and a laughing stock to the Gentiles they so thought for that he was borne in Bethlem a little village in Iudea that he lived and was conversant among simple people without pompe and glory and that he died the death of the crosse with reproach and shame supposing him to be a Carpenters son but they were deceived his birth was most glorious the appearing of the Starre prooved it â—he descending of Angels singing Gloria in excelsis did manifest it the comming of Magi from the East did confirme it his life was most Imperiall comanding Water into Wine the blinde to see the lame to go the sick to health and the dead to rise His death was most triumphant with the song of Hosanna he vanquished Devils subdued Hell and conquered the world and said ConsuÌ„matum est Therefore his nativity is to bee solemnized of all Christians his life to be worshipped and death to be glorified with Alâ—elujah Hosanna and Gloria in excelsis songs triumphant and fit for Jesus Christ our Saviour Of the ancient and strange ceremonies at the Election of the Prince of Carinthia CArinthia is a Province where the Sclavonians speach is spoken where manners and customes are most strange and the like Ceremonies not read of When any new elected Prince entreth into his goverment hee is brought into a faire large valley where was wont to bee an ancient Citty where some monuments are left as reliques so that time weare out the name of it In a wide faire medow hard by a marble stone is erected upon the which stone a Rusticall fellow standeth which by succession of blood that place and office by heritage doth possesse There he hath hard by him a deformed leane Mare and an olde leane Oxe and the Rusticall Countrey people in heapes about him On the farther side of the medowe is the new Prince with his Barons and States about him with great pompe very richly attired all in Purple having the Princes Ensignes and his Arms and 12 Banners carried solemnly before him the Prince being apparrelled like a poore simple country man in old broken garments his cap bare and his shoos worne with a countrey staffe in his hand seeming rather more like a shepherd then a Prince who comming nigh to the Clowne that standeth upon the stone hee cryeth out in the Sclavonian tongue and asketh who is this that is comming here so proude the Barons and the States answere he is a Prince of the Country then the Country man from the Marble stone demands againe Is this man a right and just Judge Doth he seek the benefit and wealth of this Countrey Is â—he of honest and vertuous condition Is he a sound Christian in religion Will he defend the true faith And is he worthy of this honour To whom al the States and Barons answere he is and shall be Againe he saith I aske you by what law and right should I bee removed from this seat The County of Goritia answereth for mony this place is bought then this Oxe and this Mare shal be thine and all the Garments which the last Prince did put off thy houâ—e shal be free without any tribute Then the countrey-man descendeth and meeteth the Prince and striketh him a little on the cheeke saying I command thee to be a good just Prince then he taketh his Mare and his Oxe and giveth the place to the Prince who streight standeth upon the Marble-stone taking a naked Sword into his hand first hee doth flourish it one way then he doth flourish it another way promising thereby equall Justice to the people there they bring water in a Countrey-mans cap to drink to signifie unto the Prince that he should abstaine from wine After these ceremonies the Prince coÌ„meth downe from the Marble-stone and is brought to the Temple called Our Ladies Chappel which was the seate sometime of a Bishop then from thence after some sacrifice which was to be used all things done and performed the Prince putteth off the rusticall garments that he put on before to performe the custome and ceremonies of the Countrey and weareth his princely wonted attire and after hee had feasted with his Barons and his Nobility he returned to the medow againe where the Marble-stone was and sitteth there on his Tribunall seat to heare causes pleaded and to give judgement according to Justice this is the manner and strange custome of the election of any Prince in Carinthia So strange were the customes and manners in old time aswell at the election and coronation of Princes as also in their ceremonies and Scepters For the first Kings of the world used for their Scepters long gilded speares The old Kings of Rome used a crooked staffe called Lituus Tarquiniuâ— Priscus the 5 King of Rome had his Scepter of Ivory The Kings of India had their Scepters of Ebony The Lydians carried before their Kings great Axes The Kings of Sicily used a silver staffe for their Scepter The Babylonians used divers kinds of Scepters with sundry figures as of Lyons Eagles c. The manner of the funerall pompe of the Grecians IN other parts of Greece they used more solemne mourneâ—ull ceremonies at the Funerall of their Kings and Princes â—hey tooke downe their Bulâ—arkes and Fortresses of Wars â—hey untile their Temples they â—â—bvert their Altars they reject â—nd depose their Idols they put â—ut their fire and the men shave â—oth their heads and beards and â—hey clip their horses and left â—othing undone that seemed â—ournefull Then al the Priests â—agistrates young Gentlemen â—nd children carryed Trophies â—nd Monuments of the dead â—ing with his Ensignes and â—rmes crowned with Garlands â—â—cording to the custome of â—reece The Noblemen carryed divers great Cups or Bowles some full of Wine others full of Milke and some full of Blood all in white Garments others carried Hony and Cakes which should be sprinkled and cast upon the funerall fire at what time they sung Hymnes Odes and songs called Ialemâ—â— in the praise of the dead Prince and lastly when the King is solemnly thus burned the Princeâ— and great men of his blood should carry his Ashes in Golden pots crowned over with all kinde of sweete flowers which should bee a memory or Trophie of the deaâ— King The Grecians had also these customes at the funerall of theiâ— deare friends as Parents Brethren Sisters both the Men and Woemen should have theiâ— long haire and offer it upon the Hearse of the dead So Achilles solemnized the funerall of his deare friend Patroclus cutting the fore locks of his haire to set it among many other of Patroclus friends upon his Hearse or Tombe Euripides funerall was of Arâ—bâ—laus King of Macedonia so honoured that hee lamented Euripides death with mourning apparrell and with a shaâ—en head and beard according to the use and custome of the Macedonians The great pompe and solemnity at the inauguration of the Pope of Rome THe Pope of Rome at his inauguration excelled all other Princes in solemnity
which was speedily done to the satisfaction of some and the example of all The third kinde of death was that of stoning as some suppose borrowed from the Iews and this they inflicted principally upon such as were robbers of Temples or mockers either of â—heir Priests or their Gods Thus Lucius Publius one that â—efore this Fact had deserved â—ell of the Common-wealth â—eing the Priests of Mars saâ—rificing in their Temple laughâ—d at their seeming foolish Ceâ—emonies as needlesse was atâ—â—ched and presently commitâ—ed to dye at a stake by being â—astned to it and having stones â—ast at him in the open streets with these words spoken by the â—rincipall executioner So let â—ll deriders of the Gods deservedly perish They did exercise and indeed invent a fourth kinde of death and that was the fastning of the party to a Crosse made of wood and thus the Saviour of the World was the first that endured this punishment and shame under Tiberius then Emperour of Rome and Pontius Pilate being his Vice-Roy for Iury he was made to carry his owne Crosse upon which he was to suffer till being wearied with the weight of it they compelled one Simon to carry to the place of Execution upon which his hands and feete being nailed to it he gave up the Ghost and upon his suffering a souldier named Longinus standing by thrust a speare into his side from which issued water and blood who upon the act was strucke blind immediately yet repenting of his Fact had his eyes touch'd with the blood upon the speare and recived thereby his sight againe and so proved a famous member of Gods Church and was made Bishop of Cappadoria Thus have I expressed to you in â—riefe the manner how the Romans punnished any with death Of the Tartarians THe Tartarians are most deformed of all men their bodies are but small their eyes be grosse and bolstring out their faces be broad without haire saving that in their over lip and the chinne they have thin and moisie haire they be common-small in the middle they shave their heads from one eare to another by the top of the crown to the hinder part keeping long haire like unto a woman whereof they make two folds and windings and binde them both behinde the eares and so be all other shaven that tarry amongst them They be good Horsemen and ill Foot-men and therfore none goeth afoot but rides eyther on Horseback or upon some Oxe They have a glory to hang good sounding Bells about their Horses neckes When they drinke they powre it in untill they be drunken the which is a great praise amongst them They have no bread nor use any baking nor table-clothes nor towells they use no handkirchifs nor never wash their hands body nor apparell They eate no pot-herbes nor pulse but onely the flesh of all kinde of living things as Cats Dogs Horse and all kinde of great Mice They roste the bodies of such as they take in Warre to shew their cruelty and desire of revenging and where many meete together in the eating of them they teare them with their teeth like Wolves and drinke the blood thereof which they reserved afore in cups otherwise they drinke Cowes milke One of them eateth the lice from anothers head saying thus will we doe to our Enemies It is an hainous thing with them to suffer any drinke to bee lost or any meate and therefore they cast no bones to Dogges before that the marrow be taken away and many other things are reported of them which Munster setteth forth more at large In Warre they have swords of a yard in length their Horsemen are very skilfull in shooting their Princes never enter into War but standing a far off they cry unto their owne company and exhort them if they see any thing needfull they carry their wives and their children because their Wives be attyred like men and also images of Men on Horseback to their Warres that they might seeme a great number and more terrible to their Enemies They thinke no shame nor ignominy in flying if it be necessary and expedient so to doe If they get the victory they spare none neither Women nor Children nor olde folkes they slay al saving craftsmen and artificers whom they reserve to their uses They are very incontinent and therfore they take as many Wives as they will and may sustaine and they except none but the mother the daughter and sister and yet they bee much given to the Sodomiticall sinne They doe not make account of any Woman as of their Wife nor yet thinke her worthy of dower before that shee hath brought forth a Childe and therefore they may refuse her which is barren and take another they which are taken in adultery both Men and women are put to death by the Law Every Wife hath her mansion her owne Family and liveth very chastely This Nation observeth many superstitions No man maketh urine in his Mansion but if hee doth he is slain without pitty if necessity compelleth him then his tent and all things therein are purged with fire after a curious sort When they chuse and elect their Prince they meete together in a faire field and then they set him in a Golden throne and Chayre to whom the Kingdom is due either by succession or by election and falling down before him they cry all after this sort with one consent and a loud voyce We beseech we will and command that thou beare rule over us He answereth If you will have this done of me it is necessary that you be ready to doe all that I shall command when I call to come and whithersoever I send to goe and to commit and put the whole rule into our hands When they have answered we bee ready Hee saith againe Therefore my word shall bee my sword and all the people clap their hands with great rejoycing Then the Noblemen take him from the regall seate and make him to sit softly upon a cushin or a cloth layd upon the ground saying thus Looke up and acknowledge God and looke downeward to the cushin wheron thou sittest if thou doest well governe and rule thou shalt have all things according to thy desire but if thou doest ill rule us thou shalt bee brought so low and so bare that this small cushin whereon thou sittest shall not be left thee at the which saying they adjoyne unto him his dearest and best beloved wife and lifting them both up with the cushin they salute him Emperour of all Tartarians and her the Empresse Then to such as be present of other Nations he commandeth gifts to bee given out of hand There is also all the treasure and jewels which the late deceased Emperour left wherewith this new Emperour rewardeth every Noble-man and that which remayneth he commandeth to bee kept to his owne use In his hands and power all things bee and no man dare say this is mine or his No man ought to tarry in any part of
earthly beasts comming neare to the water he dismembreth them with his nayles which hee hath sharper then any weapon His biting is cruell and sharpe and hee so rendeth with his teeth that it can never bee healed there is great store of them about Nilus because they are very fruitfull of themselves having young every yeare and also they are seldome taken It is a fearefull beast flying from those that persecute him and persecuting those that fly from him It is said that when hee goeth about to devoure a man that hee beginneth to weepe whereof hath sprung this Proverb The teares of a Crocodile that is when one doth weepe with his eyes without compassion and not with his heart and minde Pliny saith that this beast onely in his biting doth move his upper jaw he liveth in the day time upon the land and in the night time in the water his eyes be very dull in the water and his sight is marvellous sharp out of the water Some say that hee groweth and encreaseth as long as he liveth The Twelve Apostles with their Martyrdomes IAmes the Sonne of Zebedee called maior for that he was chosen to be an Apostle was sent to convert Spaine from whence by reason of the obstinacy of the people for he converted in all but nine persons hee returned shortly againe to preach in Iudea where by the envy of a Jewisâ— Bishop called Abiathar hee was accused and beheaded by the consent of Herod Agrippa His body was conveyed by his Disciples first to Ierusalem and from thence to Spaine where it yet remaineth in Compostella a famous pilgrimage Iames the sonne of Alpheus called minor for that hee was last chosen he was the first Bishop of Ierusalem and that by the space of thirty yeares and then as he was preaching in the Temple he was throwne headlong downe by the Pharises and by them stoned to death He was buried by the Temple Simon by Christ called Peter through the indignation of Nero because he had overcome Simon Magus was crucified with his head downeward according as he desired Saul after his conversion called Paul after he had endured and escaped many dangers and torments as beating with rods and put in the stocks by Philippus stoned in Lystra delivered to wilde beasts in Ephesus bound and beaten in Ierusalem and many others lastly came to Rome where by the commandement of Nero he was beheaded because he was a Roman borne the same day that Peter was crucified Paul instead of Iohn because he ended not his life with Martyrdome Philip after hee had preached through the whole Countrey of Scythia and converted a great part thereof in the space of twenty yeares was at the last in the Citty of Hierapolâ—â— when hee had there extirpeâ— the Heresie of the Hebeonites fastned to the Crosse and so dyed Bartholmew went to preach in India and afterward came to Albania a Citty of Armenia the greater where he converted the King of that Citty and destroyed the Idolls wherefore by the commandement oâ— Astiagus brother to the King Polemius whom hee had converted hee was flead alive His body was afterwards brought to Italy and is as some say at Rome Andrew Simon Peters brother went first to preach in Achaia and afterward preached in Scythia but lastly hee was taken at Patras a City of Achaia by Egeas Proconsull of that Province who because he had converted his Wife Maximilla cast him in prison where hee was sore beaten and lastly stretched out and bound on a slopâ— crosse to augment his torment and so dyed Thomas preached the Gospell to the Parthians Medes Persians Hyrcanians Bragmans and converted a great part of India He was by the Infidells throwâ— into a burning Furnace and came out unhurt Finally because he prayed God to destroy the Idoll of the Sunne which the Infidells would have compelled him to worship hee waâ— by them thrust through with speares and swords Mathew after he had preached much in Iudea he went into Ethiopia and there converted the greatest part of thaâ— countrey Finally having newly ended his prayers and lifting up his hads to Heave by the Alâ—ar certaine spies came behinde him and ranne him through with their swords which was â—one by the commandement of a King of those Counâ—ries Iudas called also Thaddeus after the ascension of our Lord was sent by Thomas to heale Aâ—agar King of of Edissa afterwards hee preached in Pontus â—nd Mesopotamia and converted â—any cruell and barbarous people Lastly hee came to Persia there for confounding of their â—dols hee was suddenly runne â—pon and murdered by the Paâ—â—n Bishops of that Countrie â—e is buried at Netre a Citty of Armenia Simon called Chaâ—aneus broâ—â—er to Thaddeus and Iames the â—â—sse after hee had preached in â—â—ypt returned to Ierusalem whereof by the consent of the Apostles he was made Bishop after the Martyrdom of his brother Iames. As touching his death and Martyrdome some say that hee suffered with his brother Iudas Thaddeus in Persia others that he was through tâ—â— envy of Hereticks accused to 〈◊〉 a Christian before the Consulâ— Atticus and therefore crucified as his Master was Mathyas after the ascension 〈◊〉 Christ chosen by the Apostleâ— to supply Iudas roome waâ— borne at Bethlehem and descended of the Tribe of Iuda He preached altogether in Iudâ—â— where lastly he was accused bâ— his enemies of perjury or raâ—ther blasphemy and thereforâ— he was condemned to be stoneâ— to death by two men duriâ—â— which torment one smote hiâ— with a hatchet and so hee suffred martyrdome The Seven Wise men of Greece BIas borne in the Haven-towne of Priâ—ne in the Countrey of Ionia Solon borne in the Iland of Salamine Chilo borne in Lacedemonia Cleobulus borne at Lindus in the I le of Rhodes Piâ—taâ—us borne at Mitylene in the I le of Lesbos Thales borne at Miâ—eto in Greece Periander King of Corinth Yong fowles hatched and brought forth without the dammes and females FOElix Vlmensis and Britenbachius write in their bookes of common peregrination and travaile that in Alexandria and and in Egypt there bee Oveâ—â— made full of holes wherein are laid three or foure thousand egges some of Geese some of Hens some of Pigeons some of Ducks and that they are hidden and covered in dung and that hot coales are set a farre of about the dung so that through the temperate heate of these things the egges by little and little waxe warme in the dung even as it were under the Hen And at length the young are hatched and brought forth so that they come by flocks out of the dung and from thence are taken and led abroad to bee fed at liberty The rites and manners of the Egyptians THe Egyptians were almost the first in the World wherof other Nations learned and took their lawes wisdome manner and living and wee reade that for learning sake Homer Dedalus Solon Plato and many other went thither Foralthough they were Gentiles and not beâ—eeving on God yet they
their computation of time from the birth-day of Mahomet by the name of this word Hegyra as the Spaniards were woâ—â— of long time after they were subdued by the Romans to number their yeares from Augustus Caesars Reigne by these 4 letters A er a which is Annus â—rat Augusti These Infidels and Pagans observe a memoriall for the nativities of their Kings and Princes throughout the whole world In Persia the birth of Cyrus upon the 16 day of the Moneth Lois In Macedonia the nativity of Alexander the great upon the Ides of February And in Rome the nativity of Romulus upon the 21 day of September In like sort the nativity of Iulius Caesar upon the fourth of the Ides of Iuly The nativity of Nerva upon the 4 Calend of December The Nativity of Adrian upon the 6 Calend of November Of Antonius pius upon the first of Aprill Of Gordianus upon the 13 of Ianuary Of Constantine the great upon the 4 Calend of Februâ—ary And so of Traiane Vespatian and others whose Natiuities were with great honour observed and with great dignity of triumphes feasts sacrifices games and playes with all pompe and glory in remembrance of good Kings nativities solemnized For Beata respâ—â—â— cui princeps Philosophus All the Kingdomes of the World in their feast Natalitiâ— in memory of the most happy state of a good King used all kinde of strange inventions to magnifie their Kings the Egyptians in their Pyramides and Obeliskes the Grecians in their triumphant Arches and Pillars the Persians with feasts and banquets solemnized the Nativities of their Kings and the Romans excelled with sundry pompes of triumphs to set forth â—he dignities of their Kings Dictators and Consuls Others â—n the sacred Wood Aricinâ—m doe sacrifice to Diana with â—heir pompe of Peplon c.. Beside such magnificent and triumâ—hant Games and Playes to set â—orth the dignities of the feast Natalitia in memory of good â—rinces nativities As at Aâ—ens Magna Panathenaea first â—stituted by Ericthonius to hoâ—our Minerva every fift yeare â—n like manner as the games â—f Olympia was by Hercules celebratâ—d to honour Iupiter or Isthmia was by Thaeseus made to honour Neptune So in Rome the great Playes and Games called Ludi triumphalâ—â— Ludi Natalitij were onely toâ— that effect invented to magnifie good Princes and to record their worthinesse with Feasts Triumphes and Playes in memory of their nativities For 〈◊〉 this feast of Natalitia the common people assembled together with sweete flowers green hearbes some made them boothes with Oken bougheâ— and some tents covered witâ— with long Reeds with greaâ— banquets and much mirth 〈◊〉 honour the nativityes of Kingâ— The Roman shepheards dresâ— upon that day their sheepe-â—â—â— with greene rushes sweet floâ—ers with branches and boughâ— they their Wives and Families with nose-gaies and garlands with Bagpipes and fiddles celebrated their feast Natalitia at the birth of any King Dictator or Consull of Rome In other places they celebrated the games Saturnalia in December their games Sigillaria in Ianuary the Games Lupercalia in February But in Athens their Bacchanalia is solemnized in November where the Ministers and Priests of Bacchus and Diana by the names of Mimallones Sileni Mâ—nades Bacchae Satyrae c. all crowned with Ivey Garlands and with Ivey speares in their hands singing the song of Dithirambos dancing Enoplia with the pompe of Peplon to honour Bacchus then how ought wee to celebrate the Natalitia and inauguration of our Englands joy the establisher of our peace King Iames of blessed memory and also his sacred Majesty who is the greatnesse of great BRITAINE and the unparallel'd patterne to all Kingdomes of Piety and Religion of whom it may be truely said With Graces three with Muses nine With Sibyls twelve can he With three the fourth with nine the tenth With twelve the thirteenth be Of the inauguration and anointing of the great Duke of Muscovia with the ceremonies at their Coronation AT the Coronation of the great Duke of Muscovia 〈◊〉 the States of Muscovia whicâ— they call Camesi assemble together at Saint Michael their chiefe Temple the day appointed for the Coronation the Citty is so strawed with flowers and sweet odours and set forth with boughes that their triumph is great feasting according to the custome of the Musâ—ovites The great men meete the Duke or the Emperour and â—ring him into the Temple who â—t his comming into the Temple an old fatherly man meeteth him having on a long garment downe to the ground Bombycina veste This embraced the Emâ—erour most courteously for â—ee was the Metropolitan of Muscovia or the chiefe Priest which they call Princeps sacroâ—um whose authority and command in that Countrey is very great In the midst of the Temple was made a Theater with seates to fit on and with staires to passe to every place of the Theater being set forth with most sumptuous showes the feat of the Emperours was made most royall and with great magnificence sitting in Scamno with a rich purple cap on his head beset with Gold and precious stones a precious garment wrought with Gold and laced close at his breast called Bombycina vestis his hands so be set with Jewels that onely the Emperours hands and his head were to bee wondred at Now the Emperour being in his Palace the States and the great men in their feats the chiefe Priest or the Metropoliâ—tan turneth his face and looketh upon the Emperour saying My most loving Sonne and great Duke of Muscovia now the Gods have placed thee in the highest Tower of Fortune and in the great state of Dignity not to harme or hurt thy people but to helpe and to guide them not to devoure them but to relieve them ministring Lawes and Iustice to every man alike laying before thine eyes the noble Examples of the best Emperours thy Father brought much calamity and wrought many dangers to this Empire Wilt thou defend thy Countrey with Iustice and with armes make much of good men and subdue the wicked If thou doe this we thy Cittizens here will pray unto the regall Gods of supernall and infernall power to blesse thee with much felicity that in thee wee may see our Countrey flourish This being done the people make great joy and triumph form the highest to the lowest and therewithall much money is throwne among the vulgar people I could not read of any crown nor of any other monuments among the Muscovites for it seemed by the tyranny of the Emperours that they use very few godly ceremonies I should have set downe at the comming of the great Duke through the streete the peoples throng was such that many were with naked swords to make way for the Emperour to passe by who commanded by all rigour and extremity to keep the people off The Nativity of our Saviviour Christ. THe Nativity of our Saviour Christ seemed so simple his life so poore and his death so â—gnominous that he was a stumbling blocke to the Iewes