of Hungary came thither accompanied with divers Noble-men and Gentlemen who notwithstanding found no deceit therein Thus she continued for the space of almost four years Her Torments seemed to increase more and more upon her At last the chief Magistrate of the City sent for her Parents and asked them whether they desired to have their Daughter delivered from so great Torments by the Physicians making incision into her Belly Her Father being a plain man answered that he was willing to leave his Daughter to God's Providence and to lawful Remedies of Physicians But the Mother being guilty of the Deceit said that she would not have them to attempt any thing to the endangering of her daughters life adding moreover that she would pray that God's Vengeance might light upon them if her Daughter miscarried under their hands Yet some were sent to the Maid to mind her that they had many times craved help of Physicians that now there was a proffer made of their help who by God's assistance might either wholly free her from her Distemper or at least asswage the violence of it But she being instructed of her Mother answered That she with a willing mind would patiently suffer what it should please God to inflict upon her that she desired not any Physick but that as for the space of four years she had undergone the extremity of her Pains so she was still willing to bear the Cross which God had laid upon her till it pleased him to remove it hoping that she should still be as able to bear the violence of her Disease as hitherto she had been But the Magistrate of Elsing being better pleased with her Father's Answer sent a Dr. of Physick with two Chirurgions and a Midwife to search the Maidens Belly by Incision These came to her and searching her Belly found it stuffed with Clouts very cunningly and with Pillows and such like Materials with divers Hoops wherewith her Belly was made round she crying out all the while and when all these were removed they saw the Maiden stark naked with as well a compact and as fair a Body as might be When now the Deceit was discovered the Parents with the Daughter and all they which were accessory with whom in the Night whilst others slept she made good cheer were carried to Prison and afterwards put to the Rack The counterfeit Belly was brought to the Town-house and there shewed to the Burgo-masters and the Maids Mother was found to be a Witch who by the Devils help had caused those strange noises which seemed to proceed out of the Maids Belly and upon strict examination she confessed that she had done all these things by the Devils perswasion and help for Gain-sake all these four years for which she was condemned by the Judge had first her Neck broke and afterwards was openly burned The Daughter had her Cheek burned through with an hot iron and was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment The Father who took his Oath that he was deceived by his Wife and Daughter even till that day wherein this wicked Fact vvas discovered vvas acquitted and freely dismissed the other Accessories vvere banished and some of them that vvere most guilty vvere othervvise punished Of People long-lived who have had their Teeth and Excrements of Hair renewed MR. Purchas in his Pilgrimage relateth that whilst the Portugals were busie in building a Fort in the Kingdom of Decan belonging to Asia that there came a certain Bengalan to the Governour which had lived as he affirmed three hundred thirty five years The old men of the Country testified that they had heard their Ancestors speak of his great Age and himself had a Son fourscore and ten years old and not at all Book-learned yet was a speaking Chronicle of those passed Times His Teeth had sometimes fallen out others growing in their places and his Beard after it had been very hoary by degrees returned into his former blackness About an hundred years before that time he had alter'd his Pagan Religion into the Arabian or Moorish For this his Miraculous age the Sultans of Cambaya had allowed him a Stipend to live on the continuance of which he sought and did obtain of the Portugals Fryar Joano dos Santos tells a Story of one who was alive Anno 1605 of whom the Bishop of Cochin had sent men to inquire who by diligent search found that he was then 380 years old and had married eight times the Father of many Generations They said his Teeth had thrice fallen out and were thrice renewed his hair thrice hoary and as oft black again He could tell of nineteen successive Kings which reigned in Horan his native Country in Bengala He was also born a Gentile and after turned Moor and hoped he said to dye a Christian rejoycing to see a Picture of St Francis saying as the Fryar tells us such a man when he was twenty five years old had foretold him that long life Nic-di Conti saith he saw a Bramane three hundred years old But to come nearer to our home Mr. Morison reporteth of the Irish Countess of Desmond that she lived to the age of a hundred and forty Years being able to go on foot four or five miles to the Market-Town and using weekly so to do in her last Years and not many years before she died she had all her Teeth renewed He also tells of one Jemings a Carpenter in Beverly a Town of Holdernes in England whom the men of those Parts reported to have lived a hundred and twenty years and that he married a young Woman some few years before his death by whom being of good Fame he had four Children and that his eldest Son by his first Wife then living was a hundred years old or thereabouts but was so decrepid as he was rather taken for the Father than the Son King James going a Progress into Hereford-shire the ingenious Serjeant Hoskin gave him an Entertainment where he provided ten aged People to dance the Morrice before him all of them making up more than a thousand years so that what was wanting in one was supplied in another A Nest of Nestors saith Mr. Fuller not to be found in another place In the Year 1634. Thomas Earl of Arundel a great Lover of Antiquities in all kinds brought out of the Country unto King Charles the First an old man named Thomas Parre Son of John Parre born at Alberbury in the Parish of Winnington in Shrop-shire who lived to be above a hundred and fifty Years of Age verifying his Anagram Thomas Parre Most rare hap He was born in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth 1483. and towards his latter end slept away most part of his time being thus character'd by an Eye-witness of him From Head to Heel his Body had all over A quick-set thick-set nat'ral hairy Cover Having been at Westminster about two Months change of Air and Diet better in it self but worse for him with the trouble of many Visitants or
last of all how he shall come again with Glory and Power to judge both the quick and the dead When the Morning was come Agbarus commanded his Citizens to be gathered together to hear the Sermon of Thaddaeus which being ended he charged that Gold coined and uncoined should be given him but he received it not saying insomuch that we have forsaken our own how can we receive other Mens These things saith Eusebius were done the three and fortieth Year which being translated word for word out of the Syrian Tongue he thought good to publish The Conversion of a Thief by St. John the Apostle related by Clemens and quoted by Eusebius Lib. 3. ch 20. HEAR saith he a Fable and yet not a Fable but a true Report of John the Apostle deliver'd unto us and committed to memory After the decease of the Tyrant when he had returned to Ephesus out of the Isle Patmos being requested he went unto the Countreys adjoyning partly to consecrate Bishops partly to set in order whole Churches and partly to chuse by Lot unto the Ecclesiastical function of them whom the holy Ghost had assigned When he was come unto a certain City not far distant the name whereof divers do express and among other things had recreated the Brethren beholding a young man of a goodly body gracious face and fervent mind he turned his face unto him that was appointed chief over all the Bishops and said I commend this young man unto thy Custody with an earnest desire as Christ and the Church bear me witness When he had received his charge and promised diligence therein he spake and protested unto him the second time in words to the like effect Afterwards he returned to Ephesus But the Elder taking the young man that was delivered unto him brought him up at home and ceased not but cherished him still and in process of time baptized him He came at length to be so diligent and serviceable that he made him a Phylacterie or Livery Garment signed with his master 's Arms. But this young man became very dissolute and perniciously accompanied himself with them of his own years idle dissolute and acquainted with ill behaviour First they bring him to sumptuous Banquets next they guide him in the night to steale and to rob after this they require that he consent to the committing of a greater offence Thus he acquainting himself by little and little through the greatness of his capacity much like a Horse of a hardened mouth fierce strong and hardy forsaking the right way with the biting of the Bridle bringeth himself into a bottomless pit of all misorder and outrage At length despairing of the Salvation that cometh of God being past all hope of Grace he practised no toy nor trifle but once being over shooes he proceeded forward and took the like lot with the rest of his Companions and a rout of Thieves being gathered together he became a most violent Captain over them wholly bent to slaughter murther and extream cruelty In the mean while necessity so constraining the Bishop sent for John He when he had ended and finished the cause of his coming Go to saith he O Bishop restore to us thy Charge which I and Christ have committed unto thy Custody the Church whereof thou art Head bearing witness The Bishop at the first was amazed supposing some deceit to be wrought touching Money which he had not received yet was he not able to answer him for that he had it not neither to mistrust John But when John had said I require the young man and the Soul of our Brother then the Elder looking down with a heavy Countenance sobbing and sighing said He is dead To whom John said How and by what kind of Death He answered He is dead to God for he is become wicked and pernicious and in short a Thief for he keepeth this Mountain over against the Church together with his Associates The Apostle then rending his Garment and beating his Head with great Sorrow said I have left a wise Keeper of our Brother's Soul prepare me a Horse and let me have a Guide He hastened out of the Church and rode in Post being come to the place appointed he is straitway taken of the thievish Watch he neither flyeth nor resisteth but exclaimeth for this purpose came I hither bring me unto your Captain who in the mean space as he was armed beheld him coming But when he saw his Face and knew that it was John he was stricken with Shame and fled away The old man forgetful of his Years with Might pursueth him flying and cryeth My Son why flyest thou from me thy Father unarmed and old Tender my Case O Son be not afraid as yet there remaineth hope of Salvation I will undertake for thee with Christ I will die for thee if need be as Christ died for us I will hazard my Soul for thine trust to me Christ sent me He hearing this first stood still casting his countenance to the Ground next shook off his Armour trembling for Fear and wept bitterly He embraced Saint John and coming unto him answered as well as he could for weeping so that again he seemed to be baptized with Tears the shaking of the Hand onely omitted The Apostle when he had promised and protested to procure for him Pardon of our Saviour and prayed and fallen upon his knees and also kissed his right hand now cleansed through repentance brought him unto the Church again When that also he had poured forth oftentimes prayers for him and strugled with him in continual fastings and mollified his Mind with divers and sundry Sermons and confirmed him departed not before he had fully restored him unto the Church and exhibited a great example of true repentance a great trial of new Birth and a singular token of the visible Resurrection The Conspiracy of Earl Gowry to have murthered King James in Scotland Anno 1600. WIlliam Lord Ruthen Earl Gowry was for Rebellion put to death at Sterlin Anno 1584 yet notwithstanding his eldest Son John not long after was restored in blood and had leave to travel beyond Seas where he carried a cankred Heart against the King for his Father's Death although his Majesty were then but two years old for at Padoua amongst other impressa's in a fencing School he caused a hand and Sword aiming at a Crown for his Device Returning home and too big in his own thoughts to be comprehended with Court observance he retired to his Family accompanied with such of his Creatures that could descend to observe him only a Brother of his named Alexander was designed to play the Courtier to take off the suspition being of the King's Bed-Chamber In the mean time the Earl gets what Confederates he could into his conspiracy and so the Murther of the King was resolved of on this manner The Earl sends his Brother Alexander from Saint Johnstons his House to the King at Faulkland to entice him thither with as
time the cold encreasing and scarce having any day at all they staved some empty Cask and brake two old Coolers wherein they cooled their Oyl providing whatsoever firing they could without prejudice to the next Years Voyage yet considering the small quantity of Fuel the Extremity of Cold and the long time of their Abode they husbanded it as thriftily as possibly they could Having thus fitted every thing in the best manner they were able on the twelfth of September looking out into the Sound they espyed two Sea Horses lying asleep on a piece of Ice whereupon taking up an old Harping-iron they hasted to them and first slew the old one and then the young one and so bringing them ashore they flayed them rosted and eat them Not long after they killed another but the Nights and cold Weather increasing on them and they viewing their Provision found it too small by half whereupon they stinted themselves to one reasonable meal a day and agreed to fast Wednesdays and Fridays excepting from the Graves or Fritters of the Whale which was a very loathsom meat of which they allowed themselves sufficient for their present hunger at which Diet they continued about three Months Having finished whatever they could invent for their Preservation they found that all their Cloaths and Shoes were torn to repair which they had this new device of Rope-yarn they made thread and of Whale-bones Needles to sew their cloaths withal But October the tenth the Nights being grown very long and the Cold so violent that all the Sea was frozen over and they having nothing now to exercise their minds upon were troubled with a thousand imaginations sometimes they bewailed their absence from their Wives and Children thinking what grief it would be to them to hear of their miscarriage then thought they of their Parents and what a cutting corrosive it would be to them to hear of their untimely deaths c. and being thus tormented in their minds with fear and grief and pinched in their Bodies with hunger and cold the hideous monster of Desperation presented his ugliest shape unto them But thinking it not best to give way to grief and fear they doubled their Prayers to Almighty God for strength and Patience in their miseries by whose Assistance they shook off their former Thoughts and cheared up themselves to use the best means for their Preservation Then for the better husbanding of their Venison and lengthning of their fiering they thought best to roast every day half a Deer and to stow it in Hogsheads which accordingly they did leaving so much raw as would serve to roast every Sabbath-day a Quarter c. And when this was over they began again to think of their ensuing Misery which they found much aggravated by reason their Whale-Fritters after they had been drenched in the Sea Water lying close together were grown mouldy and spoiled and again surveying their Bear and Venison they found that it would not afford them five Meals a Week whereupon they were fain to cut off one Meal more so that for three months after four days in the Week they fed upon the unsavoury mouldy Whale-Fritters and the other three they feasted with Bear and Venison But besides the want of Meat they now began to want Light so that all their Meals were Suppers for from the fourteenth of October to the third of February they never saw the Sun so much as peep above the Horizon but the Moon when not obscured with Clouds they always saw shining as bright as in England all which darksome time they could not certainly tell when it should be day and when night In the beginning of this Darkness they sought some means to preserve Light and finding a piece of Sheet-lead and some Oyl in the Coopers Tents and Rope-yarn they made a Lamp which they kept continually burning and was a great Comfort to them in their extremity and indeed Comfort was much wanting to them for in the beginning of January the Weather was so vehement cold that it raised Blisters on their Flesh as if they had been burnt with Fire and if at any time they touched Iron it would stick to their Fingers like Bird-lime if they went out a doors to fetch in a little Water it would so pinch them that they were sore as if they had been beaten In the beginning of Winter with Pick-axes breaking the Ice daily they got some Water on the Sea Shore but after the tenth of January they had none but Snow-Water which they melted with hot Irons which was their only Drink till the twentieth of May following By the last of January the Days were seven or eight Hours long and then viewing their Victuals again they found that it would not last above six Weeks longer which made them fear further Famine but they had recourse to God who they knew could supply them beyond their Hopes Looking out on a bright day they saw a great she Bear with her Cub coming towards their Tent whereupon arming themselves with their Lances they went forth and staid her coming she soon cast her greedy Eyes upon them and hoping to devour them hasted towards them but with their Lances they gave her such an hearty Welcome that she tumbled upon the ground biting the Snow for Anger the Cub seeing this escaped by Flight The Weather was so extream cold that they were fain presently to retire into the Tent and having warmed themselves they drew in the dead Bear wherewith they dined merrily and this Bear served them twenty days only this mischance they had eating her Liver it made their Skin peel off When she was spent they yet feared that their Venison would not hold out till the Fleet came from England but God sent many Bears to their Tents by times at least forty whereof they killed seven one of which was exceeding great at least six foot high so that their Food encreasing they kept not themselves to such short Commons but oft eat two or three meals a day which much encreased their Strength By this the chearful days lengthened so fast that several sorts of Fowl resorted thither March the sixteenth one of their Mastiffs went abroad which they never saw after Upon the coming of the Fowls the Foxes which all Winter had kept their Burroughs under the Rocks came abroad to seek for their Livings whereupon they set up Traps which they baited with the Skin of these Fowls by which means they caught at times fifty Foxes all which they rosted and found to be good Meat then taking the Bear-skins laying the fleshy side upwards and making Springs of Whale-bone they caught about sixty Fowls as big as Pidgeons May the first the Weather began to be pretty warm so that they went abroad to seek for Provision but nothing they could find for many days till at length they met with abundance of Willocks Eggs of which they carried home thirty intending the next day to stock themselves with Abundance more but
day they were in a like Sleep conveyed to their Irons again after which he caused them to be brought into his Presence and questioned where they had been which answered by your Grace in Paradise and recounted all the Particulars before mentioned Then the old man answered this is the Commandment of our Prophet That whosoever defends his Lord he makes him enter into Paradise and if ye will be obedient to me and hazard your Lives in my Quarrel ye shall have this Grace This so animated them that they swore to be obedient to his Commands and he was thought happy whom the old man would command any thing though it cost him his Life so that other Lords and his Enemies were slain by these his Assassines which exposed themselves to all Dangers and contemned their Lives These men the Italians call Assassines whence we use the Phrase to Assassinate the name importing as much as Thieves or Cut-throats such a one was he who murdered the Count of Tripolis in the Wars for the Holy Land and such a one was he who so desperately wounded our Edward the First at the Siege of Acon with a poysoned Knife whose Venome could by no means be asswaged till his vertuous Wife proposing herein a most rare Example of conjugal Love sucked out the Poyson which her love made sweet to her delicate Pallate so sovereign a Medicine is a Wife's Tongue anointed with the Vertue of lovely Affection and indeed it is no wonder that Love should do Wonders which is it self a Wonder This Aladine thus playing the Tyrant and robbing all which passed that way Vlan in the Year 1262. sent and besieged his Castle which after three years Siege they took slew him and ruined his Paradise not being able for want of Victuals to hold out longer Paulus Venetus reporteth that in a City called Samarchan subject to the Nephew of the Great Cham of Tartary the Brother of the Great Cham named Zagatai governed that Country who being persuaded to become a Christian the Christians thorough his Favour built a Church in honour of St. John Baptist with such Cunning that the whole Roof thereof was supported by one Pillar in the midst under which was set a square Stone which by favour of their Lord was taken from a Building of the Saracens Zagathai's Son succeeded after his Death in the Kingdom but not in the Faith from whom the Saracens obtained that the Christians should be compelled to restore that Stone and when they offered a sufficient valuable Price the Saracens refused to receive any other Composition than the Stone but the Pillar lifted up it self that the Saracens might take away their Stone and so continued About the Year of our Lord 400. one Agilmond was King of the Lombards inhabiting Pannonia now called Hungary This King one morning going a hunting as he was riding by a Fish-pond he spied seven Children sprawling for Life which one as saith Paulus Diaconus or it may be many Harlots had been delivered of and most barbarously thrown into the Water The King amazed at this Spectacle put his Boar-spear or Hunting-pole among them one of the Children's hands fastned to the Spear and the King softly drawing back his Hand wafted the Child to the Shore This Boy he named Lamissus from Lama which in their Language signified a Fish-pond He was in the King's Court carefully brought up where there appeared in him such Tokens of Vertue and Courage that after the Death of Agilmond he was by the Lombards chosen to succeed him In the time of the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa Anno 1161. Beatrix the Emperour's Wife coming to see the City of Millain in Italy was by the irreverent People first imprisoned and then most barbarously handled for they placed her on a Mule with her Face towards the Tail which she was compelled to use instead of a Bridle and when they had thus shewn her to all the Town they brought her to a Gate and kicked her out To revenge this Wrong the Emperour besieged and forced the Town and adjudged all the People to die save such as would undergo this Ransome Between the Buttocks of a skittish Mule a bunch of Figs was fastened and such as would live must with their hands bound behind run after the Mule till with their Teeth they had snatched out one or more of the Figs. This Condition besides the hazard of many a sound Kick was by most accepted and performed Since which time the Italians when they intend to scoff or disgrace one use to put their Thumb between two of their Fingers and say Ecco la fico which is counted a Disgrace answerable to our English Custom of making Horns to that Man whom we suspect to be a Cuckold Giraldus Cambriensis who wrote an History of Ireland reporteth that in his time in the North of England a knot of Youngsters took a Nap in the fields As one of them lay snorting with his Mouth gaping as though he would have caught Flies it happened that a Snake or Adder slipt into his Mouth and glided down into his Belly where harbouring it self it began to roam up and down and to feed on the young man's Entrails The Patient being sore distracted and above measure tormented with the biting pangs of this greedy Guest incessantly prayed to God that if it stood with his gracious Will either wholly to bereave him of his Life or else of his unspeakable mercy to ease him of his Pain The Worm would never cease from gnawing the Patient's Carcass but when he had taken his repast and his Meat was no sooner digested than it would give a fresh onset in boring his Guts Divers Remedies were sought as Medicines Pilgrimages to Saints but all could not prevail Being at length schooled by the grave Advice of some sage and expert Father who willed him to make his speedy repair to Ireland where neither Snake nor Adder would live He presently thereupon would tract no time but busked himself over Sea and arrived in Ireland He had no sooner drank of the Water of that Island and eaten of the Victuals thereof but forthwith he killed the Snake avoided it downward and so being lusty and lively he returned into England When David Bruce was King of Scotland in the beginning of his Reign for the better proof of exercising Justice among them that coveted to live by truth and to have more ready occasion to punish others that meant the contrary he commanded that Saddles and Bridles with all other such Instruments and Stuff as pertained to Husbandry should be left abroad both day and night without the doors and if it chanced that any of them were stollen or taken away the Sheriff of the Shire should either cause the same to be restored again or else to pay for it out of his own Purse During the time whilst such strait punishment was executed against Offenders it fortuned that a Carle of the Countrey because he durst not steal other mens goods stole his
a place called Etvora that is to say the Stone-house a very strong thing for it is a great huge Rock and it hath an Entrance like a great Door within it as any Hall in England The Indians say that there St. Thomas did preach to their Fore-fathers Hard by standeth a Stone as big as four great Canons and it standeth upon the ground upon four Stones little bigger than a man's Finger like Sticks the Indians say it was a Miracle which the Saint shewed them and that that Stone had been Wood. Likewise by the Sea-side there are great Rocks upon which are store of Prints of the footing of bare Feet all which Prints are of one Bigness they say they are the print of the Foot-steps of that Saint when standing upon the Rocks he called to the Fishes of the Sea and they heard him At the Antillus in Brasil they have a Bird which for the rareness and strangeness thereof deserveth to be had in Remembrance It is the finest Bird that can be imagined it hath a Cap on his Head to which no proper Colour can be given for on whatsoever side ye look on it it sheweth red green black and more Colours all very fine and shining and the Breast is so fair that on whatsoever side ye take it it sheweth all the Colours especially a yellow more finer than Gold the Body is gray it hath a very long Bill and the Tongue twice the length of the Bill they are very swift in Flight and in their Flight they make a noise like the Bee and they rather seem Bees in their Swiftness than Birds for they always feed flying without sitting on a Tree even as the Bees do fly sucking the Honey from the Flowers They have two beginnings of their Generation some are hatch'd of Eggs like other Birds others of little Bubles and it is a thing to be noted a little Buble to begin to convert it self into this little Bird for at one Instant it is a Buble and a Bird and so converts it self into this most fair Bird a wonderful thing and unknown to the Philosophers seeing one living Creature without Corruption is converted into another Also in this Country of Brasil a certain Tree groweth in the Fields and the Main of the Bay in dry places where no Water is very great and broad it hath certain Holes in the Branches as long as an Arm that are full of Water that in Winter nor Summer never runneth over neither is it known whence this Water cometh and drink as many or drink few of it it is always at the same stay and so it serveth not only for a Fountain but also for a great main River and it happeneth five hundred Persons to come to the Foot of it and there is harbour for them all they drink and wash all that they will and they never want Water it is very savory and clear and a great Remedy for them that travel into the Main when they can find no other Water John Lerius a French-man who lived in Brasil for some time writeth That the Barbarians much wondered to see French-men and other Strangers coming far off from remote Countries to take so much Pains to carry back their Ships laden with Brasil or Red Wood and therefore one of the ancientest of them questioned him in this manner concerning that matter What meaneth it that you Mair and Peros that is French-men and Portugals come so far to fetch Wood Doth your Country yield you no Wood for the Fire Then said I It yieldeth Fewel surely and that in great Plenty but not of that kind of Trees such as yours are especially Brasil which our men carry from hence not to burn as you suppose but for to dye Here he presently excepting But have you said he need of so great plenty of that Wood yea surely said I for seeing even one Merchant with us possesseth more Scarlet Cloaths more Knives and Scissers and more Looking glasses alledging known and familiar Examples unto him than all those which were ever brought hither unto you he only will buy all the Brasil to the end that many Ships might return laden from hence Ah! saith the Barbarian you tell me strange and wonderful things Then presently remembring what he had heard he proceeded to demand further Questions of me But saith he That great rich Man of whom you make Report doth he not die He dieth said I as also other men do Who then said he is Heir of those Goods which this man leaveth when he dieth His Children said I if he have any if he have none his Brethren Sisters or his next Kindred When I had said this Surely saith that my discreet old Fellow hereby I easily perceive that you Mair that is French-men are notable Fools for what needeth you so greatly to tire and turmoil your selves in sailing over the Sea in passing whereof as being here arrived you report to us you sustain so many Miseries Is it forsooth that you might get riches for your Children or living Kinsfolk Is not the Earth which hath nourished us sufficient also to maintain them We surely have both Children and Kinsfolk and them as you see we love dearly but seeing we confidently hope that it shall come to pass that after our death the same Earth which nourished us shall also relieve and cherish them therein we repose our selves and rest content One of these Islands on the South-part of the Streights is called Baldivia which took its name of a Spanish Captain so called whom afterwards the Indians took Prisoner and it is said they inquired of him the reason why he came to molest them and to take their Countrey from them having no Title or Right thereunto He answered to get Gold which the Barbarians understanding caused Gold to be molten and poured down his Throat saying Gold was thy desire glut thee with it When the Spaniards first began to inhabit the West-Indies Sancta Domingo was an Island as full of Indians as any place of that bigness in all America but by the cruelty of the Spaniards in their excessive labour in the Mines they were most of them destroyed which labour was so grievous that many of the surviving Indians would rather kill themselves than endure it It happened on a time that a Spaniard called certain of them to go work in the Mines which rather than they would do they proffer'd to lay violent hands on themselves which the Spaniard perceiving he said unto them Seeing you will rather hang your selves than to go and work I will likewise hang my self and go with you because I will make you work in the other World but the Indians hearing this said We will willingly work with you because you shall not go with us so unwilling they were of the Spaniards company so that of all the Inhabitants of this Island there was none escaped Death but only these few which was by the means of this Spaniard or else they would
to satisfie her Revenge Paradine keeping her there company a long time imagining no other but that it was the Mistress of his Affections The Queen who spent all this while in soft whispers and dalliance not using any one word whereby she might be discovered perceiving opportunity so aptly to fit her spake thus unto him Knowest thou Paradine who it is that keepeth thee Company Full well quoth he with my Mistress and then named her Thou lyest false Traytor replyed the Queen I am Rosamond thy Sovereigns Wife whom thou hast dared to abuse in this manner and dye thou must by the just Wrath of Albovine except thou save thy Life by killing him advise thee therefore whether his Life or thine own be dearest unto thee When Paradine considered his dangerous estate without any means or escape he resolved to kill the King and for his better furtherance therein both he the Queen and Hermigilde took counsel together contriving his Murther in this manner The King used to Sleep in the heat of the day when all else avoided the Chamber except the Queen Now he being a King of Courage and high Resolution ever slept like a Souldier with his Sword girded about him which at this intended time of Treason the Queen had tied so fast in the Scabbard as he could by no means help himself therewith Paradine and Hermigilde waiting the hour which was upon the Queens coming forth they entered and for all their treading the King heard them and started from his Bed when he saw two men armed with Weapons a sudden fury possessed his Spirit perceiving their intentions were against him he sought to defend himself with his Weapon which failing him by the aforesaid means of the Queen and they with their Weapons every where striking at him and wounding him he caught up a Stool and therewith defended himself for a Space till in the end they deprived him of Life without any noise heard or any suspition of Murther The King being thus Dead all was carried with a smooth Countenance Hermigilde possessed himself of the Palace intending to make the Queen his Wife as immediately he did But notwitstanding all their close packing the Lombards not long after came to the knowledge of their Kings Death and in what manner he was murthered which so incensed them that they purposed severely to revenge the same This being notified to Rosamond and her complices she packed up most of her Jewels and Royal Treasure and fled away thence carrying with them Alvisinda Daughter to King Albovine by his first Wife and hasted with all the speed they could to Ravenna where then governed a Lieutenant of the Empire named Longinus who kept that place for Tiberius Son to the Emperour Constantine of Constantinople by whom they were courteously entertained Not long had they been there but Longinus became enamoured on Rosamond and therefore partly to enjoy her Love partly to possess that Mess of Money and Jewels which she brought with her and partly by her faction to raise a beneficial War against the Lombards he perswaded her to procure the Death of Hermigilde and take him to her Husband to which he found her very tractable for she having lost all love and fear of God respect of Woman-hood and dreadless of the shame of Men coveting withal to advance the down-faln estate by marrying with the Emperours Lieutenant gave to Hermigilde an empoysoned Potion at his coming forth of his Bath perswading him that it was most Sovereign for his Health by which perswasion he drank a good part thereof but when he found it to afflict his Body so as he plainly perceived himself to be poysoned drawing forth his Sword in extremity of Rage he compelled Rosamond to drink up all the rest that remained in the Cup. So that at one instant time they were both justly requited for the Death of Albovine Tidings hereof being brought to the Lieutenant Longinus he caused the young Lady Alvisinda to be seized on and sent her with all her Jewels and Treasure to the Emperour Tiberius at Constantinople with Paradine also as a Prisoner who for reward of his former Treason to his Sovereign had his eyes pulled forth after which he lived but a while and then dyed most miserably The miseries of inforted Marriage exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire Murthered by his own Lady IN the days of Queen Mary there lived at Shirford in Warwick-shire one Sr. Walter Smith Knight who being grown an Aged Man at the death of his first Wife considering of a Marriage for Richard his Son and Heir then at Mans Estate to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwyn of Ingestre in Staffordshire a Gentleman of an ancient Family and a fair Estate who entertaining the motion in behalf of Dorothy one of his Daughters was contented to give 500 pound Portion with her But no sooner had the old Knight seen the young Lady then that he became a Suiter for himself being so captivated with her Beauty that he tender'd as much for her besides a good Joynture as he should have received in case the Match had gone on for his Son Which liberal Offer so wrought upon Mr. Chetwyn as that with sparing not for arguments to perswade his Daughter to accept of Sr. Walter for her Husband adding to his perswasions something of Menaces that at length with much unwillingness she consented thereunto Whereupon the Marriage ensued accordingly but with what a tragique Issue will quickly be seen for it was not long ' ere that her affections wandering after younger men she gave entertainment to one Mr. William Robinson then of Drayton-Basset a young Gentleman of twenty two years of age Son to George Robinson a rich Mercer of London and grew so impatient at all Impediments which might hinder her full Enjoyment of him that she rested not till she had contrived a way to be rid of her Husband For which purpose corrupting her waiting Gentlewoman and a Groom of the Stable she resolved by their help and the assistance of Robinson to strangle him in his Bed appointing the time and manner how it should be effected And though Robinson failed in coming on the designed Night perhaps thorough a dismal Apprehension of so horrid a Fact she no whit stagger'd in her Resolutions for watching her Husband till he was fallen asleep she then let in those Assassinates before specified and casting a long Towel about his Neck caused the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from strugling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his Breath It seems the good old Gentleman little thought that this his Lady had acted therein for when they first cast the Towel about his Neck he cryed out help Doll help but having thus dispatch'd the Work they carried him into another Room where a Close-stool was plac'd upon which they set him and after an hour that the Maid and Groom were silently got away to palliate the business she
with Acclamations till thou revenge my stained Blood Beorn who was not used to be welcomed home in such a Dialect much amazed at his Wives Maladies with gentle Words drew from her the Particulars of her inward Grief who revealed as well as Shame Tears and Sobs would suffer the manner of the deed still urging Revenge for the Wrong Beorn touched thus to the Quick to pacifie his distressed Wife did not a little dissemble his Wrath and excusing the Fact with the Power of a Prince that might command and her own Weakness unable to resist the Strength of a man commended much her Love and Constancy and alledging his Wrongs to be equal with hers if not greater in regard of their Sex willed her to set her string to his Tune till fit opportunity would serve to strike but she distasting that sweet Consort wrested her Passion into so high a Strain that nothing could be heard but Revenge and Blood Beorn thus instigated by the continual Cries of his Wife whose Rape already of it self had given sufficient cause of Wrath first consulting with his nearest Friends was offered their Assistance against that wicked and libidious Prince and then repairing to his Court in the presence of them all made known his unsufferable Wrongs resigning into his Hands all such Services and Possessions as he did hold of him and with utter defiance departed threatning his Death This done he took shipping and sailed into Denmark where he had great Friends as having his bringing up there before and is reported to have been allianced unto the Danish Blood so coming to Godorick King of that Country made his Case known instantly desiring his Aid against the Villany of Osbright Goderick glad to have some Quarrel to invade England levied an Army with all speed and preparation made for all things necessary sendeth forth Inguar and Hubba two Brethren to command in chief over an innumerable Multitude of his Danes which two he thought at this time the fittest for the attempt not only for their good Conduct and approved Valour but also for that he knew them to be on particular Motives which usually more affect than doth a common Cause implacably inraged against the English on an occasion unfortunately happening but most lamentably pursued which came to pass in manner as followeth A Danish Noble-man of Royal Extraction named Lothbroke which is in English no other than Leather-Breech the Father to the two Brothers Inguar and Hubba being upon the shore his Hawk in flying the Game fell into the Sea which to recover he entered a little Skiff or Cock-boat nothing fore-seeing the danger that immediately did ensue for a sudden Tempest arising carried the Boat into the Deep and drove him upon the Coast of Norfolk where he came to land at the Port called Rodham but see his Fortune no sooner had he scaped one danger but he fell into another for the People there took him for a Spy and as such a one presently sent him to Edmund then King of that Province but in his Answers he sufficiently cleared that Suspicion and also declaring his Birth and Misfortune was honourably entertained in the Court of that East-Angles King whom Edmund much esteemed for his other good Parts but for his dexterity and expertness in Hawking held him in special regard insomuch that his Faulkner named Berick envying the good parts of Lothbroke as being endued with none himself he therefore conceived such deadly hatred and malice thereat as having him at advantage alone in a Wood he cowardly murthered him and hid his dead Body in a Bush But Lothbroke whose noble Parts had made him eminent was soon miss'd and diligent Inquisition being made could not be found until his Spaniel which would not forsake his dead Master's Corps came fawningly unto the King as seeming to beg Revenge of so bloody an Act which he did more than once and at length being observed and followed by the Trace the dead Body was found and Bericke demonstrated to be the Murtherer and on sufficient Evidence convicted for the same his Judgment being to be put into Lothbroke's Boat and that without either Tackle or Oar as he therein arrived and so left to the Seas Mercy to be saved by Destiny or swallowed up by just desert But behold the Event the Boat returned to the same place and upon the same Coast arrived from whence it had been driven where being known to be Lothbroke's Boat Bericke was laid hands on who to free himself from the punishment of his butcherly Fact added Treason to Murther laying it to the charge of innocent King Edmund saying that the King had put him to death in the Country of Norfolk This was thought sufficiently worthy of Revenge to which Goderick's Quarrel being added did very much inflame the Courages of Inguar and Hubba the two Sons of the murthered Prince who thereupon having their Army in readiness set forth to Sea and first arriving at Holderness burn'd up the Country and without Mercy massacred all before them sparing neither Sex Calling nor Age and surprizing York which Osbright had taken for his Refuge there slew that lustful Prince with all his Forces making thereby good that Saying of the Poet. Those whose Delights are in the Cyprian Game Warming themselves in Lusts alluring Flame And wallowing in that Sin their Lives do spend Do seldom to the Grave in Peace descend Afterwards the two furious Brethren marched with their Army into Norfolk where they sent this Message unto King Edmund That Inguar the most victorious Prince dread both by Sea and Land having subdued divers Countries unto his Subjection and now arrived in those Parts where he meant to Winter charged Edmund to divide with him his Riches and to become his Vassal aend Servant The King being stricken into Astonishment at this strange and unexpected Message consulted with his Counsel what to do therein where one of his Bishops then his Secretary and a principal man used Persuasions to him to yield for preventing greater mischief who notwithstanding returned this Answer Go tell thy Lord that Edmund the Christian King for the love of this temporal Life will not subject himself to a Heathen and Pagan Duke Inguar and Hubba herewith exasperated with the furious Troops of their Danes pursued the King to Thetford and from thence to his Castle of Framingham where he pitying the terrible Slaughter of his People yielded himself to their Persecutions who because he would not deny Christ and the Christian Faith those Pagans first beat him with Bats then scourged him with Whips he still calling upon the name of Jesus for rage whereof they bound him to a Stake and with their Arrows shot him to death and cutting off his Head contemptuously threw it into a Bush Of which Head we have a Monkish Story written by the Author of their English Martyrology for which the Author doth very well deserve the Whet-stone viz. That when St. Edmund was murthered by the Danes the Christians
wounded and the rest with much slaughter driven to fall off Afterwards attempting to raise the Siege of Champaigne ingirt by the English she with some Forces entred in but soon after sallying out their Troops were beaten and Joan her self taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of ten thousand pound Turnois and three hundred Crowns yearly Rent delivered her to the Regent and he to the Bishop of Beauvoirs in whose Diocese she was taken by whom being legally examined she vvas for Sorcery Blood-shed and unnatural use of man-like Apparel condemned to dye yet notwithstanding upon her solemn abjuring of such her lewd Practices was pardoned her Life till again perjuriously relapsing though acknowledging her self a Strumpet and feigning her self to be with Child she deservedly underwent that Punishment which she sought to delay being burnt to death at the City of Roan Many sundry Opinions were conceived of this Woman some judging her miraculously raised up by God for the good of France others that she was but a meer Impostor We will suspend our Judgment herein and refer you to the Epitaph which we find thus written on her Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question wrong or right Her Death 's in doubt by Laws or Might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean time France a Wonder saw A Woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore Of Catarina d' Arcuso CAtarina d' Arcuso was born in Biscay in Spain and was in her Childhood bred up in a Monastery of Biscay her own Countrey where she wore a Nuns Habit but repenting of that Life before she made Profession she went away and fancying to live like a man fled disguized from her Father's House and went to the Court of Spain where for some time she serv'd in the Habit of a Page Afterwards she was minded to go to Sevil and from thence to the West-Indies where at first she serv'd as a Man-servant to certain Merchants but within a little while upon occasion of a quarrel which befell her she was fain to fly and betook her self to the Life of a Souldier being naturally much inclined to Arms and Martial Affairs This course she followed a great while in those Parts being engag'd in several Actions wherein she always gave good account of her self as a Souldier as also in sundry civil Quarrels so that she got the repute of a gallant man but because she wanted a Beard they believed and called her Eunuch Among other Battels she was in a dangerous one wherein her Company being routed and the Ensign left to the Enemies she effected by her valour that she staid her Companions flight re-incourag'd them against the Enemies and leading them on valorously recover'd the lost Ensign with her own hand killing him that had taken it for which Service she remained Ensign-bearer of that Company At length Suspitions arising that she was a Woman the matter came to be discover'd in a great Quarrel which she had wherein after many proofs of her Courage she was mortally wounded and to save her self from the Court of Justice which persecuted her she was constrain'd to put her self into the Bishop's hands to whom she confess'd the former passages of her Life saying that she was a Woman and what she had done was not out of any evil end but only through an inclination which she had to a Military Life and for proof hereof she desired the Bishop he would cause her to be search'd which was accordingly done and the Matrons and Midwives found her a Woman The Bishop put her into a Monastery and because 't was known she had been a Nun but doubtful whether she was profess'd or no he kept her there till certainty came from her own Countrey that she was not Wherefore being set at liberty and unwilling to become a Nun but rather inclin'd to a Military Life she returned into Spain where petitioning the King for a Reward of her Military Service her case being examin'd as the custom is in the Council and by the way of Justice she obtain'd of the King eight hundred Crowns of yearly Revenue there in the Indies being stiled in the Patents L' Alfiere or Ensign-bearer and having Liberty given her to live as a man and to serve in the Wars in any of the Kings Dominions without molestation Hereupon she came into Italy running several Adventures by the way to beseech the Pope for some favours in reference to her course of Life which by the mediation of many principal Persons she did obtain and where my Author Peter della Valle did both behold and discourse with her she being then aged betwixt thirty five or forty years of a large and portly stature for a Woman wearing clothes and a Sword after the Spanish manner What became of her afterwards I am ignorant of only thus far of her passed Life out of the foresaid Peter della Valle in his Travels to the East-Indies pag. 318 319. That the Italians are very revengeful an Example out of Howel 's History of Naples IN the ancient City of Nocera there were three young Noble-men called Conrado Cesare and Alexandro the eldest was Prince of the Place Now there was and is still in Nocera a strong Castle where the Prince Conrado had a Garrison whereof he made a Confident of his Captain and Keeper of the Castle The Prince most of his time kept in his Country-house and his Brothers also but sometimes he would come and lye some dayes in his Castle It fortuned that his Captain having a comely Woman to his Wife the Prince fell in love with her and never left till he enjoyed her which he had done often to the knowledge of her Husband who upon occasion thereof was still hammering in his head how to be revenged of him which at last he brought to pass on this wise The Prince being at his Countrey-house the Captain sent him word that there were two wild Boars discover'd in the Forrest hard by therefore if he and his two Brothers would come such a day with their Dogs he doubted not but they should find very Princely sport so Conrado came with his second Brother Cesare but Alexander could not come till two dayes after Against their coming the Captain had provided a fitting Supper for the Prince and his Brother who had brought another Noble-man with him to partake of the Sport the Prince and the said Noble-man lodg'd in the Castle but Cesare lay in the Town The Captain was vvonderful officious to attend the Prince to his Chamber but having confederated with the chiefest of the Garison in the dead of the Night they rushed into the Chamber and
imprisoned by Act of Parliament and so continued afterwards in the Tower of London untill King James his Death but by King Charles restored to Liberty with a small Pension which kept him like a Gentleman untill discontinued by the Rump Parliament by which means that failing he walked the Streets poor only inrich'd in his Skill of Chymical Physick and in other parts of Learning which he got whilst he lost his Liberty Now remaineth to tell ye the King's Grace and Preferment unto his Rescuers Sir Thomas Erskin was created Earl of Kelly and by degrees Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groom of the Stool Dr. Herres was well rewarded but lived not long after Henderson had a large Pension confirmed by Act of Parliament which he lived to enjoy a long time Ramsey had the honour of Knight-hood with additional bearing of his Coat of Arms A Hand holding forth a Dagger moumed proper piercing a bloody Heart the Point crowned Imperial with this Motto Haec dextra vindex Principis Patriae Upon which one thus versified An Arm and Hand well arm'd with heavenly might That gripes a just drawn Sword thrust through a heart Adorned with a Royal Diadem This and this Motto was his own by Right Given by his Sovereign for his just Desert And in his Coat of Arms inserted them His right hand did revenge and overcame His Prince and Countries Foes and purchase Fame Next he attained to be Lord Viscount Hadington and Earl of Holderness living in great Love and Splendour all the days of King James whom he quickly after followed to the Grave dying on Tuesday the 24th of January 1625. and was buried in the Abbey Church of Westminster the last of February next following Seven notable Observations were remarkable in his Life happening each of them upon a Tuesday which one thus comprehended in a Sonnet Upon a Tuesday he his Birth began Upon a Tuesday he his Baptism had Upon a Tuesday he his Honour wan Upon the Gowries whose Intents were bad Upon a Tuesday he at first did wed The noble Sussex Daughter who deceast Upon a Tuesday then he married Sir William Cockain's Child by Heavens behest Upon a Tuesday he did taste Death's Cup And to his blest Redeemer gave his Spirit Upon a Tuesday he was closed up Within his Tomb which doth his Corps inherit Thus upon Tuesdays 't was his Lot to have Birth Baptism Honour two Wives Death and Grave Eight years after this treasonable Attempt of the Gowries George Sprot one of the Earl's Confederates Notary Publick at Aymouth in Scotland from some Words of his sparingly and unawares expressed and some Papers found in his House whereof being examined with little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh August 12. 1608. He died very penitently and to those Ministers which visited him after his Condemnation he confessed his Guilt with great Humiliation Afterwards ganging up the Ladder with his Hands loose and unty'd he was again put in Mind of his Confessions and for the greater assurance thereof performed an Act marvellous promising by God's Assistance to give them an evident Token before the yielding up of his Spirit which was when he had hung a very good while he lift up both his hands a good height and clapped them together three several times to the Wonder of thousands of Spectators A notable Combat betwixt a Knight and an Esquire in the time of Richard the Second THIS Combat was fought before the King's Palace at Westminster on the Pavement there betwixt one Sir John Annesly Knight and one Thomas Katrington Esquire the seventh of June Anno 1380. the occasion thus The Knight accused the Esquire of Treason for that where the Fortress of S. Saviour within the Isle of Constantine in Normandy belonging sometime to Sir John Chandos had been committed to the said Katrington as Captain thereof to keep it against the Enemies he had for Money sold and delivered it over to the French-men whereas he was sufficiently provided of Men Munition and Victuals to have defended it against them And since the Inheritance of that Fortress and Lands belonging thereto had appertained to the said Annesly in right of his Wife as nearest Cousin by Affinity to Sir John Chandoz if by the false Conveyance of the said Katrington it had not been made away and alienated into the Enemies Hands he offered therefore to try the Quarrel by Combat against the said Katrington which being put to the Judgment of ancient Knights it was by them delivered That for such a Foreign Controversie that had risen within the Limits of the Realm but touched Possession of things on the further side the Sea it was lawful to have it tryed by Battel if the cause were first notified to the Constable and Marshal of the Realm and that the Combat was accepted by the Parties Hereupon was the Day and Place appointed and all things provided ready with Lists railed and made so substantially as if the same should have endured for ever The Concourse of People that came to London to see this tryed was thought to exceed that of the King's Coronation so desirous men were to behold a sight so strange and unaccustomed The King and his Nobles and all the People being come together in the morning of the day appointed to the place where the Lists were set up the Knight being armed and mounted on a fair Courser seemly trapped entereth first as Appellant staying till his Adversary the Defendant should come And shortly after was the Esquire called to defend his Cause in this form Thomas Katrington Defendant come and appear to save the Action for which Sir John Annesly Knight and Appellant hath publickly and by Writing appealed thee He being thus called thrice by a Herald at Arms at the third Call he cometh armed likewise and riding on a Courser trapped with Traps embroidered with his Arms. At his approaching to the Lists he alighted from his Horse lest according to the Law of Arms the Constable should have challenged the Horse if he had entred within the Lists but his shifting nothing availed him for the Horse after his Master was alighted ran up and down by the Rails thrusting his Head sometimes over and sometimes both Head and Breast so that the Earl of Buckingham because he was High Constable of England claimed the Horse afterwards swearing that he would have so much of him as had appeared over the Rails and so the Horse was adjudged unto him But now to the matter of the Combate for this Challenge of the Horse was made after as soon as the Esquire was come within the Lists the Indenture was brought forth by the Marshal and Constable which had been made and sealed before them with consent of both Parties in which were contained the Articles exhibited by the Knight against the Esquire and there the same was read before all the Assembly But the Esquire whose Conscience was thought not to be clear but
denied the same the Emperour asketh him for his Proofs he takes his Outh of it but could produce no other Witnesses The Emperour bids him to stay in another Room enquiring of him what manner of Bag it was wherein the Money was put Then purposing to send for the man it fell out that he amongst other Citizens came to salute and welcome the Emporour The Emperour knowing the man said to him O Sir methinks you have a very handsome Hat pray thee give it me the Citizen gave it and took it for an Honour that the Emperour would accept of it then did he withdraw himself and sent a Servant to this Man's Wife desiring her from her Husband to send him such a Money-bag describing of it and that said he you may know that I come from your Husband he gave me his Hat for a Token The Woman sought out the Bag and gave it him the Emperour shews the Merchant the Bag who knew it and rejoyced at the sight of it Then the Emperour calling the Citizen tells him that this man had complained to him that he had cozened him of a Sum of Money delivered into his Custody the Citizen denies and swares that none was delivered to him the Emperour produceth the Bag the Citizen was confounded and faulters in his words whereupon the Emperour causeth him to pay the Merchant to the full and sets a good fine upon his head besides and so the business was ended Of the great friendship betwixt Damon and Pithias two Pythagorean Philosophers THese two Friends were both of them Students of Pythagoras's Learning it so happened that one of them was accused to have conspired against Dionysius King of Sicilie for which they were both taken and brought before the King who immediately gave sentence that he who was accused should be put to death This Judgment being passed on him he desired of the King that ' ere he died he might return home to set his houshold in order and to distribute his goods whereat the King laughing demanded of him scornfully what pledge he would leave him to come again At which words his Companion stept forth and said that he would remain there as a Pledge for his Friend that in case he came not again at the day appointed he willingly would lose his Head Which Condition the Tyrant received and the young man that should have dyed was suffered to depart home to his House where he did set all things in order and disposed his Goods as he thought meet The day appointed for his Return being come and most part of it past the King called for him that was Pledge who came forth merrily without any shew of Fear and freely offered to abide the Sentence of the Tyrant willing to dye for the saving the Life of his Friend But as the Officer of Justice had closed his Eyes with a Kerchief and had drawn his Sword to have stricken off his Head his Fellow came running and crying That the day of his Appointment was not yet fully past wherefore he desired the Minister of Justice to loose his Fellow and to prepare to do Execution on him that had given the occasion Whereat the Tyrant being much abashed commanded both of them to be brought to his Presence and when he had enough wondered at their noble Dispositions and their Constancy in Friendship he offering to them great Rewards desired them to receive him into their Company and so doing them much Honour did set them at Liberty Another of Christian Friendship UNDER the seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Comers which Sentence being executed many wanton young men were ready to press into the House But one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a Soldiers habit would have the first turn and so going in perswaded her to change Garments with him and so she in the Soldiers habit escaped and Didymus being found a man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented her self as the guilty Party desiring that she might die and the other be excused but the merciless Judge caused them both to be put to death The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus two Noble young men the one of Rome the other of Athens THere was in the City of Rome a noble Senator named Fulvius who sent his Son called Titus being a child to the City of Athens in Greece the fountain then of good Letters there to learn and be instructed boarding him with a worshipful man of that City called Chremes This Chremes had a Son named Gisippus who not onely was equal to the said young Titus in years but also in stature proportion of body favour countenance and speech in a word so like that without much difficulty it could not be discerned of their own Parents which was Titus from Gisippus or Gisippus from Titus These two young Gentlemen as they seemed to be one in form and personage so shortly after acquaintance the same Nature wrought in their hearts such a mutual affection that their wills and appetites daily more and more so confederated themselves that it seemed no other when their names were declared but that they had onely changed their places issuing as I might say out of one body and entring into the other They went to their Learning and Study together as also to their Meals and Pastimes delighted both in one doctrine and profited equally therein with such fruitful encrease that in few years scarce any in Athens were comparable unto them At last died Chremes leaving his Son Gisippus a vast Estate and being now of ripe years his friends and kindred were at him to marry as also his friend Titus thereby to propagate his Posterity They having found one in all respects answerable unto him with much importunity he was contented to go and see her whom he liked so well that he became greatly enamoured of her taking great delight in the contemplation of her most excellent beauty and rare endowments of mind But no happiness could betide him without his friend participated with him therefore on a time he took Titus along with him to see this Idol of his Soul who having beheld so Heavenly a personage adorned with Beauty inexplicable such an amiable countenance mixt with maidenly shamefac'dness and the rare and sober words so well couched proceeding from her pretty mouth struck him with so much admiration that neither the Study of Philosophy nor the remembrance of his dear friend Gisippus who so much loved and trusted him could put the remembrance of her out of his mind so that withdrawing himself as it were into his Study tormented and oppressed with Love he threw himself on a Bed and there ruminating upon what was passed and thereby his unkindness to his dear friend Gisippus he began to curss
walls and writeth on the Door and within and without on every wall and about the Bed in Hebrew Letters Adam Chama Chuts Lilich or after the Jewish pronuntiation Lilis Hereby they signifie their desire that if a woman shall be delivered of a Son God may one Day give him a Wife like to Eve and not a shrew like Lilis This Word Lilis is read in the Prophet Isaiah 34. 14. interpreted a Scritch-Owl but the Jews seem to mean by it a devillish Spectrum in Womans shape that useth to slay or carry away Children which are on the eighth Day to be circumcifed Elias Levita writeth that he hath read that a hundred and twenty years Adam contained himself from his wife Eve and in that space there came to him Devils which conceived of him whence were ingendred Devils and Spirits Faries and Goblins and there were four Devils Mothers or Dams of them Lilith Nuemah Ogereth and Machalath Thus is it read in Ben Sira When God had made Adam and saw it was not good for him to be alone he made him a Woman of the Earth like unto him and called her Lilis These disagree for Superiority not suffering Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve Parem Lilis made of the same mould would not be underling and Adam would not endure her his equal Lilis seeing no hope of agreement uttered that sacred word Jehovah with the Cabalistical interpretation thereof and presently did flye into the Air. Adam plaining his case God sent three Angels after her viz. Senot Sensenoi Saumangeleph either to bring her back or to denounce unto her that a hundred of her Children should dye in a day These overtook her over the troublesome Sea where one day the Egyptians should be drowned and did their message to her she refusing to obey they threatned her drowning but she besought them to let her alone because she was created to vex and kill Children on the eighth day if they were men if women Children on the twentieth day They nevertheless forcing her to go Lilis sware to them that whensoever she should find the name or figure of those Angels written or painted on Schedule Parchment or any thing she would do Infants no harm and that she would not refuse that punishment to lose an hundred Children in a day And for this cause do they write these names on a Scroll of Parchment and hang them on their Infants necks Thus far Ben Sira In their Chambers always is found such a scroll or painting and the names of the Angels of Health this office they ascribe to them are written over the Chamber-door In their Book Brandspiegel Printed at Cracovia 1597. is shewed the authority of this History collected by their wise men out of those words Gen. 1. 27. Male and female created he them compared with the forming of Eve of a Rib in the next Chapter saying That Lilis the former was divorced from Adam for her pride which she conceived because she was not made of Earth as well as he and God gave him another flesh of his flesh and concerning her R. Moses tells that Samael the Devil came riding upon a Serpent which was as big as a Camel and cast water upon her and deceived her When any Jewish Woman is in travel she must not send for a Christian Midwife except no Jewish can be gotten and then the Jewish Women must be very thick about her for fear of negligence or injury And if she be happily delivered of a Son there is exceeding joy through all the house and the Father presently makes festival provision against the Circumcision on the eighth day In the mean time ten Persons are invited neither more nor fewer which are all past thirteen Years of Age The night after her delivery seven of the invited Parties and some others sometimes meet at the Child's house and make there great cheer and sport all Night Diceing Drinking Fabling so to solace the Mother that she should not grieve too much for the Childs Circumcision Of the Opinion of the Chinesses concerning the peopling of the World after the Flood THAT after the waters of Heaven had overflowed the Earth so that all mankind was drowned by an universal Deluge God seeing that the World would be desolate and no body to inhabit it he sent the Goddess Amida the chief Lady of Honour to his Wife Nacapiran from the Heaven of the Moon that she might repair the loss of drowned mankind and that when the Goddess having set her feet upon a Land whence the waters were withdrawn called Calemphuy she was changed all into Gold and in that manner standing upright with her face looking up unto Heaven she sweat out at her arm-pits a great number of Children namely Males out of the right and Females out of the left having no other place about her body whence she might bring them forth as other Women of the World have who have sinned and that for a chastisement of their sin God by the order of Nature hath subjected them to a misery full of corruption and filthiness for to shew how odious unto him the sin was that had been committed against him The Goddess Amida having thus brought forth these Creatures which they affirm were thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three two parts of them Females and the other Males for so say they the World was to be repaired she remained so feeble and faint with this delivery how could she do otherwise having no body to assist her at her need that she fell down dead in the place for which cause the Moon at that time in memory of this death of hers whereat she was infinitely grieved put her self into mourning which mourning they affirm to be those black spots we ordinarily behold in her face occasioned indeed by the shadow of the Earth and that when there shall be so many Years run out as the Goddess Amida brought forth Children which were as I have delivered thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three then the Moon will put off her mourning and afterwards be as clear as the Day A strange and wonderful Relation of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto a Portugal which he saw in his Journey in China AFTER the Relation of many and divers things we came saith he to a Town anciently called Cohilonza that is the flower of the field and had in former times been in very great prosperity but about a hundred forty and two years before a certain stranger chanced to come thither being as it seems an holy man although the Bonzes which are their Priests said he was a Sorcerer by reason of the wonders he did having raised up five dead men and wrought many other miracles whereat all men were exceedingly astonished and that having divers times disputed with the Priests he had so shamed and confounded them as fearing to deal any more with him they incensed the Inhabitants against him and perswaded them to put him to death affirming that otherwise God would consume
them with fire from Heaven whereupon all the Townsmen went unto the House of a poor Weaver where he lodged and killing the Weaver with his Sons and two Sons in law of his that would have defended him the Holy man came forth to hâ—em and reprehending them for this uproar he old them amongst other things That the God of the Law whereby they were to be saved was called Jesus Christ who came down from Heaven to the Earth for to become a man and that it was needful he should dye for men and that with the price of his precious bloud which he shed for sinners upon the Cross God was satisfied in his Justice and that giving him the charge of Heaven and Earth he had promised him that whosoever professed his Law with faith and good works should be saved and have everlasting life and withal that the Gods whom the Bonzes served and adored with sacrifices of bloud were false and Idols wherewith the Devils deceived them Hereat the Priests entered into so great a fury that they called unto the People saying Cursed be he that brings not wood and fire for to burn him which was presently put in execution by them and the fire beginning exceedingly to rage the Holy man said certain Prayers by vertue whereof the fire incontinently went out wherewith the People being amazed cryed out saying Doubtless the God of this man is most mighty and worthy to be adored throughout the whole world which one of the Bonzes hearing who was Ring-leader of this mutiny and seeing the Townsmen retire avvay in consideration of that they had beheld he threw a stone at the Holy man saying They which do not as I do may the Serpent of the night ingulf them into Hell fire At these vvords all the other Bonzes did the like so that he vvas presently knock'd dovvn dead vvith the stones they flung at him vvhereupon they cast him into the River which most prodgiously staid his course from running down and so continued for the space of five days together that the Body lay in it by means of this wonder many embraced the Law of that Holy man whereof there are a great number yet remaining in that Country Whilst the Chinesses saith he were relating this story to us we arriv'd at a point of Land where going to double the Cape we descried a little place environed with Trees in the midst whereof was a great Cross of stone very well made to which we going prostrated our selves before it with Tears in our Eyes The People of the Village beholding us in this posture came to us and kneeling down also with their hands lift up to Heaven they said Christo Jesu Jesu Christo Maria micamuidan late impone model which in our Tongue signifieth Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Mary always a Virgin conceived him brought him forth and a Virgin still remained whereto we weeping answered that they spake the very truth Then they asked us if we were Christians we told them we were which as soon as they understood they carried us home to their houses where they entertained us with great affection Now all these were Christians and descended of the Weaver in whose House the Holy Man was lodged of whom demanding whether that which the Chinesses had told us was true they shewed us a Book that contained the whole History thereof at large with many other wonders wrought by that holy man who they say was named Matthew Escandel and that he was an Hermit of Mount Sinai being an Hungarian by Nation and born in a place called Buda The same Book also related that nine days after this Saint was buried the said Town of Cohilonza where he was murthered began to tremble in such sort as all the People thereof in a mighty fright ran out into the Fields and there continued in their Tents not daring to return unto their Houses for they cryed out all with one common consent The Blood of this Stranger craves Vengeance for the unjust death the Bonzes have given him because he preached the Truth unto us But the Bonzes rebuked and told them that they committed a great Sin in saying so nevertheless they willed them to be of good cheer for they would go all to Quiay Tiguarem God of the Night and request him to command the Earth to be quiet otherwise they would offer him no more Sacrifices Immediately whereupon all the Bonzes went accordingly in procession to the said Idol which was the chiefest in the Town but none of the People durst follow them for fear of some Earth-quake which the very next night about eleven of the Clock as these devillish Monsters were making their Sacrifices with odoriferous Perfumes and other Ceremonies accustomed amongst them increased so terribly that by the Lord's permission and for a just punishment of their wickedness it quite overthrew all the Temples Houses and other Edifices of the Town to the ground wherewith all the Bonzes were killed not so much as one escaped alive being in number 4000 as the Book delivereth Wherein it is further said that afterwards the Earth opening such abundance of Water came forth as it clean overwhelmed and drowned the whole Town so that it became a great Lake above a hundred fathom deep moreover they recounted many other very strange particulars unto us and also how ever since that time the place was named Fiunganorsee that is the Chastisement of Heaven whereas before it was called Cohilonzaa which signifies the Flower of the Field as we have declared before The History of Agbarus Prince of the Edesseans his Epistle to our Saviour with our Saviour's Answer taken out of Eusebius lib. 1. cap. 14. AFter that the Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was made manifest unto all men thorough the working of Miracles he drew unto him an innumerable sort of Strangers far distant from Judaea afflicted with sundry diseases and every sort of Malady hoping to recover their Health of which number King Agbarus Governour of the famous Nations inhabiting beyond the River Euphrates grievously diseased in Body incurable by the cunning of Men hearing the renowned fame of Jesus and the wonderful Works which he wrought agreeable unto the same published of all men made petition unto him by Letters requiring deliverance from this disease Jesus though not presently yielding unto his Petition vouchsafed to answer him by an Epistle that shortly he would send one of his Disciples which should cure his Disease promising withal that he should not only cure his Disease but as many as belonged unto him which promise not long after he performed for after his Resurrection from the dead and Ascension into Heaven Thomas one of the twelve Apostles sent his Brother Thaddaeus accounted among the seventy Disciples of Christ by Divine inspiration unto the City Edessa to be a Preacher and Evangelist of the Doctrine of Christ by whom all things which concerned the promise of our Saviour were performed The Reader hath an approved
much privacy as could be And over-night the fourth of August 1600. commands one of his servants Andrew Henderson toride with his Brother Alexander and one Andrew Ruthen to Faulkland to the Court the next morning by seven a clock The King putting his foot in the stirrop to hunt Alexander tells him that he had apprehended one lately come from beyond Seas with much Gold coyn and sundry suspicious Letters to Popish Lords advising his Majesty to receive the Mony and Letters and to examin the Person being in safety with his brother at Saint Johnstons but ten miles and this to be done speedily and privately which vvas concluded on and to be done at Noon vvhilst his Train and Attendants should be at dinner Alexander immediately commands Henderson to speed to his Brother finding him in his Chamber vvhere they had communication that the King vvould be there by Noon and that the business took vvell vvith the King for he clipt him about the neck That he vvas accompanied vvith a slender Train the Duke of Lenox Sir Thomas Erskin and about a dozen persons more Well says the Earl get on your plate sleeves for I must take an High-land Robber The King staying longer in his sport of hunting than was expected the Earl at middle of dinner Andrew Ruthen came in haste and signified the King to be neer at hand presently after came Alexander and William Bloire and withdrew themselves to consult sending Henderson for the Earl's Gauntlet and Steel Bonnet at the istant the King comes in is received by the Earl and retires to dinner Alexander bids Henderson to fetch the keys of the Chambers from one William Rynd and presently after Crauston requires Henderson to come to the Earl who commanded him to attend his Brother Alexander and to do what e're he did bid him which was to be locked up within the round Chamber and to stay in silence till his return Neer the end of dinner the King at his Fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eat Alexander begs of his majesty in this opportunity to withdraw and to dispatch the business And up he leads him through four or five rooms locking each door behind them till they came into the round Chamber where Henderson stood armed No sooner entred but instantly Alexander clapping on his Hat puls out Henderson's Dagger and holding it to the King's breast with a stern countenance faces the King and says Now Sir you must know I had a Father whose blood calls for revenge and you must die and pointing to the Kings heart with the dagger Henderson tript it out of his hand who afterwards deposed that he did verily believe if Alexander had retained the Dagger so long as one might goe six steps he had killed the King therewith but wanting the Dagger the King gave him gentle Language excusing himself from the Death of Gowry by his then infancy advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his anointed Sovereign especially in a cause of his innocency pleading the Laws of God and man and his merits by restoring his Brother in Blood and Honours by breeding his Sister the nearest in the Queens affection and by his reception of his Bed-chamber withall promising Pardon of all that is past which wrought so much upon Alexander for the present that he leaves the King in Custody of Henderson until he returns from his Brother having taken oath of the King nor to stir nor cry out and so locks them in Alexander gone Henderson trembles with reverence of his Soveraign and craves Pardon the King works upon his passion and asks him what he was who answered a servant of the Earls and wilt thou kill me says the King he replyed with an oath himself would sooner die Presently Alexander enters with a Garter in his hand and says Sir there is no remedy by God you must dye and strives to bind the Kings hands who said Nay sall you not I se die a free man and strugling together Alexander got the Kings head under his arm and his hand upon his mouth which the King bit by the thumb and dragging him to the window bade Henderson open it which being done the King cried out into a back Court vvhere the Duke the Earl of Mar and others were in pursuit of him who was rumour'd to be gone out the back way into the Park At this sudden cry of Treason and known to be the Kings voice they hastened to the Chamber where he dined but no entrance was found The while John Ramsey and Sir Thomas Erskin got up by a turn-pike back pair of stairs directed that way by a boy of the House who saw Alexander ascend that way and forcing one door finds them panting Ramsey casts off his Hawk from his Fist draws out his Faulchion and wounds him deadly in the Belly being bid to strike low for the King found him armed with a Male and at that instant comes in Sir Thomas Erskin Doctor Herres and one Wilson and by them was the Body dispatch'd whilst Henderson slipt away But soon they suspected by the noise of unlocking doors that Gowry himself was coming to assail them wherefore they advised the King to withdraw into the Lobby and cast the King's Coat upon the dead Body The Earl soon entred by his double Keys with seven Servants the fore-way and his Case of Rapiers his usual Weapon ready drawn to whom Erskin earnestly said to divert him from his purpose What do you mean my Lord The King is killed and points to his Brothers covered Body bleeding on the ground At the uttering of those Words Gowry stops and abating of his Fury sinks the points of his Weapons when suddenly Herres assails him with his rusty Sword Ramsey steps in and strikes him to the Heart yet not so soon but the Earl thrust him into the Thigh assisted by Crawston who hurt Erskin and Herres in the hand and they run him through his Body who lived only long enough to be hanged and quartered Forthwith came up all the Lords the Court and Townsmen where after thanks to God for this Mercy they surveyed Gowry's Body which did not bleed untill a Parchment was taken out of his Bosom with Characters and these Letters which put together made TETRAGRAMMATON having been told His Blood should not spill whilst he had that Spell Being thus deceived by the Devil he thought he should not die until he had Power and Rule which he had of the King and so suffered by the Sword The Bodies of the two Brothers were sentenced by the Parliament hanged on a Gibbet dismembred and their Heads set upon the Prison House and then ordained the fifth day of August in all Ages to come should be solemnly kept for publick Prayers Thus this Earl by his horrid Treason undid his Family two of his Brothers William and Patrick flying beyond Sea there still remained in Scotland a younger Son being then a Child who was from that time