should Comets they being neerer to it than the first Region Now albeit the Heaven Fire and Ayre move in a circular motion yet they move not all alike for by certaine degrees the course of the one is swifter than the other so that the Ayre as neerest to the Earth is flower than the other two By this subdeficiency then the Ayre and they within it seemes but to goe about froÌ„ Occident to Orient of its own proper motion having regard to the swiftnesse and velocity of the superior course And whereas I say that they move high and low to and fro that is to be understood in so far that every thing perfectible striveth to attaine to its owne perfection which consisteth in the approximation and neere attaining and touching of the generant which chiefly beareth rule in the place whereat they aime or tend whether that thing engendred bee a Star or any other celestiall vertue whereunto this subdeficient striveth to attaine Now the reason wherefore most commonly Comets doe reach either to the South or North is to be attributed to the speciall influence of some other Star drawing them thitherward as the Loadstone maketh Iron turne towards it and whereas sometimes they appeare low and neere the Earth at other times farther remote from it that must be appropriated either to the inflamation of the Comets matter either at the neerer or farther end or else to the height or lownesse of the Region above which it is elevated for none of the three Regions but have in them their owne degrees and stations some parts in them being higher than others are The place of their appearing is most frequently in the Northerne Climates and that most often under Via lactea which is that white coloured draught called the milkey way in the firmament which may be perceived by night reaching in a manner from East to West The time of their abode againe is but at shortest seven or eight dayes albeit I reade of some that blazed halfe a yeare but such have seldome happened neverthelesse the shortnesse or length of their abode is to bee imputed imputed to the bignesse or scantnesse of their matter Now rests to know whether or not these Comets may portend or prognosticate bad or infortunate events of things here below and whether over particular persons or Countries in generall To this the Philosophers who will have all things either above or below to be and exist by naturall reasons and admit no prodigies or things beyond nature make answer that Comets are but meere naturall things no way fore shewing evils to come Because say they when Iupiter fals to bee in the signe of Pisces or in the signe of Cancer if then the Comets appeare it foretokeneth aboundance and wealth as in the dayes of Iulius Caesar there was one seene which neverthelesse had no evill ensuing upon it as it may bee seene in Albertus his Commentary upon Aristotles Text in the Meteors latinized Ejus autem quod est Besides this say they when Comets are seene then these evils which follow them and which they portend should fall forth through all or very many parts of the Earth seeing they are seene by all or most the contrary whereof is knowne Besides that burning Lances or Speares which now and then also are seene in the Ayre and other fiery impressions which are of that same matter with these Comets should foretell evils to happen as well as they which are not But above all seeing it is oftenest thought that Comets either foretoken great winds or raines none of which can be say they not winds because the matter whereof the winds behoveth to be which are dry exhalations are converted towards the framing of the same Comets themselves Not raine for no one thing can be a signe of two opposite contrarieties Thus seeing Comets portend drouth they cannot likewise preaugurate inundations and overflowings finally much lesse the death of Princes and Monarchs no more than of other private men seeing the same constellation and ascendent may be equall and have regard to meane men as well as to them in a like distance Which reasons with diverse moe albeit at first view they may seeme forcible yet being better considered their insufficiency will soone appeare for none of the naturall Philosophers but doe acknowledge their Prognostications for some one thing or other albeit the Astrologicall Philosopher particularizeth them more punctually And thus they say that a Comet circumbeamed about with that which they call long hayre to say so invironing it as we see about the Sunne Moone and Starres before a storme and great tempest doth signifie and portend great debording of waters whereas if it bee but radiant in one side that is a sure signe of terrible and destructive drougth and consequently of famine and scarcity because without humidity and warmenesse corne and fruits cannot grow Now as high winds move and stirre the Seas with other waters so from that commotion ariseth raine and boisterous showers so that appeare how they will yet they ever portend some one evill or other As for death of Princes and change of estates foreâ—howne by them experience of former Ages can qualifie and by late miserable proofe it may be understood by that blazing Star which appeared in the yeare 1618. I being at that time in Florence where an Italian Astronomer upon the third Bridge drawing in his Table-bookes the height and aspect of it was overheard by us who gazed on him to cry although with a low voice Vae Germaniae Woe unto Germany and who so is but never so little acquainted with the histories of diverse Nations shall soone perceive in them what lamentable accidents have ensued after extraordinary deluges and overflowings of waters and intollerable droughts but more especially after the appearing of Comets what dreadfull effects according to their affections so we require that those Recusants would with the Philosopher who denied that the fire was hot but put their finger into it to try the truth of his assertion Neither do our Astronomicall Philosophers want their owne grounds wherein they settle the warrant of change of estates after the apparitions of these Comets and this for one That the exhalations of hot and dry vapours from the Earth whereof these Comets are made betoken a bilious and wrathfull sudden and irefull disposition of the in-dwellers of these Countries for the same ayre which they attract and emit doth someway affect them and this ayre is filled with these exhalations resolved by the heat of the incumbing Sun so no question but this same way it moveth their bodies and minds to feare fiery and sudden revolts fightings seditions and uproares Comets appeared in England before their Countrey was conquered by the Normans and thereafter another when they subdued France What more remarkable one then that which appeared above Hierusalem before its sacking and captivity And againe what desolation befell all
it be thought that the zeale of Religion onely rouseth up this ferocity on both sides unto such bloudy fights and battels For other Countries about have appeased all dissentions about Religion with fewer fights and lesse bloudshed at least in open field as who frequent their Histories may finde And howsoever Religion was partly a motive unto it yet it was sometimes used as a cloake to cover the emulous ambition of some great men as that betwixt those illustrious Families of Bourbon and Guyse both aspiring unto the Crowne by the visible declining of the name of Valois in the person of King Henry the third As for all the late battels fought in Germany and other places of Christendome there being so copious and plentifull relations of them every where to bee had I passe them by and referre the Reader to them OF VARIETIES THE THIRD BOOKE OF DVELS AND COMBATS AS by Duels and Combats under the false glosse of gaining maintaining or repairing of Honour and reputation there hath beene more young generous and Noble bloud spilt over Christendome then by any other Pestilentiall Custome whatsoever So no Nation hath beene so universally and so long infested with them as France in so farre that it almost may be said that the first fountaine of them sprang from thence all Christendome beside not affording so many memorable ones as it alone Their heat and impatient sudden fury that way being imputed by some of their owne Writers to Mars the Predominant Planet over that Clime And first I observe that by their Salick Law Title 69. Duels were authorized and that Law seconded by the Gambetts Law as Agobardus ad Ludouicum Imperatorem hath it and continued so though not without some opposition till the reigne of Henry 2. Sect. 1. Of combats by Champions for Cleering of Queenes Honours Combats betwixt Ladies betwixt Church-men and betwixt Iudges Combatants rewarded by Kings their Spectators and S. Almachius kild for declaming against Duels c. LOtharius saies P. P. Nicolas in his 5. Chapter desirous to make tryall of the Chastitie of his Wife Teuberga was advised by the Bishops to choose a Champion and his wife another which two were by simple Combats to resolve the Scruple Their Queenes too had recourse to Duels in choosing Champions to maintaine their Honours and cleere any imputations layd against them for Iudeth Wife to King Lewis the Gentle being by him accused of having dishonoured his bed by accompanying with Bernard his kinsman and Prince of the bloud was purged of that staine by Bernards entring the lists and freely offering Combat to any that would maintaine that wrongfull quarrell And their Ladies also not Content to have their honours and their other quarrels maintained by their Champions have themselves to publike view within lists body against body fought in single Combats as Petrus de Auriliaco in his Title de Duello affirmeth And not onely their Women but their Church-men also were licensed to decide any debate of great consequence that had risen amongst them by Duell whereof I will onely mention that out of Goffridus Abbas Vindoci in his 3. booke 38 Epistle of Rhenold Chesnell Clarke of the Church of Xanites who fought a Combat with one Guilleaume a Religious Monke of Vandosme But more memorable is that of Anselme Besse Churchman and Treasurer of the Church of Laon who being accused of having robbed the Church treasury of severall rich and precious pieces and sold them to a Goldsmith of Soissons who had deposed against him obstinately denied the fact and craved combate which was granted they fought and the Goldsmith was overcome notwithstanding these things were sold him by the Monk yet saith my Author the Goldsmith for having violated his oath which he had given unto the other never to reveale the theft was condignely punished Nor have their Iudges beene exempted from this triall by duell for Chopnius de Domanio Tit. 26. § 15. telleth of one Marsilli a Counsellor of the Parliament who being accused by another of corruption or bribery was dispensed withall by the authority of Parliament to challenge his accuseâ— and did fight with him in the quarrell Moreover Petre d' Auriliack declareth that their Kings did not onely authorize Duels but were oft-times eye-witnesses and spectators of them Charles the 6. saith Frossard in his 3. Tome was present on S. Thomas day behinde S. Martines in the fields at Paris at the combate of Iohn de Carrouges and Iames Legris and from that time conferred a Pension on Carrouges And Charles the 8. saith Ferronius lib. 1. Hist. did behold Zerbulo and La Laude whilst they fought and rewarded both giving to Zerbulo 300. Crownes and to La Laude 50. And of later dayes K. Henry the 2d. was present at that of Chastangueraye against Iarnack of which hereafter Nay the natures of that people in former ages have beene so averse to have any custome how pernicious so ever abrogated that it is recorded of S. Almachius that for having declamed publikely against Duels and the frequency of them in his time he was by the obstinate and seditious multitude over-run and violently put to death But not minding to fill up this Discourse with the many famous and memorable combats that have bin fought amongst themselves and against strangers in that Nation as that of Peter Bajard against Don Alonzo de Sancto major Anno 1503. Or that of the Earle of Arguemont against Montmorancy in the Isle of Maisiers or that of Delarges against Vaudrey Anno 1521. with many others Or of later dayes how in King Lewes's voyage towards Limoâ—ine six score were killed in single combate with as many or thereabouts in his voyage towards Savoy I will only mention in stead of all two most memorable ones the one in France the other in Spaine and first of the French in the following Section Section 2. A recitall of two memorable duels the one in France betwixt Monsieur de Creky and Don Philippin The other in Spaine betweene Pedro Torrello and Ieronimo Anca both of Arragon in the presence of Charles the fifth THE French shal be first inserted here although latest acted for it was but in the dayes of King Henry the 4th surnamed the Great set downe by du Mathieu and thus briefly it is In the warres betwixt the said King and the Duke of Savoy for the recovery of the Marquisat of Saluces usurped long before that time during the time of the French divisions by the said Dukes and now reclamed by this King as having bin formerly rent from his Crowne although it lyeth in a manner within the Savoyards bosome it fell out so at the taking in of a little Towne there that Crekie did vant to have got in that conflict Philippin's skarfe which words being conveighed to his eares he forthwith challenged Crekie of a lye and that so much the rather for that at certaine other swaggerings
be allowed who as he should not wish a death unforeseene neither yet be unprepared at the sudden aproach of it so should he not by any meanes either accelerate or wish it thereby to bee rid out of any incomberances that may befall Nec metuit mortem bene conscia vita Nec optat For as Saint Augustine reason well against such Autocides and selfe murtherers it is rather a token of pusillanimity and lacke of courage in them than otherwayes a marke of true resolution to doe so seeing they had not the daring to abide the dint of adversities which threatned them Let us all remember to implore in our daily prayers our Makers assistance from above to aide us in that last houre for my owne part I thinke it one of the best fruits of my studies or travels to be ever arming my selfe against it and as in my morning and evening prayers I call for peace of conscience in the assurance of my reconciliation with my God and for peace on Earth for his blessing upon my children his favour upon my King and Countrey so more specially for the favourable assistance of the Holy Ghost the comforter to assist me then that neither the terror of a present death may affright me nor my trust and confidence breed in mee presumption nor my feare despaire but there being a sweet harmony betwixt my soule and my God I may lay downe my life in hope to re-assume it againe for ever Section 2. That Christians ought not to feare death as the Ethnicks did All things save man keepe their constant course The uncertainty of mans life IT is true that the consideration of death which of all terrible things is most terrible as being the partition of the soule and body and so the destruction of this structure was the cause why divers of the Ancients fearing almost even to name it were wont to say in stead of he is dead he sleepes he hath left off to be hee is gone downe to the lower parts of the earth hunc ferreus urget Somnus in aeternam clauduntur lumina noctem Or desiit esse or transiit ad manes and so forth the reason being that few or none of them had the full knowledge much lesse the assurance of the enjoying these pleasures after this life past which we Christians being taught at a better schoole have wherefore as well learned disciples of so worthy a master let us learne not only to name it but sted fastly to abide the approch the frowne and dint of it In me si lapsus labtur orbis impavidum ferient ruinae Remembring our selves that howsoever soule and body be severed for a season and that the body lye companion with them that sleep in the dust yet that they shal conjoyne againe in the glorious resurrection to possesse those joyes unknowne to many of the Ancients which our Lord and Master hath purchased to us by his death remembring that howsoever wee should live to the fulnesse of yeares that wee shall see no more even unto the last date of our dayes than a boy of ten or fifteene yeeres For the seasons of the Yeare the Dayes and Nights the Seas Sun Moone and Starres Plants Herbes yea Beasts themselves c. keepe a constant course which in a perpetuall revolution were set and if so be that in these any change be then bee sure it is a foretoken of Gods kindled wrath against us For the Heathen Astronomer when the Sunne did eclipse at the time of our Lords passion could well say That either the God of Nature was suffering or else the frame of the world was to dissolve the eye of all things suffering such a deliquie now if the elder see any thing other than the younger be sure it is not in the nature and course of things above spoken which in perpetuall revolution do observe the course prescribed unto them by their Maker But in the persons of men which pointeth out unto us the frailty of their estates and even of them also if we remarke well we shall finde more who have died within thirty or thirty five yeeres of Age than past it But death being the common subject of our preachers especially in their funerall Sermons I passe it over as their peculiar Theme and according to my first purpose doe hasten to the divers sorts of Burialls Sect. 3. In what reverence the interring of the dead was amongst the Ancients of Alexander Of Sylla How the People of Vraba did use their dead Customes of Finland Lapland Greece and other places concerning burialls AND first for the Antiquity of interring of the dead as Writers doe abound in their testimonyes that even amongst enemies in the hottest of their hostility and Wars Truces were granted for burying of the dead so particularly in the Word of God we have warrant out of the Macchabees that although there were not positive lawes of Nations and Countries for this effect Nature seemes to have ingraued it in the hearts of all thus Palinurus case in Virgill is regrated that he wanted the honour of buriall for having made ship-wracke thus the Poet deploreth his losse Heu numium Coelo Pelago confise serenâ— Nudus in ignota Palinure jacebis arena What reverence and regard the Roman Emperors have had unto it in their lawes and statutes in Iustinians workes may be seene plentifully and especially in one Title expressed by it selfe De non violando Sepulchro Alexander the great having discovered Achilles Tombe in Greece overgrowne with brambles and briers so honoured it that being crowned with a Garland of Lawrell and Cyprus he carowsed so many full bowles of Wine to his memory untill he had almost lost his owne So did Tullius Cicero for the time Questor send into Cicilie to readorne Archimedes Tombe it being almost obscured with thornes and brambles Contrariwise to this Sylla his cruelty and inhumane barbarity against the dead bodyes of his enemys is yet registred in the records of his Country for that he to be avenged upon his enemies being dead whom alive he could not come at caused to disinterr the halfe putrified carcases whereon he trampled with his Horses and being Iealous of being so served after his death ordained his body to bee cast into Tyber and caused to divert the Rivers course so to disappoint all who should search after it The like I find done by a certaine Pope who caused to carry about with him the Corps of some Cardinalls in Sheletons upon Mules ever before him to be avenged of them for that either they had crossed his election or had conspired against him whereupon the Author Septem praelati Papa iubente praelati c. Even the most barbarous Nations who otherwayes wanted all sort of humanity and civility have had respect to this For I finde in Peter Martyrs decads touching the Historie of the West Indies in Vraba and other parts thereabout how
Poictouvin 2 man of his owne coate but younger falling to contradictory termes for a naughty matter because in the Kings house they durst not put hand to their swords did agree to meet elsewhere time place and armes are designed the Gascon that same morning betimes calling on his page commands him to provide a bottle of Wine and to have it in readinesse at the place appointed before hee came where he himselfe following and presently espying his adversary both being demounted and in their shirts before they began to lye at their guard in these or the like termes the Elder bespake the younger That I as the Elder doe take upon me to speake first impute it not to any presumption I have of my worth but to the priority of my yeares Wee reade in the Roman History that two of their Consulls who before had bin at mortall enmity and variance going together with their Armies against the enemy being a pretty way from the City the elder should say to the younger Camerad seeing we goe together on a publike charge in conjunct offices let us lay downe all former grudges under this stone now if thou please at our returne lift thou it up againe and reassume them you may advise but for the present I thinke this best which was agreed unto to the great contentment of the younger So say I to thee if it please thee for so petty and frivolous a quarrell that wee expose our lives and estates to the hazard of a doubtfull fight and of a variable fortune I will not decline it For as none doubteth of your courage So I trust that none dare call mine in question so then if you list Cavalier with the worthy Roman let us bury in this Boule of wine our yesternights rash words so we shal procure Gods blessing upon our soules and bodies and our Prince his favour by our good examples to his quarrelling courtiers and withall indissolubly tye our loves together for ever without any disparagement of our credit or reputation which being accepted by the younger and related to the King they were by him in presence of the whole Court condignely praysed as most duely they deserved Now albeit it be not of those or the like voluntary duels I treat of here but of these which are tolerated by permission of the Prince or Magistrate for the eschewing of murther greater bloud-shed in the common-wealth upon apparent conject res of wrongs received yet I thought it not altogether imperinent to insert this story Now for the other Although some have permitted them as of old Fraton King of Denmarke and are yet tolerated in Muscovia yet we finde that Rhotaris King of Lombardy absolutely discharged them and although his successor for the inconvenience which thereafter ensued licensed them againe yet hee protested that it was against his will and conscience and as these good Kings inhibited them so many of the French Kings as Philip le bel Lewis the 9th Charles the 9th King Henries 3d. and 4th and many moe of the best governed Common-wealths have done the like Which maketh mee admire why Bodin in his 7. Chapter of his 4. Booke of Republick giveth way to their toleration they being both repugnant to the Law of God and contrary to the Civill and Canon Lawes and the constitutions of best governed Kingdomes Indeed the said Bodin admits them onely to be permissible when legall proofes are wanting provided that they be only for matter of honor not wealth and consequently among persons honourable for the preventing of further bloud-shed averting of kinsfolkes murthers and such like evils which might ensue to which if he had subjoyned Charles the 5th his condition of fighting armed I thinke his reasons might have beene more passable But however in elder times duels were tolerated by certaine Kings which by appearance the necessity of those times required as common Stewes were for eschewing of greater inconveniencies yet they being practises so ill-grounded so unnaturall and so farre both against the Lawes of God and Man Succeeding Kings in every Nation almost have enacted most strict Lawes against them with most exemplary punishments to be executed on the rash infringers of them all which being well knowne every where were superfluous to be inserted in this small Treatise A TREATISE OF DEATH And of diverse Orders and Ceremonies of Burials Section 1. The remembrance of death requisite in all men Ceremonies for the remembrance of it some documents against the feare of it what death Iulius Caesar wished of Autocides of selfe-murtherers c. THERE is nothing whereof a Christian should be more mindefull than of death The Ethnickes that wanted the true consolation which a beleeving and faithfull Christian hath had nothing more frequent in their mouthes than Death The Poets are full of these passages Vive memor quà m sis aevi brevis Nascentes morimur mors rediviva brevis Especially Horace with Tribullus Catullus Propertius Seneca Tragoedus Persius Iuvenall Claudian Ovid Lucianus and the rest whereof to make mention were to fill up a little Volume there is nothing almost under the heavens but may serve man as a memoriall thereof the Sunne setteth at evening the day giveth place to the night Summer to Winter infancy to childhood that to youth it to man-hood this againe to decrepit old age whence it may be inferred that the best fruits we can reap of all our studies yea chiefly of Philosophy are to prepare us for this death neither almost to any other end tend all their documents than to live w th pleasure in reason here then to dye in patience no wayes dismaid at the approach of death because of its inevitablenesse of our our obedience to the Law of Nature of the examples of al Ages sexes and conditions of men to this houre who have gone before us so that the principall aime of vertue whereof they made such account was to induce prepare all that have beene are or shall succeed to a patient acceptance or rather a contempt of it that we might passe our lives more peaceably here which otherwise by the perpetuall feare of it would be a never-dying life For this cause it should seeme the Ancients did institute Graves Monuments and Tombes to be either in the Churches or Church-yards adjoyning thereunto as in the most conspicuous and usuall places where the living frequented most I cannot but wonder that what the Philosophers thought fit continually to bee thought on Iulius Caesar should wish to come upon him suddenly and at unawares Histories relate that while some Philosophers were reasoning before him What sort of death was best some alledging one kinde and some another He maintained that a sudden and unfore-seene death was the best for howsoever unto a man of his high estate and profession it might seeme a word dispensable yet to a Christian who is learned to say A morte subita improvisa libera me Domine it cannot so well
fortunae poeniteat quà m pudeat victoriae and the magnanimous Romans were offended w th their Embassadour Lucius Marcius in the managing of his wars with Perseus King of Macedon because he went about by subtilties and circumventions to purchase his victories on such considerations as these they sent back to Pyrrhus K. of Epirots his Physitian who had undertaken to poyson him likewise Camillus at the siege of Veij made the children whip their Master with rods who had rendered them by his treachery into the Consuls hands The bravest both Commanders and Souldiers who were taken prisoners by the Samnites and had obtained liberty to come backe to Rome to take leave of their friends were by them sent back againe or rather returned of their owne accord although some to a certaine death so farre were they from holding that faith should not be kept either to enemies in generall or particular much lesse to stretch a thing to the contrary whereof they had a reservation in their minde for by such jugling evasions those Roman prisoners taken by Pyrrhus and permitted to come home and visit friends might have alleaged that they were not obliged to return as they did because they might have said that howsoever they had sworne with their mouthes yet in their hearts they thought not so likewise Attilius Regulus the Consull taken by the Carthaginians and set at liberty to visit the City upon promise of returne might have said but the innocency of that age knew no other way but the right and square and rather choosed to undergoe death than to make a breach of the integrity of their faith made unto an enemy Sect. 3. The integrity of the ancients commended in making peace and their other pactions A story of P. Corn. Scipio to that purpose Graeca fides what and wherefore used Of the dishonest dealing of Pope Alexander and his nephew Caesar Borgia c. I will not passe under silence the manner observed by the Ancients in breaking truces peace pactions or leagues amongst them that posterity may understand how averse they were from having their thoughts dissonant from their words and to this purpose I remember that at the peace concluded on betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians in the dictatorship of Pub. Corn. Scipio a Roman Herauld standing up betwixt both parties assembled for finishing of the same after they had spoken their mindes hinc jnde the Herauld I say standing with a stone in his hand in these termes concluded the matter If justly and without any fraud or guile I make the oath of observancie and doe finish this paction then may the Gods be propitious and grant that all things may fall happily out unto us if I either doe or thinke otherwise than I have spoken then so all the rest be safe let me fall and perish alone by mine owne Lawes in my owne family with my private Lares and domestick Gods in my owne Temples and Sepulchers as this stone fals from my hand which words finished he throweth the stone from him or rather lets it fall to the ground and so endeth The Carthaginian Herauld swore by all their Countrey Gods and their private ones to observe all that is covenanted Livius noteth these same tearmes to have beene used in the first peace concluded on betwixt these same people in the consulship of Iunius Brutus and Marcus Valerius or shortly after if Sabellicus mistake not which two first Consuls Rome had diverse yeeres before Zerxes expedition against the Greekes alwayes Polybius hath these same words both exemplary and memorable like as Sabellicus in his 6. lib. Aenead 4. punctually fetteth them downe albeit both Livie and Dionysius remarke but the generals the speciall thing which I observe is the word Cogito if I thinke otherwise which confounds all our mentallists and makes them Mentirists let the Greekes with their deceaving tricks and coosenages keepe that dishonourable honour Graeca fides which is alwayes taken for a subdolous and fraudulent faith but God defend that ever such aspersions and imputations be laid to a true Britanne and let Popish Rome now of late declined and degenerated from the old honest Rome pride her selfe and her sectaries in their mentall-reservations let one Pope Alexander and his nephew Caesar Borgia vaunt themselves the one that he did never think the thing which he spake the other that like our mentallists hee never spake the thing which hee thought and let a Leo the tenth of that name promise truth and faith to a Paul Baillon who had expelled his nephew out of Perugia that he under trust of his Holinesse's word should come unto Rome safely with his associates to live at Court as before and yet neverthelesse did put him and them to death as likewise a Cardinall Alfonso of Sienna who for suspition of poysoning the Pope with a Buccado or Nosegay retired himselfe from Court perceiving his Holinesse countenance to bee cast downe upon him and would not be moved to returne againe but under his holinesse faith and true promise made not onely to himselfe but to the Embassadour of Spaine in his Masters name for his more security also yet neverthelesse having once caught him in his net did put him to a violent death His successor Clement the seventh did almost this same to the Florentines to whom as he had solemnly conditioned to give them their liberties and Immunities as likewise to the Spanish Ambassador in his Masters name for them for theirfurther security yet being once possest of their City contrary to promise he subjected it to his Nephew who having strengthned it with strong and mighty Cittadells and forts did appropriate it to himselfe and his family Let these Popes I say thinke and promise one thing and doe another farre be it from any Britan to doe so as equity and truth is or ought to be in your hearts so let truth be in your mindes also Sect. 4. The difference betwixt the auncient and the moderne Romans in uprightnesse of dealing instanced by a story of Pompey the Great and Augustus Caesar. AND now it shall content me to parallell one example amongst thousands which I could produce of the honestie and integrity of old Rome with our new Christianized Rome and then let the indifferent reader judge of the one and of the other The great Pompey when he with his Navall Armie so much renowned in their stories had scowred all the Mediterranean Sea then infested with Pirats having I say given his promise of safety to one or two of the most special amongst them did not violate nor molest them but that was little for Augustus Caesar did as much to Crocotas but herein shewed he his honest minde that when he had two of his most speciall enemies within his chiefe Galleon although for the time but coldly enough reconciled unto him and was spoken unto by the Pilot who acquainted him that now it was the time to ridde himselfe of
them both and if hee pleased that he himselfe should be the man to doe the businesse No no said he If thou haddest killed them without acquainting mee therewith then hadst thou done a peece of good service but now doe it not since they are here under my trust Quia habita fides ipsam obligat fidem We should make our words and actions agree and jumpe together such Princes who in their life time dissembling grant pardons to offenders and yet leave it in charge to their successors to be avenged on them can no wayes be excused for seeing our intentions do judge our actions death cannot acquit them of that obligation besides that the entrant King is made formidable at his entrie who otherwise should enter his Crowne with love and peace Sect. 5. Of the breach of Faith to Enemies Treacherie at a Siege of Capua Treacherie and cruelty committed by the Spaniards at a Siege of Genoa The strictnesse of Generalls over common Souldiers exemplified c. NEither yet know I how to exempt from the scandall of this fault these two which I read of in the late Italian History The one that of the LORD Aubigny at the Siedge of Capua where he commanded the French without the Towne and Seigneur Fabricius Colonna within For the Historie saith that while the said Colonna was parlamenting on the face of a bastion with the said LORD Aubigny upon conditions of surrendring That the French by the negligent watch of Centinells within suspecting no hostility during a parle entred the Citie in fury and so made Prize of it Although it might bee lawfull to all commanders where there are no covenants made to take the best advantages of their adversaries that occasion can offer and though Montaignes whether favouring his owne countrey or being mis-informed of the passages of that Siedge I know not thinketh that this Policy was intended or premeditated by that ever upright and most valourous Warriour Bernard Lord D' Aubignie which must be a mistake yet the Precedent and succeeding most valourous and many most generous acts of that ever renouned man may witnes the contrary for many French Writers as may be seene in Master Quines booke of his life have so ingenuously honestly and according to his Merit illustrated his brave acts in so lively Colours that the honours which for them were conferred upon him would convince one and confirme their credit that have so largely and truely spoken of him that it may truly be continued of his worth Vivet post funera Virtus The other at Genoa where the Marquesse of Pesquierra was commander of the Spanish forces without the Towne and the Duke Seigneur Octavian Fregoso commanding within in the name of the French King in like manner and it may be for revenge and compensation of the Capuan cruelty whilest the two Generalls were under tearmes yea and finall conditions of rendring the Towne The Spanyard taking advantage of the negligent attendance of those within who were secure thinking all ready for the surrendring entred the City putting them all to the sword without distinction of Age Sexe or condition I know not I say how to quit these two from the imputation of treachery except to say that at times the insolency and fury of poore incensed Souldiers is so hardly suppressed by the threatnings of their Generalls or Commanders as is a wonder yea admit it were in as reformed a Warfare as that whereof the Lord Montagues in his Chapter of Conscience lib. 12. speaketh where amongst divers others of his notable discourses he bringeth in a Generall causing to kill a Souldier and rip up his stomack to see the pottage which a poore woman complained he had wrest from her and with which she was to save her childe from starving conditionally that if it were not found there the Woman playntife should dye to expiate his death and her false accusation But strange it is albeit this former recited Maxime should hold in Warres That from a generall Councell which as they say cannot erre the representative body of the holy Church the Columne of veritie that from it I say such a decree should have sprung which may occasion us to say of them as was said of the licentious Souldiers Quibus cùm quod libet lioet quod libent audent quod audent faciunt O Saecucula O mores A TREATISE OF LAVGHING AND MOVRNING Section 1. The benefits and content that all men reape by the workes and labours of Writers and Travellers HIstories and travellers are said to be like those who cracke the Nut and give away the kernell their toyles labours and witty inventions are by them readie drest for all readers hearers or seers for when they read their travells and studies they are like those who lying secure upon land doe from some Promontory behold a ship tossed on the swelling billowes beating with raging windes and tempests and well nigh Ship-wrackt Et mare cum Spumis candentibus astra lacessit cum tartarei subsidit ad ima barathri Who sees or reades their workes receive the sweete of their toile but yet not hereby challenging any singularity unto my selfe above others I freely offer and expose these labours to all which for the variety will I hope bee acceptable and gracious acceptance is the reward I crave But to the matter in hand Section 2. Of sudden deaths that have hapned unto men amidst their feasting and other Iollities exemplified with stories both Sacred and prophane IN the Countrie of Agenois a part of the famous province of Aquitaine where first I spent some yeares not without some copious and severall observations a Baron there Mr. de Longad la barriere at a feast in his owne house laughing and making merry with his Guests having a legge of a pullet in his hand expired suddainely amongst their hands Mirth at banquets should not be excessive but moderate for which the Aegyptians used at their feast to set a Scull or Anatomie on or by the table that by the thought and sight thereof they might moderate their excesse which oftentimes hastneth death or else diseases Holy Scriptures furnisheth us with examples as those of Nebuchadonosor Baltasar and the rich glutton who had the most exemplarie punishments in this kinde that we reade of In the Roman History Cornelius Balbus recorded by Tacitus who whilest he was under a cloud and silence of night carousing quaffing and laughing so loud that the sicke Emperor his Lord could heare him from his chamber windowes with his camrades is memorable who not only endangered the losse of his Princes favour but of his life also for his so unseasonable and insolent mirth Now if we shall leave feasting and but speake of other Ioyes we shall finde that when men thinke their estate most secure and doe rejoyce in the injoying of it that even then their suddaine fall hapneth and followeth them as their shadow King David for glorying in his numbered
seeing the Law Prophets Evangelists and Apostles workes and writing are so universally preached unto all SECT 2. Of Prodigies and in what veneration they were amongst the ancient Romans BEing loath to trouble the Reader with the tedious definitions of Prodigies nor with the severall and many opinions of Writers concerning them I will relate onely some storyes of them and of the times wherein some of them happened of all which as the most part of the Roman Writers make mention so particularly Sabellicus in his Rhapsoeticall history of the world and that from the 11. or 12. Booke of his 4. Aeneid unto the end of his Worke. During the first Punick Warre which was the first betwixt the Carthaginians and Romans under the Consulship of Appius Claudius and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus which was the foure hundreth and ninety yeare after the building of Rome the Roman Histories were then both more frequent and did savour more of truth and possibility than their former Wherefore to begin with that time I observe that there never happened any remarkeable Prodigie either in the Ayre Water or Earth after which there were not presently Expiations Lustrations Prayers or offerings made unto their Gods to whose Temples and Altars people of every sex age and condition did flock and runne to pacifie and appease their incensed wrath which may serve to condemne the neglect and contempt that is in Christians of the like Prodigies and teach us as these Heathen did when they chanced to repaire to our true God and implore for mercy and forbearance of wrath at his hands To begin then as I said with Prodigies observed in the time of the first Punick or Carthaginian Warre of those many admirable ones recorded by Sabellicus I finde this most worthy of relation In the Picenean Territory Cneius Domitianus and Lucius Annius being Consuls a River was observed for the space of a whole morning to runne red blood no accident that might cause it being perceived by any for which and some others the like the Romans intituled their Novendialia sacra or expiations for nine dayes and Livius likewise in the time of Tullus Hostilius their third King relateth that the like propitiatory Sacrifices were ordained for the like causes In Hetruria also which is now the Florentines bounds the heavens were perceived to burne In the Citie of Ariminii three Moones at once were one night seene by the Inhabitants all which Prodigies appeared about the end of the foresaid first Punick Warres Shortly after about the beginning of the second warre after Hanno was overcome by Scipio a Childe of a moneth old was heard to crie in the Streete Triumphi Triumphi In the fields of Amitermin neere Rome ships were discerned in the skie and men in long white garments were perceived to march towards one another but never to meete In the Picen Territory it rained stones and the Sunne and Moone were seene to joust as it were at one another and in the day time two Moones appeared in the heavens At Phalascis the heavens seemed to bee rent asunder And at Capua the Moone seemed to burne and as envolved in a showre of raine to tend towards the Earth Civitas ob haec prodigia saith Sabellicus lustrata est lectisternium supplicatio indicta aliaque aliis diis placamina decreta SECT 3. A continuation of Prodigies which happened in the time of the second Punick Warre with many others that were seene under the times of severall Consuls of Rome IN the first yeare of this second Carthaginian Warre under the Consulship of Fabius Maximus Marcus Claudius Marcellus a green Palme tree in Naples tooke fire and burn'd away to ashes At Mantua a litle Rivulet or stripe of water which ranne into the River Mincio was turned into blood And at Rome it rained blood An Oxe was heard there to speake these words Cavetibi Roma Afterward in the Consulship of Quintus Fabius sonne to Fabius Maximus and Titus Sempronius Graccus the similitude or likenesse of great long and tale ships appeared to bee upon the River of Taracina in Spaine At Amiternum in Italie a litle Brooke ranne blood for severall dayes In Albano monte in Rome it rained stones The Sunne at divers times was seene of a bloody colour Many Temples and holy houses in Rome were beaten downe with Thunderbolts from heaven some of the Citie Ensignes or field Colours were observed to sweate blood two Sunnes appeared in the Heavens at one time it rained milke at another stones During the Consulship of Cornelius Cethegus and Sempronius at what time the Africane Warres were appointed to Scipio two Sunnes at one time were seene in the Heavens and the night which is by nature darke appeared extraordinary light A Comet in forme like a burning torch was discerned to reach from the East to the West and it rained stones after that notable overthrow given to Hanniball by Scipio which was the last to Hanniball and at the time when the Consull T. Claudius was appointed to prepare for Africk to appease some mutinies that had risen there upon his setting out to that voyage the Orbe and face of the Sunne was visibly discerned to be lesse than usuall Moreover in the Veliternean fields the Earth rent asunder in so huge and frightfull gappes that trees and whole houses were swallowed up in it after which there followed showres of stones In the Consulship of â—n Belius and L. Aemilius Paulus it rained blood for two whole dayes together And the Statue of Iuno in the Temple of Concord at Rome was perceived to shedde teares SECT 4. Of Prodigies that happened during the civill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla of some in Iulius Caesars time as at his passing the River of Rubicone the Pharsalian warres and at his death c. AT the beginning of the Civill warres betwixt Martus and Sylla a Mule by nature barren did foale The Capitoll tooke fire and which was lamentable it being a worke of foure hundreth yeares standing famous through all the world was destroyed the whole Citie was so shaken with Earth-quakes that the face of it was wonderfully defaced and a woman conceived and was delivered of a Serpent When Iulius Caesar had cross'd the River of Rubicon contrary to the decree of the Senate the heavens as foreseeing what imminent danger was to ensue thereupon rained blood The Statues and Images of their Gods in the Temples did sweat great droppes of blood and many faire buildings in the Citie were beaten downe with fire and thunder from heaven On the same day that the Pharsalian battell was strooke the Statue of Victoria which stood in the Temple of Minerva at Eulide was seene to turne its face towards the Temple doore whereas before it beheld the Altar At Antioch in Syria such great noyse and clamours were heard twice a day about the Walls of the Towne that the people