who ravish her with Songs and pleasant Musick which ended she acquaints them with her fortune and resolves them in such questions as she by their instruction propounded to the Devil and he had satisfied her in She comes out from thence with applause and ever after is reputed holy and honourable 12. The Alani have amongst them no Temple nor Shrine nor so much as a Cottage with a covered roof is there any where to be seen but with barbarous Ceremonies they fix a naked Sword in the ground and this they religiously worship as the Mars or God of those Regions that they travel about in and where they make their abode 13. Moloch so called quasi Melech which in most of the Oriental Languages signifies a King was the God of the Ammonites to whom they offered their Sons and their Daughters not that this was his ordinary Sacrifice but only in extraordinary cases and distresses and being looked upon as a work more meritorious Generally they caused their children to pass through the fire to him that is betwixt two fires as a kind of februation for his Priests had perswaded them that their Sons or Daughters would die speedily that were not thus as it were hallowed The Carthaginians worshipped this Idol under the name of Saturn and indeed Baal and Saturn and Moloch are reputed to be all one The Image of this Idol was of Brass wonderful for its greatness having the face of a Bullock and hands spread abroad like a man that openeth his hands to receive somewhat from some other This Image was hollow having seven Closets or Apartments therein one for Wheat-flour of the finest a second for Turtles a third for a Sheep a fourth for a Ram a fifth for a Calf a sixth for an Ox and to him that would offer his Son or his Daughter the â—eventh Conclave or Chamber was opened and then while the Boy was burning in the Idol with the fire that was made under him the Parents and such as were present were to dance and to play upon Timbrels and beat upon Drums that they might not hear the sorrowful crys of their child while thus sacrificing Anameleck and Adrameleck the Gods of Sepharvaim mentioned 2 Kings 17. are supposed to be the same with this Idol whose Priests were called Chemarim from their blackness the place of this Idol amongst the Israelites was Tophet the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom that is of lamentation or roaring from the crys of them that were offered The Carthaginians being greatly distressed by Agathocles at one time offered or burnt unto this Moloch their Saturn no less than two hundred choice Youths of their Nobility This idolatrous custom continued to the days of Tiberius 14. In the Island of Ceylon there is a high Hill called Pico d' Adam or Adams Hill upon the top whereof standeth a great house as big as a Cloister In this place in times pasâ— shrined in gold and precious stones was kept the Tooth of an Ape which was esteemed the holiest thing in all India and had the greatest resort unto it from all the Countries round about it so that it passed St. Iames in Galisia and St. Michaels Mount in France by reason of the great Indulgences and Pardons that were there daily to be had For which cause it was sought unto with great devotion by all the Indians within four or five hundred miles round about in great multitudes But it happened An. 1554. when the Portugals made a road out of India and entred the Island of Ceylon they went up upon the Hill where they thought to find great Treasure because of the same that was spread abroad of the great resort and offerings in that place They diligently searched the Cloister and turned up every stone thereof and found nothing but a little Coffer made fast with many precious stones wherein lay the Apes Tooth This Relique they took with them unto Goa which when the Kings of Pegu Sian Bengala Bisnagar and others heard of they were much grieved that so costly a Jewel was in that manner taken from them Whereupon by common consent they sent their Ambassadors unto the Viceroy of India desiring him of all friendship to send them their Apes Tooth again offering him for a Ransom besides other Presents which as then they sent unto him 700000 Ducats in Gold which the Viceroy for covetousness of the money was minded to do But the Archbishop of Goa Don Gaspar disswaded him from it saying That they being Christians ought not to give it them again being a thing wherein Idolatry might be furthered and the Devil worshipped but rather were bound by their profession to root out and abolish all Idolatry and Superstition By this means the Viceroy was perswaded to change his mind and flatly denied the Ambassadors request having in their presence first burnt the Apes Tooth the ashes whereof he caused to be thrown into the Sea The Ambassadors departed astonished that he refused so great a sum of money for a thing which he so little esteemed Not long after there was a Beniane that had gotten another Apes Tooth and gave out that he had miraculously found the same Apes Tooth that the Viceroy had and that it was revealed unto him by a Pagod that is one of their Gods in a Vision that assured him it was the same which he said the
command in the midst of struglings and sighs bore him away to that Judgment of which Benno had foretold him 15. A Master of the Teutonick Order whose name I spare to mention proposed a Match betwixt a young Merchant and a Woman of a doubtful fame in respect of her chastity The young man refused the overture the rather because he that perswaded the Marriage was supposed to be no hater of the woman The Master resented this refusal so ill that he determined that the life of the refuser should pay for it he therefore contrived that he should be accused of theft and being condemned he commanded he should be hanged prayers and tears were of no avail and therefore the innocent had recourse to the safest Sanctuary of Innocency and therefore as he was led to Execution he said with a loud voice I suffer unjustly and therefore appeal to the supreme Lord of life and death to him shall he render an account after the thirteenth day from hence who hath unjustly condemned me The Master scoffed at this but upon the same thirteenth day he was taken with a sudden sickness and said Miserable that I am behold I die and must this day appear before the all-seeing Judge and so died 16. Otho the First Emperor of Rome being freely reprehended for his Marriage with Adelaida by his Son William then Bishop of Mentz sent his Son to prison The Bishop cited his Father Otho to the Tribunal of Christ And said he upon Whitsunday both of us shall appear before the Lord Christ where by divine Judgment it shall appear who hath transgressed the limits of his duty Upon the Nones of May and the day of Pentecost Otho died suddenly in Saxony when his Son the Bishop had deceased some time before him CHAP. XXVII Of the Apparition of Demons and Spectres and with what courage some have endured the sight of them THere are some who deny the very Being of Spirits these I look upon as men possessed with such an incurable madness as no Hellebore is sufficient to quit them of Others who believe they are yet think them so confined to their own Apartments that they may not intermeddle with humane affairs at least not shew themselves to men there is no doubt variety of impostures in the stories of them but to reject all such appearances as fabulous is too severe a reflection upon the credit of the best Historians 1. When Cassius and Brutus were about to pass out of Asia into Europe and to transport their Army into the opposite Continent an horrible spectacle is said to be shewed to Brutus for in the dead of the night when the Moon shined not very bright and all the Army was in silence a black image of a huge and horrid body standing by him silently is said to offer it self to Brutus his candle being almost out and he musing in his Tent about the issue of the War Brutus with an equal constancy both of mind and visage inquired of him what either Man or God he was The Spirit answered O Brutus I am thine evil Genius and thou shalt see me again at Philippi Brutus couragiously replied I will see thee there then The Spirit disappeared but as he had said appeared to him again in those fields of Philippi the night before the last fight The next morning he told Cassius what he had seen and he expounded to him out of the doctrine of the Epicureans what was to be thought concerning such Spectres 2. The learned and pious Melancthon tells that he had an Aunt who sitting sad by the fire side one night after the death of her Husband there entred two persons into the house one of whiâ—â— who bore the resemblance of him told her that he was her dead Husband the other was in the habit of a Franciscan The Husband came to the fire side saluted his Wife and bad her to fear nothing for that he only came to give order for some things whereupon having wished the Monk to withdraw he wished her to hire certain Priests to say Masses for his Souls health and then desired her to give him her hand The frighted woman durst not but he promising she should have no hurt she then complied with his desire but though she had no hurt upon her hand yet by that touch it seemed so burnt that it was black to the day of her death When he had taken her by the hand he called the Franciscan and both of them departed 3. There was a house in Athens wherein in the dead of the night a tall and meagre Ghost used to walk and with the dreadful ratling of his chains had not only frighted away the inhabitants but was also a great terrour to the neighbourhood The house was a very fair one but for as much as there was no man found that durst dwell in it it had stood long vacant though there was writ upon the door that it was to be lett for a very inconsiderable Rent It fortuned that Athenodorus the Philosopher came to Athens and allured with the cheapness of the Rent more than affrighted with the relation of the Phantasme that disturbed it he hired it forthwith And sitting up purposely somewhat late at his studies the chained Ghost appears to him and beckned to him to follow which he boldly did from room to room till at last in a certain place he observed it to vanish which having diligently noted he caused to be digged and there found the carcass of a man in chains and in all points resembling the appearance he had seen He caused the Corps to be removed and elsewhere committed to the ground which done the house from thenceforth continued to be quiet 4. Take a Narration of that which happened to Alexander of Alexandria a Witness worthy of credit as himself hath set it down thus Being saith he once sick at Rome as I lay in my bed broad waking there appeared unto me a very fair Woman looking upon her with mine eyes wide open I lay still a long time much troubled without speaking a word casting and discoursing with my self whether I waked or was in a dream and whether it was a phantasie of mine or a true sight which I saw Feeling all my senses whole and perfect and seeing the shape to continue in the same posture I began to ask her who she was she smiling and repeating the same words that I had spoken as if she had mocked me after she had looked upon me a long while vanished away 5. Dion the Syracusan after with great glory to himself he had freed his Country from Tyranny sitting in his house at mid-day a Woman in the habit of a Fury of huge stature and horrid ugliness offered her self to his eyes without speaking a word and beginning to sweep the house with a Besome Dion affrighted called for some of his friends upon which the Spectre disappeared but so did not the evil which
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.
about the upper part of an Arrow and then glued on the feathers of the Arrow upon it and so their Arrows were to be shot to such a place as they had mutually agreed upon They had done this for some time till they were casually betrayed for Artabasus directing his Arrow to the wonted place it chanced to light upon the shoulder of a Potidaean that was accidentally there divers as the manner is ran to the wounded man and plucking out the Arrow perceived the Letters that were fastned to it and carried them to the Magistrates of the City whereby it came to pass that Timoxenus the Traitor was discovered 10. Antigonus who had wintered in Mesopotamia came to Babylon and having there joyned with Seleucus and Python he determined to march out against Eumenes who had fortified the River Tygris from its Fountain to the Sea and indeed all the Country bordering upon him in which manner he waited the approach of the Enemy but for as much as the Guard of a place of so great a length required a multitude of Souldiers Eumenes had obtained of Peucestes that he should send for some thousands of Archers for him out of Persia which was done in such manner that most of the Persians though distant thirty days journey did yet hear of the Edict of Peucestes upon that very day it was given out and that through the artificial placing of their Watches for whereas Persia is interrupted with Vallies and full both of many and high Rocks the strongest voices that were to be found amongst the Inhabitants were placed upon the tops of these so that the command being heard in divers places at once they transmitted it immediately from one to the other till such time as it was gotten to the utmost end of Peucestes his Satrapy 11. Octavianus Caesar when he wrote to his friends any thing of secrecy or matter of importance his manner was to take the next Letter in the Alphabet to that which should have been made use of saith Dio Cassius and Suetonius saith that as oft as he wrote by notes or characters he used B. for A. and C. for B. and in the same order all the rest as they follow only instead of X. he used a double AA 12. The Roman Spies that were sent into Persia at their return brought a long piece of Parchment that had Letters wrote upon it within which was given them by Procopius but for the better concealment of it it was put into sheath or scabbard of a Sword and so carried safe without suspicion 13. Diognetus the Milesian was in love with Polycrita of Naxos and for love of her he betrayed his Country-men and their Counsels for when they had besieged Naxos he sent a young Girl with a Letter to Polycles Brother of Polycrita and Governour of the City wherein he shewed the way how he might intrap and slay the Milesians This Letter was writ upon a Plate of Lead rouled up and baked in a Loaf of Bread and so conveyed to the Governour CHAP. XXXVIII Of the sad condition and deplorable distresses of some men by Sea and Land THE Mountain Vesuvius near Naples is reported to be so fertile that it yieldeth to those who manure it a million of gold in revenue but when it comes to cast forth its all-inflamed entrails it oftentimes makes as much havock in one day alone as it brings profit in many years And it seems saith Montaigne that Fortune doth sometimes so narrowly watch the last days of our life as in one moment to overthrow what for many years she hath been erecting repaying our past and light pleasures with weighty miseries and forcing us to cry out with Laberius Nimirum hâc die unâ plus vixi I have certainly lived too long at least by this one unhappy day 1. Horrible was that Tragedy which the Western Indies beheld in the persons of seven English men the relation of it take as followeth The fore-mentioned seven being in St. Christophers Island had prepared themselves for a Voyage of one night and had taken with them provisions for no longer a time but a tempest intercepted their return and carried them so far off into the Sea that they could not return home in less than seventeen days in which time they were so sparing of their one nights provision that they made it serve them to the fifth day that past they must wrastle with meer famine which was so much the more grievous to them in regard the Sun was extreme hot that dryed up their parched throats exhaling the saltness from the troubled Sea They had now little hope of retriving themselves from their intricate errour and were therefore forced O cruel necessity to cast lots amongst themselves to see whose flesh and blood should satisfie the hunger and thirst of the rest The lot fell upon him who first gave the counsel who was not only unaffrighted at his hard fortune but encouraged the rest who had a kind of horrour as to what they went about he told them that Fortune was a favourer of the bold that there was no possibility of escape unless they immediately staid their flying life by humane flesh that for his part he was well content and that he thought himself happy he could serve his friends when he was dead With such words as these he so perswaded them that one drawn out by lot also cut his throat of whose carcass I tremble to relate it each of them was so desirous of a piece that it could scarce be divided so quickly They fell to the flesh with eager teeth and sucked out the blood into their thirty stomachs One only was found amongst them who being nearly related to the dead person resolved to endure all things rather than to pollute himself with the blood of his friend but the next day his famine drove him into such a madness that he threw himself over-board into the Sea His Associates would not suffer so delicate a repast as his carcass to be so unseasonably snatched from them But his madness had already so vitiated his blood and the flesh all about the veins that in the whole body there was scarce any thing found fit to eat save only his bowels At last it pleased God to shew them mercy in this their wandring and distress and brought their small Ship to the Isle of St. Martin in which they were kindly received by the Dutch Garrison and sent back to the rest of their friends where scarce had they set foot on the shore but they were accused of Murder but inevitable necessity pleading in their behalf they were set free by the Magistrate 2. In the year 1616. one Pickman a Fleming coming from Dronthem in Norway with a Vessel laden with Boards was overtaken with a calm during which the current of the Sea carried him upon a Rock or little Island towards the extremities of Scotland to avoid a wrack he commanded some of
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
laugh 11. When the Donatists upbraided St. Augustine with the impiety and impurity of his former life Look said he how much they blame my fault so much I praise and commend my Physician 12. When Solon beheld one of his friends almost overcome with grief he led him up into an high Tower and bad him thence look down upon all the houses before and round about him which when he saw he did Now said he think with your self what various causes of grief have heretofore been under these roofs are now and will hereafter be and thereupon desist to lament those things as proper to your self which are in common to all mankind He used also to say That if every man was to bring his evils and calamities to be cast with those of others upon one heap it would fall out that every man would rather carry home his own troubles again than be contented to take up his part out of the whole heap 13. The Samnites had shut up the Roman Legions at the Furcae Caudinae in such manner as they had them all at their disposal whereupon they sent their General to Herâ—nnius Pontius a man in great reputation for wisdom to know of him what they should do with them who advised to send them all away without the least injury The next day they sent again who then advised to cut all their throats they neglected both by both using them ill and suffering them to depart whereby it came to pass that the Romans were incensed to ruine them as after they did 14. Mago was sent from Anibal to the Carthaginian Senate to relate the greatness of the Victory at Cannae and as an instance thereof he shewed three bushels of gold Rings that were taken from the fingers of the dead Roman Gentlemen Hanno a wise Senator demanded If upon this success any of the Roman Allies were revolted to Anibal Mago said No. Then said he to the Senate my advice is That you send forthwith Ambassadors to treat of Peace Had this prudent saying of his been followed Carthage had not been overcome in the second Punick War nor utterly overthrown in the third as it was CHAP. XLII Of such persons as were the first Leaders in divers things AS there is a time for every thing that is under the Sun so there is no Art or Practice no Custom or Calling but had its first Introducer and some one or other from whom it did commence Now although many of these things are so mean and the Authors of them so obscure that one would think they scarcely could merit a Memorial yet I find that Historians of all sorts have taken pleasure to touch upon them as they passed some of which I have thus collected 1. Sp. Carvilius was the first in Rome that sent his Wife a bill of divorcement by reason of her barrenness who though he seemed to be moved thereunto for a tolerable reason yet went not without reprehension for it was believed that even the desire of children should give place to matrimonial fidelity Before this time there was no Divorce betwixt man and wife to the five hundred and twentieth year from the first building of the City 2. Pope Gregory the First was the first who in his Pontifical Writings intituled himself thus Servus servorum Dei The Servant of the Lords servants which has since been followed by most of the rest though they mean nothing less 3. Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt was the first who betaking himself to the solitudes of the Desart was called an Eremite wherein he has since been imitated 〈…〉 and Paphnuphius and multitudes of 〈…〉 have found out the like places of retirement from the cares and troubles of humane life 4. Valerius Poplicola was the first in Rome who made a funeral Oration in praise of the deceased who thus in publick celebrated the memory of Quiritius Iunius his Colleague in the Consulship and Pericles was the first in Athens who thus also publickly extolled those who were slain in the Peloponnesian War in defence of their Country 5. Cleon the Athenian Orator was a vehement person in his time It was he who first used vociferation in his Pleadings striking his hands upon his thighs and passing from one side of the Pulpit to another which after him obtained much amongst the Romans and others 6. Scipio Africanus was the first Senator in Rome who continually went with his beard shaven whereas the whole City before used to nourish their beards This custom of his was the most studiously followed by Caesar Augustus the best of all the Roman Princes 7. Lucius Papyrius was the first that set up a Sun-dial in Rome which being only of use when the Sun shined an hourly measure of time was found out by Scipio Nasica whereas before that time the Romans knew no distinction in the time of the day 8. Hanno a noble Carthaginian was the first of all men who shewed a Lion subdued unto tameness by himself for which he was publickly sentenced most men believing that the publick liberty was ill intrusted in such hands and to so dexterous a Wit to which so great fierceness had given place 9. Marcus Tullius Cicero was the first amongst the Romans who by Decree of the Senate had the Title of Pater Patriae given him that is to say Father of his Country Augustus Caesar received it afterwards as his most honourable Title and the successive Emperours sought it with more ambition than they had merit to obtain it 10. M. Scaurus was the first who in his Plays and Sights set forth by him in his Edileship made shew of an Hippotamus or Sea-horse and Crocodiles swimming in a Pool or Lake made only for the time of that Solemnity 11. Q. Scaevola the Son of Publius was the first in Rome who in his curule Edileship exhibited a fight and combat of many Lions together for to shew the people pastime and pleasure 12. The first that yoked Lions and made them draw in a Chariot was Marcus Antonius it was in the time of the Civil War after the Battel in the plains of Pharsalia in this manner rode he with Cytheris the Curtesan a common Actress in Inderludes upon the Stage 13. Minyas the King of that People who take their name from him was the richest of all his Predecessors the first that imposed a Tribute upon Goods and the first that erected a Treasury wherein to repose the Revenues of his Crown 14. Iohn Matthew Mercer born at Sherington in Buckinghamshire was Lord Major of London An. 1490. he was the first Batchelor that ever was chosen in that Office yea it was above an hundred and twenty years before he was seconded by a single person succeeding him in that place viz. Sir Iohn Leman Lord Major 1616. 15. The first that devised an Aviary was M. Lenius Strabo a Gentleman of Rome who made such a one
or Board for this Game was brought to Rome by Pompey amongst his Asiatick Spoils three foot broad and four foot long made up of two precious stones and all the men of several colours of precious stones 13. Divers great Wits have for their recreation chosen the most barren subjects and delighted to shew what they were able to do in matters of greatest improbability or where truth lay on the other side Thus the description of a War betwixt Frogs and Mice is written by Homer the commendation of a Tyrant by Polycrates the praise of Injustice by Phavorinus of Nero by Cardan of an Ass by Apuleius and Agrippa of a Fly and of a Parasitical life by Lucian of Folly by Erasmus of a Gnat by Michael Psellus of Clay by Antonius Majoragius of a Goose by Iulius Scaliger of a Shadow by Iamâ—s Doâ—â—a the Son of a Louse by Daniel Heinsius of an Ox by Libanius and of a Dog by Sextus Empiricus 14. Nicholaus the Third a Roman and Pope of Rome was so extremely delighted with hunting that he inclosed a Warren of Hares on purpose for his Holiness his recreation CHAP. XLV Of such People and Nations as have been scourged and afflicted by small and contemptible things or by Beasts Birds Insects and the like THE Sea called Sargasso though four hundred miles from any Land and so deep as no ground is to be found by sounding 〈◊〉 abounds with an herb called Sargasso like Sampire so thick that a Ship without a strong gale can hardly make her way As this great Sea is impedited by this contemptible weed so there is nothing so small and inconsiderable in our eyes but may be able to afflict us even then when we are in the fulness of our sufficiency 1. Sapores the King of Persia besieged the City of Nisibis but S. Iames the holy Bishop thereof by his prayers to God obtained that such an infinite number of Gnats came into his Army as put it into the greatest disorder these small creatures flew upon the eyes of their Horses and tormented them in such manner that growing furious they shook off their Riders and the whole Army was hereby so scattered and brought into conâ—usion that they were inforced to break up their Siege and to depart 2. About the year of our Lord 872. came into France such an innumerable company of Locusts that the number of them darkned the very light of the Sun they were of an extraordinary bigness had a sixfold order of wings six feet and two teeth the hardness whereof surpassed that of a stone These eat up every green thing in all the fields of France At last by the force of the winds they were carried into the Sea and there drowned after which by the agitation of the waves the dead bodies of them were cast upon the shores and from the stench of them together with the Famine they had made with their former devouring there arose so great a Plague that it is verily thought every third person in France dyed of it 3. Marcus Varro writeth that there was a Town in Spain undermined with Conies another likewise in Thessaly by the Mouldwarps In France the Inhabitants of one City were driven out and forced to leave it by Frogs Also in Africk the people were compelled by Locusts to void their habitations and out of Gyaros an Island one of the Cyclades the Islanders were forced by Rats and Mice to flye away Moreover in Italy the City Amyclae was destroyed by Serpents In Ethiopia on this side the Cynomolgi there is a great Country lyeth waste and desert by reason that it was dispeopled sometimes by Scorpions and a kind of Pismires called Solpugae And if it be true that Theophrastus reporteth the Treriens were chased away by certain Worms called Scolopendres 4. Myas a principal City in Ionia situate on an arm of the Sea assigned by Artaxerxes with Lampsacus and Magnesia to Themistocles when banished his own Country In after-times the water drawing further off the soil brought forth such an innumerable multitude of Fleas that the Inhabitants were â—ain to forsake the City and went with their bag and baggage to retire to Miletus nothing hereof being left but the name and memory in the time of Pausanias 5. Annius writes that an ancient City situate near the Volscian Lake and called Contenebra was in times past overthrown by Pismires and that the place is thereupon vulgarly called to this day The Camp of Ants. 6. The Neuri a people bordering upon the Scythians one Age before the Expedition of Darius into Scythia were forced out of their habitations and Country by reason of Serpents For whereas a multitude of Serpents are bred in the soil it self at that time there came upon them from the desert places above them such an abundance of them and so infested them that they were constrained to quit the place and to dwell amongst the Budini 7. In Media there was such an infinite number of Sparrows that eat up and devoured the seed which was cast into the ground that men were constrained to depart their old habitations and remove to other places 8. The Island of Anaphe heretofore had not a Partridge in it till such time an Astypalaean brought thither a pair that were male and female which couple in a short time did increase in such wonderful manner that oppressed with the number of them the Inhabitants upon the point were enforced to depart from the Island 9. Astypalaea of old had no Hares in it but when one of the Isle of Anaphe had put a brace into it they in a short time so increased that they destroyed almost all that the Inhabitants had sowed whereupon they sent to consult the Oracle concerning this their calamity which advised them to store themselves with Grey-hounds by the help of which they killed 6000 Hares in the space of a year and many more afterwards whereby they were delivered from their grievance 10. The Inhabitants of the Gymnesian Islands are reported to have sent their Ambassadours to Rome to request some other place to be assigned them for their habitations for that they were oppressed by the incredible number of Conies amongst them And the Baleares through an extraordinary increase of the same creatures amongst them did petition the Emperor Augustus that he would send them the assistance of a military force against these enemies of theirs which had already occasioned a famine amongst them 11. In the seventeenth year of the Reign of Alexander the Third King of the Scots such an in credible swarm of Palmer-worms spread themselves over both Scotland and England that they consumed the fruits and leaves of all Trees and Herbs and eat up the Worts and other Plants to the very stalks and stumps of them As also the same year by an unusual increase and swelling of the Sea the Rivers overflowed their banks and there was such an
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
answer that the Bayliff was a rich man which the King not knowing how to believe considering the wretched Country his House was seated in he immediately sent for him and said unto him these words Come on Bayliff and tell me why you did not build your fine House in some place where the Country was good and fertile Sir answered the Bayliff I was born in this Country and find it very good for me Are you so rich said the King as they tell me you are I am not poor replyed the other I have blessed be God wherewithal to live The King then asked him how it was possible he should grow so rich in so pitiful a barren Country Why very easily replyed the Bayliff Tell me which way then said the King Marry Sir replyed the other because I have ever had more care to do my own business than that of my Masters or my Neighbours The Devil refuse me said the King for that was always his oath thy reason is very good for doing so and rising betimes thou couldst not chuse but thrive CHAP. XIII Of the Faithfulness of some men to their engagement and trust reposed in them THe Syrians were looked upon as men of no faith not fit to be trusted by any man and that besides their curiosity in keeping their Gardens they had scarce any thing in them that was commendable The Greeks also laboured under this imputation of being as false as they were luxurious and voluptuous It is strange that those who were so covetous after all other kinds of improvement in learning and knowledge should in the mean time neglect that which sets a fuller value upon man than a thousand other accomplishments I mean his fidelity to his promise and trust 1. Those of Iapan are very punctual in the performance of what they have promised those who desire their protection or assistance For no Iaponese but will promise it any one that desires it of him and spend his life for the person who hath desired him to do it and this without any consideration of his family or the misery whereto his Wife and Children may be thereby reduced hence it comes that it is never seen a malefactor will betray or discover his complices But on the contrary there are infinite examples of such who have chosen rather to dye with the greatest torment imaginable than bring their complices into any inconvenience by their confession 2. Micithus Servant to Anaxilaus Tyrant of the Rhegini was left by his dying Master to govern his Kingdom and children during their minority In the time of this his Viceroy-ship he behaved himself with that clemency and justice that the people saw themselves govern'd by a person of quality neither unmeet to rule nor too mean for the place yet when his children were come to age he resign'd over his power into their hands and therewithal the treasures by his providence he had heaped up accounting himself but their steward As for his part he was content with a small pittance with which he retired to Olympia and there lived very privately but with great content respect and serenity 3. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceas'd and left Iohn his Son a child of twenty two months age behind him entrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant He was a man of great vertue and merit and therefore the eyes of the nobles and people were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon But he was deaf to these proffers alledged the right of his infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it He could not prevail yet the assembly was adjourn'd for that time They meet again in hopes that having had time to consider of it he would now accept it who not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly There Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a sharp look and tone replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him upon his shoulders cryed out God save King John commanded the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like 4. King Iohn had left Hubert Burgh Governour of Dover Castle and when King Lewis of France came to take the Town and found it difficult to be taken by force he sent to Hubert whose Brother Thomas he had taken Prisoner a little before that unless he would surrender the Castle he should presently see his Brother Thomas put to death with exquisite torments before his eyes But this threatning mov'd not Hubâ—rt at all who more regarded his own loyalty than his Brothers life Then Prince Lewis sent again offering him a great sum of money neither did this move him but he kept his loyalty as inexpugnable as his Castle 5. Boges the Persian was besieged in the City Etona by Cimon Son of Miltiades the General of the Athenians and when he was proffered safely to depart into Asia upon delivery of the City he constantly refused it lest he should be thought unfaithful to his Prince Being therefore resolved he bore all the inconveniencies of a Siege till his provisions being now almost utterly spent and seeing there was no way to break forth he made a great fire and cast himself and his whole Family into the Flames of it concluding he had not sufficiently acquitted himself of his trust to his Prince unless he also laid down his life in his cause 6. Licungzus the conductor of the Rebel Thieves had seiz'd the Empire of China taken the Metropolis Peking and upon the death of the Emperour had seated himself in the Imperial Throne He displac'd and imprison'd what great officers he pleased Amongst the rest was one Vs a venerable person whose Son Vsanguâ—jus lead the Army of China in the confines of Leatung against the Tartars The Tyrant threatned this old man with a cruel death if by his paternal power he did not reduce him with his whole Army to the acknowledgment of his power promising great rewards to them both if he should prevail wherefore the poor old man wrote thus to his Son Know my Son that the Emperour Zunchinius and the whole Family of Taimingus are perished the Heavens have cast the fortune of it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a vertue of necessity avoid his Tyranny and experience his liberality He promiseth to thee a Royal dignity if
he led an Army into Asia where he recovered the Possession of the Realm of Ierusalem At his return again Excommunicated not long after poyson'd 83. Contradus the fourth son of Frederick last Emperour of the House of Schwaben subdu'd his Rebels in Apulia and the Kingdom of Naples but he was soon cut off by his brother Manfred who caused him to be empoysoned after he had Reigned two years 84. Rodolphus the first by the joint consent of the Princes Electors Assembled at Frankfort was chosen Emperour he was the raiser of the Austrian Family had deadly War with Ottocarus King of Bohemia whom he overthrew and slew in Battel he Reigned eighteen years was buried at Spires his Motto was Melius bene imperare quam imperium ampliare 85. Adolphus Count of Nassau was chosen Emperour he was unfortunate in all things he went about and therewith so needy and poor that when he had received money of King Edward the first of England to aid him against the French he spent the money upon his Houshold and had not wherewith to fulfil his promise when time required He was overthrown by Albert Duke of Austria in the Fields of Spire and there slain having Reigned six years his Motto was Animus est qui divites facit 86. Albert son of Rodulphus the Emperour himself being Duke of Austria in his time happened seven things remarkable As 1. The removal of the Papal seat from Rome to Avignion 2. The subversion of the Knights Templars 3. The setling of the Knights of St. Iohn in the Rhodes 4. The Scaligers in Verona 5. Estei in Ferrara 6. The first Jubilee at Rome in the West And 7. The beginning of the Ottomans in the East He Reigned ten years and was slain by his brothers son his Motto was Quod optimum illud jucundissimum 87. Henry the seventh Earl of Luxemburg a pious prudent and valorous Prince having composed matters in Germany he hastened to do the like in Italy where he omitted no opportunity to give all content Yet he was tumultuously driven out of Rome by the Faction of the Vrsini and through hatred of the Florentines poysoned in the Eucharist by one Bernard an hired Monk that passeth for his Motto which he uttered upon the first feeling of the operation of the poyson Calix vitae Calix mortis 88. Lewis the fourth Duke of Bavaria Crown'd at Aix in the wonted manner he was opposed by Frederick Dâ—ke of Austria who was chosen by another Faction cruel Wars were between the Competitours wherein at last Lewis overcame took the other Prisoner then came to this agreement Both to keep the Title of Emperours but Lewis to have the right and power after which he was Excommunicated and the Electors commanded to chuse a new Emperour which they obeyed his Motto was Sola bona quae honesta 89. Charles the fourth son of Iohn King of Bohemia and Grandson to Henry the seventh against him were set up Edward the third of England Frederick of Misui and Gunter of Swartzburg whereof the first waved the dignity with such trouble the second was brib'd off with money the third made away by poyson Charles was Crowned with the Iron Crown at Millaine As he was Learned himself so was he a savourer of Learning Founded the University of Prague was the Author of the Golden Bull called Lex Carolina which requires Emperours to be good Linguists to confer themselves with Embassadours and prescribes the Solemnity of their Election he Reigned thirty two years procured at the hands of the Princes Electors That his son Wenceslaus should be proclaimed King of the Romans in his own life-time his Motto was Optimum est alieâ—â frui insaniâ 90. Wenceslaus granted divers Priviledges to the Norimbergers for a Load of Wine Executed Barthold Swartz for inventing Gunpowder a man very unlike his Father for he was sluggish and careless more inclin'd to riot excessive drinking and voluptuous pleasures than to any Princely vertue In his time Bajazet the Great Turk was enclosed in an Iron Cage by Tamberlain This Emperour for his beastliness was deprived of the Imperial Dignity by the Princes Electors he Reigned twenty two years his Motto was Morosophi moriones pessimi 91. Rupertus Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine was elected in his place and from him came the four Palatine Families Heidleberg Neuberg Simmeren and Swibrooke He passed into Italy for the recovery of the Dukedom of Millaine sold by Wenceslaus but was well beaten by Iohn Galeazzes and so returned In his time two Popes were deposed by the Council of Pisa his merciful Motto was Miseria res digna misericordiâ he Reigned ten years 92. Iodocus Barbatus Marquess of Moravia and Uncle to Wenceslaus of whom I find so little that by divers he is not so much as mentioned in the Series and Succession of the Emperours 93. Sigismund brother of Wenceslaus King of Hungary and Bohemia and Earl of Luxembourg was Crowned at Rome on Whitsunday 1432. He travelled exceedingly for establishing the Peace of Christendom distracted at that time with three Popes at once a great promoter of the Council of Constance He is reported nine times to have assailed the Turk but never with success for though he was a Prudent Witty Learned Noble Prince yet was he ever unfortunate in his Wars at home and abroad he Reigned twenty seven years his Motto was Cedunt munera fatis 94. Albertus the second Duke of Austria Son-in-law of Sigismund whom he succeeded in all his Estates and Titles excepting only Luxembourg for his liberality justice and manhood in Wars he was greatly renowned he subdued the Bohemians carried a heavy hand over the Jews and Hussites subdued Silesia and the people of Moravia Governed eight years his Motto was Amicus optima vitae possessio 'T is thought he â—urfeited upon Melons and died thereof in his time the Hungarians and other Christians received from the Turks that terrible blow in the Fields of Varna 95. Frederick the third Duke of Austria the son of Ernestus of Austria and next heir of Albert the second he procured the calling of the Council of Basil for the Peace of Christendom travelling for that cause to Rome he was there declared Emperour being a person of agreeable accomplishments to so high a Calling In his time Printing was Invented by Iohn Gutenberg at Mentz the Noble Scanderbeg defended with great valour his Dominions against all the Forces of the Turks Constantinople was taken by Mahomet and made the chief Seat of the Turkish Empire The Emperour Frederick Reigned fifty and three years his Motto was Rerum irrecuperabilium foelix oblivio 96. Maximilian son of Frederick Duke of Austria so great a Scholar that he spake Latine and other Tongues elegantly and in imitation of Iulius Caesar wrote his own Acts. Scaligers testimony of him was That he excelled all his Predecessours great stirs he had with the Venetians whom at last he brought to submit by his marriage with Mary of Burgundy
he added the Estates thereof to the house of Austria He was coursely used in the Low Countries by a company of rude Mechanicks detained in Prison which he endured with patience and after nine Months freed himself with admirable prudence He was joined Emperour with his Father in his Fathers life-time with whom he Reigned seven years and after his decease he Reigned alone twenty five years more his Motto was Tene mensuram respice finem 97. Charles the â—iâ—th this man was the glory of the House of Austria a Puissant Prince he liked three Books especially Polybius's History Machiavel's Prince and Castalion's Courtier In fifteen Wars which he waged for the most part he was successful the last of which was by Cortez and Pizarro in the newly discovered parts of America where in twenty eight Battels he beâ—ame Master of so many Kingdoms Near home he took Rome by the Duke of Burbon captivated the French King Francis in the Battel of Pavia frighted Solyman the Turk from Vienna setled Muly Hassen in his Kingdom in Africk he defeated Barbarossa that formidable Pirat and took Tunis By the Popes continual instigations he carried a hard hand towards the Protestants whose patience and perseverance with intervenient crosses abated his edge at last Wearied at length with the Worlds incessant troubles he devested himself of all Imperial Authority and retired to a Monastery his Motto was Plus Vltra opposite to that of Hercules He Reigned thirty and seven years 98. Ferdinand the first Arch-Duke of Austria the brother of Charles King of Hungary and Bohemia elected King of the Romans by the procurement of Charles Anno 1531. upon whose resignation he was chosen Emperour Anno 1558. a compleat and judicious Prince Under him in the treaty of Passaw was granted Liberty of Conscience to the Professours of the Augustane Confession which much startled the Fathers of the Trent Council as also did the grant to the Bohemians for receiving the Supper in both kinds He subdued Iohn Sepusius Vaywode of Transylvania and strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his Dominions his Motto was Fiat Iustitia pereat mundus 99. Maximilian the second the son of Frederick elected King of the Romans in the life of his Father Anno 1562. succeeded in the Empire after his decease He was constant to the Tenent that mens Consciences are not to be forced in matters of Religion In his time began the Wars in the Low Countryes chiefly occasioned by the Spanish cruelty executed by the Duke of Alva the Civil Wars in France the Massacre of the Protestants began at Paris the famous defeat was given to the Turks in the Sea-sight at Lepanto he Reigned twelve years married his two daughters to two Puissant Princes Elizabeth to Charles the ninth King of France and Anna his eldest to Philip King of Spain his Motto was Dominus providebit 100. Rodolphus the second the eldest son of Maximilian a Prince much addicted to Chymistry he granted liberty of Religion to the Protestants had great Wars against the Turks with whom in the year 1600. he concluded a Peace but being undermined by his brother Matthias was forced to surrender to him the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia and to content himself with Austria and the Empire only In his time Henry the fourth King of France was stab'd by Ravilliac and the Gunpowder Treason was hatched here in England his Motto was Omnia ex voluntate Dei 101. Matthias brother of Rodolphus King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria succeeded in whose time were sown the seeds of that terrible War which had almost destroy'd the Empire the Protestants standing for their Priviledges in Bohemia were withstood by some of the Emperours Council of whom they threw Slabata and Fabritius Smesantius with a Secretary out of a Window at Prague his Motto was Concordia lumine major Having no children he declared 102. Ferdinand the second of the House of Gratz to be Emperour this Prince was more zealously affected to the See of Rome than any of his Predecessours and a great enemy of the Protestant Religion occasioning thereby that long and bloody War in the Empire of Germany The King and Queen of Bohemia forsaken of their States are forced to â—ly he is proscribed and put out of his Elâ—ctâ—rship Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden like a tempest falls upon Germany and frâ—es divers oppressed Princes but at last was slain in the Battel at Lutzen uncertain whether by the â—nemy or the Treason of his own his Motto was Legitime certantibus 103. Ferdinand the third son of Ferdinand the second broke the great power of the Swedes who were called in for the support of the German liberty against the violent resolutions of Ferdinand the second For he overthrew them at the Battel of Norlingen This Prince is the twelfth Emperour of the House of Hapsburg anâ— the ninth of the House of Austria without intermission The cause of which is to be attributed to Charles the fifth who procured in his life-time that his brothâ—r might be chosen King of the Romans as his Successour in the Empire A Policy which hath ever since been continued by his Successours and the Germans are the more willing to hâ—arken to it because the Austrian Princes are not only Natives but also better able to back the Empire in its compleat Majesty than any other of the Nation The Motto of this Emperour is Pietate Iustitia In the Collection of these Emperours I have made use of Suetonius Zonaras Carion ....... Heylen Sympson Prideaux and others CHAP. II. Of the Eastern Greek and Turkish Emperours 1. COnstantinus aged thirty one in the year 306. took upon him the care of the Empire he overcame Maxentius and Licinius restored Peace to the Church took Byzantium and having enlarged it called it Constantinople and New Rome He died in Nicomedia Anno 337. aged sixty five Gault tab Chronogr p. 279. 2. Constantius his son succeeded him in the East he favoured the Arrians hearing that Iulianus his Kinsman conspired against him he made Peace with Sapores the Persian King and moved towards him but in his march seised with a Fevor he died Anno 361. Gaulter tab Chron. p. 283. 3. Iulianus succeeded Sirnamed the Apostate son of Constantius the brother of Constantine the Great at first a Christian afterwards a professed enemy of the Gospel fortunate in his Wars against the Almanes Franks and other Transalpine Nations whilest he was a Christian. Prodigiously slain in the Persian War when become a Persecutor aged thirty eight his Motto was Pennis suis perire grave he Reigned but one year and eight months dying he threw his blood up into the Air saying Satiare Nazarene Zon. tom 3. fol. 119. 4. Iovian or Iovinian chosen by the Army a Religious Prince made Peace with the Persian setled the affairs of the Church who being dead Valentinian one of mean birth but great abilities in War was elected Emperour he Reigned