with many and cruel blows and threatned to be beheaded to which he answered You worship such Gods as will perish like dung upon the Earth but as for me come life come death I will worship none but the God of Heaven and Earth Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXVI St. Origen when he was but seventeen years old his Father being carried to Prison had such a fervent mind to suffer Martyrdom with him that he would have thrust himself into the Persecutors hands had it not been for his Mother who in the night time privately stole away his Cloths and his very shirt also whereupon more for shame to be seen naked than for fear of death he was forced to stay at home yet he writ thus to his Father Pray Sir be sure you do not change your Resolution for my sake Clarks Mar. XXVII Valence the Emperor being an Arrian sent Messengers to St. Basil to persuade him to imbrace that Heresy they gave him good words and promised him great Preferment if he would do it but he answered Alas Sir these Speeches are fitter to catch little Children that look after such things than such as me who being taught and instructed by the Holy Scriptures had rather suffer a thousand deaths than that one syllable or tittle of Gods Word should be altered the Governor being in a rage threatned him with confiscation of his Goods Torments Banishment and Death Basil replied He need not fear Confiscation that had nothing to lose nor Banishment to whom Heaven only is a Country nor Torments when his Body may be dashed in pieces by one blow nor Death which is the only way to set him at liberty and I wish it would fall out so well on my side that I might lay down this Carcase of mine in the Quarrel of Jesus Christ and in the defence of his Truth The Praefect told him that he was mad I wish said he that I may be for ever thus mad Clarks Examples XXVIII The same Emperor Valence coming to the City of Edessa perceived that the Christians did keep their Assemblies in the Fields for their Churches were pulled down and demolished whereat he was so inraged that he gave the President Methodius a box on the Ear for suffering such their Meetings commanding him to take a Band of Soldiers and to scourge with Rods and knock down with Clubs as many as he should find of them this his order being proclaimed there was a Christian Woman who with a Child in her Arms ran with all speed toward the place and was got amongst the ranks of those Soldiers that were sent out against the Christians and being by them asked whither she went and what she would have she told them That she made such hast lest she and her little Infant should come too late to be partakers of the Crown of Christ amongst the rest of those that were to suffer When the Emp. heard this he was confounded desisted from his enterprize and turned all his fury against the Priests and Clergy Wanly Hist Man p. 214. XXIX St. Chrysostom stoutly rebuked the Empress Eudoxia for her Covetousness telling her That she would be called a second Jezabel and when she sent him a threatning Message Go tell her said he I fear nothing but Sin and when she confederating with his other Enemies had procured his banishment as he went out of the City he said None of these things trouble me for I said before within my self if the Queen will let her banish me the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof if she will let her saw me asunder the Prophet Isaiah was so used if she will let her cast me into the Sea I will remember Jonah If she will let her cast me into a burning fiery Furnace or to the wild Beasts the three Children and Daniel were so dealt with If she will let her stone me or cut off my head I have St. Stephen and John the Baptist for my blessed Companions If she will let her take away all my goods and substance naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and naked shall I return thither again He was so beloved that on a time when he was like to be silenced the people cried out we had better want the shining of the Sun then the Preaching of Chrysostom Clarks Lives p. 78. XXX In the persecution of the Church under the Arrian Vandals who committed all manner of Cruelties upon the true Christians there were a great number condemned to be burnt in a Ship to which they were accompanied by a multitude of their Brethren being led like innocent Lambs to the Sacrifice and looking upon their weighty Chains and Irons wherewith they were loaded as rare Jewels and Ornaments they went with all cheerfulness and alacrity to the place of Execution even as though they had gone to a Banquet singing praises with one voice unto the Almighty as they went along the Streets saying This is our desired day more joyful to us then any Festival behold now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation when for the faith of our Lord God we suffer death that we may not lose the Garment of Faith and Glory The People likewise with one voice cried out Fear not O Servants of God neither dread the Threats of your Enemies die for Christ who died for us that he might redeem us with the price of his saving blood Amongst them was a little Boy to whom a subtle Seducer said why hastest thou my pretty Boy unto death let them go they are mad take my Counsel and thou shalt not only have life but great advancement in the Kings Court to whom the Lad answered You shall not get me from the fellowship of these Holy Men who bred me up and with whom I have lived in the fear of God and with whom I desire to die and with whom I trust I shall obtain the Glory to come and so being all put into the Ship they were burnt together Clarks Martyr XXXI Among others who were terribly tormented they tortured Women and especially Gentlewomen stark naked openly without all shame and particularly a young Lady called Dyonisia whom they saw bolder and more beautiful than the rest they first commanded her to be stripped stark naked and made ready for the Cudgels who spake stoutly to them saying I am assured of the love of God vex me how you will only my Womanhood disclose you not But they with the greater rage set her naked upon an high place for a publick spectacle then did they whip her till the streams of blood did flow all over her body whereupon she boldly said Ye Ministers of Satan that which you do for my reproach is to me an honour And beholding her only Son that was young and tender and seemed fearful of Torments checking him with a Motherly Authority she so incouraged him that he became more constant than before to whom in the midst of his terrible Torments she said Remember O my
comforted not only in Spirit but also in Body for he received a certain Tast of the Holy Communion of Saints whilst a most pleasant refreshing did issue from every part of the Body to the seat and place of the Heart and from thence to all the parts again Clar. Mar. p. 94. LIII Bishop Latimer being brought before the Privy Council was there entertained with many scoffs and scorns and from thence was sent Prisoner to the Tower where God gave him such a valiant Spirit that he did not only bear the terribleness of his Imprisonment with admirable patience but he derided and laughed to scorn all the doings and threats of his Enemies Ibid. p. 528. LIV. Mr. John Philpot having lain for some time in the Bishop of Londons Cole-house the Bishop sent for him and among other questions asked him why they were so merry in Prison Singing saith he and rejoicing in your naughtiness as the Prophet speaks whereas you should rather lament and be sad Mr. Philpot answered My Lord the mirth that we make is but in singing certain Psalms as we are commanded by St. Paul to rejoice in the Lord singing together Hymns and Psalms for we are in a dark comfortless place and therefore we thus sollace our selves I trust therefore your Lordship will not be angry seeing the Apostle saith If any be of an upright heart let him sing Psalms And we to declare that we are of an upright mind to God though we are in misery yet refresh our selves with such singing After some other discourse saith he I was carried back to my Lords Cole-house where I with my six Fellow-Prisoners do rouze together in the straw as cheerfully I thank God as others do in the Beds of Down And in a Letter to a Friend he thus writes Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his Wife and thank him for providing me some ease in my Prison and tell him that though my Lords Cole-house is very black yet it is more to be desired of the Faithful than the Queens Pallace the World wonders how we can be so merry under such extream miseries but our God is Omnipotent who turns misery into felicity believe me there is no such joy in the world as the People of God have under the Cross of Christ I speak by experience and therefore believe me and fear nothing that the world can do unto you for when they imprison our Bodies they set our Souls at liberty to converse with God when they cast us down they lift us up when they kill us then do they send us to everlasting life what greater glory can there be then to be made conformable to our Head Christ and this is done by Affliction O good God what am I upon whom thou shouldst bestow so great a mercy This is the way though it be narrow which is full of the Peace of God and leadeth to eternal bliss oh how my heart leapeth for Joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof God forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great Glory I have so much Joy that though I be in a place of darkness and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so full of Joy as I never was so merry before the Lords name be praised for ever our Enemies do fret fume and gnash their Teeth at it O pray instantly that this Joy may never be taken from us for it passeth all the delights in this world this is the peace of God that passeth all understanding this peace the more his chosen are afflicted the more they feel it and therefore cannot fail neither for fire nor water Ibid. p. 534. LV. Thus the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda puts into his Servants his own Spirit from whence proceeds their transcendent zeal and courage for the Truth from this Spirit it was that John Rabeck a French Protestant being required to pronounce Jesu Maria and to join them together in one Prayer answered That if his Tongue should but offer to pronounce those words at their bidding himself would bite it asunder with his Teeth Another Martyr said If every hair of my head were a man I would suffer death in the Opinion and Faith I am now in This Spirit was in St. Athanasius Ambrose Favel and that noble Army of Martyrs one of them told the Persecutors That they might pluck the Heart out of his Body but could never pluck the Truth out of his Heart another said That the Heavens should sooner fall than he would turn a third said Can I die but once for Christ Thus did they undervalue life and despise death through that Divine Valour wherewith they were inspired though death in itself is the King of Terrours and very dreadful to man naturally as by the following Example is demonstrated with which I shall conclude this particular LVI A Christian King in Hungary being on a time very sad his Brother a Jolly Courtier would needs know of him what ailed him O Brother said he I have been a great sinner against God and I know not how to die nor to appear before God in Judgment These said his Brother are melancholy thoughts and withal made a jest at them the King replied nothing for the present but the custom of the Country was that if the Executioner came and sounded a Trumpet before any mans door he was presently to be led to Execution the King in the dead time of the night sends the Hangman to sound his Trumpet before his Brothers door who hearing it and seeing the Messenger of Death flies pale and trembling into his Brothers presence beseeching him to tell him wherein he had offended O Brother replied the King you have never offended me and is the sight of my Executioner so dreadful and shall not I that have greatly and grievously offended God fear to be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ Clarks Mirrour p. 138. LVII Thus far we have seen the excellent effects of Natural and Christian Magnanimity Courage and Faithfulness there is yet another sort of Fidelity which is exceeding Praise-worthy which is the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagements and the Trust reposed in them the Syrians were looked upon as men of no Faith and not fit to be trusted by any man and that besides their curiosity in keeping their Gardens they had scarce any thing in them that was commendable The Greeks also laboured under this imputation as being as false as they were Luxurious and Voluptuous It is strange that those who were so covetous after all other kinds of improvement and knowledge should in the mean time neglect that which sets a fuller value upon man than a thousand other accomplishments namely his fidelity to his Promise and Trust LVIII Ferdinand the first King of Spain left three Sons behind him Sanctius Alphonsus and Garcius amongst whom he had also divided his Kingdoms but they lived not long in mutual Peace for soon after the death of their Father Sanctius
up in his Gown and Shoes as he was and laying his Body by that of his Wives burnt them both together the Sepulcher of these Two is yet to be seen at Tarentum and is called The Tomb of the Two Lovers Valer Max. lib. 4. XVI And though the Female be the weaker Sex yet such has been the fidelity and incredible strength of affection in some that they have oft-times performed as great things as the most generous Men they have despised death in the most dreadful shapes and all sorts of difficulties by an invincible Love to their Hushands in the greatest extremity Of which Histories are not silent for we râ—ad that Eumenes burying the dead that had fallen in the Battel of Gabine against Antigonus amongst others there was found the Body of Ceteas the Captain of those Troops that had come out of India this man had two Wives who accompanied him in the Wars one which he had newly married and an other whom he had married some years before but both of them bore an intire love to him for whereas the Laws of India require that one Wife shall be burnt with her dead Husband both these offered themselves to death and strove with that ambition as if it had been some glorious prize they sought after before such Captains as were appointed their Judges the younger Wife pleaded That the other was with Child and that therefore she could not have the benefit of that Law The elder alledged That whereas she was before the other in years it was also fit that she should be before her in Honour since it was customary in other things that the Elder should have place The Judges when they understood by Midwives that the Elder was with Child passed Judgment that the younger should be burnt which done she that had lost the cause departed rending her Diadem and tearing her Hair as if some grievous calamity had befallen her the other full of Joy at her Victory went to the Funeral Fire magnificently drest up by her Friends and led along by her Kindred as if to her Wedding they all the way singing Hymns in her Praises When she drew near the fire taking off her Ornaments she delivered them to her Friends and Servants as tokens of Remembrance they were a multitude of Rings with variety of precious Stones Chains and Stars of Gold c. This done she was by her Brother placed upon the combustible matter by the side of her Husband and after the Army had thrice compassed the Funeral Pile fire was put to it and she without a word of complaint finished her life in thell ames Diod Siculus lib. 9. XVII Arria the Wife of Cecinna Paetus understanding that her Husband was condemned to die and that he was permitted to chuse what manner of death liked him best she went to him and having exhorted him to depart this life couragiously and bidding him farewel gave her self a stab into the Breast with a Knife she had hid for that purpose under her Cloaths then drawing the Knife out of the wound and reaching it to Paetus she said The wound I have made Paetus smarts not but that only which thou art about to give thy self Camer Spare hours Whereupon Martial hath an Epigram to this purpose When Arria to her Husband gave the Knife Which made the wound whereby she lost her life This wound dear Paetus grieves me not quoth she But that which thou must give thyself grieves me XVIII The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Kingdom of Japan in the East-Indies hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful Woman to his Wife got him dispatched and having sent for the Widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires she told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honoured with the Friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murder her self if he offered her any violence but if he would grant her the favour to spend one month in bewailing her Husband and then give her liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the Deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his Servant and how far she would comply with his affections it was easily granted a very great Dinner was provided whither came all the Kindred of the deceased the Gentlewoman perceiving the Prince began to be warm in his Wine in hopes of enjoying her promise she desired liberty to withdraw into an adjoyning Gallery to take the Air but as soon as she was come into it she cast her self headlong down in the presence of the Prince and all her dead Husbands relations and so put an end to her life Mandelsloes Travels XIX In the Reign of the Emperor Vespasian there was a Rebellion in France the chief Leader of which was Julius Sabinus they being reduced the Captain was sought after to be punished but he had hid himself in a Vault or Cave which was the Monument of his Grand-father he caused a report to be spread of his death as if he had voluntarily poysoned himself and the better to persuade men of the truth of it he caused his House to be set on fire as if his body had therein been burnt he had a Wife whose name was Eponina she knew nothing of his safety but bewailed his death would not be comforted there were only two of his freed men who were privy to it they pitying their Lady who was determined to die and in order thereunto had abstained from all manner of meat for three days together thereupon they declared her purpose to her Husband and besought him to save her that loved him so well it was granted and she was told that her Sabinus lived she came to him where they lived with secrecy and undiscovered for the space of nine years together she conceived and brought forth Children in that solitary Mansion at last the place of their abode came to be known they were taken and brought to Rome where Vespasian commanded they should be stain Eponina producing and shewing her Children Behold O Caesar said she these I have brought forth and brought up in a Monument that thou mightest have more suppliants for our Lives O cruel Vespasian that could not be moved with such words as these well they were both led to death and Eponina joyfully died with her Husband who had been before buried with him for so many years together Lipsius Monitor lib. 2. XX. Portia the Daughter of Cato and Wise of Marcus Brutus when she conjectured by the fleepless and disturbed nights of her Husband that he had conceived some great thing in his mind and concealed it from her in suspition of her weakness she to give her Husband an instance of her Constancy and Secrecy made her self a deep wound in her Thigh with a Razor upon which there followed a stream of blood weakness and a Feaver When Brutus
Augustus had taken Adiatoriges a Prince of Cappadocia together with his Wife and Children in War and had led them to Rome in Triumph he gave order that the Father the elder of the Brothers should be slain The designed Ministers of this Execution were come to the place of restraint to this unfortunate Family and there inquiring which of the Brethren was the eldest there arose a vehement and earnest contention between the two young Princes each of them affirming himself to be the Elder that by his death he might preserve the life of the other when they had long continued in this pious Emulation the Mother at last not without difficulty persuaded her Son Dyetentus that he would permit his younger Brother to die in his stead as hoping that by him she might be more probably maintained Augustus was at length certified of this great example of Brotherly love and not only lamented that act of his severity but gave an honourable support to the Mother and her surviving Son Heywoods Hist Women XLIII Heliodorus the Brittain had afterward the Sirname of Pius upon this occasion the People provoked with the Cruelty and Avarice of Archigallus had deposed him and raised Heliodorus to the Throne of his Brother one time when the King went on hunting he accidentally met with his Brother Archigallus in a Wood whose altered visage and ragged cloths gave sufficient evidence of his afflicted condition as soon as the King knew him though he was not ignorant how he had sought his Restoration both by force and fraud yet he lovingly imbraced him and caused him privately to be conveyed into the City The King pretended he was sick and giving forth that he would dispose of the Affairs of the Realm by his last Will and Testament he called his Nobles together he then signified that he would confer in private with each of them singly and as every man entered into his Chamber he caused him to be laid hold on threatning him with death if he would not consent to the sparing of his Brother and that he should resign the Throne and Kingdom to him having by this means gained an universal assent he then opened the business in the presence of them altogether so that Archigallus was restored to the Kingdom and he dying in few years Heliodorus succeeded him with equal Justice and Glory Fulgosus Examples p. 634. XLIV There was a Soldier in the Camp of Pompeius who in the War with Sertorius perceiving a Soldier on the other side to press hard upon him he sought with him hand to hand and having slain him he went about to strip him of his Arms which when he had done he found it was his Brother who had fallen under him whereupon having a long time curst his unhappy Fate he carried his dead Brother into the Camp and having covered the Body with a precious Garment he laid the Corps upon the Funeral Pile and put fire to it which done he immediately drew the same Sword wherewith he had slain his Brother and thrust it into his own Breast and so falling prostrate upon the dead Body of his Brother they were both burned together Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLV There was a report though a false one that Eumenes King of Asia was slain by the fraud of Perseus upon the news whereof his Brother Attalus seized upon the Crown and married the Wife of his Brother but being informed of Eumenes his return he went forth to meet him not without apprehensions of fear in regard of what he had done in his absence Eumenes made no shew of his displeasure only whispered him in the Ear That before he married another Mans Wife he should besure her Husband was dead This was all and not long after dying though by his Wife he had a Son of his own yet he left the Kingdom to his Brother together with the Queen his Wife Attalus on the other side that he might not be surpassed in Brotherly love though he had many Children by his own Wife yet he educated that Son she had by Eumenes to the hope of the Kingdom and when he came of sufficient Age freely resigned up all to him and lived a private life many years after Burtons Melancholy p. 564. XLVI Darius King of Persia being extreamly provoked by Crimes of an extraordinary nature had pronounced Sentence of death upon Ithaphernes his Children and the whole Family of them at once the Wife of Ithaphernes went to the Kings Pallace and there all in tears was so loud in her mournful Lamentations that her cries coming to the Kings Ear moved him in such manner to compassion that the King sent her word That with her own he gave her the life of any single Person whom she would make choice of among the condemned the Woman begged the life of her Brother Darius wondred that she should rather ask his life than that of her Husband or any of her Children and therefore asked her the reason who replied That since her Father was dead she could never hope for a Brother more if she should lose this but that her self being but young as yet might hope for another Husband and other Children Darius was moved with this answer and being inclined to Brotherly love as well as prudence he gave her also the life of her eldest Son Heywoods Hist Women XLVII Tiberius being at Ticinum and hearing that his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany he immediately put himself on an hasty Journey to give him a visit he passed the Alps and the Rhine and changing his Horse night and day he travelled outright two hundred miles with only one Person in his Company as his Guide Drusus though at that time labouring for life being informed of his coming commanded his Legions with their Ensigns to march out and meet him and to salute him by the Title of Imperator or Emperor he ordered a Praetorial Tent to be erected for him on the right hand of his own and gave him the Confular and Imperial name at the same time yielding this honour to his Brother and his Body to death Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLVIII Great was the love of Timolaeon the Corinthian to his Brother for when in a Battel with the Argives he saw his Brother fall down dead with the wounds he had received he leaped over the dead body of his Brother and with his Shield he protected the body as it lay and though in this enterprize he was sore wounded himself yet would he not retreat into any place of safety till such time as he had seen the dead body of his Brother carried off from the Field Fulgosus lib. 5. XLIX Neither has the extraordinary Love of Servants toward their Masters wanted great Examples some of whom have discovered eminent Fidelity and Virtue so that Fortune may seem to have treated them injuriously not to allot them as great advantages as their Masters they lived under for we read that the Servant of Vrbinius Panopion knowing
confessed the Fact and when he asked who she was I am said she the Sister of that Theagines who died fighting valiantly against thy Father in the Fields of Chaeronea the generous Prince hearing her resolute answer freely dismissed her without punishment Plutarchs Lives p. 670. VI. There was a Maid called Lucia who lived a Virgin among many others and whose exquisite beauty was sought unto with vehement sollicitation by a powerful Lord who having Command and Authority in his hands sent Messengers to seize on this innocent Lamb and whilst they were at the Gate threatning to kill her and set all on fire if this poor Creature was not delivered into their hands the Virgin came forth What is it said she you demand I beseech you tell me whether there be any thing in my Power to purchase your Lord and Masters Love Yes answered they in a flouting manner your Eyes have gained him nor can he ever have any rest till he enjoy them Well go then said she only suffer me to go to my Chamber and I will give satisfaction in this point The poor Virgin seeing her self between the Hammer and the Anvil she spake to her Eyes and said How my Eyes are you then guilty I know the reservedness and simplicity of your glances nor have I in that kind any remorse of Conscience but howsoever it be you appear to me not innocent enough since you have kindled fire in the heart of a man whose hatred I have always more esteemed than his love quench with your blood the flames you have raised Whereupon with a hand piously cruel she digged out her Eyes and sent the torn Relicks imbrued in her blood to him that sought her adding Behold what you love he seized with horrour and astonishment hastened to hide himself in a Monastery where he remained the rest of his days Causins Holy Court p. 106. VII When King Demetrius was at Athens there was a young Boy of so lovely a Countenance that he was commonly called Democles the Fair whom Demetrius sent for and courted with fair speeches large promises and great gifts and at other times he sought to terrify him with Threats and all that he might gain the abominable use of his Body but the chast Lad was proof against all these and to avoid the importunity of the King he resorted not to the publick places of exercise or to the Baths with his Companions as before but used to wash himself in private and alone Demetrius was informed of it and finding his time rushed in upon him being alone the Boy perceiving he could not now avoid the lust of this Royal Ravisher had such extream horrour at the apprehension of it that he snatched off the cover of the Caldron where the water was boyling and leaping into it soon choaked himself chusing rather to die than to outlive the violation of his Chastity Plut. Lives p. 377. VIII Cyrus had taken Captive the Wife of Tigranes Son to the King of Armenia and then asked him at what price he would redeem his Wife At the price of my life said he rather than she should live in servitude Cyrus well pleased at that answer gave liberty to his Wife her Father and the rest of the Captives and when amongst them there was great discourse of the Virtues of Cyrus some also extolling the compleat shape of his Body And said Tigranes to his Wife did he not seem to thee very beautiful Really said she I did not look upon him Vpon whom then said he Vpon him replied she that said he would redeem my Captivity at the price of his life Burtons Melan. p. 563. IX Zenophon writes of Cyrus that when Pantheae a most beautiful Lady was taken Captive by him and was now about to be brought into his presence he expresly forbid it lest he should violate his own and her chastity though but with his Eyes when Araspes one of his familiar Friends persuaded him to go to her Tent and confer with her alledging That she was of incomparable excellency and a Lady worthy of a Kings Eye Vpon that account replied he there is the greater reason that I should forbear for should I now make her a visit while I am at leisure she may peradventure so order the matter as to occasion my return to her when I have very much business Lipsius Mon. p. 369. X. Acciolin a Tyrant of Padua in Italy in 1253. surprized by Treason a little Neighbour City called Bassian at which surprizal Blanch Rubea was taken with her Sword in her hand her Husband having been slain fighting valiantly she was disarmed and dragged by violence before the Tyrant who extreamly taken with her beauty laboured both by promises and threatnings to corrupt her chast mind but finding the fortress not to be overcome this way he resolved to carry it by plain force but Blanche made shift by some pretence to rid her self out of his hands and recovering a Window threw her self from thence headlong to the ground where she lay weltring in her own blood she was taken up half dead carried to a Bed and carefully looked after when some days were passed over and she was perfectly recovered she was again brought before Acciolin where she still continued in her chast resolution but the shameless Villain caused her to be bound and held so fast by certain Grooms the furtherers of his Debaucheries that notwithstanding all the resistance she could possibly make he defiled the Body of this excellent Lady a mortal grief seized upon her for this execrable outrage yet having dissembled it some few days she gained leave of her Friends to see the body of her Husband being then all putrified at her desire the Tomb-stone was lifted up and Blanche discovering the body suddenly fell down upon it drawing after her the stay that held up the stone by the fall whereof her head was so bruised and crushed that death soon followed and she was laid in the same Tomb with her beloved Husband Camer Medit. p. 224. XI Under this head may be likewise comprehended that Modesty and Shamesacedness that is in the nature of some Men and Women which is generally an argument of a Soul ingenuously and virtuously inclined as we may collect from the following Examples and we may also pitty those whose Fate had been kinder if their Faces had not been altogether so tender Maximilian the first Emperor of Germany forbid expresly that his naked body should be seen after he was dead he was the Modestest of all Mortals none of his Servants ever saw him obey the necessities of nature nor but few Physicians his Urine Camer Medit. p. 160. XII The Milesian Virgins were in time past taken with a strange distemper of which the cause could not then be found out for all of them had a desire to die and a furious longing to strangle themselves many finished their days this way in private neither the Tears nor Prayers of their Parents nor the
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The Death of Arch-Bishop Land Duke Hamilton Lord Capel Mr. Love Dr. Hewet and others The illegal Trial of King Charles 1. at large with his last Speech at his Suffering And the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. with Pictures of several remarkable Accidents Price One Shilling VII THe Young mans Calling or the whole Duty of Youth in a serious and compassionate Address to all young Persons to remember their Creator in the days of their Youth Together with Rmarks upon the Lives of several excellent young Persons of both Sexes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for Virtue and Piety in their Generations namely on the Lives of Isaac and Joseph in their Youth On the Martyrdom of seven Sons and their Mother and of Romanus a young Nobleman with the invincible courage of a Child of seven years old who was martyred On the Martyrdom of divers holy Virgins and Martyrs On the Life of that blessed Prince King Edw. 6. with his earnest Zeal for the Protestant Religion and his ingenious Letters to his Godfather A. 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Vnparalleld VARIETIES Or the Matchless Actions and Passions OF MANKIND Displayed in near Four Hundred Notable Instances and Examples Discovering the Transcendent Effects I. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude II. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity III. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences IV. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude V. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery VI. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures By R. B. Author of the History of the Wars of Eng. c. Remarks of London c. Wonderful Prodigies c. Admirable Curiosities in England c. Extraordinary Adventures of famous Men and Surprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in the Heavens Earth and Sea c. London Printed for Nath. Crouch at his Shop at the Sign of the Bell in the Poultry 1683. Unparaleld Varieties Iulius Caesar Slain in the Senate by Brutus Cassius others Page 15. London Printed for Nath Crouch TO THE READER IT is an usual saying that Variety Delights but especially in History and more it may be in this Age than in any other before wherein a great many seem to scorn the dull heavy humor of their Ancestors as they please to call it and therefore have not patience to read large Histories admiring their own briskness Ingenuity and Wit though much of it is altogether invisible but only to themselves and their own vain imaginations However since the light French Airiness is now so modish it may not be thought improper so far to comply therewith as to present the Reader with this brief Compendium out of many great Volumes of abundance of short delightful Relations and Instances upon various Subjects which may prevent both tediousness and charge and may likewise furnish the mind with apt matter both for Discourse and Instruction in brief here they may as in a Glass discover the excellent rewards of Virtue and the dreadful punishments of Vice in all Ages of the world and thereby be persuaded to follow and practise the one that they may escape the unavoydable consequences of the other and if it have this admirable effect I shall then reckon my time and pains well imployed in writing of it neither will the Reader repent of his in the Reading thereof R. B. CHAP. I. The Transcendent Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude discovered in several Memorable Examples LOve and Friendship are the chief Bonds of Humane Society without which Mankind would be Wolves and destrovers of each other I shall therefore give some instances of the extraordinary Effects thereof in all Ages and that in the most large acceptation of it as of the Passion of Love between different Sexes the disquiets whereof have sometimes made deep impressions upon divers Persons of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives and Wives to their Husbands of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children and the reverence and Love of Children to their Parents of the extraordinary Love of Brethren and of many Servants to their Masters of the signal Love of some Persons to Religion and Truth and their hatred of Flattery and Falshood the Love of several to Peace Justice and to their Country together with the choicest instances of the most intire Friendship and the grateful dispositions of some Persons and what returns they have made of the benefits received these shall be the particulars of this first Chapter wherein the variety of the Relations cannot but administer some profit as well as delight since they are collected from Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit I shall therefore proceed in order and first as to Humane Love or that strictly called the Passion of Love I. Eginardus was Secretary of State to Charlemaign Emperour and King of France and having placed his The Emp. of Ger. Daughter caryes her Lover on her back to prevent Discovery Page .1 Affections much higher than his Condition admitted made love to one of his Daughters who seeing this Man of a brave Spirit and a grace suitable thought him not too low for her whom merit had so eminently raised above his Birth she affected him and gave him free access to her Person so far as to suffer him to have recourse unto her to laugh and sport in her Chamber on the Evenings which ought to have been kept as a Sanctuary where Relicts are preserved It happened on a Winters night that Eginardus ever hastning his Approaches and being negligent in his returns had too much slackned his departure in the mean time a â—…ow had fallen which troubled them both for when he thought to go forth he feared to be known by his feet the Lady was unwilling that such prints of steps should be found at her door they being much perplexed Love which taketh the Diadem of Majesty from Queens made her to do an Act for a Lover very unusual for the Daughter of one of the greatest Men upon Earth she took the Gentleman upon her shoulders and carried him all the length of the Court to his Chamber he never setting foot to ground that so the next day no impression might be seen of his footing it fell out that Charlemaign watched at his Study this night and hearing a noise opened the Window and perceived this pretty prank at which he could not tell whether he were best to be angry or to laugh the next day in a great Assembly of Lords and in the presence of his Daughter and Eginardus he asked what punishment that Servant might seem worthy of who made use of a Kings Daughter as of a Mule and caused himself to be carried on her Shoulders in the midst of Winter through Night Snow and all the sharpness of the Seasons Every one gave his opinion and not one but condemned that insolent man to death the Princess and Secretary changed colour thinking nothing remained for them but to be flead alive but the Emperour looking on his Secretary with a smooth brow said Eginardus hadst thou loved the Princess my Daughter thou oughtest to have come to her Father the disposer of her Liberty thou art worthy of death and I give thee two lives at this present take thy fair Portress in Marriage fear God and love one another these Lovers thought they were in an instant drawn out of the depth of Hell to enjoy the greatest happiness in the World Causins Holy Court Tom. 2. II. Pyramus a young Man of Babylon was exceedingly in love with Thisbe the Daughter of one that lived the very next House to his Father nor was he less beloved by her both Parents had discerned it and for some Reasons kept them both up so streightly that they were not suffered so much as to speak to one another at last they found opportunity of discourse through the Chink of a Wall betwixt them and appointed to meet together in a certain place without the City Thisbe came first to the place appointed but being terrified by a Lioness which passed by she
fled into a Cave near thereabouts and in her flight had lost her Veil which the Lioness tumbled to and fro with her bloody Mouth and so left it soon after Pyramus came also to the same place and there finding the Vail which she used to wear all bloody he overhastily concluded that she was torn in pieces by some wild Beast and therefore slew himself with his own Sword under a Mulberry Tree which was the place of their mutual agreement Thisbe when she thought the Lioness was gone past left her Cave with an earnest desire to meet her Lover but finding him slain overcome with grief and desire she fell upon the same Sword and died with him Zuinglius p. 461. III. Eurialus Count of Augusta was a young man of extraordinary beauty and during the stay of the Emperour Sigismund King of Bohemia and Hungary at Sienna he cast his Eye upon Lucretia a Virgin of that place and at first sight fell vehemently in love with her the Virgin also whom in respect of her admirable form they called commonly the second Venus was no less surprized than himself at the same instant in a short time they became better acquainted but at the Emperors removal thence to Rome when Eurialus was compelled to leave his Lady behind him she was not able to endure his absence but died under the impatience of it Eurialus at the hearing of her death though he was somewhat supported by the counsels and consolations of his Friends and thereby persuaded to live yet from the time of her death to the last day of his life he was never known to laugh Donatus Hist Medit. IV. Gobrias a Captain when he had espied Rodanthe a fair Captive Maid he fell upon his knees before Mystilus the General with tears vows and all the Rhetorick he could by the Scars he had formerly received the good services he had done or whatsoever else was dear unto him he besought his General that he might have the fair Prisoner to his Wife as a reward of his Valour moreover he would forgive him all his Arrears I ask said he no part of the booty no other thing but Rodanthe to be my Wife and when he could not compass her by fair means he fell to Treachery force and Villany and at last set his life at stake to accomplish his desire Burtons Melancholy part 3. V. Plutarch saith it was a custom remaining to his days that Wives would wish so to be beloved of their Husbands as Pieria was by Phrygius this wish had its rise from the following History of those Jonians that planted themselves in Miletum some raised Sedition against the Sons of Neleus and seated themselves in Myo these received divers injuries from the Mil sians who made war upon them for going away from them but not so severely as to exclude all commerce so that upon some Festivals the Women had liberty to come from Myo to Miletum Pythes was one of the Revolters and understanding that a Feast was to be kept in Miletum to Diana he sent his Wife and Daughter Pieria to obtain leave that he might be present at it now of all the Sons of Neleus Phrygius was the most powerful he being inflamed with the love of Peria thought of nothing more than of doing something that might be acceptable to her and when she told him that nothing could be more grateful to her than to procure her liberty of coming often to Miletum in the Company of many Virgins he understood by that Speech that Peace was desired and Friendship sought with the Milesians he therefore concluded the War and thence was it that the names of these two Lovers were so dear to both People Plutarch de virtute Mulier p. 531. VI. There was amongst the Grecians a Company of Souldiers consisting of three hundred that was called The Holy Band erected by Gorgidas and chosen out of such as heartily loved one another whereby it came to pass that they could never be broken nor overcome for their love and hearty affection would not suffer them to forsake one another whatsoever danger happened but at the Battel of Cheronaea they were all slain after the fight King Philip taking view of the dead bodies he stood still in that place where all these three hundred men lay slain thrust through with Pikes on their Breasts whereat he much wondred and being told that it was the Lovers Band he sell a weeping saying Wo be to them that think these men did or suffered any dishonest thing Plutarch in Pelopida VII Leander was a young Man of Abidos and was deeply in love with Hero a beautiful Virgin of Sestos these two Towns were opposite to each other and the narrow Sea of the Hellespont lay betwixt them Leander used divers nights to swim over the Hellespont to his Love while she held up a Torch from a Tower to be his direction in the night but though this practice continued long yet at length Leander adventuring to perform the same one night when the Sea was rough and the waves high was unfortunately drowned his dead body was cast up at Seslos where Hero from her Tower beheld it but she not being able to outlive so great a loss cast her self headlong from the top of it into the Sea and there perished Innumerable are the instances of the Effects both Tragical and Comical proceeding from this Humane Love and every week almost produceth some extraordinary Accidents proceeding therefrom let us therefore next relate some remarkable examples of Conjugal Love between Husbands and Wives VIII One of the Neapolitans 't is pity his name as well as his Country is not remembred saith Mr. Burton being busily imployed in a Field near the Sea and his Wife at some distance from him the Woman was seized upon by some Turkish Pyrates who came on shoar to prey upon all they could find upon his return not finding his Wife and perceiving a Ship that lay at Anchor not far off conjecturing the matter as it was he threw himself into the Sea and swam up to the Ship then calling to the Captain he told him he was come to follow his Wife he feared not the Barbarism of the Enemies of the Christian Faith nor the miseries those Slaves endure that are thrust into places where they must â—…g at the Oar his Love overcame all these the Mâ—ors were full of admiration at the carriage of the man for they had seen some of his Countrymen rather chuse death than to endure so hard a loss of their Liberâ—y and at their return they told the whole of this story to the King of Tunis who moved with the Relation of so great a Love gave him and his Wife their freedom and the Man was made by his command one of the Soldiers of his Liseguard Burtons Melancholy Part 3. IX Philip King of France Sirnamed The Good the first Author of that greatness whereunto the House of Burgundy did arrive was about twenty three years
angrily said First let me know before I suffer myself to be imbraced by you whether I am come to a Son or an Enemy and whether I am a Captive or a Mother in your Camp Much more she added after this manner with tears in her Eyes he moved with the tears of his Mother Wife and Children imbracing his Mother You have conquered saith he and my Country hath overcome my just anger being prevailed upon by the intreaties of her in whose Womb I was conceived And so he freed the Roman Fields and the Romans themselves from the sight and fear of those Enemies he had led against them Plutarchs Lives p. 230. XXXII There happened in Italy sath Causin as it often happens a great irruption of Mount Aetna nowcalled Mount Gibel it murmurs burns belches up flames and throws out its fiery Entrails making all the world to fly from it it happened then that in this violent and horrible breach of flames every one flying and carrying away what they had most precious with them Two Sons the one called Anapias the other Amphinomus careful of the wealth and goods of their Houses reflected on their Father and Mother both very old who could not save themselves from the Fire by flight and where shall we said they find a more precious Treasure than those who begat us The one took up his Father on his Shoulders the other his Mother and so made passage through the flames it is an admirable thing saith my Author that Almighty God in consideration of this Piety though Pagans did a miracle for the Monuments of all Antiquity witness that the devouring flames stayed at this spectacle and the fire wasting and broiling all about them the way only through which these two Sons passed was tapestried with fresh verdure and greenness and called afterward by Posterity The Field of the Pious in memory of this Accident Causins Holy Court Tom 1. XXXIII There were three Brothers whoupon the death of the King their Father fell out amongst themselves about the Succession in the Kingdom at last they agreed to stand to the judgment and determination of a Neighbour King to whom they fully referred the matter he therefore commanded the dead body of the Father to be fetcht out of his Monument and ordered that each of them should shoot an Arrow at his heart and he that hit it or came the nearest to it should succeed the Elder shot first and his Arrow past through the Throat of his Father the second Brother shot his Father into the Breast but yet missed the heart the youngest detesting this wickedness I had rather said he yield all to my Brothers and utterly resign up all my pretences to the Kingdom than to treat the body of my Father with this Contumely this saying of his considered the King passed Sentence That he alone was worthy of the Kingdom as having given evidence how much he excelled his Brothers in Virtue by the Piety he had shewed to the dead body of his Father Leon. Theat p. 278. XXXIV A Roman Praetor or Judge had sentenced to death a Woman of good birth for a Capital Crime and had delivered her over to the Triumvir to be killed in Prison the Jaylor that received her moved with compassion did not presently strangle her but permitted her Daughter to come often to her being first diligently searched lest she should convey in any sustenance to her the Jaylor expecting that she should die of Famine when therefore divers days had passed wondring within himself what it might be that might occasion her to live so long he one day set himself to observe her Daughter with greater curiosity and then discovered how with the milk in her Breasts she allayed the Famine of her Mother the news of this strange spectacle of the Daughter suckling her Mother was by him carried to the Triumvir and from him to the Praetor who brought the cause to the Judgment of the Consul who pardoned the Woman as to the Sentence of death passed upon her and to preserve the memory of that act where her Prison stood they caused an Altar to be erected to Piety Plinys Nat. Hist XXXV When the City of Troy was taken the Greeks did as became gallant men for pitying the misfortune of their Captives they caused it to be proclaimed that every free Citizen had liberty to take along with him any one thing that he desired Aeneas therefore neglecting all other things carried out with him his Houshold Gods the Greeks delighted with the Piety of the man gave him a further permission to carry out with him any other thing from his House whereupon he took upon his shoulders his Father who was grown old and decrepit and carried him forth the Grecians were extreamly affected with this fight and deed of his and thereupon gave him all that was his own confessing that nature itself would not suffer them to be enemies but Friends to such as preserved so great Piety toward Heaven and so great a Reverence to their Parents Aelian Var. Hist XXXVI Otho the second Emperor of Germany had a Son named Luitolphus a valiant and haughty young man who taking offence at his Fathers second Marriage rebelled against him being assisted by many considerable Persons hereupon Otho raised a great Army to suppress them but Luitolphus not finding himself able to encounter his Father in the Field betook himself to the City of Mentz where his Father besieged him for the space of threescore days and severely battered the City which yet was as valiantly defended against him but at last the Besieged made a motion for Peace whereupon a Truce was granted during which Luitolphus and his Partizan found an opportunity in the night to leave Mentz and betake himself to Ratisbone the Emperor without one days delay followed them to Ratisbone which was better fortified and provided than Mentz and so the Siege was more difficult and doubtful and in the Assaults and Sallies many brave men perished on each side yet soon after Luitolphus sued to his Father for Peace and Pardon which the Emperor at length by the mediation of some Prelates limited to a certain time wherein his Sons faults and offences should be examined and a Treaty should be held to conclude all matters upon which Luitolphus surrendred the City and absented himself from his Fathers presence till he saw the issue but before the time prefixed was expired the Emperor being hunting Luitolphus having been convinced and really sensible of his Fault without any security from his Father came before him in the Fields bare-headed and bare-footed and kneeling at his Fathers feet wept the Father being amazed at this strange and unexpected rencounter stood still and the Son at last recovering his Spirits intreated him to have compassion on him acknowledging his faults and offences to have been very great and rather deserving a thousand deaths than any pardon but being heartily sorry for the same he like the Prodigal Son presented himself
before his Father who had also a Father in Heaven by whom he hoped to be forgiven and if he would please to grant him his life he would assure him to be ever after a Loyal and Obedient Son who lived and would continually live in a constant forrow for what was past and if he intended to deal otherwise with him he yet desired him to remember That he was his own flesh and blood and that though the offence were only his yet the just Father must needs bear a part of the punishment inflicted upon the guilty Son but that in shewing mercy no inconvenience could ensue and that if he should be inexorable he should lose the most Obedient Son that ever Father had having ended these and many other words to the same effect he with great humility prostrated himself upon the Earth expecting his Fathers Sentence either of Life or Death this struck so great an impression into the Emperors heart to hear and see his Son shew such humility and to shed so many tears that he could not forbear to do the like and commanding him to arise from the ground with joy mixed with tears both from himself and his Attendants he immediately pardoned him and restored him to his Grace and Fatherly love and to the same Offices and Dignities he had before and from thence forward the Son continued constant in that Loyalty and Duty which he owed to his Father and Soveraign Lord so long as they lived together Imperial Hist p. 423. XXXVII A Son of the Lord Montpensier an Italian going to Puzzuolo to visit the Sepulcher of his Father was so overcharged with Passion that after he had washed all the parts of his Monument with his lamentable Tears he fainted and fell down dead upon the Sepulcher of his Father Guichardine Ital. Hist p. 261. XXXVIII Decimus Emperor of Rome had a purpose and earnest desire to set the Crown upon the head of his Son Decius out he utterly refused it saying I fear lest being made an Emperor I should forget that I am a Son I had rather be no Emperor and a dutiful Son than an Emperor and such a Son as hath forsaken his due obedience let then my Father bear the Rule and let this be my Empire to obey with all humility whatsoever he shall command me By this means the Solemnity was put off and the young Man was not Crowned unless you will say that his signal Piety towards his Parent was a more glorious Crown to him than that which consisted of Gold and Jewels Valer. Maxim lib. 4. XXXIX In the Civil Wars of Rome between Augustus and Mark Anthony as it often falls out that Fathers Sons Brothers Brothers take contrary part so in that last Battel at Actium where Augustus was Conqueror when the Prisoners as the Custom is were counted up Metellus was brought to Octavianus whose face tho much changed by anxiety and imprisonment was known by Metellus his Son who had been on the contrary part withtears therefore he runs into the imbraces of his Father and then turning to Augustus This thy Enemy said he hath deserved death but I am worthy of some reward for the service I have done thee I therefore beseech thee instead of that which is owing me that thou wouldst preserve this man and cause me to be killed in his stead Augustus moved with this piety though a great Enemy gave to the Son the life of the Father Lonic Theat 273. XL. Demetrius the King of Asia and Macedonia was taken Prisoner in Battel by Seleucus King of Syria after which Antigonus his Son was the quiet possessour of his Kingdom yet did he change the Royal Purple into a mourning habit and in continual tears sent abroad his Ambassadours to the Neighbouring Kings that they would interpose in his Fathers behalf for the obtaining of his Liberty he also sent to Seleucus and promised him the Kingdom and himself as an hostage and security if he would free his Father from Prison after he knew that his Father was dead he set forth a great Navy and went out to receive the body of the deceased which by Seleucus was sent toward Macedonia he received it with such mournful Solemnity and so many tears as turned all men into wonder and compassion Antigonus stood in the Poop of a great Ship built for that purpose cloathed in black bewailing his dead Father the Ashes were inclosed in a golden Urn over which he stood a continual and disconsolate Spectator he caused to be sung the Virtues and Noble Atchievements of the deceased Prince with voices form'd to Piety and Lamentation the Rowers also in the Gallies so ordered the stroaks of their Oars that they kept time with the mournful voices of the others in this manner the Navy came near to Corinth so that the Rocks and Shores themselves seemed to be moved to mourning Plutarchs Lives Thus far of Paternal and Filial Love let us proceed to that between Brethren XLI It is usually counted rare to see Brothers live together in mutual love and agreement with each other and it is likewise commonly observed that their Animosities have been managed with greater rancour bitterness than if they had been the greatest Strangers on the other side where this Fraternal Love has rightly seated it self in the Soul it has appeared as real and vigorous as any other sort of Love whatsoever of which there want not very remarkable Instances In the year 1585. the Portugal Ship called St. Jago was cast away upon the Shallows near St. Lawrence and towards the Coast of Mosambique here it was that divers Persons had leapt into the great Boat to save their lives and finding that it was overburdened they chose a Captain whom they swore to obey who caused them to cast Lots and such as the Lot fell upon to be cast overboard there was one of those that in Portugal are called New Christians who being allotted to be cast overboard into the Sea had a younger Brother in the same Boat that suddenly rose up and desired the Captain that he would pardon and make free his Brother and let him supply his place saying My Brother is elder and of better knowledge in the World than I and therefore more fit to live in the World and to help my Sisters and Friends in their need so that Thad rather die for him than live without him at which request they saved the elder Brother and threw the younger at his own desire into the Sea who swum at least six hours after the Boat and though they held up their hands with naked Swords willing him that he should not once come to touch the Boat yet laying hold thereon and having his hand half cut in two he would not let go so that in the end they were constrained to take him in again both these Brethren I knew saith my Author and have been in company with them Linschotens Voyages p. 147. XLII When the Emperor
is but a poor Baker in Edenburgh and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe I am a great man born when there is no such matter Peachmans Compleat Gentleman p. 5. LXVIX It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told a Lie for which cause he was judged to be capable worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar Friend to Tully that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear one related his uprightness was so remarkable that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estate to his Trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his Charge Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a Person extreamly devoted to truth and gives him this threefold commendation That he was never known to tell a Lie that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that Fidelity and Truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon Oath yet the Athenians among whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge That his Evidence should be lawful and good without swearing Laert. Vit. Philos LXX One who was designed for an Agent and Ambassadour waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Wentworth for some direction in his Conduct and Carriage to whom he thus delivered himself To secure your self and serve your Country you must at all times and upon alloccasions speak Truth for saith he you will never be believed and by this means your speaking Truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with to a great loss who will still act contrary to what you declare in all their inquiries and undertakings Albertus the Popish Archbishop of Mentz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Archbishop answered I know not what this Book is but I am sure that all which is written therein is quite against us Luther Coll. p. 11. LXXI When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had writ of his Glorious Archievements wherein he had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the Book threw it into the River Hydaspis and told the Author That it were a good deed to throw him in after it the same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence because he had long lived with him and yet never reproved him for any of his Vices and Faults Maximilian the first Emperor of Germany though he might be desirous to be famous to Posterity for his Noble Actions and Atchievements yet he was very averse and afraid to be praised to his face when therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with mighty praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer extempore and withal take heed said he that you praise me not for a mans own Praises from his own mouth carry but an evil savour with them It is written of our Henry 5. that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk and something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not that he would not be flattered Cambdens Remains p. 228. LXXII Pambo came to a learned man and desired him to teach him some Psalm who began to read unto him the 39th Psalm and the first verse I said I will look to my ways that I not offend with my Tongue Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point and having absented himself for some months he was demanded by his Teacher when he would go forward he answered That he had not yet learned his old Lesson to speak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue Sueton. Hist LXXIII Some men have been also famous for being great Lovers and Promoters of Peace for though the frantick world hath generally made Darlings of such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of Humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the Face of the Universe though these are the men it hath Crowned with Lawrels advanced to Thrones and flattered with the misbecoming Titles of Hero's and Gods while the Sons of Peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own Virtues yet there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to court her without the consideration of any Additional Dowry For we read that Otho the Emperor when he saw that he must either lay down the Empire or else maintain himself in the possession thereof by the blood and slaughter of a number of Citizens he determined with himself to die a voluntary death and when his Friends and Soldiers desired him that he would not so soon begin to despair of the event of the War he replied That his life to him was not of that value as to occasion a Civil War for the defence of it who can chuse but admire that such a Spirit as this should be found in an Heathen Prince and he too not above thirty years of Age. Erasmus Apotheg LXXIV The Inhabitants of the Islands of Borneo not far from the Molucca's in the East-Indies live in such detestation of War and are so great lovers of Peace that they hold their King in no other Veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in Peace but if he discover inclinations to War they never leave till he is fallen in Battel under the Arms of his Enemies so soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as men that fight for their Liberty and for such a King as will be a great lover of Peace nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the persuader or Author of a War but he was deserted by them and suffered to fall under the Sword of the Enemy Dinoth Memor p. 76. LXXV Constantius the Emperor observing such differences among the Fathers of the Church called the Council of Nice at which also himself was present at this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of each other all which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all but when
himself yet he rated the Bassa with sharp language What saies he dost thou think it handsome to complain thus grievously of my Son Knowest thou not that both thy self and this Wife of thine are my Slaves and accordingly at my dispose If therefore my Son has imbraced her and followed the inclinations of his mind he has but imbraced a Slave of mine and having my approbation he hath committed no fault at all think of this and go thy way and leave the rest to my self This he said in defence of his absolute Empire but being unsatisfied in his mind and vexed at the thing he first sends for his Son examines him touching the Fact and he having confessed it he dismissed him with outragious Language and threatnings three days after when paternal love to his Son and Justice had striven in his Breast love to Justice having gained the Superiority and Victory he commanded his Mutes to strangle his Son Mustapha with a Bowstring that by his death he might make amends to injured and violated Chastity Turkish Hist p. 411. LXXXIV King Henry the second of France commanded that an Italian Lacky should be put into Prison without telling why whereupon the Judges set him at liberty having first delivered their opinion to the King who again commanded that he should be put to death having as he said taken him faulty in a foul and heinous Crime which he would not have to be divulged yet the Judges for all this would not condemn him but set open the Prison doors to let him go forth it is true that the King caused him to be taken afterwards and thrown into the River Seine and drowned without any form of Law to avoid Tumult but the Judges would not condemn a Person where no proof was made that he was guilty Camerarius Medit. p. 472. LXXXV Otho the first Emperor of Germany being upon a Military expedition a Woman threw her self at his feet beseeching a just revenge according to the Laws upon a Person who had committed a Rape upon her the Emperor being in hast referred the hearing of the cause till his return But who then replied the Woman shall recall unto your Majesties mind the horrid injury that hath been done to me The Emperor looking up to a Church there by This Church saith he shall be a witness betwixt me and thee that I will do thee Justice and so dismissing her he with his retinue set forward at his return seeing the Church he called to mind the Complaint and caused the Woman to be summoned before him who at her appearance thus bespake him Dread Soveraign the man of whom I heretofore complained is now my Husband I have since had a Child by him and have forgiven him the injury not so said the Emperor by the head of Otho he shall suffer for it for a collusion among your selves doth not make void the Laws And so he caused his head to be struck off Lonic Theat p. 475. LXXXVI Chabot was Admiral to King Francis the first of France a man most nobly descended of great Valour and in high favour with his Prince but as in other men the Passion of love grows cold and wears out by time so the Kings affection being changed toward the Admiral had charged him with some Offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Piemont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Tryal hereupon the King gave commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the Kings Advocate to question the Admirals life the Chancellor being an ambitious man and of a large conscience hoping to please the King wrought so cunningly upon some of the Judges threatned others so severely and drew in the rest with fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the Kings displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his Life But the King hating Falshood and though to any that should bewail the Admirals Calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be Indicted Arraigned Degraded and Condemned Rawleighs Hist World p. 471. LXXXVII Totilas King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Lifeguard had ravished his Daughter upon which the accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as the Fact deserved but the Soldiers came about him desiring that their Fellow-Soldier a man of known Valour might be delivered back to them Upon which Totilas sharply reproved them What would you have said he know you not that without Justice neither any Civil nor Military Government is able to subsist do not you remember what slaughters and Calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of Justice we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one Villain Look to your selves ye Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud being careless of what shall happen thereupon that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved to do so then first strike at me behold a Body and a Breast ready for your stroke The Soldiers were so moved at this Speech that they deserted their Client the King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated Woman Lipsius Monit p. 250. LXXXVIII In the Reign of King James 1612. June 25. the Lord Sanquer a Nobleman of Scotland having upon private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther John Turner a Fencing Master thought by his greatness to have carried it off but the King respecting nothing so much as Justice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter to Villany but according to the Law upon June 29. the said Lord Sanquer having been Arraigned and Condemned by the name of John Creighton Esquire was executed before Westminster-Hall Gate where he died very penitent Bakers Chronicle p. 464. LXXXIX The Chronicle of Alexandria relateth an admirable passage of Theodorick King of the Romans Juvenilis a Widow made her complaint that a Suit of hers in Court was drawn out for the space of 3 years which might have been dispatched in few days The King demanded who were her Judges she named them they were sent unto and commanded to give all the speedy expedition that was possible to this Womans Cause which they did and in two days determined it
to her good liking which done Theodorick called them again they supposing it had been to applaud their excellent Justice now done hastned thither full of joy being come the King asked of them How cometh it to pass you have performed that in two days which had not been done in three years They answered the recommendation of your Majesty made us finish it How replies the King when I put you into Office did I not consign all Pleas and proceedings to you and particularly those of Widdows You deserve death so to have spun out a business in length three years space which required but two days dispatch and that instant he commanded the heads of all the Judges to be struck off Causins Holy Court p. 90. XC In the Reign of the Emperor Constantius Acindinus the Praefect of Antioch had a certain Person under custody for a pound of Gold to be paid into the Exchequer threatning him That in case he paid it not by a certain day he should aie the death The man knew not where to have it and now the fatal day drew near he had a beautiful Wife to whom a rich man in the City sent word that for a nights lodging he would pay in the Gold She acquaints her Husband who for the safety of his life readily gave her leave she renders her self up to the rich man who at her departure gave her only a pound of Earth tyed up in a bag instead of the promised Gold she inraged at her injury together with this cheat added thereto complains to the Praefect and declares to him the truth of the whole matter who finding that his Threats of her Husband had brought her to these extremities pronounced Sentence on this manner The pound of Gold shall be paid out of the goods of Acindinus which was himself the Prisoner shall be free and the Woman shall be put into the possession of that Land from whence she received Earth instead of Gold Lonic Theat p. 476. XCI The Emperor Leo Armenus going out of his Pallace was informed by a mean Person that a Senator had ravished his Wife and that he had complained of his injury to the Praefect or Judge but as yet could have no redress The Emperor commanded that both the Praefect and the Senator should be sent for and wait his return in his Pallace together with their accuser being come back he examined the matter and finding it true as the man had represented he displaced the Praefect from his Office for his negligence and punished the Crime of the Senator with death Lipsius Monitor p. 250. XCII King Turquin being banished Rome for the rape of Lucretia Brutus and Collatinus Husband to Lucretia were chosen Consuls and in the time of their Consulship Tarquins Agents had corrupted two of the most ancient Families in Rome the Aquilians who were Nephews to Collatine and the Vitellians who were allied to Brutus and two of his Sons were drawn into this Treason by them the Conspiracy being at last discovered the Consuls met in the publick place and sent for the Conspirators and there before all the People discovered the Treason the People being much amazed hung down their heads only some few of them thinking to gratify Brutus moved that they might be banished but Brutus calling his Sons by Name asked them what they could answer for themselves and when being confounded they held their peace he said to the Serjeants They are in your hands do Justice then did the Serjeants tear off their cloths bound their hands and whipt them with Rods which sad spectacle moved the People to pity so that they turned away their faces but the Father never looked off nor changed his severe countenance till at last they were laid flat on the ground and had their heads struck off then did Brutus depart and left the Execution of the rest to his Fellow Consul but Collatine shewed more favour to his Kindred being solicited thereto by his Wife and their Relations Valerius a Nobleman of Rome seeing this partiality exclaimed against him for it saying That Brutus spared not his own Sons but Collatine to please a few Women was about to let manifest Traytors to their Country escape Hereupon the People called for Brutus again who being returned to his Seat spake thus For mine own Children I judged them and saw the Law executed upon them but for these others I leave them freely to the Judgment of the People whereupon they all cried out Execution Execution and accordingly their heads were presently struck off Plutarchs Lives XCIII The love of Queen Elizabeth to her People in general and her tender care over the poor and oppressed in particular was admirable and incomparable Fler Ears were always open to their Complaints and her Hands stretched forth to receive their Petitions her manner was always to recommend their Causes to her Council and Judges whom she used thus to charge Have a care of my People you have my Place do you to them what I ought to do they are my People yet every one oppresseth them and spoileth them without mercy They cannot help themselves nor revenge their own quarrel see to them I pray you see to them for they are my charge them therefore I charge you with even as God hath committed them to me I care not for my self my life is not dear unto me my care is for my people if you knew the care I have for them you might easily discern that I take no great Joy in wearing a Crown Clarks Mirrour p. 370. XCIV An English Merchant had sold a great quantity of Cloth to one of the Turks the next year when the Merchant came again the Turk told him That he was mistaken in the measure of his Cloth and that there was so much over-measure as came to fifteen pounds more and that he had put it into a bag that it might be ready against he came next the Merchant told him that he had got enough by him and said much good may it do you the Turk replied Sir take it or else I will otherwise dispose of it for it is none of mine XCV When Sysamnes one of the chiefest of the Persian Judges had given an unjust Judgment Cambyses the King caused him to be flead alive and his skin to be hung over the Judgment Seat and having bestowed the Office of the dead Father upon Otanes the Son he willed him to remember That the same partiality and injustice would deserve the same punishment Rawleigh's Hist World p. 37. XCVI Neither ought we to forget nor conceal the names of those who have discovered such a signal Love to their Country that they have not valued to redeem the lives of their Countrymen and Fellow Citizens at the price of their own of which the following relations are very considerable instances The Town of Calice during the Reign of Philip de Valois of France being brought to those streights that now there was no more hope left either of
not enduring delay caught up a Ladder and rearing it against the wall and holding his shield over his head began to mount it all which he performed with that celerity that before the Guard of the place had observed it he had gained the top the Enemy durst not approach to deal with him hand to hand but at a distance threw Javelins and Darts at him in such number that he was much oppressed by them the Macedonians endeavoured to mount upon two Ladders they had advanced but their number and weight that ascended caused them to break under them then was Alexander left destitute of any assistance but scorning to retire by the way that he came armed as he was he leaped into the midst of his Enemies and made a bold and couragious resistance on his right hand he had a Tree that grew near the wall and on the left the wall itself to keep him from being inviroroned and there he fought it with the stoutest of them many a blow he received upon his Helmet and Shield at last he had a wound under the Pap with an Arrow with the pain of which he was struck to the ground then the Indian that had given him the wound carelesly approaching too near him to strike him as he lay received Alexanders Sword into his Bowels and tumbled down by his side The King catching hold of a Bough that hung downward again recovered his standing and then began to challenge the best of them to the Fight in this posture he was found by Peucestes who by this time had got over the wall and after him a multitude of others by which means the Castle was taken and most of them put to the Sword Justin Hist lib. 12. XII Sir Robert Knowls was born but of mean Parentage in the County of Chester yet for his valiant behaviour was advanced from a common Soldier in the French Wars under King Edward the Third to be a great Commander and being sent General of an Army into France in despight of all their power he drove all the People before him like so many Sheep destroying Towns Castles and Cities in such a manner and number that long after in memory of this Act their sharp Points and Gable ends of overthrown Houses and Minsters were called Knowls his Miters after which intending to make himself as much beloved of his Country as he was feared of Forreign Nations he built the goodly fair Bridge of Rochester over the River of Medway with a Chappel and a Chancery at the East end thereof He founded also a Colledge with an Hospital adjoining thereto in the Town of Pontfract in Yorkshire He likewise built an Hospital in the City of Rome for the entertainment of English Travellers and Pilgrims which since is turned into a Seminary for our English Fugitives he died at his Mannor of Scone-Thorp in Norfolk in 1407. Clarks Mirrour p. 217. XIII In a dangerous battel against the Danes at a place called Longcarty the Scots beginning to retreat there was living hard by one Hay a man of exceeding strength and of an excellent Courage who suddenly caught up an Ox Yoak and together with his Sons flew into the Battel and so valiantly and fortunately behaved himself that what by frighting the Enemy and incouraging his Friends he reinforced the Scots who were ready to shrink and fly and obtained for them a great and glorious Victory The King with the States of the Kingdom ascribed the Victory and their own safety to his Valour and Prowess whereupon in that very place the most fruitful grounds were assigned to him and to his Heirs for ever who in testimony hereof have set over their Coat a Yoke for their Crest Camb. Britt XIV Gunhilda the Daughter of King Canutus was Married to the Emperor Henry the Third who being accused of Adultery and none sound to defend her cause at last an English Page a meer Boy and Dwarf who for the littleness of his stature was generally and jestingly sirnamed Mimecan this Champion adventured to maintain her innocency against a mighty Giantlike Combatant who in the fight at one blow cutting the sinews of his Adversaries Legs with another felled him to the ground and then with his Sword taking his Head from his Sholders he redeemed both the Empresses life and Honour Bakers Chronicle p. 17. XV. In a bloody Fight betwen Amurath the Third Emperor of the Turks and Lazarus Despot of Servia many thousands fell on both sides but in conclusion the Turks had the Victory and the Despot was slain Amurath after that great Victory with some few others of his chief Captains taking a view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps on the Field like Mountains a Christian Soldier sore wounded and all gore blood seeing him in a staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of a heap of slain men and making toward him for want of strength fell down many times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man at length drawing nigh to him when they that guarded the Kings Person would have stayed him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him This magnanimous half dead Christian pressing nearer to him as if he would for honour sake have kist his feet suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his Belly with a short dagger which he had under his Coat of which wound that great King and Conqueror presently died the name of this man was Miles Cobeletz who shortly after was hewn in pieces Turk Hist XVI King William the Second called Rufus being reconciled to his Brother Robert he assisted him to recover the Fort of Mount St. Michael which their Brother Henry did forcibly hold in Normandy during which Siege stragling one time alone upon the shoar he was set upon by three Horsemen who assaulted him so fiercely that they drove him from his Saddle and his Saddle from his Horse but he catching up his Saddle and withal drawing out his Sword defended himself till rescue came and being afterward blamed for being so obstinate to defend his Saddle It would have angred me said he to the very heart that the Knaves should have bragged they had won the Saddle from me Bakers Chron. p. 50. XVII George Castriot or Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus was inspired with such a Spirit of valour by God in defending his Country from the barbarous Turks that in fighting against them for very eagerness of Spirit his blood would usually burst out of his lips and he struck with such violence that he clave many of them asunder from the head to the middle and usually he cut off an Arm with Armour on at one blow and with his own hands he slew above two Thousand of them at several times he was such a mirrour of Manhood and so terrible to the Turks that nine years after his death as they passed through Lyssa where his body lay
Child that we are Baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity let us not lose the Garment of our Salvation lest it be said cast them into utter darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth for that pain is to be dreaded that never endeth and that life to be desired that always lasteth The Youth was so incouraged hereby that he persevered patient in all his sufferings till in the midst of his Torments he gave up the Ghost and many by this Ladies Exhortations and Example were converted to Christianity and animated in their sufferings Not long after Cyrillus the Arrian Bishop of Carthage stirred up Hunrick the Tyrant against the Christians telling him That he could never expect to enjoy his Kingdom in peace so long as he suffered any of them to live hereupon he sent for seven eminent Christians to Carthage whom he first assaulted with flattery and large promises of Honour Riches c. if they would imbrace his Faith but these Servants of Christ rejected all his offers crying out One Lord one Faith one Baptism saying also do with our Bodies what you please torment them at your will it is better for us to suffer these momentary pains than to indure everlasting Torments Before this Hunrick sent his Commissioners to impose the following Oath upon them under the utmost penalty You shall swear that after the death of our Lord the King his Son Hilderick shall succeed him in the Kingdom whereupon some cryed out we are all Christians and hold the Apostolical and only True Faith and seeing further into the subtlety of this Oath refused it other well meaning men offered to take it whereupon they were divided asunder and committed to custody the names of both Parties and of what Cities they were being taken in writing and soon after the King sent them this Message As for you that would have taken the Oath because you contrary to the rule of the Gospel which saith swear not at all would have sworr the Kings Will is that you shall never see your Churches nor Houses more but be banished into the Wilderness and there shall till the ground But to the refusers of the Oath he said Because you desire not the Reign of our Lord the Kings Son you shall therefore be immediately sent away to the Isle of Corse there to hew Timber for the Ships Clarks Martyr XXXII In the eighth Primitive Persecution under Valerianus Sixtus Bishop of Rome with his six Deacons were accused for being Christians whereupon being brought to the place of Execution they were all beheaded St. Lawrence also another Deacon following Sixtus as he went to Execution complained that he might not suffer with him but that he was secluded as the Son from the Father to whom the Bishop answered That within three days he should follow him bidding him in the mean time to go home and if he had any Treasures to distribute them among the Poor the Judge hearing mention of Treasures supposing that Lawrence had great store in his Custody commanded him to bring the same to him Lawrence craved three days respite promising then to declare where the Treasure might be had in the mean time he caused a great number of poor Christians to be gathered together and when the day of his answer was come the Persecutor strictly charged him to make good his promise but valiant Lawrence stretching out his Arms over the poor said These are the precious Treasures of the Church these are the Treasures indeed in which Christ hath his Mansion But O what Tongue is able to express the fury and madness of the Tyrants Heart how he stamped stared raved like one out of his wits his Eyes glowed like Fire his Mouth foamed like a Boar he grindeth his Teeth like an Hell-hound and then he bellows out Kindle the fire make no spare of Wood hath this Villain deluded the Emperor Away with him whip him with Scourges jerk him with Rods buffet him with Fists brain him with Clubs what doth the Traytor jest with the Emperor Pinch him with fiery Tongs gird him with burning Plates bring out the strongest Chains and Pireforks and the grate of Iron set it on the fire bind the Rebel hand and foot and when the grate is red hot on with him rost him broyl him toss him turn him upon pain of our high displeasure do every man his Office O ye Tormentors Immediately his command was obeyed and after many cruel Tortures this meek Lamb was laid I will not say upon a Bed of fiery Iron but on a soft down Bed so mightily did God work for his Servant and so miraculously did he temper this Element of Fire that it was not a Bed of consuming pain but of nourishing rest unto Lawrence so that the Emperor and not Lawrence seemed to be tormented the one broyling in the flesh the other burning in his heart when this Triumphant Martyr had been pressed down with Fire-forks for a great while in the mighty Spirit of God he spake thus to the Tyrant This side is now roasted enough Turn up O Tyrant Great And try whether roasted or raw Thou thinkst it's better meat By the couragious Confession of this worthy and valiant Deacon a Roman Soldier was converted to the same Faith and desired to be Baptized whereupon he was called before the Judge Scourged and afterward be headed Acts and Mon. XXXIII In the Arrian Persecution in Africa there was one Saturus a Nobleman eminent for Piety whom the Tyrant much laboured to withdraw from the Christian Profession but he refusing the King told him that if he presently consented not he should forfeit his House his Lands his Goods and his Honours that his Children and Servants should be sold and his Wife should be given to his Camel-driver or one of the basest of his Slaves but when threats prevailed not he was cast into Prison and when his Lady heard her doom she went to her Husband as he was praying with her Garments rent and her hair dishevel'd her Children at her heels and a sucking Infant in her Arms and falling down at her Husbands feet she took him about the Knees saying Have compassion O my sweetest of me thy poor Wife and of these thy Children look upon them let them not be made Slaves let not me be yoaked in so base a Marriage consider that what thou art required to do thou dost it not willingly but art constrain'd thereunto and therefore it will not be laid to thy charge But this valiant Soldier of Christ answered her in the words of Job Thou speakest like a foolish Woman thou actest the Devils part If thou truly lovedst thy Husband thou wouldst never seek to draw him to sin that may separate him from Christ and expose him to the second death know assuredly that I am resolved as my Saviour Christ commands me to forsake Wife Children House Lands c. that so I may enjoy him and be his Disciple And accordingly he was
who was of a fierce and violent disposition made War upon his Brother Alphonsus overcame and took him Prisoner and thrust him into a Monastery constrained Religion lasts not long and therefore he privately deserted his Cloyster and in company only of one Earl he fled for protection to Almenon King of Toledo who was a Moor and an Enemy to the others Religion but there had been Friendship and Peace betwixt him and Ferdinand the Father of this distressed Prince and upon this account he chose to commit himself unto his Faith and was cheerfully received by him he had not been long with him when in the presence of the King the hair of this Prince was observed to stand up an end in such manner that being several times stroked down by the hand they still continued in their upright posture The Mâ—orish Sooth sayers interpreted this to be a Prodigy of ill signification and told the King that this was the man that should be advanced to the Throne of Toledo and thereupon persuaded to put him to death the King would not do it but preferred his Faith given to the fear he might apprehend and thought it sufficient to make him swear that during his life he should not invade his Kingdom a while after King Sanctius was slain by Conspirators at Zamora and his Sister Vratta being well affected to this her Brother sent him a Messenger with Letters to invite him to the Kingdom advising him by some craft with all speed to quit the Country of the Barbarians where he was Alphonsus bearing a grateful mind would not relinquish his Patron in this manner but coming to Almenon acquainted him with the matter And now said he noble Prince compleat your Royal Favours toward me by sending me to my Kingdom that as hitherto I have had my life so I may now also receive my Scepter by your generosity The King imbraced him and wished him all happiness But said he you had lost both Crown and life if with an ungrateful mind you had fled without my knowledge For I knew of the death of Sanctius and I silently waited what course you would take and had disposed upon the way such as I should have returned you back from your flight had it been attempted But no more of this all I shall require of you is that during your life you shall be a true Friend to me and my elder Son Hissemus And so sent him away with Money and an honourable retinue this Alphonsus did afterward take the City and Kingdom of Toledo but it was after the death of Almenon and his Son Lipsius Mon p. 321. LIX Antaff King of some part of Ireland warring against King Ethelstan disguised himself like an Harper and came into Ethelstans Tent whence being gone a Soldier that knew him discovered it to the King who being offended with the Soldier for not declaring it sooner the Soldier made this answer I once served Antaff under his pay as a Soldier and gave him the same Faith I now give you if then I should betray him what trust could your Grace repose in my Truth let him therefore die but not by my Trechery and let your care remove your Royal self from danger remove your Tent from the place where it stands lest at unawares he set upon you Which the King did and the Bishop pitching in the same place was that night with all his Retinue slain by Antaff hoping to have surprized the King and believing he had slain him because he himself knew his Tent stood in that place Speeds Chrocle p. 381. LX. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceased and left John his Son a Child of twenty two months of Age behind him intrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant he was a man of great virtue and merit and therefore the Eyes of the Nobles and People were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick Assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon but he was still deaf to these proffers alledging the right of his Infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it yet he could not prevail though the Assembly was adjourned for that time they met again in hopes that having time to consider of it he would now accept it who being not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly then Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a severe look voice replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him up upon his Shoulders cryed out God save King John and commanding the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like Camer Horae Subs p. 154. LXI John the first K. of France was overthrown in Battel and made Prisoner by Edw. the Black Prince and afterwards brought over into England Here he remained four years and was then suffered to return into France upon certain conditions which if he could make his Subjects submit to he should be free if otherwise he gave his faith to return he could not prevail to make them accept of the hard Terms that were offered whereupon he returned into England surrendred himself up and there died Fulgosus ex p. 44. LXII Flectius a Nobleman was made Governor of the City and Castle of Conimbria in Portugal by King Sanctius 1243. This Sanctius was too much swayed by his Wife Mencia and over-addicted to some Court Minions and Favourites by reason of which there was a Conspiracy of the Nobles against him and the matter was so far gone that they had got leave of Pope Innocent to translate the Government of the Kingdom to Alphonsus the Brother of Sanctius hereupon followed a War the minds of most men were alienated from their natural Prince but Flectius was still constant induring the Siege and Arms of Alphonsus and the whole Nation nor could he any way be persuaded till he heard that Sanctius was dead in banishment at Toletum for whom now should he fight or preserve his Faith they advised him therefore to follow Fortune and to yield himself and not change a just Praise for the Title of a Desperado and a Madman Flectius heard but believed them not he therefore beg'd leave of Alphonsus that he himself might go to Toletum and satisfy himself It was granted and he there found that the King was indeed dead buried and therefore that he might as well be free in his own conscience as in the opinion of men he opened
the Sepulcher and with sighs and tears he delivers the very Keys of Conimbria into the Kings hands with these words As long O King as I did judge thee to be alive I endured all extremities I fed upon Skins and Leather and quenched my thirst with Vrine I repressed or quieted the minds of the Citizens that were inclining to Sedition and whatsoever could be expected from a faithful Man and one sworn to thy interest that I performed and persisted in only one thing remains that having delivered the Keys of the City to thine own hands I may return freed of my Oath and to tell the Citizens their King is dead God send thee well in another and a better Kingdom This said he departed acknowledged Alphonsus for his lawful Prince and was ever after faithful to him Lipsius Monit p. 324. LXIII King John had made Hubert Burgh Governor of Dover Castle and when King Lewis of France came to take the Town and found it difficult to be overcome by force he sent to Hubert whose Brother Thomas he had taken Prisoner a little before that unless he would surrender the Castle he should presently see his Brother Thomas put to death with exquisite Torments before his Eyes but this Threatning moved not Hubert at all who more regarded his own Loyalty than his Brothers life then Prince Lewis sent again offering him a great sum of Money neither did this move him but he kept his Loyalty as faithfully and inexpugnably as he did his Castle Bakers Chron. p. 110. LXIV Sanctius King of Castile had taken Tariffa from the Moors but was doubtful of keeping it by reason both of the Neithborhood of the Enemy and the great cost it would put him to there was with him at that time Alphonsus Guzman a noble and rich Person a great Man both in Peace and War he of his own accord offered to take the care of it and to be at part of the charge himself and the King in the mean time might attend other affairs A while after the Kings Brother John revolted to the Moors and with some Forces of their's suddenly sate down before Tariffa the Besieged feared him not but relyed upon their own and their Governors valour only one thing unhappily fell out the Son and only Son of Alphonsus was unfortunately taken by the Enemy in the Fields him they shewed before the Walls and threatned to put him to a cruel death unless they speedily yielded the Town the hearts of all men were moved only that of Alphonsus who cried with a loud voice that had they a hundred of his Sons in their power he should not thereupon depart from his Faith and Loyalty and saith he Since you are so thirsty for blood there is a Sword for you throwing his own Sword over the Wall to them away he went and prepared himself to go to Dinner when upon the sudden there was a confused noise and cry that recalled him he again repairs to the Wall and asking the reason of their amazement they told him That his Son had been put to death with barbarous Cruelty Was that it then replied he I thought the City had been taken by the Enemy And so with his former unconcernedness and tranquillity he returned again to his Wife and his Dinner the Enemies astonished at the greatness of his Spirit departed the Siege without any further attempt upon the place Lipsius LXV Boges the Persian was besieged in his City Etona by Cimon General of the Athenians and when he was offered safely to depart into Asia upon delivery of the City he constantly refused it lest he should be thought unfaithful to his Prince being therefore resolved he bore all the inconveniences of a Siege till his Provisions being now almost utterly spent and seeing there was no way to break forth he made a great fire and cast himself and his whole Family into the flames of it concluding he had not sufficiently acquitted himself of his Trust to his Prince unless he also laid down his life for his Cause Herodot p. 417. LXVI Liamgzus the Conductor of the Rebel Thieves had seized the Empire of China taken the Metropolis Peking and upon the death of the Emperor had seated himself in the Imperial Throne he displaced and imprisoned what great Officers he pleased amongst the rest was one Vs a venerable Person whose Son Vsangueius led the Army of China in the confines of Leatung against the Tartars the Tyrant threatned this old man with a cruel death if by his Fatherly power he did not reduce him with his whole Army to the acknowledgment of his Power promising great rewards to them both if he should prevail wherefore the poor old man writ thus to his Son Know my Son that the Emperor Zunchinus and the whole Family of Taimingus are perished the Heavens have cast the Fortune of it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a virtue of necessity avoid his Tyranny and experience his liberality he promiseth to thee a Royal Dignity if with the Army you submit to his Dominion and acknowledge him as Emperor my life depends upon thy Answer consider what thou owest to him that gave thee life To which his Son Vsanguineus returned this answer He that is not faithful to his Soveraign will never be so to me and if you forget your duty and fidelity to your Emperor no man will blame me if I forget my duty and obedience to such a Father I will rather die than serve a Thief And immediately he sent an Ambassador to call in the aid of the Tartars to subdue this Usurper of the Empire Hist China p. 277. CHAP. III. The Transcendent Effects of Chastity Temperance and Humility discovered in divers notable Histories THere is no Vice whatever that is easy to overcome but that of the Lust of the Flesh seems to have a peculiar difficulty in the Conquest of it as being born with us and which accompanies us all along from the Cradle to the Tomb for the most part having so firmly fixed its roots within us that not one of manyis able to prevail against it by how much the more strong therefore the Enemy is and the more intimate and familiar he is with us the more noble is the Victory and the Conquest more glorious which yet some in all Ages have attained as may appear by the following instances I. Scipio had taken the City of New Carthage where besides the rest of the Spoil there were found a number of Boys Girls the Children of the Nobility amongst the rest one Virgin was brought presented to Scipio whose marvellous beauty had attracted the Eyes of all men whithersoever she went it was supposed this would be no unacceptable Present to the young General but he as soon as he looked upon her said only thus I would accept and enjoy this Virgin were I a private Person and not in such command as I am for the Commonwealth keeps my mind sufficiently imployed
yet I receive her as a kind pledg to be by me restored and returned where reason and humanity shall persuade Thereupon he asked the young Lady of what Country she was what her Birth was and who her Parents by whom he understood that she was a Princess and contracted to Lucius a young Prince of her Nation the General therefore sent both for him her Parents and when come setting the Virgin Lady by him he spake thus to her Spouse As soon as this Virgin was by my Soldiers brought and presented unto me I did willingly behold the excellency of her form and I praised the other accomplishments of her body and mind for nature hath not brought us forth blind and altogether ignorant of such things love can reach even this breast of mine but then it must be an honest one and such as the time and my affairs will permit though therefore she is mine by the right of War I am not desirous in the midst of Arms to be concerned in such matters nor perhaps is it comely to detain from a valiant Person one that is already contracted to him I have learnt thus much from her and have therefore sent for you that I might see you and that I Heaven is my witness a chast Man might deliver this chast Virgin to you she hath lived with me with that caution and reservedness as if she had been with her own Parents nor was it a Gift worthy either of my self or thee if either force or private fraud had been any diminution to her Virtue receive her inviolate and enjoy her nor will we have any other recompence besides thy self that is to have a cordial respect to Scipio and the Romans The young Prince was astonished for joy the Parents fell down at the feet of Scipio and laying there a considerable sum of Gold offered it as her ransom but he bid the young Prince take it as part of her Dowry from himself above that which her Parents should give thus did he overcome at once his Lust and his Covetousness and by this one Noble Act of his drew a great part of Spain to the side of the Romans they striving with eagerness to be subject to a Person of so much Virtue Valer. Maxim p. 133. II. St. Jerome gives a relation of a young man of invincible courage who when by all sorts of threatnings he was not to be frighted into Idolatry and the Worship of the Heathen Gods his Enemies resolved upon another course they brought him into a Garden flowing with all manner of sensual pleasures and delights there they laid him in a Bed of Down safely inwrapped in a Net of Silk amongst the Lilies and Roses with the delicious murmur of the Rivulets and the sweet whistling of the winds amongst the leaves and then all departed there was then immediately sent unto him a young and most beautiful Strumpet who used all the abominable tricks of her impure Art and whorish Villanies to draw him to her desire the Youth now fearing that he should be conquered with Folly who had triumphed over fury resolutely bit off a piece of his own Tongue with his Teeth spitting it in the face of the Whore and so by the smart of his wound extinguished the rebellion of his flesh Burtons Melancholy p. 451. III. Euphrasia a Virgin being seized by a Soldier and perceiving her self reduced to that condition that neither her strongest resistance nor tears could any longer defend her Chastity from an armed and hold Ravisher she bids him forbear and that she would redeem at a valuable rate what she could not obtain by all her intreaties she tells him that she was skilled in Magick and that she knew of a certain Ointment with which if he once anointed his Body he should be proof either against Sword or Dart and that she would impart this A Young Man Strangly Preserves His Religion Chastily Page 122. Ioan the Lascivious Q. of Naples hangs her husband K Andrew Page 158 secret to him which to that day she had kept private upon this condition that he would solemnly swear from henceforth not to offer any injury to her Virgin Modesty the Soldier touched with the ambition of Military Glory swore readily to do what she desired she left him a while and having melted some Wax and other Ingredients she anointed her neck and shoulders sufficiently with it then coming to the young man she said That you may understand that I have not dealt deceitfully with you I will extort a belief from you at the hazard of my own Person Come Soldier and with the utmost force you are able strike with your Sword upon this neck of mine that I have so well secured with this Medicament and thou shalt soon be convinced how safe I have rendred my self with this Artifice He whose Lust was almost extinguished by the servent desire he had to make Tryal drew out his Sword and with force enough let drive at the place the Virgin had designed him the Sword entered so far into her Throat that with one and the same blow he cut off his hopes of enjoying the Virgin and her fears of losing her Virginity Strada Prolus Acad. p. 117. IV. Sophronia Romana when she could no longer put off the importunity of the Prince Decius who had before obtained the consent of her Husband desired some short time of retirement before she resigned up her self to him and then with a Dagger which she had closely conveighed into her Garments she stabled her self to death of which Act hear what the Poet says The Chast Sophronia knows not how to escape Th' inevitable danger of a Rape Cruel Sophronia draws her hasty Knife And would relieve her Chastity with Life Doubtful Sophronia knows not what to do She cannot keep the one and t'other too Sophronia's in a strait one Eye is fixt O' th Seventh Commandment t'other on the Sixth To what extreams is poor Sophronia driven Is not Sophronia left at Six and Seven Again Sophronia chuses rather to commit Self-murder than by violence to submit Her ventur'd Honour to th' injurious Trust Of the Eye sparklâ—ng Tyrants furious Lust What means Sophronia Dare her Conscience frame To act a sin but to prevent a shame V. Timoclea was a Lady of Thebes and at the taking of it was forcibly ravished by a Thracian Prince and she revenged the injury after this manner dissembling the extream hatred which she bore to the Ravisher she told him she knew a place wherein much Treasure and store of Gold was concealed she led him to an out place belonging to the House where there was a deep Well and while the overcovetous Thracian leaned over too look into it she tripped up his Heels and sent him to the bottom of it with a quantity of stones after him to hinder his Resurrection from thence for ever to the world being afterwards brought before Alexander the Great and charged with the death of this Captain of his she
unconcerned with that cruel kind of death he was speedily to undergo yea when by the Executioners knife he was cut from the shoulder to the middle of the breast he neither changed his Countenance nor his voice but with a Prayer to God 〈◊〉 ended his life Fulgo Ex. p. 365. CHAP. IV. The Tremendous Consequences of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude Displayed in many memorable Histories HItherto we have discovered only the light side of the Cloud by shewing the extraordinary effects of Love Friendship Magnanimity Courage Fidelity Chastity Temperance and Humility Let us now consider a little the dark side thereof by giving an account of the dreadful consequences of the contrary Vices that is Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude which three will suffice to give some considerable instances in this Chapter wherein I shall observe the same method as in the former and therefore shall insist first of the extream Hatred in some Persons toward others for as amongst the kinds of living Creatures there are certain Enmities and Dissentions whereof there is no apparent reason to be given as of that betwixt the Spider and the Serpent the Ant and Weasel and the like so amongst Men implacable Hatreds are conceived many times upon undiscernible but most times upon unjustifiable grounds I. When Sigismund Marquess of Brandenburg had obtained the Kingdom of Hungary in right of his Wife it then appeared what a mortal hatred there was betwixt the Hungarians and Bohemians for when Sigismund commanded Stephanus Konth and with him twenty more Hungarian Knights to be taken and brought him in Chains as Persons that had delivered the obedience they owed him not one of all those would name or honour him in the least as their King and before either they or their Servants would change their minds they were desirous to lose their heads Pulgosus p. 1189. 2. Timon the Athenian had the Sirname of Manhater he was once very rich but through his liberality and overgreat bounty he was reduced to extream poverty in which condition he had large experience of the malice and ingratitude of such as he had formerly been helpful to he therefore fell into a vehement hatred of all mankind he was glad of their misfortunes and promoted the Ruine of all men as far as he might with his own safety when the People in honour of Alcibiades attended on him home as they used when he had obtained a Cause Timon would not as he was wont to others turn aside out of the way but would meet him on purpose and use to say to him Go on my Son and prosper for thou shalt one day plague all these People with some signal Calamity which accordingly happened some years after he built him an House in the Fields that he might shun the converse of men he admitted to him only one Apemantus a Person much of his own humour and he saying to him Is not this a fine Supper It would said he be much better if thou wert absent This Timon gave order his Sepulcher should be placed behind a Dunghill and this to be his Epitaph Hic sumpost vitam miseramque inopemque sepultus Nomen non quaeras Dii te Lector male perdant Here now I lie after my wretched fall Ask not my Name the Gods confound you all III. Hyppolitus was also of the same Complexion as he expresses himself in Euripides and Seneca if you will have a tast of his language that in Seneca sounds to this purpose I hate stie curse detest them all Cail't Reason Nature Madness as you please In a true Hatred of them there 's some ease First shall the water kindly dwell with fire Dread Gulphs shall be the Mariners desire Out of the West shall be the break of day And cruel Wolves with tender Lamb-skins play Before a Woman gain my conquer'd mind To quit this hatred and to grow more kind IV. Gualter Earl of Brenne had married the eldest Daughter of Tancred King of Sicily and as Heir of the Kingdom went out with four hundred Horse to take possession thereof by the help of these and a marvellous felicity he had recovered a great part of it but at the last he was overcome and taken Prisoner by Theobaldus Germanus at the City Sarna upon the third day after the Conqueror offered him his liberty and restoration to his Kingdom upon condition he would confirm to Theobaldus what he was possessed of therein but he in an unconceivable hatred to him that had made him his Prisoner replied That he should ever scorn to receive these or greater offers from so base a hand as his Theobaldus had reason to resent this affront and therefore told him He would make him repent his so great insolence at which Gualter inflamed with a greater fury tore his Cloths and broke the swathings and ligatures of his wounds crying out That he would live no longer since he was fallen into the hands of such a man that treated him with Threats upon which he tore open his wounds and thrust his own hands into his Bowels and after that resolvedly refusing all food and ways of cure he forcibly drove out his furious Soul from his Body and left only one Daughter behind him who might have been happier had she not had a Beast to her Father Fulgosus p. 1182. V. Who can sufficiently declare the mighty hatred which Pope Boniface the Eighth bore toward the Gibelline Faction It is the custom that upon Ash-Wednesday the Pope sprinkles some Ashes upon the heads of the chief Prelates of the Church and at the doing of it used to say Remember thou art Ashes and that into Ashes thou shalt return When therefore the forementioned Pope came to perform this to Porchetus Spinola Archbishop of Genoa and suspected him to be a favourer of the Gibellines he cast the Ashes not on his head but into his Eyes and perversely changed the use of the former words into these Remember thou art a Gibelline and that with the Gibellines thou shalt return into Ashes B. Reynolds on the Passions VI. Calvin was so odious to the Papists that they would not name him hence in their Spanish Expurgatory Index p. 204. they give this direction Let the name of Calvin be suppressed and instead of it put Studiosus quidam a certain Student or Schollar and one of their Proselites went from Mentz to Rome to change his Christian name of Calvinus into the adopted name of Baronius Chetwinds Collect. p. 90. VII This passion of Hatred Malice Anger Wrath and Envy is a very dangerous disease where-ever it prevails and like the mischievous evil Spirit in the Gospel it casts us into all kind of dangers and frequently hurries us into the Chambers of Death itself The Sarmatian Ambassadors cast themselves at the Feet of Valentinian the first Emperor of Rome imploring Peace he observing the meanness of their Apparel demanded if all their Nation were such as they who replied It was their Custom to send to him such as
a Pastime put his Thumbs into the Childs Eyes and crushed out the Balls thereof Speeds Chronicle p. 448. XXXVIII Next as to undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents it is certain that six hundred years from the building of Rome the Name or Crime of Parricide or killer of their Parents was not so much as known amongst them Paulus Maleolus was the first saith Livy amongst the Romans who was known to have killed his Mother and who underwent the punishment instituted by the Ancients in that case they ordained that the Parricide should be first scourged till the blood came and then sown up in a Sack together with a Cock a Dog a Viper and an Ape and so thrown headlong into the bottom of the Sea but notwithstanding the severity of this Law and those of other Nations against a Crime of this nature there are too many instances of unnatural Children as in part will appear by what follows XXXVIII There was a young Duke of Gelders named Adolph who took his Father Duke Arnold one night as he was going to Bed and led him fifteen miles on foot bare legged in a marvellous cold night and laid him in a deep Dungeon the space of six months where he saw no light but through a little hole whereupon the Duke of Cleve whose Sister the old Duke that was Prisoner had Married made sharp War upon this young Duke Adolph the Duke of Burgundy sought by divers means to reconcile them but in vain In the end the Pope and the Emperor began to stir in the matter and the Duke of Burgundy under great Cures was commanded to take the old Duke out of Prison which he did accordingly the young one not being able to prevent it I have often seen them together saith Philip Comines in the Duke of Burgundies Chamber pleading their Cause before a great Assembly and once I saw the old man present the Combate to his Son the Duke of Burgundy being desirous to make an agreement offered the young Duke whom he favoured the Title of Governor of Gelderland with all the Revenues thereof save a little Town near Brabant called Grave which should remain to the Father with the Revenues of three thousand Florens a yearly Pension of as much more and the Title of Duke as was but reason I saith Comines with others wiser than my self were appointed to make report of these conditions to the young Duke who answered us That he had rather throw his Father headlong into a Well and himself after him than agree to such an appointment alledging That his Father had been Duke forty and four years and that it was now time for him to goverâ— Notwithstanding he said he would agree to give him a yearly Pension of three thousand Florens upon condition he should depart the Country as a banished man never to return and such other lewd speeches he used Soon after the young Duke in disguise left the Duke of Burgundies Court to repair home to his own Country but as he ferried over a water near to Namur he paid a Gueldon for his passage whereupon a Priest there present began to suspect him for his liberality and soon after knew him so that he was taken and led to Namur where he remained a Prisoner till the Duke of Burgundies death after which by the men of Gaunt he was set at liberty and by them carried before Tournay where being weakly accompanied he was miserably slain in a skirmish in full revenge of his impiety toward his Father Philip de Comines p. 105. XL. When I was in Valentia in Spain saith Mr. Howel a Gentleman told me of a Miracle which happened in that Town which was that a proper young Man under Twenty was executed there for a Crime and before he was taken down from the Gallows there were many gray and-white hairs which had budded out of his Chin as if he had been a man of threescore It struck amazement into all men out this Interpretation was made of it That this young man might have lived to such an Age if he had been dutiful to his Parents unto whom he had been barbarously disobedient and unnatural Howels Letters p. 211. XLI Martin Luther reports of his own knowledge this wonderful History that a young man a Lock-smith growing vicious and debauched to main tain himself therein was so villanously unnatural as to murder his own Father and Mother with a Hammer to get their Mony and Estate after which cruel deed he presently went to a Shoemaker and bought him a pair of new Shoes leaving his old behind him to be by Divine Providence his Accusers for after an hour or two the slain bodies being found by the Magistrate and inquisition made for the Murderer there being not the least suspition of him because he seemed to make so great lamentation thereat but God who knows the secrets of the heart discovered his Hypocrisy for the Shoemaker observing that some of the blood which ran from his Parents wounds had besprinkled his old Shoes made a discovery thereof which caused first some doubting and from thence the examination of the young man who being confounded with the horrour of the Fact confessed the same for which he was justly executed Beards Theat p. 224. XLII Another Son at Basil in Switzerland in the year 1560. having bought a quantity of Poyson from an Apothecary ministred it to his own Father whereof he soon after died but when he had effected his wish upon him the Crime was detected and instead of possessing his Goods which he aimed at he suffered a vile and shameful death for he was drawn through the Streets burnt with hot Irons and tormented nine hours on the Wheel till his life forsook him Beards Theat p. 224. XLIII Scander late King of Georgia in Persia saith Mr. Herbert had by his Lady three hopeful Sons Scandercan Trebeg and Constandel all born Christians but for preferment the two last were circumcised and turned Mahometans Trebeg served the Turks Constandel the Persians Constandel was naturally deformed but of such an active Spirit that his bodily imperfections were not noted but his hateful ambition rendred him more than monstrous it happened that Abbas King of Persia had vowed some revenge against the Turks and to that end gave order to Allycawn to trouble them Constandel perceives the occasion right to attempt his hellish Resolutions and therefore after long suit got to be joined in Commission with the Persian General Through Georgia they go where Constandel under a pretence of Duty visits his sad Parents who upon his Protestation that his Apostacy was counterfeit joyfully welcomed him but he forgetting that and all other ties of nature next night at a solemn banquet caused them to be murdered till the Georgians saluted him King perpetrated all sorts of Villanies imaginable but how secure soever he stood in his own sancy the dreadful Justice of an impartial God retaliated him the rest of his life after this hated
must study to find out a fit name for it and after all perhaps shall lose his labour Idem p. 392. LXXI The Duke of Linburg deceasing without issue the Duke of Brabant and the Earl of Gelders strove about the succession each of them pretending right to it and when they could not agree they fell to Arms at last the Duke of Brabant won the Victory in a Battel and took amongst other Prisoners the Bishop of Collen who followed the Party of the Earl of Gelders This Bishop after he had been Prisoner to the Earl of Haynault the space of seven years was set at liberty upon certain conditions which he accepted and being ready to return home he prayed the Earl that he would honour him so far as to convey him into the Country The Earl willingly condescended and having brought him almost to Collen not mistrusting any thing he saw himself upon the sudden inclosed with a Troop of Horsemen who took him and delivered him to the Bishop who locked him up in a Prison where he ended his days and the more to vex and torment him the Bishop caused an Iron Cage to be made and anointed all over with Hony which was hung up in the Sun the Earl being locked fast within it This was done in the memory of our Fathers saith P. Camerarius LXXII In the year 1500. when Tamas Shaw was King of Persia the City of Spahawn which is the Metropolis of all Persia surfeiting with Luxury refused not only to contribute reasonably to the Kings occasions who was at that time invaded by the Turks and Tartars but audaciously withstood and hindred his entrance into their City a Rebellion so unsufferable as made him swear a revenge scarce to be parallel'd he assaults the City with great fury and in a rage he enters it firing a great part thereof and in a hostile severity plunders the Houses and to conclude regarding neither the Outcries of old Men weak Women nor innocent Children he in two days made headless three hundred thousand Citizens and erected a Pillar of their Heads as a Trophy and Memorial of their Disloyalty and his bitter Revenge Herberts Tra. p. 160. LXXIII A certain Italian having his Enemy in his power told him there was no possible way for him to save his life unless he would immediately deny and renounce his Saviour the overtimorous wretch in hope of mercy did it and immediately the other stabbed him to the heart saying That now he had a full and noble Revenge for he had killed him at once both Body and Soul B. Reynolds on Passions LXXIV Frederick Barbarossa the Emperor with a strong Army besieged Millain that had withdrawn itself from his Obedience and had lately affronted his Empress in this manner the Empress being desirous to see the City and not fearing to meet with any disrespect from a place under her Husbands Jurisdiction came into it without any Guard the mad People seize upon her set her upon the back of a Mule with her face to the Tail and the Tail in her hand instead of a Bridle and in this shameful manner turned her out of the other Gate of the City the Emperor being justly incensed besieged the City very close and urged the Inhabitants to yield who at last did and he received them to mercy upon this condition that every Person who desired to live should with their Teeth take a Fig out of the Genitals of a Mule with their hands tied behind them and as many as refused were immediately beheaded divers preferred death before this Ignominy those that desired life did what was commanded though with many a kick whence came that scornful Proverb in Italy when putting one of their Fingers between two others they cry Eccola Fico Behold the Fig. Heylin Cos p. 144. LXXV The Neapolitans as all the rest of the Italians are exceeding revengeful saith Mr. Howel among multitudes of Examples that might be produced this may suffice In the ancient City of Nocera there were three young Noblemen called Conrado Caesare and Alexander the eldest was Prince of the Place there was and still is in Nocera a fair and strong Castle wherein Prince Conrado kept a Garrison making a familiar Friend of his Captain thereof the Prince kept usually at his Country House yet would sometimes come and lie a night or two in the Castle this Captain had a comely Woman to his Wife with whom Prince Conrado fell in love and never left solliciting till he had enjoyed her which he afterward often did to the knowledge of her Husband who resolving revenge contrived thus to do it the Prince and his Brothers being at their Countrey house the Captain sent him word That there were two wild Boars discovered in the Forrest hard by and if he and his Brothers would come such a day with their Dogs he doubted not but they would find Princely sport Conrado accordingly came with his second Brother Caesare but Alexander upon some occasion sent word he could not come till two days after the Captain provided a handsome Supper for the Prince and his Brother who had brought with him another Nobleman to partake of the sport the Prince loged in the Castle but Caesare and the Nobleman lay in the Town the Captain was wonderful Officious to attend the Prince to his Chamber but having ingaged some of the Garrison to join with him in the dead time of the night they rushed into the Princes Chamber and first they cut off his Genitals and then his head which they set to stand in a window and quartered the rest of his body this being done very silently in the morning betimes the Captain sent in the Princes name for his second Brother to come in all hast to him and when Prince Cesare came the Captain waited on him to his Brothers Chamber where the first object he beheld was Conrado's head standing in the window and his members quartered and flung about the room Ah said Cesare is this the wild Boar you writ of Yes answered the Captain but I writ to you of two and so they fell upon him also and made the like Sacrifice of revenge upon him This being done the Captain barred up the Gates and going upon the walls of the Castle he sent for the Chief of the Town and made a Speech to them shewing in what Slavery they lived under Conrado so that if they ever desired Liberty there was now a fit opportunity offered because he had Conrado in his Custody and could do with him what he pleased but the Citizens would hearken to no such motion but sent word speedily to Alexander the youngest Brother who coming with some Countrey forces the Citizens joined with him and beleaguered the Castle the Captain finding his case desperate first took his wife to the top of an high Turret from whence he threw her down amongst them and after her his Children and then lastly slew himself in the Eye of all the City Howels Hist
as one that esteemed him as a Father but as soon as the Maid that attended upon the sick man was gone out of the room he caught up a Hammer gave him some blows and then thrust him through with a Knife as soon as the Maid returned he with the same fury did the like to her and then seizing the Keys he searched for his intended Prey he found eight pieces of Plate which afterward for want of money he pawned to a Priest of St. Blasius who suspecting the man sent the Plate to the Senate at Basil by which means the Author of the detestable murther was known he was searched after taken and brought Prisoner to Basil where after Condemnation he had his Legs and Arms broken upon the Wheel and his head while he was yet alive being tied to a part of the Wheel he was burnt with flaming Torches till in horrible Tortures he gave up the Ghost Lonic Theat XCI I shall conclude this Chapter with the Charity of Henry Keeble Lord Mayor of London in 1511. who besides other great Gifts in his life-time re-builded Aldermary Church which was run to ruines and bequeathed at his death a thousand pounds for the finishing of it yet within sixty years after his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Valut wherein they were buried His Monument was pluckt down for some wealthy Person of those present times to be buried therein Upon which occasion saith Dr. Fuller I could not but rub up my old Poetry which is this Fuller to the Church Vngrateful Church o're run with rust Lately buried in the Dust Vtterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keebles cost A Thousand pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lie But outed of his quiet Tomb For later Corpse he must make room Tell me where his dust is east Though 't be late yet now at last All his bones with scorn ejected I will see them recollected Who fain my self would Kinsman prove To all that did Gods Temple love The Churches Answer Alas my Innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse Whose Avarice his Ashes sold That Goodness might give place to Gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scatter'd up and down Seest a Church repaired well There a sprinkling of them fell Seest a New Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt Oh that all the Land throughout Keebles Dust were thrown about Places scatter'd with that seed Would a Crop of Churches breed Fuller's Worthies p. 33. CHAP. V. The Tremendous Consequences of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery THese three evil Qualities or vicious Inclinations of the Mind are much of the same kind for Cruelty and Treachery do commonly proceed from base Cowardly Dispositions As touching Cowards that is such as preserving their Lives or Estates before their Country's welfare and that either will not or dare not stand coâ—ragiously in defence of it in time of Danger they were alwaies reckoned to deserve the greatest punishments and therefore the Romans did sharply chastise them and endeavoured to render them odious for they were commanded and sworn never to eat their meat but standing Nay they were accounted so hateful amongst them that when Hannibal offered the Roman Senate eight thousand Captives to be redeemed they refused his offer saying That they were not worthy to be redeemed who had rather be basely taken than die honestly and valiantly I. The Senate of Rome indeed dealt more favourably with the Captives which King Pyrrhus took for they redeemed them but with this mark of contumel and disgrace that they were degraded from all their Offices and Honours until by getting a double Victory they had won their Reputation again Beards Theatre II. Titias a Captain of Horsemen in Sicilia being overcharged with too great a number of Enemies delivered up his Arms to them which was counted so heinous a Crime that Calpburnius Piso his General pronounced this Sentence against him That he should go barefooted before the Army wearing a Garment without seams and that he should have society with none but such as were guilty of the same fault and from a General over Horsemen he was degraded and made a common Souldier Idem III. How did the Roman Senate correct the Cowardise of Caius Vatienus who that he might prevent his being ingaged in the Wars of Italy cut off all the Fingers of his left hand Why they seized upon his Goods and cast him into perpetual Imprisonment that he might thereby consume that life in Bondage and Fetters which he refused to hazard in the defence of his Country Idem IV. Fulgosus saith That among the Germans it was judged so dishonourable to lose a Shield in War that whosoever happened to do it was suspended from any Civil Office in the State and likewise forbid to enter into any of their Temples insomuch that many he saith killed themselves to avoid the infamy and shame thereof Idem V. The People called Daci punished Cowards on this manner They suffered them not to sleep but with their heads to the feet of the Beds and besides they by a Law ordained that they should be Slaves and Subjects to their own Wives What more vile disgrace could there be than this And yet the Lacedemonians used them more reproachfully for with them it was a dishonour to marry into the stock of a Coward any man might lawfully strike them without punishment and they went with their Cloths rent and their Beards half shaven Idem VI. Artaxerxes after the Battel was ended which he sought with his Brother Cyrus punished one of his Commanders called Arbaces for his cowardliness by compelling him to carry a Whore on his back stark naked all the day long about the Market-place And another that had basely yielded himself to his Enemies and yet boasted that he had slain two men he caused his Tongue to be bored thorow in three several places with an Awl Plutarch VII It is likewise a token of a weak mind and an infirm Soul to anticipate troubles by their own fearful apprehensions before they arrive which is oftentimes occasioned by a too great fearfulness of death and being over-desirous of life which kind of Cowardize hath occasioned great mischiefs and miseries as by the following Examples appears VIII Lewis the Eleventh King of France when he sound himself sick sent for one Fryer Robert out of Calabria to come to him to Toures this man was an Hermite and famous for his Sanctity and while in his last sickness this Holy man lay at Plessis the King sent continually to him saying That if the Hermite pleased he could prolong his life The King had reposed his whole confidence in Mounsieur James Cothier his Physician to whom he gave monthly Ten thousand Crowns in hope he would lengthen his life Never man saith Philip Comines feared death more than he nor sought so many waies to avoid it as he did moreover saith he in all his life-time he
had given commandment to all his Servants as well to my self as others we should only move him to confess himself and dispose of his Conscience but never to mention nor sound in his Ear that dreadful word Death knowing that he should not be able patiently to bear that cruel Sentence His Physician aforementioned used him so very roughly that a man would not have given his Servant such sharp language as he usually gave the King and yet the King so much feared him that he durst not command him out of his presence for though he complained to divers of him yet he durst not change him as he did all his other Servants because this Physician said once thus boldly to him I know that one day you will command me away but swearing a great Oath he added you shall not live eight daies after it which word put the King into so great a fear that he ever after flattered him and bestowed such gifts upon him that he received from him in five months time Fifty four thousand Crowns besides the Bishoprick of Amiens for his Nephew and other Offices and Lands for him and his Friends Philip Comines Hist IX Mecenas the great Friend and Favourite of Augustus was so soft and effeminate a Person that he was commonly called Malcinus he was so much afraid of death that saith Seneca he had often in his mouth this saying All things are to be endured so long as life it continued Of whom these Verses are to be read Make me lame on either hand And of neither foot to stand Raise a Bunch upon my back And make all my Teeth to shake Nothing comes amiss to me So that life remaining be X. Heraclides writes of one Artemon a very skilful Engineer but withal saith of him that he was of a very timerous disposition and foolishly afraid of his own shadow so that for the most part of his time he never stirred out of his house That he had alwaies two of his Men by him who held a brazen Target over his head for fear lest any thing should fall upon him and if upon any occasion he was forced to go from home he would be carried in a Litter hanging near to the ground for fear of falling Plutarch Vit. XI The Emperor Domitian was in such fear of receiving death by the hands of his followers and in such a strong suspition of Treason against him that he caused the Walls of the Galleries wherein he used to walk to be set and garnished with the stone Phengites to the end that by the light thereof he might seeall that was done behind him Suetonius Hist XII Antigonus observing one of his Soldiers to be a very valiant man and ready to adventure upon any desperate piece of Service and yet withal taking notice that he looked very pale and lean would needs know of him what he ailed And finding that he had upon him a secret and dangerous disease he caused all possible means to be used for his recovery which when it was effected the King perceived him to be less forward in Service than formerly and demanding the reason of it he ingenuously confessed that now he felt the sweets of life and therefore was loth to lose it Clarks Mirrour p. 354. XIII Caligula the Emperor was so exceedingly afraid of death that at the least Thunder and Lightning he would wink close with both Eyes and cover his head all over but if the Thunder were very great and extraordinary he would run under his Bed He fled suddenly by night from Messina in Sicily being affrighted with the noise smoak and roaring of Mount Aetna being once in a German Chariot in a streight passage where his Army were forced to march very close together and one happening to say that if any Enemy should now appear it would make a very great hurliburly he was presently so affrighted with the apprehension of the Danger that getting out of the Chariot he mounted his Horse and finding the way filled up with Slaves and Carriages he again dismounted and was from hand to hand conveyed over mens heads till he came on the other side of the water Soon after hearing of the revolt of the Germans he provided to fly and prepared Ships for his flight comforting himself in this that if the Conquerors should come into Italy and possess themselves of the City of Rome yet he should have some Provinces beyond Sea where he might still live Sueton. Hist XIV What a miserable life Tyrants have by reason of their continual fears of Death we have exemplified in Dionysius the Syracusan who finished his thirty eight years rule in this manner removing his Friends he committed the Custody of his Body to some Strangers Barbarians being in fear of Barbers he taught his Daughters to shave him when they were grown up he durst not trust them with a Rasor but taught them how they should burn off his Hair and Beard with the white films of Walnut Kernels and whereas he had two Wives Aristomache and Doris he came not to them in the night before the place was thoroughly searched and though he had drawn a large and deep moat of water about the room and had made a passage by a wooden Bridge yet he himself drew it up after him when he went in and not daring to speak to the People out of the common Rostrum or Pulpit appointed for that purpose he used to make Orations to them from the top of a Tower when he played at Ball he used to give his Sword and Cloak to a Boy whom he loved and when one of his familiar Friends had jestingly said You now put your life into his hands and the Boy smiling thereat he commanded them both to be slain one for shewing the way how he might be killed and the other for approving of it with a smile At last being overcome in Battle by the Carthaginians he perished by the Treason of his own Subjects Wanly Hist Man XV. And this introduces another particular namely the barbarity and bloody mindedness of some Persons Theodorus who was Tutor to Tiberius the Roman Tyrant observing in him while he was a Boy a sanguinary nature and disposition which lay hid under a shew of meekness and a pretence of clemency was used to call him a lump of Clay steeped and soaked in blood and this his prediction of him did not fail in the event this being that savage Tyrant who thought that death was too light and easy a punishment for hearing that Carnulius being in his disfavour had cut his own Throat Carnulius said he hath escaped me and to another who begged of him to die quickly he told him He was not so much in his favour Yet even this cursed Artist in Villany hath been since out-acted by Monsters more overgrown than himself XVI It is in this kind a memorable example that Seneca relates of Piso who finding a Soldier to return from forraging charging him to have slain
Suits of rich Apparel fifty thousand Aspers and a yearly Pension of two thousand Duckets but short was his Joy for after he had a few daies vainly triumphed in the midst of Amuraths favours he was suddenly gone and never after seen or heard of being secretly made away as was supposed by Amurath whose noble heart could not but detest the Traytor although the Treason served well for his purpose Turk Hist p. 320. XXVIII Ladislaus Kerezin an Hungarian Traiterously delivered up Hiula a strong Place to the Turks when he looked to receive many and great Presents for this his notable piece of Service certain Witnesses were produced against him by the command of Selymus the Turkish Emperor who deposed that Ladislaus had cruelly handled certain Turks who had been Prisoners with him whereupon he was delivered to some Friends of their's to do with him as they should think good they inclosed this Traytor stark naked in a Tun or Hogshead set full of long sharp Nails within side and rolled it from the top of an high Mountain full of steepy downfalls to the very bottom where being run through every part of the Body with those sharp Nails he ended his wretched life Camerar XXIX The Venetians put to death Marinus Falienus their Duke for having Treacherously conspired against the State and whereas the Pictures of their Dukes from the first to him that now liveth are represented and drawn according to the order of their times in the great Hall of the general Council yet to the end that the Picture of Falienus a perfidious Prince might not be seen amongst other of those illustrious Dukes they caused an empty chair to be drawn and covered over with a black veil as believing that those who carried themselves disloyally to the Common wealth cannot be more severely punished than if their names be covered with perpetual silence and secret detestation Camerar Op. XXX In the French Persecution there was one Peter Serre who at first was a Popish Priest but God of his mercy revealing the truth of the Protestant Religion to him he went to Geneva and there learned the Shoemakers Trade whereby he maintained himself and having a Brother at Tholouse in France out of a singular love to his eternal happiness he went thither to instruct him but his Brothers wife being displeased thereat Treacherously betrayed him and he was apprehended and carried before the bloody Inquisitors before whom he made an excellent declaration of his faith for which he was condemned and delivered to the Judg who asked him what imployment he was of he answered That of late he had been a Shoemaker but was formerly or another Profession which he was ashamed to remember or discover it being the worst and vilest of all other sciences in the World The Judg and the auditors supposing that he had been some Pickpocket or Thief were the more importunate to know what it was but shame and sorrow so stopped his mouth that he could not declare it yet at last being overcome by their importunate clamour he told them That he had been a Popish Priest this unexpected reply so desperately incensed the Judg that he presently commanded him to be burnt Clarks Martyrol p. 45. XXXI Solyman the Magnificent Emperor of the Turks imployed a Treacherous Christian in the conquest of the Isle of Rhodes promising the Traytor to give him for his wife one of his Daughters with a very great Dowry after the Isle was taken by his assistance he demanded that which was promised him whereupon Solyman caused his Daughter to be brought in most Royal Pomp in order to marry her according to his desert the Traytor could not keep his Countenance he was so transported with Joy Thou seest said Solyman I am a man of my word but for as much as thou art a Christian and my Daughter thy wife that shall be is a Mahometan by birth and profession you cannot so live in quietness and I am loth to have a Son in Law that is not a Musselman and true believer both within and without and therefore it is not enough that thou abjure Christianity in word only as many of thy Sect usually do but thou must immediatly pluck off thy Skin which is Baptized and uncircumcised having so said he commanded some that stood by to flea alive the pretended Son in Law and that afterward they should lay him upon a Bed of salt commanding that if any Mahumetâ—n Skin came over him again in place of the Christian that then and not before his promised Spouse should be brought unto him to be married the wretched Traytor thus shamefully and cruelly flouted disappointed died in most horrible Torments Camerar Opera XXXIV In the war with the Falisci Camillus the Roman general had beseiged the Falerians but they being secure in the sortifications of their City were so regardless of the seige that they walked gowned as before up and down the streets These People after the manner of Greece sent their Children to a Common School and the Treacherous Master of them used to walk with them dayly without the walls he did this often and by degrees trained them so far onwards that he brought them unawares into the danger of the Roman Camp where they were all taken he bids them lead him to Camellus he was brought into his Tent where standing in the middle I am said he the Master of these Boys having a greater respect to you than to my Relations I am come to deliver you the City in the pledges of these Children Camillus heard it and judging it to be a base action turning to his Souldiers about him War said he is a cruel thing and draws along with it a multitude of injuries and wrongs yet to good men there are certain Laws of War nor ought we so to thrist after victory as to purchase it at the price of such unworthy and impious actions a great Captain should rely upon his own virtue and not attain his ends by the Treachery of another then he commanded his Officers to strip the School Master and having his hands tyed behind him he delivered rods into the hands of his Schollars to whip and scourge the Traytor back into the City The Falerians had before perceived the Treason and there was an universal mourning and outcry within the City for so great a Calamity so that a concourse of nâ—ble Persons both men and women like so many mad creatures were running to and fro upon the walls soon after came the Children driving with lashhes their Master before them calling Camillus their Preserver and Father The Parents and the rest of the Citizens were astonished at what they beheld and having the Justice of Camillus in great admiration they called an assembly and sent Ambassadors to let him know that being subdued by his virtue they rendred up themselves and theirs freely into his hands Plutarch XXXV Rhomilda was the Wife of Prince Sigulphus her Husband being slain by Cacanus
setting so high a value upon her beauty that Robinson became neglected but within two years following this woful deed of darkness was brought to light in this manner the Groom before mentioned was entertained with Mr. Richaro Smith Son and heir to the murdered knight and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants he became so sensible of his Villany that when he was in his Cups out of his good nature he took his Master aside and upon his knees besought him forgiveness for acting in the murder of his Father declaring all the circumstances thereof whereupon Mr. Smith discreetly gave him good words but wished some others he trusted to have an Eye upon him that he might not escape when he had slept and better considered what might be the issue thereof notwithstanding which direction he fled away with his Masters best Horse and haâ—…ing presently into Wales he attempted to go beyond Sea but being hindred by contrary winds after three Essays or trials to lanch out he was happily pursued by Mr. Smith who spared no cost in sending to several Ports that he was found out and brought Prisoner to Warwick as were also the Lady and her Gentlewoman all of them with great boldness denying the fact and the Groom most impudently charging Mr. Smith of endeavouring to corrupt him to accuse the Lady his Mother in Law falsly to the end he might get her great jointure but upon his arraignment being smitten with the apprehension of his guilt he publickly acknowledged it and stoutly justified what he had said to be true to the face of the Lady and her maid who at first with much seeming confidance pleaded their innocency till at length seeing the particular Circumstances thus discovered they both confessed the fact for which having Judgment to dye the Lady was burnt at a stake on Woolvey Heath near Shirford Lordship where the Country People to this day shew the place and the Groom with the maid suffered death at Warwick Dugdale of Warwickshire p. 37. III. The debauched life and fatal death of Sultan Ibrahim Father to the present Emperor of the Turks is very remarkable his Brother Sultan Amurath or Morat after a fever of eight days continuance caused by an excess of Debauchery in wine having on the 8 of February 1640 expired his last breath his Mother called Kiosem comforted her self with the thoughts that her son Sultan Ibrahim still lived and was the sole surviver and undoubted heir of the Ottoman family to whose succession that it might be the more facile and without disturbance she consulted with all the Grandees requesting their consent and assistance in the lawful promotion of her remaining Son to the throne of his ancestors for she had understood that Morat always abhorred the ill shaped body and weaker mind of his Brother envied him the dignity of the Ottoman Scepter and therefore had bequeathed the succession to the Tartar having in the heat of a debauch and fumes of his wine compelled his Bashas to swear to the performance of his Testament and therefore the Queen was forced to use very many arguments to persuade them of the danger and unlawfulness of rejecting the right heir with which being convinced they all cryed out Let Sultan Ibrahim live herewith the great Council breaking up the Viziers accompanied with all the Officers and attendants of the Seraglio went with shouts and loud acclamations to the Prison of Ibrahim to salute him Emperor for he poor Prince had now for four years remained a sad recluse in a dark room where he had received neither light nor air but what came from a little window which sometimes in favour was opened to him from above and what was worse the continual expectations and fear of death without Friends Conversation or hope rendred those apprehensions worse than death it self which dayly were represented him in that solemnity as might terrify a mind more constant and firm than his so soon as he heard the shouts and voices of a multitude near his door he immediately conceived that the fate was now come which he had so long expected and therefore he barred his door and denied to give entrance and when the viziers proclaimed him Empe. fearing it might be some artifice of his Brother to see with what joy he would entertain the news he answered That he did not so much as think of the Empire nor desire it but only prayed that Sultan Morat might live to whom he pretended not to be a Brother but a slave and when he perceived that they began to force the door though with terms of respect and observance he still endeavoured to keep it close for nature had taught him to conserve a life however miserable and void of Consolation he continuing thus resolute not to open reverence to his Person commanded them to forbear any ruder violence until the Queen Mother overhearing all this stir descended her self in Person and first causing the dead Corps of Sultan Morat to be extended before his door with gentle compellations and confident assurances she satisfied him of the death of his Brother the voice of his Mother began to dissipate his fears and being in part already convinced by his ears he adventured to peep at the door and giving then entire credence to his Eyes his heart and Spirits revived and so retiring back into his Chamber he willingly received the Congratulations of the Ministers and Souldiers which being past he readily applied his Shouldiers to the Coffin of his dead Brother and having bore his share of that dear burthen to the gate of the Seraglio he there resigned it to his Domestick Officers who buried him in the Sepulcher of Sultan Achmet From thence he took boat and passed to the Mosch of Jubs Seraglio where in eight days he compleated all the Ceremonies of his Coronation and afterward according to the custom of his ancestors he rode through the City to his great Paliace but whether it were for want of practice or by reason of a posture natural unto fools he sate so ridiculously on his saddle as moved rather the laughter than acclamation of the People In fine being entred the Seraglio he began to breath and enjoy the air of liberty with so much contentment and Satisfaction that he was unwilling to lose the least part of it by thinking or attending on business and as if he enjoyed sufficient committed all to the management of his Mother howsoever being desirous to handle something of Government he did it with so little grace dexterity that it plainly appeared that that Soul animated a body not fit to sway or weild a Scepter yet he indulged his luxurious and wanton appetite to the highest excess of sensuality for having been accustomed to a Prison and restraint he knew not how to enjoy the freedom he had recovered but by subjecting it to the imperious servitude of his lusts this humour the Viziers and great Ministers of state cherished in him by continual banquets
the mistake of a Servant he his Father were both poysoned by deadly Wine prepared for the Guests and so he was rewarded for his Ambition and intent of Murther both at once Clarks Mirrour IX Staveren in Holland was the chief Town of all Friezland rich and abounding in all wealth the only staple for all Merchandize whither Ships came from all parts The Inhabitants thereof through ease knew not what to do nor desire but shewed themselves in all things excessive and licentious not only in their Apparel but also in the furniture of their Houses gilding the Seats before their Lodgings c. So that they were commonly called The debauched Children of Staveren but observe the just punishment of this their Pride There was in this Town a Widow who knew no end of her wealth which made her proud and insolent she freighted out a Ship for Dantzick giving the Master charge to return her in exchange of her Merchandize the farest stuft he could find The Master of the Ship finding no better Commodity than good wheat freighted his Ship therewith and so returned to Staveren this did so discontent this foolish glorious Widow that she said to the Master That if he had laden the Corn on the Starboard side of the Ship he should cast it into the Sea on the Larboard which was presently done and all the wheat poured into the Sea but the whole Town yea all the Province smanted for this one Womans errour for presently in the same place where the Marriners had thrown the Corn there grew a great Bar or Bank of Sand wherewith the Haven was so stopt that no great Ship could enter and at this day the smallest Vessels that will anchor there must be very careful least they strike against this flat or Sand bank which ever since hath been called Vrawelandt that is the Womans Sand hereby the Town losing its Traffick in a little time declined the Inhabitants also by reason of their Wealth and Pride grew intellerable to the Nobility who in sumptuousness could not endure to be brayed by them so that this Town is now become one of the poorest of that Province though it hath the greatest Privitedges of all the Hanse Towns Hist Netherlands X Deminicus Sylvius Duke of Venice Married a Gentlewoman of Constantinople she was plunged into sensuality with so much prosusion that she could not endure to lodge but in Chambers full of delicious persurnes of the Fast she would not wash her self but in the dews of Heaven whell must be preserved for her with much skill her Garments were so pompous that nothing remained but to seek for new Sâ—…s in Heaven for she had exhausted the Treasures of the Earth her Viands so dainty that all the mouths of Kings tasted none so exquisite nor would she touch her meat but with Golden Forks and precious Stones God to punish this cursed pride and superfluity cast her on a Bed and assailed her with a malady so hideous so stinking and frightful that all her nearest Kindred were forced to forsake her none staid about her but a poor old Woman throughly accustomed to stench and death this delicate Lady was poysoned with her own perfumes in such a manner that from all her body there began to drop a most stinking humor and a kind of matter so filthy to behold so noysom to the â—…ell that every many ainly perceived that her dissolute excessive Pride and daintiness had caused this Infection in her which brought her to such a miserable and tragical end Causins Hely Court FINIS There are lately published Seven very useful pleasant and necessary Books which are all sold by Nath Crouch at his Shop at the Sign of the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside I SVrprising Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts Containing 1. The Miracles of Natre or the wonderful signs and prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea With an account of the most famous Comets and other prodigies since the Birth of our blessed Saviour particularly the dreadful Apparitions before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple The terrible Presages during the Wars and Desolations in Germany as several Suns appearing at once the water in Ponds and Conduits turned to blood and blood rained from Heaven Armies of Crows Dogs and other Creatures fighting and destroying each other Intermixt with Remarks on the Life of the renowned Gustavus Adolphus K. of Sweden Also a particular Description of the 5 Blazing Stars seen in England since 1663. A Relation of the burning of Mount Aetna with the horrid River of Fire and Brimstone which issued thence in 1669. burning near 20 Towns and Villages with abundance of other unaccountable Accidents and Productions of all kinds to 1682. Likewise a true account of the Groaning Board II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the Seven wonders of the world and many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with Sculptures Price One Shilling EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and many signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of many Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a multitude of stupendious Revolutions Accidents and observable Matters in many Kingdoms States and Provinces throughout the whole World Namely the Adventures of Christ Columbus and the manner of his Discovery of America or the New World the Cruelties used by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples about their Priviledges in 1647. and how Messanello a Fisher-Boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperour An Account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Grashoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of John and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and behaviour on the Scaffold with Pictures Price One Shilling III. Admirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland Or an Account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Sieges prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fives Murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many Hundred years past and among others the Battle of Bosworth and the miserable Death of Crookbackt Richard The beheading of the Lord Cromwel and the Earl of Essex with their last Speeches the Rebellion of the Papists in Cornwal c. against the Common-Prayer in King Edward 6 time and the Kings Letter to them The Rebellion under Ket the Tanner and his Laws and Ordinances in the Oak of Reformation near Norwich The Association in Qu. Elizabeth's time The proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots Mother to K. James with her last words on the Scaffold
which the Kings Book was stuffed neither is it any wonder if I contemn and bite an earthly King when as he feared not at all in his writings to blaspheme the King of Heaven and to prophane his Truth with virulent Lies When Luther came to die the Will which he made concerning his Wife and Child was as follows O Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent Person upon Earth I have neither House nor Land nor Possessions nor Money to leave thou Lord hast given me Wife and Children them Lord I give back to thee nourish instruct and keep them O thou Father of Orphans and Judge of the Widows do to them as thou hast done to me When he was ready to die Justus Jonas and Caelius said to him O Reverend Father do you die in the constant confession of the Doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto Preached to which he answered Yea which was the last word he spake He made this verse some time before his death Pestis eram vivus moriens ero mors tua Papa I living stopt Romes breath And dead will be Romes death One saith of him that Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great Miracle that he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace was the greatest of all Clarks Mirror XXXIX Mr. Woodman a Martyr in Queen Maries Reign speaks thus of himself When I have been in Prison wearing Bolts and Shackles sometimes lying upon the bare ground sometimes sitting in the Stocks some times bound with Cords that all my Body hath been swoln and I like to have been overcome with pain sometimes forced to lie about in the Woods and Fields wandring too and fro sometimes brought before the Justices Sheriffs Lords Doctors and Bishops sometimes called Dog Devil Heretick Whoremonger Traytor Thief Deceiver c. yea and they that did eat of my Bread and should have been most my Friends by Nature have betrayed me yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated me from my Mothers Womb all this that hath happened to me hath been easy light and most delightful and more joyful Treasure than ever I possessed Acts and Mon. XL. Archbishop Cranmer by the wily subtilties and large promises of the Papists was drawn to subscribe to a Recantation yet afterward by Gods great mercy he recovered again and when he was at the stake and the fire kindled about him he stretched out his right hand wherewith he had subscribed and held it so stedfastly and unmoveably in the flame saving that he once wiped his face with it that all men saw his hand burned before the fire touched his Body he also being replenished by the Holy Spirit did abide his burning with such constancy and stedfastness that always standing in the place his body moved no more than the stake to which he was bound Acts and Mon. XLI Henry Prince of Saxony when his Brother George sent to him that if he would forsake his Faith and turn Papist he would leave him his Heir but he made him this Answer Rather than I will do so and deny my Saviour Jesus Christ I and my Kate each of us with a staff in our hands will beg our bread out of his Countries Luth. Colloq p. 248. XLII Mr. James Bainham being at the stake in the midst of the burning fire his Legs and Arms being half consumed spake thus to the standers by O ye Papists behold you look for Miracles and here now you may see one for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a Bed of Down and it is to me as a Bed of Roses Acts and Mon. XLIII The Earl of Morton a Religious and Prudent man who was sometimes Regent in Scotland in King James his Minority when the King had taken the Government into his own hand was falsly accused and unjustly condemned by his crafty and malicious adversaries the morning before he suffered Mr Lawson and two or three other Ministers of Edenburgh came to visit him asking him how he had rested that night To whom he answered That of a long time he had not slept more soundly now I am said he at the end of my Troubles Some nights before my Tryal I was thinking what to answer for my self and that kept me from sleep but this night I had no such thoughts When he came to the Scaffold he exhorted the People to continue in the profession of the true Religion and to maintain it to the utmost of their power intreating them to assist him in their Prayers to God then going couragiously to the block he laid down his head and cried aloud Into thy hand O Lord I commit my Spirit Lord Jesus receive my Soul Which words he repeated till his head was severed from his Shoulders A. B. Spotswood Hist Scotland p. 314. XLIV The Lord Henry Otto being condemned at Prague for the Protestant Religion at the place of Execution he said I was lately troubled but now I feel a wonderful refreshing in my heart And lifting up his hands to Heaven he added I give thee thanks O most merciful Saviour who hast been pleased to fill me with so much comfort O now I fear death no longer I shall die with Joy About the same time two Dutchmen were taken at Prague and accused by some Monks of Lutheranism for which they were condemned to be burnt as they went to the place of Execution such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths as drew Tears from the Spectators Eyes when they came to the stake they exceedingly incouraged each other one of them saying Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us let us chearfully suffer for him and rejoice that we have found so much favour with him that we are accounted worthy to die for the Word of God The other said In the day of my Marriage I found not so much inward Joy as I now do When the fire was put to them they said with a loud voice Lord Jesus thou in thy sufferings didst pray for thine Enemies therefore we also do the like Clarks Martyrol p. 177. XLV In the year 1555. there was one Algerius a Student of Padua in Italy a young man of excellent Learning who having attained to the knowledge of the Truth ceased not by instruction and example to teach others for which he was accused of Heresy to the Pope by whose command he was cast into Prison at Venice where he lay long and during that time he wrote an excellent Letter to the afflicted Protestants wherein among many other divine expressions he thus writeth I cannot but impart unto you some portion of my Delectations and Joys which I feel and find I have found Honey in the intrails of a Lyon who will believe that in this dark Dungeon I should find a Paradise of Pleasure For in the place of sorrow and death
dwells Tranquillity and hope of life in an infernal Cave I have joy of Soul where others weep I rejoice where others tremble there I find strength and boldness all these things the sweet hand of the Almighty doth minister unto me behold he that was once far from me whom I could scarce feel before I now see apparently whom I once saw afar off I behold now near at hand whom once I hungred for he now approaches and reaches his hand to me He doth comfort me and fills me with gladness he drives away all sorrow strengthens incourages heals refreshes and advances me O how good is the Lord who suffers not his Servants to be tempted above their strength O how easy and sweet is this yoak Learn therefore how amiable and merciful the Lord is who visiteth his Servants in temptation and disdains not to keep them company in such vile and stinking Dungeons And in conclusion he subscribes his Letter From the delectable Orchard of the Leonine Prison Clarks Martyr p. 270. XLVI Henry Voes and John Esch who had been sometimes Augustine Fryers being converted they were condemned for the Protestant Religion for which they gave thanks to God their Heavenly Father who of his great goodness had delivered them from the false and abominable Religion making them Priests to himself and receiving them to himself as a Sacrifice of a sweet savour they went joyfully to the place of execution protesting that they died for the glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel as true Christians and that it was the day which they had long desired they joyfully imbraced the stake and endured patiently the Torments of the fire singing Psalms and rehearsing the Creed in Testimony of their Faith when the fire was kindled at their Feet one of them said Methinks you do strew Roses under my feet Clarks Martyr p. 279. XLVII Peter Spengler a pious and learned Minister in Germany being condemned to death as he was going to Execution said I shall be an acceptable Sacrifice to my Saviour Jesus Christ who hath given me a quiet conscience as knowing my self innocent from the Crimes objected against me as for my death it is all one to me whether I die thus or no for if you had let me alone I must shortly have forsaken this skin which already scarcely hangs to my Bones I know that I am a mortal and corruptible Worm I have long desired my last day and have oft prayed that I might be delivered out of this mortal body to be joined to my Saviour Jesus Christ Another Godly Martyr in that Country feeling the violence of the flames said O what a small pain is this if compared with the Glory to come One Audebert a French Protestant being condemned to be burnt when she was brought forth to Execution and had a Rope put about her she called it her Wedding Girdle wherewith she would be Married unto Christ and being to be burned upon a Saturday she said On a Saturday I was first Married and on a Saturday I shall be Married again She much rejoyced when she was put into the Dung-cart and shewed such patience constancy in the fire as made all the Spectators to wonder at it Clarks Martyr p. 320. XLVIII Mr. John Rogers the first Martyr in Queen Maries days the Lords day before his death drank to Mr. Hooper who lay in a Chamber beneath him bidding the Messenger to commend him to him and tell him That there was never little Fellow would better stick to a Man than he would to him supposing that they should be both burned together though it fell out otherwise Clarks Martyr p. 489. XLIX Mr. Lawrence Saunders whilst he was in Prison writ thus to his Wife I am merry and trust through Gods mercy I shall be merry in spight of all the Devils in Hell Riches I have none to endow you with but the Treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry Consciences whereof I do thank my Christ I feel my part this I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ And again Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies so powerfully poured out upon us and I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great Ingratitude toward so gracious a God and so loving a Father I beseech you all as for my other sins so especially for my sins of unthankfulness to crave pardon for me in your earnest prayers to number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of Water in the Sea the Sands on the shore and the Stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoice with me I say rejoyce with Thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnify my God not only in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his Truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and to the confirming of his True Church I do profess to you that the comforts of my sweet Christ do drive from me the fears of death Clarks Martyr p. 509. L. When Dr. Rowland Taylor was brought before Stephen Gardiner Lord Chancellor he said to him Art thou come thou Villain How darest thou look me in the face for shame Knowest thou not who I am To whom Dr. Taylor answered with Courage How dare you for shame look any Christian man in the face seeing you have forsaken the Truth denied our Saviour Christ and his Word and done contrary to your Oath and Writing And if I should be afraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all As he was going to Hadly to be burnt when he came within two miles of it he desired to alight and when he was down he leapt and fetcht a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at my home and have not above two stiles to go over and then I am even at my Fathers House Clarks Martyr p. 509. LI. Bishop Ridly in a Letter to Mr. Bradford writes thus Sir blessed be God notwithstanding our hard restraint and the evil report raised of us we are merry in God and all our care is and by Gods Grace shall be to please and serve him from whom we expect after these temporary and momentary miseries to have eternal joy and perpetual felicity with Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. The night before he suffered he said Though my breakfast will be somewhat sharp and painful yet I am sure my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet Clarks Martyr p. 521. LII Mr. Bradford said I thank God more for this Prison and dark Dungeon than for any Pardon yea than for any pleasure that ever I had for in it I find God my most sweet God alwaies He also told a friend that lay with him in the same Bed in Prison that even in the time of his Examination before Stephen Gardiner he was wonderfully