the Iudges did not punish him He was often put in prison but the Iudges durst not exceed the lawe the which did forbid them to condemne any one accused before he had confessed the fact And this MORTAC was so constant in denying the trueth as it was impossible to draw any thing from his owne mouth whether it were that he felt no torments or that hee did contemne them for he apprehended no more to be strained with a corde then to dance If they gaue him a sharpe strapadoe hee seemed to endure much and would crye out Let mee downe and I will tell the trueth Being let downe and vntied he would say vnto the Gouernors what will you haue mee say There-vpon they asked him who hath done this or that and he mocking them would repeate this question saying Doest thou know who hath done this or that and then he would adde in scoffing manner giue me once more the Strappadoe for the loue of the Ladies so as they were forced to let him alone He committed infinite thefts after the manner before mentioned but hee dyed not so shamefully as he deserued yet most cruelly for the plague hauing so seized vpon his throate as he could not speake his Mother who tended him fearing he would scape and be hanged afterwards buried him aliue And so liued and dyed MORTAC Extracted out of the Annales of Geneua Liberalitie THE Emperor MAXIMILIAN the first committed the managing of a great summe of mony to a Gentleman that was exceeding prodigall and a very bad husband whereof being aduertised he called for him and demanded an account of a remainder amounting to 2000. crownes and vpward The other required some respite to make perfect his account which was granted him Hauing considered throughly of the matter the next day hee went and presented himselfe vnto the Emperour who wondring at his sodaine returne referred him to the time prefixed the day before Sacred Maiestie then said the Gentleman I will briefly shew you the trueth of the case to the end you may not be troubled long about it You are good to all men I confesse I haue imployed the most part of your money in the entertainment of whores buying of Horses gaming and bankets and without farther excusing of my selfe I haue done ill I haue deserued to bee punished by the lawe But I besecch you to beare with my youth and for my friends sake to pardon me if it may please your Maiestie to vse me I will be wiser here after The Emperor hearing this free and open confession began to smile presently commanded his Barber to be sent for to whom he said cut me this Gentlemans hayre and with thy Rasor make him a faire large crowne on the top of his head for I will presently make an Abbot of him At the same instant the Emperor was aduertised of the vacancie of an Abbey by the death of the Abbot they were deuising in MAXIMILIANS presence vpon whom it should be conferred marry vpon him yonder quoth the Emperor pointing to the Gentleman that was in the Barbars hands Then calling him vnto him he sayd I giue thee such an Abbey If thou continuest as thou hast begun thou wilt consume both Monkes and Couent The Gentleman vnto whom good fortune came sleeping like vnto a Câ—…anoine of LEVVIS the 11. hauing accepted this Collation with great reuerence and thankes hee tooke possession of the Abbey became a good husband and gouerned his Monkes to their content I. le GAST of Frissac Tom. 2. of his Table-talke GEORGE of Amboise Cardinall a chiefe Councellor to the good King LEVVIS the twelfth did enioye Gaillion depending of his Arche-bishopricke of Rouan the which hee did in-large and beautifie all hee could as a house of pleasure to delight him after his serious occupations There was a gentleman a neighbor of his some-what distressed who to free himselfe spake to one of the Cardinalls followers to be a meanes vnto his Maister to buy his land the which laie very conueniently for Gaillion As the disposition of all Courtiars is readie for such negotiations he presently aduertised his Maister perswading him that he might buie this Land good cheape To whom the Cardinall answered with a smyling and cheere-full countenance that he desired nothing more then to conferre with the gentleman about that purchase commanding him to inuite him to dinner This commandement was presently put in practise by the Courtiar Some fewe daies after the gentleman hauing dyned with the Cardinall the table being taken vp and euery one retired to giue them place for their priuate talke The Cardinal began to fall into discourse vpon this Land aduising him as a neighbour a friend not to sell that place which was his ancient inheritance the other insisted to the Contrary alledging for his reasons that hee did hope to reape three commodities by this sale the one was in getting his fauor by this meanes the other was that with a part of the money hee should marry a Daughter of his and the last that he should imploy the rest of his money in rentes which should profit him as much as the reuenewes of his whole Lands And therefore my Lord sayd he for that it lies more conueniently for you then any other I haue addrest my selfe vnto you to make you what price you please But neighbour answered the Cardinall if you might borrowe money to marrie your Daughter well would you not be much better pleased to keepe your Lande whervnto the gentleman replyed that it would bee an other difficultie to pay the money at the prefixed day But if you might haue such a time giuen you sayd the Lord as without strayning of your selfe you might free your debt what would you say O my Lord replyed the other you say well but where are such lenders And so being fallen into a still discourse of selling and lending in the ende this good Legat sayd truelie I wil be the Man and no other that will performe what I haue said The which hee did for hee lent him money for so long a Terme as this gentleman married his Daughter to his owne minde and yet saued his Lande As all Courtiers are carefull of their Maisters profit though it be to an others hurt comming from their secret conference this Mediator comes who demandes in priuate of his Maister if hee had agreed vpon the price I sayd hee and I thinke I haue gayned more then you will beleeue For insteede of the Lordshippe whereof you did speake I haue purchased a friend desiring rather to haue a good neighbour then all the Lands in the world The poore Courtier being confounded did no more dreame of any such bargaines I would to GOD that all Noblemen would consider well of this Historie And yet this Cardinall dying did Lament with teares the time which hee had spent rather in following of a Kings Court then in teaching of his flock M. E. PASQVIER liber 5. de ses recerches Chapter 5.
The end was that from that time they poluted themselues with a horrible and infamous Adultery Being plonged into this Gulfe Satan and their filthy lusts did th◅ust them head-long into others that were more horrible and fearefull fo◅ hauing made many practises together the first attempt of their cruell wickednesse was against the Signior of Chabrie who was massacred walking alone in his warren by two murtherers subordned by the Aduocate After this paracide the Adulterers returne to their accustomed filthye course without all shame or remorce giuing scope to theyr execrable lusts the which the eldest son◅e could not disgest and seeing his mother could not liue any where without the Aduocate hee gaue her a graue admonition adding many reasons to excuse his boldnesse This cursed mother dissembling her rage against her Sonne complaynes of his conceit iustifies her selfe impudently and these drops of water of good and necessary aduice did more inflame the fire of their vnbridled lust After shee had bitterly reprehended the indiscretion of her Sonne and highly extolled the Adulterous and Murtherous Aduocate she forced her sonne to make a submissiue speech vnto him full of excuses But not content herewith she resolued to kill him There was a Gallery in the Castle whereas the yong Gentleman did vsually walke to behold the Gardin and pleasant countrie about It was high aduanced and hung ouer a steepe Rocke at the foote whereof lay this Garden The Aduocate by the aduice of this cursed Mother did cunningly loosen certaine boards in the Gallery so as the young Gentleman comming soone after in the morning according to his custome to take the aire of this prospect setting his foote vpon these disioynted boards hee fell down head-long where his brains were beaten out This was the second murther A yonger sonne was yet remayning in the house who doubting nothing that his Mother had beene the cause of these two Parricides was yet greeued to see the Aduocates carriage In the ende hee descouered so much villany in their familiarity as he held them to bee the cruell murtherers of that noble Familye making some shew of his discontent to see their brutish conuersation Hee speakes roughly to the Aduocate and lookes but sowerly of his Mother These wicked wretches resolued to preuent him fearing that he would attempt something against them The Aduocate corrupts one in the house with money to murther him who obserued this young Gentleman so diligently as one day being a hunting whilest his Hunts-men rewarded his Hounds hee staying vpon the side of a Rocke which ouer-looked a lowe champian the descent whereof was very dangerous towards the valey by reason of the steepnesse This murtherer who had all the day watcht for an aduantage did runne behinde him and thrust him downe so forceably as this poore Gentleman was sooner at the bottome slaine then hee felt the murtherer who had so outragiously murthered him These murtherers after all this finding that the seruants of the house did marke and obserue them did practise to mar◅ie together but there was one betwixt them the Aduocates wife They conspire her death and the Aduocate hauing many imaginations lying one night by her he strangled her with a Napkin and shee being ready to giue vp the ghost he began to crie out aloud and to call for his seruants and neighbours to helpe him They come from all parts and he cryes and laments saying that a violent Catarre had suffocated his wife The simple and vulgar sort beleeued this report But the father of this honest Gentlewoman looking neerely into it and seeing her face extraordinarily swelled and her throate black and pale with other signes of a violent death seemed to allow of their opinions and hauing perswaded his Sonne in lawe to prouide for his Wiues funerall hee went speedily to the criminall Iudge and brought him with his officers and some friends to visit this poore carcase and to demand Iustice. The Sonne in Lawe being accused and charged by the Magistrate to answer directly is mute and by his silence confesseth the crime the Phisitions and Surgions hauing giuen their opinion that the Gentlewoman had been strangled The Iudge sends this execrable Parricide to prison who without any torture confesseth the fact The Parliament of Aix aduertised of this fact sends for him to see him As for his detestable associate hauing some notice thereof she packs vp the greatest wealth she had and flyes speedily into Sauoy from thence to Genoa where she changed her name The Aduocate being brought to Aix besides his last Parricide confesseth the detestable crimes before mentioned with all the circumstances He was condemned by a sentence of the Court of Parliament to bee sent backe to Grasse there to bee quartered aliue in the Market-place where he was executed to the great content of his father in Law and of the whole country As for that cruell Ladie of Chabrie shee was condemned by contempt and executed in picture In her voyage to Genoa she was accompanied by a base fellow called IAMES PALLIER who being some-what iealous of the cause of her flight a moneth after her cōming to Genoa in a morning when she was gone into the Towne he tooke away all she had but the apparrell shee wore and was neuer more heard of At her returne finding her selfe bare and naked after many discourses opprest with care and despaire in the end shee went to serue a Widow woman whose Daughters she did teach liuing yet some yeares confounded in her conscience with shame and dying in the hands of GODS Iustice hauing escaped that of worldly Iudges The Historie of our times About fiftie yeares since a Milanois hauing notice giuen him in France that his wife carried her selfe but loosely who beeing wel informed thereof as it seemed tooke post to come the sooner to Milan where being arriued without going vp into his house he caused his wife to bee called for who comming downe speedely to imbrace him counterfetting great ioye at her husbands arriuall she receiued a stabbe with a dagger in exchange of her imbracing calling her villanous wicked disloyall and treacherous After which blowe leauing his wife in that estate as hee should no more neede to feare any such lewde dealing hee tooke his horse and saued himselfe The histony of Italie Many yeares before a rich Gentleman of Sienna called NELLO beeing well aduanced in yeares married a yong Gentlewoman who suffred her selfe to bee corrupted by a young Gentleman vsing a Chamber-maide for the close conuaying of their filthy trade NELLO hauing discouered by the meanes of a seruant of his the wrong that was done him and not able to surprise the yong gentleman that had so vilanous◅y poluted his house hee reuenged himselfe vpon his Wife and her Chamber-maide the which he caused to be strangled in a Countrie house of his whether he had retired himselfe for the better effecting of his purpose where he past the rest of his dayes like a man confined The
had not chewed well he swallowed it This morcell sticking to the orifice of the throate did so stop the passage as it was not possible for him to swallow any thing no not cleere water Hee could scarce breath the slimie flesh did stick so fast as the Surgions could not possibly drawe it vp nor thrust it downe After seuen dayes being rotten and dissolued it fell into the stomack so as the patient was freed from suffocation But for all this hee escaped not for his throate being inflamed with paine and the application of yrons besides his weakenesse growing through the want of nourishment by the space of seauen dayes had subdued all the forces and faculties of his life so as the foureteenth day he dyed MARCEL DONAT lib 2. of his Admirable Historics Chap. 8. An other learned Phisition doth iustifie that hee had seene one who being tormented with a pointed bone which stucke in his throate after two moneths it came forth through the skinne A Barber being to Tent a woman in the bottome of her mouth hee vnaduisedly let it slippe so as it went by her throate into her stomacke which caused such an indisposition in the poore woman as being wasted and dryed vp after shee had languished many yeares shee dyed I remember that a young man of Harlem who had swallowed Guernettes aliue they be little Fishes of the Sea which some call Squilles or Primotheres hee felt so great paine in his stomack as in the end he dyed of a consumption An other hauing swallowed three Gogions aliue was choaked with the third and dyed A certaine woman hauing vnaduisedly swallowed a needle could not be cured but in despight of all remedics hauing languished sometime in the end shee dyed all wasted and consumed CHARLES SODERIN was some-times troubled with an ague without any apparent cause whereof in the end he dyed being 35. yeares old Being opened they found a steele Needle sticking in his liuer BAZANCE a Surgion drew it forth all eaten and wasted with age and shewed it me CHARLES being but three yeares old had swallowed it by chance NERVEE a Phisition of Florence in his obseruations Barbarous People made milde and gentle through wisedome ROBERT of Saint Seuerin a very valiant Captaine in his time making a voyage into Syria and going towards Mont Sina to accomplish a certaine vowe made by him according to the deuotion of those times hauing descouered certaine troupes of horse which came towards him he demanded of them which did conduct him from the Sultā what people they were Whē they had answered him trembling that they were Arrabians the most dāgerous theeues in the world with out any shewe of amazement but incorraging his companie hee said vnto them that they must vnlade their carriages to the ende that those which came might finde dinner readie as soone as they were arriued whereof they had great neede considering that they had beene much tormented with heat and dust And whilest his people did what he had commanded he went to meete them and saluted them after a gratious manner being by nature a goodly personage both for his stature and countenance making much of them and seeming to haue no distrust of them but with a smiling countenance he tould them by his truch-man that they were wel-come Which words beeing pleasing to these Arrahian theeues they did willingly accept the offer which he made them so as they dined cheerefully with him and after they had receiued some small presents they went their way hauing forgotten all their barbarous crueltie and giuing him many thankes for his good cheere In this report wee see of the one part an act of great Iudgement hee falling sodenly and vnawares into the hands of men without mercie and on the other side an act of great humanity of men which seemed to haue nothing humaine but the face and in crueltie receyuing the nature of Lions Tigers and other sauage Beastes So as in my iudgement the Poets would not haue giuen much lesse commendations to this Captaine then they gaue to ORPHEVS for that with the sweete sound of his harpe hee had mollefied the hearts of cruell and sauage Beastes Conformitie of ancient wonders with moderne Light Hurts proued mortall A Brother of mine called Captaine Saint Martin being three and twenty yeares old who had made sufficient proofe of his valour playing at Tenis hee receiued a blowe with a ball which did hit him a little aboue the right eare without any shewe of contusion or hurt He did neyther set downe nor tooke any rest for it but fiue or sixe houres after he died of an Apoplexie which this blowe did cause A quarrell beeing betwixt two young men the one gaue the other a boxe vnder the eare wherevpon hee fell into an Apoplexie and died within fewe houres after He that strooke him was presently put in prison and the Physitions were called for to knowe their opinions vpon the cause of this yong mans death Some did attribute it to the blowe it selfe saying that the matter had beene mooued there-with others imputed it to repletion and superfluity of humors caused through excesse of eating and drinking others to the humidity of the place whereas death had before long slept This diuersity of opinions stayed the Iudge from pronouncing of a definitiue sentence We haue also knowne a fuller of cloth called PETER who slue a young man with his fist hitting him on the stomacke ANT. BENIVENIVS in the 110. Chap. of his Physicall examples ARDOVIN du FERRIER a yong youth of 13. yeares age was lightly hurt with a ◅allowe staffe on the head being cast by chance out at a garret windoe There was no fracture nor breach to bee seene at all but the sixt day there grewe an inflamation in the wound the next day a Convulsion and a palsey in the right thigh and left arme with a feuer and a fenzie and the eleuenth day hee died FR. VALLERIOLA in the. 1. obseruation of his 3. booke Wounds cured FRANCIS of Lorraine Earle of Aumale and after-wards Duke of Guise s◅aine before Orleance was sore wounded before Boulleyne with a Lance the which entred vnder the right eye declyning towards the nose past throgh betwixt the nape of the necke the eare with such violēce as the head with a peece of the Lance was broken and stucke in his head so fast as they could by no meanes drawe it out but with a Smithes pincers Notwithstanding all this great violence which was not without some fracture of bones sinewes Veines Artieres other parts yet he was cured and liued many yeares after hee was afterwards slaine at the seege of Orleance in the end of the first ciuill warres in our time in France The Historie of our time HENRY of Lorraine his Sonne in an incounter nere vnto Dormans in the yeare 1575. hauing had the better and pursuing some that fled receiued a shot with a pistoll in the cheeke some sayd it was with a harguebuse
the Mother had also giuen him the like councell to escape but GOD by his power did so staie him as hee had no power to flie Beeing carried to prison and examined at the first hee couered his parricyde accusing his Father that hee had slaine himselfe But his excuses beeing found friuolous hee was condemned to haue his right hand cut off then to bee pinched with hot pincers and in the ende hanged by the feete vpon a gibet and strangled with a stone of sixe score pound which should bee hanged at his necke A wicked counterfet beeing prisoner with him aduised him to appeale vnto Paris But hauing freely confessed the Parricide hee reuoked his appeale and was executed The History of our times Of the Heart of man Diuers Histories thereof in our time HAuing perced an Impostume grown of a long time vpon the seauenth turning ioynt where through the venom of his corruption it had made a great ouerture and gnawne the innermost membrane of the heart those which were present beheld one part of the heart which I did shewe them A. BENIVENIVS in his booke de abditis causis Chap. 42. Two Bretheren gentlemen falling out at tables the one of them gaue the other a wound with his knife iust on the seege of the heart the hurt gentleman bleeding exceedingly was carried and layed on a bed whereas all signes of death appeered Beeing sent for I applied that to the heart which I thought â—…it to strengthen it The patient hauing beene as it were at deathes doore vntil midnight beganne to come to himselfe and hauing vsed all the meanes possible I could deuise for his preseruation at length I sawe him cured whereby I knewe the heart had not beene perished as at the first I doubted but the filme or Capsula thereof called PERICALDION by the Greekes was lightly tainted The same Author Chap. 65. We haue seene ANTHONY ALâ—…IAT hurt and hauing his Pericordian vntoucht True it is that hee did sigh very much and lowd The internall parts beeing hurt bring death foure waies either through necessity of their function and office as the Lunges or by reason of the excellency of their nature as the Hart or through much losse of bloud as the Liuer the great arteries and veines or through the malignity of Symptomes and accidents as the neruie parts the ventricle and bladder Although some parts be incurable yet are they not mortall of absolute necessity otherwise death would ensue vpon the incurable hurts of boanes gristles and lygaments The Pericordion then is not mortall of it selfe but because it is impossible to attaine it without offending many other noble parts CARDAN in his Commentarie on the Aphorismes of Hipocrates booke 6. apb 18. Anatomizing a Scholler of mine dead in the Vniuersitie of Rome I found that this yong man had no Pericardion by meanes whereof in his life-time hee swounded very often and seemed as one dead through which defect at length hee died COLVMBVS booke 15. of his Anatomy A certaine Theefe being taken downe from the gallowes where he had bene hanged and not quite strangled was carefully looked vnto and recouered But like an vngratious wretch as he was returning to his old trade againe hee was apprehended and throughly hanged Wherevpon we would needes Anatomize him and wee found that his heart was all heary Which is likewise reported among the Grecians of Aristomenes of Hermogenes the Rhetorician of Leonydas of Lysander and others namely of a dog that ALEXANDER the great had This haire denotes not onely promptitude of Courage and peruerse obstinacy but many times valour contemning all danger BENIVENIVS in Chap. 83. de Abditis causis Vpon a certaine time making the Anatomy of a man at Ferrara wee found his heart cleane couered ouer with haire and indeede he had beene all his life time a desperate ruffian and a notable theefe AMATVS the Portingale in Centur. 6 Cur. 65. Being at Venice and present at the execution of a very notorious theefe the hangman that quartered his bodie found his heart meruailous hairye M. A. Muret booke 12. of his dyuers readings Chap. 10. I haue seeâ—…e the sepâ—…um that distinguisheth the ventrycles of the heart to be a gristle in some mens Bodies in others the left ventricle wanting or so little as it could hardly bee discerned Columb booke 15. of his Anatomy I found in two mens bodies that I opened a boane in the rootes of the great artery and of the arteryall vaine CORN GEMMA in the 2. booke of his Cyclognomia pag 75. In another I found a little boane betweene the gristly circles of the heart the chiefe artery and arteriall veine like to the boane which is commonly found in the heart of a stagge CORN GEMMA in the 1. booke Chap. 6. of his Cosmocritif Doctor MELANCHTHON in his first booke of the Soule testifies of CASIMIR Marquise of Brandebourg a Prince greatly afflicted in his life time with sundry griefes and consumed with long watchings that beeing opened after his decease the humor enclosed in the fylme of the heart was â—…ound quite dried vp and the heart so scorched that it was like a peare burnt in the fire TH. IORDAN in the 1. booke of signes of the plague Chap. 16. Not long since a Romaine gentleman died after hee had languished along time Being opened no heart appeared neither was there any part of it but the fylme left the vnmeasurable heate of his long sicknesse hauing wholy consumed it BERN. IELASIVS in the 28. Chap. of the 5. booke of the nature of things A young Prince being sickly and very much troubled with a payne at the heart assembled a great many Physitions togither for to consult of his dissease Among others there was a young practitioner who declared how he had read in certaine notes that the vse of garlick euerie morning expells a kinde of worme that feedes vpon the heart But both the remedy and the young man that propounded it were despised Not long after this Prince died and his body was opened by the commandement of his Father for to see the cause of his sicknesse death The dissection made they found a white worme hauing a sharpe bill of horne like a pâ—…llets gnawing the heart The Physitions tooke it aliue and layd it on a table in a circle made of the iuyce of garlick The worme began to writh and wriggle euery way still eschuing the iuyce that compassed it about Finally surmounted by the strength and sauor of the garlick it died within the circle to the astonishment of those that had despised so easie a remedie I. HEBANSTEIF in his treatise of the plague It is not long agoe that in the great Duke of Tuscans Court a certaine Florentine beeing assistant at the merry conceites of a pleasant iester was suddainly seized with vnexpected death whereat the company and his friends being much abashed for their better satisfaction after he was knowne to bee starke dead they had him opened and there was
deceiued where-vpon comming to himselfe he made a light breakfast and going to the Councell Chamber sate downe in his accustomed place When it came to him to deliuer his opinion hauing declared that by the Lawes the Murtherer vpon whom they sat was to loose his head he stood vp and sayd that hee had also deserued the like punishment Where vpon hee declared in order the circumstances of the murther by him perpetrated in his late Maisters house and all that had insued thereof earnestly desiring them that hee might bee beheaded Some thinking that some melancholy humour made him talke so counselled him to go home and get Physitions about him Where-vnto he answered saying I knowe you haue a good opinion of mee and indeede I am not culpable of any Cryme punishable by mans Lawe but this same Notwithstanding I instantly beseech you to take my head from my shoulders and so deliuer mee from the horrible torment I haue indured that iustly euer since the time of my offence Therwith the Iudges caused the place to be digged which he had told of where the bones of the murtherd Merchāt according to his saying were found wherevpon he was lead of his owne accord to the place of execution and beheaded with the other murtherer IOHN IAMES GRYNEVS a learned diuine in his Commentary on the Proghet IONAS Chap. 1. pag. 123. c. I haue heard that not many yeares since a certaine man in the towne of Lipsic went of his owne accord to the Iudge of the place vnto whome he voluntarily confessed that hee was one of them which had robbed the Electors waggons of Saxony adding that he had rather die then endure the torment of his conscience any longer The same Author Some forty sixe yeares agoe or thereabout two brothers dwelling at Lausanna and hewing wood in the mount Iura the younger fell out vpon some slight occasion with the elder and gaue him such a blowe with his axe on the head that hee ouerthewe him to the ground where he made an end of him and then buried him Returning home hee told their Mother that his sayd Brother had willed him to excuse him vnto her and was gon into Germanie for to see the Country hoping to bee at home againe by such a time Their Mother being therewith satisfied the murtherer went vp euery day to the mountaine and kneeling downe on his brothers graue wept very bitterly and asked GOD forgiuenesse Hauing continued thus certaine monethes and neuer suspected of any such matter comming one day from the mountaine as hee was almost at home hee looked behinde him and spied the Burgomaister which is the chiefest magistrate of that place vnder the protection of the Canton of Berne followed by an Officer in his liuery he ranne away as fast as he could to the other end of the towne The Burgomaister meruayling at it commanded his officer to runne after him The Officer followed him and cryed stoppe him stoppe him Wherevpon diuers came running into the streete and staied him The Burgomaister a wise man committed him to prison where hauing examined him hee confessed the whole matter vnto him and was executed as he deserued going to his death with such constancie and penitent sorrowe for his offence that all that beheld him melted into teares I receiued this discourse from an excellent personage that was present at his arraignement and sawe his end One called N. LAINE borne at Tholouse hauing attempted his Fathers death escaped away and got to Geneua where hee continued a certaine time vnknowne Vpon a day walking along by the Towne ditch and espying some of the Magistrates with their Officers afarre off hee ranne as fast hee could towards the bridge of Arua which was hard by for to saue himselfe in another Seignorie The Officers ranne after him and with the aide of those that met him on the way apprehended him who presently in his owne talke bewrayed himselfe Beeing caryed to pryson and kept verie close at last hee confessed his detestable attempt The Magistrates of Geneua sent an Herauld to Tholouse and by a Coppy of his indictment which was sent them vnderstood the truth of LAINES confessions who was executed and euen to the very last gaspe shewed a liuely and notable repentance of his faults Memorialls of the Historie of Geneua Eceeding strange Crueltie punnished THe yeare 1514. happened the horrible sedition butchery of the Croysadoes in Hungary There was a generall discōtent amongst the people against the King and the chiefest of the realme because they went not about to conquer those places againe from the Turke then very much entangled elswhere which hee held in Hungary But King LADISLAVS louing his ease little regarded it and his Nobles ruled him in such sort that he commanded them in nothing Therevpon the Popes Legat publyshed pardons for all those that would Crosse themselues to go warre against the Turke Suddainely there gathered togither a wonderfull Company of theeues and robbers from euerie corner of Hungarie And therewith all great multitudes of the Commons not able any longer to beare the insolencies of the Nobility much lesse of the Bishops flocked from all partes to the Campe. The Kings negligence had giuen liberty to the intollerable dissolutnes and Cruel◅ie of the Lords ouer their subiects This army of Commons hauing created them a generall in an instant dispersed themselues cōmitted a most horrible spoile almost all ouer Hungarie murthering al the Gentlemen and Bishops they could meete with all The richest those that were noblyest descended were empaled aliue This cruell rage contynuing the King began to stir by his cōmand certaine townes ioyning their forces to a number of the Nobilitie vnder the conduct of a Lord named BORNEMISSE had some Conficts with those Croysadoes wherein a great sort of them were slaine many taken which were executed in the Capitall Citty of the Realme Finally IOHN the Sonne of VAIVODE STEVEN that afterwards possessed himselfe of the kingdome defeated them in a set Battaile and hauing cut the most part of them in peeces hee tooke their Leaders whome hee put to death with such strange torments as I haue horror to remember it for he caused the Generall of these Peasants called GEORGE to be stript naked vpon whose head the executioner set a Crowne of hot burning iron then he opened some of his veines and made LVCATIVS his Brother drinke the bloud which issued from them After that the cheefest of the Peasants who had beene kept three dayes without meate were brought forth and forced to fall vpon the bodie of GEORGE yet breathing with their teeth and euery one to teare away and eate a peece of it In the midest of these horrible torments GEORGE neuer cryed but onelie bee-sought them to take pittie of his Brother LVCATIVS whome hee had forciblie drawne into that warre GEORGE beeing torne in peeces his bowells were pulled out and cut into morcells and some beeing boyled and the rest roasted the
They enter mildly into discourse GRINEVS shewes him his errors grauely and plainely and puts him in minde what POLICARPVS a Disciple to the Apostles was accustomed to doe if he chanced to heare any vntrueth or blasphemy in the Church exhorting him in the name of GOD to thinke of his conscience and to leaue his erronious opinions The Preacher cuts him off short seeming to haue a desire to conferre more priuatly as hauing hast to goe home to his house He demands GRINEVS name and surname and his lodging in◅iting him to see him the next day to discourse more amply together and makes great shew to affect GRINEVS friendship adding that the publicke should receiue great profit by this their conference Moreouer he shewes GRINEVS his house who resolued to visit him at the houre appointed and so retires to his Inne But the Preacher distempered with his censure deuised in his thoughts a prison a Scaffold and death for GRINEVS who dining with many worthy men reported vnto them what speeches hee had had with this Preacher Therevpon one calls for Doctor PHILIP beeing set at the Table neere vnto GRINEVS who goes out of the Stoue and findes a graue olde man of a louely countenance well apparelled and vnknowne who with a graue and pleasing speech began to say That within one houre there would Officers come into the Inne sent from the King of the Romaines to carrie GRINEVS to prison The old man addes there-with-all a commandement to GRYNEVS to dislodge speedily out of Spire exhorting PHILIP not to deferre it And then the olde man vanished away Doctor PHILIP who hath reported this History In his Comentarie vpon the Prophet Daniel Chap. 10. addes these wordes I came vnto the companie and deliuered what the olde man had sayd vnto me willing them to rise from the Table Presently we crost the Market place hauing GRINEVS in the middest of vs and went directly to the Rhine which GRINEVS past speedily with his seruant in a Boate. Seeing him in safety we returned to the Inne where it was told vs that presently after our departure the Sergeants were come to seeke for GRINEVS GOD be praised who hath giuen vs his Angels for Gardiens that with more peacefull thoughts wee may doe our duties in the vocation where-vnto he hath called vs. In the yeare 1539. in the beginning of Iune an honest widow-woman charged with two Sonnes in Saxony hauing not where-with-all to liue in a time of great famine attyred her selfe and her Sonnes in their best clothes going towards a certaine Fountaine to pray vnto GOD to haue pittie of them and to releeue them Comming forth shee meetes with a graue man who salutes her courteously and after some speech hee demands of her if shee thought to finde any thing to eate at that Fountaine The woman answered Nothing is impossible to GOD. If it were not difficult for him to feed the Children of Israell forty yeares in the desert should it bee troublesome to nourish mee and mine with water Speaking these words with a great courage this man whome I holde to haue beene an Angell sayd vnto her Seeing thy faith is so constant returne to thy house and thou shalt finde three laden with meale shee rerurned and did see the effect of this promise Doctor ANDREVV HONDORF in his Theater of Examples In the yeare 1553. the 18. of Nouember it hapned at Sehilde a little Towne in the Diocesse of Torge that VRBAIN ERMTRAVT an inhabitant of that place hauing a deepe Well but halfe drie by reason of certaine stones that were falne out of the wall did bargaine with a Mason called VRBAIN HEMBERG to put those stones into their places Hauing fitted himselfe with peeces of wood and a scaffold in the Well he goes downe lower with a Ladder to take vp a Hammer which hee had left among the stones Hee was scarce gone downe but the earth and stones shake and fill vp the Well and couer the Mason who was at the foote of the Ladder All runne thether and hold the man to bee smothered adding that they must fill vp the Well and that should be his graue The Iustice resolued that they should pull out all this rubbish and ordaines that the Masons body should be buried among other Christians in the common Church-yard According to this decree they begin to worke the 11. of the same moneth About two of the clocke after noone the worke-men labour to drawe out a great stone and finding that it was hollow vnderneth they put downe a long pole to sound the depth They pricke the poore Mason on the nose with the end of this pole who beganne to crie and to intreate them to drawe him out The workemen hearing this confused sound labour with more courrage then before and about ten of the clocke at night they espie him standing right vp behinde the Ladder beeing vp to the knees in the myer Beeing all glad they prepare to drawe him forth But behold an other fall of Earth which couers him aboue the head Then euery man thinking that hee was dead was readie to leaue the worke but by the aduice and commandement of the Bourguemaster called IAMES le FEVRE they returne to their worke and hauing taken awaie the Earth about mid-night they finde him aliue and without anie hurt and drawe him out of the well Where hee had beene almost foure daies and foure nights without meate or drinke IOB FINCEL lib. 2. of the collection of wonders of our time In the yeare 1552. FRANCIS PELVSIEN a maker of Wels of the age of 60. years digging the 5. of February a Well at Liōs in a farme of LEVVIS d'HEXE on the side of St Sebastians mount towards the red Crosse this wel being made fortie foote deepe the earth falls and fills it vp The poore man beeing in the botome shrowds himselfe vnder aplanke by meanes whereof he was preserued from this heauy waight of earth which else would haue smothered him hauing some meanes to breath thrusting his fist into the Earth some-times to haue the more aire He continued thus couered in the botome seauen daies without eating satisfying his stomake with his vrine and hoping onely in GOD for his deliuery He cryed out sometimes for helpe but they heard him not yet hee heard them that walked and the noyse they made aboue yea the speaking of Men the striking of the clocke and the sound of Bels. The seuenth day when they thought to finde him dead and that they prepared his graue they that wrought heard his voice in the botome of the well which made them to hasten their worke hearing him to crie for helpe In the ende they descouer him and hauing made him to take a glasse of wine they drewe him out with a rope the which hee held lustely without bynding or the helpe of any person Beeing out and sound of Bodie and minde after that hee had giuen thankes vnto GOD hee opened his purse in the presence of manie and after
good and heauenly inspiration seeing hee spake so holylye and deuoutly of the excellencie of Christian religion Although the sicke man knew well that these admonitions proceeded from a sincere and true heart yet for that hee had diuerse times reiected them hee began to frowne saying vnto the Bishop You beleeue as I thinke that I doe willingly nourish this obstinacie in my minde and that I take delight in this vehement passion of despaire If you bee of that opinion you are deceiued I will tell you to the ende you may knowe my resolution that if I could bee perswaded that the iudgement of GOD might by any meanes bee changed or mitigated for mee it should not greeue me to bee tormented ten thousand yeares with the sharpest paines of Hell so as I might haue any hope of rest after this long sufferance But euen in that whereby you doe exhorte me to gather some hope I see all meanes of health and pardon taken from mee For if the testimonies of holye Scripture haue any authoritie as they haue doe you thinke that IESVS CHRIST hath sayd in vaine That he which hath renounced him before men hee will renounce him before his heauenly Father doe you not see that it concernes mee and that it is as it were particularly verified in my person what shall become of him whom the Sonne hath disauowed before his Father when as you say that wee must hope for no saluation but in IESVS CHRIST Therevpon hee did expound certaine passages of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the second Catholike Epistle of Saint Peter out of the which hee drewe terrible conclusions against himselfe Wee cannot beleeue with what grauitie and vehemencie his wordes were deliuered neyther was there euer man heard pleading better for himselfe then SPIERA did then against himselfe Hee did alledge notable things of GODS Iustice detesting his fore-passed life admonishing all that were about him very earnestlie not to thinke that a Christians life was a light thing and easily discharged That it doth not consist onely in hauing the head Baptized in reading certaine verses and Texts of the Gospell and to bee termed an honest man but it was needfull he should liue as the doctrine of trueth doth command him Therevpon hee repeated a Text out of Saint Peter exhorting vs to shewe through holynesse of life certaine signes of the loue of GOD towards vs and of the confidence wee should haue in him Hee sayde moreouer that hee had knowne many who after they had tasted the sweetnesse of true felicitie they suffered them-selues to bee so carryed away as they had no longer care to performe that which belonged to a Childe of GOD. Hee protested that hee had some-times imagined that his sinnes had beene hidden and that hee could not bee punished for that CHRIST had made satisfaction for them but then hee knew too late that those things belonged onely to the elect and chosen of GOD betwixt whose sinnes and the heauenly and celestiall Throne IESVS CHRIST setts his precious bloud and the dignitie of his obedience as a vale and shadowe to couer them and doth plant them against the diuine vengeance as a high and strong Rampar that sinners repenting them might not bee opprest nor drowned with the deluge and ouer-flowings of their offences and sinnes As for himselfe seeing that hee had renounced our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST hee had as one should say ouerthrowne this strong Rampar with his owne hands so as after this ruine and ouer-flowing the deluge of waters of this vengeance had couered and swallowed vp his soule One of his most familiars said vnto him that he did hold the cause of this his great torment to proceed from aboundance of melancholie humours which did so trouble his braine SPIERA remembring that hee had many times refuted that opinion and seeing they were to begin againe sayd vnto the other you may thinke what you please but GOD in trueth hath troubled my spirit and depriued mee of iudgement seeing it is impossible for mee to haue any hope of my saluation Hauing continued in such and the like speeches during his aboad at Padoua they carryed him backe to his house at Ciuitelle where hee dyed in this despaire This which is worthy of consideration among the Histories of our time is drawne out of a discourse published by Maister HENRIE SCRINGER a learned Lawyer who was then at Padoua did see and many times talke with this poore SPIERA About twenty yeares before a very famous Doctor throughout all Germanie called KRAVS remaining at Halle in Swabe hauing often-times turned his conscience sometimes towards GOD sometimes towards the worlde hauing inclined in the end to the worser part sayd and confest publikely that hee was vndone and fell so deepe into despaire as hee could neyther receiue nor take any comfort nor consolation so as in this miserable and wretched estate of his soule hee slew him-selfe most miserably In the Historie of Germanie Cardinall CRESCENCE being at Verona to passe on farther about some matters of importance was much troubled the 25. of March with writing and hauing laboured very late at night rising a little out of his chaire to take breath he imagined that he did see a black Dog of an exceeding greatnesse hauing fiery eyes and his eares hanging to the ground which came directly towards him and then hid himselfe vnder the Table Hee was presently like one in a sowne but beeing come againe to himselfe hee cryed out alowd calling his seruants that were in the former Chamber and commanded them to seeke this Dogge with a light But not finding him there nor in the anti-chamber a Feauer seized on him and encreased in such sort as hee dyed Towards the ende of his life hee cryed often to his seruants Driue away this Dogge which comes vp to my bed It was not possible to resolue nor to comfort him But hee died in great despaire at Verona Historie of our time SLEIDAN lib. 23. of his Comentaries Vnder the raigne of King FRANCIS the second the Kings Aduocate in the Parliament of Daulphiné called PONSENAS after that he had sold his patrimonie his wiues and borrowed much money of his friends to buie this office hee consumed what remained in keeping of open house hoping to be soone recompenced to the double But beeing falne sicke of a disease vnknowne to the Physitions hee fell into despaire of GODS helpe and mercy and representing daylye vnto himselfe the death of some innocent persons executed at Romans and at Valence whome hee had pursued Hee denyed GOD called vpon the Diuill and made all the horrible curses and Imprecations that might bee imagined His Clarke seeing him in this despaire spake to him of the mercies of GOD alledging certaine passages of the Scripture to that purpose But insteed of turning vnto GOD and asking pardon for his offences he sayd vnto him O STEPHEN how black thou art the young man who was redish hayrd excused himselfe the Aduocate replyed againe
married and had Children The Mother and the sayd Daughters successiuely were interred at Saint Crepasi the Collegiall Church of Agen built and founded by the sayd house of BEAV-VILLE the Mother hauing made her Tombe in the Church vpon a portall betwixt nine others which she had also caused to bee made for her Daughters in memory thereof I haue seene some of them being at Agen in the yeare 1577. in the said Church The others haue beene ruined during the ciuill warres And this was the History The Lady of BEAV-VILLE had a Chamber-maid that was faire and louely with whom her husband seemed to be in loue so as she to be honestly rid of her married her This Maide at her first lying in had three children which made the Gentlewoman suspect that her husband had a share in them imagining it not possible that one woman could conceiue by one man such a number of children The which increased her iealousie and not-with-standing any perswasions shee began to defame and hate this poore Maide more and more It happened a while after that the Gentlewoman was with child so big as she was deliuered of nine daughters The which they did interpret to bee a punishment sent frō GOD that she might be ashamed of her slander seeing they might obiect vnto her a greater fault as if she had beene familiar with many for shee did alwaies obstinately maintayne that a woman could not conceiue aboue two Children by one man Beeing much ashamed fearing to be diffamed and condemned by her owne sentence she was so tempted by the euill spirit as shee resolued to cause eight of her Daughters to bee drowned and to keepe one keeping the matter secreat betwixt the Mid-wife and her Chamber-maide to whome this cursed Commission was giuen But it was GODS will that the husband comming from hunting met with the Chamber-maide descouering the practise preserued his innocent Daughters from death caused them to bee nursed vnknowne to the Mother and at their Christening called them all BORGVE by one name and so hee did the ninth which the Mother had reserued When they were some-what growne he caused them all to be brought into his house appareled in one liuery hauing also attired that with in the house of the same sort Being altogither in one Chamber hee caused his wife to come in accompained with their Parents and familyar friends and bidde her to call BOVRGVE At this call euery one of the nine answered where at the Mother was much amazed and the more for that they were all of the like stature face countenance and voice and in the like apparell which made her heart to giue that they were her nine Daughters and that GOD had preserued the eight which shee had exposed and held to bee dead whereof her husband did satisfie her reproching vnto her her inhumanity before all the companie and shewing her that this might chance to confound her in the bad opinion which she had alwaies held of him concerning her Chamber-maide M. L. IOVBERT lib. 3. Chap. 2. of his popular errors I haue heard that in the house of ESTOVRNEAV in Perigort there chanced the like Accident about 300. years ago The Lady had 9. Sons at on birth and would haue exposed eight of them the which were happely preserued through the grace of GOD by the Fathers meeting them All nine liued and were aduanced to great places foure were of the Church and fiue of the world Of the Clergie men one was Bishoppe of Perigueux and Abbot of Branlaume The second was Bishoppe of Paniez The third Abbot of Grand-Selue and the fourth of the house of GOD. Of the secular men one was the Kings Lieutenant at Reole against the English The second had a gouernment in Bourgongne and the other three were in great credit about the King All this is to bee seene at this daie painted in a great Hall in the Castell of Estourneue as the Seigneour of Estourneau hath tould mee beeing issued from that famous and verie ancient house and nowe Steward of the King of Nauarres house which is now King of France The same Author liber 4. Chapter 2. That of the Pourcelets of Arles in Prouence is almost like vnto this out of the which is issued the Noble house of the Conuertis who were so called for that the Chamber-maide which carried the eight to drowne beeing met by the husband sayd that they were Pigges which shee went to drowne for that the Sowe could not keepe them Some say it came by the curse of a poore woman who begged an almes of the gentlewoman of the house the sayd poore woman hauing many little Children about her The which the gentlewoman reproched vnto her as proceeding of wantonesse and that shee was too much giuen to men The poore woman who was honest did then praie that the gentlewoman might conceiue with as many Children as a Sowe hath Pigges It so fell out by the will of GOD to let the Ladie vnderstand that wee must not impute that to vice which is a great blessing They report as much of the Noble famelie of Scroua at Padoua which carries a Sowe in their Armes in Italien called SCROFA and in corrupt Langage Scroua which is the surname of that famelie In the Annales of Lombardie it is written that in the time of ALGIMONT the first King of the Lombards there was a strumpet brought in bedde of seauen Sonnes and that the one of them succeeded the sayd ALGIMONT IOHN PICVS Prince of Mirandola writes in his Commentaries vpon the second Psalme that in Italie a Germaine woman was brought in bedde at twise of twentie Children at the first birth shee had twelue and that the burthen was so heauie as shee was faine to keepe it vp with a towell ALBVCACIS a great Physition and an Arrabian Surgion is a witnesse of a woman that had seauen Children and of an other that miscarried of fiueteene well proportioned PLINIE makes mention of one that miscarried of twelue MARTIN CROMER in his Historie of Poland writes that the wife of the Earle VIRBOSLAS in Cracouia was deliuered of sixe and thirtie Children aliue in the yeare 1269. But that which exceedes all other examples and which is extraordynarie supernaturall and miraculous is that which is written of a Countesse of Holland the which LEVVIS GVICHARDIN doth set downe in his description of the Lowe Countries as it is testified in an Abbey neere to the Hage MARGVERITE Daughter to the Noble Lord Plorent Earle of Holland and of Mathilde Daughter to HENRY Duke of Brabant Sister to WILLIAM King of Germany being about two and fortie yeares old was brought in bed on friday before Easter in the yeare 1313. as Histories do write of 365. Children males and females the which in the presence of many Noblemen and Gentlemen beeing layed orderly in a great basin were Baptized by a Bishoppe the males were all called by one name IOHN the females ELIZABETH All died soone after and
Gouernor of the place who there-with acquainted the Landgraue He hauing commanded that it should be hunted and by some way or other taken aliue the Country-men vsed such meanes that they caught it and lead it to the Landgraues Court going on foure feete like a beast and of a grim and terrible looke Beeing in the Princes hall it went and hidde it vnder a bench where it beganne to houle and crie like a Wolfe But some lyniaments though disfigured of a humane face beeing discouered in it the Prince commanded it to bee brought vp among men vntill such time as it might bee more exactly knowne what it was Those which had it in charge so diligently imployed themselues that the creature beganne to growe tame to stand vpright and to goe like other men finally to speake distinctly and then as farre forth as euer his memory would permit him hee declared that hee had liued in a Caue among Wolues which vsed him verie gently and alwaies gaue him the better parte of their prey M. DRESSERVS in his booke of newe and ancient discipline Diuers French Gentlemen can testifie that they haue seene a man which was taken in the forrest of Compiegne and brought to the late King CHARLES the 9. Who went vpon foure feete like a beast and ranne swifter then anie horse Hee could not stand vpright had a verie hard skinne was heary almost all ouer and in stead of speech vsed a feare-full crie accompanied with so hiddeous a looke and countenance that there is no beast so ill-fauored to see-to as that poore creature was which had liued amongest the rauenous Wolues and learned of them to howle Moreouer with his teeth he strangled Dogges dealt no better with men whensoeuer hee met them I could neuer knowe what become of him afterward EXTRACTED out of the Memorialls of our time Touching the first History extracted out of DRESSERVS I knowe not whither it bee the same which is presented by the D. PHILIP CAMERARIVS in his excellent Historicall meditations Chap. 75. The repeticion being but short wil not be offensiue I hope It is a meruaylous thing sayth he if true which is read in the additions to the History of LAMBERT of SCHAFNABOVRG as followeth The yeare 1544. a Child was taken in the Country of Hesse who as hee himselfe hath since declared and was so verified being but three yeares olde was carried away brought vp by Wolues When they got any prey they alwaies brought the better parte of it to the Child which fed vpon it In winter when it was cold they scraped a hole which they trimmed with grasse and leaues of trees whereon they layed the Childe and compassing him about defended him from the iniury of the time afterwards they made him goe vpon his handes and feete and runne along with them whither soeuer they went so that at length and through vse hee could leape and runne aswell as they Being taken he was taught by little and little to go onely vpon his feete He oftentimes sayd that if it had beene in his choice hee would rather haue liued among Wolues then men Hee was brought to the Court of HENRY LANDGRAVE of Hesse for to be seene In the same yeare befell the like case in the farme of Echtzel for a Childe of twelue yeares olde running amongest the Wolues in the Forrest adioyning was taken in the winter time by certaine Gentlemen that hunted the Wolues Children supposed or practised THis Inuention hath beene found out by some barren women some drawne therevnto of their owne motion to please their husbands and to bring an heire into the house vnder their charge to the preiudice of the right heire others consenting to the Impostures of their owne husbands pretending to aduance their estates by such Diuelish practises haue stuft vp their bellies with cloth little cushions but in such sort as they swelling should growe by degrees counterfetting themselues to bee distasted way-ward melancholie and heauie and at the end of 9. monethes to suppose some Child brought secretly from the house of some poore neighbour or for want of one from the hospitall Som-times bought for money or supposed by the husbād hauing had it of some Concubine This is not all for as some that haue beene barren haue vsed the meanes of such suppositions so others haue made vse of it when as they had a great desire to haue a Sonne for the greater contentment of their husbands they see that GOD had sent them a Daughter It is well knowne that about fiftie yeares since a Ladie of Daulphine seeing her selfe in disgrace with her husband for that shee had brought him none but Daughters forged such a tricke to giue him satisfaction shee corrupted a woman of base condition in the beginning of this womans conception and drewe a promise from her to giue her her Childe presently vpon her deliuerie After which practise the Ladie hauing counterfetted all the signes of a woman with Childe in the ende to plaie the last and chiefe part as soone as euer shee herd that the poore woman was in labour and that shee was deliuered of a Sonne shee goes to her bedde feyning to bee in the same paine expecting the little Boy that was promised her The which was done and brought her so secretly by certaine Midwiues as it was receiued of the husband as issued from his Wiues wombe and so generally reputed Wherein I will not ommit a notable example of the almightie GODS iust iudgement for this Ladie who could not bee induced by nature to beare any loue nor to giue any countenance in the house to this Childe although that by meanes of the sayd supposition hee had beene left heire by him who thought himselfe to bee his Father disdayning him daylie more and more in the ende shee forced him to bandie himselfe against her and to haue recourse vnto Iustice challenging his rights as Sonne and heire and offring to force her to an account Ths which did so incense the sayd Ladie as shee conspired his death at the least it was supposed that the murther committed vpon him was by her solliciting Booke first of the conference of ancient wonders with moderne A Childe of Stone A Woman of the Towne of Sens in Bourgondie called COLOMBE CHATRY married to LEVVIS CHARITE a Taylor hauing liued long with him without any children in the end shee conceiued and during the time of her being great she had all the accidents of a womā with child But the time of lying in being come all the endeuours of poore COLOMBE and the helpe of Midwiues were in vaine so as her fruit died and she laye three whole yeares languishing in her bed In the end being some-what eased shee liued in paine 25. yeares more carrying this dead fruite in her body whereof in the end she dyed hauing carryed it 28. whole yeares in her belly Her Husband caused her to be opened and the childe was found conuerted into a hard stone then
Magnanimity CAptaine BAYARD in the time of King FRANCIS the first feeling himselfe verie sore wounded to the death with a shot beeing aduised to retier himselfe out of the fight hee answered that hee would not beginue in his latter daies to turne his backe to the enemie and hauing fought as long as his his force would giue him leaue finding himselfe to faint and readie to fall from his horse he commanded his Steward to lay him at the foote of a tree but in such sort as hee might die with his face to the enemy as he did MONTAIGNE in his Essaies Chapter 3. Many other examples shal be seene in the following volumes Secret and vne qual marriages vnfortunate A Nobleman of Spaine falling in Loue with a maide exceeding faire whose Father had beene a Gold-smith in the Cittie of Valencia hauing sought by many meanes the vse of her was still reiected Beeing vanquished by his affections hee demanded her for his Wife hee marries her in a Chamber in the presence of her Mother and Brethren Hauing entertayned her about a yeare and a halfe vnder this pretext in the ende transported with a newe desire hee marries a Ladie of a great house publickely The maide whome hee had so wretchedly seduced findes meanes by Letters and messages to drawe him againe vnto her and shee perswades him that shee is content hee shall vse her as his Concubine comming twise a weeke vnto her house Shee flatters him in such sort as hee promiseth to come to her the next day where hee is receiued with kinde imbracings and spends the daie in sundrie discourses Night beeing come he lies with her who findes so many excuses as this Nobleman is put of till after his first sleepe Beeing soundly a sleepe this maide transported with greefe and furie and assisted by a bond-woman of hers who had made prouision of two great sharpe kniues and of a strong corde tied to one of the bedde-postes shee straines this corde ouer his bodie beeing a sleepe then sodenly shee takes one of these kniues and strikes him in the throate with all her force He startes but with little life But on the other side the slaue drewe the corde with all her strength where-with his armes and body were so intangled that before hee could free himselfe shee had giuen him many stabbes in the body taking frō him at one instant both his speech and life The candle being light this maide transported with her greeuious fury proceeding from a iust disdaine pulles out the dead mans eyes cutts out his tongue and then his heart the which she teares in peeces mangles him in diuers parts of his body the which with the helpe of her slaue she casts out at a windowe into a streete that was much frequented Day being come euery man runs to beholde this bloudie spectacle They speake diuersly of the fact for that they could not knowe the bodie being so much disfigured hauing nothing on but a bloudie shirt torne with blowes As euery man gaue his Censure the maide comes downe in the streete and deliuers the whole fact with a constant and an assured countenance the which is verefied besides her confession by the deposition of this Noblemans seruant of the Preest that had married them and of the Mother and Brethren that had assisted Assoone as the body was cast into the streete the Maide giues vnto her slaue a good summe of mony aduising her to saue her selfe the which she did in the morning As for the Maide being satisfied with so extraordinary a reuenge she doth freely and often aduow before the Iudges all that shee had done and being condemned to loose her head she went constantlie and cheerfully to execution suffring death willingly to the great amazement of all the Inhabitants of Valencia Historie of Spaine A while after the Battaile of Rauenna giuen in the yeare 1512. a Neopolitaine Gentleman called ANTHONIE BOLOGNE hauing beene Steward to FREDERIC of Arragon King of Naples who being despoyled of his estate retired into France was called by the Duchesse of Malfy a great Lady issued from the house of Arragon sister to a Cardinall one of the greatest in his time widow to a great Noble-man and Mother to one onely Sonne to be her Steward The which he hauing accepted a while after this widowe being young and fayre hauing regarded him with a lasciuious eye she desired him but to couer her fault shee sought the colour of marriage and after many vaine discourses in her thoughts insteed of flying to the councell and good aduise of her Bretheren and honorable Kinsfolkes whereof she had many and to accept a partie fitte for her qualitie the which might easily haue beene found neere or farre off transported with her desire she discouers her thoughts vnto this Gentleman who drunke with his owne conceite and forgetting the respect which hee ought vnto his Ladye and to her house neither yet remembring his owne meane estate would not excuse him-selfe nor giue her such Councell as he ought in this occurrent but being presumptuous and lust-full he yeelded to ioyne vnder the vaile of a secret marriage with her who had long before cast vnchast lookes at him and with whome he had rashly and against all dutie fallen in loue These two vnaduised creatures then lying together in the presence of a Chamber-maide onely vnder the collour of marriage so behaued themselues as after some monthes the Duchesse was with Childe and brought in bedde of a Sonne the which was conuaied secretly into the Country This first delyuerie remayned secret but beeing againe with Child and deliuered of a Daughter the newes were presently spred ouer all and came to the eares of the Cardynall and of an other Brother at Rome Being about to inquier who it might bee that had beene so famyliar with their sister BOLOGNE seeing that it was generally noted tooke his leaue of her she beeing with Child meaning to retier to Naples and then to Ancona there to attend some other euent of their affaires Hauing carried his two Children with him and hyred a conuenient house the Duchesse sent her richest stuffe thether and soone after vnder collour of a Pilgrimage to Lauretto at her returne shee goes to Ancona with all her trame where the next day after her arriuall hauing called all her gentlemen and hous-hold seruants shee gaue them to vnderstand that BOLOGNE was her hus-band and that she was resolued to continue with him suffring them that would go and serue the yong Duke her Sonne to depart and promising good recompences to them that should remaine with her shewing them their two Children Her seruants amazed at this discours left the Duchesse and BOLOGNE and beeing parted from her presence they sent one among them to Rome to aduertise the Cardinall and the Prince of all their Sisters fact The first attempt of these two Brethren against BOLOGNE and his pretended Wife was to haue them chased out of Ancona by the credit which they
by this burning poyson Secondly the ventricles of the heart were drie and without bloud Thirdly they did obserue that a peece of the mouth of the stomack was almost burnt and reduced to poulder IEROSME CAPIVACCIVS lib. 7. of his practise Chap. 12. I haue seene a young Child which neuer felt the hurt nor complayned till eight monethes after the biting but as soone as it descouered it selfe the Child died FRACASTOR lib. 2. of contagious diseases Chap. 10. Sometimes the biting is so sharpe and violent togither with the apprehension of the parties offended as death followes soone after as I haue seene in many namely in a Mint-man called MARTIN BVTIN and a scholemaster named ROBERT On a winter day about ten yeares since going early in the morning from their houses the one to worke at the Minte the other to teach certaine schollers they were one after an other bitten by a madde Dogge and had much adoe to free them-selues from him The same day they went to their bedds and died within a while after in good sence hauing had many trouble-some and pittifull fitts The one was my Neighbour and I did often visit him hee tooke delight to heare talke of his Saluation and died most Christian-like and so did the other But my Neighbour at my comming in vnto him cryed out that I should not come neere him if I would not haue him bite mee Once not thinking of it for the compassion I had of his torment for some-times hee did houle like vnto a Dogge approching neerer vnto him then I was accustomed he sodenly reacht out to get holde of mine arme with his teeth whereof he fayled for that his motion was not so quicke as mine Hepresently acknowledged his error and asked me forgiuenesse imputing it to the vehemencie of his paine As often as I thinke of that which I did see in the sicknesse of these two good men so often doth my Soule tremble crying out Lord thou hast beene our refuge from one generation to another c. And that which followes in the 91. Psalme not meaning notwithstanding to condemne those whome the wisdome of GOD who is iust and mercifull will visite thus in this world for with what rods soeuer he meanes to chastise those that belong vnto his Sonne his eternall grace fayles them not but they enter by all gates howe hideous soeuer they seeme to humaine sence into the Pallace of happie life and assured glory Extracted out of my Memorials I was called early in a morning in the yeare 1543. to goe see a Gentleman called ALEXANDER BRASQVE with some other Phisitions Hee would by no meanes drinke and as wee did enquire of the cause of his sicknesse those which did tend him did confesse that hee had kist a certaine Dogge of his which hee loued verye well before hee sent him to be drowned for that hee was madde Hee dyed the next day as I had fore-told CARDAN in the first Treatise lib. 2. contradict 9. A Peasant become madde and hearing that hee had not long to liue in the world made great instance to them that kept him and held him straightly bound for hee had some quiet seasons during the which hee spake sencibly that hee might bee suffered once to kisse his children for his last farewell This beeing granted him he kissed his children and so dyed but the seuenth day following his children became madde and after sundry torments they dyed as their Father had done Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of contagious diseases pag. 266. I haue seene yet more Horses Oxen Sheepe and other Cattle haue become madde and dyed so hauing eaten a little Strawe whereon madde Swine had line In the same Treatise 267. ADAM SCHVEIDTLIN a Surgion did assure mee for certaine that about thirtie yeare since at Hassuelsel in Bauaria a Knight going to Horse-backe was bitten by the foote by a madde Dogge whereof hee made no accoumpt but a yeare and a halfe after hee began to growe madde so as hee bitte the flesh of his owne armes and was not apparantly sicke but two dayes â—…OHN BAVHIN Doctor of Phisicke at Basill in his learned Historie of madde Wolues running about Montbeliard in the yeare 1590. In the yeare 1535. a certaine Hoste in the Duchie of Wirtemberg serued his guests at the Table with Swines flesh the which a mad Dogge had bitten after they had eaten of this flesh they all fell mad Historie of Germanie Certaine Hunts-men hauing slaine a Wolfe made sundrie dishes of meate of the flesh but all that did eate of it became mad and dyed miserably FERNEL lib. 2. Of the hidden causes of things Chap. 14. I haue obserued that the biting of mad Wolues causeth Beasts to die presentlie that are toucht with their teeth Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of Contagious Diseases Many haue noted that Wolues although they bee not madde yet by reason of their furie and ordynarie vyolence which appeares by their sparkling eyes and their insatiable deuouring they make the flesh of Beasts which they bite or kill to be very dangerous if it bee kept any time A famous Prince did sweare vnto mee that one of his Pages hauing found at a certaine Gentlemans house a Rapier hidden vnder a bed where-with some yeares before they had slaine a madde Dogge hee intreated him to giue it him which done going about to make it cleane and to scowre it beeing rustie in diuers places by mischance hee hurte himselfe a little in one of his fingers where-of hee fell madde and dyed before they could fore-see and preuent the danger ESAYE MEICHNER Physition in his Obseruations There was seene in Portugall a Man bitten with a mad Dogge the which lay hidden three yeares at the end whereof it appeared and hee dyed thereof AMATVS A Portugall Physition in his seuenth Centurie Cure 41. BALDVS a famous Lawyer playing with a little Dogge of his that was madde not knowing it was sleightly bitten on the lippe the which hee regarded not But after foure moneths hee dyed furious and madde and there was no meanes to helpe him for that he dyed not seeking to preuent it in time Maister AMBROSE PARE lib. 20. Chap. 21. In the same place hee propounds diuerse remedies against the biting of a mad Dogge the which he thinks auaileable if any one of them be vsed presently and hee saith that hee hath cured many that haue beene so bitten Among others he specifieth this example following One of the Daughters of Mistresse GRONBORNE at Paris was bitten with a madde Dogge in the middest of her right legge where the Dogge set his teeth very deepe into the flesh the which was cured Among all remedies Treacle saith he is singular causing it to be dissolued in Aqua-vite or in Wine and then rubbing the place therewith hard vntill it bleed then you must leaue within it Linte dipte in the sayd mixture and vpon the wound apply Garlike or Onions stampt or beaten with ordinarie Honie and Turpentine This remedie is excellent
in the houses In this horrible confusion ALFONSO d' AVALOS Marquis of Pescara Colonell of the Imperiall footemen running vp and downe the streetes to preuent the wrong which they went about to offer to the honour of Women A Gentleman of Genoa taking him for some Captaine begā to intreate him to suppresse the insolency of two Spanish soldiars that would rauish his Wife a vertuous honorable Gentlewomā which cried for helpe Sodenly the Marquis lights from his horse goes vp to the Chamber and thrusts through one of these wretches who held the poore Gentle-woman by the haire and striued to ouerthrowe her One being slaine he followes the other who fled downe the staires and gaue him such a blowe as he cleft his head in two Then hauing caused their dead bodies to bee cast out at the Chamber windowe into the streete hee made a proclamation vpon paine of death that no man should presume to wrong either in worde or deede any honest maide or Wife This execution restrayned the loosenesse of the Soldiars and the Maquis for this worthie act was honored of all good men P. IOVIVS Booke 3. of his Historie of our time Recompenses of nature THE prouidence and care which the Creator of all things hath giuen to nature is admirable for by a dailie custome shee doth furnish creatures with such force and dexterity which haue the members crooked defectiue or weake or that haue none at all or hauing do more then is prescribed them as we may wel say that the perfection of a Creature consists not in the distinction of members but in the continuall vse thereof I haue often considered thereon When we were at Cobourg in the Lodging of ERASMVS NEVSTETER a wise vertuous Gentleman of Germanie hauing giuen vs the best entertainement hee could deuise hee sent to a certaine place not farre of for a yong man about thirtie yeares old the which was borne without armes who could do as much with his feete as a very able man could do with his hands so as he him-selfe did afferme that nature had recompenced one guift with an other Being set vpon a seate equalling the heigth of the table whereon they set the meate hee tooke a knife with his feete and began to cut both bread and meate carrying it vnto his mouth and a goblet also as easilie with his feete as an other doth with his handes After dinner hee beganne to write both Italien hand and Dutch so right and so well as euerie one of vs desired to haue of it to keepe for a singularity At my request hee tooke a pen-knife and made good pennes to write and presented them to mee and to others Beeing thus busied I did carefully consider the fashion of his feete and did finde this toes were sum-thing long fit to laie hold of anything and a farre off they resembled the fingers of a mans hand as for his legges hee kept them couered with his cloake PH. CAMERARIVS a Germaine Lawier in his learned Historicall Meditations Chap. 37. I haue seene at my house a little man borne at Nantes without armes who hath so well fashioned his feete to the seruice which his handes doe owe him as in truth they haue halfe forgotten their owne naturall dutie Finally hee calls them his handes hee cuttes hee chargeth a pistoll and dischargeth it hee threads a needle hee sowes hee writes hee pulles of his hat hee combes his head hee plaies at Cardes and Dice and shakes them with as great dexteritie as any other the money which I gaue him hee carried away in his foote as wee doe in our hand I did see an other when I was a Childe who handled a two-hand sword and a halberd helping him selfe with the bending of his necke for want of hands he would cast them vp in the aire and catch them againe throwe a dagger and make a whippe lash as well as any Carter in France MONTAIGNE liber 1. of his Essaies Chap. 22. Of this last in my opinion or of an other no lesse admirable Maister AMB. PARE makes mention in these tearmes Not long since there was a man seene at Paris without armes beeing fortie yeares olde stronge and lustie who did in a manner all the actions that an other might doe with his hands with the stumpe of his shoulder and his head hee would strike a hatchet as strongely as an other man could do with his armes More-ouer hee would lash a Carters whippe and did manie other actions with his feete hee did eate drinke plaied at cardes and dice in the ende hee was a theefe and a murtherer and was put to death in Gelderland Booke 24. treating of monsters Chap. 8. Of late daies wee haue seene at Paris a woman without armes which did cut sowe and doe manie other actions The same Author I haue often-times spoken with the Brother of one called N. MADAME who hauing both handes eaten of with hogges lying in the Cradle beeing but a yeare and halfe olde or there aboutes did helpe her selfe as well with the stumpes beeing growne great as wee do with our fingers Shee did worke excellently well in tapistrie did threed her needle very arteficially and did sowe well in lynnen Memorials of our time Wee haue at Nuremberg a young man and a young maide borne of one Father and Mother of a honest house which are dombe and deafe by nature yet both of them Reade verie well Write Cifer and cast an account The yong man conceiues at the first by the signes that are made him what they demand of him and if hee wants a penne by his countenance hee deliuers his thoughtes beeing the cunningest player at all games of cardes and d◅ce that is to bee found among the Germaines His Sister exceedes all other maides in working with the needle in all workes of Linnen Tapistry imbroydrie c. But amongest the wonderfull recompences of Nature this is remarkable that commonlie seeing anie to mooue their lippes they seeme to vnderstand what is sayd They doe verie often assist at Sermons and you would saie that they vnderstand with their eyes what the Preacher saies as others are accustomed to doe by hearing for as often as they will and without anie teaching or examples they write the Lordes prayer and other Holie praiers they can repeate the Texts of the Gospells that are Preacht on Hollie daies and write them readelie When as the Preacher in his Sermon makes mention of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST the young man before anie other puts his hand to his hat and bends his knee with great reuerence Inthetime of our Fathers there was seene in Flanders IOHN FERDINAND who was borne starke blinde and poore surmounting these two difficulties which are great enemies to learned men in such sort as hee became a learned Poet and Phylosopher as besides hee was so good a musitien as hee plaied verie excelentlie well of diuers sortes of Instrumentes to the great content of them that heard him and besides did
make her complaintes to almightie GOD the world she would force him to the execution of his promise seeing that hee would not willingly performe it The Knight grewe more amazed then before and made her answere that hee vnderstood nothing of her Language and that she mistooke herself for that hee had neuer had any secret conference with her had promised her nothing neither could shee demande any thing at his hands The Gentlewoman mad with this answere in replying sayd Do you not remember that you did this and this with mee repeating euery thing that had happened vnto her with the Imposter in the Knights shape adding withall you cannot auoide it to bee my husband and I your wife The Knight beeing much amazed beganne to protest that shee was much deceiued to thinke it to be true and contending thereon the Gentlewoman did note vnto him the day of the promise which was vpon a sollemne feast daie Then the Knight sware vnto her that vpon that daie nor three weekes before nor three weekes after he had not beene in the Towne neither in his house nor in hers the which I will prooue vnto you so plainely as you shall rest satisfied and if any one hath deceiued you in my name I am not to bee blamed But to the ende you should not doubt of the truth of my saying I will presently verefie it Then not departing from her hee caused seauen or eight of his house-hold seruants and others to come who vnacquainted with the cause did sweare that the Knight had spoken the truth and that all that time hee had beene aboue fiftie Leagues from thence The Gentlewoman much troubled with this deposition beganne to remember some particularities and to apprehend that no mortall man could haue done them but that they were Imposturs of Satan so as soone after the retreate of the true Knight shee beganne to finde the cause of this abuse and detesting her foolish concupiscence humbling her-selfe shee resolued not to thinke anie more of marriage but ended the remainder of her daies in a Monasterie In the same Booke A bloudie sweat THE Plague beeing in the Towne of Misnia in Saxony there died a great nuÌ„ber of people in the yeare 1542. in the moneth of Iuly It happened that an honest woman 〈◊〉 AGATHE ATERMAN fell sicke and for the space of foure daies swete great droppes of bloud at her for-head so as as soone as euer they had wipt her others came presently shee died aboute the twenteth of September GEORGE le FEVRE in the Annales of Misnia Booke 3. A Miserable Rashnesse CLAVDE Bastard Daughter to SINEBALD FIESQVE Earle of Lauagne being married to a Gentleman of Chiauari neere vnto Genoa called RAVASCHIER was much courted to her dishonour by a Gentleman of the same place named IHON de la TOVR who abusing the loue RAVASCHIER did beare him did seeke to robbe him of his Wife But this vertuous Gentle-woman hauing often-times reiected him hee was so blinde as to imagine that her denials were but allurements and setling this vnworthy conceit in his braine finding his friend to be one day absent hee went and lay vnder the Gentle-womans bed hoping that night being come and she lying alone he might easily inioy her Being retyred and layd to her rest before her Chamber-maide went away into a neere Closet shee commanded her to looke about if there were not any thing that might disquiet her rest in the night The 〈◊〉 auing searcht euery where in the end she cast downe her eyes and spyed vnder her Mistresse bed a black thing She cryed out and both fled out of that Chamber into another ouer it where-as the Gentle-womans Father in lawe was LA TOVR seeing him-selfe discouered opens the Chamber windowes speedily and casts himselfe into the streete where hee was pittifully broken and bruized and by the helpe of a friend of his that came by chance hee was carryed home to his owne house Some houres after this Tragedie is knowne for that Chiauary is but a small place The Father in lawe sends letters to RAVASCHIER and to LEVVIS of Fiesque Brother to the Gentlewoman who sent CORNELIVS their Brother with RAVASCHIER and some Soldiars who come secretly in boates being strong and well garded by the Geneuois they presently force IOHN de la TOVRS house and finding him very lame in his bedde of his fall they cut his throate hewe him in peeces and then flie Such was the ende of his rashnesse History of Italie Treasors found spoiled lost sought for againe vainely and dangerously ABout the yeare 1550. neere vnto Deue a Towne in Transiluania the raine and ruines of water hauing beene very great and the weâ—…her growne faire some peasants going forth to worke descouer by the reuerberation of the Sun a great Treasor which did shine vnder a rotten tree which lookt red through age There was first of a la serpent all of gold the which after the death of a Monke called GEORGE who had seized thereon and was slaine came to the hands of the Emperor FERDINAND There was also found a great number of Medailles of gold of the waight of three Crownes a peece hauing the figure of LYSIMACHVS King of Thrace of the one side and on the other side a victory The peasants had the value of twenty thousand Crownes for their shares The rest was sent to FERDINAND then King of Bohemia by IOHN BAPTISTA CASTALDE his Lieutenant with two Medailles of gold of NINVS and SEMIRAMIS giuen to the Emperor CHARLES the 5. This treasor was valued at aboue a hundred thousand Crownes ACS. CENTORIVS Booke 4. of the war of Transiluania A poore fisherman remayning at Bresse called BARTLEMEVVE Grandfather to ANTHONY CODRE VRCE a learned Gramarien in our time digging in the ground found a great vessell full of siluer with the which he purchased lande sufficient to entertaine his family which was great honestly and moreouer he did set vp a goodly shoppe of spices and became one of the richest men in the Country BARTHE LMEVVE of Bologne in the life of ANTHONY CODRE VRCE The Marquis of Pescara hauing taken Tunis from BAREAROVSSE and being brought into the Cittadel by the ChristiaÌ„â—… that were prisoners there one of theÌ„ being a Geneuois borne descouered vnto him a treasor that was put into sackes and cast into a Cisterne where they found aboue thirty thousand ducats in gold the which the Emperor CHARLES the 5. gaue vnto the Marquis P. IOVIVS Booke 34. of his Histories of our time The treasor of CHARLES Duke of Bourgondy wonne by the Suisses in the battailes which they gaue him neere to Gransoa Morest amounted to great sums of gold and siluer both coined and vncoyned the true value whereof was not iustly known for that at that time the Suisses did more esteeme the heads of their pikes halberds and their swords then the gold or siluer of forren Princes About the yeare 1520. a yong man simple in all his behauior called
him and had renewed all that which was the cause of age the which made him to seeme younger then hee was The Admirall was desirous to knowe the truth and found that the was as it old man had sayd The same Author That aboue written is not impossible addes TORQVEMADO seeing that in our time wee knowe a verie admirable thing of a man mentioned by FERNAND LOPES of Castagneda Historiographer to the King of Portugall in the eight booke of his Chronicle where he sayth that NONNIO de CVGNE being Viceroye at the Indies in the yeare 1536. there was a man brought vnto him as a thing worthie of admiration for that it was auerred by great proofes and sufficient testimony that hee was three hundred and fortie yeares old Hee remembred that hee had seene that Cittie wherein he dwelt vnpeopled being then when he spake one of the chiefe of all the East-Indies Hee had growne young againe fouretimes leauing his white haire and hauing newe teeth When the Viceroy did see him hee had his haire and his beard black although hee had not much And as by chance there was a Physition present the Viceroy would haue him feele this olde mans pulce the which he found as good and as strong as a young mans in the prime of his age This man was borne in the Realme of Bengala and did affirme that hee had at times neere seauen hundred wiâ—…es whereof some were dead and some hee had put away The King of Portugall aduertised of this wonder did often inquier and had yeerely newes by the fleete which came Hee liued aboue three hundred and seauentie yeares The same Castagnede addes that in the time of the same Viceroy there was also found in the Cittie of Bengala an other man a Moore or MAHVMETAN called XEQVEPIR borne in a Prouince named XEQVE who was three hundred yeares olde as hee sayd all those which did knowe him did also certefie it for that they had great presumptions and testimonies This Moore was reputed amongst them for a holie man by reason of his austernes and abstinence The Portugals did conuerse famyliarly with him and besides that the Histories of Portugall are faithfully collected and certefied by verie autenticall witnesses there were in my time both in Portugall and in Castille many witnesses which had seene these old men The same ALEX. BENEDICTVS reports in his practise that hee had seene a woman called VICTORIA who had lost all her teeth and beeing growne bald other teeth came againe at the age of eighteene yeares AMB. PARE Booke 24. Chap. 17. I haue heard Mistris DESBECK saie that shee had knowne a woman seauentie yeares olde the which in certaine monethes for some yeares had her monethly courses verie orderly In the ende comming downe into great abondance shee died Shee reported vnto mee an other memorable Historie that shee had seene and knowne an honorable woman being then a hundred and three yeares olde and soone after died who beeing a hundred and one had her monthly courses very orderly where-with shee felt her selfe wonderfully eased and as it were restored the which continued from the hundred and one yeare vntill her death which was at the age of a hundred and three The Marshalls wife of Pleatenbourck a gentlewoman of the noble famelie of Ketlercks in Wesphalia hauing past seauentie yeares returned to haue her monthly purgations very orderly and was as lustie as shee had beene long before These orderly courses continued foure yeares but in the ende they came in greater abundance then before and yet shee was helthfull vntill the age of eightie foure Shee liued yet sixe yeares and died in the ninetie yeare of her age R. SOLENANDER Booke 5. of his Physicall Obseruations Cons. 15. sect 41. 42. 43. Strange Fearefull and horrible Visions IN the liues of DION and BRVTVS in PLVTARKE wee read of horrible apparitions which appeared vnto them a little before their deaths and wee read in the Histories of Scotland in the life of King ALEXANDER the third a strange cause of a fantosme which appeared vnto him the day of his third marriage presaging his death the same yeare But omitting ancient Histories besides those that wee haue represented in the first Booke wee will adde some in this There is a Noble and ancient familie at Parma called TORTELLES hauing a Castell in the which there is a great Hall vnder the Chimney wher-of there doth sometimes appeare an ancient Woman seeming to be a 100. yeares old This signifieth that some one of the familie shall dye soone after I haue heard PAVLA BARBIANO a worthy Lady of that family report supping one night together at Belioyeuse that a young Maide of that house being sick the old Woman appeared which made all to thinke that the Maide should soone dye but the contrarie happened for the sicke Maide escaped but an other of the same family which before was in very good health dyed sodenly They say this old woman whose shadow appeares was some-times a riche Lady who for her money was slaine by her Nephews which cutte her body in peeces and cast it into the Priuies CARDAN liber 16. Chap. 93. of the diuersitie of things ANTHONY 〈◊〉 of whose despaier I haue spoken else-where the lastnight of his life being layed he imagined to see a very tall man whose head was shauen his beard hanging downe to the earth his eyes sparkling and two torches in his hands whome ANTHONY demanded what art thou who alone like a furie doest walke thus out of season when euery one doth rest Tell mee what seekest thou What doest thou pretend In saying so ANTHONY cast himselfe out of his bedde to hide him-selfe from this vision and died miserably the next day BARTLEMEVV of Bolonia in his life IAMES DONAT a rich gentleman of Venice beeing in bedde with his Wife hauing a waxe candle light in the Chamber two nurses sleeping by in a pallet with a little Childe hee did see one open the Chamber doore verie softly and an vnknowne man putting his head in at the dore DONAT riseth takes his sword causeth two great Lamps to be light goes with his Nurses into the hall where hee findes all shut where-vpon hee retiers backe to his Chamber much amazed The next daie this little Childe not full a yeare olde and who then was well died CARDAN in the same Booke and Chapter Two Italian Marchants being vpon the way to passe out of Piedmont into France did incounter a man of a far heigher stature then any other who calling them vnto him vsed this speech returne to my Brother LODOVVIK and giue him these letters which I send him They being much amazed aske what are you I am sayd he GALEAS SFORZA and so vanished sodenly They turned head towards Milan and from thence to Vigeneue where LODOVVIK was at that time They desire to speake with the Duke saying that they had letters to deliuer him from his Brother The Courtiers laugh at them and for that they
the knowledge of any was found shutte vp fast in the former Dungeon hauing the face and countenance of a man distracted who required them that they should lead him presently vnto their Lord to whome hee had some-things of great and waighty importance to impart Beeing brought before him hee tolde him that hee was come from Hell The occasion was that beeing no longer able to endure the rigour of the prison vanquished with despaire fearing death and voyde of good counsell hee had called the Diuell to his ayde that hee would drawe him out of that captiuitie That soone after the euill spirit had appeared vnto him in the Dungeon in a hideous and terrible forme where they had made an agreement according to the which hee had beene drawne and carryed from thence not without greeuous torments then cast head-long into places vnder-ground that were wonderfull hollow as in the bottome of the earth where hee had seene the prisons of the wicked their punishments darkenesse and horrible miseries seates that were stincking and fearefull Kings Princes and great men plunged in darkenesse where they burnt in flaming fire with vnspeakeable torments that he had seene Popes Cardinals and other Prelates attired in state and other sorts of men in diuers equipages afflicted with distinct punishments in very deepe gulphes where they were tormented incessantly Adding that hee had knowne there many of his acquaintance namely one of his greatest friends who knew him and inquired of his estate the prisoner hauing tolde him that their Country was in the hands of a cruell Lord hee then inioyned him that beeing returned he should command this rough Maister to leaue his tyranous vsage and to tell him that if hee continued his place was markt in a certaine seate thereby which he shewed vnto the prisoner And to the end sayd this spirit vnto the prisoner that the Lord of whome wee speake may giue credit vnto thy report bid him remember the secret counsell and the speech wee had together when as we carryed armes together in a certaine warre and vnder Commanders that hee named vnto him Then he told him in particular this secret their accord the wordes and mutuall promises the which the prisoner deliuered distinctly one after another in order vnto this Lord who was wonderfully amazed at this message wondering how it could bee that things committed by him alone the which hee had neuer discouered to any should bee decifred vnto him so boldly by a poore subiect of his who did represent them as if hee had read them in a Booke They adde that the prisoner hauing inquired of the other with whom hee deuised in Hell if it were possible and true that so many Men whom hee did see stately apparrelled should feele any torments the other answered that they were burnt with continuall fire and tortured with greeuous and vnspeakeable punishments and that all those ornaments of Golde and Scarlate were nothing else but burning fire so couloured That being desirous to feele if it were so hee went neere to touch this Scarlate which the other perswaded him to forbeare but the heate of the fire had scorcht all the palme of his hand the which hee shewed as it were roasted in the embers of a great fire The poore prisoner beeing set at libertie seemed to those that came vnto him at his returne to his house as a man distracted and growne dull which doth neither heare nor see alwayes pensiue speaking little and scarce answering the questions that were demanded him His face was become so hideous and his countenance so foule and wilde after this voyage as his Wife and Children did scarce know him and when they knew him there was nothing but crying and weeping seeing him so changed Hee liued but fewe dayes after his returne and could hardly settle his poore etate hee was so transported and changed AEEXANDER of Alexandria liber 6. Chap. 21. Neere vnto Torge in Saxonie a certaine Gentleman walking in the fieâ—…d mette wiâ—…h a Man which saluted him and offered him his seruice Hee made him his Horse-keeper The Maister was not very good but the seruant was wickednesse it selfe One daye the Maister beeing to goe forthe recommended his Horses vnto his seruant especially one aboue the rest which was of some price this seruant was so expert as hee drewe this horse vp into a very high Tower When the Maister returned his Horse which had his head at the window knew him and began to neigh. The Maister being amazed demanded who had placed his Horse in so high a Stable This good seruant answered that it was with an intent to keepe him safe that hee might not bee lost and that hee had carefully executed his Maisters commandement They had much a doe to shackle this poore beast and to let him downe with Ropes from the top of the Tower Soone after some whome this Gentleman had robd resoluing to pursue him in Iustice his Horse-keeper sayde vnto him Maister saue your selfe shewing him a Sack out of the which hee drew many horse-shoes puld by him from horse-feete to staye their course in the voyage which they vnder-tooke against his Maister who in the end being taken and put in prison inrreated his Horse-keeper to helpe him You are too fast bound there answered the seruant I cannot free you But the Maister making great instance in the end his seruant sayde I will drawe you out of captiuitie so as you make no signe with your hands thinking to saue your selfe Which agreed vppon hee takes him with his shackles and Bolttes and carryes him through the ayre This miserable Maister beeing amazed to see himselfe in such a strange field began to crye out Oh eternall GOD whether doe they carrye mee Sodenlye his seruant that is to say the Diuell let him fall in a Marish then comming home to the house lett es the Gentle-woman his Wife to vnderstand in what estate and where her Husband was that they might goe and deliuer him A riche man of Halberstad a famous Towne in Germanie did vsually keepe a good Table giuing vnto himselfe all the pleasures in this world hee could deuise so little carefull of his soules health as one day hee presumed to powre forth this blasphemie among his riotous companions that if hee might alwayes spend his dayes in delights hee would desire no other life But after some dayes and beyond his expectation hee must needs dye After his death there were dayly seene at night in his house which was stately built visions which appeared so as the seruants were forced to seeke an other aboade This riche man appeared with a troupe of other Banketmakers in a Hall which in his life-time serued onely to make seasts in Hee was compassed in by seruants which held Torches in their hands and serued at a Table that was couered with Cuppes and Goblets guilt carrying many Dishes and then taking them away More-ouer they heard the noyse of Flutes Luthes Virginals and other Instruments of Musicke