the quantity of two hundred pounds weight her urine was thin and of like consistence with water in which there swimmed above something like â—lakes of snow and which was observ'd equally wonderful in this profusion of water wherein she had continued for divers days she vehemently abhorred all kinds of drink when I perswaded her to it lest she should wholly melt into urine she thereupon hated me wept and was angry with the Physician that attended her for calling me to his assistance There was with us the excellent Benedictus Averrhinus a famous Physician in the City also Io. Iacobus Baldinus a Physician of great reputation both in the City and the World the Physician in ordinary to the Nunnery in Campo Martio wherein she abode and yet this Nun in a few days after recovered After two Months she fell into an absolute suppression of urine burning with extraordinary thirst when I then attended by reason of the absence of the ordinary Physician and that she had made no water in fourteen days at last with the use of the Spirit of Turpentine she voided urine copiously with a matter in it resembling Sand and chalk 20. The end of Maximinus the Tyrant is thus described by Eusebius Having staid in the House while his Army was abroad and hiding himself in his privy Chambers and Closets he was stricken throughout all his body with a strange and unknown Disease so that he threw himself upon the ground transpierced with griefs vexed with the cruel twinge of torment and overwhelmed with a wolvish hunger that could never be satisfied All his flesh was taken with a secret fire sent from Heaven so that as it were burnt and coming by little and little to be turn'd to ashes there was no more any shape of man to be seen in him nothing being left but a carcase of bones all dry and as it were broiled insomuch that they who attended him in that case gave out that his body was as a sepulchre in which stinking carcase the soul was buried The heat increasing within the marrow â—his eyes fell out of his head so that he utterly lost his sight Being in this miserable state he confess'd himself taken calling for death and acknowledging it was the just recompence of his fury and insolence against Christ he drave his soul out of that infested den wherein it was detain'd 21. Antiochus the Son of Demetrius as he returned from Persia was smote with a remediless pain in his Bowels intolerable torments in all his inward parts his Body breeding abundance of Worms which issued out from the same so that he rotted above ground and by reason of the intolerable stink of his putrefi'd Body no man could endure to come near him nor was he himself able to endure that noisome smell that proceeded from him so that he ended his life in much misery 22. Schenckius tells of a certain melancholy Rustick who always when the Moon was combust made Verses but the combustion being over about two days he utter'd not one learnrd word He tells also of a Woman who falling into a Disease familiarly spake Latin who yet so soon as she was cured knew not a word of that Tongue 23. Anno Dom. 654. in the eleventh year of Constance the Emperour it rain'd ashes at Constantinople Fire fell from Heaven and a most grievous Plague followed for three Months in the Summer A good and evil Angel did visibly appear to all men walking round the City the evil Angel seemed to carry a hunting Spear in his hand and look how oft he stroke with that upon the Door of any mans House by the command of the good Angel so many Corps were found in that same House the day following 24. In the Reign of Lysâ—machus the Abderitae were infected with a new and strange Disease the manner of it was thus First a violent and burning Fever universally seis'd them Upon the seventh day after they bled at Nose very copiously or others of them fell into an exceeding sweat and this was the end of the Fever But a ridiculous affection was left upon their minds for they all fell to acting of Tragedy they thundred out lambicks loud as they could Especially Euripides his Andromeda and the part of Perseus therein so that the City was full of these pale and extenuated Actors crying up and down the Streets O Love thou tyrant over Gods and Men and such like This dotage lasted till Winter and sharp cold put an end to it The occasion of all was this Archelaus a famous Tragedian had in Summer represented Andromedae and in the Theatre they had got the cause of their Fever and these representations remain'd in their minds after their recovery CHAP. XXXVI Of the different and unusual ways by which some men have come to their deaths THe Indian King of Mexico upon the day of his Coronation was cloathed with a Garment all painted over with Skulls and dead Mens bones those rude people intending to admonish him in his new Sovereignty of his own Mortality and we read of Ioseph of Arimathaea that he had his Tomb in his Garden certainly it was to season his pleasures there with the remembrance of his own frailty it will be our Wisdom to expect death in every place and in every condition seeing there is none that is priviledged against his approaches By various accidents the Rich and Poor promiscuously perish and so do the Young and Old sometimes as it was in the race to the Sepulcher of Christ Iohn over-ran Peter the Young and Strong make more haste to the Tomb than the Aged and Weak For the great Creator hath planted us round with death and the ways to it are such and so many as mock the prudence and best foresight of the wisest amongst mortality to evade them 1. Charles the Second King of Navar having wasted his spirits with voluptuousness and luxury in his old age fell into a lethargy or else a palsie and therefore to comfort his benummed limbs he was by the advice of his Physicians sewed up in a sheet steeped in Aqua vitae the Chirurgeon having made an end of sewing the sheet wanted a knife to cut off the thread whereupon he took up the wax candle that stood by him to burn it off but the flame running by the thread caught hold of the sheet in an instant which according to the Nature of Aqua vitae burnt with such violence that notwithstanding all endeavours the aged King miserably expir'd in the midst of the flames This fell out Anno 1386. 2. The Emperor Iovinian Successor to Iulian the Apostate being come to Dadastana that bordereth on Bythinia and Galatia lay in a Chamber that was new plaister'd with Lime upon the Walls where his Head being surcharg'd with a venemous vapour call'd on and increas'd by a Fire of Charcoal made in the Room he was found that night stisâ—ed in his Bed being in the three
year are found as it were congealed and dead the bodies of these persons are firm without corruption inward or outward and so remain D. Paludanus an excellent Physician and a studious collector of exotick rarities told me that at his house he had two such Indians most entire that they had no ill savour that they were not lurid with a pale and dead colour but that to the beholders afar off their skin seemed reddish and that in all other things motion only excepted they were like to the living He â—aid that it came to pass by the blowing of the South-wind which hath such a power to stupeâ—ie and congeal and that in open places it often befals the Indians in respect of their bodies if they find not out places where to secure themselves This saithful witness occasions me to give the more credit to Cornelius Witslietus when he tells that in the mountainous parts of the Provinces of I hil there blows a wind that proves dangerous not in respect of its vehemence but its notable subtilty Heretofore the first Discoverers of this Country having on foot got over the high mountains came to this place but now by reason of dangerous wind or air they dispatch the voyage by Sea The breath of this wind is so hurtful that it oppresses the vital heat in the Bowels kills the passenger immediately hurts not the dead body in the least but preserves it free from corruption and putrefaction They say that Almagro in his return back which was five months from his coming found divers of his Soldiers together with their Horses dead with cold that they were fresh and whole and so also their Horses both in such posture as they were when they were alive at the instant of their congelation 20. Camerarius tells of a Kinsman of his a person of Honour who though he had not seen yet had heard by many of the truth of that which follows and that at Cairo and in other places in Aegypt it is held as a solemn thing and common also for my better satisfaction he shewed me a Book Printed long before at Venice containing the Description of divers Voyages made by Venetian Embassadours to the Princes of the Northern Asia into Aethiopia and to other Countries Amongst the rest was a discourse out of which I have taken some words towards the end the sence whereof is this Anno 1540 upon the twenty fifth of March many Christians accompanied with certain Janizaries went from Cairo to a little barren Mountain about half a league off it was in times past assign'd for the burial of the dead in this place there meet ordinarily every year an incredible multitude of persons to see the dead bodies there interred coming out as it were of their Graves and Sepulchres This beginneth the Thursday and lasteth till the Saturday and then all vanisheth away Then may you see Bodies wrapped in their cloaths after the old fashion but they see them not either standing or walking but only the arms or the thighs or some other part of the body which you may touch if you go farther off and presently come forward again you shall find these arms or limbs appearing more out of the ground and the more you change places the more divers and eminent these motions are seen At the same â—â—â—e many Tents are erected about this Mountain for both whole and sick that come thither in great Troops believe verily that whosoever washeth himself the night before the Friday with a certain water drawn out of a pond thereby hath a remedy â—o recover or maintain health This is the report of the Venetian besides which we have also the relation of a Jacobin of Vlm named Foelix who hath travelled in those Quarters of the Levant and hath published a Book in the Almain Tongue of what he saw in Palestine and Aegypt wherein he makes the same Relation This Parcel Resurrection of Legs and Arms c. useth to be seen and believed upon Good Friday and the Eve of that saith Mr. Gregory and then adds out of Simon Goulartius from the relation of one Stephen du Plais an eye-witness and a man of very good and sober note in his acknowledgment And he told me moreover that he had and others had done so too touched divers of these rising members And as he was once so doing upon the hairy head of a child a man of Cairo cryed out aloud Kali kali ante materasde that is to say Hold hold you know not what you do 21. In the year 1448 in the ruines of an old Wall of that beautiful Church at Dumferlin in Scotland there was found the body of a young man in a Coffin of Lead wrapped up in Silk it preserved the natural colour and was not in the least manner corrupted though it was believed to be the body of the Son of King Malcolme the Third by the Lady Margaret 22. The body of Albertus Magnus was taken out of his Sepulchre to be interred in the midst of the Chancel in a new built Tomb for that purpose it was two hundred years from the time wherein he had been first buried yet was he found entire without any kind of deformation unless it was this that his jaw seemed to be somewhat fallen I know not whether this is imputable to the Divine Power or to the virtue of those things wherewith he was embalmed but I saw the thing I speak of with these eyes of mine and I testifie by this writing the truth of the Relation 23. At the opening of the Sepulcher of Charles Martel there was no part of his body to be found therein but instead thereof a Serpent was found in the place Vid. Kornman de mirac mortuorum lib. 4. cap. 86. p. 35. CHAP. XXXIX Of such Persons as have return'd to life after they have been believed to be dead WHen a Bird hath once broken from her Cage and has tasted the sweetness of the air and which is more of the pleasure of society and liberty it 's not an easie thing to allure her back to the place of her former restraint And it is as hard to conceive that a Soul which has once found it self in a state of enlargement should willingly return any more into the strait and uneasie prison of the Body But it seems by what follows that there are certain laws on the other side of death to which it must obey by vertue of which we read of so many morsels cast up again which death seemed to have swallowed quite down 1. That is wonderful which befel to two Brother Knights of Rome the elder of them was nam'd Corfidius who being in the repute of all men dead the tables of his last will and testament were recited in which he had made his Brother the Heir of all he had But in the midst of the Funeral preparations he rose with great cheerfulness upon his Legs and said That he had been with
many as shall seem displeased that I have so far concerned the Feminine Gender in the History of Man as to fetch many of my Examples from thence my reply is That under the notion of Man both Sexes are comprehended So that a History of Man according to my intention is no other than the History of Mankind not to say that there are divers Perfections and Vertues such as Beauty Modesty Chastity c. whereunto the weaker Sex may pretend so strong a Title that it would seem highly injurious as well as envious and over-partial to conceal those things which so eminently conduce to the honour of it I shall no longer detain my Reader after I have remembred him that the scarcity of Books and want of such Conversation as would have been very necessary for me in a business of this nature is the reason why I have not reached either my own desires or given that satisfaction to those of others which I could have wished All I can pretend to have done is somewhat to have marked out the way for some other of greater Abilities and more Leisure to restore and polish this part of Learning which is so worthy of any Man's pains and wherein when it is well performed there will be found such a considerable measure both of pleasure and profit THE CONTENTS The FIRST BOOK CHap. 1. Of such Infants as have been heard to cry while they were in the Womb of their Mothers Pag. 1 Chap. 2. Of such as have carried their dead Children in their Wombs for some Years 2 Chap. 3. Of such Women whose Children have been petrified and turned to Stone in their Wombs and the like found in dead Bodies or some parts of them 3 Chap. 4. Of such Persons as have made their Entrance into the World in a different manner from the rest of Mankind 4 Chap. 5. Of what Monsters some Women have been delivered and of Preternatural Births 5 Chap. 6. Of the Birth-day and what hath befallen some Men thereon Also of such other days as were observed fortunate or otherwise to several Persons 8 Chap. 7 Of the Signatures and Natural Marks upon the Bodies of some Men. 9 Chap. 8. Of the strange Constitution and marvellous Properties of some Humane Bodies 10 Chap. 9. Of Natural Antipathies in some Men to Flowers Fruits Flesh Physick and divers other things 11 Chap. 10. Of the marvellous Recompence of Nature in some Persons 14 Chap. 11. Of the Head and Skull and the unusual Structure of them in some Men. 16 Chap. 12. Of the Hair of the Head how worn and other Particularities about it 18 Chap. 13. Of the Beard and how worn by some Persons and Nations 19 Chap. 14. Of the Teeth with their different Number and Scituation in some 20 Chap. 15. Of the Tongue Voice and manner of Speech in several Persons 21 Chap 16. Of the Eye its shape and the strange liveliness and vigor of it in some 23 Chap. 17. Of the Face and Visage and admirable Beauty placed therein both in Men and Women 24 Chap. 18. Of the Majesty and Gravity in the Countenance and Behaviour of some Persons 26 Chap. 19. Of the signal Deformity and very mean Personage of some great Persons and others 29 Chap. 20. Of the great Resemblance and Likeness of some Men in Face Features c. to others 30 Chap. 21. Of the Heart and in what manner it hath been found in some Bodies 32 Chap. 22. Of Gyants and such as have exceeded the common proportion in Stature and Height 34 Chap. 23. Of Pigmeys and Dwarfs and Men much below the common height 36 Chap. 24. Of the mighty Force and Strength of some Persons 37 Chap. 25. Of the marvellous Fruitâ—ulness of some and what number of their Descendants they have lived to see Also of Superfaetation 40 Chap. 26. Of the strange Agility and Nimbleness of some and their wonderfâ—l Feats 42 Chap. 27. Of the extraordinary Swiftness and Footmanship of some Men. 44 Chap. 28. Of Men of Expedition in their Iourneys and quick dispatch in other Affairs 45 Chap. 29. Of the Fatness and Unwieldiness of some Men and the lightness of the Bodies of others 46 Chap. 30. Of the Longaevity and length of Life in some Persons 47 Chap. 31. Of the memorable Old Age of some and such as have not found such sensible Decays therein as others 49 Chap. 32. Of some such Persons as have renewed their Age and grown young again 51 Chap. 33. Of such Persons as have changed their Sex 52 Chap. 34. Of the strange rigor in Punishments used by several Persons and Nations 54 Chap. 35. Of the unusual Diseases wherewith some have been seized and when and where some of them began 56 Chap. 36. Of the different and unusual ways some Men have come to their Deaths 59 Chap. 37. Of the dead Bodies of some great Persons which not without difficulty found their Graves And of others not permitted to rest there 62 Chap. 38. Of entombed Bodies how found at the opening of their Monuments And of the parcel Resurrection near Gran Cairo 64 Chap. 39. Of such Persons as have returned to Life after they have been believed to be dead 86 Chap. 40. Of such who after Death have concerned themselves with the Affairs of their Friends 88 Chap. 41. Of the strange ways by which Murthers have been discovered 89 The SECOND BOOK CHap. 1. Of the Imagination or Phantasie and the force of it in some Persons when depraved by Melancholy or otherwise 94 Chap. 2. Of the Comprehensiveness and Fidelity of the Memories of some Men. 96 Chap. 3. Of the Sight and the vigor of that Sense in some and how depraved in others 99 Chap. 4. Of the Sense in hearing and the quickness and dulness of it in divers Men. 100 Chap. 5. Of the Sense of Feeling the delicacy of it in some and its Abolition in others Also what Vertue hath been found in the Touch of some Persons 101 Chap. 6. Of the Sense of Tasting how exquisite in some and utterly lost in others 103 Chap. 7. Of the Sense of Smelling the Curiosity of it in some and how hurt or lost in others 104 Chap. 8. Of the Passion of Love and the effects of it in divers Persons 105 Chap. 9. Of the extreme Hatred of some Persons towards others 107 Chap. 10. Of Fear and the strange effects of it Also of Panick Fears 108 Chap. 11. Of the Passion of Anger and the strange effects of it in some Men. 110 Chap. 12. Of such as have been seised with an extraordinary joy and what hath followed thereupon 113 Chap. 13. Of the Passion of Grief and how it hath acted upon some men 115 Chap. 14. Of Desire and what have been the wishes of some men for themselves or upon their enemies 116 Chap. 15. Of Hope how great some men have entertained and how some have been disappointed in theirs 118 Chap. 16. Of the Scoffing and Scornful disposition of some men and
there was a very considerable number of the enemy slain there fell not so much as one man of the Spartans When they of Sparta heard this it is said of them that first Agesilaus and the ancient Ephori and then all the body of the people fell a weeping So far are tears in common the expressions both of Joy and Sorrow 24. Ptolomeus Philadelphus had received the sacred Volumes of the Law of God newly brought out of Iudaea and while he held them with great reverence in his hands praising God upon that account all that were present made a joyful acclamation and the King himself was so joyed thereat that he brake out into tears Nature as it seems having so ordered it that the expressions of sorrow should also be the followers of extraordinary Joys 25. When Philip King of Macedon was overcome and that all Greece was assembled to behold the Isthmian Games T. Q. Flaminius having caused silence to be made by the sound of the Trumpet he commanded these words to be proclaimed by the mouth of the Cryer The Senate and people of Rome and Titus Quinctius Flaminius their General do give liberty and immunity to all the Cities of Greece that were under the jurisdiction of King Philip. At the hearing of this there was first a confounded silence amongst the people as if they had heard nothing The Cryer having repeated the same words they set up such a strong and universal shout of Joy that it is certain that the Birds that flew over their heads fell down amazed amongst them Livy saith that the joy was greater than the minds of men were able to comprehend so that they scarce believed what they heard they gazed upon one another as if they thought themselves deluded by a dream And the Games afterwards were so neglected that no man's either mind or eye was intent upon them So far had this one joy preoccupied the sense of all other pleasures CHAP. XIII Of the Passion of Grief and how it hath acted upon some men WHilst the great Genius of Physick Hippocrates drave away maladies by his precepts and almost snatched bodies out of the hands of death one Antiphon arose in Greece who envious of his Glory promised to do upon Souls what the other did on mortal members and proposed the sublime invention which Plutarch calls the Art of curing all Sadnesses where we may truly say he used more vanity promises and ostent of words than he wrought effects Certainly it were to be wished that all ages which are abundant in miseries should likewise produce great comforts to sweeten the acerbities of humane life Another Helena were needful to mingle the divine drug of Nepenthe in the meat of so many afflicted persons as the world affords but as the expectation is vain so there are some sorrows that fall with that impetuous force upon souls and withal with that sudden surprisal that they let in death to anticipate all the hopes of recovery 1. When the Turks came to raise the Siege of Buda there was amongst the German Captains a Nobleman called Ecckius Rayschachius whose Son a valiant young Gentleman having got out of the Army without his Father's knowledge bare himself so gallantly in sight against the Enemy in the sight of his Father and of the Army that he was highly commended of all men and especially of his Father who knew him not at all yet before he could clear himself he was compassed in by the Enemy and valiantly fighting slain Rayschachichius exceedingly moved with the death of so brave a man ignorant how near it touched himself turning about to the other Captains said This worthy Gentleman whatsoever he be is worthy of eternal commendation and to be most honourably buryed by the whole Army As the rest of the Captains were with like compassion approving his speech the dead body of the unfortunate Son rescued was presented to the most miserable Father which caused all them that were present to shed tears but such a sudden and inward grief surprised the aged Father and struck so to his heart that after he had stood a while speechless with his eyes set in his head he suddenly fell down dead 2. Homer had sailed out of Chios to Io with a purpose to visit Athens here it was that being old he fell sick and so remain'd upon the shore where there landed certain Fishermen whom he asked if they had taken any thing They replyed what we caught we left behind us and what we could not catch we have brought with us meaning that when they could not catch any Fish they had lowsed themselves upon the Shore killing what they took and carrying with them such as they could not find When Homer was not able to solve this Riddle it is reported that he died with grief of mind Yet Herodotus denies it saying that the Fishermenn themselves explain'd their Aenigma and that Homer died of sickness and disease 3. Excessive was the sorrow of King Richard the Second beseeming him neither as a King Man or Christian who so fervently loved Anna of Bohemia his Queen that when she died at Sheane in Surâ—ey he both cursed the place and also out of madness overthrew the whole House 4. Vvipertus elected Bishop of Raceburg went to Rome to receive the confirmation thereof from the Pope where â—inding himself neglected and rejected by him upon the account of his youth the next night for very grief and too near an apprehension thereof all the Hair of his Head was turned grey whereupon he was received 5. Hostratus the Friar resented that Book so ill which Reuclinus had writ against him under the name of Epistolae obscurorum virorum and took it so very much to the heart that for grief he made himself away 6. Alexander a Prince of a most invincible courage after the death of his dear Ephestion lay three days together upon the ground with an obstinate resolution to die with him and thereupon would neither eat drink nor sleep such was the excess of his grief that he commanded Battlements of Houses to be pulled down Mules and Horses to have their Manes shorn off some thousands of common Soldiers to be slain to attend him in the other world and the whole Nation of the Cusseans to be rooted out 7. At Nancy in Lorrain when Claudia Valesia the Dukes Wife and Sister to Henry the Second King of France deceased the Temples for forty days were all shut up no Prayers nor Masses said but only in the Room where she was The Senators were all covered with Mourning Blacks and for a twelve Months space throughout the City they were forbid to sing or dance 8. Roger that rich Bishop of Salisbury the same that built the De Vizes and divers other strong Castles in this Kingdom being spoiled of his Goods and thrown out of all his Castles was so swallowed up with over-much grief that he ran mad and
6. Anno 1584. there was one at Leige who was most addicted to daily drunkenness and in his Cups as oâ—t as he had emptied his Pockets of his mony by playing at Cards he used to swear he would be the death of his Wives Unkle because he refused to furnish him with more mony to play with This Uncle was a Canon a good and honest man especially a person of great hospitality One night when he entertained a Letter-carrier he was murdered by him together with a Neece and a little Nephew of his All men admiring that the Canon was not present at Mattins who never used to absent himself having long knocked at his doors in vain this Drunkard of ours having scarce digested his yesterdayes Ale set up a Ladder to the Windows and with others entred the House Spying there three dead Corpse they raise the Neighbourhood with a lamentable cry amongst the whispers of whom when some said that the Drunkard was the murderer he was laid hold on cast into Prison and thrown upon the Rack where he saith that he doth not think that he did it that by reason of his daily and continual drunkenness he could affirm nothing of a certainty that he had sometime a will or rather a velleity to kill the Canon but that he should never have touched his Neece or young Nephew Well he was condemned and the innocent wretch even in the presence of this execrable Letter-carrier was long wearied with exquisite torments and at last dyed an unheard of death The Letter-carrier being again returned to Leige and not able to endure the hourly tortures of a revenging God inflicted upon his soul of his own accord presented himself before the Judges beseeching them that by a speedy death he might be freed from that Hell he felt here alive affirming that when he was awake though seldom when asleep the Image of the little Babe whom he had strangled presented it self to his eyes shaking the Furies Whips at him with such Flames as the Drunkard had perished in When he spake this at the Tribunal he continually fanned his face with his hands as if to discuss the flames The thing being evident by the Goods taken and other discoveries he also the same year upon the 23d of August was hanged till dead and then burnt at a stake 7. The Son of Cyrillus a Citizen of Hippo being given to a riotous way of life in one of his drunken sits committed violent incest with his Mother then big with Child and endeavoured to violate the Chastity of one of his Sisters wounded two other of them and slew his Father almost So that St. Augustine writing about it saith Accidit hodie terribilis casus a dreadful accident fell out 8. Aristotle speaking of the luxury of the Syracusans adds that Dionysius the younger continued drunk sometimes for the space of ninety dayes together and thereby brought himself to purblind sight and bad eyes Clarks Mir. cap. 91. p. 404. 9. The Emperour Zeno had made himself odious by the death of many Illustrious Persons and besides led a life sufficiently corrupted and debauched which was followed by a violent death For say some being much addicted to gluttony and drunkenness he woâ—ld fall down void of all sense and reason little differing from a dead man and being also hated by his Wife Ariadna she caused him to be taken up in one of those drunken sits and carried out as dead into one of the Imperial Monuments which she ordered to be closed upon him and covered with a massy stone afterwards being returned to sobriety he sent forth lamentable cryes but the Empress commanded none should regard him and so he miserably perished Kornman de mirac mort lib. 7. cap. 59. p. 43. 10. One Medius a Thessalian keeping a Genial Feast in Babylon earnestly besought Alexander the Great that he would not refuse his presence amongst them he came and loaded himself with Wine sufficiently At last when he bad drank off the Great Cup oâ— Hercules to the bottom on the sudden as if he had been struck with some mighty blow he gave a shriek and fetched a deep sigh he was taken thence by the hands of his Friends who were near him Physicians were called who sate by him with all diligent attendance but thâ— distemper increasing and they perceiving that notwithstanding all their care he was tortured with most acute pains they cast off all hopes of his life as also he himself did so that taking off his Ring from his finger he gave it unto Perdiccas and being asked whom he would should succeed him he answered The Best this was his last word for soon after he dyed being the seventh month of the twelfth year of his reign 11. Lyciscus was one of the Captains whom Agathocles had invited to Supper in the War of Africa this man being heated with Wine fell into railing and contumelious language against the Prince himself Agathocles himself bore with him and because he was a person oâ— good use to him in the War he put off his bitter speeches with a jest but the Prince Archagathus his Son was extreamly incensed and reproved Lyciscus with threats Supper ended and the Commanders going to Archagathus his Tent Lyciscus began to reproach the Prince also and with no less a matter than adultery with his Mother-in-Law that is to say Alcia the Wife of Agathocles Archagathus was so vehemently offended herewith that snatching a Spear out of the hands of one of the Guard he ran him therewith into the side in such manner that he presently fell dead at his foot Thus his intemperance in Wine brought on another of the tongue and both ended in an untimely death 12. In the year 1446. there was a Wedding near Zeghebnic celebrated as it appears with such an unheard of intemperance and dissolute doings that there dyed of extream surfeiting by excessive drinking no less than ninescore persons as well Women as Men. 13. Arcesilaus the Son of Scythus an Academick Philosopher being of the age of seventy and five drank so much Wine that the intemperate liberty he then took brought him first into madness and from thence to death it self 14. There was in Salisbury not long since one who in a Tavern in the midst of his carowsing and healths drank also a health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe that there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions stricken with horror hastned out of the Room and presently after hearing an hideous noise and smelling a stinking favour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest found the Window broken the iron bar in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never more heard of 13. At the Plow in Barnwel near Cambridge a lusty young man with two of his neighbours and one woman in their company agreed to drink up a barrel
such men as used to walk and perform other strange things in their sleep 592 Chap. 17. Of the long sleeps of some and of others that have been able to subsist for Months and Years without it or were difficultly brought to it 594 Chap. 18. Of such as have fallen into Trances and Ecstasies and their manner of Behaviour therein 595 Chap. 19. Of extraordinary things in the Bodies Fortunes Death of divers persons c. 598 Chap. 20. Of matters of Importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents 600 Chap. 21. Of such as have framed themselves to an Imitation of their Superiours or others with the force of Example in divers things 601 Chap. 22. Of the Authority of some persons amongst their Soldiers and Countreymen and Seditions appeased by them divers ways 603 Chap. 23. Of such Princes and Persons as have been fortunate in the finding of hid Treasures and others that were deluded in the like expectation 604 Chap. 24. Of the Election and Inauguration of Princes in several places and Nations 605 Chap. 25. Of the Games and Plays of sundry Nations by whom they were instituted and when 607 Chap. 26. Of such Persons as have made their Appeals to God in case of Injury and Injustice from man and what hath followed thereupon 608 Chap. 27. Of the apparition of Demons and Spectres and with what courage some have endured the sight of them 611 Chep 28. Of the Imprecations of some men upon themselves or others and how they have accordingly come upon them 614 Chap. 29. Of the Error and Mistakes of some men and what hath fallen out thereupon 615 Chap. 30. Of Retaliation and of such as have suffered by their own devices 620 Chap. 31. Of such persons as have been extremely beloved by several Creatures as Beasts Birds Fishes Serpents c. 622 Chap. 32. Of the extraordinary honours done to some great persons in their life-time or at their death 624 Chap. 33. Of the strange and different ways whereby some persons have been saved from death 626 Chap. 34. Of such persons as have taken Poyson and quantities of other dangerous things without damage thereby 629 Chap. 35. Of such as have been happily cured of divers very dangerous Diseases and Wounds c. 630 Chap. 36. Of Stratagems in War for the amusing and defeating of the Enemy and taking of Cities c. 633 Chap. 37. Of the secret ways of Dispatch and the delivery of Messages by Letters Cyphers and other ways 637 Chap. 38. Of the sad Condition and deplorable Distresses of some men by Sea and Land 638 Chap. 39. Of Conscience the Force and Aesfects of it in some men 643 Chap. 40. Of Banishment and the sorts and manner of it amongst the Ancients c. 645 Chap. 41. Of the wise Speeches Sayings and Replies of several Persons 646 Chap. 52. Of such persons as were the first Leaders in divers things 647 Chap. 43. Of the witty Speeches or Replies suddenly made by some persons 659 Chap. 44. Of Recreations some men have delighted in or addicted themselves unto at leisure hours or that they have been immoderate in the use of 651 Chap. 45. Of such People and Nations as have been scourged and afflicted by small and contemptible things or by Beasts Birds Insects and the like 652 Imprimatur June 25. 1677. Guil. Jane R. P. D. Hen. Episc. Lond. a Sacris Dom. THE WONDERS Of the little WORLD Or a General and Complete HISTORY of MAN BOOK I. CHAP. I. Of such Infants as have been heard to cry while they were in the Womb of their Mothers THat which Mr. Beaumont wrote in his Elegy upon the Lady Rutland may very well be pronounc'd upon every of the Sons and Daughters of Men. But thou had'st e're thou cam'st to use of tears Sorrow laid up against thou cam'st to years So true is that of the sacred Oracle Man is born to trouble It seems trouble is his proper Inheritance and that as soon as he enters into Life he is of Age sufficient to enter upon the troubles of it also Yet as if this were somewhat with the latest there are some who seem even to anticipate their birth-right and as if the World was not wide enough to afford them their full measure of sorrow they begin their lamentations in the Womb. Or whether it is that provident Nature would have them to practise there in the dark what they shall afterwards seldome want occasion for so long as they enjoy the light The Histories of such little Prisoners as have been heard to cry in their close Apartments take as followeth 1. A poor Woman in Holland being great with child and near unto the time of her delivery the child in her Womb for the space of fifteen days before that of her Travail was heard almost continually to cry and lament many worthy persons went daily to hear so great a novelty and have testified upon their own knowledge the unquestionable verity of it 2. When I was of late at Argentina with my Brother saith Leonardus Doldius it was credibly reported that the Wife of a Taylor in that Neighbour-hood together with divers others did hear the child cry in her Womb some days before the time of her Travail He adds to this the History of another in Rotenburgh 3. In our Town saith he Anno 1596. November 12. which was the forty second day before the Birth the Parents heard the cry of their Daughter in the Womb once and the day following twice the Mother died in Travail the Daughter is yet alive 4. Anno 1632. In the Town of Wittenberg on the Calends of March there was a Woman who had been big with child more then eleven Months This Woman together with her Husband have sometimes heard the child cry before she was deliver'd of it which she was afterwards very happily 5. I my self together with the Learned Salmasius will be witnesses of such like cryings in the Womb I liv'd 1640. in Belgia when it was commonly affirmed of a Woman near Vessalia who then had gone three years entire big with a child that that child of hers was heard so to cry by many persons worthy of credit 6. A noble Person at Leyden used to tell of her Brother's Wife that lying in Bed with her Husband near her time she heard the child cry in her Womb amaz'd with which she awakened her Husband who put his head within the cloaths and listening did also hear the same the Woman was so affrighted that few days after she fell in Travail 7. Anno 1648. Thâ—re was a Woman the Wife of a Seaman near to the Church of Holmiana who had been big for eight Months she was of a good habit of body and not old this Woman upon the Eve of Christmas-day upon the Calends of the year following and in Epiphany all those several times heard the child that was in her Womb who
succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Anno Domini 918. 16. The Wife of Simon Knâ—uter of Weissenburgh went with child to the ninth month and then falling into Travail her pains were such as that they occasioned her death and when the assistants doubted not but that the child was dead also in the Womb they dispos'd of the Mother as is usual in the like occasion but after some hours they heard a cry they ran and found the Mother indeed dead but deliver'd of a little Daughter that was in good health and lay at her feet Salmuth saith he hath seen three several women who being dead in Travail were yet after death delivered of the Children they went with CHAP. V. Of what Monsters some Women have been delivered and of praeternatural births IT is the constant design of provident Nature to produce that which is perfect and complete in it's kind But though Man is the noblest part of her operation and that she is busied about the framing of him with singular curiosity and industry yet are there sundry variations in her mintage and some even humane medals come out thence with different Errata's in their Impressions The best of Archers do not always bore the white the working brains of the ablest Politicians have sometimes suffered an abortion nor are we willing to bury their accidental misses in the memory of their former skilful performances If therefore Nature through a penury or supersluity of materials or other causes hath been so unfortunate as at sometimes to miscarry her dexterity and Artifice in the composition of many ought to procure her a pardon for such oversights as she hath committed in a few Besides there is oftentimes so much of ingenuity in her very disorders and they are dispos'd with such a kind of happy unhappiness that if her more perfect works beget in us much of delight the other may affect us with equal wonder 1. That is strange which is related by Buchanan It had saith he beneath the Navel one body but above it two distinct ones when hurt beneath the Navel both bodies felt the pain if above that body only felt that was hurt These two would sometimes differ in opinions and quarrel the one dying before the other the surviving pin'd away by degrees It liv'd 28. years could speak divers Languages and was by the King's command taught Musick Sandy's on Ovid Metam lib. 9. p. 173. 2. Anno 1538. There was one born who grew up to the stature of a Man he was double as to the Head and Shoulders in such manner as that one face stood oppositâ— to the other both were of a likeness and resembâ—â— each other in the beard and eyes both had the â—ame appetite and both hungred alike the voice of both was almost the same and both loved the same Wife 3. I saw saith Bartholinus Lazarus Colloredo the Genoan first at Hafnia after at Basil when he was then 28. years of Age but in both places with amazement This Lazarus had a little Brother growing out at his breast who was in that posture born with him If I mistake not the bone called Xyphoides in both of them grew together his left foot alone hung downwards he had two arms only three fingers upon each hand some appearance there was of the secret parts he moved his hands ears and lips and had a little beating in the breast This little Brother voided no excrements but by the mouth nose and ears and is nourish'd by that which the greater takes he has distinct animal and vital parts from the greater since he sleeps sweats and moves when the other wakes rests and sweats not Both receiv'd their Names at the Font the greater that of Lazarus and the other that of Iohannes Baptista The natural Bowels as the Liver Spleen c. are the same in both Iohannes Baptista hath his eyes for the most part shut his breath small so that holding a Feather at his mouth it scarce moves but holding the hand there we find a small and warm breath his mouth is usually open and always wet with spittle his head is bigger then that of Lazarus but deform'd his hair hanging down while his face is in an upward posture Both have beards Baptista's neglected but that of Lazarus very neat Lazarus is of a just stature a decent body courteous deportment and gallantly attir'd he covers the body of his Brother with his Cloak nor could you think a Monster lay within at your first discourse with him He seemed always of a constant mind unless that now and then he was solicitous as to his end for he feared the death of his Brother as presaging that when that came to pass he should also expire with the stink and putrefaction of his body and thereupon he took greater care of his Brother then of himself 4. Lemnius tells of a Monster that a certain Woman was deliver'd of to which Woman he himself was Physician and present at the sight which at the appearing of the day fill'd all the Chamber with roaring and crying running all about to find some hole to creep into but the Women at the length stiâ—led and smother'd it with pillows 5. Iohannes Naborowsky a noble Polonian and my great friend told me at Basil that he had seen in his Countrey two little Fishes without scales which were brought forth by a Woman and as soon as they came out of her Womb did swim in the Water as other Fish 6. Not many years agoe there liv'd a Woman of good quality at Elsingorn who being satisfied in her count prepared all things for child-birth hired a Mid-wife bought a Cradle c. but her big belly in the last month seemed to be much fallen which yet not to lessen the report that went of her she kept up to the former height by the advantage of cloaths which she wore upon it Her time of Travail being come and the usual pains of labour going before she was deliver'd of a creature very like unto a dormouse of the greater size which to the amazement of the Women who were present with marvellous celerity sought out and found a hole in the Chamber into which it crept and was never seen after I will not render the credit of these Women suspected seeing divers persons have made us Relations of very strange and monstrous births from their own experience 7. Anno Dom. 1639. our Norway afforded us an unheard of example of a Woman who having often before been deliver'd of humane births and again big after strong labour was delivered of two Eggs one of them was broken the other was sent to that excellent person Dr. Olaus Wormius the ornament of the University in whose study it is reserv'd to be seen of as many as please I am not ignorant that many will give no credit to this story who either have not seen the Egg or were not present when the Woman was deliver'd of it In
and afterwards to the Lord Chamberlain Hastings by the commandment of King Richard the Third to the Bishop of London was put to her open penance going before the Cross in procession upon a Sunday with a Taper in her hand in which she went in countenance and pace demure so Womanly and albeit she was out of all array save her Kirtle only yet went she so fair and lovely namely while the wondring of the people cast a comely red in her cheeks that her great shame wan her much praise amongst those that were more amorous of her body than regardful of her Soul Many also that hated her manner of Life and were glad to see sin corrected yet they more pityed her penance than rejoyced therein She liv'd till she was old lean wither'd and dryed up nothing left but rivel'd skin and hard bone and in such poverty that she was constrained to beg of many who had begg'd all their time if she had not been 27. Phryne was a most beautiful Woman but a Strumpet it is said of her that once at Athens fearing in a cause of hers to be condemn'd in pleading for her self she bared her breasts and disclosed some part of her beauties to the Eyes of her Judges who were so enchanted thereby that they pronounc'd her guiltless though at the same time they ordained that thenceforth no Woman should be permitted to plead her own cause The same Phryne being once at a publick Feast where it was customary to have a Queen amongst them and the rest were bound to do what they saw her to begin it fell out that Phryne was Queen she therefore put her hand into a bason of cold Water twice and therewith washed her Fore-head the rest that had painted their Faces had their Artificial beauties turn'd into deformity by the Water and so were expos'd to the laughter of the company but Phryne whose beauty was native and beholden to nothing of Art appear'd by this touch of the Water to be rather improv'd then any way impaired 28. Atalanta excell'd all the Virgins of Peloponesus for beauty she was tall of stature her Hair was yellow not made so by Art but Nature her face was Rosie colour'd and very lovely yet was there something therein so Majestick and severe that no timorous or dissolute Person could love her or scarce endure to fix his Eyes upon her Her appearance in company was very seldom and even that render'd her yet more amiable and admirable in the estimation of all Men She was exceeding swiâ—t of Foot and knew so well how to use her bow that when Hylaeus and Rhaecus two dissolute young Men came with purpose to attempt her Chastity in her solitudes she sent two Arrows to their hearts which made them resign up their lust together with their lives 29. Lais was a famous and renowned Curtizan so beautiful that she enâ—lamed and set on fire all Greece with the love and longing desire of her After the love of Hippolochus had seized on her she quitt the Mount Acrocorinthus and flying secretly from an army of other Lovers she went to Megalopolis unto him where the Women upon very spight envy and jealousie in regard of her surpassing beauty drew her into the Temple of Venus and stoned her to death whereupon it is called to this day The Temple of Venus the Murderess 30. Helena that beautifull Grecian who caus'd so much blood to be shed before the Walls of Troy and ten years siege to be laid to that City is thus described by Dares the Phrygian who was present in that War She was saith he yellow hair'd full Ey'd exceeding fair of Face and well shap'd in her body a small Mouth her Legs exactly fram'd and a Mole betwixt her Eye-brows As to her disposition it was open and ingenuous and her deportment courteous and obliging to all sorts 31. Polyxena saith Dares was very â—air tall beautiful in her features her Neck was long her Eyes sparkling her Hair yellow and long her Body exactly shaped throughout her fingers small and long her Legs streight her Feet as neat as could be wish'd and in the whole such a one as for beauty excell'd all the Women of her time Besides which she was plain hearted bountiful and affable to all Persons 32. Panthea was a noble Lady taken Prisoner by Cyrus King of Persia Araspes one of his Favorites and Minions made a report to him that she was a Person of extraordinary and wonderful beauty and therefore worthy to be looked upon and visited but such was the Chastity and gallantry of that Prince that he thus reply'd if so said he I ought the rather to forbear the sight of her for if by your perswasion I should yeild to go and see her it may so fall out that she her self may induce me to repair unto her even then when I shall not have such leisure and to sit with her and keep her company neglecting in the mean time the weightiest affairs of the state 33. There were divers places wherein there were famous contests amongst the Women who amongst them all should bear away the prize for beauty At the Feast of Ceres Eleusina near the River Alphens there was one of these contentions and there it was that Herodice was adjudg'd to be the most beautiful of all the rest of the pretenders Those Women that were the contenders were called Chrysophorae the reward was a Crown of Myrtle to her who was pronounced to have the prelation CHAP. XVIII Of the Majesty and Gravity in the Countenance and Behaviour of some Persons THe Sophiti a people of India have the stature and comeliness of the body in such estimation that in their infancy they made such discrimination of their Children this way as to bring up none but such as they judg'd to have such a Nature and Limbs as did presignifie a good stature of body and a convenient strength as for the rest supposing their Education would prove but labour in vain they put them to death And amongst them and the Aethiopians likewise they made choice of such to be their Kings as were most remarkable for stature and strength c. Nor hath Nature it self seemed to ordain it otherwise seeing that for the most part persons of Illustrious Fortunes have a Character of Majesty imprinted upon them very different from the common sort We read how 1. Pyrrhus the King of Epirus assaulting Argos was there slain by the fall of a huge stone cast upon him from the top of an House his Soldiers being retreated he was found dead by Zotypus who taking off his Helmet with the greater facility to cut off his Head was so terrified with the Majesty of his Royal countenance which even in death it self had not forsaken him that he went his way not daring to execute the villany he intended But his covetousness prevailing over his fears he at last returned yet so timerously set his
could live as you have heard for several days 23. A Student at Ingolstadht was stab'd into the left side by a Printer the wound was made in the substance of the Heart a cross each Ventricle of it and yet being thus wounded he ran the length of a prety long street and but only so but for almost an hour he was so perfect in his senses as to be able to speak and to commend himself to God His Body being opened after his death all the Professors of Physick and not a sew of other spectators beheld the wound and by the form of it was able to discern of the kind of weapon it was made with and to speak to that purpose at the bar 24. An insolent young man here at Copenhagen stab'd a Pilot with a knife betwixt the third and fourth rib on the left side The wound reach'd the right Venticle of the Heart so that his Body being afterwards opened there was found therein a round and crooked hole yet thus wounded he not only went out of the Suburbs on foot to his own house but liv'd after it for five days As far as I am able to conjecture by reason of the narrowness and obliqueness of this wound in the Heart the lips of it falling together the circulation of the Blood was uninterrupted for so many days 25. I saw saith Parry a Noble man who in a single Duel was wounded so deeply that the point of the Sword had pierc'd into the very substance of his Heart yet did he notwithstanding for a good while lay about him with his Sword and walk'd two hundred paces before he fell down After his death the wound was found to be the breadth of a â—inger and a great quantity of blood in the Diaphragma 26. I knew saith Cardan Antonius Benzius a man of 34 years of age pale-fac'd thin bearded and somewhat fat out of whose Paps such abundance of Milk issued as would almost suffice to suckle a child 27. I knew one Lawrence Wolff a Citizen of Brisac saith Conradus Schenckius who from his youth to the 55 th year of his age did so abound with Milk in both brests that by way of mirth in their merry meetings he would spirt Milk into the Faces of his companions who sate over against him He was well known to all the inhabitants for this faculty yet did he find no pain gravity or tension in those parts CHAP. XXII Of Giants and such as have exceeded the common proportion in Stature and height AS the tallest Ears of Corn are the lightest in the Head and Houses built many stories high have their uppermost rooms the worst furnished so those humane Fabricks which Nature hath raised to a Giant-like height are observ'd not to have had so happy a composition of the brain as other men so that like Pyramids of Egypt they are rather for ostentation than use and are remembred in History not for any accomplishment of mind but chiefly if not only for the stature of their Bodies 1. Artachaees of the Family of the Achaemenidae a person in great favour with Xerxes was the tallest man of all the rest of the Persians for he lacked but the breadth of four fingers of full five Cubits by the Royal Standard 2. There was a young Giant whom Iulius Scaliger saw at Millain who was so tall that he could not stand but lie along extending his body the length of two beds joyned together 3. Walter Parsons born in Staffordshire was first Apprentice to a Smith when he grew so tall that a hole was made for him in the ground to stand therein up the knees so to make him adequate with his fellow workmen he afterwards was Porter to King Iames seeing as Gates generally are higher than the rest of the Building so it was sightly that the Porter should be taller than other persons He was proportionable in all parts and had strength equal to his height valour to his strength temper to his valour so that he disdained to do an injury to any single person he would make nothing to take two of the tallest Yeomen of the Guard like the Gizzard and Liver under his Arms at once and order them as he pleased 4. Williams Evans was born in Monmouthshire and may justly be counted the Giant of our age for his stature being â—ull two yards and a half in height he was Porter to King Charles the First succeeding Walter Parsons in his place and exceeding him two inches in height but far beneath him in equal proportion of Body for he was not only what the Latins call compernis knocking his knees together and going out squalling with bis feet but also halted a little yet made he a shift to dance in an Antimask at Court where he drew little Ieffery the dwarf out of his Pocket first to the wonder then to the laughter of the beholders 5. The tallest man that hath been seen in our age was one named Gabara who in the days of Claudius the late Emperour was brought out of Arabia nine foot high was he and as many inches 6. I saw a young Girl in France of eighteen years of age who was of a Giant like stature and bigness and though she descended of Parents of mean and small stature yet was her hand such as might equal the hands of three men if they were joyned together 7. Iovianus the Emperour was of a pleasant countenance grey-ey'd of a vast and huge stature so that for a long time there was no Royal Robe that was found to answer the height of his body 8. Maximinus the Emperour was eight foot and a half in height he was a Thracian barbarous cruel and hated of all men he us'd the Bracelet or Armlet of his Wife as a Ring for his Thumb and it is said that his shooe was longer by a foot than the foot of another man 9. I saw a young man of Lunenburg call'd Iacobus Damman who for his extraordinary stature was carry'd throughout Germany to be seen Anno 1613. he was brought to us at Basil he was then 22 years of age and a half beardless as yet strong of body and in all his limbs save that at that time he was somewhat sick and lean he was eight foot high compleat the length of his hand was one foot and a third he surpass'd the common stature of man two foot 10. Anno 1572. Martinus Delrius as himself tells us saw a Giant the height of whose body was full nine foot And in the year 1600 saith Zacchias I my self saw another not inferiour to the former in stature 11. I saw saith Wierus a Maid who for the Gigantick proportion of her body was carry'd from one City and Country to another on purpose to be seen as a monstrous representation of humane Figure I diligently enquired into all things concerning her and 〈◊〉 inform'd both by the Mother and
her mighty Daughter that both her Parents were but of low stature nor were there any of her Ancestors who were remember'd to exceed the common stature of men This Maid her self to the twelfth year of her age was of a short and mean stature but being about that time seis'd with a Quartane Ague after she had wrestled with it for some months it perfectly left her and then she began to grow to that wonderful greatness all her limbs being proportionably answerable to the rest She was then when I beheld her about five and twenty years of age to which time it had never been with her as is usual to women yet was she in good health of feature not handsome her complexion somewhat swarthy of a stupid and simple wit and slow as to her whole body For The greater Virtue oftenest lies In bodies of the middle size 12. Fâ—rdinand Magellane before he came to those Straits which now bear his name came to the Country of the Patagons which are Giants some of these he enticed to come a Ship-board they were of an huge stature so that the Spaniards heads reached but to their waste Two of them he made his Prisoners by policy who thereupon roared like Bulls their feeding was answerable to their vast bulks for one of them did eat at a meal a whole basket of Biskets and drank a great bowl of water at each draught 13. As I travel'd by Dirnen under the jurisdiction of Basil Anno 1565. I was shew'd a Girl of five years of age who was playing with the Children she was of as vast a body as if she had been a woman of many years of age After I had looked more nearly upon her and measured I found that her thighs were thicker than the neck of my Horse the calf of her legs bare the proportion of the thigh of a lusty and strong man Her Father and Mother being set together might be compass'd within the girdle which she commonly wore about her middle Her Parents told me that before she was a year old she weigh'd as much as a sack of wheat that held eight modii Anno 1566. I saw her again for Count Henry of Fustenburg lodging at my house she was brought to him and there both of us admir'd at her wonderful bigness but in few years after she dy'd 14. That is a memorable Example of a Giant reported by Thuanus Anno 1575. where discoursing of an inroad made by the Tartarians upon the Polonian Territories he there speaks of a Tartar of a prodigious bigness slain by a Polander his words are thus translated Amongst whom there was one found of a prodigious bulk slain saith Leonardus Gorecius by Iames Niazabilovius his forehead was twenty four fingers breadth and the rest of his body of that magnitude that the carcase as it lay upon the ground would reach to the navel of any ordinary person that stood by it 15. There were in the time of Augustus Caesar two persons called Idusio and Secundilla each of them was ten foot high and somewhat more their bodies after their death were kept and preserved for a wonder in a Charnel house or Sepulcher within the Salustian Gardens vid. Kornman de mirac vivor 25. 16. In the 58 Olympiad by the admonition of the Oracle the body of Orestes was found at Tegaea by the Spartans and we understand that the just length of it was seven Cubits 17. The Son of Euthymenes of Salamina in the space of three years grew up to three Cubits in height but he was slow of pace dull of sense a strong voice and an overhasty adolescency soon after he was seis'd with manifold diseases and by immoderate afflictions of sickness made an over amends for the precipitate celerity of his growth 18. Anno 1584. In the Month of Iuly being at Lucerne I was there shew'd by the Senators the fragments of some bones of a prodigious greatness kept in the Senate House They were found in the Territories not far from the Monastery of Reiden in a Cave of the adjoyning Mountain under an old Oak which the wind had blown down When I had consider'd them and perceiv'd most of the lesser sort and such as are thinnest as the bones of the skull to be wanting whether neglected or consumed by age I know not I then turned over the greater sort as well such as were whole as the remainders of such as were broken Though they were wasted spungy and light yet as far as I could discern I observed that they answered to the body of a man I wrote upon each of them what they were and I the rather concluded them to be the bones of some Giant because I found amongst them the lowest bone of the thumb a cheek-tooth the heel-bone the shoulder-blades the Cannel-bone which are only found in man of that form Also the long and thick bones of the Thighs Legs Shoulders and Arms the utmost ends of which with their heads were found and they differed in nothing from the bones of a humane body Having afterwards all the bones sent me to Basil by the command of the Magistrates and looking diligently upon them and comparing them with a skeleton of mine own as well the whole as the broken I was confirm'd in my opinion and caused an entire skeleton to be drawn of such greatness as all those bones would have made if they had been whole and together it amounted to full nineteen foot in height and since no Beast is found of that stature it is the more probable they were the bones of a Giant 19. We find it left in the Monuments and Writings of the Ancients as a most received truth That in the Cretan War the Rivers and Waters rose to an unusual height and made sundry breaches in the earth when the Floods were gone in a great cleft and fall of the earth there was found the carcase of a man of the length of thirty and three cubits Lucius Flaccus the then Legate and Metellâ—s himself allured with the novelty of the repoâ—t went on purpose to the place to take view of it and there they saw with their eyes that which upon the hear-say they had refuted as a fable 20. While I was writing of this Book that is in December 1671. there came to the City of Coventry one Mr. Thomas Birtles a Cheshire Man living near unto Maxfeild he had been at London where and in his journey homewards he made publick shew of himself for his extraordinary stature his just height as himself told me was somewhat above seven foot although upon trial it appears to want something His Father he said was a man of moderate stature his Mother was near two yards high and he himself hath a Daughter who being but about sixteen years of age is yet already arrived to the height of six foot complete 21. Antonius was born in Syria in the reign of Theodosius he exceeded the measure of
County of Warwick Esquire He liv'd with the said Mary in one house full fifty two years and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were sometimes twenty in houshold He had Issue by the said Mary five Sons and seven Daughters The said John was Mayor of the Town 1559. And again Anno 1572. The said Mary liv'd to ninety seven years and departed the eight of December 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of one hundred forty and two 20. In St. Innocents Church-yard in the City of Paris is to be seen the Epitaph of Yoland Baily Widow to Mounsieur Dennis Capel a Proctour at the Chastelet which doth shew that she had lived eighty four years and might have seen 288. Verstegan saith 295 of her Children and Childrens Children she dy'd the seventeenth of April 1514. Imagine how she had been troubled to call them by a proper denomination that were distant from her in the fourth and fifth degree 21. In Markshal Church in Essex on Mrs. Honywoods Tomb is this Inscription Here lyeth the body of Mary Waters the Daughter and coheir af Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esquire wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esquire her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her 367. sixteen of her own body 114 Grand-children 228. in the third Generation and nine in the fourth She liv'd a most pious life and in a Christian manner dyed here at Markshal in the ninety third year of her age and in the forty fourth of her Widowhood May 11. 1620. 22. Dame Esther Temple Daughter to Miles Sands Esquire was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire and was marryed to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet She had four Sons and nine Daughters which liv'd to be marry'd and so exceedingly multiplyed that this Lady saw seven hundred extraâ—ted from her body Reader I speak within compass and have left my self a reserve having bought the truth hereof by a wager I lost saith Dr. Fuller Besides there was a new Generation of marriageable Females just at her death Had the Off-spring of this Lady been contracted into one place they were enow to have peopled a City of a competent proportion though her Issue was not so long in succession as broad in extent I confess very many of her descendants dy'd before death the Lady Temple dy'd Anno 1656. 23. Iohn Henry and Thomas Palmer were the Sons of Edward Palmer Esquire in Sussex It happened that their Mother being a full Fortnight inclusively in labour was on Whitsunday deliver'd of Iohn her Eldest Son on the Sunday following of Henry her second Son and the Sunday next after of Thomas her third Son This is that which is commonly call'd superfoeâ—ation usual in other Creatures but rare in Women the cause whereof we leave to the disquisition of Physicians These three were Knighted for their Valour and success as in their Nativiâ—ies 24. Another Example of superfoetation I will set down for the stories sake in the year of our Lord 1584. dyed the Noble Lord Philip Lewis of Hirshorne at his mansion House in the Palatinate three Miles from Heydelberg he left no Heir but his Lady was with Child his Kindred forthwith enter upon the Rents and Royalties and to gain the more full and perfect knowledge of them soon after the death of her Lord they pluck from her waste the Keys of all private places and that not without violence the better to enable them for the search they intended This outrage redoubled the grief of the poor Lady so that within few days after she fell in travel and brought forth a Son but dead and wanting the Skull Now were the next Heirs of the deceased Noblemam exceeding jocund as having attained to their utmost hopes and therefore now us'd the Estate as their own But it pleased God as out of a stone to raise up a Son to that desolate and disconsolate Widow For though she was not speedily deliver'd of him after the 〈◊〉 yet she remained somewhat big after her delivery suspecting nothing but that it was some prâ—â—ternatural humour or some disease that was remaining in her body She therefore consulted the Physicians who all thought any thing rather to be the cause of her disease than that in the leaâ—â— they suspected a second Birth so long after the â—irst They therefore advis'd her to go to the Baths by the Rhine she accordingly did as a sad and comfortless Widow attended only with one Maid came thither Iuly 1584. where it so fell out she found Augustus the Elector of Saxony together with the Princess his Wiâ—e as also many other Princes and their Ladies by which means all lodgings were so foretaken up that she could not find entertainment in any Inn especially being not known of what quality she was coming thither with so private a retinue as a single Maid At last discovering to the Governour of the place who she was and her last misfortunes not without some difficulty she procured lodging in his House for that night wherein she came thither But that very night when it was the tenth week from her former delivery it pleased God to send her in her aâ—â—liction and amongst strangers a lovely Boy The fame of which came to the ears of the Illustrious Princes who were then in Town The Elector of Mentz made her a noble provision for her Lying in The Elector of Saxony also sent her by way of Present one thousand Dollers Also all the Rents and Royalties before seiz'd upon were restored to this lawful Heir of her Husbands and Child of hers who also is yet alive saith Câ—spar Bauhinâ—s Superâ—oetation is by the distant Births of divers not raâ—ely confirmed A Dutch Woman in Southwark some twenty years since having invited divers of her Neighbours to her Upsitting found her self not well on a sudden and rising from the table was forthwith brought to bed of another This falling on a time into our discourse one then present reported that the like befel a Sister of his who three months after the birth of her first Son was delivered of a second CHAP. XXVI Of the strange Agility and Nimbleness of some and their wonderful feats HOmer in the commendation of the activity of Meriones calls him the Dancer in which Art he was so famous that he was known not only amongst the Greeks but to the Trojans also his enemies probably because that in time of Battel he made shew of an extraordinary quickness and nimbleness of body which he had acquired unto himself by the practice of this Art some of these who follow though they wanted an Homer to recommend them to posterity have excell'd not only Meriones in point of agility but have attain'd the utmost of what a humane body in this kind is capable of acquiring 1. Amongst those shews which were presented to the people
Reign of nine Kings and Queens of England He saw saith another the children of his children's children to the number of an hundred and three and died 1572. 6. Georgias Leontinus a famous Philosopher liv'd in health till he was an hundred and eight years of age and when it was asked him by what means he attained to such a fulness of days his answer was by not addicting himself to any voluptuous living 7. Most memorable is that of Cornarus the Venetian who being in his youth of a sickly body begaâ— to eat and drink first by measure to a certain weight thereby to recover his health this cure turn'd by use into a diet that diet into an extraordinary long life even of an hundred years and better without any decay of his senses and with a constant enjoyment of his health 8. Hippocrates Coâ—s the famous Physician lived an hundred and four years and approved and credited his own art by so long a life 9. Mr. Carew in his Survey of Cornwal assures us upon his own knowledge that fourscore and ten years of age is ordinary there in every place and in most persons accompanied with an able use of the body and their senses One Polezew saith he lately living reached to one hundred and thirty A Kinsman of his to one hundred and twelve One Beauchamp to one hundred and six And in the Parish where himself dwelt he professed to have remembred the decease of four within fourteen weeks space whose years added together made up the sum of three hundred and forty The same Gentleman made this Epigram or Epitaph upon one Brawne an Irish Man but a Cornish Beggar Here Brawne the quondam Beggar lies Who counted by his tale Some sixscore winters and above Such Vertue is in Ale Ale was his Meat his Drink his Cloth Ale did his death deprive And could he still have drunk his Ale He had been still alive 10. Democritus of Abdera a most studious and learned Philosopher who spent all his life in the contemplation and investigation of things who liv'd in great solitude and poverty yet did arrive to an hundred and nine years 11. Galeria Câ—piola a Player and a Dancer was brought upon the Stage as a Novice in what year of her age is not known but ninety nine years after at the Dedication of the Theatre by Pompey the Great she was shewn upon the Stage again not now for an Actress but a wonder Neither was this all for after that in the Solemnities for the life and health of Augustus she was shewn upon the Stage the third time 12. Simeon the Son of Cleophas called the Brother of our Lord and Bishop of Ierusalem lived an hundred and twenty years though he was cut short by Martyrdom Aquila and Priscilla first S. Paul's Hosts afterwards his fellow-labourers lived together in a happy and famous Wedlock at least to an hundred years a piece for they were both alive under Pope Christus the First 13. William Postel a Frenchman lived to an hundred and well nigh twenty years and yet the top of his beard on the upper lip was black and not gray at all 14. Iohannes Summer-Matterus my great Grandfather by the Mother's side of an ancient and honourable Family after the hundredth year of his age marryed a wife of thirty years by whom he had a Son at whose wedding which was twenty years after the old man was present and lived six years after that so that he completed an hundred and twenty six without complaining of any more grievous accidents than this that he could not prevent escapes by reason of wind Six years before his death my Father his Grandchild discoursing with him he told him that there were in that Diocess ten men yet left who were more aged than himself 15. Arganthonius was the King of the Tartessians and had been so for eighty years when the Phocensians who were the first of all the Greeks who opened the way into the Adriatick Sea and visited Tyrrhenia Iberia and Tartessus came to him He lived to an hundred and twenty years saith Herodotus 16. In the last Taxation Number and Review of the eighth Region of Italy there were found in the Roll saith Pliny four and fifty persons of an hundred years of age seven and fifty of an hundred and ten two of an hundred five and twenty â—our of an hundred and thirty as many that were of an hundred five and thirty or an hundred of seven and thirty years old and last of all three men of an hundred and forty And this search was made in the times of Vespasian the Father and Son 17. Galen the great Physician who flourished about the reign of Antoninus the Emperour is said to have lived one hundred and forty years From the time of his twenty eighth year he was never seised with any sickness save only with the grudge of a Fever for one day only The rules he observed were not to eat nor drink his fill nor to eat any thing raw and to carry always about him some one or other perfume 18. Iames Sands of Horborne in Staffordshire near Birmingham lived an hundred and forty years and his Wife one hundred and twenty and died about ten years past He out-lived five Leases of twenty one years a piece made unto him after he was married 19. I my self saith Sir Walter Rawleigh knew the old Countess of Desmond of Inchequin in Munster who lived in the year 1589 and many years sinâ—e who was marryed in Edward the Fourth's time and held her joynture from all the Earls of Desmond since then and that this is true all the Gentlemen and Noble Men in Munster can witness The Lord Bacon casts up her age to be an hundred â—nd forty at the least adding withal Ter per vices dentisse that she recovered her teeth after the casting them three several times 20. Thomas Parre Son of Iohn Parre born at Alberbury in the Parish of Winnington in Shropshire he was born in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth anno 1483 at eighty years he married his first wife Iane and in the space of thirty two years had but two children by her both of them short lived the one liv'd but a Month the other but a few years Being aged an hundred and twenty he fell in love with Katherine Milton and with remarkable strength got her with child He lived to above one hundred and fifty years Two months before his death he was brought up by Thomas Earl of Arundel to Westminster he slept away most of his time and is thus characterised by an eye-witness of him From head to heel his body had all over A quick set thick set nat'ral hairy cover Change of air and diet better in it self but worse for him with the trouble of many Visitants or Spectators rather are conceived to have accelerated his death which happened Westminster November the fifteenth anno 1634
it he return'd to life to the admiration of all that were present he declared several strange and prodigious things which he had seen and known during all that time that he had remained in the state of the dead 11. One of the Noble Family of the Tatoricdi being seised with the Plague in Burgundy was supposed to die thereof was put into a Cofâ—â—n to be carry'd to the Sepulchers of his Ancestors which were distant from that place some four German miles Night coming on the Corps was dispos'd into a Barn and there attended by some Rusticks These perceiv'd a great quantity of fresh Blood to drain through the chinks of the Coffin whereupon they opened it and found that the Body was wounded by a Nail that was driven into the shoulder through the Coffin and that the wound was much torn by the jogging of the Chariot he was carry'd in but withal they discover'd that the natural heat had not left his brest They took him out laid him before the fire he recover'd as out of a deep sleep ignorant of all that had pass'd He afterwards marryed a Wife by whom he had a Daughter marryed afterwards to Huldericus a Psirt from his Daughter came Sigismundus a Psirt chief Pastor of St. Maries Church in Basil. CHAP. XL. Of such who after death have concerned themselves with the affairs of their Friends and Relations THe Platonists speak of some Souls that after they are departed from their bodies they have yet a strange hankering after them whereupon it is that they haunt the dormitories of the dead and keep about the places where their bodies lye interr'd and are therefore call'd by the Philosophers Body-lovers I know not under what restraints souls are when once separate from their bodies nor what priviledges some of them have above others but if the following relations are true some of these here spoken of have been as mindful of their Friends and Families as others were affected to the bodies they had before deserted Ludovicus Adolisius Lord of Immola sent a Secretary of his upon earnest business to Ferrara in which journey he was met by one on Horseback attir'd like an Hunts-man with an Hawk upon his fist who saluted him by his name and desired him to intreat his Son Lodowick to meet him in that very place the next day at the same hour to whom he would discover certain things of no mean consequence which much concerned him and his estate The Secretary returning and revealing this to his Lord at first he would scarce give credit to his report and jealous withal that it might be some train laid to intrap his life he sent another in his stead to whom the same Spirit appeared in the shape aforesaid and seemed much to lament his Sons disâ—idence to whom if he had come in person he would have related strange things which threatned his Estate and the means how to prevent them Yet desired him to recommend him to his Son and tell him that after twenty two years one month and one day prefix'd he should loose the government of that City which he then possessed and so he vanished It hapned just at the same time the spirit had predicted notwithstanding his great care and providence that Philip Duke of Milain the same night besieged the City and by the help of the ice it being then a great Frost past the Moat and with scaling Ladders scaled the Wall surpriz'd the City and took Lodowick Prisoner He was in League with Philip and therefore feared no harm from him 2. Two wealthy Merchants travelling through the Taurine Hills into France upon the way met with a man of more than Humane Stature who thus said to him Salute my Brother Lewis Sforza and deliver him this Letter from me They were amaz'd and asking who he was he told them that he was Galeacius Sforza and immediately vanish'd out of sight They made haste to Milain and delivered the Dukes Letter wherein was thus written O O O Lewis take heed to thy self for the Venetians and French will unite to thy ruine and to deprive thy Posterity of their Estate But if thou wilt deliver me 3000 Guilders I will endeavour that the Spirits being reconcil'd thy unhappy fate may be averted and this I hope to perform if thou shalt not refuse what I have requested Farewel The Subscription was The Soul of Galeacius thy Brother This was laugh'd at by most as a fiction but not long after the Duke was dispossess'd of his Government and taken Prisoner by Lewis the Twelfth King of France Thus far Bernard Arulnus in first Section of the History of Milain who also was an eye witness of what hath pass'd 3. Caesar Baronius tells that there was an intire friendship betwixt Michael Mercatus the Elder and Marsilius Ficinus and this friendship was the stronger betwixt them by reason of a mutual agreement in their studies and an addictedness to the Doctrines of Plato It fell out that these two discoursed together as they us'd of the state of man after death according to Plato's opinions and there is extant a Learned Epistle of Marsilius to Michael Mercatus upon the same subject but when their disputation and discourse was drawn out somewhat long They shut it up with this firm agreement That which soever of them two should first depart out of this life if it might be should ascertain the survivor of the state of the other Life and whether the Soul be immortal or not This agreement being made and mutually sworn unto they departed In a short time it fell out that while Michael Mercatus was one Morning early at his Study upon the sudden he heard the noise of a Horse upon the gallop and then stoping at his door withal he heard the voice of Marsilius his friend crying to him O Michael O Michael those thing are true they are true Michael wondring to hear his friends voice rose up and opening the Casement he saw the backside of him whom he had heard in white and gallopping away upon a white Horse He call'd after him Marsilius Marsilius and follow'd him with his Eye But he soon vanish'd out of sight He amaz'd at this extraordinary accident very solicitously enquired if any thing had happened to Marsilius who then liv'd at Florence where he also breath'd his last and he found upon strict enquiry that he dyed at that very time wherein he was thus heard and seen by him 4. We read in the life of Iohn Chrysostom of Basiliscus the Bishop of the City Comana the same who with Lucianus a Priest of Antioch suffer'd Martyrdom under Maximianus the Emperour that he appeared to St. Chrysostom in his exile and said Brother John be of good heart and courage for to morrow we shall be together Also that before this he had appear'd to the Priest of that Church and said Prepare a place for our Brother John for he is to come presently And that these things
where sate the Lacedemonian Embassadours who mov'd with the age of the man in reverence to his years and hoary hairs rose up and placed him in an honourable Seat amongst them which when the people beheld with a loud applause approv'd the modesty of another City At which it is reported that one of the Embassadours should say It appears that the Athenians do understand what is â—it to be done but withal they neglect the doing of it 13. Diodorus Cronus abiding in the Court of Ptolemaeus Soter had some Logick Questions and Fallacies propounded to him by Stilpon which when he could not answer upon the sudden the King reproached him both for that and other things he then also heard himself called Cronus by way of jeer aâ—d abuse whereupon he rose from the Feast and when he had wrote an Oration upon that question whereat he had been most stumbled he died through an excess of modesty and shame 14 C. Terentius Varro had almost ruined the Republick by his rash Fight with Hannibal at Cannas but the same man when his Dictatorship was proffered him both by the Senate and people did absolutely refuse it by the modesty of which act of his he seem'd to redeem his former miscarriage and caused men to transfer that calamity to the anger of the Gods but to impute his modesty to himself 15. C. Iulius Caesar assaulted in the Senate by many Swords and having received by the hands of the Parricides twenty three wounds upon his body yet even in death it self had a respect to modesty for he pulled down his Gown on both sides with his hand that so he might fall the more decently 16. Cassander gave command for the slaying of Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great which so soon as the Executioner had acquainted her with she took special care so to wrap up her self in her cloaths that when she should fall no part of her body might be â—een uncovered but what did become the modesty of a Matron And thus died the Wife of Panthcus the Lacedemonian when ordered to be slain by â—tolâ—maeus King of Aegypt 17. Michael Emperour of Constantinople having been ever victorious in war yet being once beaten in Battel by the Bulgarians was so exceedingly ashamed of that his disgrace that in meer modesty he resign'd up the Empire and bâ—took himself to a private and solitary life for the remainder of his days 18. That was a modesty worthy of eternal praise in Godfrey of Bulloign by the universal consent of the whole Army he was saluted King of Ierusalem upon the taking of it out of the hands of the Saracens there was also brought him a Crown of Gold sparkling with Jewels to set upon his head but he put it by saying it was most unsit for him who was a mortal man a servant and a sinner to be there crowned with Gems and Gold where Christ the Son of God who made Heaven and Earth was crowned with Thorns 19. M. Scaurus was the Light and Glory of his Country he at such time as the Cimbrians had beat the Romans at the River Athesis and that his Son was amongst them who â—led towards the City sent his Son this word that he should much more willingly meet with his Bones after he had been killed in Fight than to see him guilty of such horrible cowardise in flight And therefore that if he had any kind of modesty remaining in him degenerate Son as he was he should shun the sight of his displeased Father for the memory of his own youth did admonish him what a kind of Son M. Scaurus should esteem of or despise Upon this news from the Father the Son's modesty was such that not presuming to shew himself in his sight he was constrain'd to be more valiant against himself than the Enemy and slew himself with his own Sword 20. Cornelius a Senator shed many tears in a full Senate when Corbulo called him bald Ostridge Seneca admireth that such a man who in all things else had shewed himself so most courageously opposite against other injuries lost his constancy for one ridiculous saying which might have been smothered in laughter but this blow was rather given him by imagination and a deep appâ—eâ—ension of shame than by the tongue of his Enemy 21. Archytas did ever preserve a singular modesty in his speech as well as in all other his behaviour he shunned all kind of obscenity in words and when there was a necessity sometimes of speaking more absurdly he was ever silent he wrote upon the Wall what should have been said but he himself could never be perswaded to pronounce it 22. We read of divers who through modesty and fear when they were to speak publickly have been so disappointed that they were fain to hold their tongues Thus Cicero writes of Curio that being to plead in a cause before the Senate he utterly forgot what to say Also Theophrastus being to speak before the people of Athens was on the sudden so deprived of memory that he remained silent The same happened to the famous Demosthenes in the presence of King Philip to Herodes Aâ—ticus before M. Amonius and to Lysias the Sophist being to make an Oration to Severus the Emperour Nor are we ignorant that the like misfortune hath befallen divers excellent persons in our times and amongst others to Bartholomaeus Sozzinus who went from Rome in the name of Pope Alexander to congratulate the Republick of Siena but was not able to speak what he had premeditated 23. Martia Daughter of Varro was one of the rarest wits in her time was skillful in all Arts but in Painting she had a peculiar excellency notwithstanding which she could never be drawn to paint a man naked lest she might offend against the rules of Modesty 24. A grave and learned Minister and Ordinary Preacher at Alcmar in Holland was one day as he walked in the Fields for his recreation suddenly taken with a Lask or Loosness and thereupon compelled to retire to the next Ditch but being surprised at unawares by some Gentlewomen of his Parish wandring that way he was so abashed that he did never after shew his head in publick or come into the Pulpit but pined away with melancholy CHAP. XIX Of Impudence and the Shameless Behaviour of divers Persons AS many are deterred from some kind of praise-worthy Actions through a natural Modesty and Bashfulness that attends them so on the other side some persons of evil inclinations are by the same means restrain'd from dishonest and unseemly things but when once the Soul is deserted of this Guardian and as I may call it a kind of Tutelar Angel to it there is nothing so uncomely or justly reprovable but the man of a Brazen Fore-head will adventure upon 1. This year 1407 saith Doctor Fuller a strange accident if true happened take it as an Oxford Antiquary is pleased to relate it to us One
before the Altar as the custom was the new Bride drank a Cup of Wine in a Golden Vial to the Bridegroom which he received and drank off with great pleasure which done falling on her Knees with a loud voice she said I thank thee O Venerable Diana that thou hast granted me in thy Temple to revenge the blood of my Husband which was shed for my sake Which said she fell down and dyed Now did Erasinorix perceive the Wine he had drank was poyson'd nor was it long after e're he himself as another Sacrifice fell dead at the foot of the Altar 11. Pandocrus was one of the Captains of the Men of War under Iacobus King of Persia who was the Son of Vsun Cassâ—n this man had a most beautiful young Lady to his Wife though not above sixteen years of Age by whom he was most entirely beloved He having rebelled against his Soveraign she long besought him that he would not enter Battle with his Enemies but when he would not agree to her in that she then intreated that at least he would kill her before the Fight that so she might not be compelled to out-live him when he had also denyed her in this he gave Battel wherein he was overcome and slain and his Wife being taken was by the King bestowed upon one of his Captains When therefore he would take her to Wife she long opposed his intentions and when at last she perceived he went about to gain that by force which he could not by entreaty she requested some time wherein to deliberate upon the matter It was granted and when she had sent him a Note wherein she had written No man shall ever say that the Wife of Pandoerus did long survive him she fell upon a Sword and dyed 12. Leonidas King of Sparta had married his Daughter Chelonis to Cleombrotus afterwards he fell out with him and would have slain him Chelonis taking her two little Sons went to her Husband earnestly begging his life of her angry Father telling him that if he proceeded to kill her Husband she would first kill her self and pitifully complaining she laid her face upon Cleombrotus his head and casting her swoln and blubber'd eyes upon the standers by Leonidas was mov'd to pity and commanded Cleombrotus to get him thence into Exile withal praying his daughter for his sake to remain with him and not to forsake her Father who did so dearly love her as for her sake alone to save the forfeit life of her Husband But she by no means would yield to his request but rising up with her Husband she gave him one of his Sons and taking the other in her owns Arms she voluntarily went with him into Banishment 13. Portia the Daughter of Cato and Wife of Marcus Brutus when she conjectur'd by the sleepless and disturbed Nights of her Husband that he had conceived some great thing in his mind and conceal'd it from her in suspicion 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 there followed a stream of Blood Debility and a Fever When Brutus came home sad at so unexpected an accident she causing all to withdraw Sit down Husband said â—he I have something that is serious to discourse with you When I married you I came to your house as a Wife not as a Mistress or Whore nor only as a companion of your Bed and Board but of all prosperous and adverse things I am Cato's daughter and reckon you that I am of that blood What then do I complain of you Not at all if I look at other matters conjugal Solemnities good will and this external love but I look higher and would have your friendship also and that is the only grief of my mind which torments me that you have my fidelity in suspicion For wherefore should you dissemble Do I not perceive the care you are in that there is some secret and great enterprize you are in agitation about Why do you conceal it from me If I can lend you no assistance expect some comfort at least from me For as to my secrecy I am able to engage Consider not the rest of my Sex I say again that I am the daughter of Cato and I add thereunto that I am the Wife of Brutus either nature being from such a Father or conversation with such a Husband will render me constant and invincible against all that is to be fear'd Why do I multiply words I my self have made experiment of my self and see this wound which of my own accord I have given my self that I might know whether I could undergo with courage any grief and torments I can believe it I am able to bear them to despise them and I can dye Brutus with and for my Husband If therefore you are about any thing that is just and honourable and worthy of us both conceal it no longer Brutus admiring the greatness of her mind and surprised with the discovery of such an affection lift up his hands for joy And O all ye Powers above said he be ye favourable and propitious to my desires and make me a Husband that is worthy of Portia Then he recited in order to her the conspiracy against Caesar and who they were that were concerned therein She was so far from being affrighted therewith or deterring him from it that she encouraged him to proceed But the day they were to perform the enterprise being in fear for Brutus she swooned and was scarcely recovered by him At the last Brutus being overcome and slain at Philippi she determin'd to dye and when her friends being ever with her deprived her of the oppurtunity and means she at last snatch'd the burning coals with her hands out of the fire and thrusting them into her mouth she kept them there till she was choak'd 14. In the Reign of Vespasian there was a rebellion in Gaul the chief Leader of which was Iulius Sabinus the Gauls being reduced the Captain was sought after to be punish'd But he had hid himself in a Vault or Cave which was the monument of his Grandfather he caused a report to be spread of his death as if he had voluntarily poyson'd himself and the better to perswade 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 bewail'd his death with inconsolable tears there were only two of his freed men who were privy to it who pitying their Lady who was determin'd to dye and in order thereunto had now abstain'd from all manner of food for three days together declared her purpose to her Husband and besought him to save her that lov'd 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 slain Eponina producing and shewing her Children Behold O Caesar said she such as I have brought forth and brought up in a Monument that thou mightest have more suppliants for our lives Cruel Vespasian that could not be mov'd with such words as these Well they were both led to death and Eponina joyfully dyed with her Husband who had been before buried with him for so many years together 15. Eumenes burying the dead that had fall'n 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 another which he had marryed a few years before but both of them bare an entire love to him for whereas the Laws of India require that one Wife shall be burnt with her dead Husband both these proffered themselves to death and strove with that ambition as if it was some glorious prize they sought after Before such Captains as were appointed their Judges the younger pleaded that the other was with child and that therefore she could not have the benefit of that Law The elder pleaded 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 all joy at her victory went to the Funeral Fire magnificently dressed up by her Friends led along by her Kinred as if to her Nuptials 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 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 the flames 16. Clara Cervenda was one of the most beautiful and fairest Virgins in all Bruges she was married to Bernard Valdaura at that time above forty four years of age The first night after her marriage she found that her Husbands Thighs were rolled and wrapped with Clouts and that he was a man very sore and sickly for all which she lov'd him not a whit the less Not long after Valdaura fell so sick that all the Physicians despaired of his life then did she so attend upon him that in six weeks space she put not off her cloaths only for shift nor rested above an hour or two at the most in a night and that in her cloaths This Disease was a venemous Relique of the Pox and the Physicians counselled Clara not to touch the sick man or come near him and so also did her Kinred and Neighbours All which moved her not but having taken order for that which concerned the benefit of his Soul she provided him all things that might tend to the health of his body she made him Broths and Juleps she changed his Sheets and Clouts although by reason of a continual loosness and many sores about him his body never left running with matter and filth so that he never had any clean part about him All the day she rested not the strength of her love supporting the delicacy of her body by this good means Valdaura escaped that danger After this by reason of a sharp and hot Rheum falling from his Brain the Gristle within his Nose began to be eaten away wherefore the Physicians appointed a certain powder to be blown up softly into his Nose at certain times with a Quill no body could be found to take such a loathsome service in hand because of the stench that came from him but Clara did it chearfully and when his Cheeks and Chin were all covered over with Scabs Wheals and Scales so as no Barber could or would shave him she with her little Scissars played the Barber and made him a deft Beard From this Sickness he fell into another which lasted seven years during which time with incredible diligence she made ready his meat put in his Tents laid on his Plaisters dressed and bound up his Thighs all rotten with Scabs and Ulcers his Breath was such that none durst come near by ten paces and abide by it which yet she protested was sweet to her This long sickness and the nourishing and medicining of a body oppressed by so many Diseases was a great matter in a House that had no Rents or Profits coming in and where Trade had ceased of a long time and consequently the gain she therefore to furnish expences sold her Pretious Jewels her Gold Chains her rich Carcanets her Garments of great value a Cupboard of Plate not caring for any thing so her Husband was relieved and contenting her self with little so he wanted nothing Thus Valdaura lingred on a life by the help of his Wife within a rotten body or rather within a Grave for twenty years together in which time she had eight children by him yet neither she nor they had so much as a Scab Wheal or Pimple in any part of their bodies Valdaura died an old man for whose death his Wife Clara made such mourning as they who knew her well say never woman did for any Husband When some instead of comforting her told her God had done much in taking him away and that they therefore came to congratulate with her she detested their speeches wishing for her Husband again in exchange of five children and though she was yet both young and lusty and sought to by many she resolved not to marry saying she should never meet with any whom she could like so well as her dear Bernard Valdaura CHAP. IX Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children THat natural affection which we bear towards them that proceed from us we have in common with other creatures The Poet hath expressed it in the most cruel of all other Beasts The Tiger which most thirsts for blood Seeing her self robbed of her tender Brood Lies down lamenting in her Scythian Den And licks the prints where her lost whelps had lain Only this affection reigns with greater power in the Souls of some than others and the effects of it have been such as cannot but detain us
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 entred 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 presence of them all together so Archigallus was restored to the Kingdom and he dying in few years Heliodorus succeeded him with equal justice and glory 10. Rare and memorable was the Love that was betwixt the Vitellij they were named Iohannes Camillus Paulus and Vitellozius these sour were the Sons of Nicolaus Vitellius a principal person in the City of Tisernas to whom while he lived they perform'd all due obedience He dead all the rest were always and in all things obedient to the commands of their elder Brother and although for the greatness of their military virtue they were all in high reputation amongst them that bear Arms and were Leaders of Armies in Italy and were hired with great stipends to assist on this or the other side yea though they were all married and had attained the name of their Father yet were they not affected with the least ambition amongst themselves nor was there ever any breach of love betwixt them When the eldest of them died the other yielded the power of command to him that was next in age in all things else they were alike in such manner that it is a difficult thing to find such another example of Brotherly Love and Concord 11. While Cato Vticensis was yet a child when any asked him whom he loved best he would say his Brother Caepio and when asked who in the second or third place was beloved by him he would continue to say Caepio till they desisted to enquire any further When he grew up he gave many and manifest confirmations of the great love he bore to this Brother of his for at twenty years of age he never supped without Caepio never went any journey nor so much as walked into the Market-place without him Indeed whereas the other made use of Unguents Cato refused them and in all other things led a severe and rigid life When Caepio was once commended for his frugality and moderate way of living he confessed he was such compared with some others But said he when I compare my life with that of Cato methinks I differ not at all from Sippius that was one famous in the City for luxury and effeminate life But when Caepio passing into Asia was deceased at Aenus in Thrace Cato then a Tribune coming out of Thessalonica seemed to bear this blow with a weaker mind than became a Philosopher he embraced the Corps and made so great lamentation as shewed the excess of his grief so did the cost he was at in his Funeral the choice odours and precious Garments that he burnt with the Corps and the monument he erected for him in the Forum at Aenus framed of polished Thasian Marble wherein he expended eight Talents The neighbouring Cities and great persons thereabouts sent him in many things to help on the magnificence of that Funeral of all which refusing the money sent him he took nothing but perfumes and other ornaments the just price of which he sent unto the senders of them And whereas the estate of Caepio was to be divided betwixt him and the Daughter of his Brother in the partition thereof they required nothing to be allowed him in respect of the Funeral Expences 12. There was a Soldier in the Camp of Cn Pompeius who in the war with Sertorius perceiving a Soldier on the other side to press hard upon him he fought with him hand to hand and having slain him he went about to strip him of his arms here it was that he found it was his Brother who had fallen under him which when he discerned having long and much reproached the Gods for their gift of so impious a victory to him 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 he thrust it into his Breast and so falling prostrate upon the dead Body of his Brother they were both burned together 13. Tiberius being at Ticinum and hearing that his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany he immediately put himself upon a hasty journey to give him a visit he passed the Alpes and the Rhine and changing his Horse night and day he travelled outright two hundred miles with only Aâ—tabagius in his company as his guide Drusus though at that time labouring for life inform'd of his coming commanded his Legions with their Ensigns to march forth and meet him and to salute him by the Title of Imperator He ordered a Pretorial Tent to be erected for him on the right hand of his own and gave him the Consular and Imperial Name at the same time yielding his honour to his Brother and his body to death 14. Scipio Africanus though he held a most entire friendship with Laelius yet he earnestly implored the Senate not to transfer the Province to him that fell by lot unto his Brother promising that he would go with L. Scipio his Brother into Asia in quality of his Legate This he the elder did for the younger the valiant for the weak one excelling in glory for the other who as yet was without name being greater in his subjection than his Brother was in his command 15. Leopoldus Duke of Austria when his Brother Frederick was taken prisoner by Lewis of Bavaria his Competitor turned every stone to gain him his liberty he consulted a Magician to free him by help of the Devil and when Frederick had refused to have his freedom by such detestable means he wrought means to gain the Pope and the King of France to intercede in his Brother's behalf and when he saw that the Bavarian would not be moved either with entreaties or presents he entred into League with the Pope and the King of France against that Lewis that detained his Brother in prison 16. Great was the love of Timoleon the Corinthian to his Brother for when in a Battle with the Argives he saw his Brother fall down dead with the wounds he had receiv'd he leaped over the dead body of his Brother and with his Shield he protected the body as it lay and though in this enterprise 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 CHAP. XII Of the singular Love of some Servants to their Masters WE do not look for Figs from Thorns nor to gather Grapes from the
wears out by time so the King's affection being changed towards the Admiral had charged him with some offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Pieâ—ont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Trial. Hereupon the King gave Commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the King's Advocate to question the Admiral 's life The Chancellor an ambitious man and of a large Conscience hoping to content the King wrought with some of the Judges with so great cunning others with so sharp threats and the rest with so fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the King's displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his life But the King hating falshood in so great a Magistrate and though to any that should bewail the Admiral 's calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and by the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount all his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be indicted arraigned degraded and condemned 16. Totilus King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Life-guard had ravished his Daughter upon which the Accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as his fact deserved but the Soldiers trooped about him desiring that their fellow Soldier a man of known valour might be given back to them Totilus sharply reproved them what would ye said he know ye not that without Iustice neither any Civil or Military Government is able to subsist can ye not remember what slaughters and calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of that we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one single Villain See you to your selves Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud careless of the event that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved you will then strike at me behold a body and breast ready for the stroke The Soldiers were moved with this speech deserted their Client The King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated person 17. The Emperor Leo Armâ—nus going out of his Palace was informed by a mean person that a Senator had ravished his Wife and that he had complained of his injury to the Perfect but as yet could have no redress The Emperor commanded that both the Prefect and Senator should be sent for and wait his return in his Palace together with their Accuser being come back he examined the matter and finding it true as the man had represented he displaced the Prefect from his Dignity for his negligence and punish'd the crime of the Senator with death 18. Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flaunders had a Noble Man in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of case he fell in love with a woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior He passed and repassed by her door soon after grew bolder entred into conference with her discovers his flame and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in vain Her chastity was proof against all the batteries he could make against it Falling therefore into despair he converts himself unto Villany He was as I said a Governour and Duke Charles was busied in War he causes therefore the Husband of his Mistress to be accused of Treachery and forthwith commits him to Prison to the end that by fear or threats he might draw her to his pleasure or at least quit himself of her Husband the only Rival with him in his Loves The woman as one that loves her Husband goes to the Goal and thence to the Governor to entreat for him and if she was able to obtain his liberty Dost thou come O my Dear to entreat me said the Governor You are certainly ignorant of the Empire you have over me Render me only a mutual affection and I am ready to restore you your Husband for we are both under a restraint he is in my Prison and I am in yours Ah how easily may you give lâ—berty to us both wâ—y do you refuse As a Lover I beseech you and as you tender my life as the Governor I ask you and as you tender the life of your Husband both are at stake and if I must perish I will not fall alone The woman blush'd at what she heard and withal being in fear for her Husband trembled and turned pale He perceiving she was moved and supposing that some force should be used to her modesty they were alone throws her upon the bed and enjoys the fruit which will shortly prove bitter to them both The woman departed confounded and all in tears thinking of nothing more than revenge which was also the more inflamed by a barbarous aâ—t of the Governor for he having obtained his desire and hoping hereafter freely to enjoy her took care that her Husband and his Rival should be beheaded in the Goal and there was the body put into a Coffin ready for Burial This done he sent for her and in an affable manner What said he do you seek for your Husband you shall have him and pointing to the Prison you shall find him there take him along with you The woman suspecting nothing went her way when there she sees and is astonished she falls upon the dead Corps and having long lamented over it she returns to the Governor with a fierce countenance and tone It is true said she you have restored me my Husband I owe you thanks for the favour and will pay you He endeavours to retain and appease her yet in vain but hasting home she calls about her her most faithful friends recounts to them all that had passed All agree that she should make her case known to the Duke who amongst other his excellent Virtues was a singular Lover of Justice To him she went was heard but scarce believed The Duke is angry and grieved that any of his and in his Dominions should presume so far He commands her to withdraw into the next Room till he sent for the Governor who by chance was then at Court being come do you know said the Duke this woman the man changed
the side of the Romans they striving with eagerness to be subject to a person of so much virtue 11. Agesilaus King of Sparta after the Spartan that is an inoffensive manner loved Magabates a Persian boy of singular beauty and when according to the Persian custom the boy came one time to kiss him Agesilaus thrust him away with his Arm when he saw the boy was displeased at it Bid him said he try again to one that stood by but the boy would first know whether if he offered he should not be again refused I would not said Agesilaus receive one kiss though it should make me the fairest of all men or enable me to turn all I saw into gold 12. Rhomilda though a lustful Princess had two Daughters Appa and Gela who were as chast as the Mother was contrary for when through the treason of the Mother the Henetians had taken the City of Friol they to preserve their honour put raw flesh under their Arm-Pits which putrefying there yielded such a stinking and loathsom smell that the Barbarians were not able to come near them By this honest Artifice they preserved their Virgin innocency untouched 13. Acciolin Tyrant of Padua in the year 1253. surprised by treason a little Neighbour City called Bassian at which surprisal Blanche Rubea being taken with her sword in her hand her Husband was slain fighting valiantly was disarm'd and dragg'd by violence before the Tyrant who extremely taken with her beauty with entreaties rich presents and at some times an intermixture of threats laboured to corrupt her chast mind but finding the Fortress impreguable this way he resolved to carry it by plain force Blanche made shift by some pretence to rid her self out of his hands and recovering a window threw her self headlong from thence to the ground where she lay weltring in her blood She was taken up half dead carried to a bed and carefully looked after when some days were passed over and she perfectly recovered she was again brought before Acciolin where she persevered in her vertuous courage But the shameless Beast caused her to be bound and held so fast by certain Grooms the furtherers of his villanies that notwithstanding all the resistance she could possibly make he defiled the body of this excellent Lady A mortal grief seized her at 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 putrefied 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 crushed that death soon followed and she was laid in the same Tomb with her beloved Husband 14. When the Wife of Hiero King of Sicily was taxed by her Husband that she had never told him of his stinking breaâ—h which one had then newly upbraided him with I thought answered she that all mens breaths had smelt so An excellent Testimony of Chastity in that the woman never came so near any man as to discern if his breath was sweeter or stronger than that of her Husband The same History is recounted of Bilia the Wife of Duellius 15. Theâ—e was a Maid in Alexandria endowed with an admirable beauty and sued unto with all possible importunities she fled from them and hid her self in a Sepulchre of the dead twelve years lived she in this little Cell made to lodge such as had nothing to do with the world Being at last found in this manner and asked what she meant to do made answer Thesaurum Castitatis servo inter arentes calvarias unde nulla sâ—amma erumpit I preserve the treasure of chastity amongst these dead carkasses from whence fly no sparkles of Concupiscence 16. Brasilla of Diracchium an illustrious Virgin being taken by a Soldier and about to suffer violence by him told him that if he would let her go with her Virginity untouched she would shew him an herb which if he did but eat would preserve him from being wounded by any weapon whatsoever The Soldier agreed and went with the Maid into the Garden where she takes of the next herb she met with and chewing it in her mouth This said she is the Herb and that you may not doubt of the efficacy of it make tryal with your Sword upon my self if you are able to wound me The Soldier was won to credit her by the stedfast earnestness of her countenance and drawing his Sword made such a thrust at her that unwillingly he deprived her of life and she by this Artifice preserved her self from being corrupted by the otherways unbridled lâ—st of him who had made her his Prisoner 17. Cyrus had taken Captive the wife of Tigranes Son to the King of Armenia and 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 delighted with 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 complete 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 replyed she that said he would redeem my captivity at the price of his life 18. 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 bold Ravisher she bids him forbear that she would redeem at a valuable rate what she could not obtain by all her entreaties She tells him that she was skill'd in Magick had been initiated in enchantments from her infancy and that she knew a certain unguent with which if he once anointed his body he should be proof against either sword or dart that she would impart to him this secret which to that day she had kept to her self upon this condition that he would solemnly swear from thenceforth not to offer any injury to her Virgin modesty the Soldier touched with the ambition of military glory swore readily to what she desired she left him a while and having melted some wax with other ingredients she anointed her neck and shoulders sufficiently with it then turning to the young man That you may understand said she that I have not dealâ— deceitfully with you I will extort a belief from you at the hazard of my own person come Souldier 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 soon shalt thou be convinced how safe I have rendred my self with this Artifice He whose lust was almost extinguish'd by the fervent desire he had to make tryal drew out his
upon him and minister unto him The young man did it with great ardor and obedience and then being an eye witness of the sobriety and meekness and other virtues of the man he began to admire him and from thenceforth spake nothing but in his praises 5. Lucius Murâ—ena though but the year before he had been accused by Cato of canvassing and bribery wherein his life had been in the utmost hazard had he not been defended by Cicero the Father of Roman Eloquence yet forgetting this he interposed his own body for the safety of Cato when his death was intended by Metellus the Tribune of the people and though he might have seen himself revenged by the hand of another yet thought it more glorious to defend his enemy than suffer it 6. Anno 1541. Robert Holgate afterwards Arch-Bishop of York obtained a Benefice where Sir Francis Askâ—w of Lincolnshire dwelt by whom he was much molested and vexed with continual suits of law upon which occasion he was sain to repair to London where being he found means to be the Kings Chaplain and by him was made Arch-Bishop of York and President of the Council in the North during which time the said Knight hapned to have a Suit before the said Council and doubted much that he should find hard measure from the Arch-Bishop whose Adversary he had been but the other forgetting all forepassed injuries afforded him all the favour that he might with justice 7. When Timoleon the Corinthian had freed the Syracusans and Sicilians from the Tyrants that did oppress them one Demaenetus a busie Orator took the boldness in an open assembly of the people to charge him with I know not what miscarriages wâ—ilst he was General in the Wars Timoleon though he had power to punish him yet answered him not a word only turning to the people he said that he thanked the Gods for granting him that thing which he had so often requested of them in his prayers which was that he might once see the Syracusans to have full power and liberty to say what they would 8. C. Iulius Caesaer when perpetual Dictator and flourishing in the same and glory of his great exploits was aspersed with an indelible infamy by the verses which Catullus of Verona had made and published of him and Mamurra but upon his submission he not only did him no harm but received him to his Table and as a certain sign of his being reconciled he lodged with his Father as he used to do 9. King Philip of Macedon besieged the City of Methon and as he walked about viewing the place one from the Walls shot an Arrow at himâ— whereby he put out his right eye which yet he took so patiently that when the Citizens a few days after sent out to treat with him about the surrender he gave them honourable terms and after they had put the City into his hands took no revenge of them for the loss of his eye 10. Pope Sixtus the Second was accused by Bassus a Patrician of many grievous Crimes unto Valentiniâ—nus the younger the Emperour and his Mother Placidia before whom he cleared his unspotted innocency which done he interceded with tears that Bassus might not be sent into exile according to his banishment though he could not prevail with the Emperour therein Afterwards when Bassus was dead he not only honoured his Funeral with his presence but also with his own hands helped to commit him to his interrment 11. Epaminondas through the envy of the Nobles was not chosen General in a war that needed a most skilful leader nor was he only laid aside but another was chosen in his stead who was but little seen in the military art This brave man little moved with the indignity listed himself as a private Soldier It was long e're the ill conduct of the new General had brought the Army into a real and almost inextricable strait and when all looked about enquiring for Epaminondas he mindless of the injury of his former unworthy repulse came chearfully forth and having delivered the Army from the hazard it was in brought it back with safety into his Country 12. There was an ancient feud betwixt Henry of Methimnia Duke of Asincica of the Family of the Guzmans and Roderigo Ponze de Leon Marquess of Gades and whereas the Marquess had consulted with others about the surprisal of Alama from the Moors of Granado and had determin'd of the expedition he would not that the Duke should be acquainted with or have any share in the glory of that action But he was speedily besieged by the King of Granado in that Town and whereas he sent all about for assistance the Duke was again neglected Notwithstanding all which the gallant Duke burying in oblivion the memory of all forepast injuries called together all the Soldiers in his government or that were mercenaries under him entreated his friends and so enflamed others with his exhortations that having with great celerity mustered a very great Army he came to the seasonable succours of Alama raised the Siege and set the Marquess with all others with him in freedom from the fears of any enemy and afterwards when the Marquess came first to him with acknowledgments of so great a benefit and tendred him his greatest thanks Let these things pass Marquess said he neither indeed does it become good men to be mindful of former fallings out and especially in a cause where Religion is concern'd but rather if any such thing has heretofore been betwixt us let us sacrifice them to our Country and the Christian name and give them no longer any place in our remembrance And since things have at this time so fortunately succeeded for us both let us joyfully celebrate this day and let it remain as an eternal witness of our reconciliation This said they embraced lodged together that night and lived ever afterwards in a mutual and sincere friendship 13. Alphonsus the elder King of Sicily used to wear upon his fingers Rings of extraordinary price and to preserve the lustre of the stones when he washed used to give them to him that stood next to hold He had once delivered them to one who supposing the King had forgotten them converted them to his own use Alphonsus dissembled the matter put on others and kept his wonted course after some days being to wash the same man stood next him that had the former and put forth his hand as to receive the Kings Rings who pulled his hand back and whispered him in the ear that when he should restore the former he would trust him with these A Speech worthy of a liberal and humane Prince and one endued with so great a mind as he was 14. Q. Metellus that fortunate man in the flower of all his glory was seiz'd upon by Catinius Labeo Tribune of the people and dragg'd to the Mount Tarpeius to be thrown headlong from thence and scarce was there another
so perished together with their Houses and Relations 5. Ptolemaeus ruling over the Cyprian Cities and hearing that Nicocles the Paphian King did closely hold correspondence with Antigonus he sent Argaeus and Callicrates his Friends with command that they should put Nicocles to death as fearing the defection of other Cities besides that of Paphos These came to Cyprus and having received some Troops of Menelaus the General there they beset the Palace of Nicocles and having declared the Kings commands they demanded Nicocles to death He at first would have excused the matter but when he saw that would not serve his turn he slew himself Axiothea the wife of Nicocles being informed of the death of her Husband did then slay her Daughters that were Virgins that they might not fall into the enemies hands She also perswaded the Wives of Nicocles his Brethren with her to murther themselves though Ptolemy had granted them impunity Their Husbands seeing this set fire upon the Palace and slew themselves by this means the Royal Family of the Paphians was utterly distinguished 6. The Tacchi a people in Asia rather then they would be captivated to the Greeks threw themselves down headlong from the Rocks the very women throwing down their own children first and then casting themselves upon them 7. Philip King of Macedon had beseiged the City of Abydus and straitly beset it both by Sea and Land when the inhabitants defended it against him with great courage till at last the Enemy had undermin'd and overthrown the outward wall and were now by their mines approaching that other wall which the Inhabitants had made up within instead of the former Then the besieged apprehensive of their danger sent Embassadors to Philip offering him the surrender of their City upon condition that the Rhodians and Soldiers of Attalus should be freely dismissed and that every freeman should have liberty to depart whither he pleased Philip returned them this answer that either they should resolve to surrender at discretion or else fight it gallantly They of Abidus made desperate by these means consulted together and resolved upon this course to give liberty to all slaves that they might assist them with greater cheerfulness to shut up all their wives in the Temple of Diana their Children and Nurses in the publick Schools to lay all their silver and gold upon a heap in the Market place and to put their most precious furniture into two Galleys This done they chose out fifty persons of strength and Authority whom in presence of all the Citizens they caused to swear that as soon as they should perceive the enemy to be Master of the inward Wall they should kill all their Wives and Childrenâ— burn the Galleys and cast the Silver and Gold into the Sea They all swore to defend their liberty to the last breath and indeed when the Walls were fallen all the Soldiers and Inhabitants maintained the ruines of them with that obstinacy that few remained alive or unwounded And when the City was taken Philip was amazed to see the rest kill their Wives and Children cast themselves headlong from houses and into pits and running upon any kind of death so that few of that City could be perswaded to out-live the loss of their liberty unless such as were bound and by force preserved from doing violence upon themselves 8. At Numantia in Spain four thousand Soldiers withstood forty thousand Romans for fourteen years together in which time having often valiantly repulsed them and forced them unto two dishonourable compositions at last when they could hold out no longer they gathered all their Armour money and goods together and laid them on an heap which being fired they voluntarily cast themselves also into the flames leaving unto Scipio nothing but the bare name of Numantia to adorn his triumph with 9. The City of Saguntum had been besieged by Annibal for the space of nine months in which the famine was so great that the inhabitants were enforced to eat mans flesh At last when they could hold out no longer rather than they would fall into the hands of their enemies they made a fire in which themselves and their City was consumed to Ashes 10. Perdiccas made war upon Ariarathes King of Cappadocia although he had no way provoked him yet although he overcame the King in Battle he carried thence nothing but hazards and wounds instead of rewards for the slying Army being received into the City each man slew his Wife and Children set fire on their houses and furniture of them and having laid upon one heap all their riches at once and consumed them to ashes they then threw themselves headlong from Towers and high places into the flames so that the victorious enemy enjoyed nothing of theirs besides the sight of those flames which devoured the spoils they hoped to have divided amongst them 11. When Brutus had besieged the City of the Xanthii in Licia they themselves set fire on their own City some of them leapâ—d into the flames and there perished others fell upon their own swords A woman was seen hanging from the roof of her house with an infant newly strangled about her neck and in her right hand a burning torch that she might that way have burnt down the house over her CHAP. LI. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of Humane frailty THe Lamae who are the Priests of the Tibitenses when they prepare to celebrate prayers they summon the people together with the hollow whispering sounds of certain pipes made of the bones of dead men They have also Rosaries or Beads made of them which they carry always about them and they drink continually out of a Skull Being asked the reason of this Ceremony by Anthony Andrada who first found them out one that was the chiefest among them told him that they did it ad fatorum memoriam they did therefore pipe with the bones of the dead that those sad whispers might warn the people of the swift and invisible approach of death whose musick they term'd iâ— The Beads they wore did put them in mind of the frail estate of their bodies their drinking in a skull did mortifie their affections repress pleasures and imbitter their tast lest they should relish too much the delights of life and certainly these great and excellent persons hereafter mentioned did therefore carry along with them the commemoration of death as finding it a powerful Antidote against those excesses and deviations whereunto the nature of man especially in prosperity has so notable a proneness 1. Maximilianus the first Emperour of Germany for three years some say two caused his Coffin made of Oak to be carried along with him in a Wagon before he felt any sickness and when he drew near to his death he gave order in his last will that they should wrap up his dead body in course linen without any embowelling at all and that they should stop his
mouth nostrils ears and all open passages of his body with unslaked lime this was the only embalming and conditure he required and that for this purpose that his body might by this eating and consuming thing be the sooner resolved into its earth 2. Saladine that great Conquerour of the East after he had taken Ierusalem perceiving he drew near unto death by his last Will forbad all funeral pomp and commanded that only an old and black Cassock fastned at the end of a Lance should be born before his body and that a Priest going before the people should aloud sing these verses as they are remembred by Boccace Vixi divitiis regno tumidusque trophaeis Sed pannum heu nigrum nil nisi morte tuli Great Saladine the Conqu'rour of the East Of all the State and Glory he possess'd O frail and transitory good no more Hath born away than that poor Shirt he wore 3. The Emperour Severus after many wars growing old and about to dye called for an Urn in which after the ancient manner the ashes of their burnt bodies were to be bestowed and after he had long looked upon it and held it in his hands he uttered these words Thou said he shalt contain that man whom all the world was too narrow to confine Mors sola fatetur Quantula sint hominum Corpuscula 'T is only death that tells How small he is that swells 4. Philip King of Macedon had a fall and after he was risen perceiving the impression of his body upon the sand Good Gods said he what a small parcel of earth will contain us who aspire to the possession of the whole world 5. Luther after he had successfully opposed the Pope and was gazed and admired at by all the world as the invincible Champion of the true Christian faith not long before his death sent a fair Glass to Dr. Iustus Ionas his friend and therewith these following verses Dat vitrum vitro Jonae vitrum ipse Lutherus Se similem ut fragili noscat uterque vitro Luther a Glass to Jonah Glass a Glass doth send That both may know our selves to be but Glass my Friend 6. Antigonus lay sick a long time of a lingring disease and afterwards when he was recovered and well again We have gotten no harm said he by this long sickness for it hath taught me not to be so proud by putting me in mind that I am but a mortal man And when Hermodorus the Poet in certain Poems which he wrote had stiled him the Son of the Sun he to check that unadvised speech of his He who useth to empty my Close-Stool said he knoweth as well as I that it is nothing so 7. Croesus that rich King of Lydia shewed unto Solon his vast riches and asked of him who it was that he could esteem of as an happier man than he Solon told him that riches were not to be confided in and that the state of a man in this life was so transitory and liable to alteration and change that no certain judgment could be made of the felicity of any man till such time as he came to dye Croesus thought himself contemned and despised by Solon while he spake to him in this manner and being in his great prosperity at that time thought there was little in his speech that concerned him But afterwards being overthrown by King Cyrus in a pitcht battle his City of Sardis taken and himself made prisoner when he was bound and laid upon a pile of wood to be publickly burnt to death in the sight of Cyrus and the Persians then it was that he began to see more deep into that conference he heretofore had with Solon And therefore being now sensible of the truch of what he had heard he cryed out three times O Solon Solon Solon Cyrus admired hereat and demanded the reason hereof and what that Solon was Croesus told him who he was and what he had said to him about the frailty of man and the change of condition he is subject to in this life Cyrus at the hearing of this like a wise Prince began to think that the height of his own fortune could as little excuse from partaking in this fragility as that of Croesus had done and therefore in a just sense and apprehension of those sudden turns which the destinies do usually allot to mankind he pardoned Croesus set him at liberty and gave him an honourable place about him 8. Antiochus at the first stood mute and as one amazed and afterwards he burst out into tears when he saw Achaeus the Son of Andromachus who had married Laodice the Daughter of Mithridates and who also was the Lord of all that Country about the Mountain Taurus brought before him bound and lying prostrate upon the earth That which gave the occasion to these tears of his was the consideration of the great suddenness of these blows which Fortune gives and how impossible it is to guard our selves from them or prevent them 9. Sesostris was a Potent King of Aegypt and had subdued under him divers nations which done he caused to be made for him a Chariot of gold and richly set with several sorts of precious Stones Four Kings by his appointment were yoked together herein that they instead of Beasts might draw this Conquerour as oft as he desired to appear in his glory The Chariot was thus drawn upon a great Festival when Sesostris observed that one of the Kings had his eyes continually fixed upon the wheel of the Chariot that was next him He then demanded the reason thereof the King told him that he did wonder and was amazed at the unstable motion of the wheel that rowled up and down so that one while this and next that part was uppermost and the highest of all immediately became the lowest King Sesostris did so consider of this saying and thereby conceived such apprehensions of the frailty and uncertainty of humane affairs that he would no more be drawn in that proud manner 10. Xerxes Son of Darius and Nephew to Cyrus after five years preparation came against the Grecians to revenge his Fathers disgraceful repulse by Miltiades with such an Army that his men and Cattel dried up whole Rivers he made a Bridge over the Hellespont where looking back on such a multitude considering mans mortality he wept knowing as he said that no one of all those should be alive after an hundred years CHAP. LII Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity MEn in a Dream find themselves much delighted with the variety of those images of things which are presented to their waking fancies that felicity and happiness which most men count so and please their thoughts with is more of imaginary than real more of shadow than substance and hath so little of solidity and stableness in it that it may be â—itly looked upon as a dream All about us is so liable to the blows of fortune
withal that throughout the whole course of his Reign the Lydians lived in a most happy Tranquillity and so secure a Peace that every man lived void of fear and without apprehensions of any designs against them in the midst of a great abundance of Riches in which they had long flourished Alexander passed the Hellespont came to Troy where he sacrificed to Pallas and made a Libation to the Heroes He also poured Oyl upon the Tomb of Achilles and according to the accustomed manner he with his friends ran round about it naked and placed a Crown upon it pronouncing of Achilles that he was a most happy and fortunate person for that while he lived he had so good a friend as Patroclus and when dead that he had so famous a publisher of his Actions as Homer 15. Matilda or Maud the Empress had the same happiness for which Pherenice is admired she was Daughter of a King viz. Henry the First Mother of a King viz. Henry the Second of England and Wife of a King to wit Henry the Fourth Emperor of Germany On her was made this Epitaph Ortu magna viro major sed maxima prole Hic jacet Henrici filia nupta parens 16. Alexander the Great was a happy and a fortunate person in divers respects he had Philip for his Father the noblest Warrior of his time and he had for his Master in his Youth the Prince of Philosophers Aristotle Besides which Iustin observes of him that he never gave Battel to any Enemy whom he did not overcome never laid Siege to any City which at last he did not take nor never came unto any Nation whom he did not subdue and bring under his subjection Appius a Roman was proscribed by the Triumvirate this being known unto him he divided his Wealth amongst his Servants and with them got into a Ship intending to sail into Sicily In his passage there arose a mighty Tempest whereupon his Servants let him down from the Ship into a little Boat telling him that he should therein be safest from the Tempest in the mean time away they sailed with the Ship and all his Riches therein The event was that the Servants and Ship was cast away wherein they thought themselves secure and Appius by force of the Winds was driven with his little Boat unto his desired Sicily where he abode in safety CHAP. LIII Of the Gallantry wherewith some Persons have received Death or the Message of it AS they who remember they are but sojourners in their hired lodgings depart thence without any affliction or trouble of mind so as many as consider that Nature hath lent them this tabernacle of the body but for a little time are well contented to remove as soon as they receive a summons 1. Theodorus being threatned with death by Lysimachus Speak on this mâ—â—ner said he to thy purpled Minions for to Theodorus it is all one whether he purrefye under ground or on a Câ—oss above it 2. Sophonisha was the Queen of Syphax the Numidian and he being made prisoner to the Romans she came and yeilded her self to Massanissa and vehemently besought him that she might not be delivered into the hands of the Romans Her youth and excellent beauty so commended her suit that he forth with granted it and to make good his promise marryed her himself that very day having bin contracted with her before her marriage with Syphax But Scipio the Roman General gave him to understand that the Romans had title to 〈…〉 was a mischeivous enem◠〈…〉 advised him not to 〈…〉 little reason Massanissa 〈…〉 and finally having promised to be governed by Scipio he departed to his Tent where after he had spent some time in agony he called to him a Servant and tempering a Potion for Sophonisba sent it her with this message that gladly he would have had her to live with him as his Wife but since they who had power to hinder him of his desire would not yield thereto he sent her a Cup that should preserve her from falling alive into the hands of the Romans willing her to remember her Birth and Estate and accordingly to take order for her self At the Receipt of this Message and Present she only said that if her Husband had no better Present for his new Wife she must accept of this Adding that she might have dyed more honourably if she had not wedded so lately before her Funerals and herewithal she boldly drank off the Poyson 3. Calanus the Indian of great fame and name for Philosophy and held in great reverence by Alexander the Great when he had lived seventy three years in perfect health and was now seized upon by a Disease accounting that he had arrived at that term of felicity which both Nature and Fortune had allotted him determined to depart out of life and to that purpose desired of Alexander a Funeral pile to be erected and that as soon as he had ascended to the top of it he would appoint his Guard to put fire to it The King not able to divert him from his purpose commanded the Pile to be erected an innumerable multitude of people flocked together to behold so unusual a Spectacle Calanus as he had said with a marvelous alacrity ascended the top of the Pile and there laid him down wherein he was consumed to ashes 4. When the Tyrant sent his Messenger of death to Canius to tell him that he must die that day Canius was then playing at Chess and therefore desired the Messenger not to interrupt his play till the Game was out which he played in the same manner and with as much concern as he did before the Messenger came The Game done he submitted to the Sentence that was passed upon him 5. Queen Anne the Wife of Henry the Eighth when she was lead to be beheaded in the Tower she called one of the King 's Privy Chamber to her and said unto him Commend me to the King and tell him he is constant in his course of advancing me for from a private Gentlewoman he made me a Marquiss from a Marquiss a Queen and now that he hath left no higher degree of worldly honour for me he hath made me a Martyr 6. Dr. Fecknam was sent to the Lady Iane Gray that she must prepare her self to die the next day which Message was so little displeasing to her that she seemed rather to rejoyce at it The Doctor being earnest with her to leave her new Religion and to embrace the old she answered that she had now no time to think of any thing but of preparing her self to God by Prayer Feckman thinking she had spoken this to the end she might have some longer time of life obtained of the Queen three days longer and then came and told so much to the Lady Iane. Whereat she smiling said You are much deceived if you think I had any desire of longer life for I assure you since
and oyl and though they run sixty miles together yet they no way incorporate but the Danow is clear and pure as a well while the Sava that runs along with it is as troubled as a street channel After the manner of these Rivers it is with some brethren though bred up together and near enough each other in respect of their bodies yet their minds have been as distant from each other as the Poles are which when opportunity hath served they have shewed in the effects of an implacable hatred 1. Sir George Sonds of Kent had lately two Sons grown up to that age wherein he might have expected most comfort from them but in the year 1655. the younger of them named Freeman Sonds having no apparent cause or provocation either from his Father or Brother did in a most inhumane and butcherly manner murder the elder as he lay sleeping by him in his bed he clave his head and brains with a Cleaver and although this was his mortal wound yet perceiving him to groan and sigh as one approaching unto death he stabbed him with a Stilletto seven or eight times in and about the heart as the sorrowful Father witnesseth in his Printed narrative of the whole and when he had finished this black and bloody tragedy he went to his aged Father then in bed and told him of it rather glorying in it than expressing any repentance for it Being apprehended he was presently after condemned at Maydstone Assizes and accordingly executed 2. Eteocles was the Son of Oedipus by his own Mother Iocasta their Father the King of Thebes had ordered it that Eteocles and his other Son Polynices after his departure should reign yearly by course But Eteocles after his year was expired would not suffer his Brother to succeed whereupon Polynices being aided by Tydeus and Adrastus made war upon his Brother they meeting together with their forces in the field were slain by each other in the battle their dead bodies were also burned together when the flame parted it self as if it seemed to declare such a deadly hatred betwixt them that as their minds being alive so neither could their bodies being dead agree This their antipathy was propagated to their posterity breaking out into many outragious and bloody wars Unto such ends doth the providence of God often bring an incestuous brood that others may be instructed thereby 3. Upon the death of Selymus the second which happened Anno 1582. Amurath the third succeeded in the Turkish Empire at his entrance upon which he caused his five Brothers Mustapha Solyman Abdala Osman and Sianger without all pity or commiseration to be strangled in his presence and gave order that they should be buried with his dead Father an ordinary thing with Mahometan Princes who to secure to themselves the Empire without rivalship doubt not to pollute their hands with the blood of their nearest relations It is said of this Amurath when he saw the fatal bow-string put about the neck of his younger Brother that he was seen to weep but it seems they were Crocodiles tears for he held firm to his bloody purpose 4. Petrus King of Spain having reigned some time with great cruelty purpling his hands in the blood of his Nobles At last his Brother Henry took up arms against him Anno Dom. 1369. He had hired auxiliary forces out of France against Petrus and having met him in the field a bloody battle was fought agreeable to the pertinacious hatred of the two Brethren The victory resting on the side of Henry and his Brother made prisoner being brought before him Petrus with a Dagger wounded Henry in the face the other endeavouring to repay it with interest both grapled together having thrown each other to the ground But others coming in to the help of Henry he quickly became the superiour and having slain his Brother with many wounds he succeeded in his Kingdom 5. Extream was the hatred that was betwixt Bassianus and Geta the two sons of Severus the Emperour which soon betrayed it self upon the death of their Father they could not agree about the partage of the Empire nor did they omit any means whereby they might supplant each other they endeavoured to bribe each others Cooks and Butlers to poyson their Masters but when both were too watchful to be thus circumvented at last Bassianus grew impatient and burning with ambition to enjoy the Rule alone he set upon his Brother Geta gave him a deadly wound and shed his blood in the lap of Iulia their Mother and having executed this villany threw himself amongst the souldiers told them that he had with difficulty saved his life from the malice of his Brother and having parted amongst them all that Severus his Father had been eighteen years heaping up he was by them confirmed in the Empire 6. Anno 1080. Boleslaus King of Poland having slain his Brother S. Stanislaus Bishop of Cracovia at the very Altar as he was in the celebration of the Mass he suddenly fell into a frenzy and such a degree of madness that he laid violent hands upon himself It is said of this King that he grew into a vehement hatred of the Bishop his Brother upon the account of that freedom he took in reproving him for those horrible crimes he frequently committed 7. Tosto and Harold the sons of Earl Godwin falling out Tosto secretly hyed himself into the Marches of Wales and near the City of Hereford at Portaslith where Harold had a house then in preparation to entertain the King he slew all his Brothers servants and cutting them piece-meal into gobbets some of their limbs he salted and cast the rest into the vessels of Meath and Wine sending his Brother word that he had furnished him with powdred meats against the Kings coming thither 8. Robert Duke of Normandy was chosen King of Ierusalem but refused that in hopes to have England but it is observed that he never prospered after his Brother Rufus got the Crown and when he was dead Henry Beauclerke his youngest Brother ascended the throne and conquered Normandy on the Vigil of St. Michael he also put out the eyes of Robert his Brother and kept him prisoner in Cardiff Castle twenty six years where for grief conceived at the putting on of a new Robe too little for the King and therefore sent to the Duke to wear he grew weary of his life as disdaining to be mocked with his Brothers cast Cloaths and cursing the time of his unfortunate nativity refused thenceforth to take any sustenance and so pined himself to death 9. Alphonsus Diazius a Popish Spaniard hearing that Iohn Diazius his Brother had renounced Popery and was become a professor of the Reformed Religion fell into so deep a hatred of him that like another Cain he slew his Brother with his own hands for which he was not only not punished but highly applauded by the Romanists for his heroical atchievement but he
potent enemies to Theopompus throughout all Greece 10. C. Cornisicius a Poet and Emulator of Virgil when he saw the Souldiers often flying he called them Helmetted Hares who so far resented this term of ignominy that upon the first opportunity they all deserted him in fight and so he was slain upon the place by the enemy 11. Vitellius the Emperour upon the coming of Vespasian was seised upon by the people of Rome they bound his hands behind him put a halter about his neck torâ— his garments and drew him half naked into the Forum they taunted him all along the street called the Sacred way with the most opprobrious speâ—ches They drew backward the hairs of his head as is usual with heinous Malefactours they underser his chin with the point of a Sword that he might carry his face aloft to be seen of all men some cast dirt and dung upon him others called him Incendiary and Gormandizer others upbraided him with defaults in his body at the last he was cruelly put to death at the Gemonies with little blows and by slow degrees thence he was drawn with a hook and his dead body thrown in Tiber. 12. M. Tullius Cicero had made some invective Orations against M. Antonius for which when Antonius came to be of the Triumvirate he caused him to be slain Fulvia the Wife of Antonius not satisfied with the death of that great Orator caused his head to be brought to her upon which she bestowed many curses she spat in the face of it she placed it upon her lap and opening the mouth drew out the tongue and pricked it in divers places with a needle and after all caused it to be set up in a high and eminent place over those Pulpits from whence the Orators use to speak their Orations to the people Reynolds Treat pass chap. 15. p. 150. 13. Pope Stephen the seventh having been hindred from the Popedom by Formosus his Predecessour when after his death he was made Pope he caused his dead body to be taken out out of the Sepulchre to be stript of the Pontificial Ornaments cloathed in secular garments and to be buried without the Church he also caused his fingers to be cut off and to be cast into the River for the Fish to devour When Sergius the third came to be Pope he caused the body of the same Formosus to be drawn out of its second burying place to be beheaded in the Forum or Market-place and then to be cast into the River Tiber to gratifie Lotharius the King of France who thus hated the dead Formosus for that by his means the Empire was translated from the French to the Berengarians others say that Sergius did this to Formosus because he had also opposed him in the Election 14. Cambyses the son of Cyrus King of Persia sent to Amasis King of Egypt that he should send him his Daughter Amasis knowing that the Persian would use her but as one of his Concubines not his Wife and withall dreading his power he sent Nitetes the Daughter of Apries the former King adorned after the manner of his Daughter The Daughter of Apries made known this deceit to Cambyses at her first coming who was thereupon so incensed that he resolved upon a war with Egypt and though Amasis was dead before he could take Memphis yet as soon as he had he went thence to the City Sais enters the Palace of Amasis caused the body of him to be taken out of his Sepulcher which done he would have it to be scourged pulled beaten prickt and used with all the contumely he could devise this being done till the ministers of his pleasure were wearied and seeing the salted Carcase opposed their blows so that no particle fell from it thereby he at last caused it to be cast into the fire where it was burt to ashes 15. Cyrus warring against Tonyris Queen of the Massagetes had by a stratagem taken her Son Spargapises for he had left part of his army with plentiful provisions of meats and wines on purpose to be seised upon These troops Spargapises had cut in pieces and that done set himself and his army to feasting and carowsing and while they were secure asleep and enfeebled by drinking Cyrus set upon them killed and took most of them Spargapises brought before Cyrus desired him that he might be unbound when he was loosed and his hands at liberty grieved for the discomfiture of his army he slew himself After which Tomyris in a great battle overthrew the forces of Cyrus and having found him amongst the dead in revenge of her Sons death she caused his head to be cut off and to be thrown into a vessel full of humane blood with this bitter sarcasm say some Satiate thy self with blood which thou hast so much thirsted after but Herodotus thus Thou hast destroyed my Son taken by guile while I am alive and victorious but as I threatned I will satiate thee with blood 16. A Noble Hungarian having found one in bed with his Wife committed the Adulterer to prison there to be famished to death and that he might the better attain his end he caused a roasted Hen ever and anon to be let down to his nose that by the smell of the meat his appetite might be excited to the greater eagerness but he was not suffered to taste of it only it was presented to make his punishment the more bitter when the miserable creature had endured this manner of usage for six days the seventh it was found that he had eaten the upper part of his own arms 17. When Paris was dead Helena was married to another of the Sons of Priamus called Deiphobus and Troy being taken by the Greeks Menelaus her first from whom she had been stolen acted his revenge upon this later Husband with great severity for he cut off his ears and arms and nose and at the last when he had maimed him all over and in every part he suffered him to dye in exquisite torments 18. Fridericus Barbarossa the Emperour with a strong army besieged Millaine that had withdrawn it self from under his obedience and had lately affronted his Empress on this manner The Empress desirous to see the City and not fearing to meet with any disrespect from a place under her Husbands jurisdiction had put her self into it The mad people seise upon her set her upon the back of a Mule with her face to the tail-ward and the tail in her hand instead of a bridle and in this contumelious manner put her out at the other gate of the City The Emperour justly incensed urged the besieged 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 as many as refused were immediately to be beheaded divers preferred death before this ignominy those that desired life did
of Arms. And because they were to go against a King who was no less mighty and puissant than warlike as was the King of France there ought to be a time to make necessary provision for a War of so great importance The Embassador presently to no purpose or reason added these words Anchio hodetto piâ— volte questo medesimo à sua sanctita which is to say And I have oftentimes said the same to his Holiness these words which shewed the will of the Embassadour to be different from that of his Prince gave great doubt and suspicion to the Kings Council and they began to doubt that the Embassadour was rather inclined to favour the King of France than the Pope his Master and setting secret Spies about him to observe his behaviour it was perceived that by night he spake secretly with the French Embassadour by which means he was undone and if he had fallen into the hands of the Pope he had peradventure put him to death However by his imprudent answer he both wronged himself and was the occasion that the King of England was constrained to begin the War sooner than he would who in deferring the succours had possibly accorded the controversie betwixt the Pope and the French King 7. Demaratus which should have succeeded in the Kingdom of Sparta was deprived thereof by Ariston his father for one only imprudent word uttered without consideration in the Senate Which was that news being brought unto him that he had a son born he counted upon his fingers how long his Wife had been with him and seeing that there were no more than sâ—ven Months and that usually women are delivered at nine he said It is not possible that he should be my son these words turned to the great damage of Demaratus for after the death of Ariston his father the Spartans refused to give him the Kingdom because the Ephori bare record that Ariston had said that it was not possible that Demaratus born at the end of seven Months should be his son and that he had bound it with an Oath 8. Renzo de Ceri a most honourable Captain in hâ—s time was in the pay and â—ervice of Lawrence de Medici against Francis Maria Duke of Vrbin This Captain was advertised that certain Spanish Captains had plotted a Treason to deliver the Duke of Vrbin into the hands of the Duke of Florence wherefore the said Renzo talking with a Drum demanded of him in jest and laughing but with great inconsideration When will these Spaniards deliver your Duke Prisoner The Drum made no answer but being returned to the Camp he reported to his Duke the words which Renzo had used to him without any necessity or reason wherefore the Duke of Vrbin having engraven them in his heart stood upon his guard and marked the behaviour of the Spanish Captains In the end through certain Letters and writings found amongst their Baggage the truth appeared and the Conspirators against Duke Francis were known who were committed to Prison and convict of Treason Thus Renzo was the cause why the Treason took no effect the Captains were dispatched and that Lawrence his Master made not so soon an end of the Wars as otherwise he might probably have done 9. Famous was the Contention between Chrysostom on the one part and Thâ—ophilus Cyril and Epiphanius on the other about the burning or not burning of Origens Books all good and great men yet they grow so hot that because Chrysostom would not consent to the burning Theophilus and Cyril would hardly acknowledge him a lawful Bishop and Epiphanius in bitter chiding fell to such choler as he said he hoped he should not die a Bishop To whom Chrysostom answered as eagerly again That he trusted he should never return alive into his own Country of Cyprus which chiding words were not so bitter in sound as afterwards they proved true indeed For both Epiphanius died before he gat home to Cyprus and Chrysostom being put out of his Bishoprick ended his life in banishment CHAP. XXI Of the dangerous and destructive curiosity of some men VEssalius was busied in the dissection of the body of a Person of Quality meaning to find out the root of that distemper which was supposed to have given him his death when to his grief he found that which he looked not for The heart panted and there appeared other convincing signs that the unfortunate Noble-man might have lived had not he been so unseasonably Butchered this cost the Anatomist much trouble and disgrace and it hath fallen out with many others in the like maâ—ner who while they have been gratifying their curiosity have occasioned irreparable injuries to themselves or others 1. Cornelius Agrippa living in Lorrain had a young man who Tabled with him one day being to go abroad he left the Keys of his Study with his Wife but with great charge to keep them safe and trust them to no man The youth over-curious of Novelty never ceased to importune the woman till â—he had lent him the Key to take view of his Library he entred it and light upon a Book of Conjurations wherein reading he straight hears a great bouncing at the door but not minding that he reads on the knocking grew greater and louder but he making no answer the Devil breaks open the door and enters enquires what he commands him to have done or why he was called the youth amazed and through extreme fear not able to answer the Devil â—eises upon him and wriths his neck in sunder Agrippa returns and finds the young man dead and the Devils insulting over the Corpse he retires to his Art and calls his Devil to an account of what had been done who told him all that had passed then he commanded the Homicide to enter the body and walk with him into the Market-place where the Students were frequent and after two or three turns there to forsake the body he did so the body falls down dead before the Scholars all judge the reason of it some sudden fit of an Apoplexy but the marks about his neck and jaws rendred it somewhat suspicious Agrippa concealed this story in Lorrain but being banished thence he afterwards feared not to publish it in Lorrain 2. The Emperour Carracalla had a curiosity to know the name of him who was most like to succeed him and employed one Maternianus to enquire amongst the Magicians of the Empire by whom accordingly he was advertised that Macrinus was to be the man the Letters being brought unto Carracalla as he was in his Charriot were by him delivered with the rest of his Pacquets to the hands of Macrinus who was Captain of his Guard and by his oâ—fice to attend upon the person of the Emperour that he might open them and signifie unto him the contents thereof at his better leisure Macrinus finding by these the danger in which he stood resolved to strike the first blow and to that end entrusted
all sorts of pomp and luxury 7. Bray is a Village well known in Barkshire the vivacious Vicar hereof living under King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth was first a Papist then a Protestant then a Papist and then a Protestant again this Vicar being taxed by one for being a Turn-coat and an inconstant changeling Not so said he for I have alwayes kept my principle which is to live and dye the Vicar of Bray 8. Marcus Antonius de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato seeming to loath the Roman Superstition came for refuge into England Anno 1616. and having here both by Preaching and Writing laboured to overthrow the Church of Rome upon I know not what projects he declared himself to be of another mind Anno 1622. and returned again to Rome where he wrote as reproachfully of the Church of England but the infatuated man was not long after imprisoned in the Castle of Angelo and his dead body burnt to ashes 9. Socrates in his Ecclesiastical History saith of Ecebolius that he was under Constantine a Christian under Iulian a Pagan and a Christian again under Iovinian so wavering and inconstant a Turncoat was Eccbolius saith he from his beginning to his end 10. Lydington was a man of the greatest understanding in the Scottish affairs and a person of an excellent wit but withall so variable and inconstant that George Buchanan used to give him the sirname of Chameleon 11. There was a Matron in Ephesus of so noted a chastity that the Women of the neighbouring parts stocked thither on purpose to behold her She when she buried her Husband was not content with the common usages to follow the Herse with dischevelled hair or in the sight of the assistants to beat upon her bare breasts but she also followed the deceased into the very monument and having seen it laid there in its peculiar apartment after the Greek manner she remained there to keep the body and to lament it for whole nights and dayes together Her Parents nor Kindred could prevail to get her away and the Magistrates themselves having attempted it in vain were departed All men bewailed a Woman of so singular an example and it was the â—ifth day since she had tasted any food The faithful Maid sate by her mournfull Mistress and when her own tears were spent lent her others repairing also the light in the Monument as oft as it required it She was therefore the only discourse of the City and it was confessed by all men that that was the only true and most illustrious example of conjugal chastity and love In the mean time the Governour of the Province had commanded that certain thieves should be crucified near to that very Dormitory where the Matron lamented her lately departed Husband The next night therefore the Souldier that was set to guard the Crosses lest any should steal the bodies thence and bury them perceiving a clear light amongst the Monuments and hearing the sighs of some Mourner in a curiosity that is incident to humane nature he was desirous to know who was there and what they did He thereupon descends into the Monument where beholding a most beautiful woman at first he stood immoveable soon after espying the dead body that lay there considering her tears and those injuries she had done to her face with her nails judging of the matter as it was that the woman was such as was not able to bear the death of her Husband he went and fetcht his Supper into the Monument and began to exhort the Mourner that she would not persist in a vain grief or distend her heart with unprofitable sighs he represented that the same fate waited upon all that all must come at last to that long home and spake such other things as serve to appease such hearts as are exasperated with grief But she wounded with an unknown consolation rent her breasts with greater vehemence and pulling off her hair she laid it upon the breast of her deceased Husband that lay before her Notwithstanding all which the Souldier left not the place but with the same exhortation attempted to bring the woman to taste of some food At last the Maid corrupted 't is likely by the odour of the Wine reached out her conquered hand to receive the humanity of him that invited her and having refreshed her self with meat and drink she began to attempt upon the obstinacy of her Mistress What said she is this like to advantage you if you shall perish by famine if you shall bury your self alive if you shall render up your uncondemned breath before such time as the fates do require it Think you the Ghosts or ashes of the dead Regard what tears their supervivours shed Will you restore him to life again in despight of all the destinies that oppose it or will you rather deserting a feminine errour enjoy the comforts of life as long as you may be permitted That very body that lies extended before you ought to put you in mind that you should indeavour to live No man is unwilling to hear when he is intreated to live And therefore the woman dry with several dayes abstinence suffered her obstinacy to be prevailed upon and filled her self with meat as greedily as her Maid had before done But you know what it is that for the most part is wont to tempt humane satiety with the same blandishments wherewith the Souldier had prevailed with the Matron to live with the same he attempts her chastity also The young man seemed to this chaste one neither unhansome nor uneloquent and the Maid too seeking to get him into her favour repeated ever and anon And wilt thou â—ight with pleasing Loves nor care Within what solitary fields we are To cut short the woman abstained not as to that part of the body the victorious Souldier overcame in both they therefore lay together not only that night but the next and a third after the entrance of the Monument being closed that it might be supposed that the most chast woman had expired upon the Corpse of her Husband But the Souldier delighted with the beauty of the woman and also with the privacy bought what he was able and at the entrance of the night brought it to the Monument the Parents therefore of one of the Thieves lately crucified perceiving how slightly the bodys were guarded took down their Son from the Cross and committed him to the earth But the Souldier in the morning perceiving that one of the Crosses was without its Carcase and fearing the punishment of his neglect told the woman what had hapned and withall that he would not expect the sentence but would pronounce upon his sloth with his own Sword beseeching her to afford him a place and to make a â—atal repository for her Friend as well as for her Husband The woman no less compassionate than chaste Certainly said she the gods will not suffer that at
Embassadours from Darius declaring that their Master would give him ten thousand Talents if he would set at liberty his Mother Wife and Children that were taken by him moreover if he would marry the daughter of Darius he would give with her in Dowry all the Land that lay betwixt Euphrates and the Hellespont The Contents of this Embassage were discussed in Alexanders Council when Parmenio said That for his part were he in Alexanders stead he would accept of those conditions and put an end to the War Alexander on the other side answered That were he Parmenio he would do so too but whereas he was Alexander he would return such answer as should be worthy of himself which was this That they should tell their Master that he stood in no need of his money neither would he accept of a part for the whole that all his money and Country was his own that he could marry the daughter of Darius if he pleased and could do it without his consent that if he would experience the humanity of Alexander he should speedily come in to him After this he sent other Embassadours with these offers Thanks for his civilities to his captive Relations the greater part of his Kingdom his daughter for his Wife and thirty thousand Talents for the rest of the Captives to which he replyed that he would do what he desired if he would content himself with the second place and not pretend to equality with him but as the World would not endure two Suns neither could the earth endure two Soveraign Emperours without permutation of the state of all things that therefore he should either yield up himself to day or prepare for War to morrow 5. Solon the Athenian Law-giver said it of one of his prime Citizens called Pisistratus That if he could but pluck out of his head the worm of Ambition and heal him of his greedy desire to Rule that then there could not be a man of more vertue than he 6. Richard Duke of Gloucester afterwards King of England by the name of Richard the third stopped at nothing how impious or villainous soever to remove all obstructions between him and the Crown He is said to have murthered King Henry the sixth in the Tower and his son Prince Edward at Tewksbury he caused his own brother George Duke of Clarence to be drown'd in a Butt of Malmsey he was suspected to have made away Edward the fourth his brother and King by poyson he beheaded Rivers Vaughan Grey and the Lord Hastings as the known impediments of his Usurpation and the Duke of Buckingham his old friend when he saw he declined his service in the murder of his Nephews which yet he got performed upon the bodies of those two innocent Princes But the just judgement of God overtook him for the spilling of all this innocent blood His only son was taken away by death his own conscience was so disquieted that he was in continual fears in the day and his sleeps disturb'd and broken with frightful Visions and Dreams At last he was slain in Bosworth Field his Carkass was found naked amongst the slain filthily polluted with blood and dirt trussed upon an Horse behind a Pursivant at Arms his head and arms hanging down on the one side of the Horse and his leggs on the other like a Calf and so he was interred at Leicester with as base a Funeral as he formerly bestowed upon his Nephews in the Tower 7. Caesar Borgia the son of Pope Alexander was a most ambitious man he caused his brother Candianus then General over the Popes Forces to be murdered in the Streets and his dead body to be cast into the River Tyber and then casting off his Priestly Robes and Cardinals habit he took upon him the leading of his Fathers Army and with exceeding prodigality he bound fast to him many desperate Ruffians for the execution of his horrible devices Having thus strengthened himself he became a terrour to all the Nobility of Rome he first drave out the honourable Family of the Columnii and then by execrable treachery poysoned or killed the chief Personages of the great Houses of the Vrsini and Cajetani seizing upon their Lands and Estates He strangled at once four Noble men of the Camertes drave Guido Feltrius out of Vrbin took the City of Faventia from Astor Manfredus whom he first beastly abused and then strangled In his thoughts he had now made himself Master of all Latium when he was cast down when he least feared Being at supper with his Father prepared on purpose for the death of certain rich Cardinals by the mistake of a Servant he and his father were empoysoned by deadly Wine prepared for the Guests CHAP. XXXVI Of the great desire of Glory in some Noble and other ignoble Persons PLiny considering with himself the Nature of the Element of fire how rapacious and devouring a thing it is and quickly consumes whatsoever it laies hold on what store of it is in the World how 't is in every House under every foot in Pebbles and Flints above us in fiery Meteors and beneath us in subterranean passages begins to marvel that all the World was not consumed with fire When I consider that almost every soul is wrapt about with this ardent desire of Glory how far a man is liable to be transported thereby and that as Tacitus hath well observed it is the last Garment that man parts with and denudes himself of I cannot sufficiently wonder that it hath done no more mischief in the World and that it hath burnt though destructively in some yet so harmlesly in others as some of the following Examples will declare 1. The Tower of Pharos had the reputation of the Worlds seventh wonder it was built by King Ptolomy Philadelphus but Sostratus who was employed therein as the chief Architect engraved upon it this Inscription Sostratus of Gnydos the son of Dexiphanes to the Gods Protectors for the safety of Sailers this Writing he covered with Plaister and upon the Plaister he inscribed the Name and Title of the King he knew that would soon waste away and then his own name written in Marble he hoped would as he had desired be celebrated to Eternity 2. We read of one who published a Book of his the Title whereof was Of the Contempt of Glory in this his work he endeavoured to shew by many and notable arguments that it was a vanity unworthy of a man to hunt for popular applause by any of his performances Yet this very person was afterwards convinced of the same errour he had so severely reproved in others in as much as he had set his name in the Frontispiece of his Book 3. Cicero accounted it so great a matter to speak eloquently and laboured therein with that anxiety that being to plead a Cause before the Centumviri when the day was come before he was prepared so fully as he desired and that his Servant Eros brought
Lord Thomas Seymour Admiral of England the other was the Dutchess of Sommerset Wife to the Lord Protector of England Brother to the Admiral These two Ladies falling at variance for precedence which either of them challenged the one as Queen Dowager the other as Wife to the Protector who then governed the King and all the Realme drew their Husbands into the quarrel and so incensed the one of them against the other that the Protector procured the death of the Admiral his Brother Whereupon also followed his own destruction shortly after For being deprived of the assistance and support of his Brother he was easily overthrown by the Duke of Northumberland who caused him to be convicted of Felony and beheaded 9. A famous and pernicious faction in Italy began by the occasion of a quarrel betwixt two Boys whereof the one gave the other a box on the Ear in revenge whereof the Father of the Boy that was stricken cut off the hand of the other that gave the blow whose Father making thereupon the quarrel his own sought the revenge of the injury done to his Son and began the Faction of the Neri and Bianchi that is to say Black and White which presently spread it self through Italy and was the occasion of spilling much Christian blood 10. A poor distressed wretch upon some business bestowed a long and tedious Pilgrimage from Cabul in India to Asharaff in Hircania where e're he knew how the success would be he rested his weary limbs upon a Field Carpet choosing to refresh himself rather upon the cool Grass than be tormented by those merciless vermine of Gnats and Muskettos within the Town but poor man he fell à malo in pejus from ill to worse for lying asleep upon the way at such time as Sha Abbas the Persian Monarch set forth to hunt and many Nobles with him his pampered Jade winded and startled at him the King examines not the cause but sent an eternal Arrow of sleep into the poor mans heart jesting as Iphicrates did when he slew his sleepy Sentinel I did the man no wrong I found him sleeping and asleep I left him The Courtiers also to applaud his Justice made the poor man their common mark killing him an hundred times over if so many lives could have been forfeiâ—ed 11. Anno 1568. the King of Sian had a white Elephant which when the King of Pegu understood he had an opinion of I know not what holiness that was in the Elephant and accordingly prayed unto it He sent his Ambassadors to the King of Sian offering him whatsoever he would desire if he would send the Elephant unto him but the King of Sian would not part with him either for love mony or any other consideration Whereupon he of Pegu was so moved to wrath that with all the power he could make he invaded the other of Sian Many hundred thousand men were brought into the field and a bloody Battle was fought wherein the King of Sian was overthrown his white Elephant taken and he himself made tributary to the Monarch of Pegu. 12. A needy Souldier under Abbas King of Persia draws up a Catalogue of his good services and closing it in his pressing wants humbly intreats the favour and some stipend from his god of war for such and such his exploits The poor man for his sawciness with many terrible bastinadoes on the soles of his feet was almost drubbed to death Besides Abbas enquires who it was that wrote it the Clerk made his apology but the King quarrelled at his scurvy writing and that he should never write worse makes his hand to be cut off CHAP. XLIII Of such as have been too fearful of death and over desirous of Life A Weak mind complains before it is overtaken with evil and as Birds are affrighted with the noise of the Sling so the infirm soul anticipates its troubles by its own fearful apprehensions and falls under them before they are yet arrived But what greater madness is there than to be tormented with futurities and not so much to reserve our selves to miseries against they come as to invite and hasten them towards us of our own accord The best remedy against this tottering state of the soul is a good and clear Conscience which if a man want he will tremble in the midst of all his armed guards 1. 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 on this manner Removing his Friends he gave the custody of his body to some strangers and Barbarians and being in fear of Barbers he taught his Daughters to shave him and 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 filmes of Wallnut kernels Whereas he had two Wives Aristomache and Doris he came not to them in the night before the place was throughly searched and though he had drawn a large and deep Moat about the Room and had made a passage by a wooden Bridge himself drew it up after him when he went in Not daring to speak to the people out of the common Rostrum or Pulpit 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 that the Boy smiled he commanded them both to be slain one for shewing the way how he might be killed and the other for approving it with a smile At last overcome in Battle by the Carthaginians he perished by the treason of his own Subjects 2. Heraclides Ponticus 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 always two of his men by him that 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 carryed in a Litter hanging near to the ground for fear of falling 3. The Cardinal of Winchester Henry Beaufort commonly called the Rich Cardinal who procured the death of the good Duke of Gloucester in the reign of King Henry the sixth was soon after struck with an incurable disease and understanding by his Physicians that he could not live murmuring and repining thereat as Doctor Iohn Baker his Chaplain and Privy-councellor writes he fell into such speeches as these Fye will not death be hired Will mony do nothing Must I dye that have so great Riches If the whole Realm of England would save my life I am able either
a numerous crowd of them that sled he was known to his enemies by nothing so much as the odour of his Unguents and sweetness of his perfumes thus betrayed he was brought back and had his eyes put out by his sons command 8. The City Sybaris is seated two hundred furlongs from Crotona betwixt the two Rivers of Crathis and Sybaris built by Iseliceus the affaires of it were grown to that prosperity that it commanded four Neighbour Nations and had twenty five Cities subservient to its pleasure they led out three hundred thousand men against them of Crotona all which power and prosperity were utterly overturned by means of their luxury They had taught their Horses at a certain tune to rise on their hinder feet and with their fore-feet to keep a kind of time with the Musick a Minstril who had been ill used amongst them fled to Crotona and told them If they would make him their Captain he would put all the enemies horse their chief strength into their hands it was agreed he taught the known Tune to all the Minstrels in the City and when the Sybarites came up to a close charge at a signal given all the Minstrels played and all the Horses fell to dancing by which being unserviceable both they and their Riders were easily taken by the enemy 9. The old Inhabitants of Byzantium were so addicted to a voluptuous life that they hired out their own houses familiarly and went with their Wives to live in Taverns they were men greedy of Wine and extremely delighted with Musick but the first sound of a Trumpet was sufficient almost to put them besides themselves for they had no disposition at all to War and even when their City was besieged they left the defence of their Walls that they might steal into a Tavern CHAP. L. Of the libidinous and unchaste life of some Persons and what Tragedies have been occasioned by Adulteries IN an ancient Embleme pertaining to Iohn Duke of Burgundy there was to be seen a Pillar which two hands sought to overthrow the one had Wings and the other was figured with a Tortoise the word Vtcunque as much as to say by one way or other There are Amourists who take the same course in their prohibited amours some strike down the Pillars of Chastity by the sudden and impetuous violence of great promises and unexpected presents others proceed therein with a Tortoises pace with long patience continual services and profound submissions yet when the Fort is taken whether by storm or long siege there is brought in an unâ—â—pected reckoning sometimes that drenches all their sweets in blood and closes up their unlawful pleasures in the â—ables of death Thus 1. A certain Merchant of Iapan who had some reason to suspect his Wife pretended to go into the Country but returning soon after surprized her in the very act The Adulterer he killed and having tyed his Wife to a Ladder he left her in that half hanging posture all night The next day he invited all the Relations on both sides as well Men as Women to dine with him at his own house sending word that the importance of the business he had to communicate to them excused his non-observance of the custom they have to make entertainments for the women distinct from those of the men They all came and asking for his Wife were told that she was busie in the Kitchen but Dinner being well nigh past they entreated the Husband to send for her which he promised to do Whereupon rising from the Table and going into the room where she was tyed to the Ladder he unbound her put a Shrowd upon her and into her hands a Box wherein were the privy Members of her Gallant covered with Flowers and saying to her go and present this Box to our common Relations and see whether I may upon their mediation grant you your life She came in that equipage into the Hall where they sate at Dinner and falling on her knees presented the Box with the precious reliques in it to the kindred but as soon as they had opened it she swounded her Husband perceiving that it went to her heart and to prevent her returning again now she was going cut off her head which raised such an horrour in the Friends that they immediately left the room and went to their several homes 2. Schach Abbas King of Persia coming to understand that one of his menial servants who was called Iacupzanbeg Kurtzi Tirkenan that is to say he whose Office it was to carry the Kings Bow and Arrows had a light Wife sent him notice of it with this message that if he hoped to continue at Court in his employment it was expected he should cleanse his House This message and the affliction he conceived at the baseness of his Wife and his reflection that it was known all about the Court put him into such a fury that going immediately to his House which was in the Province of Lenkeran he cut in pieces not only his Wife but also her two Sons four Daughters and five Chamber-maids and so cleansed his House by the blood of twelve persons most of them innocent 3. The Egyptians do not presently deliver the dead bodies of the Wives of eminent persons to Conditure and embalming nor the bodies of such women who in their life-time were very beautiful but detain them after death at least three or four dayes and that upon this reason There was once one of these Embalmers empeached by his Companion that he had carnal knowledge of a dead body committed to his care to be Salted and Embalmed Dr. Brown in his Vulgar Errors speaking of the like villanies used by these Pollinctors elegantly writes Deformity needeth not now complain nor shall the eldest hopes be ever superannuated since Death hath Spurs and Carcases have been Courted 4. After King Edred not any of his Sons but his Nephew Edwin the eldest Son of King Edmund succeeded and was anointed and Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 955. This Prince though scarce fourteen years old and in age but a Child yet was able to commit sin as a man for on the very day of his Coronation and in sight of his Lords as they sate in Council he shamefully abused a Lady of great estate and his near Kins-woman and to mend the matter shortly after slew her Husband the more freely to enjoy his incestuous pleasure For this and other infamous acts a great part of his Subjects hearts were so turned against him that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted and swore fealty to his younger Brother Edgar with grief whereof after four years reign he ended his life and was buried in the Church of the New Abbey of Hide at Winchester 6. Eugenius the third King of Scotland made a beastly Act which appointed the first night of the new married Woman to appertain to the Lord of the Soil
death by Andronicus was in a popular election proclaimed his Successour deposed by Alexius his own brother and his eyes put out 63. Alexius Angelus deprived his brother and excluded his Nephew from the Empire but it held not long 64. Alexius Angelus the second the son of Isaac Angelus being unjustly thrust out of his Empire by his Uncle Alexius had recourse to Philip the Western Emperour whose daughter he had married so an Army was prepared to restore him On the approach whereof Alexius the Usurper fled and the young Emperour seated in his Throne was not long after slain by Alexius Ducas in revenge whereof the Latins assault and win Constantinople make themselves Masters of the Empire share it amongst them the main body of the Empire with the Title of Emperour was given to 65. Baldwin Earl of Flanders first Emperour of the Latines Reigning in Constantinople was taken in Fight by Iohn King of Bulgaria and sent Prisoner to Ternova where he was cruelly put to death 66. Henry the brother of Baldwin repelled the Bulgarians out of Greece and died a Conquerour 67. Peter Count of Auxerre in France succeeded in the Empire after his decease was cunningly entrapped by Theodorus Angelus a great Prince in Epirus whom he had besieged in Dyracchium but of an enemy being perswaded to become his Guest was there murdered by him 68. Robert the son of Peter having seen the miserable usage of his beautiful Empress whom a young Burgundian formerly contracted to her had most despitefully mangled cutting off both her Nose and Ears died of hearts grief as he was coming back from Rome whither his melancholy had carried him to consult the Pope in his Affairs 69. Baldwin the second son of Robert by a former Wife under the protection of Iohn de Brenne the Titulary King of Ierusalem succeeded in his Fathers Throne which having held for the space of thirty three years he was forced to leave it the City of Constantinople being regained by the Greeks and the poor Prince compelled in vain to sue for succours to the French Venetians and other Princes of the West When Constantinople was lost to the Latines the Empire of the Greeks was transferred unto Nice a City of Bythinia by Theodorus Lascaris Son-in-law to Alexius the Usurper there it continued till the Empire was restored to the Greeks in the person of 70. Michael the eighth Sirnamed Palaeologus extracted from the Comnenian Emperours most fortunately recovered Constantinople the City being taken by a Party of fifty men secretly put into it by some Country Labourers under the ruines of a Mine This Prince was present in person at the Council of Lyons at the perswasion of the Pope he admitted the Latin Ceremonies into the Churches of Greece for which he was greatly hated by his Subjects and denied the honour of Christian burial 71. Andronicus the second vexed with unnatural Wars by his Nephew Andronicus who rebelled against him 72. Andronicus the third first Partner with his Grandfather afterwards sole Emperour 73. Iohn Pelaeologus son of Andronicus the third in whose minority Contacuzenus his Protector usurped the Empire and held it sometimes from him and sometimes with him till the year 1357. and then retired unto a Monastery leaving the Empire unto Iohn during whose Reign the Turks first planted themselves in Europe 74. Andronicus the fourth the son of Iohannes Palaeologus 75. Emanuel Palaeologus brother of Andronicus the fourth in his time Bajazet King of the Turks did besiege Constantinople but found such notable resistance that he could not force it 76. Iohn the second son of Andronicus the fourth 77. Iohn the third son of Emanuel Palaeologus was in person at the Council of Florence for reconciling of the Churches in hope thereby to get some aid from the Western Christians but it would not be 78. Constantinus Palaeologus the brother of Iohn the third in his time the famous City of Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the Great Anno Dom. 1452. The miserable Emperour being lamentably trod to death in the Throng who had in vain gone from door to door to beg or borrow money to pay his Souldiers which the Turks found in great abundance when they took the City It had in vain been besieged by King Philip of Macedon siding with Niger in his War against Severus the Emperour it endured a Siege of three years against all the Forces of the Romans The Caliph Zulciman had besieged it and was forced to desist with the loss of three hundred thousand men but now it stooped under the weighty Scepter of 79. Mahomet the second Sirnamed the Great and first Emperour of the Turks he Conquered the two Empires of Constantinople and Trebisond twelve Kingdoms and two hundred Cities He had mighty Wars with the two renowned Captains Huniades and Scanderbeg in Hungary and Epirus from whom he received divers overthrows He left the Siege of Belgrade with dishonour as he also was compelled to do that of the Rhodes By Achmetes Bassa he Landed an Army in Apulia foraged all the Country took the City of Otranto by assault to the terrour of Sixtus the fourth then Pope and of all Italy Being passed over into Asia to go against the Caramanian King a daies journey short of Nicomedia a City in Bythinia at a place called Geivisen he fell sick and died as some say of the Cholick as others of poyson having lived about fifty two years and thereof Reigned thirty one in the year of our Lord 1481. He was of an exceeding courage and strength of a sharp wit and thereunto very fortunate but withal he was faithless and cruel in his time the death of eight hundred thousand men 80. Bajazet the second subdued the Caramanian Kingdom and part of Armenia and drove the Venetians from Moraea and their part of Dalmatia Invaded Caitbeius the Sultan of Aegypt by whom the Arabians and Mountainers of Aladeules his subjects he was divers times shamefully overthrown and enforced by his Embassadours to conclude a Peace He bribed the Bishop of Rome to the empoysoning of his brother Zemes thither fled for security This Prince by nature was given to the study of Philosophy and conference with learned men more than to the Wars which gave encouragement to his son Selymus to raise himself to the Throne as he by the Treason of the great Bassa's of the Court shortly did and then caused his father to be poysoned by his Physician a Jew when he had Reigned thirty years this Prince died in the year of our Lord 1512. 81. Selymus having poysoned his father subverted the Mamalukes of Aegypt bringing it with Palestine Syria and Arabia under the yoke of the Turks He invaded the Kingdom of Persia subdued and slew Aladelues the Mountainous King of Armenia reducing his Kingdom into the form of a Turkish Province He repressed the Forces of the Hungarians by a double invasion and intending to turn all his Forces upon the Christians he was suddenly seised with a Cancer
in the Reins of his back whereby he rotted above ground and died near unto the City Chiurli in the same place where he had formerly unnaturally assaulted his aged Father Bajazet a man he was of a fierce bloody and faithless disposition he died 1520. 82. Solyman Sirnamed the magnificent surprised Rhodes Belgrade and Buda with a great part of Hungary Babylon Assyria Mesopotamia spoiled Austria sharply besieged and assaulted Vienna it self took the Isle of Naxos and Paros and made them Tributaries to him War'd upon the Venetians and invaded the Islands of Corfu and Malta besieging the Town of Sigeth upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia he there fell sick of a looseness of his belly upon which he retired for recovery of his health to Quinque Ecclesiae a City near Sigeth and there died the fourth of September Anno 1566. having lived seventy six years and Reigned thereof forty six a Prince more just and true to his word than any other of his Predecessours but a great terrour unto all Christendom 83. Selymus the second an idle and effeminate Emperour by his Deputies took from the Venetians the Isle of Cyprus and from the Moors the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers Over this Emperour the Christians were Victorious in that famous Sea-fight called the Battel of Lepanto where of the enemies Galleys were taken an hundred threescore and one forty sunk of burnt and of Galliots and other small Vessels were taken about sixty besides the Admiral Galley which for beauty and riches had none in the whole Ocean to compare with it Selymus spent with Wine and Women died Decemb. 9. 1574. A man of a heavy disposition and of the least valour of all the Othoman Kings 84. Amurath the third took from the disagreeing Persians Armenia Media and the City Tauris and the Fort Gaino from the Hungarians To rid himself of all Competitors he at his first coming to the Crown caused his five Brethren to be all strangled in his presence He himself was a Prince unactive managing the Wars by his principal Bassa's Mustapha Sinan Osman and Ferat The insolent Ianizaries made such a tumult at Constantinople that the Emperour for grief and anger fell into a fit of the Falling Sickness which vexed him three daies and three nights his death not long after followed the 18 Ian. Anno 1595. when he had lived fifty one years and thereof Reigned nineteen At the time of his death such a sudden and terrible tempest arose that many thought the World would then be dissolved 85. Mahomet the third took Agria in Hungary which Kingdom in all likelihood had been lost if he had pursued his Victory at the Battel of Keresture he was never but then in any Battel and then was so frighted that he durst never see the face of an Army afterwards great harm was done him by Michael the Vayvod of Valachia and the Army of Sinan Bassa utterly routed by the Prince of Transylvania He was altogether given to sensuality and pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swollen unweildy overgrown body and a mind thereto answerable no small means of his death which fell out at the end of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1604. when he had lived about forty four years 86. Achmet who the better to enjoy his pleasures made peace with the German Emperour and added nothing to his Empire Cicala Bassa his General was overthrown by the Persians and divers of his Armies under several Bassa's cut off by the fortunate Rebel the Bassa of Aleppo This Prince was of good constitution strong and active he would cast a Horse-man's Mace of nine or ten pounds weight farther than any other of his Court He was much given to sensuality and pleasure had three thousand Concubines one reason perhaps of his death at thirty years having Reigned fifteen 87. Mustapha brother to Achmet succeeded which was a Novelty never before heard of in this Kingdom it being the Grand Signiors Policy to strangle all the younger brothers howsoever this Mustapha was preserved either because Achmet being once a younger brother took pity on him or because he had no issue of his own body and so was not permitted to kill him It is said Achmet once intended to have shot him but at the instant was seised with such a pain in his arm and shoulder that he cryed out Mahomet would not have him die he carried himself but insolently and cruelly and was deposed 88. Osman succeeded his Uncle Mustapha and being unsuccessful in his War against Poland was by the Ianizaries slain in an uproar and Mustapha again restored yet long he enjoy'd not his Throne for the same hand that raised him did again pluck him down 89. Morat or Amurath the fourth brother of Osman of the age of thirteen years succeeded on the second deposition of his Uncle Mustapha he proved a stout and masculine Prince and bent himself to the reviving of the ancient discipline To the great good of Christendom he spent his stomach on the Persians from whom he recovered Babylon 90. Ibraim the brother of Morat preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brothers life and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court He spent a great part of his Reign in the War of Creet against the Venetians but without any great success 91. Mahomet the fourth now Reigning was the son of Ibraim Lord of all this vast Empire containing all Asia and Greece the greatest part of Slavonia and Hungary the Isles of the Aegaean Sea and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe most of the Isles and Provinces in Asia and in Africk of all Aegypt the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers with the Ports of Snachem and Erocco nor is their stile inferiour to so vast an Empire Solyman thus stiling himself to Villerius great Master of the Rhodes at such time as he intended to Invade that Island i. e. Solyman King of Kings Lord of Lords and high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabâ—sond the most mighty King of Persia Syria Arabia and the Holy Land Lord of Europe Asia and Africa Prince of Meccha and Aâ—â—ppo Ruler of Hierusalem and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof It remains That I acknowledge to whom I have been beholden in the making up this Catalogue of the forementioned Princes which I acknowledge to have borrowed from Mr. Prideaux his Introduction to History Carion's Chronology Dr. Heylin's Cosmography Knowles his Turkish History Zuingerus Nicaetas Zonaras Gaulterus Symson and such others as a slender Country Library would admit of CHAP. III. Of the Bishops and Popes of Rome and their Succession 1. SAint Peter was Crucified at Rome with his head downwards and was buryed about the Vatican in the Aurelian way not far from the Gardens of Nero having sat saith Platina in that See twenty five years He together with the Apostle Paul was put to death in the last year of Nero's Reign and was succeeded by 2.
began to spread about the beginning of Domitians Reign after Christ fifty two years 2. Corinthus was a Jew by birth and circumcised taught that all Christians ought to be so also he taught that it was Jesus that died and rose again but not Christ he denied the Article of eternal life and taught that the Saints should enjoy in Ierusalem carnal delights for one thousand years he denied the divinity of Christ he owned no other Gospel but that of St. Matthew rejected Paul as an Apostate from the Law of Moses and Worshipped Iudas the Traytor in most things they agreed with the Ebionites so called from Ebion a Samaritan St. Iohn would not enter the same bath with the pernicious Heretick Corinthus but against his and the Heresie of Ebion he wrote his Gospel he spread his Heresie in Domitian's time about sixty two years after Christ. 3. Carpocrates of whom came the Carpocratians was born at Alexandria in Aegypt he flourished about the year of Christ 109. in the time of Antoninus Pius Eusebius accounts him the father of the Gnosticks and saith That his followers gloried of charmed love-drinks of devilish and drunken dreams of assistant and associate Spirits and taught That he who would attain to perfection in their mysteries must commit the most filthy acts nor could they but by doing evil avoid the rage of evil Spirits They said that Christ was a meer man and that only his soul ascended into Heaven They held Pythagorean transmigration but denied the Resurrection They said not God but Satan made this World And that their Disciples should not publish their abominable mysteries they bored their right ear with a Bodkin 4. Valentinus an Aegyptian lived in the time of Antoninus Pius When Hyginus was Bishop of Rome he began to spread his Heresie He held that there were many gods and that he that made the World was the author of death That Christ took flesh from Heaven and passed through the Virgin as water through a Pipe or Conduit He said there were thirty Ages or Worlds the last of which produced the Heaven Earth and Sea Out of the imperfections of this Creator were procreated divers evils as darkness from his fear evil Spirits out of his ignorance out of his tears springs and rivers and out of his laughter light They have Wives in common and say that both Christ and the Angels have Wives They celebrated the heathenish Festivals were addicted to Magick and what not This Heretick was of great reputation in Rome from whence he went to Cyprus and thence into Aegypt 5. Marcion of whom came the Marcionites was of Sinope a City of Pontus or Paphlagonia being driven from Ephesus by S. Iohn he went to Rome he was the son of a Bishop in Pontus and by his father exiled for Fornication being not received by the Brethren in Rome he fell in with Cerdon maintained his Heresie and became his successour in the time of Marcus Antoninus Philosophus one hundred thirty three years after Christ. He held three gods a visible invisible and a middle one that the body of Christ was only a Phantasm that Christ by his descent into hell delivered thence Cain and the Sodomites and other Reprobates He condemned the eating of flesh and the married life he held that souls only were saved permitted women to baptize and condemned all War as unlawful Polycarpus called him the first begotten of the Devil Iustin Martyr wrote a Book against him 6. Tatianus whence come the Tatiani was a Syrian by birth an Orator and familiar with Iustin Martyr under whom he wrote a profitable Book against the Gentiles he flourished one hundred forty two years after Christ his Disciples were also called Encratit◠from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temperance or continence for they abstain from Wine Flesh and Marriage When Iustin Martyr was dead he composed his Tenents out of divers others He held that Adam after his Fall was never restored to mercy that all men are damned besides his Disciples that women were made by the Devil he condemned the Law of Moses made use of water instead of wine in the Sacrament and denied that Christ was the seed of David he wrote a Gospel of his own which he called Diatessaron and spread his Heresie through Pisidia and Cilicia 7. Montanus Father of the Montanists his Heresie began about one hundred forty five years after Christ by Nation he was a Phrygian and carried about with him two Strumpets Prisca and Maximilla who sled from their husbands to follow him These took upon them to Prophesie and their dictate were held by Montanus for Oracles but at last he and they for company hanged themselves his Disciples ashamed either of his life or ignominious death called themselves Cataphrygians he confounded the Persons in the Trinity saying That the father suffered he held Christ to be meer man and gave out that he himself was the Holy Ghost his Disciples baptized the dead denied repentance and marriage yet allowed of Incest they trusted to Revelations and Enthusiasms and not to the Scripture In the Eucharist they mingled the bread with the blood of an Infant of a year old In Phrygia this Heresie began and spread it self over all Cappadocia 8. Origen gave name to the Origenists whose errours began to spread Anno Dom. 247. under Aurelian the Emperour and continued above three hundred thirty four years They were condemned first in the Council of Alexandria two hundred years after his death and again in the fifth General Council at Constantinople under Iustinian the first They held a revolution of souls from their estate and condition after death into the bodies again They held the Devils and Reprobates after one thousand years should be saved That Christ and the Holy Ghost do no more see the Father than we see the Angels That the son is co-essential with the Father but not co-eternal Because say they the Father created both Him and the Spirit That souls were created long before this World and for sinning in Heaven were sent down into their bodies as into prisons They did also overthrow the whole Historical truth of Scripture by their Allegories 9. Paulus Samosatenus so called from Samosata near Euphrates where he was born a man of infinite pride commanding himself to be received as an Angel his Heresie brake out two hundred thirty two years after Christ and hath continued in the Eastern parts ever since He held that Christ was meerly man and had no being till his Incarnation that the God-head dwelt not in Christ bodily but as in the Prophets of old by grace and efficacy and that he was only the external not the internal Word of God Therefore they did not baptize in his name for which the Council of Nice rejected their Baptism as none and ordered they should be rebaptized who were baptized by them he denied the divinity of the Holy Ghost allowed Circumcision took away such Psalms as
were sung in honour of Christ and instead thereof ordered some in honour of himself to be sung in Churches by women In the Synod of Antioch he was convicted by Malchion a Presbyter and condemned Anno 273. This Heresie was also embraced by Photinus a Galatian Bishop of Syrmium and propagated by him Anno 323. and thence they took the name of Photinians 10. Manes a Persian by birth and a Servant by condition was father of the Manichaean Sect he was flea'd alive for poysoning the King of Persia's son yet his wicked opinions raged in the World for three hundred and forty years after his death He held two principles or Gods one good one bad condemned eating of flesh eggs and milk held that God had members and was substantially in every thing how base soever but was separate from them by Christs coming and the elect Manichaeans He rejected the Old Testament and curtailed the New by excluding Christs Genealogy He held Christ was the Serpent which deceived our first Parents denied the divinity and humanity of Christ saying That he feigned to die and rise again and that it was really the Devil who truely was Crucified He denied the Resurrection and held Transmigration He affirmed that he was the Comforter whom Christ promised to send they Worshipped the Sun and Moon and other Idols They condemned Marriages and permitted promiscuous copulation they rejected Baptism as needless and all works of Charity they taught that our will to sin is natural and not acquired by the Fall that sin is a substance and not a quality communicated from Parents to Children they say they cannot sin deny the last Judgement and affirm that their souls shall be taken up into the Globe of the Moon 11. Arrius whence sprang the Arrians was a Libyan by birth by profession a Presbyter of Alexandria his Heresie brake out two hundred and ninety years after Christ and over-ran a great part of the Christian World They held Christ to be a Creature that he had a mans body but no humane soul the divinity supplying the room thereof they also held the Holy Ghost a Creature proceeding from a creature that is Christ their Doxology was Glory be to the Father by the Son in the Holy Ghost they re-baptized the Orthodox Christians This Heresie was condemned by the Council of Nice under Constantine And Arrius himself in the midst of his Pomp seised with a Dysentery voided his Guts in the draught and so died 12. Macedonius Bishop of Constantinople gave name to the Macedonians they held that the Holy Ghost was a creature and the servant of God and that by the Holy Spirit was meant only a power created by God and communicated to the creatures This Heresie sprung up or rather was stiffly maintained under Constantius the son of Constantine three hundred and twelve years after Christ and was condemn'd in the second Oecumenical Council at Constantinople under Theodosius the Great The Hereticks were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macedonius himself being deprived by the Arrian Bishops died private at Pylas 13. The Aerians so called from Aerius the Presbyter who lived under Valentinian the first three hundred and forty years after Christ he held that there was no difference betwixt a Bishop and a Presbyter that Bishops could not ordain that there should be no set or Anniversary Fasts and they admitted none to their communion but such as were continent and had renounced the World they were also called Syllabici as standing captiously upon words and syllables The occasion of his maintaining his Heresie was his resentment that Eustathius was preferred before him to the Bishoprick 10. Florinus or Florianus a Roman Presbyter lived under Commodus the Roman Emperour one hundred fifty three years after Christ hence came the Floriani they held that God made evil and was the Author of sin whereas Moses tells us that all things which he made were very good They retained also the Jewish manner of keeping Easter and their other Ceremonies 15. Lucifer Bishop of Caralitanum in Sardinia gave name to the Luciferians he lived under Iulian the Apostate three hundred thirty three years after Christ. He taught that this World was made by the Devil that mens souls are corporeal and have their being by propagation or traduction they denied to the Clergy that fell any place for repentance neither did they restore Bishops or inferiour Clarks to their dignities if they fell into Heresie though they afterwards repented 16. Tertullianus that famous Lawyer and Divine was the leader of the Tertullianists he lived under Severus the Emperour about one hundred and seventy years after Christ. Being Excommunicated by the Roman Clergy as a Montanist he fell into these heretical Tenets That God was corporeal but without delineation of members that mens souls were not only corporeal but also distinguish'd into members and have corporeal dimensions and increase and decrease with the body that the original of souls is by traduction that souls of wicked men after death are converted into Devils that the Virgin Mary after Christ's birth did marry once they bragged much of the Paraclete or Spirit which they said was poured on them in greater measure than on the Apostles they condemned War amongst Christians and rejected second Marriages as no better than Adultery 17. Nestorius born in Germany and by fraud made Patriarch of Constantinople was the head of the Nestorians he broached his Heresie under Theodosius the younger four hundred years after Christ he taught that in Christ were two distinct Persons the Son of God and the Son of Mary that the Son of God in Christ's Baptism descended into the son of Mary and dwelt there as a lodger in a House he made the humanity of Christ equal with his divinity and so confounded their properties and operations A great part of the Eastern Bishops were of his perswasion his Heresie was condemned in the Council of Ephesus under Theodosius the younger in which Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria was President and the Author Nestorius deposed and banished into the Thebean Desarts where his blasphemous Tongue was eaten out with Worms Zeno the Emperour razed to the ground the School in Edessa called Persica where the Nestorian Heresie was taught 18. Eutyches Abbot of Constantinople from whence came the Eutychians in the year after Christ 413. set forth his Heresie holding opinions quite contrary to Nestorius to wit That Christ before the Union had two distinct natures but after the Union only one to wit the divinity which swallowed up the humanity so confounding the properties of the two natures affirming That the divine nature suffered and died and that God the Word did not take from the Virgin humane nature This Heresie condemned first in a Provincial Synod at Constantinople was set up again by Dioscurus Bishop of Alexandria at last condemned in the General Council of Chalcedon under Marcian the Emperour 19. Eunomius Bishop of Cyzicum embraced the
he could not take from them He yielded Neustria to them by his own Authority without privity of the Estates so these Normans called it Normandy By this and some other things he fell into a deep hatred with the French upon which Charles fell sick and that sickness was accompanied with a distemper of the mind through jealousie conceived against his Queen Richarda After this the French and Germans dispossess him of the Empire and give it to Arnoul and the French reject him from the Regency of that Realm substituting in his room Eudes or Odo Duke of Angiers This poor Prince deposed from all his Dignities abandoned by every man in his prosperity had so ill provided from himself that he had not a house wherein to shrowd him banished the Court he was driven to a poor Village in Suevia where he lived some days in extreme want without any means of his own or relief â—rom any man In the end he dyed neither pitied nor lamented of any man in a corner unknown save for this to have been the Theatre of so extraordinary a Tragedy And surely for one of the greatest Monarchs of the World thus to dye without house without bread without honour without mourning and without memory is a signal instance of the Worlds vanity and inconstancy 18. Valerianus the Roman Emperour after he had reigned fifteen years commenced a War against Sapores King of Persia of which such was the unfortunate success That the Emperour was not only overthrown but also was brought alive into the hands of his Enemy Sapores carried him about with him in chains as a common Slave and joining derision to his adversity he made him his Footstool for as oft as he mounted his Horse he caused the miserable Emperour to bow down that he might tread upon his back for his more commodious ascent into the Saddle and after to be flead alive 19. Bajazet King of the Turks for his fierceness was sirnamed Gilderun that is Lightning a Prince of great Spirit and who for ten years space had been exceeding fortunate in his great Enterprises This great Monarch was invaded by Tamerlane the great Chan of Tartary overthrown in the Battel his Son Mustapha slain and he himself made Prisoner At the first the Victor gave him a civil reception and sitting together he thus said to him O Chan we are each of us exceedingly indebted to the Divine bounty I that thus lame have received thence an Empire extending from the Borders of India to Sebaste and thou who from the same hand hast another reaching from the same Sebaste to the Confines of Hungary so that we almost part the World it self betwixt us we owe therefore our praises to Heaven which I both have and will always be ready to render accordingly thou possibly hast been less mindful and of a more ungrateful disposition and therefore thou art brought into this calamity But let that pass and now my Chan tell me freely and truly what thou wouldst have done with me in case I had fallen under thy power Bajazet who was of a â—ierce and â—aughty Spirit is said thus to reply Had the Gods given unto me the Victory I would have inclosed thee in an â—ron Cage and carried thee about with me as a spectacle of derision to all men Tamerlane hearing this passed the same Sentence upon him three years almost the miserable Creature lived inclosed in this manner at last hearing he must be carried into Tartary despairing then to obtain his freedom he struck his head with that violence against the bars of his Cage that he beat his brains out 20. Iugurtha was a great and powerful King of Numidia had long withstood all the power of the Roman Arms but at last was taken by C. Marius and led in Triumph wherewith he was so affected that he began to dote and turn foolish After the Triumph was ended he was thrust into prison and when some had tore off his cloaths and shirt others snatched at the rich Ear-ring he had with that insolence and violence that they tore off together with it the tip of his ear that it hung by At last thus naked he was thrust into a Dungeon all stupid discovering his teeth as one betwixt grinning and laughing Iupiter said he how cold is your Bath There he lived six days till he was starved to death in a miserable manner 21. Never was there a more notable example of the vanity and inconstancy of all earthly things than in the Earl of Morton An. 1581. who was Regent of Scotland in the Minority of our King Iames and was reverenced of all men feared as a King abounding in wealth honour and multitude of friends and followers whereas not long after he was forsaken of all and made the very scorn of all men and being by the malice of his adversaries accused condemned and executed at Edenburgh had his Corps left on the Scaffold from the hour of Execution to Sun-setting covered with a beggerly Cloak every man fearing to shew any kindness or so much as to express a sign of sorrow His Corps was afterwards carried by some base Fellows to the common place of Burial and his Head fixed on the Toll-booth 22. Belisarius a noble and famous General under the Emperour Iustinian having with great success fought many Battels against the Persians Goths and Vandals in his old age by the malice and cruelty of the Empress had his eyes put out and fell into such extreme want that he was forced to beg by the Higy-way side Date obolum Belisario Give a half-penny to poor Belisarius whom vertue raised and envy hath thus made blind 23. King William the Second on the morrow after Lammas-day hunting in the New Forest of Hampshire in a place called Chorengham was unhappily slain in the midst of his sport For Sir Walter Tyrel shooting at a Deer his Arrow glanced upon a tree and hit the King full in the breast who hastily taking hold of so much of the Arrow as stuck out of his body brake it off and with one only groan fell down and dyed Whereupon the Knight and most of the Kings Followers hasted away and those few that remained laid his body in a Colliers Cart which being drawn by one silly lean beast in a foul and filthy way the Cart broke where lay the spectacle of worldly glory both pitifully goared and filthily bemired till thus drawn into the City of Winchester on the morrow after his death he was buried under a plain Marble stone 24. King Edward II. sirnamed Carnarvan being deprived of his Royal Crown and Dignity remained with Henry Earl of Leicester his Kinsman but the Queen suspecting his escape wrought so with her Son King Edward the Third that by his commandment the King was delivered thence into the hands of Thomas of Gurney and Iohn Maltravers Knights who brought him from Kenelworth to the Castle of Corffe from thence to Bristol
Solon Solon Cyrus admiring caused him to be asked what God or man it was whom he invoked in this his extremity he replied That Solon came into his mind who had wisely admonished him not to trust to his present fortune nor to think himself happy before he came to his end I laught said he at that time but now I approve and admire that saying so did Cyrus also presently commanding Croesus to be freed and made him one of his friends CHAP. IX Of such as have left places of highest Honour and Employment for a private and retired Condition GReat Travellers who have fed their eyes with variety of prospects and pleased themselves with the conversation of persons of different Countries are oftentimes observed upon their return to retire themselves and more to delight in solitude than other men The like sometimes befals men of great Honours and Employments they retreat unto a private life as men that are full and have taken a kind of surfeit of the World and when they have done so have enjoyed more of contentment and satisfaction of mind than all their former noiseful and busied splendour could afford them 1. Doris the Athenian having governed the Common-wealth six and thirty years with much sincerity and Justice became weary of publick Negotiations he therefore dislodged from Athens and went to a Country-house or Farm which he had in a Village not far distant and there reading Books of Husbandry in the night time and practising those rules in the day time he wore out the space of fifteen years Upon the Frontispiece of his House these words were engraven Fortune and Hope adieu to you both seeing I have found the true entrance to rest and contentment 2. The Emperour Charles the Fifth after he had reigned as King forty years and had thirty six of those years been possessed of the Empire of Germany that Charles who from the sixteenth year of his age wherein he first bore a Scepter to the fifth sixth year of his age wherein he surrendred all had been a great and most constant Favourite of Fortune after he had made 300 Sieges and gained the Victory in more than twenty set Battels he whose whole life and adventures were nothing else but a concatenation of Victories and Triumphs and a glorious continuation of most renowned successes after he had made nine Voyages into Germany six into Spain seven into Italy four into France ten into the Low-Countries two into England two into Africa and eleven times traversed the main Ocean who yet in all these his various and great Enterprises met with no check nor frown of Fortune except in the Siege of Marcelleis and the business of Algiers I say this illustrious Prince in the pitch and height of all his glory did freely and of his own accord descend from his Thrones resigned his Kingdom of Spain to his Son Philip his Empire to his Brother Ferdinand withdrew from a Royal Palace and retired first to a private house at Bruxels and thence descended to an humble Hermitage in the Monastery of St. Iustus seven miles from Placentia attended only with twelve Servants forbidding that any should call him other than Charles disclaiming together with the Affairs the pompous Names of Caesar and Augustus 3. Diocletianus the Emperour of Rome being filled and laden with worldly Honours which he had acquired to himself both in Peace and War even to the making himself to be worshipped for a God This great Person seeing no constancy in humane affairs and feeling how full his Imperial charge was of travels cares and perils left off the Managing and Government of the Empire and chusing a private life retired himself to Salona where he spent his time in Gardening and Husbandry and although after he had continued there some years he was earnestly importuned by Maximianus and Galerius his Successors to resume the Empire yet could he never be perswaded to quit his solitude till he parted with that and his life together 4. Sâ—atocopius King of Bohemia and Moravia having received an overthrow in a Battel by the Emperour Arnolphus withdrew himself secretly out of the Fight and unknown as he was saved himself by the swiftness of his Horse Being come alone to a Mountain called Sicambri he left there his Arms and Horse and began to walk on foot when entring into a vast Wilderness he framed himself like a poor Pilgrim to feed upon Apples and Roots until he had met with three other Hermits to whom he joined himself abiding with them unknown till his last When his time drew near that he should dye he calls the three Eremites You know not yet said he who I am the truth is I am King of Bohemia and Moravia who being overthrown in a Battel have sought my refuge here with you I dye having tryed both what a Royal and a private life is There is not any Greatness of a King to be preferred before the tranquillity of this solitariness The safe sleeps which we enjoy here make the roots savoury and the water sweet unto us on the contrary the care and dangers of a Kingdom make all meat and drink taste bitter to us That part of my life which remained I have passed happily with you that which I led upon my Regal Throne deserveth more the title of death than of life Assoon as my Soul hath parted from my body ye shall bury me here in this place and then going into Moravia ye shall declare these things to my Son if he yet lives and having thus said he departed this life 5. The Captain Similis was Prefect of the Palace to Hadrian the Emperour and after he had procured leave at last to quit himself of his employment and to retire into the Country he lived there in rest with privacy and content for the space of seven years and when he found himself near unto death he ordained by his last Will this Epitaph to be inscribed upon his Tomb. Similis hic jacet cujus atas quidem multorum annorum fâ—it septem tamen dunt axat annis vixit That is Here lyeth Similis who was indeed of a great age yet lived only seven years 6. Lucius Sylla having with great labours and infinite perils arrived unto the Dictatorship in Rome than which there is no power more absolute and having therein governed with such severity as to put to death two thousand six hundred Roman Knights slain ten Consuls forced thousands from their Country into Exile and prohibited unto divers all Funeral Honours yet without fear of accounting for any of his past actions and not being in the least enforced thereunto by any necessity of his affairs he voluntarily deposed himself from that high Seat of Magistracy and retired to a life of privacy in Rome and whereas one day as he passed along in the Market-place he was reproached and insolently treated by a young man he contented himself to say with a low voice to some
wherein we have any understanding it can never be suâ—ficiently wondred at that it should be so very little that we are able to comprehend with any certainty concerning the Soul it self The most learned amongst men are at a loss as often as they would speak distinctly touching its nature manner of working the way of its conjunction with the body and principal place of its residence and so are they also for the manner of its retreat and the place of its retirement in such cases as are propounded in this Chapter 1. William Withers born at Walsham in Sussex being a child of eleven years of age did An. 1581. lye in a trance ten days without any sustenance and at last coming to himself uttered to the standers by many strange speeches against pride and covetousness coldness of charity and other outragious sins 2. Hermotimus the Clazomenian seemed frequently to have his body deserted of the soul and as if it had wandred about in the World at the return of it he would relate such things at a distance performed that none could tell of but such as were present by which means he was long the admiration of such as he dwelt amongst At last being in one of these trances his enemies seised upon his body and burnt it by which means the returning soul was disappointed of its usual place of residence and retreat Plin. lib. 7. cap. 52. pag. 184. 3. Iohannes Scotus the same who hath treated with such subtilty concerning divine matters is also said to have been in frequent raptures in such manner that he hath been observed to sit sometimes for the space of a whole day and more immoveable with his mind and senses bound up or at least wandring far off from the body In which condition at length he was taken up by some such as were unacquainted with him and so buried alive 4. Restitutus a Presbyter could at his pleasure deprive himself of all sense and would do it as oft as he was asked which many did as desirous to be the eye-witnesses of so admirable a thing At the imitation of some notes and the tone of lamenting persons he would lie as one that was dead altogether sensless of his being pulled or pricked nay once being burnt with fire he had no apprehension or feeling at all of it for the present only the wound was painful to him at his return to himself In these his trances he did not breathe at all only he would say that the voices of men only if they spake louder than ordinary were heard by him as if they were at some great distance from him 5. Thomas Aquinas by his daily and constant contemplations had so accustomed himself that frequently falling into an Ecstasie of the mind he seemed to all that were present to be dead yet in the mean time he gained the knowledge of the abstruser Mysteries in Divinity and being returned to himself he imparted to others the fruits of this his philosophick death both in his Writings and Converse 6. Hieronymus Cardanus of Millain writes of himself that he could pass as oft as he would into such an Ecstasie as only to have a soft hearing of the words of such as discoursed by him but not any understanding of them at all he felt not any pullings or pinches of him nor was at such times in the least manner sensible of the pains of the Gout or any other thing but only such things as were without him The beginnings of this were first in the head especially from the brain diffusing it self thence all along to the back bone At first he could perceive a kind of separation from the heart as if the soul were departing and this was communicated to the whole body as if a door did open He adds that he saw all that he desired with his eyes not by any force of the mind and that those images of things did perpetually move as Woods Mountains living Creatures and what else he pleased He imputes all this to the vigour of his fancy and the subtilty of his sight 7. The Father of Prestantius saith St. Augustine was often in such an Ecstasie that upon the return of his spirit he would affirm that he had been transformed into a Horse and that he with other Horses had carried relief and forrage into the Camp whereas his body lay then at his own house in the manner of a dead Corps 8. The English Histories relate that Elizabeth Burton a Maid of Canterbury had contracted a custom of entrancing her self and taking away her senses which first came upon her by reason of a disease which she had upon her CHAP. XIX Of extraordinary things in the Bodies Fortunes Death c. of divers persons TRavellers that have determined to pass through divers Countries lightly touch those common occurrences that present themselves to every mans eye but if they meet with any thing extraordinary these they set a special and particular remark upon as matter wherewith mens knowledge may be improved and their curiosity gratified If I have staid the longer upon this Chapter it is possibly for some such reason as this that the Reader may have something if not so profitable as he could wish yet not altogether unpleasant in the perusal 1. Antonius Cianfius a Book-seller at Pisa some few years since putting off a shirt which was made straiter to his body than usual flames were seen to issue from his back and arms and that also with a crackling noise to the affrightment of the whole family The truth of this is attested as well as the History related by Fortunius Licetus that great Philosopher of this Age in the second Book and 28. Chapter of his Commentary of the Causes of Monsters 2. That is strange which is recorded of M. Furius Camillus that though he had gained many important Victories was often General in the head of an Army was Censor was five times created Dictator and at four several times had triumphed and was also called the second Founder of Rome yet was he never chosen Consul 3. Nicholas Wotton was termed a Center of Remarkables so many met in his person he was Dean of the two Metropolitan Churches of Canterbury and York he was the first Dean of those Cathedrals he was Privy Counsellor to four successive Soveraigns King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth he was employed thirteen several times in Embassies to foreign Princes and which is not the least remarkable in the first of Queen Elizabeth he was offered the Archbishoprick of Canterbury and refused it he died 1566. 4. Iohn Story Doctor of Law a cruel Persecutor in the days of Queen Mary fled afterwards into Brabant being trained into the Ship of Mr. Parker an English man the Master hoised Sail and over was this Tyrant and Traitor brought into England where refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy and professing
in the same sentences so that the Gentiles then present pronounced those Scriptures to have been translated by the inspiration of the holy Spirit of God 30. When Anterus had sate Bishop of Rome for one month only he died after whose death it was that Fabianus came from the Country together with certain others to dwell at Rome when such a thing as never was seen before at the Election of a Bishop happened then by the divine and celestial Grace of God For when all the Brethren had gathered themselves together for to make choice of a Bishop and many thought upon divers notable and famous men Fabianus being there present with others when as every one thought least nay nothing at all of him suddenly from above there came a Dove and rested upon his head after the example of the Holy Ghost which in likeness of a Dove descended upon our Saviour and so the whole multitude being moved thereat with one and the same Spirit of God cryed out chearfully with one accord that he was worthy of the Bishoprick and immediately he was taken and installed Bishop 31. Constantine the Emperour going against the Tyrant Maxentius had a certain Vision It was about noon the day somewhat declining when he saw in the Sky a lightsom Pillar in form of a Cross wherein these words were engraven In hoc vince i.e. In this overcome This so amazed the Emperour that he mistrusting his own sight demanded of them that were present whether they perceived the Vision which when all with one consent had affirmed the wavering mind of the Emperour understand it of Religion whether he should become a Christian or not was setled with that divine and wonderful sight The night following he dreamed that Christ came unto him and said Frame to thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against the enemies as a fit Banner or token of Victory which he accordingly did and was victorious 32. That was a rare instance of propitious Fortune which befel Thomas Serranus who in one and the same year was consecrated Bishop elected Cardinal and also attained to the Popedom by the name of Nicholas the Fifth 33. Franciscus Trovillon was a man of a middle stature a full body bald except in the hinder part of the head which had a few hairs upon it his temper was morose and his demeanour altogether rustick he was born in a little Village called Mezieres and bred up in the Woods amongst the Charcoal men About the seventh year of his age he began to have a swelling in his forehead so that about the seventeenth year of his age he had a horn there as big as a mans finger end which afterwards did admit of that growth and increase that when he came to be thirty five years old this horn had both the bigness and resemblance of a Rams horn It grew upon the midst of his forehead and then bended backward as far as the coronal â—uture where the other end of it did sometimes so stick in the skin that to avoid much pain he was constrained to cut off some part of the end of it whether this horn had its roots in the skin or forehead I know not but probably being of that weight and bigness it grew from the skull it self nor am I certain whether this man had any of those teeth which we call Grinders For two months together the man was exposed to shew in Paris where saith Vrstitius in the year 1598. I in company with Dr. Iacobus Faeschius the publick Professor at Basil and Mr. Iohannes Eckenstenius did see and handle this horn From Paris he was carried to Orleance where as I am informed he died soon after he came 34. In the time of a grievous Persecution Felix Presbyter of the City of Nola by a divine instinct hid himself in the corner of a ruined Wall and before the Persecutors had pursued him thither a Spider had drawn her web at the mouth of the hole whereinto the Presbyter had put himself His enemies told them that Felix was crept in at that very place but they beholding the Spiders web could not be perswaded that any man could enter and lurk there where the Spiders lived and laboured so securely and thereupon by their departure Felix escaped Paulinus once Bishop of that City hath these Verses upon this occasion which I will also try to English Eccubi Christus adest tenuissima aranea muro est At ubi Christus abest murus aranea fiet Where God is present Spiders spin a wall He gone our Bulwarks like to cobwebs fall 35. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there was one Mr. Gresham a Merchant of London who was sailing homewards from Paâ—ermo a City in Sicily wherein was dwelling at that time one Antonio sirnamed the Rich who had at one time two Kingdoms mortgaged to him by the King of Spain Mr. Gresham crossed by contrary winds was constrained to anchor under the Lee of the Island of Strombulo where was a burning Mountain Now about the mid-day when for a certain space the Mountain used to forbear sending forth flames he with eight of the Sailors ascended the Mountain approaching as near the vent as they durst where amongst other noises they heard a voice cry aloud Dispatch dispatch the Rich Antonio is a coming Terrified herewith they hasted their return and the Mountain presently vomited out fire but from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could and desiring to know more of this matter since the winds still thwarted their course they returned to Palermo and forthwith inquiring for Antonio they found that he was dead about the instant so near as they could compute when that voice was heard by them Mr. Gresham at his return into England reported this to the King and the Marinâ—â—s being called before him confirmed the same by their Oaths Upon Gresham this wrought so deep an impression that he gave over all merchandizing distributed his Estate partly to his Kindred and partly to good uses retaining only a competency for himself and so spent the rest of his days in a solitary devotion 36. That is much to be admired at as being little less than a Miracle which is related of Xenophilus a Musician who lived to the age of an hundred and five years without any manner of disease or indisposition of body throughout his whole life 37. The Governour of Mountmarine besieged by Augustus the base Son of the Prince of Salucia was called forth as it were to parley and then held Prisoner he was threatned with death if he yielded not up the place and was so frighted with the apprehensions of this undeserved death that he sweat blood over all his body CHAP. XX. Of matters of importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents PLutarch tells us of a
should do thus than deliver them all bound into my hands Indeed it proved little less for by this means at this Battel Hanibal obtained the greatest and entirest Victory that ever he got of the Romans and had he made use of it accordingly he had made himself Master of Rome it self 9. Lartes Tolumnius King of the Veientines playing at Dice and having a prosperous Cast said jestingly to his Companion Occide meaning no more than kill or beat me now if you can It fortuned that the Roman Ambassadors came in at the instant and his Guard mistaking the intention of the word slew the Ambassadors taking that for a word of command to them which was only spoken in sport to him that was played with 10. Cleonce a Virgin of Byzantium had promised in the night to come to the bed of Paufanias the Lacedemonian General she came somewhat later than the agreement was and had received a candle of the Guard to direct her to his Chamber but stumbling by chance at the door of the Chamber she fell and the light was put out Pausanias was asleep but awaking with the noise leaped out of bed and doubting some treachery directed himself as well as he could in the dark to the Chamber door and ran his Sword through the body of her who did not look for so bloody an entertainment 12. Tiberius Caesar being busted in the examination of some men by torments to find out the Authors of his Son Drâ—sus his death it was told him that a Rhodian was come who apprehending it of one that could tell something of the matter commanded that they should presently put him to the Rack soon after it appeared that this Rhodian was his Friend and one whom Tiberius himself had invited to him from Rhodes by his own Letters The mistake being cleared Tiberius commanded to strangle the man that so the villany might be concealed 12. Baptista Zenus a Cardinal in the time of Pope Paul the Second having called often for the Groom of his Chamber and he at that time obeying the necessities of Nature and so returning no answer the furious Cardinal hid himself behind the Chamber door that he might punish him to purpose as he came in In the mean time came the Secretary of another Cardinal and finding the door open entred the Chamber Baptista caught him by the hair and laid on him with his fists the passion he was in not suffering him for some time to discern his mistake 13. Gildo rebelling in Africa against the Emperour Honorius Mastelzeres the Brother of Gildo was sent against him Gildo's Army was far the more numerous and when Mastelzeres drew near the forefront of the Enemy he began to speak mildly to the Souldiers The Standard-bearer of Gildo replying roughly upon him he with his Sword smote off the arm he bore the Ensign with that both it and the Ensign fell together to the ground The hinder-part of the Army having seen Mastelzeres in Treaty and perceiving the Ensign inclined a sign of submission amongst them and thinking that the Front which consisted of Roman Legions had submitted themselves to Mastelzeres as Honorius his General and so they were deserted of the greatest part of the Army these Africans wheeled off and did what they imagined the rest had done Gildo beholding the whole Army at the point of yielding and fearing his life fled hastily away and left an unbloody Victory to his Brother by virtue of this odd mistake 14. Mullus Cropellus was sent by Maâ—heus Vicecomes who then bore the chief Rule in Millain to seise upon Cremona who approaching the City in the night had digged through the Wall unperceived Pontionus an Exile of Cremona had entred the breach followed only with an hundred men and supposing that Mullus followed him forthwith seised upon the Palace A great tumult and cry being raised Gregorius Summus a Citizen of Cremona took Arms flew to the Walls and soon stopped up the entrance against them that were without Mullus therefore thinking that Pontionus was oppressed in the City drew off in great fear and Gregorius Summus being informed that the Palace was lost supposing that a far greater number of Enemies had entred the City than indeed there had though he was in the head of a great Party of valiant men with which he might easily have cut off Pontionus and all his yet he fled out of Cremona Thus the darkness of the night had led both Parties into errour in the same place and so as that those which were most in number did still slye from and were afraid of those that were not so many 15. Caicoscroes the Sultan of Iconium having received some injury from Alexius Angelus the Greek Emperour intending to be revenged made a sudden incursion and had taken Antioch had it not been for an accidental chance and a mistake of his own thereupon It fell out that the same night he hastned towards Antioch to take it that there was a Noble person in the City that celebrated the Nuptials of his Daughter and as 't is usual in such solemnities there was a great noise of the Feasters a sound of Cymbals and Timbrels of Dancing and Women singing up and down these made a great stir in the City all night Assoon as Caicoscroes drew near the City hearing the noise of Instruments and a concourse of men not apprehending the thing as indeed it was but conceiving it a military notice one to another that his coming was discerned he forsook his design and drew off to Lampe 16. Iohannes Gorraeus a Physician in Paris the same person who wrote the excellent Physical Lexicon being sent for to the house of a Bishop who at that time was sick to prevent all danger that might happen to him upon the account of his Religion for at that time all France was on fire with it he determined to make his return home in the Bishops Litter he was upon his way about twilight when certain Parisians to whom the Bishop was indebted and that had long in vain waited for satisfaction assaulted the Litter in hope to find some of the Bishops goods conveyed in it that way This struck such a fear into Gorraus that supposing he was taken upon the account of his Religion he fell iâ—to a distemper of mind and was not restored to his perfect health till a long time after 17. Ferdinand King of Arragon and Naples setting forward with his Army towards Canusium the Scouts he sent out beholding a great Herd of Deer feeding in the night wherewith that Country doth very much abound by a signal mistake they returned to the King and reported that Nicholaus Picininus with Iohn Duke of Anjoâ— who affected the Kingdom had joyned themselves with the Prince of Tarentum and that they had found them all in Arms in such a place Ferdinand fearing that he should no way be able to match with so great Enemies
himself from biting with the other hand by thrusting his Coat into the mouth of it so letting it creep whither it would he followed holding it as his guide until the way was too streight for him and then dismissed it The Fox being loose ran through an hole at which came a little light and there did Aristomenes delve so long with his nails that at last he clawed out his passage and so got home in safety as both the Corinthians and Spartans after found to their cost 6. An. Dom. 1568. upon the Eve of All-Saints by the swelling of the Sea there was so great a deluge as covered certain Islands of Zealand a great part of the Sea coast of Holland and almost all Frizland In Frizland alone there were 2000 persons drowned many men who had climbed to the tops of Hills and Trees were ready to give up the ghost for hunger but were in time saved by Boats Amongst the rest upon an Hill by Sneace they found an Infant carried thither by the water in its Cradle with a Cart lying by it the poor Babe was soundly sleeping without any fear and then happily saved 7. William of Nassau Prince of Orange as he lay in Camp near to the Duke de Alva's Army some Spaniards in the night broke into his Camp and some of them ran as far as the Prince of Orange his Tent where he lay fast asleep He had a Dog lying by him on the bed that never left barking and scratching him by the face till he had waked him and by this means he escaped the danger 8. In that horrible Earthquake at Antioch it 's said by Dion that the Emperour Trajan was saved by miracle for by one of greater than humane stature in the ruine of the houses he was snatched out at the window After which for fear he abode some days in the open Air and in the publick Tents of the Hippodrome 9. An. Dom. 1045. the Emperour Henry the Third travelling toward Hungary upon the River Danubius Richilda the Widow of Albert Earl of Ebersberg entertained and lodged him very sumptuously and as she was making her supplication to the Emperour that Bosenburg and some other Lands in the Earls possession might be given to her Nephew Welpho while the Emperour in token of his Grant reached her his hand the Chamber-floor suddenly broke under them The Emperour fell into a bathing Vessel that was in the Stove underneath the same room and had no harm but Bruno the Bishop of Wirtzburg Cousin to the Emperour Alemanus the Bishop of Ebersberg and Richilda lighting upon the brinks of the Vessel were so sore hurt and bruised that they died some few days after A little before saith Aventine there appeared to Bruno as he was aboard the Barque with the Emperour a certain Ghost like an Ethiop who stood upon an high Rock and having called Bruno vanished 10. In the Earthquake of Apulia that happened in the year 1627. on the last day of Iuly one writeth That in the City of St. Severine alone ten thousand souls were taken out of the world that in the horrour of such infinite ruines and sepulchre of so many mortals a great Bell thrown out of a Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a child that it inclosed him and doing no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger Who balanced the motion of this metal but the same fingers that distended the Heavens 11. In Edge-hill Fight Sir Gervase Scroop fighting valiantly for his King received twenty six wounds and was left on the ground amongst the dead next day his Son Adrian obtained leave of the King to find and fetch off his Fathers Corps and his hopes pretended no higher than a decent Interrement thereof such a search was thought in vain amongst many naked bodies with wounds disguised from themselves and where pale death had confounded all complexions together However ever he having some general hint of the place where his Father fell did light upon his body which had some heat left therein the heat was with rubbing within a few minutes improved to motion that motion within some hours into sense that sense within a day into speech that speech within certain weeks into a perfect recovery living more than ten years after a monument of Gods mercy and his Sons affection The effect of this story I received from his own mouth in Lincoln Colledge 12. Pomponius was one of the number of those who were proscribed by the Triumvirate at Rome but he escaped death by a notable shift He takes to him the Ensigns of the Pretorship he in his Robe his Servants as so many Lictors with their Fasces kept close about their Master lest he should be known by such as they met in this order they passed undiscovered through the midst of the City At the Gate as Pretor he took and got up into a publick Chariot and so passed through all Italy pretending to be an Ambassador from the Triumvirate to Sextus Pompeius and was thereupon also furnished with a publick Barge with which he passed over into Sicily at that time the securest Sanctuary for the distrossed No small wonder it is that amongst so many men in so many places upon divers occasions he should not meet with any person that did betray him to those who sought after his life 13. Strange was that escape of Caesar in Egypt having hither pursued Pompey and discontented Ptolomy the King by demanding pay for his Souldiers he had his Navy which lay near the Pharos at Anchor assaulted by Achillas one of young Ptolomy's Courtiers Caesar himself was then at Alexandria and hearing of the Skirmish he hastned to the Pharos meaning to succour his Navy in person But the Egyptians making towards him on all sides he was compelled to leap into the Sea and swim for his life and though to avoid their Darts he sometimes dived under water yet held he still his left hand above and in it divers Books he drew after him his Generals Coat called Paludamentum with his teeth that his Enemies might not enjoy it as a Spoil and having swam thus 200 paces he got safe to his Ships where animating his Souldiers he also gained the Victory 14. Sir Richard Edgecomb Knight being zealous in the Cause of Henry Earl of Richmond afterwards King Henry the Seventh was in the time of King Richard the Third so hotly pursued and narrowly searched for that he was forced to hide himself in his thick Woods at his house at Cuttail in Cornwal Here extremity taught him a sudden policy to put a stone in his Cap and tumble the same into the water while these Rangers were fast at his heels who looking down after the noise and seeing his Cap swimming thereon supposed that he had desperately drowned himself and deluded by this honest fraud gave over their farther pursuit leaving him at liberty to shift over into Brittaigne 15.
overthrown the pernicious plot and design of the wicked Tyrant and preserved Timoleon but had also at the same time executed its Justice upon a Murderer 22. An. Dom. 1552. about the Nones of February Franciscus Pelusius one of sixty years of age while in the Mannor of Lewis Dheiraeus and in the Hill of St. Sebastian he was digging a Well forty foot deep the earth above fell in upon him to thirty five foot depth He was somewhat sensible before of what was coming and opposed a plank which by chance he had by him against the ruines himself lying under it By this means he was protected from the huge weight of the earth and retained some air and breath to himself by which he lived seven days and nights without food or sleep supporting his stomach only with his own urine without any pain or sorrow being full of hope in God in whom alone he had placed it Ever and anon he called for help as being yet safe but was heard by none though he could hear the motion noise and words of those that were above him and could count the hours as the Clock went After the seventh day he being all the while given for dead they brought a Bier for his Corps and when a good part of the Well was digged up on a sudden they heard the voice of one crying from the bottom At first they were afraid as if it had been the voice of a subterranean Spirit the voice continuing they had some hope of his life and hastned to dig to him till at last after he had drunk a cup of wine they drew him up living and well his strength so entire that to lift him out he would not suffer himself to be bound nor would use any help of another of so sound sense that jesting he drew out his purse gave them money saying he had been with such good Hosts that for seven days it had not cost him a farthing Soon after he returned to his work again and was then alive when I wrote this saith Bartholomaeus Anulus 23. A certain Woman saith Iordanus had given her Husband poyson and it seems impatient of all delay gave him afterwards a quantity of Quick-silver to hasten his death the sooner but that slippery substance carried along with it the poyson that lay in the Ventricle and had not yet spread it self to the heart through the bowels away from him by stool by which means he escaped Ausonius hath the story in an Epigram of his the conclusion of which is to this purpose The Gods send health by a most cruel wife And when Fates will two poysons save a life 24. At Tibur An. Dom. 1583. two years before I wrote this Book there was one who diging in a subterranean Aquaduct by a sudden fall of the earth which store of ruine had caused he was overwhelmed and buried alive yet such was the vigour of his spirit that night and day though he could not distinguish either working with hands feet head and back he hollowed the earth that lay about him and dug as it were a Coney-hole so that working as a Mole into the part of the Aquaduct that was beyond the place where the earth fell he at last reached it and from thence upon the seventh day he had scratched himself out and was safe and sound though all the time without meat and drink only his fingers ends bruised and wore away CHAP. XXXIV Of such persons as have taken poyson and quantities of other dangerous things without damage thereby PVrchas tells of the herb Addad that it is bitter and the root of it so exceedingly venemous that a single drop of the juyce of it will kill a man in the space of one hour This nimble Messenger of death makes its approaches to the Fortress of life so speedy and withal so sure that it is not easie for the virtue of any Antidote to make haste enough to overtake it or to over-power and counterwork it yet of the like dangerous drugs taken without sensible harm see the following Histories 1. Mithridates that warlike King of Pontus and Bithynia when in the War with the Romans he was overcome in Battel by Pompey determined to finish his life by poyson and therefore drank a draught of it himself and gave others to his Daughters who would needs accompany their Father in death They overcome by the force of the poyson fell down dead at his foot but the King himself having formerly accustomed his body to the use of Antidotes found that the poyson he had taken was of no use to him in this his last extremity and therefore gave his throat to be cut by his Friend Bystocus who with his Sword gave him that death which he in vain expected from the poysonous draught he had swallowed 2. Conradus Bishop of Constance at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper drank off a Spider that had fallen into the cup of wine while he was busied in the Consecration of the Elements yet did he not receive the least hurt or damage thereby 3. While I was a Boy saith Fallopius and was sick of the Colick I took a scruple of Scammony and yet had not one stool by it And I saw a German Scholar at Ferrara who took at once a whole ounce of Scammony I say of Scammony not Diagridium and yet was no way stirred by it 4. Theophrastus tells of Thrasyas who was most excellently skilled in all sorts of Herbs that yet he would often eat whole handfuls of the roots of Hellebore without harm and he also tells of one Eudemus a Chian that in one day he took two and twenty Potions of Hellebore and yet was not purged thereby and that supping the same night as he used he did not return any thing he had taken by Vomit 5. Schenckius relates the History of a Woman from an eye-witness of the truth of it that she intending to procure abortion to her self swallowed down half a pound weight of Quick-silver in substance and though she had done this more than once or twice yet it always passed through her assoon almost as she had taken it and that without hurt 6. A certain man condemned for a capital crime was set free by Pope Leo the Tenth of that name for that without taking any previous Antidote he had swallowed down almost an ounce of Arsenick and received no hurt thereby 7. The weight of thirty grains of Antimonial glass prepared hath been taken without any harm as Schenckius reports from Albertus Wimpinaeus 8. I knew a man saith Garsias ab Horto who was Councellor to Nizamoxa he would daily eat three shivers of Opium which weighed ten drams and more and though he seemed always to be stupid and as one ready to sleep yet would he very aptly and learnedly discourse of any thing propounded to him so much is custom able to perform 9. Albertus Magnus saith he hath seen
mark of those of that Family and discontinued in them for many years 6. I have heard saith Camerarius when I was young and it is at this day the common report and publick Fame although I have not met with it in any Authour that the Counts of Habspurg have each of them from the Womb a golden Cross upon the back that is to say certain white hairs after a wonderful manner formed into the figure of a Cross. 7. Marcus Venetus who for forty five years travell'd up and down in the Countries of Asia reports in his Itinerary that he came into the Kingdom of the Corzani the Kings of which place though subject to the Tartarian boast themselves of a Nobility beyond that of all other Kings of of the Earth and upon this account they are born into the World with the impress of a black Eagle upon their Shoulder which continues with them to the last day of their lives 8. I have received it from the Relations of Persons worthy to be believed that the most potent King of Great Britain now reigning that was King Iames brought with him from his Mothers Womb certain Royal and those not obscure signatures for as soon as he was born there was beheld imprinted upon his body a Lyon and Crown and some also add a Sword which impressions do undoubtedly portend great things and would require a further explication 9. That is a memorable thing and worthy of observation which is set down by Abrahamus Bucholtzerus Iohn Frederick saith he Elector of Saxony the Son of Iohn was born the 30 th of Iune Anno 1503. and brought with him from his Mothers Womb an omen of his future fate For as I had it from persons of unquestionable credit he was born with a Cross of a splendid and golden colour upon his back upon the sight of which a pious and very ancient Priest was sent for by the Ladies of the Court who thereupon said This Child shall carry a Cross Conspicuous to all the World the Emblem of which is thus apparent in his birth The truth is his Mother Sophia dy'd upon the twelfth day after his birth I have noted this the rather saith the fore-cited Authour because no Man hath done it before though worthy to be transcribed to Posterity and withal because the event did declare and confirm the truth of the presage 10. A Sister of mine saith Gaffarel had the figure of a Fish upon her left Leg caus'd by the desire my Mother had to eat fish when she was great and it is represented with so much perfection and rarity that you would take it to be drawn by some excellent Master and the wonder is that when ever the Girl eat any Fish that upon her Leg puts her to a sensible pain 11. That which I now relate to the same purpose is very well known to all Paris that are curious enquirers into these things The Hostess of the Inn in the Suburbs of St. Michael at Bois de Vincenne who dy'd about two years since had a Mulberry growing upon her nether Lip which was smooth and plain all the year long till the time that Mulberries began to ripen at which time hers also began to be red and began to swell more and more observing exactly the season and nature of other Mulberries and coming at length to the just bigness and redness of other ripe Mulberries 12. A Woman in the seventh Month of her being with Child long'd to eat Rose-buds in a time when they were diâ—ficultly to be procur'd She had passed two days thus when after much search there was a bough of them found in a private Garden she greedily devour'd the green buds of two Roses and kept the rest in her bosom In the ninth month she was happily deliver'd of a fair babe upon the Ribs of which there appear'd the representations of three Roses very red upon his Forehead and on either Cheek he had also depainted three other exact resemblances of a Red Rose so that he was commonly call'd the Rosie boy 13. Octavius Augustus the Emperour was all spotted on his body his Moles being dispers'd upon his Brest and Belly in the manner order and number with the Stars of the Celestial Bear CHAP. VIII Of the strange Constitution and marvellous properties of some humane Bodies THat the original of Man's body is nothing else besides the dust of the ground is a certain and unquestionable truth Yet as out of that dust there springs such variety of Trees Plants Flowers with different Forms Colours Vertues as may reasonably solicite a considering mind to a just veneration of the Wisdom and Bounty of the Creator so though all humane bodies are fram'd of the same course materials yet some of them are endow'd with such peculiar proprieties and qualities so remov'd from the Constitution of others that Man need travel no further then himself for a sufficient theme wherein he may at once inlarge his thoughts to the praises of his Maker and admiration of his own wonderful composure Every Man is a moving miracle but there are some that may justly move the wonder of all the rest For 1. Saint Austin saith he knew a Man who could sweat of his own accord as often as he pleas'd 2. Avicenna writes of one that when he pleas'd could put himself into a Palsie nor was he hurt by any venemous creature but when he forc'd and provok'd them to it of which notwithstanding themselves would die so poysonous was his body 3. I knew one saith Maranta who was of that strange constitution of body that he was made loose by asbringent simples and on the contrary bound up by those that were of a loosening Nature 4. There are some Families of that marvellous constitution that no Serpent will hurt them but instead of that they fly their presence the spittle of these Men or their sucking the place is Medicinable to such as have been bitten or stung with them of this kind are the Psylli and Marsi those also in the Island of Cyprus whom they call Ophiogenes and of this Race and house there came one Exagon Embassadour from that Island who by the commandment of the Roman Consul was put into a great Tun or Pipe wherein were many Serpents on purpose to make experiment and tryal of the truth The issue was the Serpents lick'd his body in all parts gently with their Tongues as if they had been little dogs and he remain'd unhurt to the great wonder of them who beheld the manner of it 5. Those Men that are bred in Tentyrus an Island lying within the River Nilus are so terrible to the Crocodiles that they will not abide so much as their voice but fly from them as soon as they hear it 6. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus was dead and all the rest of his body consum'd in the Funeral Fire the great Toe of his right Foot
was found entire having receiv'd no damage at all by the flames this Toe that was so able to preserve it self after his death had also in his life time a healing kind of vertue in it against Diseases of the Spleen which us'd to retreat at the powerful touch of it Kornman de Mirac Mortuor lib. 3. cap. 8. pag. 8. 7. I know a Family at Liege in which all the Persons of both Sexes sick and well Summer and Winter sleeping and waking have their Nostrils extreme cold whence it fell out that administring Physick to two Brothers seiz'd with a burning Fever when upon the eleventh day there was no Crisis nor any appearance that there would be finding the Nostrils of both of them colder then Ice I adjudg'd they would die and so did three other Physicians with me yet both escap'd and are yet alive being the 14 th year after their Disease 8. A certain Canonical Person who having perfected his course in Philosophy had studied Divinity for five years space in Lovain by his over intense study he arriv'd at last to be a very Fool. Five years since he camâ— to the Spa where he was purg'd and drank the Waters but in vain Without my consent he would bleed often in a month and notwithstanding the clamours of all who were present he would not suffer the vein to be clos'd till above thirty and sometimes forty ounces of blood were slow'd out this he continued for three years and more When I told him by this means he would incur the danger of a Cachexy and Dropsie he was not mov'd at all In the mean time he daily eat divers handfuls of Wheat raw and unground When once he complain'd that his Potions did not work well with him I at last gave him two grains of our white Elaterium by which when he had been strongly purg'd he took them unknown to me more then twenty times notwithstanding all which he is well nor can we observe or discern that his strength is in the least impair'd by so many blood-lettings and purgations 9. Demophon the Steward to Alexander the Great is reported to be of that strange Constitution that standing in the Sun-shine or being in a hot Bath he was ready to freeze for cold and on the contrary would sweat in the shade 10. Quintus Curtius tells of Alexander the Great that as often as he sweat there issued a fragrant odour from his body that dispers'd it self amongst all that were near him the harmony of his Constitution was such as occasion'd that natural Balsom to slow from him 11. Not far from the City of Rome amongst the Falisci there are some few Families who are call'd Hirpiae who in that annual Sacrifice that is made to Apollo at the Foot of the Mountain Soracte use to walk upon the heaps of the live Coals of the burnt Wood and yet receive no damage by the fire 12. That is exceeding wonderful which is related by Iovianus Pentanus concerning one Coâ—an of Catana in Sicily sirnamed the Fish who liv'd longer in the Water then on the Land he was constrained every day to abide in the Water and he said that if he was long absent thence he could scarce breath or live and that it would be his death to forbear it he was so excellent in swimming that as a Sea-Fish he would cut the Sâ—as in the greatest storms and tempests and in despight of the resisting Waves swim more then five hundred furlongs at once At last in the Sicilian Sea at the Haven of Mâ—ssâ—na diving for a piece of Plate which the King had caus'd to be cast in as a prize to him that could fetch it from the bottom he there lost his Life for he was never seen after either devoured by a Fish or engaged in the Concaves oâ— the Rock 13. It is related of the Lord Verulame that he had one peculiar temper of body which was that he fainted always at an Eclipse of the Moon though he knew not of it and consider'd it not 14. Rodericus Fonsâ—ca a Physician of great reputation in Pisa bought for his Houshold employment a Negro slave she as often as she pleas'd took burning Coals into her hands or mouth without any hurt at all this was confirm'd to me by Gabriel Fonseca an excellent Physician in Rome and by another of deserved credit who told me he had frequently seen the trial and red hot Coals held in her hand till they were almost cold and this without any impression of fire left upon her and I my self saw the same thing done by a She-Negro in the Hospital of the Holy Ghost to which I was Physician 15. It is â—amiliarly known all over Pisa oâ— Martinus Ceccho a Townsman of Monteluâ—o that he us'd to take hot Coals in his hand put them in his mouth bite them in pieces with his Teeth till he had extinguish'd them he would thrust them up as a suppository into his Fundament and tread upon them with his baâ—e feâ—t he would put boiling lead into his mouth and suffer a burning Candle to be held under his Tongue as he put it out of his mouth and many such other things as may seem incredible all this was confirm'd to me by divers Capuchins and my worthy Friend Nicholaus Accursius of the Order of St. Francis 16. Andrenicus Comnenus Emperour of Greece was of that sound and firm Constitution vigorous Limbs c. that he us'd to say he could â—ndure the violence of any Disease for twelve Months together by his sole natural strength without being beholding to Art or any assistance of Physick CHAP. IX Of Natural Antipathies in some Men to Flowers Fruits Flesh Physick and divers other things WE read in the Poet of one saying Non amo te Sabidis c. Thee Sabidis I do not love Though why I cannot tell But that I have no love to thee This I know very well Thus the seeds of our aversion and Antipathy to this or that are often lodged so deep that in vain we demand a reason of our selves for what we do or do not The Enemies of our Nature work upon us it seems whether we are aware or not For the Lady Hâ—nnage of the Bed-chamber to Queen Elizabeth had her Cheeks blister'd by laying a Rose upon it while she was asleep saith Sir Kenelm Digby and worse hath be fallen others though awake by the smell of them 1. Cardinal Don Henrique a Cardâ—na would fall into a swound upon the smell of a Rose saith Ingrassia and Laurentius Bishop of Vratislavia was done to death by the smell of them saith Croâ—erus de rebus Polon lib. 8. 2. The smell of Roses how pleasing soever to most Men is not only odious but almost deadly to others Cardinal Oliverius Câ—raffa during the season of Roses used to inclose himself in a Chamber not permitting any to â—nter his Palace or come near him that had a